Accuracy of radiomics in the diagnosis and preoperative high-risk assessment of endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: With the increasing use of radiomics in cancer diagnosis and treatment, it has been applied by some researchers to the preoperative risk assessment of endometrial cancer (EC) patients. However, comprehensive and systematic evidence is needed to assess its clinical value. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the application value of radiomics in the diagnosis and treatment of EC. Methods: Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science databases were retrieved up to March 2023. Preoperative risk assessment of EC included high-grade EC, lymph node metastasis, deep myometrial invasion status, and lymphovascular space invasion status. The quality of the included studies was appraised utilizing the RQS scale. Results: A total of 33 primary studies were included in our systematic review, with an average RQS score of 7 (range: 5-12). ML models based on radiomics for the diagnosis of malignant lesions predominantly employed logistic regression. In the validation set, the pooled c-index of the ML models based on radiomics and clinical features for the preoperative diagnosis of endometrial malignancy, high-grade tumors, lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular space invasion, and deep myometrial invasion was 0.900 (95%CI: 0.871-0.929), 0.901 (95%CI: 0.877-0.926), 0.906 (95%CI: 0.882-0.929), 0.795 (95%CI: 0.693-0.897), and 0.819 (95%CI: 0.705-0.933), respectively. Conclusions: Radiomics shows excellent accuracy in detecting endometrial malignancies and in identifying preoperative risk. However, the methodological diversity of radiomics results in significant heterogeneity among studies. Therefore, future research should establish guidelines for radiomics studies based on different imaging sources. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=364320 identifier CRD42022364320.

Diagnostic accuracy of superb microvascular imaging for detecting intraplaque neovascularization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaques can cause carotid artery stenosis, and "vulnerable plaques" can even lead to ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) for the detection of carotid intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) in patients with atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: We searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, and Wanfang databases until January 17, 2023. We included original studies with information on diagnostic accuracy of SMI for the evaluation of carotid IPN. The primary outcome was the accuracy of SMI for detecting carotid IPN. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate the accuracy of each parameter. We used the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) to assess the risk of bias for each included article. Meta-regression was performed to determine items that may have contributed to heterogeneity in the sensitivity or specificity of the test. Results: This meta-analysis included 20 studies with 1,589 carotid plaques in 1,225 patients. The analysis showed a sensitivity and specificity of SMI for detecting IPN of 93% [95% confidence interval (CI): 87-96%] and 80% (95% CI: 71-87%), respectively. The risk of bias across the QUADAS-2 domains was low. Only the proportion of dyslipidemia influenced the estimates of sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: This review suggests that SMI has a good diagnostic performance for detecting carotid IPN. The very high sensitivity with excellent post-test probability indicated that SMI can be recommended to screen for carotid IPN among patients with carotid plaques.

Structure of the Major G-Quadruplex in the Human EGFR Oncogene Promoter Adopts a Unique Folding Topology with a Distinctive Snap-Back Loop.

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have made remarkable success in targeted cancer therapy. However, therapeutic resistance inevitably occurred and EGFR-targeting therapy has been demonstrated to have limited efficacy or utility in glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, there is a high demand for the development of new targets to inhibit EGFR signaling. Herein, we found that the EGFR oncogene proximal promoter sequence forms a unique type of snap-back loop containing G-quadruplex (G4), which can be targeted by small molecules. For the first time, we determined the NMR solution structure of this snap-back EGFR-G4, a three-tetrad-core, parallel-stranded G4 with naturally occurring flanking residues at both the 5'-end and 3'-end. The snap-back loop located at the 3'-end region forms a stable capping structure through two stacked G-triads connected by multiple potential hydrogen bonds. Notably, the flanking residues are consistently absent in reported snap-back G4s, raising the question of whether such structures truly exist under in vivo conditions. The resolved EGFR-G4 structure has eliminated the doubt and showed distinct structural features that distinguish it from the previously reported snap-back G4s, which lack the flanking residues. Furthermore, we found that the snap-back EGFR-G4 structure is highly stable and can form on an elongated DNA template to inhibit DNA polymerase. The unprecedented high-resolution EGFR-G4 structure has thus contributed a promising molecular target for developing alternative EGFR signaling inhibitors in cancer therapeutics. Meanwhile, the two stacked triads may provide an attractive site for specific small-molecule targeting.

circDENND4C, a novel serum marker for epithelial ovarian cancer, acts as a tumor suppressor by downregulating miR-200b/c.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic value of circ-DENN domain containing 4 C (circDENND4C) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and the corresponding mechanism. METHODS: We determined the expression of circDENND4C and miR-200b/c in tissues and serum specimens as well as EOC cell lines using qRT-PCR. Basic clinical data, and serum HE4 and CAl25 levels were acquired from patients' clinical records. Expression-related correlations and the diagnostic value of serum circDENND4C in EOC were also estimated. CCK-8 and flow cytometry were performed to detect the effect of circDENND4C on cell proliferation and apoptosis. RESULTS: circDENND4C level was lowest while miR-200b/c was highest in EOC tissues, followed by benign and normal tissues. Similarly, serum circDENND4C was lowest while miR-200b/c was highest in EOC patients. Moreover, serum circDENND4C was lower in patients with benign ovarian tumors than in healthy women, while miR-200b/c expression was higher. circDENND4C was negatively associated with miR-200b/c in EOC tissues and serum specimens, and serum circDENND4C was also negatively correlated with serum HE4 and CAl25 in EOC patients. circDENND4C expression in both tissue and serum was negatively related to FIGO and TNM stage, and tumor size in EOC. Serum circDENND4C could distinguish healthy persons from patients with benign ovarian tumors and EOC, and they showed a higher specificity and accuracy than serum CA125 or HE4 in EOC diagnosis. circDENND4C upregulation significantly suppressed EOC cell proliferation and facilitated apoptosis by downregulating miR-200b/c in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Summarily, circDENND4C acts as a tumor inhibitor by downregulating miR-200b/c in EOC and could be a possible tumor marker for EOC diagnosis.KEY MESSAGEScircDENND4C expression was lowest while miR-200b/c was highest in EOC tissues or serums, followed by benign and normal tissues or serums.circDENND4C was involved in malignant progression of EOC, concretely, overexpression of circDENND4C suppressed EOC cell proliferation and stimulated apoptosis via downregulating miR-200b/c, and circDENND4C expression in both tissue and serum was closely related to FIGO and TNM stages and tumor size in EOC.Serum circDENND4C showed a higher specificity and accuracy than serum CA125 or HE4 in EOC diagnosis.HIGHLIGHTScircDENND4C expression was lowest while miR-200b/c was highest in EOC tissues, followed by benign and normal tissues.Serum circDENND4C was lowest while miR-200b/c was highest in EOC patients, followed by benign patients and healthy women.Overexpression of circDENND4C suppresses EOC cell proliferation and stimulates apoptosis via downregulating miR-200b/c.circDENND4C expression in both tissue and serum was closely related to FIGO and TNM stage and tumor size in EOC.Serum circDENND4C showed a higher specificity and accuracy than serum CA125 or HE4 in EOC diagnosis.

Influence of subway train fire locations on the characteristics of smoke movement in a curved tunnel.

Scenario models of a moving subway train can help investigate the influence of different fire locations on smoke propagation characteristics in curved tunnels. To this end, this study adopts the three-dimensional Unsteady Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes equations method and the renormalization group k-ε two-equation turbulence model with buoyancy correction for numerical analysis. The motion of the train is replicated using the slip grid technique. The results indicate that when a fire breaks out on a moving train in tunnels, the piston wind leads the longitudinal movement of the smoke. If a fire erupts in the head or middle car of a moving train, the time of smoke backflow is delayed by 30 s or 17 s, respectively, compared to that for the tail car. The obtained results provide a theoretical basis for reasonably controlling the smoke flow in subway tunnels and reducing casualties in fire accidents.

Structural insight into the bulge-containing KRAS oncogene promoter G-quadruplex bound to berberine and coptisine.

KRAS is one of the most highly mutated oncoproteins, which is overexpressed in various human cancers and implicated in poor survival. The G-quadruplex formed in KRAS oncogene promoter (KRAS-G4) is a transcriptional modulator and amenable to small molecule targeting. However, no available KRAS-G4-ligand complex structure has yet been determined, which seriously hinders the structure-based rational design of KRAS-G4 targeting drugs. In this study, we report the NMR solution structures of a bulge-containing KRAS-G4 bound to berberine and coptisine, respectively. The determined complex structure shows a 2:1 binding stoichiometry with each compound recruiting the adjacent flacking adenine residue to form a "quasi-triad plane" that stacks over the two external G-tetrads. The binding involves both π-stacking and electrostatic interactions. Moreover, berberine and coptisine significantly lowered the KRAS mRNA levels in cancer cells. Our study thus provides molecular details of ligand interactions with KRAS-G4 and is beneficial for the design of specific KRAS-G4-interactive drugs.

Blood Glucose Fluctuation in Older Adults with Diabetes Mellitus and End-Stage Renal Disease on Maintenance Hemodialysis: An Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease are at a high risk of developing coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular diseases. This study aimed to characterize hypoglycemia and blood glucose fluctuations associated with maintenance hemodialysis in older adult patients with diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease using a continuous glucose monitoring system. METHODS: Seven patients were enrolled in this study, and 13 pairs of continuous glucose monitoring system data were collected. Each pair included data of 1 dialysis-on day and 1 dialysis-off day. Information on basic patient characteristics, including age, diabetes mellitus duration, hemodialysis duration, and proportions of hemoglobin A1c and glycated albumin, were collected. Differences in blood glucose fluctuation were compared between dialysis-on days and dialysis-off days. RESULTS: The mean blood glucose on dialysis-on days (6.96 ± 2.57 mmol/L) was significantly lower than that on dialysis-off days (7.68 ± 2.31 mmol/L; P < 0.05). In contrast, the following parameters had significantly higher values (all P < 0.05) on dialysis-on days compared to dialysis-off days: large amplitude of glycemic excursion level (5.82 ± 2.86 mmol/L versus 4.21 ± 1.71 mmol/L), large amplitude of glycemic excursion level from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (3.6 ± 1.74 mmol/L versus 2.8 ± 1.33 mmol/L), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion level (4.78 ± 1.68 mmol/L versus 3.89 ± 1.67 mmol/L), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion level from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (4.01 ± 1.03 mmol/L versus 3.12. ± 0.97 mmol/L), standard deviation of blood glucose (1.55 ± 0.89 mmol/L versus 1.03 ± 0.4 mmol/L), and time below a target glucose range of less than 3.9 mmol/L (8.27% versus 4.25%). CONCLUSION: Fluctuations in blood glucose levels were larger on dialysis-on days, particularly from the start of hemodialysis to 2 h post-hemodialysis, than on dialysis-off days. Hypoglycemia, as indicated by the time below a target glucose range of less than 3.9 mmol/L, occurred more frequently on dialysis-on days than on dialysis-off days.

Oxidative Damage Induces a Vacancy G-Quadruplex That Binds Guanine Metabolites: Solution Structure of a cGMP Fill-in Vacancy G-Quadruplex in the Oxidized BLM Gene Promoter.

Guanine (G)-oxidation to 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG) by reactive oxygen species in genomic DNA has been implicated with various human diseases. G-quadruplex (G4)-forming sequences in gene promoters are highly susceptible to G-oxidation, which can subsequently cause gene activation. However, the underlying G4 structural changes that result from OG modifications remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigate the effect of G-oxidation on the BLM gene promoter G4. For the first time, we show that OG can induce a G-vacancy-containing G4 (vG4), which can be filled in and stabilized by guanine metabolites and derivatives. We determined the NMR solution structure of the cGMP-fill-in oxidized BLM promoter vG4. This is the first complex structure of an OG-induced vG4 from a human gene promoter sequence with a filled-in guanine metabolite. The high-resolution structure elucidates the structural features of the specific 5'-end cGMP-fill-in for the OG-induced vG4. Interestingly, the OG is removed from the G-core and becomes part of the 3'-end capping structure. A series of guanine metabolites and derivatives are evaluated for fill-in activity to the oxidation-induced vG4. Significantly, cellular guanine metabolites, such as cGMP and GTP, can bind and stabilize the OG-induced vG4, suggesting their potential regulatory role in response to oxidative damage in physiological and pathological processes. Our work thus provides exciting insights into how oxidative damage and cellular metabolites may work together through a G4-based epigenetic feature for gene regulation. Furthermore, the NMR structure can guide the rational design of small-molecule inhibitors that specifically target the oxidation-induced vG4s.

Type I IFNs repolarized a CD169+ macrophage population with anti-tumor potentials in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Macrophages constitute a major component in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and perform various functions to facilitate disease progression. Reprogramming or reconstituting the tumor surveillance phenotypes of macrophages represents an attractive immunotherapeutic strategy in cancer treatments. The current study identified CD169 as a potential target for macrophage repolarization since it signified a population of macrophages positively correlated with an activated immune signature and better prognosis of patients with HCC. In vitro experiments revealed that a low dose of type I interferon (IFN) could effectively reprogram human monocyte-derived macrophages to upregulate CD169 expression, and such induced CD169+ macrophages exhibited significantly enhanced phagocytotic and CD8+ T cell-activating capacities compared to controls. A low dose of IFNα also inhibited hepatoma growth in mice in vivo, presumably through polarizing the CD169+ macrophage population and enhancing CD8+ T cell activities. Notably, IFNα also induced substantial PD-L1 expression on macrophages in vivo, and thus blockade of PD-L1 could further increase the anti-tumor efficacy of IFNα in the treatment of HCC. We propose a low dose of IFNα in combination with a PD-L1 blocking agent as a potential anti-tumor therapeutic strategy via its effects on macrophage polarization.

Full-scale pore size distribution features of uranium-bearing sandstone in the northwest of Xinjiang, China.

As an important nuclear fuel, uranium in sandstone uranium deposits is mainly extracted by in situ leaching. The porosity of sandstone is one of the important indexes determining in situ leaching efficiency. Moreover, the microscopic pore size distribution (PSD) of the uranium-bearing layer has an important effect on porosity. It is necessary to feature the pore structure by various techniques because of the different pore types and sizes in the uranium layer. In this paper, combined with nitrogen gas adsorption, nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and scanning electron microscopy, the full-scale PSD features of uranium-bearing sandstone in the northwest of Xinjiang are effectively characterized. The results show that pores structure of uranium-bearing sandstone include dissolution pores (d ≤ 50 nm), intergranular pores (50 nm < d ≤ 200 µm) and microfractures. Intergranular pores of 60 nm and 1 µm are the significant contributors to pore volume. The effects of the pore volume of two pore types (dissolution pores and intergranular pores) on the porosity of uranium-bearing sandstone are analysed. The results show that intergranular pores have the greater influence on the porosity and are positively correlated to the porosity. Dissolution pores have little effect on the porosity, but it is one of the key factors for improving uranium recovery. Moreover, the greater the difference of PSD between sandstones, the stronger the interlayer heterogeneity of uranium-bearing sandstone. This kind of interlayer heterogeneity leads to the change of permeability in the horizontal direction of strata. It provides a basis for a reasonable setting of well type and well spacing parameters.

High S100A9+ cell density predicts a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection.

S100A9 is differentially expressed in various cell types and is associated with the development, progression and metastasis of various cancers. However, the expression, distribution, and clinical significance of S100A9 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In the present study, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to examine S100A9 gene expression in HCC; we found that S100A9 expression was associated with HCC prognosis. In addition, S100A9 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry analysis of tissues from 382 HCC patients. We found that the infiltration of S100A9+ cells in both tumor and nontumor tissues could predict poor overall survival (P = 0.0329, tumor; P = 0.0003, nontumor) and a high recurrence risk (P = 0.0387, tumor; P = 0.0015, nontumor) in our tissue microarray analysis. Furthermore, immunofluorescence double staining revealed that the primary S100A9-expressing cells in adjacent nontumoral tissue were CD15+ neutrophils, and both CD68+ macrophages and CD15+ neutrophils expressed S100A9 in HCC tumor tissues. Taken together, the results suggest that high S100A9+ cell density predicts a poor prognosis in HCC patients, and S100A9 expression could potentially serve as an independent prognostic marker for HCC.

Melatonin promotes Arabidopsis primary root growth in an IAA-dependent manner.

Melatonin has been characterized as a growth regulator in plants. Melatonin shares tryptophan as the precursor with the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), but the interplay between melatonin and IAA remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to dissect the relationship between melatonin and IAA in regulating Arabidopsis primary root growth. We observed that melatonin concentrations ranging from 10-9 to 10-6 M functioned as IAA mimics to promote primary root growth in Arabidopsis wild type, as well as in pin-formed (pin) single and double mutants. Transcriptome analysis showed that changes in gene expression after melatonin and IAA treatment were moderately correlated. Most of the IAA-regulated genes were co-regulated by melatonin, indicating that melatonin and IAA regulated a similar subset of genes. Melatonin partially rescued primary root growth defects in pin single and double mutant plants. However, melatonin treatment had little effect on primary root growth in the presence of high concentrations of auxin biosynthesis inhibitors, or polar transport inhibitor, and could not rescue the root length defect of the IAA biosynthesis quintuple mutant yucQ. Therefore, we propose that melatonin promotes primary root growth in an IAA-dependent manner.

Welding and Riveting Hybrid Bonding of 6061 Al and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites.

Welding and riveting hybrid bonding technology was applied to join 6061 aluminum alloy and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). The laser-arc hybrid welding process and stepped rivets were used in the experiments to reduce the impact of the poor heat resistance of composites. The effect of hybrid welding arc current on the formation and mechanical properties of 6061 Al/CFRP joints was studied. Tensile shear load up to 4.65 kN was achieved by adjusting process parameters. The welding process and mode of the fracture were analyzed. The hybrid bonded joint obtained consisted of two parts: a welded joint of Al plate and Al rivet, and a bonded interface between Al plate and CFRP plate. The mechanical properties of the hybrid joint were mainly determined by the Al plate/Al rivet welded joint. The results of the study show that there are three interfacial bonding mechanisms between aluminum and CFRP. In addition to mechanical bonding between the Al plate and CFRP plate, there were also metallurgical bonding of Al-Mg intermetallic compounds with resin matrix and chemical reactions of aluminum with resin and carbon fibers at the interface, which could improve the mechanical properties of the joints.

Novel Regulators of Sugar-Mediated Lateral Root Development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Lateral root development is a complex process regulated by numerous factors. An important role for sugar in lateral root development has been known for a while, but the underlying molecular basis still remains unclear. In this study, we first showed that WOX7, a sugar-inducible negative regulator of lateral root development, acts downstream of the glucose sensor HXK1. Using a transgenic line homozygous for a transgene expressing GFP under the control of the WOX7 promoter, we next performed a genetic screen to identify additional genes in this development pathway. A number of mutants with altered level of WOX7 expression were recovered, and two with increased WOX7 expression, named ewe-1 and ewe-2 (for Enhanced WOX7 Expression), were further characterized. Both mutants manifest delayed lateral root development, and genetic analysis indicates that single recessive mutations are responsible for the observed phenotypes. The mutations were then located to similar regions on chromosome 2 by marker-assisted analyses, and candidate genes were identified through whole genome sequencing. The significance and limitations of this work are discussed.

Study on the Colorimetry Properties of Transparent Wood Prepared from Six Wood Species.

Transparent wood (TW) was prepared by directly impregnating the wood cell wall and cavity with index-matched prepolymerized methyl methacrylate (MMA). In this process, lignin is retained compared with the preparation of transparent wood in the past, making the production faster and more energy-efficient. The innovation lies in that the prepared transparent wood retains the natural color and texture of the wood while transmitting light, especially under the illumination of a specific light source, which exist as the special visual effects. In order to enhance the practicality of the research and effectively expand the types of home decoration materials, six common wood species with different densities were selected in the experiment. Then the characteristics and mechanisms of wood, that is, color difference, light transmittance, microstructure, changes of chemical functional groups, and tensile strength, before and after PMMA impregnating were compared and analyzed. It is concluded that the light transmittance and mechanical properties of the wood have been improved, and a good synergistic effect between wood and PMMA has been confirmed by the analysis of scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The above highlights make pervious to transparent wood, which has the potential as an excellent functional decorative material.

Abnormal Newborn Screening Follow-up for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency in an Amish Cohort with Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia.

Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH) is an autosomal recessive, short limb skeletal dysplasia with a variable immunologic phenotype. The spectrum of immune function ranges from clinically normal to severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Multiple studies have shown that abnormal immune parameters may not predict severe outcomes. Newborn screening (NBS) using T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) assay can now effectively identify infants with severe T cell deficiency who are at risk for SCID. NBS has allowed for cost-effective identification of patients with SCID and improved outcomes with hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Ohio reports two abnormal TREC results: decreased and absent TREC. This study evaluated the laboratory and clinical differences in eight Amish patients with CHH with an abnormal TREC result on the NBS. There were four patients with absent TREC and four patients with decreased TREC. The absent TREC patients had lower CD3, CD4, naïve CD4, CD8 cells, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphocyte proliferation. Three patients with absent TREC were diagnosed with SCID and two underwent successful HSCT. Patients with absent TREC experienced more CHH-related morbidity including anemia requiring transfusion, Hirschsprung's disease, and failure to thrive. No patients with decreased TREC required HSCT. Our study indicates that CHH patients with absent TREC tend to have more severe immunological and clinical phenotype than patients with decreased TREC. Confirmation of these trends in a larger group would guide providers and parents in a timely referral for HSCT, or cost-effective surveillance monitoring of children with a life-threatening illness.

Targeting adenosinergic pathway enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Sorafenib is the most widely used first-line treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but such treatment provides only limited survival benefits that might be related to the immune status of distinct tumor microenvironments. A fundamental understanding of the distribution and phenotypes of T lymphocytes in tumors will undoubtedly lead to the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies that could possibly enhance the efficacy of sorafenib treatments. METHODS: Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to detect the infiltration and distribution of various leukocyte populations, and the expression of different immune checkpoint molecules in fresh HCC tumor tissues. Correlations among indicating genes were calculated in 365 patients with HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set, and the cumulative overall survival time was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Moreover, role of adenosinergic pathway on sorafenib anti-tumor efficacy was investigated using both subcutaneous and orthotopic transplantation tumor model in immune competent C57BL/6 mice. RESULTS: We revealed that levels of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells were significantly downregulated in HCC tumor tissue, so were the infiltration of CD169+ cells (a Mφ subpopulation with T cell activation capacities) and their contact with CD8+ cells in tumor milieus. Moreover, levels of PD-1 and CD39 expression were significantly upregulated in human HCC-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and CD39+CD8+ T cells exhibited a CD69+PD-1+perforinlowIFNγlow "exhausted" phenotype. Levels of both CD39+ T cells infiltration and adenosine receptor ADORA2B expression in tumor tissues were negatively correlated with overall survival of patients with HCC. Accordingly, mice treated with sorafenib in combination with adenosine A2B receptor blockage reagents exhibited significantly reduced tumor progression compared with control groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adenosinergic pathway might represent an applicable target for sorafenib-combined-therapies in human HCC.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of poly-phenols from Ajuga ciliata Bunge and evaluation of antioxidant activities in vitro.

Effective extraction of natural antioxidants from cheap plant sources is still a problem. In this paper, an excellent method of ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Ajuga ciliata Bunge was studied. The effects of four factors including ethanol volume fraction, ultrasonic time, ultrasonic temperature and material liquid ratio were discussed. After single factor experiments had been investigated, a 4-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design experiment was used to obtain the model optimum conditions, which are shown as follows: ethanol volume fraction of 41%, liquid-solid ratio of 35:1 mL/g, ultrasonic temperature of 60 °C and ultrasonic time of 50 min. Under these conditions, the experimental productivity is 3.552 mg/g. The spectra of Fourier infrared and energy dispersive X-ray suggest that phenolic compounds exist in the extracts. Besides, free radical scavenging potentials of superoxide anion, hydroxyl and DPPH were measured to evaluate their antioxidant properties. This study proves that the ultrasonic-assisted extraction technique can extract phenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity from Ajuga ciliata Bunge.

Electro-osmotic Treatment of Dredged Sediment by Different Power Supply Modes: Energy Consumption and Electro-osmotic Transport Volume.

Laboratory model tests were conducted in constant-voltage mode and constant-current mode for the one-dimensional electro-osmotic treatment of dredged sediment, with an approximately consistent initial electric power. The voltage, current, drainage rate, electro-osmotic transport volume, and energy consumption coefficient during the electro-osmotic process were measured and calculated. After treatment, the final soil moisture at designated positions in the test samples was measured to investigate the effects of different power supply modes. Further, the divergent phenomena observed with constant voltage and constant current were discussed. Based on an analysis of the measured energy consumption coefficients with time, we obtained a linear relationship between the applied/equivalent voltage and energy consumption coefficient. Furthermore, the electro-osmotic processes are divided into four stages by equal drainage quantity to obtain the energy consumption and electro-osmotic transport volume under different working conditions. The results reveal that the energy consumption of electro-osmosis is mainly determined by the applied voltage or the equivalent voltage for dredged sediment, while the value of electro-osmotic transport volume depends mainly on the change in soil water content rather than power supply modes. The drainage rate in constant-current mode was observed to be relatively steady, maintaining an approximately constant rate until the soil moisture was dramatically reduced. In other words, constant-current mode shows the advantages of being powerful and persistent in electro-osmotic treatment.

Fractal kinetic characteristics of hard-rock uranium leaching with sulfuric acid.

In order to study the fractal dynamic properties of uranium leach mining and discuss the influence of ore crushing on the dynamics of leach mining, uranium mine ore rocks in southern China were selected as the research object and an acid leaching experiment was performed on the ore samples with different fractal dimensions of 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, 2.0, 2.3 and 2.6. In the column leaching experiment, a PVC pipe with an inner diameter of 112 mm and a height of 1500 mm was used. The uranium content was determined by using titanium trioxide that was placed into a 0.1 mg ml-1 standard uranium solution, and a sampling rate of once daily with a 5 ml volume of leaching solution was adopted after 8 h drenching time. The results show that the flow rate of the leaching solution depends on the distribution of the ore's particle size, that is, a larger fractal dimension results in a smaller flow rate. The concentration of the uranium leaching solution reaches a maximum value which subsequently decreases with time on the third day of the experiment, and it seems that the changes in the uranium concentration tend to be stable at around 15 days. Moreover, the concentration seems to increase with the increasing fractal dimension, and the fractal dimension of the ore particle size has a significant impact on the leaching kinetics. When the fractal dimension is between 1.1 and 2.6, the uranium dissolution rate, K, increases with the increasing fractal dimension. The kinetic reaction of the uranium leaching is a liquid-solid one, which is controlled by chemical reactions in the earlier phase. While the middle reaction phase is mainly chemical-diffusion reaction coupling, and the latter part of the reaction is controlled by diffusion. As the fractal dimension increases, the liquid-solid reaction controlled by diffusion appears at earlier phases. When the fractal dimension is greater than 2.0, the time of entering the diffusion control phase only changed little with the increasing of the fractal dimension. At last, a fractal dimension of 2.0 is suggested for the acid leaching of uranium ore crushing.