ABSTRACT
A novel approach, to the best of our knowledge, is presented for assessing silicon wafer surface profiles using an interferometer and vertically rotatable wafer holder. This approach significantly enhances precision and reduces costs, and outperforms traditional techniques in measurement consistency and accuracy. It effectively reduces sample distortion and positional shifts owing to the removal and reinstallation of the wafers. Using this method, a global backsurface-referenced ideal range of 0.385 µm, warp of 0.193 µm, and other parameters were obtained, demonstrating its practicality in efficiently capturing key surface profile metrics for silicon wafers. This innovation promises substantial improvements in high-volume wafer surface profile testing, overcoming prevalent technological challenges in this industry.
ABSTRACT
Guangsangon E (GSE) is a natural product separated from Morus alba L. It has been reported to treat lung cancer through autophagy. However, whether GSE is effective in repressing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells is yet to be elucidated. In the present study, GSE inhibited cell growth of MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-453, and MDA-MB-468 cells. Moreover, GSE induced mitochondrial dysfunction, including membrane potential loss, mitochondria fission, and reactive oxygen species accumulation, and finally led to mitophagy-related non-apoptotic cell death. In the xenograft tumor nude mice, GSE treatment significantly reduced the size and weight of MDA-MB-231 tumors. The tumor inhibition rates of GSE treatment were 49.68% (low-dose) and 48.73% (high-dose). In summary, GSE is a potential anticancer drug available for treating TNBC with apoptosis resistance.
Subject(s)
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms , Mice , Animals , Humans , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Mitophagy , Mice, Nude , Cell Line, Tumor , Apoptosis , Mitochondria/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of the "water-pathogen" theory-based Juanyin Tongluo Recipe (JTR) in the treatment of varicocele (VC) complicated with oligozoospermia and its effects on the semen parameters, sperm morphology, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and testis volume of the patient. METHODS: Ninety-two VC patients complicated with oligozoospermia were randomly assigned to receive JTR (n = 47) and Maizhiling Tablets (the control group, n = 45), respectively, both for three months, followed by comparisons of the clinical effects, total sperm count, sperm motility, percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) and morphologically normal sperm (MNS), sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and testis volume of the patients before and after medication, and the pregnancy rate after treatment between the two groups. RESULTS: The total rate of effectiveness was significantly higher in the JTR than in the control group (87.23% vs 68.89%, P < 0.05). Compared with the baseline, the patients showed dramatic improvement after treated with JTR in the sperm count (ï¼»16.35 ± 3.52ï¼½ vs ï¼»43.82 ± 6.02ï¼½ ×106, P < 0.05), sperm motility (ï¼»17.37 ± 6.76ï¼½% vs ï¼»36.68 ± 11.32ï¼½%, P < 0.05), PMS (ï¼»13.42 ± 5.62ï¼½% vs ï¼»31.03 ± 7.47ï¼½%, P < 0.05), MNS (ï¼»1.91 ± 0.13ï¼½% vs ï¼»4.06 ± 0.11ï¼½%, P < 0.05), and sperm DFI (ï¼»43.32 ± 7.84ï¼½% vs ï¼»26.98 ± 6.87ï¼½%, P < 0.05), and even better than in the control group (sperm count ï¼»15.78 ± 3.84ï¼½ vs ï¼»31.53 ± 5.62ï¼½ ×106, P < 0.05; sperm motility ï¼»19.41 ± 6.24ï¼½% vs ï¼»31.32 ± 9.73ï¼½%, P < 0.05; PMS ï¼»14.01 ± 4.98ï¼½% vs ï¼»20.71 ± 6.49ï¼½%, P < 0.05; MNS ï¼»1.88 ± 0.14ï¼½% vs ï¼»3.12 ± 0.09ï¼½%, P < 0.05; sperm DFI ï¼»41.42 ± 9.62ï¼½% vs ï¼»34.13 ± 5.73ï¼½%, P < 0.05; sperm DFI, P < 0.05). And the rate of natural pregnancy was significantly higher in the JTR group than in the control (40.43% vs 20%, P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference, however, was observed in the testis volume before and after treatment between the JTR group (ï¼»11.53 ± 1.24ï¼½ vs ï¼»10.89 ± 1.17ï¼½ ml, P > 0.05) and the control (ï¼»10.94 ± 1.34ï¼½ vs ï¼»10.65 ± 1.52ï¼½ ml, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Juanyin Tongluo Recipe can increase the total sperm count, sperm motility, percentages of PMS and MNS and sperm DFI, and improve the rate of natural pregnancy in VC patients complicated with oligozoospermia.
Subject(s)
Infertility, Male , Oligospermia , Varicocele , Pregnancy , Female , Humans , Male , Semen , Infertility, Male/etiology , Infertility, Male/genetics , Oligospermia/drug therapy , Sperm Motility , Varicocele/complications , Varicocele/drug therapy , DNA Fragmentation , Spermatozoa , Semen Analysis , Sperm CountABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of Baihe Yuzi Prescription (BYP) in the treatment of clinical syndrome-free asthenospermia and its effects on semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and the expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the sperm. METHODS: We randomly divided 112 patients with clinical syndrome-free asthenospermia into a control group (n = 55) and an experimental group (n = 57), the former treated orally with L-carnitine liquid combined with vitamin E capsules and the latter with BYP in addition, both for 3 months. After treatment, we obtained the total sperm count, sperm motility, percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) and morphologically normal sperm (MNS), sperm DFI and expression of CFTR in the sperm, and compared the above parameters between the two groups of patients before and after medication. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the experimental group (82.46%) than in the control (65.45%) (P < 0.05). Compared with the baseline, the patients in the experimental group showed significant improvement after treatment in the total sperm count (��53.5��3.5�� vs ��86.5��3.9�� ��106, P < 0.05), sperm motility (��23.5��3.5��% vs ��38.8��3.7��%, P < 0.05), PMS (��20.1��3.2��% vs ��30.3��3.3��%, P < 0.05), MNS (��2.3��0.3��% vs ��3.9��0.4��%, P < 0.05), sperm DFI (��37.3��3.1��% vs ��25.2��3.4��%, P < 0.05) and the expression of CFTR (P < 0.05), and even better improvement than the controls in sperm motility (��23.8��3.7��% vs ��30.2��3.4��%, P < 0.05), PMS (��19.6��3.1��% vs ��25.3��2.9��%, P < 0.05), MNS (��2.4��0.4��% vs ��3.1��0.3��%, P < 0.05), and sperm DFI (��36.6��3.3��% vs ��30.3��3.1��%, P < 0.05). The total sperm count and the expression of CFTR, however, were not significantly improved in the control group after treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Baihe Yuzi Prescription can increase sperm count and motility, improve sperm morphology and DFI in patients with clinical syndrome-free asthenospermia, which may be related to the up-regulated expression of CFTR in the sperm.
Subject(s)
Asthenozoospermia , Semen , Humans , Male , Sperm Count , Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator , Sperm Motility , Spermatozoa , Asthenozoospermia/drug therapy , DNA FragmentationABSTRACT
This paper reports a two-dimensional stretchable blazed wavelength-tunable grating based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In the elastic range, stretch the grating along (Y-axis) and perpendicular to (X-axis) the grating line, fix the position of the +1st-order spot to maintain the grating period, and only change the groove angle to tune the blazed wavelength. By stretching the grating up to 20% of the Y-axis, and 5.2% of the X-axis, the groove angle is reduced by 1.33°, and the blazed wavelength of the first-order diffraction shifts toward the short-wave direction by 42.3 nm. The sensitivity of a spectrometer can be enhanced by tuning the blazed wavelength of the PDMS grating to the wavelength of the spectrum peak under observation in the bands from 460.8 nm to 503.1 nm.
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A novel concentric spectrometer having one convex grating and one concave mirror, working at ${+}{1}$+1st order diffraction, and with a small size, high resolution, and high diffraction efficiency, is proposed. It can simultaneously achieve high resolution and compactness by increasing the grating groove density. A compact spectrometer operating at a wavelength of 740-790 nm with an excellent imaging quality is designed. Its spectral resolution reaches 0.049 nm, and its diffraction efficiency improves by 27% compared to the conventional Offner spectrometer with convex grating working at ${-}{1}$-1st order diffraction. This is suitable for small, light, and low-cost atmospheric gas monitoring satellites.
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BACKGROUND: At present, the proportion of undiagnosed diabetes in Chinese adults is as high as 15.5%. People with diabetes who are not treated and controlled in time may have various complications, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and diabetic foot disorders, which not only seriously affect the quality of life of people with diabetes but also impose a heavy burden on families and society. Therefore, prevention and control of type 2 diabetes is of great significance. METHODS: We constructed a logistic regression model, a neural network model and a decision tree model to analyse the risk factors for type 2 diabetes and then compared the prediction accuracy of the different models by calculating the area under the relative operating characteristic (ROC) curve and back-inputting the data into the model. RESULTS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in 4177 subjects who were not diagnosed with type 2 diabetes was 9.31%. The most influential factors associated with type 2 diabetes were triglyceride (TG) ≥ 1.17 mmol/L (odds ratio (OR) =2.233), age ≥ 70 years (OR = 1.734), hypertension (OR = 1.703), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.674), and total cholesterol≥5.2 mmol/L (TC) (OR = 1.463). The prediction accuracies of the three prediction models were 90.8, 91.2, and 90.7%, respectively, and the areas under curve (AUCs) were 0.711, 0.780, and 0.698, respectively. The differences in the AUCs after back propagation (BP) of the neural network model, logistic regression model and decision tree model were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: BP neural networks have a higher predictive power for identifying the associated risk factors of type 2 diabetes than the other two models, but it is necessary to select a suitable model for specific situations.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology , Models, Statistical , Quality of Life , Aged , China/epidemiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Prognosis , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To explore the risk factors of coexisting prediabetes and prehypertension, to provide theoretical basis for early intervention. METHODS: A multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method was used to randomly select adult residents from Jilin Province in 2013 for questionnaire surveys, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of coexisting prediabetes and prehypertension in Jilin Province was 11.3%. The binary Logistic regression results showed that age, sex, education, triglyceride (TG), BMI, waist circumference and alcohol consumption were the effects of factor coexisting prediabetes and prehypertension. CONCLUSION: It is important to pay attention to the early stage of hypertension and diabetes, control the transition from prehypertension and prediabetes to hypertension and diabetes, and improve the health of residents.
Subject(s)
Prediabetic State/blood , Prediabetic State/epidemiology , Prehypertension/blood , Prehypertension/epidemiology , Self Report , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , China/epidemiology , Cluster Analysis , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prediabetic State/diagnosis , Prehypertension/diagnosis , Random Allocation , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
Hypertriglyceridemia is a common cause of acute pancreatitis (AP). Fatty liver, a manifestation of metabolic syndrome, is related to the severity of AP. The present study aimed to construct an accurate predictive model for severe AP (SAP) by combining the fatty liver infiltration on a computerized tomography (CT) scan with a series of blood biomarkers in patients with hypertriglyceridemia-associated AP (HTG-AP). A total of 213 patients diagnosed with HTG-AP were included in the present retrospective study. Clinical information and imageological findings were retrospectively analyzed. The model was constructed from independent risk factors using univariate analysis, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method. Subsequently, the data from the training group of 111 patients with HTG-AP was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The efficacy of the model was verified using an external validation group of 102 patients through the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Independent predictors, including serum calcium, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase and liver-to-spleen CT attenuation ratio (L/S ratio), were incorporated into the nomogram model for SAP in HTG-AP. The model achieved a sensitivity of 91.3% and a specificity of 88.6% in the training group. Compared with the Ranson model, the established nomogram model exhibited a better discriminative ability in the training group [area under the curve (AUC): 0.957] and external validation group (AUC: 0.930), as well as better calibration and clinical benefits. The present study demonstrates that the constructed nomogram based on CT findings and blood biomarkers is useful for the accurate prediction of SAP in HTG-AP.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers , Hypertriglyceridemia , Nomograms , Pancreatitis , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Humans , Male , Female , Hypertriglyceridemia/complications , Hypertriglyceridemia/blood , Pancreatitis/blood , Pancreatitis/diagnostic imaging , Pancreatitis/complications , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Retrospective Studies , Middle Aged , Biomarkers/blood , Adult , Severity of Illness Index , ROC Curve , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Fatty Liver/blood , Fatty Liver/diagnostic imaging , Fatty Liver/complications , Risk Factors , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood , Aged , Predictive Value of TestsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the key oncogenic factor of metabolicassociated steatohepatitis (MASH) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We utilized four differential GEO datasets (GSE164760, GSE139602, GSE197112, and GSE49541) to identify the key oncogenic factor for MASH-related HCC. The differential genes were analyzed using the GEO2R algorithm online. The GEPIA online website was used to explore the expression of selected four genes (SPP1, GNMT, CLDN11, and THBS2). The genetic alterations in genes were estimated by the cBioPortal website. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter online database was applied to explore the prognostic value of SPP1. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were carried out to further confirm the prognostic value of SPP1. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis exported associated pathways with SPP1 expression. The positively or negatively related immune cells and immune checkpoint expressions were identified through Pearson correlation analysis. The lipogenesis-associated proteins were detected using western blotting and fluorescence. The high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model was constructed, and liver samples were collected. RESULTS: SPP1, GNMT, CLDN11, and THBS2 were determined in the transformation process of MASH to liver fibrosis. SPP1 and GNMT were upregulated in the HCC tumor tissue. SPP1, in particular, had the potential to be the prognostic factor through Cox analysis. Remarkably, SPP1 was highly expressed in HCC compared to normal tissues in three independent datasets (GSE121248, GSE14520, and GSE45267). SPP1 is mainly involved in the amplification and deep deletion mutations. SPP1 was found to be strongly correlated with ANXA2 expression, and ANXA2 was also highly expressed in HCC with significant prognostic performance. Moreover, SPP1 was found to participate in the carcinogenic mechanism and correlate with immune cells and immune checkpoint expression. SPP1 knockdown suppressed the SREBP1 and FASN expressions and increased the SIRT1 expression in vitro. Moreover, the HFD model validated the upregulation of SPP1 in the fatty liver in vivo. CONCLUSION: SPP1 may be the key oncogenic factor for the transformation of MASH to HCC, and it could be a potential immunotherapeutic target in HCC.
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Objectives: It is important to accurately discriminate between clinical Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and colonization (CDC) for effective antimicrobial treatment. Methods: In this study, 37 stool samples were collected from 17 CDC and 20 CDI cases, and each sample were tested in parallel through the real-time cell analysis (RTCA) system, real-time PCR assay (PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: RTCA-measured functional and toxical C. difficile toxin B (TcdB) concentrations in the CDI group (302.58 ± 119.15 ng/mL) were significantly higher than those in the CDC group (18.15 ± 11.81 ng/mL) (p = 0.0008). Conversely, ELISA results revealed no significant disparities in TcdB concentrations between the CDC (26.21 ± 3.57 ng/mL) and the CDI group (17.07 ± 3.10 ng/mL) (p = 0.064). PCR results indicated no significant differences in tcdB gene copies between the CDC (774.54 ± 357.89 copies/µL) and the CDI group (4,667.69 ± 3,069.87 copies/µL) (p = 0.407). Additionally, the functional and toxical TcdB concentrations secreted from C. difficile isolates were measured by the RTCA. The results from the CDC (490.00 ± 133.29 ng/mL) and the CDI group (439.82 ± 114.66 ng/mL) showed no significant difference (p = 0.448). Notably, RTCA-measured functional and toxical TcdB concentration was significantly decreased when mixed with pooled CDC samples supernatant (p = 0.030). Conclusion: This study explored the novel application of the RTCA assay in effectively discerning clinical CDI from CDC cases.
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STAM Binding Protein Like 1 (STAMBPL1), functions as a deubiquitinase (DUB) and plays a significant role in various types of cancers. However, its effect as a DUB participating in the HCC tumorigenesis and progression still unknown. In the study, the upregulation and strong prognosis value of STAMBPL1 were identified in HCC patients. Functionally, STAMBPL1 significantly promoted HCC cells proliferation and metastasis, and it interacts with TRAF2 and stabilize it via the deubiquitination at the K63 residue. The TRAF2 upregulation stabilized by STAMBPL1 overexpression transfers of P65 protein into the nucleus and activates the WNT/PI3K/ NF-kb signaling pathway. The 251-436 sites of STAMBPL1 particularly interact with the 294-496 sites of TRAF2, thereby exerting the function of DUB and removing the ubiquitin molecules attached to TRAF2. Our research unveiled a new function of STAMBPL1 in mediating TRAF2 deubiquitination and stabilization, thereby activating the WNT/PI3K/NF-kb signaling pathway, suggesting its potential as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Liver Neoplasms , Humans , Aggression , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2/genetics , TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2/metabolism , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism , Wnt Signaling PathwayABSTRACT
The development of the pancreatic head originates from the fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic primordia during embryonic development. Theoretically, the origin of pancreatic head cancer also exists from the ventral pancreas and the dorsal pancreas. Among 49 patients with pancreatic head cancer, pancreatic head cancer was divided into pancreatic head cancer originating from the ventral (PHCv) or dorsal pancreas (PHCd) through imaging and pathological classification. The clinical data was collected and compared between the PHCv group and the PHCd group. The results showed that the patients from the PHCd group had worse long-term survival than those from the PHCv group (10 months vs 14.5 months). Similarly, the progression-free survival (PFS) results also indicate that patients from the PHCd group had a shorter time than those from the PHCv group (5 months vs 9.5 months). Further stratified analysis of potentially related factors showed that microvascular invasion is related to poor prognosis, and patients with pancreatic head cancer derived from the dorsal pancreas are more likely to develop microvascular invasion.
Subject(s)
Neoplasm Invasiveness , Pancreas , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Humans , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Pancreas/pathology , Pancreas/blood supply , Aged , Retrospective Studies , Prognosis , Microvessels/pathology , AdultABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to report a clinical survey of hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) in a large Chinese pedigree, and the identification of a novel deletion mutation of exostosin glycosyltransferase 2 (EXT2) gene. A patient with multiple exostoses with huge cartilagecapped tumors in scapula, knees and ankles received surgery in Department of Orthopedics (Shanghai Changhai Hospital). A total of 20 family members were recruited to the study, with seven members (five male; two female) diagnosed as HME. The family members of the patients with HME were examined, clinical data and peripheral blood samples were collected, and their DNA was sequenced. The incidence of HME in this family pedigree was 35%. Exostoses were most frequently in the tibiae with occurrence in six patients, followed by ribs, femurs, radii, fibulae, scapulae and humeri. DNA sequencing of peripheral blood revealed a novel deletion mutation, c.824826delGCA, in exon 5 of the EXT2 gene, which was observed in all the patients with HME, but not in the healthy family members. Several characteristics of HME in the pedigree were observed, such as susceptibility of male gender, decreased average age of onset and height and increased severity of clinical symptoms with generations.