Metformin decelerates aging clock in male monkeys.

In a rigorous 40-month study, we evaluated the geroprotective effects of metformin on adult male cynomolgus monkeys, addressing a gap in primate aging research. The study encompassed a comprehensive suite of physiological, imaging, histological, and molecular evaluations, substantiating metformin's influence on delaying age-related phenotypes at the organismal level. Specifically, we leveraged pan-tissue transcriptomics, DNA methylomics, plasma proteomics, and metabolomics to develop innovative monkey aging clocks and applied these to gauge metformin's effects on aging. The results highlighted a significant slowing of aging indicators, notably a roughly 6-year regression in brain aging. Metformin exerts a substantial neuroprotective effect, preserving brain structure and enhancing cognitive ability. The geroprotective effects on primate neurons were partially mediated by the activation of Nrf2, a transcription factor with anti-oxidative capabilities. Our research pioneers the systemic reduction of multi-dimensional biological age in primates through metformin, paving the way for advancing pharmaceutical strategies against human aging.

Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies ESPL1 limits the response of gastric cancer cells to apatinib.

Apatinib was the first anti-angiogenic agent approved for treatment of metastatic gastric cancer (GC). However, the emergence of resistance was inevitable. Thus investigating new and valuable off-target effect of apatinib directly against cancer cells is of great significance. Here, we identified extra spindle pole bodies-like 1 (ESPL1) was responsible for apatinib resistance in GC cells through CRISPR genome-wide gain-of-function screening. Loss of function studies further showed that ESPL1 inhibition suppressed cell proliferation, migration and promoted apoptosis in vitro, and accordingly ESPL1 knockdown sensitized GC cells to apatinib. In addition, we found ESPL1 interacted with mouse double minute 2 (MDM2), a E3 ubiquitin protein ligase, and the combination of MDM2 siRNA with apatinib synergistically ameliorated the resistance induced by ESPL1 overexpression. In summary, our study indicated that ESPL1 played a critical role in apatinib resistance in GC cells. Inhibition of MDM2 could rescue the sensitivity of GC cells to apatinib and reverse ESPL1-mediated resistance.

Diagnostic Model for Proliferative HCC Using LI-RADS: Assessing Therapeutic Outcomes in Hepatectomy and TKI-ICI Combination.

BACKGROUND: Proliferative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), aggressive with poor prognosis, and lacks reliable MRI diagnosis. PURPOSE: To develop a diagnostic model for proliferative HCC using liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS) and assess its prognostic value. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: 241 HCC patients underwent hepatectomy (90 proliferative HCCs: 151 nonproliferative HCCs), divided into the training (N = 167) and validation (N = 74) sets. 57 HCC patients received combination therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T, T1- and T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, in- and out-phase, T1 high resolution isotropic volume excitation and dynamic gadoxetic acid-enhanced imaging. ASSESSMENT: LI-RADS v2018 and other MRI features (intratumoral artery, substantial hypoenhancing component, hepatobiliary phase peritumoral hypointensity, and irregular tumor margin) were assessed. A diagnostic model for proliferative HCC was established, stratifying patients into high- and low-risk groups. Follow-up occurred every 3-6 months, and recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in different groups were compared. STATISTICAL TESTS: Fisher's test or chi-square test, t-test or Mann-Whitney test, logistic regression, Harrell's concordance index (C-index), Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox proportional hazards. Significance level: P < 0.05. RESULTS: The diagnostic model, incorporating corona enhancement, rim arterial phase hyperenhancement, infiltrative appearance, intratumoral artery, and substantial hypoenhancing component, achieved a C-index of 0.823 (training set) and 0.804 (validation set). Median follow-up was 32.5 months (interquartile range [IQR], 25.1 months) for postsurgery patients, and 16.8 months (IQR: 13.2 months) for combination-treated patients. 99 patients experienced recurrence, and 30 demonstrated tumor nonresponse. Differences were significant in RFS and OS rates between high-risk and low-risk groups post-surgery (40.3% vs. 65.8%, 62.3% vs. 90.1%, at 5 years). In combination-treated patients, PFS rates differed significantly (80.6% vs. 7.7% at 2 years). DATA CONCLUSION: The MR-based model could pre-treatment identify proliferative HCC and assist in prognosis evaluation. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Facial Amphiphile-Modified Lipids Highly Sensitize Liposomes toward Secretory Phospholipase A2.

Upregulated secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) in tumors has been proposed as a stimulus to trigger drug release from liposomes for therapeutic effects. However, the current strategy for developing sPLA2-responsive liposomes merely considering substrate preference suffers from limited membrane disruptive effects induced by enzymatic hydrolysis and safety issues resulting from the overuse of sPLA2-preferred lipids. Here, a membrane-destabilizing mechanism based on enzymatic extraction and the transition of facial amphiphiles (FAs) within lipid membranes was introduced. Enzymatic degradation of FA-modified lipids, a process involving substrate extraction of lipids from membranes and cleavage of sn-2 ester bonds by sPLA2, rotation, and interface settling of detached FAs, caused tremendous efflux of payloads from liposomes, termed the SECRIS effect. In the presence of sPLA2, oxaliplatin (L-OHP) loaded liposomes containing FA-modified lipids showed enhanced drug release, comparable in vitro cytotoxicity, and excellent in vivo antitumor efficacy and reduced adverse syndromes in Colo205-bearing mice compared to conventional sPLA2-labile formulations. The discovery of the SECRIS effect creates a new pathway to engineer liposome platforms for the treatment of sPLA2-positive tumors.

Brown adipocyte mineralocorticoid receptor deficiency impairs metabolic regulation in diet-induced obese mice.

Activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) contributes to energy dissipation and metabolic health. Although mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists have been demonstrated to improve metabolism under obesity, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We aimed to evaluate the role of BAT MR in metabolic regulation. After 8 weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, BAT MR KO (BMRKO) mice manifested significantly increased bodyweight, fat mass, serum fasting glucose, and impaired glucose homeostasis compared with littermate control (LC) mice, although insulin resistance and fasting serum insulin were not significantly changed. Metabolic cage experiments showed no change in O2 consumption, CO2 production, or energy expenditure in obese BMRKO mice. RNA sequencing analysis revealed downregulation of genes related to fatty acid metabolism in BAT of BMRKO-HFD mice compared with LC-HFD mice. Moreover, H&E and immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that BMRKO exacerbated HFD-induced macrophage infiltration and proinflammatory genes in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). BMRKO-HFD mice also manifested significantly increased liver weights and hepatic lipid accumulation, an increasing trend of genes related to lipogenesis and lipid uptake, and significantly decreased genes related to lipolytic and fatty acid oxidation in the liver. Finally, the level of insulin-induced AKT phosphorylation was substantially blunted in eWAT but not liver or skeletal muscle of BMRKO-HFD mice compared with LC-HFD mice. These data suggest that BAT MR is required to maintain metabolic homeostasis, likely through its regulation of fatty acid metabolism in BAT and impacts on eWAT and liver.

Clinical Characteristics of Molecularly Defined Renal Cell Carcinomas.

Kidney tumors comprise a broad spectrum of different histopathological entities, with more than 0.4 million newly diagnosed cases each year, mostly in middle-aged and older men. Based on the description of the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), some new categories of tumor types have been added according to their specific molecular typing. However, studies on these types of RCC are still superficial, many types of these RCC currently lack accurate diagnostic standards in the clinic, and treatment protocols are largely consistent with the treatment guidelines for clear cell RCC (ccRCC), which might result in worse treatment outcomes for patients with these types of molecularly defined RCC. In this article, we conduct a narrative review of the literature published in the last 15 years on molecularly defined RCC. The purpose of this review is to summarize the clinical features and the current status of research on the detection and treatment of molecularly defined RCC.

Biological and physiological responses of two Bradysia pests, Bradysia odoriphaga and Bradysia difformis, to Dinotefuran and Lufenuron.

Bradysia odoriphaga and Bradysia difformis are destructive root maggots that cause severe losses to vegetables, flowers and edible fungi. Due to the long-term dependence on single pesticides, Bradysia resistance to insecticides has increased, and field control efficacy has decreased obviously. To screen alternative insecticides, and compare the insecticide susceptibility of these two species, we tested the toxicity of eight insecticides to B. odoriphaga and B. difformis, and measured the sublethal effects of Dinotefuran and Lufenuron on life-history parameters and detoxification enzyme activities. Bioassay results indicated that Dinotefuran and Lufenuron had relatively higher toxicity to B. odoriphaga and B. difformis compared to other neonicotinoid and insect growth regulator insecticides, respectively. Significant adverse impacts caused by sublethal concentrations (LC20) of Dinotefuran and Lufenuron on the life-history parameters of F0 and F1 generations of B. odoriphaga and B. difformis were observed. These included reduced survival, prolonged larval development and reduced adult longevity and fecundity. B. odoriphaga had greater resistance and adaptation to insecticides than B. difformis, and an LC20 concentration of Dinotefuran stimulated the reproduction of B. odoriphaga F1 generation and increased the life table parameters. Detoxifying enzymes (CarE and GSTs) and P450 activities fluctuated after a sublethal concentration (Dinotefuran and Lufenuron) treatment, and at the peak value of enzyme activities, the enhancement of detoxifying enzymes of B. odoriphaga was significantly higher than that of B. difformis. These results indicated that Dinotefuran and Lufenuron should be considered as alternatives to other insecticides for control of root maggots. B. odoriphaga exhibited stronger adaptation to insecticides than B. difformis. These data provide guidance for control of root maggots, and the basic information presented here can help reveal the differences in adaptive mechanisms between B. odoriphaga and B. difformis.

Investigating the Role of FoxP3 in Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasis with BAP1 or SEDT2 Mutation.

Forkhead box protein P3 (FoxP3) primarily functions as the master regulator in regulatory T cells (Tregs) differentiation, but its high level of expression has also been found in tumor cells recently. The aim of our study was to clarify the role of FoxP3 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression and metastasis. We verified the FoxP3 characteristic clinicopathological data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database using bioinformatics tools. Meanwhile, RNA sequencing was performed to determine the FoxP3 biofunction in RCC progression. Our results showed that high expression of FoxP3 was found in BAP1- or SETD2-mutant patients with RCC, and a higher FoxP3 expression was related to worse prognosis. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the FoxP3 IHC score and RCC malignant progression owning to the limited number of patients in our tissue microarray. Using in vitro FoxP3 loss-of-function assays, we verified that silencing FoxP3 in 786-O and ACHN cells could inhibit the cell migration/invasion capability, which was consistent with the data from RNA sequencing in 786-O cells and from the TCGA datasets. Using an in vivo nude mice orthotopic kidney cancer model, we found that silencing FoxP3 could inhibit tumor growth. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that BAP1 or SEDT2 mutation could lead to higher expression of FoxP3 in RCC patients, and FoxP3 could eventually stimulate RCC cells' invasion and metastasis, which might indicate that FoxP3 could function as a potential oncogene in RCC progression.

Phase-assisted angular-multiplexing nanoprinting based on the Jacobi-Anger expansion.

Featuring with ultracompactness and subwavelength resolution, metasurface-assisted nanoprinting has been widely researched as an optical device for image display. It also provides a platform for information multiplexing, and a series of multiplexed works based on incident polarizations, operating wavelengths and observation angles have emerged. However, the angular-multiplexing nanoprinting is realized at the cost of image resolution reduction or the increase of fabrication difficulty, hindering its practical applications. Here, inspired by the Jacobi-Anger expansion, a phase-assisted design paradigm, called Bessel metasurface, was proposed for angular multiplexing nanoprinting. By elaborately designing the phase distribution of the Bessel metasurface, the target images can be encoded into the desired observation angles, reaching angular multiplexing. With the merits of ultracompactness and easy fabrication, we believe that our design strategy would be attractive in the real-world applications, including optical information storage, encryption/concealment, multifunctional switchable optical devices, and 3D stereoscopic displays, etc.

Tri-channel metasurface for watermarked structural-color nanoprinting and holographic imaging.

Structural-color nanoprinting, which can generate vivid colors with spatial resolution at subwavelength level, possesses potential market in optical anticounterfeiting and information encryption. Herein, we propose an ultracompact metasurface with a single-cell design strategy to establish three independent information channels for simultaneous watermarked structural-color nanoprinting and holographic imaging. Dual-channel spectrum manipulation and single-channel phase manipulation are combined together by elaborately introducing the orientation degeneracy into the design of variable dielectric nanobricks. Hence, a structural-color nanoprinting image covered with polarization-dependent watermarks and a holographic image can be respectively generated under different decoded environments. The proposed metasurface shows a flexible method for tri-channel image display with high information capacity, and exhibits dual-mode anticounterfeiting with double safeguards, i.e., polarization-controlled watermarks and a far-field holographic image. This study provides a feasible route to develop multifunctional metasurfaces for applications including optical anticounterfeiting, information encryption and security, information multiplexing, etc.

Dual-channel anticounterfeiting color-nanoprinting with a single-size nanostructured metasurface.

Metasurface-based structural-colors are usually implemented by changing the dimensions of nanostructures to produce different spectral responses. Therefore, a single-size nanostructured metasurface usually cannot display structural-colors since it has only one design degree of freedom (DOF), i.e., the orientation angles of nanostructures. Here, we show structural-color nanoprinting images can be generated with a single-size nanostructured metasurface, enabled by designing the anisotropic nanostructure with different spectral responses along its long- and short-axis directions, respectively. More interestingly, the concept of orientation degeneracy of nanostructures can be applied in the metasurface design, which shows two spectral modulations can be implemented under different polarization directions of output light, thus extending the color-nanoprinting from single-channel to dual-channel. The proposed dual-channel metasurface used for anticounterfeiting color-nanoprinting has presented the advantages of ultra-compactness, high information capacity, and vivid colors, which can develop broad applications in fields such as high-end anticounterfeiting, high-density information storage, optical encryption, etc.

Identification of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in human conjunctiva and reproductive tract infected with Chlamydia trachomatis.

BACKGROUND: Currently, Chlamydia trachomatis-specific host defense mechanisms in humans remain poorly defined. To study the characteristics of host cells infected early with Chlamydia trachomatis, we used bioinformatics methods to analyze the RNA transcription profiles of the conjunctiva, fallopian tubes, and endometrium in humans infected with Chlamydia trachomatis. METHOD: The gene expression profiles of GSE20430, GSE20436, GSE26692, and GSE41075 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Synthesis (GEO) database. Then, we obtained the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through the R 4.0.1 software. STRING was used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks; then, the Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to visualize the PPI and screen hub genes. GraphPad Prism 8.0 software was used to verify the expression of the hub gene. In addition, the gene-miRNA interaction was constructed on the NetworkAnalyst 3.0 platform using the miRTarBase v8.0 database. RESULTS: A total of 600 and 135 DEGs were screened out in the conjunctival infection group and the reproductive tract infection group, respectively. After constructing a PPI network and verifying the hub genes, CSF2, CD40, and CSF3 in the reproductive tract infection group proved to have considerable statistical significance. CONCLUSION: In our research, the key genes in the biological process of reproductive tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis were clarified through bioinformatics analysis. These hub genes may be further used in clinical treatment and clinical diagnosis.

Partial Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flap With Implant for Immediate Breast Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Latissimus dorsi flap is a widely used technique in breast reconstruction. Here we describe a modified method, the partial latissimus dorsi muscle flap with vertical incision for immediate implant-based breast reconstruction which has been used at our institution since 2014. Our primary objective is to determine the safety, prognostic benefit, and cosmetic outcome of this surgical procedure. METHODS: The study included a cohort of 31 breast cancer patients who underwent unilateral breast reconstruction with detailed follow-up information at Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2014 to March 2015. All procedures were performed by the same surgical team at the department of breast surgery. The data for selecting the appropriate implant and evaluating the surgical outcome were collected. The cosmetic outcome was evaluated by the BREAST-Q 1 y after surgery. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 69 mo, none of the patients showed local recurrence (although two patients had distant metastasis). The 5-y distant metastasis-free survival was 93.5%. The median duration of surgical procedure was 2 h and 24 min with few surgical and functional complications. Based on BREAST-Q, the outcome of Satisfaction with Breasts was "excellent" or "good" in 96.7% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Partial latissimus dorsi muscle flap with the vertical incision is a safe, effective, time-saving, and feasible alternative to the whole latissimus dorsi flap which has superior cosmetic outcome and reduces recovery time. It is, therefore, worth advocating for application in clinical practice.

A prediction model for nanoparticle diffusion behavior in fibrous materials considering steric and hydrodynamic resistances.

Precise prediction of the hindered diffusion behavior of electroneutral particles in fibrous media plays a critical role in the development of drugs, polymer membranes, and porous electrodes. However, the random microstructure and unknown coupling relationship of multiple resistance mechanisms lead to the lack of a universal prediction model. In this work, a dual-resistance model is proposed by reconstructed pore-scale simulations, which presents the coexistence of steric and hydrodynamic resistances in the multiplication form. The simulation results show that the relationship between steric resistance and structural parameters (porosity, fiber radius, and particle radius) is exponential, while that for hydrodynamic resistance is polynomial. The dominant diffusion resistance is found to change from hydrodynamic to steric resistance with a decrease in porosity. The fluorescent polystyrene microsphere diffusivity in a series of SiO2 fibrous media is determined by single-particle tracking experiments, quantitatively confirming the dual-resistance model. The present model can be used for rapid diffusivity prediction and fibrous membrane and drug design.

A Pooled Analysis of the PCR for the Detection of Candida Auris.

BACKGROUND: Candida auris is an opportunistic pathogen with multiple drug resistance. Therefore, researchers conducted a meta-analysis to review PCR's ability to diagnose Candida auris to promote the development of accurate Candida auris diagnosis. METHODS: Researchers systematically retrieved relevant articles from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. Then, researchers extracted the key data required for the study from the selected articles. Meta-DiSc 1.4 was used for the statistical analysis. RevMan 5.3 was employed to assess the quality of the included literature. A funnel plot can appraise whether the included articles have publication bias. RESULTS: Five articles were included in the study. The results suggest that the pooled sensitivity and pooled specificity were 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92 - 0.95) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.99 - 0.99), respectively. The positive and negative likelyhood ratios were 100.94 (95% CI: 47.51 - 214.47) and 0.07 (95% CI: 0.05 - 0.10), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio was 1,814.70 (95% CI: 717.30 - 4,591.04), and the area under the SROC curve was 0.9935. Deek's funnel plot indicated that there was no publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the analysis indicate that PCR can become a valuable technique for the clinical diagnosis of Candida auris due to its excellent performance.

Nomogram for predicting survival of renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus based on perioperative clinicopathological factors from a Chinese high-volume center.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate perioperative clinicopathological predictors and establish a predictive nomogram for survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma and venous tumor thrombus undergoing nephrectomy and thrombectomy. METHODS: Patients with renal cell carcinoma and venous tumor thrombus undergoing nephrectomy and thrombectomy were included in the study between January 2014 and June 2020. Cox regression analysis was used for univariate and multivariate survival analyses. A predictive nomogram for survival was established and internally validated using bootstrap resampling method. RESULTS: A total of 228 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age was 60 years (interquartile range 53-66 years), consisting of 174 (76.3%) males and 54 (23.7%) females. The median follow-up time was 17.5 months (range 1-74 months), 26.8% (61 of 228) patients died of all causes. In multivariable analysis, hemoglobin less than the lower limit of normal (hazard ratio 1.73; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.96; P = 0.045), sarcomatoid feature (hazard ratio 3.67; 95% confidence interval 1.97-6.82; P < 0.001), perirenal fat invasion (hazard ratio 1.80; 95% confidence interval 1.05-3.09; P = 0.033), histological subtype (hazard ratio 2.74; 95% confidence interval 1.39-5.41; P = 0.004), and metastasis at surgery (hazard ratio 1.71; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.90; P = 0.047) were independently associated with overall survival. The result of internal validation presented that the predictive performance of the nomogram for survival measured by C-index was 0.77. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a predictive nomogram with well-internal validation for survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma and venous tumor thrombus, which can greatly promote risk stratification and treatment planning.

Preliminary experience of oblique occlusion technique in robot-assisted infrahepatic inferior vena cava thrombectomy: step-by-step procedures and short term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the oncological outcomes between the oblique occlusion technique and the traditional technique for robot-assisted radical nephrectomy (RARN) with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomy, and to explore the safety and effectiveness of the oblique occlusion technique. METHODS: Overall, 21 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and IVC tumor thrombus (TT) were admitted to our hospital from August 2019 to June 2020. All the patients underwent RARN with IVC thrombectomy, of which the IVC oblique occlusion technique was used in 11 patients and traditional occlusion technique was used in 10 patients. The oblique occlusion technique refers to oblique blocking from the upper corner of the right renal vein to the lower corner of the left renal vein using a vessel tourniquet or a vessel clamp (left RCC with IVCTT as an example). RESULTS: Compared with patients in the traditional group, those in the oblique group had lower serum creatinine at follow-up (3 month) (95 ± 21.1 vs. 131 ± 30.7 µmol/L, P = 0.03). There was no significant difference in operation time [149 (IQR 143-245) min vs. 148 (IQR 108-261) min, p = 0.86], IVC clamping time [18 (IQR 12-20) min vs. 20 (IQR 14-23) min, p = 0.41], and estimated intraoperative blood loss [300 (IQR 100-800) mL vs. 500 (IQR 175-738) mL, p = 0.51] between both groups. During a 16-month (range, 15-23 months) follow-up period, two cases progressed in the oblique group and three cases progressed in the traditional group. CONCLUSIONS: The modified IVC oblique occlusion technique procedure is relatively safe and effective in RARN with IVC thrombectomy. The IVC oblique occlusion technique may play a role in the protection of renal function.

Identification and Pathogenicity of a New Entomopathogenic Fungus, Mucor hiemalis (Mucorales: Mucorales), on the Root Maggot, Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae).

Bradysia odoriphaga Yang and Zhang (Diptera: Sciaridae), the Chinese chive root maggot, is a destructive pest of Allium vegetables and flowers that causes severe losses in northern China. Novel biological control technologies are needed for controlling this pest. We identified a new entomopathogenic fungus isolated from infected B. odoriphaga larvae and evaluated the susceptibility of the biological stages of B. odoriphaga and the effects of temperature on fungus growth and pathogenicity. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, the fungus was identified as Mucor hiemalis BO-1 (Mucorales: Mucorales). This fungus had the strongest virulence to B. odoriphaga larvae followed by eggs and pupae, while B. odoriphaga adults were not susceptible. A temperature range of 18-28°C was optimum for the growth and sporulation of M. hiemalis BO-1 and virulence to B. odoriphaga larvae. At 3 and 5 d after inoculation with 105 spores/ml at 23°C, the survival rates were 24.8% and 4.8% (2nd instar larvae), respectively, and 49.6% and 12.8% (4th instar larvae), respectively. The potted plant trials confirmed that M. hiemalis BO-1 exerted excellent control efficiency against B. odoriphaga larvae, and the control exceeded 80% within 5 d when the spore concentration applied exceeded 107 spores/ml. In conclusion, these findings supported the hypotheses that this fungus could serve as an effective control agent against B. odoriphaga larvae and is worth being further tested to determine its full potential as a biocontrol agent.

Pure retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy with delayed occlusion of the proximal inferior vena cava (DOPI) technique for renal tumor with level II-III venous tumor thrombus.

PURPOSE: To explore the safety and effectiveness of delayed occlusion of the proximal inferior vena cava (DOPI) technique in retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and thrombectomy for renal tumor with level II-III venous tumor thrombus (VTT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 2016 to October 2018, a total of 145 patients with renal tumor and VTT were admitted to our centre. Seventy-five patients underwent laparoscopic surgery, and 70 patients underwent open surgery. Among these patients, 17 patients underwent retroperitoneal LRN and thrombectomy with the DOPI technique. Clinical data were collected retrospectively, and a descriptive statistical analysis was conducted. RESULTS: All the patients successfully underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery. The mean operation time was 345.9 ± 182.9 min, the mean estimated blood loss was 466.7 ± 245.5 ml. Postoperative complications occurred in three patients, including two patients of Clavien grading system level IVa and one patient of level II. There were no complications related to carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum, such as gas embolism, acidosis, and subcutaneous emphysema. During 21 months of median follow-up time, no local recurrence was found, and distant metastasis occurred in four patients. Cancer-specific death occurred in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: The DOPI technique is safe and feasible in the treatment of renal tumor and level II-III VTT. With the DOPI technique, the procedures of dissociating and exposing proximal inferior vena cava are simplified.

Liver injury in COVID-19: clinical features and treatment management.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread to many countries around the world. In addition to lung disease, severe cases also displayed varying degrees of liver injury. This article will describe the latest developments regarding coronavirus and the pathogenesis of liver injury, the prone population and clinical characteristics of these patients, as well as providing some suggestions for clinical treatment.