IgH translocation with undefined partners is associated with superior outcome in multiple myeloma patients.

BACKGROUND: In multiple myeloma (MM), impact of specific chromosomal translocations involving IgH (14q21 locus, including t(4;14), t(11;14), and t(14;16)) has been explored extensively. However, over 15% MM patients harboring IgH translocation with undefined partners have long been ignored. METHODS: A prospective non-randomized cohort study with a total of 715 newly-diagnosed MM cases was conducted, 13.6% of whom were t(14;undefined) positive. The whole cohort was divided into four groups: no IgH split (47.7%); t(14;undefined) (13.6%); t(11;14) (17.6%); and t(4;14) or t(14;16) group (21.1%). RESULTS: Median OS for the four groups was 84.2, not reached (NR), 58.7, and 44.2 months, respectively, with P values for t(14;undefined) vs no IgH split, t(11;14), and t(4;14)/t(14;16) groups of 0.197, 0.022, and 0.001, respectively. In bortezomib-based group, the survival advantage gained by t(14;undefined) group was much more significant compared to t(11;14) and t(4;14)/t(14;16) groups. Importantly, t(14;undefined) turned out to be an independent predictive factor for longer OS of MM patients in multivariate analysis, especially in the context of bortezomib treatment. Similar results were also observed in the PUMCH external validation cohort. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our data confirmed and externally validated the favorable prognosis of the t(14;undefined) groups, especially in the era of novel agents.

Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome: A Possible Cause for Growth Retardation and Pubertal Delay.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to describe a rare case of blue rubber bleb nevus (BRBNS) with growth retardation and pubertal delay. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: A 16-year-old boy with severe iron deficiency anemia was diagnosed with BRBNS, showing growth retardation and pubertal delay simultaneously. The patient was treated conservatively with intravenous iron therapy, and his puberty advanced gradually. CONCLUSION: Given that growth retardation and pubertal delay are rare in BRBNS patients, this case reminds us to include BRBNS in the differential diagnosis of growth retardation.

Elastic Properties of Low-Dimensional Single-Crystalline Dielectric Oxides through Controlled Large-Area Wrinkle Generation.

Freestanding single-crystalline SrTiO3 membranes, as high-κ dielectrics, hold significant promise as the gate dielectric in two-dimensional (2D) flexible electronics. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties of the SrTiO3 membranes, such as elasticity, remain a critical piece of the puzzle to adequately address the viability of their applications in flexible devices. Here, we report statistical analysis on plane-strain effective Young's modulus of large-area SrTiO3 membranes (5 × 5 mm2) over a series of thicknesses (from 6.5 to 32.2 nm), taking advantage of a highly efficient buckling-based method, which reveals its evident thickness-dependent behavior ranging from 46.01 to 227.17 GPa. Based on microscopic and theoretical results, we elucidate these thickness-dependent behaviors and statistical data deviation with a bilayer model, which consists of a surface layer and a bulk-like layer. The analytical results show that the ∼3.1 nm surface layer has a significant elastic softening compared to the bulk-like layer, while the extracted modulus of the bulk-like layer shows a variation of ∼40 GPa. This variation is considered as a combined contribution from oxygen deficiency presenting in SrTiO3 membranes, and the alignment between applied strain and the crystal orientation. Upon comparison of the extracted elastic properties and electrostatic control capability to those of other typical gate dielectrics, the superior performance of single-crystalline SrTiO3 membranes has been revealed in the context of flexible gate dielectrics, indicating the significant potential of their application in high-performance flexible 2D electronics.

Mean-square consensus of a semi-Markov jump multi-agent system based on event-triggered stochastic sampling.

This paper focuses on achieving leader-follower mean square consensus in semi-Markov jump multi-agent systems. To effectively reduce communication costs and control updates, we propose an event-triggered protocol based on stochastic sampling. The stochastic sampling interval randomly switches between finite given values, while the event-triggered function depends on the stochastic sampled data from neighboring agents. Using the event-triggered strategy, we present sufficient conditions to ensure mean square consensus. Finally, we provide a numerical example demonstrating the effectiveness of the theoretical results.

Serum C-peptide as a key contributor to lipid-related residual cardiovascular risk in the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: The serum levels of C-peptide, an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), increase with age. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum C-peptide and increased risk for CVD with altered lipid metabolism in the elderly. METHODS: This was a population-based cross-sectional study that included 3091 elderly participants aged ≥65 years. Serum C-peptide and lipid levels were measured according to standard protocols. Sampling weights were used to estimate the characteristics of study participants. Stratified analysis of covariance was used to evaluate the changes in the serum lipid levels according to quartiles of serum C-peptide levels, and the linear trend was assessed using a linear model. The logistic regression model was carried out to determine the association between the serum C-peptide levels and serum lipid levels. RESULTS: The results of the analysis of covariance stratified by sex and serum insulin level showed that the serum triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly associated with changes in the serum C-peptide levels, independent of the serum insulin level. The logistic regression analyses indicated that the serum C-peptide levels were positively associated with the serum TG levels, and negatively associated with the serum HDL-C levels. A significant dose-response association was obtained in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Serum C-peptide levels were strongly associated with increased serum TG and reduced HDL-C levels in the elderly. Our results suggest that serum C-peptide increases the risk of CVD via a pathway that increases TG or decreases HDL-C levels.

Mini-Sized Carbon Nitride Nanosheets with Double Excitation- and pH-Dependent Fluorescence Behaviors for Two-Photon Cell Imaging.

Synthesis of mini-sized carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNSs) by traditional methods remains a challenge. Herein, size-tunable and uniform mini-sized CNNSs are synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization of a single polyethyleneimine (PEI) precursor. The as-obtained mini-sized CNNSs possess uniform size, good hydrophilicity and abundant nitrogen active sites, which not only exhibit double excitation- and pH-dependent fluorescence behaviors, but also two-photon excitation fluorescence. áThe resulting CNNSs display low toxicity and can be efficiently delivered into live cells for two-photon fluorescence imaging, offering great potential as fluorescence probes in biochemical applications.