Effects of polymerization types on plastics ingestion and biodegradation by Zophobas atratus larvae, and successions of both gut bacterial and fungal microbiomes.

Recent studies demonstrated that plastic degradation in Zophobas atratus superworms is related to the gut microbiota. To determine whether the biodegradation and gut-microbiota were influenced by ingested plastic polymerization types, foams of polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PU) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) were selected as representatives of polyolefins, polyester and copolymers, and the sole feedstock for superworms for 45 d. Both growth and survival rates of superworms were influenced by the type of plastic diet. Although the total consumptions of EVA- and PP-fed groups were similar at 29.03 ± 0.93 and 28.89 ± 1.14 mg/g-larva, which were both significantly higher than that of PU-fed groups (21.63 ± 2.18 mg/g-larva), the final survival rates of the EVA-fed group of 36.67 ± 10.41% exhibited significantly lower than that of the PP- and PU-fed groups of 76.67 ± 2.89% and 75.00 ± 7.07%, respectively, and even the starvation group of 51.67 ± 10.93%. The Illumina MiSeq results revealed similarities in the dominant gut bacterial communities between PU- and EVA-fed groups, with an increase in relative abundance of Lactococcus, but significant differences from the PP-fed groups, which had two predominant genera of unclassified Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus. Compared to bran-fed groups, changes in gut fungal communities were similar across all plastics-fed groups, with an increase in the dominant abundance of Rhodotorula. The abundance of Rhodotorula increased in the order of polyolefin, polyester, and copolymer. In summary, plastic ingestion, larval growth, and changes in gut bacterial and fungal community of superworms were all influenced by foam diets of different polymerization types, and especially influences on the gut microbiomes were different from each other.

Influencing factors of anthracycline-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity in acute leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment of acute leukemia is based on anthracycline chemotherapy. Anthracyclines, despite improving patient survival, have serious cardiotoxicity and therefore cardiac monitoring should be a priority. The purpose of this study is to explore the possible early predictors of anthracycline-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity(AISC)in acute leukemia patients. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study involving 51 patients with acute leukemia treated with anthracycline. Demographic data, clinical variables, echocardiography variables and biochemical variables were collected at baseline and after 3 cycles of chemotherapy. Patients were divided into the AISC and No-AISC groups according to changes of global longitudinal peak systolic strain. Regression models and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to explore the relationship between the variables and AISC. RESULT: 17 of the patients suffered subclinical cardiotoxicity after 3 cycles of anthracycline treatment. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of DBil (OR 0.612, 95% CI 0.409-0.916, p = 0.017), TBil (OR 0.841, 95% CI 0.717-0.986, p = 0.033), PLT (OR 1.012, 95% CI 1.002-1.021, p = 0.016) and Glu (OR 1.873, 95% CI 1.009-3.475, p = 0.047) with the development of AISC. After 3 cycles of chemotherapy, there was a significant difference in PLT between the AISC and NO-AISC groups. Moreover, the dynamic changes in PLT from baseline to after 3 cycles of chemotherapy were each statistically significant in the AISC and NO-AISC groups. The combination of PLT and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) had the highest area under curves (AUC) for the diagnosis of AISC than PLT and NT-proBNP alone (AUC = 0.713, 95%CI: 0.56-0.87, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), platelets (PLT) and blood glucose (Glu) are independent influencing factors for AISC in acute leukemia patients receiving anthracycline therapy. Bilirubin may be a protective factor and PLT may be a contributing factor for AISC. The combination of baseline PLT and baseline NT-proBNP shows satisfactory predictive ability for AISC in acute leukemia cases treated with 3 cycles of chemotherapy.

Study on influencing factors of anthracycline-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity in DLBCL patients administered (R)-CHOP.

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is an irreversible cardiac cell injury. Therefore, it's very important to identify influencing factors of anthracycline-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity (AISC). This study was designed to analyze the influencing factors of AISC in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with the (R)-CHOP chemotherapy regimen. METHODS: This is an ongoing observational prospective clinical trial. All patients underwent conventional echocardiography and speckle tracking echocardiography at the time of enrollment and during treatment. Changes of global longitudinal peak systolic strain were assessed after 3 cycles of (R)-CHOP chemotherapy, and patients were divided into the AISC and No-AISC groups. Demographic data, clinical variables, and biochemical variables were measured. Regression models, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and difference values were used to explore the relationships between variables and AISC. RESULTS: Among 70 patients who completed 3 cycles of (R)-CHOP chemotherapy, 26 developed AISC. In multiple logistic regression, HDL-C (P = 0.047), ApoA1 (P = 0.022), TG (P = 0.029) and e' (P = 0.008) were associated with AISC. The combination of HDL-C and NT-proBNP had the highest area under curves (AUC) for the diagnosis of AISC than HDL-C and NT-proBNP alone (AUC = 0.752, 95%CI: 0.63-0.87, P = 0.001). Between the No-AISC and AISC groups, there was no significant difference in HDL-C, ApoA1, and e' at baseline and after 3 cycles of chemotherapy, respectively. The dynamic changes of HDL-C, ApoA1, and e' from baseline to the end of the 3rd cycle of chemotherapy showed statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: HDL-C, ApoA1, TG, and e' are independent predictive factors in DLBCL cases treated with the (R)-CHOP chemotherapy regimen. The combination of HDL-C and NT-proBNP may improve the predictive ability for AISC in patients with DLBCL administered 3 cycles of (R)-CHOP chemotherapy. Dynamic changes of HDL-C, ApoA1, and e' may be meaningful for predicting AISC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Our study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Approval ID. ChiCTR2100054721 http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=145082 ).

Electrooxidation Enables Selective Dehydrogenative [4+2] Annulation between Indole Derivatives.

Dearomative annulation of indoles has emerged as a powerful tool for the preparation of polycyclic indoline-based alkaloids. Compared with well-established methods towards five-membered-ring-fused indolines, the six-membered-ring-fused indolines are rarely accessed under thermal conditions. Herein, a dearomative [4+2] annulation between different indoles is developed through an electrochemical pathway. This transformation offers a remarkably regio- and stereoselective route to highly functionalized pyrimido[5,4-b]indoles under oxidant- and metal-free conditions. Notably, this electrochemical approach maintains excellent functional-group tolerance and can be extended as a modification tactic for pharmaceutical research. Preliminary mechanism studies indicate that the electrooxidation annulation proceeds through radical-radical cross-coupling between an indole radical cation and an N-centered radical generated in situ.

XANES/EPR Evidence of the Oxidation of Nickel(II) Quinolinylpropioamide and Its Application in Csp3 -H Functionalization.

An in situ generated oxidation species of nickel quinolinylpropioamide intermediate was produced. Characterization by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and EPR provides complementary insights into this oxidized nickel species. With aliphatic amides and isocyanides as substrates, a nickel-catalyzed facile synthesis of structurally diverse five-membered lactams could be achieved.

Pd-Catalyzed Dearomatization of Anthranils with Vinylcyclopropanes by [4+3] Cyclization Reaction.

Dearomatization of anthranils with vinylcyclopropanes (VCPs) by Pd-catalyzed [4+3] cyclization reaction has been realized. In the presence of a catalytic amount of borane as an activator, bridged cyclic products were obtained in good to excellent yields with excellent stereoselectivities. By introducing a chiral PHOX ligand (L5), asymmetric dearomatization reactions of anthranils with vinylcyclopropanes proceeded with excellent enantioselectivity. Borane plays a key role for the reactivity, likely owing to the formation of a borane-anthranil complex which has been confirmed by NMR experiments.

Management of persistent caesarean scar pregnancy after curettage treatment failure.

BACKGROUND: Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a late serious complication of caesarean section. The incidence of CSP has increased worldwide in recent years. Early diagnosis and prompt therapy are crucial to avoid catastrophic complications. There are various strategies for CSP treatment, but there is no consensus on the best management for CSP. Dilation and curettage (D&C) and hysteroscopy are common and effective treatments with their advantages and disadvantages. No in-depth study of the clinical effects of hysteroscopic management of CSP after D&C treatment failure has been conducted. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of hysteroscopic removal of residual CSP tissue (persistent CSP) as a rescue after failed D&C management. METHODS: This is a retrospective clinical research study. Forty-five patients underwent operative hysteroscopy to remove the residual gestational tissue in the caesarean scar after failed D&C treatment. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of hysteroscopic surgeries of 45 CSP cases were investigated. All data analyses were conducted with SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: Forty-three CSP cases after unsuccessful curettage treatment were successfully treated by operative hysteroscopy. The estimated intraoperative blood loss was 20.00 (10.00-500.00) mL, the hysteroscopic operating time was 20.00 (15.00-45.00) min, the decline of serum ß-hCG the day after surgery was 71.91 ± 14.05%, the total hospitalisation time was 7.87 ± 2.26 days, the medical cost was 13,682.71 ± 3553.77 China Yuan (CNY), the time of bleeding after surgery was 7.42 ± 2.48 days, and the time of serum ß-hCG resolution after surgery was 13.84 ± 9.83 days. Follow-up after discharge demonstrated that there were no severe complications for any patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopy therapy could treat persistent CSP effectively and safely after curettage treatment failure. Therapy should be individualised, and the risks and cost of the hysteroscopy procedure and anaesthesia must be considered and fully discussed with the patients before surgery.

Research on the expression of integrin ß3 and leukaemia inhibitory factor in the decidua of women with cesarean scar pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a late serious complication of cesarean section. There has been an increase in the incidence of CSP worldwide in recent years. It's a life-threatening condition because of the high risk of uncontrolled hemorrhage and uterine rupture. The mechanism of CSP is still unclear. The endometrial receptivity might be different in the cesarean scar between CSP and normal pregnancies. Endometrial expression of integrin ß3 and LIF positively correlates with endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. The purpose of the study is to explore the mechanism of CSP. METHODS: The EnVision two-step immunohistochemical staining technique was used to detect the expression of integrin ß3 and LIF in the decidua of women with CSP (20 cases) and normal pregnancies (20 cases). The distribution and staining intensity of integrin ß3 and LIF in the two groups were observed. Observation of the staining were done using microscope within five randomly selected high-power fields (HPF, 10 × 40). All data analyses were conducted with SPSS 17.0 and the statistical significance was set at P <0.05. RESULTS: The decidua in the different parts of both two groups that stained with the anti-integrin ß3 and anti-LIF antibody: most of the integrin ß3 and LIF positive cells were located in glandular epithelium. The expression intensity of integrin ß3 in the cesarean scar in CSP group was significant higher than the uterine cavity in CSP group and the cesarean scar in normal pregnancy group. It's similar with the uterine cavity in normal pregnancy group. The expression intensity of LIF in the cesarean scar in CSP group was significant higher than the uterine cavity in CSP group and the cesarean scar in normal pregnancy group. It's significant lower than the uterine cavity in normal pregnancy group. CONCLUSIONS: The decidual integrin ß3 and LIF might play an important role in the mechanism of CSP. The increase expression of integrin ß3 and LIF in the cesarean scar decidua might be associated with embryo implantation in cesarean scar. The occurrence of CSP might be related to the changes of endometrial receptivity in local cesarean scar.

[Th17 and Treg cell levels in patients with sarcoidosis and their relation to disease activation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Th17 cell and Treg cell levels in patients with sarcoidosis, and their relation to disease activation and glucocorticoids treatment. METHODS: Twenty-three sarcoidosis patients admitted in Yinzhou People's Hospital from January 2009 to December 2013 and 25 healthy subjects (controls) were included in this study. The blood samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected in all patients before and after glucocorticoids treatment. The serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) levels were detected. The percentages of Th17 cells and Treg cells in peripheral blood and BALF were determined by flow cytometry, the concentrations of cytokines in serum and supernatants of BALF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of ROR-γt and Foxp3 mRNA transcripts in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. The potential correlation between the percentages of Th17 or Treg cells and SACE levels was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, significantly higher frequencies of Th17 cells (4.34%±0.89% vs 1.60% ± 0.42%), lower frequencies of Treg cells (1.28% ± 0.37% vs 3.39% ± 0.50%) in peripheral blood were observed. Higher level of ROR-γt mRNA (21.31 ± 3.55 vs 3.63 ± 1.00) and lower level of Foxp3 mRNA (1.60 ± 0.24 vs 3.12 ± 0.76) in peripheral blood were detected in sarcoidosis patients in active stage (before glucocorticoids treatment) (all P<0.01). After the treatment of glucocorticoids, these index in peripheral blood were significantly improved (Th17 cells 2.16% ± 0.68%，Treg cells 2.21% ± 0.42%, ROR-γt mRNA 10.15 ± 1.93, Foxp3 mRNA 2.44 ± 0.38) ( all P<0.05). The changing trends of Th17 and Treg cell cytokines levels in serum were consistent with two type cells. Meanwhile, the changing trends of above index in BALF of patients treated by glucocorticoids were consistent with those in sarcoidosis patients in active stage. The increased ratios of Th17 cells to Treg cells were positively correlated with the level of serum SACE (r= 0.781). CONCLUSION: The imbalance of Th17 cells and Treg cells in peripheral blood and airway may be involved in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, which was associated with the activity of disease, and the treatment of glucocorticoids may achieve a therapeutic effect by correcting the immune imbalance.

Potential health risks of microplastic fibres release from disposable surgical masks: Impact of repeated wearing and handling.

Disposable surgical masks undeniably provide important personal protection in daily life, but the potential health risks by the release of microplastic fibres from masks should command greater attention. In this study, we conducted a microplastic fibre release simulation experiment by carrying masks in a pocket and reusing them, to reveal the number and morphological changes of microfibres released. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy were employed to analyse the physical and chemical characteristics of the mask fibres. The results indicated that the reuse of disposable masks led to a significant release of microplastic fibres, potentially leading to their migration into the respiratory system. Furthermore, the release of microplastic fibres increased with prolonged external friction, particularly when masks were stored in pockets. The large-scale release of microplastic fibres due to mask reuse raises concerns about potential health risks to the human respiratory system. The reuse of disposable masks should be also strictly avoided in daily life in the future. Furthermore, the current study also established a robust foundation for future research endeavours on health risks associated with microplastic fibres entering the respiratory system through improper mask usage.

Role of HDL cholesterol in anthracycline-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity: a prospective observational study in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP.

OBJECTIVES: Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is a debilitating cardiac dysfunction for which there are no effective treatments, making early prevention of anthracycline-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity (AISC) crucial. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) plays a role in cardioprotection, but its impact on AISC remains unclear. Our study aims to elucidate the protective capacity of HDL-C in AISC in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with R-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisone and rituximab). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Conducted in China from September 2020 to September 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 70 chemotherapy-naïve patients newly diagnosed with DLBCL who were scheduled to receive the standard dose of R-CHOP; 60 participants included in a case-control study (DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10085-6). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum biomarkers, 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and conventional echocardiography were measured at baseline, at the end of the third and sixth cycles of R-CHOP and 6 and 12 months after chemotherapy. RESULTS: 24 patients experienced AISC, while 10 did not. 36 patients were lost to follow-up and death. Cox regression analysis showed that higher levels of HDL-C were associated with a significantly lower risk of AISC (unadjusted HR=0.24, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.67, p=0.006; adjusted HR=0.27, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.79, p=0.017). Patients without AISC had a more stable and higher HDL-C level during the follow-up period. HDL-C levels significantly decreased from the end of the third cycle of chemotherapy to the end of the sixth cycle of chemotherapy in all patients (p=0.034), and particularly in the AISC group (p=0.003). The highest level of HDL-C was significantly higher in patients without AISC than in those with AISC (1.52±0.49 vs 1.22±0.29, p=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that higher HDL-C levels may associate with lower AISC risk in patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP. HDL-C could be a cardioprotective target, but further research is needed to confirm its benefits and limitations. STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER: Study registration number: ChiCTR2100054721.

Electrochemical Bioconjugation of Tryptophan Residues: A Strategy for Peptide Modification.

Interest in electrocatalytic bioconjugation reactions has surged, particularly for modifying tryptophan and tyrosine residues in proteins. We used a cost-effective graphite felt electrode and low-current methodology to achieve selective bioconjugation of tryptophan with thiophenols, yielding up to 92%. This method exclusively labeled tryptophan residues and incorporated fluorinated tryptophan for NMR analysis. Eight polypeptides, including lanreotide and leuprorelin, were effectively coupled, demonstrating the method's versatility and potential for novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

LINC02454-CCT complex interaction is essential for telomerase activity and cell proliferation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Telomerase activity is upregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), yet its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identified a cancer-specific lncRNA (LINC02454) associated with poor prognosis by using LncRNA chip of our HNSCC cohorts and external datasets. Through employing negative-stain transmission electron microscopy (NS-TEM), we discovered an interaction between LINC02454 and CCT complex which would augment telomerase activity for maintaining telomere homeostasis. Supporting this, in the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) analysis, LINC02454 depletion significantly reduced telomerase activity and shortened telomere length. Consistently, pathways related to telomerase, mitosis, and apoptosis were significantly impacted upon LINC02454 knockdown in RNAseq analysis. Functionally, LINC02454-deficient cells exhibited a more significant senescence phenotype in ß-galactosidase staining, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays. We further confirmed the role of LINC02454 in HNSCC proliferation through a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments. The therapeutic potential of targeting LINC02454 was verified by adenovirus-shRNA approach in HNSCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. In summary, our findings provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of HNSCC tumorigenesis and potential targets for future treatment modalities.

Nutritional and prognostic value of bioelectrical phase angle as a potentially modifiable marker in acute myeloid leukemia.

Phase angle (PhA), as measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis, is an important parameter in nutritional assessment and is highly predictive of clinical outcomes in various diseases; however, there is little research on its use in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the association between PhA and malnutrition and to clarify the prognostic significance of PhA for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in adult patients with AML (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia) who were undergoing chemotherapy. A total of 70 patients with newly diagnosed AML were enrolled. After chemotherapy, the nutritional risk for patients with a reduced baseline PhA increased significantly. Disease progression occurred in 28 patients, of which 23 died, with a median follow-up of 9.3 months. A reduced baseline PhA was associated with poor PFS (7.1 months vs. 11.6 months; P=0.001) and OS (8.2 months vs. 12.1 months; P=0.011). A multivariate analysis revealed that a reduced PhA was an independent risk factor for disease progression (hazard ratio, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.21-8.11; P=0.019). Overall, these results suggested that PhA is an effective and sensitive indicator that may provide important nutritional and prognostic information in patients with AML.

Ingestion and biodegradation of disposable surgical masks by yellow mealworms Tenebrio molitor larvae: Differences in mask layers and effects on the larval gut microbiome.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the usage and production of face masks considerably increased, resulting in large quantities of mask waste accumulating in the natural environment. To investigate whether masks of polypropylene (PP) material could be ingested and degraded by insect worms like PP foam plastic, yellow mealworms were provided with different layers of disposable surgical masks as sole diets for 30 d. Although mask layers, especially the middle layer of melt-blown filter, could be ingested by yellow mealworms, sole mask layer diets had adverse effects on the larval survival and growth. Analyses of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric, and gel permeation chromatography demonstrated the changes of functional groups, thermostability and molecular weights in frass compared to original masks, indicating the partial oxidation and degradation of masks. And the depolymerization of the middle layer of masks by yellow mealworms was different from that of other layers. The larval gut bacterial and fungal microbiomes were assessed by Illumina MiSeq, indicating that both of them shifted upon sole layer mask diets. Changes in relative abundances of dominant bacterial and fungal genera demonstrated the strong association between gut microbiome and mask degradation. For instance, unclassified Enterobacteriaceae was closely associated with outer layers degradation. Lactococcus and unclassified Ascomycota were responsible for middle layers degradation, while Lactococcus and Morganella for inner layers degradation. In conclusion, disposable surgical masks of PP material could be ingested and biodegraded by yellow mealworms. The diversities of gut bacterial and fungal microbiomes were associated with the differences in rigid crystalline structures of the layer masks.

Photoredox C-H functionalization leads the site-selective phenylalanine bioconjugation.

Site-selectively chemical bioconjugation of peptides and proteins can improve the therapeutic exploration of modified protein drugs. Only 3.8% natural abundance of phenylalanine in protein and nearly 90% of proteins contain at least one phenylalanine residue in their sequenced, showing the potential in biopharmaceutical utility of the phenylalanine bioconjugation. However, the covalent bioconjugation of native phenylalanine is one of the most challenging problems in protein modification. Herein, an approach to protein modification is described that relies on a photoredox method for the site-selective bioconjugation of phenylalanine. This methodology has been validated on peptides as well as protein insulin using a straightforward and mild condition. In addition, based on characterization by near-UV CD spectroscopy and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), this pyrazole labeling approach permitted the insulin hexamer to completely dissociate into the monomeric form, thus making it a potential candidate for use as rapid-acting insulin for the treatment of diabetes.

Comparison on the effectiveness of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) in characterizing plastics biodegradation by insect larvae.

The discovery that insect larvae can feed on foam plastics provided new exploration ideas and potential for plastic wastes biodegradation. In previous studies, both attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR) and conventional FT-IR have been used but no comparison has been done to evaluate the difference of effectiveness for the characterization of oxidization and biodegradation of plastics by insect larvae. To address this, foam plastics of polystyrene, polyurethane and polyethylene, as well as the frass of plastics-fed superworms Zophobas atratus were characterized using both FT-IR and ATR-FT-IR, and the differences were compared. For FT-IR, spectra were found to vary due to the difference in shape and thickness of the samples, as well as the moisture absorption of KBr. For ATR-FT-IR, although tests could be performed directly without pretreatment, the reflection with short wavelength could not deeply penetrate into the frass samples. Since the composition of plastics-fed larval frass is more complex than the original plastics, the spectra of FT-IR and ATR-FT-IR were observed significantly different. Therefore, the ATR-FT-IR was more effective in monitoring functional groups of original plastics, and be recommended to employ in combination with FT-IR for a more comprehensive characterization of plastics-fed larval frass in future studies.

Evaluating Sarcopenia by Using the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia After Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore the potential association of body composition parameters measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with the incidence of sarcopenia in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (non-M3) after chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-center observational study. Sixty-nine patients with newly diagnosed AML underwent BIA at the time of initial diagnosis and after completion of three chemotherapy sessions. Pre- and post-chemotherapy BIA parameters were compared. Sarcopenia was defined as low skeletal muscle mass plus low muscle strength according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). Association of sarcopenia with mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) and intracellular water (ICW) was assessed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the prevalence of sarcopenia after chemotherapy (39.1% vs 14.5%, P<0.001). Skeletal muscle mass (SMM), fat-free mass (FFM), and soft lean mass (SLM) showed a significant decrease after chemotherapy (P<0.05). MAMC, ICW, and total body water (TBW) significantly decreased after chemotherapy (P<0.05). BIA indices including appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) (r=0.889, P<0.001), ICW (r=0.869, P<0.001), MAMC (r=0.849, P<0.001) showed a positive correlation with SMI. Moreover, ASM (r=-0.453 P=0.001), ICW (r=-0.322, P<0.05), and MAMC (r=-0.352, P<0.05) showed a negative correlation with sarcopenia. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, increased ICW was associated with decreased risk of sarcopenia [odds ratio (OR): 0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-0.82]. Each additional unit of MAMC after chemotherapy was associated with 71% lower risk of sarcopenia (OR: 0.29; 95% CI 0.13-0.66). CONCLUSION: The incidence of sarcopenia was associated with chemotherapy of patients with AML (non-M3) as reflected by body composition changes.

Analysis of Outcome Indicators of Cancer-Related Fatigue Treated with Chinese Herbal Compounding.

Objective: In the direction of evaluating the current status of outcome indicators and control group selection in randomized controlled studies of Chinese herbal compounding (such as Sini plus Renshen Decoction, Jianpifuzhengfang, Bufei Jianzhong Decoction, etc) for cancer-caused fatigue and to provide a reference for clinical studies of Chinese herbal compounding for cancer-caused fatigue. Methods: Randomized controlled studies of Chinese herbal medicine for cancer-caused fatigue in the midst of 2012 and 2022 were searched in CNKI, PubMed, and EMBASE databases on the China Knowledge Network, and the literature was screened using NoteExpress. Two researchers independently conducted the literature review, and then the studies that met the criteria were grouped and analyzed adopting qualitative analysis of outcome indicators and control groups. Results: A total of 70 randomized controlled studies that met the requirements were included, and after doing statistical analysis, it can draw to the conclusion that the risk of bias in the included studies was high; at the same time, the TCM evidence score scale, objective indicators, and safety indicators were underutilized; additionally, there were no uniform standards for the fatigue scale, and the selection of control groups lacked balance and consistency. Conclusion: The outcome indicators of TCM compound treatment of cancer-caused fatigue should be on the basis of the principle of "diagnosis and treatment" in TCM, the proportion of objective indicators should be exaggerated, as well as the interventions in the control group should be unified.

Meta-analysis of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel combined with targeted agents in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GA) is a commonly used first-line treatment regimen for metastatic pancreatic cancer, and many studies will add a novel targeted agent to this regimen for improving patient survival rate. However, the clinical effectiveness of GA is the most controversial issue. AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of GA regimen with a targeted agent and GA regimen. METHODS: Up to 1 December 2021, the eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relating to GA and GA with a targeted agent were searched on PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library for eligible data. We screened out appropriate studies for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and toxicity, which had been pooled and finally analyzed by using Stata version 15.1. In addition, we use Reference Citation Analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/) to collect the latest related literature to improve the latest cutting-edge research results. RESULTS: Seven RCTs involving 1544 patients (848 men and 696 women) were included. There were no significant differences between GA with a targeted agent and GA in PFS [hazard ratio (HR): 1.18 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91-1.53], OS (HR: 1.12 95%CI: 0.99-1.27), and ORR (HR: 0.96 95%CI: 0.71-1.29). There was no notable difference in the two groups in grade 3/4 toxicity (fatigue, anemia, vomiting and neutropenia), whereas the incidence of grade 3/4 diarrhea considerably increased in GA with a targeted drug. CONCLUSION: Adding a novel targeted agent to the GA regimen did not improve survival rate of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.