Zimberelimab plus chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM) is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis at advanced stage, and the standard first-line treatment for inoperable patients is chemotherapy. Although combining programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors with chemotherapy is generally considered safe and effective in several malignant solid tumors, there are few reports regarding initial immunochemotherapy in advanced MPeM. CASE SUMMARY: Here, to our knowledge, we present the first case of a patient with epithelioid subtype MPeM, who was treatment-naïve and benefited from initial PD-1 inhibitor plus standard chemotherapy with a prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and good tolerance. A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for a persistent burning sensation in the abdomen. Computed tomography revealed a solid mass in the lower abdomen, which was subsequently diagnosed histologically as epithelioid subtype MPeM by core needle biopsy. The patient received eight cycles of pemetrexed 800 mg (day 1), cisplatin 60/50 mg (day 1-2), and zimberelimab (PD-1 inhibitor) 240 mg (day 1) every 3 wk. He achieved significant reduction of peritoneal tumors with remarkable improvement in symptoms. The best tumor response was partial remission with a final PFS of 7 mo. No immune-related adverse event occurred during the combination treatment. CONCLUSION: The outcome of the present case demonstrates the promising anti-tumor activity of immunochemotherapy to treat inoperable MPeM in the future.

Spectral analyses of Dy3+/Sr2+: LaF3 and Dy3+/Ca2+: LaF3 mixed crystals for laser applications.

Mixed crystals of Dy3+/Sr2+: LaF3 and Dy3+/Ca2+: LaF3 were grown by Bridgman technique and their spectral properties were investigated. Spectra broadening and peak shifts were observed, indicating the co-doping of Sr2+/Ca2+ brings about a more disordered local symmetry of Dy3+, which makes both crystals favorable for tunable lasing action. Low-temperature high resolution excitation and emission spectra were carried out for exploring the types of luminescent center of Dy3+ in crystals. Room-temperature absorption and emission spectra, together with the fluorescence decay curves were studied in both crystals for estimating their potentials for yellow and MIR lasers. Under 450 nm excitation, the largest emission cross-sections at 571 nm of 1.51 × 10-21 cm2 for Dy3+/Sr2+: LaF3 crystal and 1.56 × 10-21 cm2 for Dy3+/Ca2+: LaF3 crystal, along with the lifetimes of Dy3+: 4F9/2 level as 0.983 ms for Dy3+/Sr2+: LaF3 crystal, 1.143 ms for Dy3+/Ca2+: LaF3 crystal were obtained, respectively. Besides yellow emissions, MIR emissions approximately at 3 µm are more appealing. Under 1280 nm excitation, the largest emission cross-sections of 0.304 × 10-20 cm2 at 2885 nm in Dy3+/Sr2+: LaF3 crystal, and 0.319 × 10-20 cm2 at 2880 nm in Dy3+/Ca2+: LaF3 crystal, together with rather long lifetimes of Dy3+: 6H13/2 in the level of milliseconds were achieved, making them useful media for MIR lasers.

Ultrasensitive nonlinear absorption response of large-size topological insulator and application in low-threshold bulk pulsed lasers.

Dirac-like topological insulators have attracted strong interest in optoelectronic application because of their unusual and startling properties. Here we report for the first time that the pure topological insulator Bi2Te3 exhibited a naturally ultrasensitive nonlinear absorption response to photoexcitation. The Bi2Te3 sheets with lateral size up to a few micrometers showed extremely low saturation absorption intensities of only 1.1 W/cm(2) at 1.0 and 1.3 µm, respectively. Benefiting from this sensitive response, a Q-switching pulsed laser was achieved in a 1.0 µm Nd:YVO4 laser where the threshold absorbed pump power was only 31 mW. This is the lowest threshold in Q-switched solid-state bulk lasers to the best of our knowledge. A pulse duration of 97 ns was observed with an average power of 26.1 mW. A Q-switched laser at 1.3 µm was also realized with a pulse duration as short as 93 ns. Moreover, the mode locking operation was demonstrated. These results strongly exhibit that Bi2Te3 is a promising optical device for constructing broadband, miniature and integrated high-energy pulsed laser systems with low power consumption. Our work clearly points out a significantly potential avenue for the development of two-dimensional-material-based broadband ultrasensitive photodetector and other optoelectronic devices.

Analyzing the differentially expressed genes and pathway cross-talk in aggressive breast cancer.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the genes and pathways involved in the aggressive breast cancer cells. METHODS: The gene expression profiles of GSE40057, including four aggressive breast cell lines and six less aggressive cell lines, were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The gene differential expression analysis was carried out with limma software with the method of Bayes for multiple tests. The gene ontology (GO) term enrichment and pathway cross-talk analysis were performed with the online tool of DAVID and Cytoscape software. RESULTS: A total of 401 differentially expressed genes (DEG), such as pentraxin 3 (PTX3), snail family zinc finger 2 (SNAI2), interleukin-8/6 (IL-8/6), osteonectin (SPARC), matrix metallopeptidase-1 (MMP-1) and Ras-related protein Rab-25 (Rab 25), were identified between aggressive and less aggressive cell lines. They were mainly enriched in the GO terms of response to wounding, negative regulation of cell proliferation and calcium binding. Pathways in cancer dysfunctionally interacted with glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism (P < 0.0001), basal transcription factors (P < 0.0001), tyrosine metabolism (P < 0.0001), calcium signaling pathway (P = 0.0021), FcγR-mediated phagocytosis (P = 0.0022), metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 (P = 0.0097) and phagosome (P = 0.0102). CONCLUSION: The screened aggressive cancer-associated DEG (PTX3, SNAI2, IL-8/6, SPARC, MMP-1 and Rab25) and significant pathways (calcium signaling pathway, tyrosine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism) give us new insights into the mechanism of aggressive breast cancer cells, and these DEG may become promising target genes in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Self-Q-switched, orthogonally polarized, dual-wavelength laser using long-lifetime Yb³âº crystal as both gain medium and saturable absorber.

A novel self-Q-switched and orthogonally polarized dual-wavelength laser has been investigated with Yb³âº-doped CGB disordered crystals. By slightly inclining output coupler to introduce the Fresnel loss, we realized simultaneously dual-wavelength laser operation at 1052.6 nm in E//b polarization and 1057.7 nm in E//c polarization with a frequency difference of 1.38 THz. Self-Q-switched pulse generation was observed in this free-running laser, originating from the nonlinear reabsorption effect of Yb:CGB as well as the strong storage of inversion population induced by the long excited-state lifetime (~1 ms). Pulse duration of 287 ns was obtained with an output average power of 416 mW and a repetition rate of 35 kHz. The self-Q-switching effect increased the peak power by 100 times the average power. This very simple laser, free from the complexity and high-cost of additional intracavity polarization modulator and Q-switcher, may be applied for constructing miniature, integrated and portable laser system.

Radiosensitivity of prostate cancer cells is enhanced by EGFR inhibitor C225.

PURPOSE: To determine the direct effects of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor C225 on the radiosensitivity of human prostate cancer cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human prostate cancer DU145 cells were irradiated with (60)Co (1.953 Gy/min) at various doses in the presence or absence of C225. The cellular proliferation and cell-survival rate were evaluated by MTT and colony-forming assays after irradiation. The cell-cycle distribution, cell apoptosis, and MAPK expression were investigated using FCM. The expression of Cyclin D1, CDK2, CDK4, and Survivin were determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The RBE in the C225 group compared with that in the control group was 1.39. Cells treated with C225 and irradiated at 4 Gy predominantly exhibited G(0)/G(1) phase arrest and significant decrease in the fraction of cells in the S phase in comparison with those in the control cells, respectively. An evidently higher apoptosis rate on irradiation at 4 Gy was observed in C225-treated cells compared with that in the control cells. Decreased cell proliferation and increased cell death were further supported by the down-regulation of cyclin D1, CDK2, CDK4, and survivin in C225-treated DU145 cells, as determined by RT-PCR. Furthermore, C225 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of P38-MAPK in DU145 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The EGFR inhibitor C225 increased the radiosensitivity of DU145 cells through antiproliferative effect, inhibition of clonal growth, G(0)/G(1) phase arrest, apoptosis induction, and inhibition of EGFR-signaling pathways by the down-regulation of MAPK activation.

[Study on the growth and spectral characteristics of LiNbO3:Cr:ZnO crystal].

The LiNbO3:Cr:ZnO crystals with the size up to phi20 mm x 50 mm were grown by the Czochralski technique. The absorption spectrum shows that there are two strong absorption wideband peaks and one weak absorption peak of to Cr3+ ion in the crystal. The peak values of the two strong absorption wideband peaks are 480 and 660 nm, which correspond to 4A2-->4 T1 and 4A2-->4 T2 transitions, respectively. The weak absorption peak at 727 nm corresponds to 4A2-->2 E(R line) transition; The fluorescence spectrum shows that one emission wideband peak ranging from 802 to 988 nm coexists with one weak emission peak at 754 nm corresponding to 4T2-->2 E transition. The peak value of emission wideband is at 871 nm, which corresponds to 4T2-->4A2 transition. The crystal field and Racah parameters were calculated, and Dq/B = 2.72 indicates that it has an stronger crystal field. The result shows that the wideband tunable laser can be obtained from this crystal because it not only has the necessary spectral characteristics required for tunable laser crystal but also has good physical chemical properties. Furthermore, the UV laser at about 420 nm can also be obtained from the crystal by its self-frequency doubling because it has a higher frequency-doubling coefficient.

[Study on the growth and spectral characteristics of Cr3+: Al2 (WO4)3 crystal].

Cr3+:Al2(WO4)3 Crystal was grown from the Na2WO4 solvent system by using the TSSG method. The absorption spectrum shows that there are two strong absorption wideband peaks and one we ak absorption peak belonging to Cr3+ ion in the crystal. The peak values of two strong absorption wideband peaks are at 422 and 595 nm, respectively. The values of two weak absorption peaks are at 684 and 663 nm, respectively. The fluorescence spectrum shows that one emission wideband peak ranging from 650 to 820 nm coexists with one stronger emission peak at 680 nm. The peak value of emission wideband is at 740 nm. The crystal field and Racah parameters were calculated, where Dq/B = 2.420 indicates that it has an intermediary crystal field. The result shows that Cr3+:Al2(WO4)3 crystal is promising for tunable laser because it not only has the spectral characteristics required for tunable laser crystal but also has the good physicochemical properties.