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PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate challenges in speech-in-noise (SiN) processing faced by school-age children with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) and their impact on listening effort. METHOD: Participants, including 23 Mandarin-speaking children with ASCs and 19 age-matched neurotypical (NT) peers, underwent sentence recognition tests in both quiet and noisy conditions, with a speech-shaped steady-state noise masker presented at 0-dB signal-to-noise ratio in the noisy condition. Recognition accuracy rates and task-evoked pupil responses were compared to assess behavioral performance and listening effort during auditory tasks. RESULTS: No main effect of group was found on accuracy rates. Instead, significant effects emerged for autistic trait scores, listening conditions, and their interaction, indicating that higher trait scores were associated with poorer performance in noise. Pupillometric data revealed significantly larger and earlier peak dilations, along with more varied pupillary dynamics in the ASC group relative to the NT group, especially under noisy conditions. Importantly, the ASC group's peak dilation in quiet mirrored that of the NT group in noise. However, the ASC group consistently exhibited reduced mean dilations than the NT group. CONCLUSIONS: Pupillary responses suggest a different resource allocation pattern in ASCs: An initial sharper and larger dilation may signal an intense, narrowed resource allocation, likely linked to heightened arousal, engagement, and cognitive load, whereas a subsequent faster tail-off may indicate a greater decrease in resource availability and engagement, or a quicker release of arousal and cognitive load. The presence of noise further accentuates this pattern. This highlights the unique SiN processing challenges children with ASCs may face, underscoring the importance of a nuanced, individual-centric approach for interventions and support.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Noise , Pupil , Speech Perception , Humans , Male , Speech Perception/physiology , Child , Pupil/physiology , Female , Autism Spectrum Disorder/psychology , Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology , Perceptual Masking/physiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Intraoperative and postoperative hypothermia of patients can be caused by the use of anesthetic drugs and the complicated and time-consuming procedures of interventional surgery. This retrospective study included 184 patients to investigate the incidence and factors associated with hypothermia during intraoperative anesthesia in a single center in China between January and October 2023. MATERIAL AND METHODS A convenient sampling method was used to select 184 patients who underwent general anesthesia intervention in a tertiary hospital in Sichuan Province from January to October 2023 as the study population. The independent factors influencing the occurrence of intraoperative hypothermia were analyzed. A survey was conducted to collect 5 demographic factors, 4 preoperative-related factors, and 10 surgically related factors. According to the occurrence of intraoperative hypothermia, the independent influencing factors of unplanned hypothermia during perioperative period were further analyzed. RESULTS Among 184 patients, 64 (34.78%) experienced perioperative unplanned hypothermia, of which 5 (7.81%) cases occurred before the start of surgery, 7 (10.94%) occurred before the start of surgery after anesthesia, and 52 (81.25%) occurred during surgery. Logistic regression analysis showed that body temperature at the beginning of surgery (P<0.001), set operating room temperature (P<0.001), duration of anesthesia (P=0.006), and age (P=0.001) were independent influencing factors for unplanned hypothermia during perioperative period. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of intraoperative hypothermia is high in patients undergoing general anesthesia interventions. Age, duration of anesthesia, set operating room temperature, and body temperature at the beginning of the operation were independent influencing factors for the occurrence of unplanned hypothermia during the perioperative period.
Subject(s)
Hypothermia , Humans , Hypothermia/etiology , Hypothermia/complications , Body Temperature , Tertiary Care Centers , Retrospective Studies , Anesthesia, General/adverse effects , Intraoperative Complications/epidemiology , Intraoperative Complications/etiologyABSTRACT
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), with abilities of infinite proliferation (self-renewal) and to differentiate into distinct cell types (pluripotency), show attenuated inflammatory response against cytokines or pathogens, which is recognized as a unique characteristic of ESCs compared with somatic cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, and whether the attenuated inflammatory state is involved in ESC differentiation is completely unknown. Our recent study demonstrated that macroautophagy/autophagy-related protein ATG5 inhibits the inflammatory response of mouse ESCs (MmESCs) by promoting the degradation of BTRC/ß-TrCP1 and further the downregulation of NFKB/NF-κB signaling. In addition, maintenance of an attenuated inflammation status in MmESCs is required for their differentiation. In conclusion, ATG5 is a key regulator for the regulation of inflammatory response and differentiation of MmESCs.
Subject(s)
Autophagy-Related Protein 5 , Autophagy , Cell Differentiation , Inflammation , Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells , Animals , Mice , Inflammation/pathology , Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells/metabolism , Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells/cytology , Autophagy-Related Protein 5/metabolism , Autophagy-Related Protein 5/genetics , Signal Transduction , NF-kappa B/metabolismABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of Allium mongolicum Regel powder (AMR) and yeast cultures (YC) on rumen microbial diversity in Tibetan sheep in different Ecological niches. A total of 40 male Tibetan lambs with an initial weight of 18.56 ± 1.49 kg (6 months old) were selected and divided into four groups (10 sheep/pen; n = 10). In the Control Group, each animal was grazed for 8 h per day, in Group I, each animal was supplemented with 200 g of concentrate per day, in Group II, each animal was supplemented with 200 g of concentrate and 10 g of AMR per day, in Group III, each animal was supplemented with 200 g of concentrate and 20 g of YC per day. The experiment lasted 82 days and consisted of a 7-day per-feeding period and a 75-day formal period. The results indicated that at the phylum level, the abundance of Bacteroidota and Verrucomimicrobiota in L-Group II and L-Group III was increased, while the abundance of Proteobacteria was decreased in the LA (Liquid-Associated) groups. The proportion of F/B in S-Group II and S-Group III was increased compared to S-Group I and S-CON in the SA (Soild-Associated) group. At the genus level, the abundance of uncultured_rumen_bacterium and Eubacterium_ruminantium_group in L-Group II and L-Group III was increased. Furthermore, while the abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group was decreased in the LA, the abundance of Prevotella and Eubacterium_ruminantium_group was increased in the S-Group II and S-Group III compared to S-Group I and S-CON. The abundance of probable_genus_10 was the highest in S-Group II in the SA group. After the addition of YC and AMR, there was an increase in rumen microbial abundance, which was found to be beneficial for the stability of rumen flora and had a positive impact on rumen health.
ABSTRACT
Attenuated inflammatory response is a property of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Moreover, whether the attenuated inflammatory status is involved in ESC differentiation is also unknown. Here, we found that autophagy-related protein ATG5 is essential for both attenuated inflammatory response and differentiation of mouse ESCs and that attenuation of inflammatory signaling is required for mouse ESC differentiation. Mechanistically, ATG5 recruits FBXW7 to promote ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of ß-TrCP1, resulting in the inhibition of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling and inflammatory response. Moreover, differentiation defects observed in ATG5-depleted mouse ESCs are due to ß-TrCP1 accumulation and hyperactivation of NF-κB signaling, as loss of ß-TrCP1 and inhibition of NF-κB signaling rescued the differentiation defects. Therefore, this study reveals a previously uncharacterized mechanism maintaining the attenuated inflammatory response in mouse ESCs and further expands the understanding of the biological roles of ATG5.
Subject(s)
Autophagy-Related Protein 5 , Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells , Animals , Mice , Cell Differentiation/physiology , Embryonic Stem Cells , Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells/metabolism , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Signal Transduction/physiology , Autophagy-Related Protein 5/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Intracellular Ca2+ cycling determines myocardial contraction and relaxation in response to physiological demands. SERCA2a (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a) is responsible for the sequestration of cytosolic Ca2+ into intracellular stores during cardiac relaxation, and its activity is reversibly inhibited by PLN (phospholamban). However, the regulatory hierarchy of SERCA2a activity remains unclear. METHODS: Cardiomyocyte-specific ZBTB20 knockout mice were generated by crossing ZBTB20flox mice with Myh6-Cre mice. Echocardiography, blood pressure measurements, Langendorff perfusion, histological analysis and immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, Western blot analysis, electrophysiological measurements, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were performed to clarify the phenotype and elucidate the molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: Specific ablation of ZBTB20 in cardiomyocyte led to a significant increase in basal myocardial contractile parameters both in vivo and in vitro, accompanied by an impairment in cardiac reserve and exercise capacity. Moreover, the cardiomyocytes lacking ZBTB20 showed an increase in sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+ content and exhibited a remarkable enhancement in both SERCA2a activity and electrically stimulated contraction. Mechanistically, PLN expression was dramatically reduced in cardiomyocytes at the mRNA and protein levels by ZBTB20 deletion or silencing, and PLN overexpression could largely restore the basal contractility in ZBTB20-deficient cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: These data point to ZBTB20 as a fine-tuning modulator of PLN expression and SERCA2a activity, thereby offering new perspective on the regulation of basal contractility in the mammalian heart.
Subject(s)
Myocardium , Sarcoplasmic Reticulum , Animals , Mice , Calcium/metabolism , Calcium-Binding Proteins/genetics , Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Mammals , Mice, Knockout , Myocardial Contraction/physiology , Myocardium/metabolism , Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism , Sarcoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases/genetics , Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The progression and metastasis of tumors are typically accompanied by angiogenesis. Crucially, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs) play a significant role in tumor-associated angiogenesis. In this study, the aim was to investigate the antitumor effect of combining bevacizumab (Bev) with anlotinib (An) on colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: The CCK-8 assay, EdU assay, and Annexin V staining were conducted to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis of CRC cells in vitro. The migration capability of CRC cells and HUVECs was assessed using the Transwell assay. Additionally, the tube formation capability of HUVECs was investigated. Furthermore, the antitumor and antiangiogenic effects were evaluated in the BALB/c mice model using immunohistochemistry, TUNEL staining, and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Finally, we analyzed the inhibitory effect of Bev and/or An on related signaling effectors through western blotting. RESULTS: The in vivo CRC mice model revealed that the combination of Bev + An significantly suppressed tumor formation and angiogenesis. Bev + An inhibited tumor glucose metabolism and increased the median survival period in tumor-bearing mice. Mechanistically, the expressions of VEGF, VEGFR2, PDGFR, and FGFR, as well as the phosphorylation levels of AKT, were inhibited after Bev+An treatment. In conclusion, the dual vertical targeting of VEGF and VEGFR in the CRC mice model strongly inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis, with the suppression of the AKT signaling pathway playing a partial role.
ABSTRACT
Primary small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare gastrointestinal cancer with a low incidence of ovarian metastasis. Differential diagnosis of metastatic and primary ovarian cancer is often challenging. The present study reported the case of a 45-year-old woman with jejunal adenocarcinoma who presented with right ovarian, left ovarian, abdominopelvic implant and local recurrent bowel wall metastases successively after primary tumor resection. The ovarian masses of the patient originated from SBA, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical results. Following four comprehensive evaluations by an experienced multidisciplinary team (MDT) during the disease period, the patient underwent four operations, 28 cycles of chemotherapy, 24 cycles of targeted therapy and maintenance therapy for 8 months. As of February 2023, the patient has survived for 73 months and has a high quality of life. It is suggested that when a patient with SBA presents with an ovarian mass, the differential diagnosis between metastatic ovarian cancer and primary ovarian cancer mainly relies on immunohistochemistry. After a comprehensive evaluation by an experienced MDT, surgical resection is the primary treatment for advanced SBA, thus demonstrating some benefits for patients.
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BACKGROUND: Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia could lead to kernicterus and neonatal death. This study aimed to analyze the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in bilirubin metabolism and the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS: A total of 144 neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia and 50 neonates without or mild hyperbilirubinemia were enrolled in 3 institutions between 2019 and 2020. Twelve polymorphisms of 5 genes (UGT1A1, SLCO1B1, SLCO1B3, BLVRA, and HMOX1) were analyzed by PCR amplification of genomic DNA. Genotyping was performed using an improved multiplex ligation detection reaction technique based on ligase detection reaction. RESULTS: The frequencies of the A allele in UGT1A1-rs4148323 and the C allele in SLCO1B3-rs2417940 in the severe hyperbilirubinemia group (30.2% and 90.6%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the controls (30.2% vs.13.0%, 90.6% vs. 78.0%, respectively, both p < 0.05). Haplotype analysis showed the ACG haplotype of UGT1A1 were associated with an increased hyperbilirubinemia risk (OR 3.122, p = 0.001), whereas the GCG haplotype was related to a reduced risk (OR 0.523, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: The frequencies of the A allele in rs4148323 and the C allele in rs2417940 are highly associated with the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese Han neonates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number:ChiCTR1800020424; Date of registration:2018-12-29.
Subject(s)
Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Infant, Newborn , Humans , Liver-Specific Organic Anion Transporter 1/genetics , Alleles , Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal/genetics , Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics , China/epidemiology , Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1B3/genetics , Heme Oxygenase-1/genetics , Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolismABSTRACT
Cheap, stable and easy-to-handle Werner ammine salts have been known for more than a century; but they have been rarely used in organic synthesis. Herein, we report that the Werner hexammine complex [Ni(NH3 )6 ]Cl2 can be used as both a nitrogen and a catalytic nickel source that allow for the efficient amination of aryl chlorides in the presence of a catalytic amount of bipyridine ligand under the irradiation of 390-395â nm light without the need of any additional catalysts. More than 80â aryl chlorides, including more than 20 drug molecules, were aminated, demonstrating the practicality and generality of this method in synthetic chemistry. A slow NH3 release mechanism is in operation, obviating the problem of catalyst poisoning. Still interestingly, we show that the Werner salt can be easily recovered and reused, solving the problem of difficult recovery of transition metal nickel catalysts. The protocol thus provides an efficient new strategy for the synthesis of primary aryl amines.
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Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is one of the leading pathogens that cause devastating economic losses to the poultry industry. Type I fimbriae are essential adhesion factors of APEC, which can be targeted and developed as a vaccine candidate against multiple APEC serogroups due to their excellent immunogenicity and high homology. In this study, the recombinant strain SG102 was developed by expressing the APEC type I fimbriae gene cluster (fim) on the cell surface of an avirulent Salmonella gallinarum (S. gallinarum) vector strain using a chromosome-plasmid-balanced lethal system. The expression of APEC type I fimbriae was verified by erythrocyte hemagglutination assays and antigen-antibody agglutination tests. In vitro, the level of the SG102 strain adhering to leghorn male hepatoma (LMH) cells was significantly higher than that of the empty plasmid control strain, SG101. At two weeks after oral immunization, the SG102 strain remained detectable in the livers, spleens, and ceca of SG102-immunized chickens, while the SG101 strain was eliminated in SG101-immunized chickens. At 14 days after the secondary immunization with 5 × 109 CFU of the SG102 strain orally, highly antigen-specific humoral and mucosal immune responses against APEC type I fimbriae protein were detected in SG102-immunized chickens, with IgG and secretory IgA (sIgA) concentrations of 221.50 µg/mL and 1.68 µg/mL, respectively. The survival rates of SG102-immunized chickens were 65% (13/20) and 60% (12/20) after challenge with 50 LD50 doses of APEC virulent strains O78 and O161 serogroups, respectively. By contrast, 95% (19/20) and 100% (20/20) of SG101-immunized chickens died in challenge studies involving APEC O78 and O161 infections, respectively. In addition, the SG102 strain effectively provided protection against lethal challenges from the virulent S. gallinarum strain. These results demonstrate that the SG102 strain, which expresses APEC type I fimbriae, is a promising vaccine candidate against APEC O78 and O161 serogroups as well as S. gallinarum infections.
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BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Gastric dose parameters comparison for deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) or free breathing (FB) mode during radiotherapy (RT) for left-sided breast cancer patients (LSBCPs) has not been investigated before. This study aimed to analyze the impact of Active Breath Coordinator (ABC)-DIBH technique on the dose received by the stomach during RT for LSBCPs and to provide organ-specific dosimetric parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 73 LSBCPs. The dosimetric parameters of the stomach were compared between FB and DIBH mode. The correlation between the stomach volume and dosimetric parameters was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to FB mode, statistically significant reductions were observed in gastric dose parameters in ABC-DIBH mode, including Dmax (46.60 vs 17.25, p < 0.001), D1cc (38.42 vs 9.60, p < 0.001), Dmean (4.10 vs 0.80, p < 0.001), V40Gy (0.50 vs 0.00, p < 0.001), V30Gy (6.30 vs 0.00, p < 0.001), V20Gy (20.80 vs 0.00, p < 0.001), V10Gy (51.10 vs 0.77, p < 0.001), and V5Gy (93.20 vs 9.60, p < 0.001). ABC-DIBH increased the distance between the stomach and the breast PTV when compared to FB, from 1.3 cm to 2.8 cm (p < 0.001). Physiologic decrease in stomach volume was not found from FB to ABC-DIBH (415.54 cm3 vs 411.61 cm3, p = 0.260). The stomach volume showed a positive correlation with V40Gy (r2 = 0.289; p < 0.05), V30Gy (r2 = 0.287; p < 0.05), V20Gy (r2 = 0.343; p < 0.05), V10Gy (r2 = 0.039; p < 0.001), V5Gy (r2 = 0.439; p < 0.001), Dmax (r2 = 0.269; p < 0.05) and D1cc (r2 = 0.278; p < 0.05) in FB mode. While in ABC-DIBH mode, most stomach dosimetric parameters were not correlated with gastric volume. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of ABC-DIBH in LSBCPs radiotherapy resulted in lower irradiation of the stomach. Larger stomach volume was associated with statistically significantly higher dose irradiation in FB mode. To reduce radiotherapy related side effects in FB mode, patients should be fast for at least 2 hours before the CT simulation and treatment.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Unilateral Breast Neoplasms , Humans , Female , Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods , Radiotherapy Dosage , Breath Holding , Unilateral Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Stomach , Radiation Dosage , Heart/radiation effects , Organs at Risk/radiation effectsABSTRACT
In nature, cytochrome c oxidases catalyze the 4e- oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the heme/Cu site, in which CuI is used to assist O2 activation. Because of the thermodynamic barrier to generate CuI , synthetic Fe-porphyrin/Cu complexes usually show moderate electrocatalytic ORR activity. We herein report on a Co-corrole/Co complex 1-Co for energy-efficient electrocatalytic ORR. By hanging a CoII ion over Co corrole, 1-Co realizes electrocatalytic 4e- ORR with a half-wave potential of 0.89â V versus RHE, which is outstanding among corrole-based electrocatalysts. Notably, 1-Co outperforms Co corrole hanged with CuII or ZnII . We revealed that the hanging CoII ion can provide an electron to improve O2 binding thermodynamically and dynamically, a function represented by the biological CuI ion of the heme/Cu site. This work is significant to present a remarkable ORR electrocatalyst and to show the vital role of a second-sphere redox-active metal ion in promoting O2 binding and activation.
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PURPOSE: Hearing assistive technology (HAT) has been shown to be a viable solution to the speech-in-noise perception (SPIN) issue in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, little is known about its efficacy in tonal language speakers. This study compared sentence-level SPIN performance between Chinese children with ASD and neurotypical (NT) children and evaluated HAT use in improving SPIN performance and easing SPIN difficulty. METHOD: Children with ASD (n = 26) and NT children (n = 19) aged 6-12 years performed two adaptive tests in steady-state noise and three fixed-level tests in quiet and steady-state noise with and without using HAT. Speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) and accuracy rates were assessed using adaptive and fixed-level tests, respectively. Parents or teachers of the ASD group completed a questionnaire regarding children's listening difficulty under six circumstances before and after a 10-day trial period of HAT use. RESULTS: Although the two groups of children had comparable SRTs, the ASD group showed a significantly lower SPIN accuracy rate than the NT group. Also, a significant impact of noise was found in the ASD group's accuracy rate but not in that of the NT group. There was a general improvement in the ASD group's SPIN performance with HAT and a decrease in their listening difficulty ratings across all conditions after the device trial. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated inadequate SPIN in the ASD group using a relatively sensitive measure to gauge SPIN performance among children. The markedly increased accuracy rate in noise during HAT-on sessions for the ASD group confirmed the feasibility of HAT for improving SPIN performance in controlled laboratory settings, and the reduced post-use ratings of listening difficulty further confirmed the benefits of HAT use in daily scenarios.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Self-Help Devices , Speech Perception , Humans , Child , East Asian People , Hearing , LanguageABSTRACT
Background: The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has increased steadily over the past few decades. Elucidating its global burden will facilitate more effective disease management and improve patient outcomes. We explored the disease burden, risk factors, and trends in incidence and mortality in NHL globally. Methods: The up-to-date data on age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of NHL were retrieved from the GLOBOCAN 2020, CI5 volumes I-XI, WHO mortality database, and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019, focusing on geographic disparities worldwide. We reported incidence and mortality by sex and age, along with corresponding age-standardized rates (ASRs), the average annual percentage change (AAPC), and future burden estimates to 2040. Results: In 2020, there were an estimated 545,000 new cases and 260,000 deaths of NHL globally. In addition, NHL resulted in 8,650,352 age-standardized DALYs in 2019 worldwide. The age-specific incidence rates varied drastically across world areas, at least 10-fold in both sexes, with the most pronounced increase trend found in Australia and New Zealand. By contrast, North African countries faced a more significant mortality burden (ASR, 3.7 per 100,000) than highly developed countries. In the past decades, the pace of increase in incidence and mortality accelerated, with the highest AAPC of 4.9 (95%CI: 3.6-6.2) and 6.8 (95%CI: 4.3-9.2) in the elderly population, respectively. Considering risk factors, obesity was positively correlated with age-standardized incidence rates (P< 0.001). And North America was the high-risk region for DALYs due to the high body mass index in 2019. Regarding demographic change, NHL incident cases are projected to rise to approximately 778,000 by 2040. Conclusion: In this pooled analysis, we provided evidence for the growing incidence trends in NHL, particularly among women, older adults, obese populations, and HIV-infected people. And the marked increase in the older population is still a public health issue that requires more attention. Future efforts should be directed at cultivating health awareness and formulating effective and locally tailored cancer prevention strategies, especially in most developing countries.
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PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to estimate the long-term survival, late toxicity profile, and quality of life of patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with combined induction chemotherapy (IC) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy from a clinical trial focused on reducing the target volume of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: This prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted across 6 Chinese hospitals and included 212 patients with stage III-IVB NPC who were randomly allocated to a pre-IC or post-IC group. Eligible patients were treated with 2 cycles of IC + CCRT. All patients underwent radical IMRT. Gross tumor volumes of the nasopharynx were delineated according to pre-IC and post-IC tumor extent in the pre-IC and post-IC groups, respectively. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 98.4 months, 32 of 97 (32.9%) and 33 of 115 (28.7%) patients experienced treatment failure or died in the pre-IC and post-IC groups, respectively. None of the patients developed grade 4 late toxicity. Late radiation-induced toxicity predominantly manifested as grade 1 to 2 subcutaneous fibrosis, hearing loss, tinnitus, and xerostomia, whereas grade 3 late toxicity included xerostomia and hearing loss. The 5-year estimated overall, progression-free, locoregional recurrence-free, and distant metastasis-free survival rates in the pre-IC and post-IC groups were 78.2% versus 83.3%, 72.0% versus 78.1%, 90.2% versus 93.5%, and 78.1% versus 82.1%, respectively. The pre-IC group had a significantly higher incidence of xerostomia and hearing damage than the post-IC group. In terms of quality of life, compared with the pre-IC group, the post-IC group showed significant improvement in cognitive function (P = .045) and symptoms including dry mouth (P = .004), sticky saliva (P = .047), and feeling ill (P = .041). CONCLUSIONS: After long-term follow-up, we confirmed that reducing the target volumes of IMRT after IC in locoregionally advanced NPC showed no inferiority in terms of the risk of locoregional relapse and potentially improved quality of life and alleviated late toxicity.
Subject(s)
Hearing Loss , Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms , Radiation Injuries , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated , Xerostomia , Humans , Chemoradiotherapy/adverse effects , Chemoradiotherapy/methods , Cisplatin , Hearing Loss/etiology , Induction Chemotherapy/adverse effects , Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/radiotherapy , Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life , Radiation Injuries/etiology , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/adverse effects , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/methods , Xerostomia/etiologyABSTRACT
Synthesis of buckybowls have stayed highly challenging due to the large structural strain caused by curved π surface. In this paper, we report the synthesis and properties of two trichalcogenasupersumanenes which three chalcogen (sulfur or selenium) atoms and three methylene groups bridge at the bay regions of hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene. These trichalcogenasupersumanenes are synthesized quickly in three steps using an Aldol cyclotrimerization, a Scholl oxidative cyclization, and a Stille type reaction. X-ray crystallography analysis reveals that they encompass bowl diameters of 11.06 Å and 11.35 Å and bowl depths of 2.29 Å and 2.16 Å for the trithiasupersumanene and triselenosupersumanene, respectively. Furthermore, trithiasupersumanene derivative with methyl chains can form host-guest complexes with C60 or C70, which are driven by concave-convex π ⯠π interactions and multiple C-H ⯠π interactions between bowl and fullerenes.
Subject(s)
Fullerenes , Fullerenes/chemistry , Crystallography, X-RayABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in China had resulted in campus lockdown in many universities since February 2022, profoundly affecting students' daily lives. Campus lockdown conditions differ considerably from home quarantine, so that the eating patterns of university students may be different. Thus, the current study aimed to: (1) investigate university students' eating patterns during campus lockdown; (2) identify factors associated with their disordered eating. METHOD: An online survey about recent life changes, disordered eating, stress, depression, and anxiety was carried out from April 8th to May 16th, 2022. A total of 2541 responses from 29 provinces/cities of China were received. RESULTS: 2213 participants were included in the main analysis, and other 86 participants were analyzed separately as a subgroup due to their diagnosis of eating disorder. Participants who were undergoing campus lockdown (the lockdown group) showed less disordered eating than those who had never been in campus lockdown (the never-lockdown group), as well as those who had experienced campus lockdown before (the once-lockdown group). However, they perceived more stress and felt more depressed. Being female, higher BMI, gaining weight, increasing exercise, spending more time on social media, higher level of depression and anxiety were all related to disordered eating in the lockdown group. CONCLUSIONS: Disordered eating among Chinese university students was less prevalent during campus lockdown due to the strict and regular diet. However, there is a potential risk of "revenge eating" after campus lockdown ends. Thus, there should be further tracking and related prevention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, uncontrolled trials without any interventions.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Feeding and Eating Disorders , Humans , Female , Male , COVID-19/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2 , Universities , Communicable Disease Control , Feeding and Eating Disorders/epidemiology , StudentsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the personalities, social avoidance and distress, and anxiety status of Chinese patients with and without objective halitosis, and investigate the association among these psychological disorders. METHODS: Patients who complained of bad breath and diagnosed with objective halitosis were enrolled into the halitosis group, while patients without objective halitosis were enrolled into the control group. The questionnaires included the sociodemographic profile of the participants, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAD), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). RESULTS: A total of 280 patients were assigned into objective halitosis group (n = 146) and control group (n = 134). The extraversion subscales (E) score of the EPQ in the halitosis group were significantly lower than that in the control group (p = 0.001). The total SAD score and proportion of patients with anxiety symptoms in the BAI scale in the objective halitosis was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between the extraversion subscale and the total SAD score, Social Avoidance and Social Distress subscales (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with objective halitosis have more introverted personality traits and are more likely to have social avoidance and distress than the nonhalitosis population.