Ultrasound and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer for predicting axillary lymph node metastasis.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the clinicopathological and ultrasound (US) features of breast cancer for predicting the risk of axillary lymph node metastasis. METHODS: Patients with breast cancer were included in this retrospective, monocentric, observational study. Their preoperative ultrasound features, clinical data, laboratory results and postoperative pathologic results and immunophenotyping were collected. The association of these factors of breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastasis was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In this study, 471 patients diagnosed with breast cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between July 2016 and September 2019 were collected, with a total of 471 nodules, of which 231(49.0%) had axillary lymph node metastasis, and 240(51.0%) did not. The parameters of hyperechoic halo, posterior acoustic decrease, microcalcification, carcinogenic embryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen-153 (CA153), CK5/6 (+), Ki67 (≥40%), AR (+) and histological grade (grade II and grade III) were significantly and independently associated with axillary lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ultrasound features, tumor markers, pathology, and immunohistochemistry can predict axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Surveillance and Control of Malaria Vectors in Hainan Province, China from 1950 to 2021: A Retrospective Review.

Malaria is a serious mosquito-borne tropical disease impacting populations in tropical regions across the world. Malaria was previously hyperendemic in Hainan Province. Due to large-scale anti-malarial intervention, malaria elimination in the province was achieved in 2019. This paper reviews the literature on the ecology, bionomics, and control of malaria vectors in Hainan from 1951 to 2021. We searched PubMed, and the China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) database for relevant articles published and included three other important books published in Chinese or English in order to summarize research on species, distribution, vectorial capacity, ecology, the resistance of malaria vectors to insecticides, and malaria vector control in Hainan Province. A total of 239 references were identified, 79 of which met the criteria for inclusion in our review. A total of six references dealt with the salivary gland infection of Anophelines, six with vectorial capacity, 41 with mosquito species and distribution, seven with seasonality, three with blood preference, four with nocturnal activity, two with flight distance, 13 with resistance to insecticides, and 14 with vector control. Only 16 published papers met the criteria of addressing malaria vectors in Hainan over the last 10 years (2012-2021). Anopheles dirus and Anopheles minimus are primary malaria vectors, mainly distributed in the southern and central areas of Hainan. Indoor residual spraying with DDT and the use of ITNs with pyrethroid insecticides were the main interventions taken for malaria control. Previous studies on ecology, bionomics, and resistance of vectors provided scientific evidence for optimizing malaria vector control and contributed to malaria elimination in Hainan Province. We hope our study will contribute to preventing malaria reestablishment caused by imported malaria in Hainan. Research on malaria vectors should be updated to provide scientific evidence for malaria vector control strategies post-elimination as the ecology, bionomics, and resistance of vectors to insecticides may change with changes in the environment.

Volatilization process of toluene from contaminated soil under consideration of co-existence of pore water.

The volatilization process of contaminants has been shown to play an important role in remediation of VOC-contaminated soils. The aim of this paper is to study the volatilization characteristics of both toluene and water from soil, and to evaluate their interaction mechanism under different conditions. A test system is developed to measure mass loss of contaminants and water from soil by volatilization. It was found that basically the volatilization process could be divided into two stages in clay and one stage in sand. Two main influential mechanisms of water on the volatilization of toluene include molecules' competitive adsorption and blocking of volatilization channels. In addition, the evaporation process of water was restricted by volatilization of toluene. Volatilization rate of toluene would increase with the increase of water content when the water content was low. But it would decrease with the increase of water content when the water content was higher than 15% in clay. In addition, there existed an optimal water content (15%) under which the maximum volatilization rate could be achieved.

Effectiveness of the improved B-ultrasound method for measuring the antral section to guide enteral nutrition in patients with sepsis in a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the application of the improved B-ultrasound method (hereafter referred to as B method) for measuring the antral section to evaluate gastric motility in guiding EN for patients with sepsis. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: In this single-center, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 64 patients with sepsis were randomly enrolled from January 2018 to December 2019. The improved B method (study group) and physicians' clinical experience (control group) were used to guide EN. The two groups patients were separated randomly both. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the study group had a significantly shorter EN start time, faster initial rate of EN, lower incidence of EN interruption, and shorter Tmax (p<0.05,95% confidence intervals.) and exhibited lower incidences of adverse reactions (p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that the study group exhibited significantly fewer adverse EN complications (p=0.029), shorter MV duration, and decreased ICU stay and in-hospital mortality (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The improved B method could perform real-time monitoring of gastric function. Additionally, compared with the physician's personal clinical experience, the improved B method exhibits a better effect in guiding EN for patients with sepsis.

Extensive Resistance of Anopheles sinensis to Insecticides in Malaria-Endemic Areas of Hainan Province, China.

Anopheles sinensis is one of the major malaria vectors and among the dominant species in Hainan Province, China. The resistance of An. sinensis to insecticides is an important threat to malaria control. However, few reports on insecticide resistance of An. sinensis were reported in this area. Eight districts in Hainan Province were selected as the study areas. Insecticide susceptibility bioassays were tested on wild-caught female mosquitoes of An. sinensis to 4% dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), 0.05% deltamethrin, and 5% malathion by using the World Health Organization standard resistance tube assay procedure. All the tested An. sinensis mosquitoes demonstrated resistance to 4% DDT, with less than 72% mortality in the standard assay. The populations from Baisha and Qiongzhong demonstrated possible resistance to 0.05% deltamethrin, with 94-95% mortality, whereas the populations from other districts demonstrated resistance to 0.05% deltamethrin in the standard assay. The populations from Baisha, Qiongzhong, and Dongfang demonstrated susceptibility to 5% malathion, but the populations from other districts demonstrated resistance. These results facilitate the improvement of effective control strategies for malaria vector mosquitoes in Hainan.

[Resistance of Anopheles sinensis to three common insecticides in Hainan Province].

Anopheles sinensis adults were collected by cow-baited trap in Haikou City, Sanya City, Lingshui County, Changjiang County and Qiongzhong County of Hainan Province during 2011-2013. The mosquitoes were exposed to insecticide impregnated papers with discriminating concentrations of DDT (4%), deltamethrin (0.05%), and malathion (5%) using WHO standard assays. Knockdown rate was recorded at 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min, and KT50 values were calculated. Mortality was recorded after 24 hours of exposure. The resistance level was graded as sensitive group (S) with a mortality rate of 98%-100%, preliminary resistance group (M) with mortality rate of 80%-97%, and resistance group (R) with mortality rate of lower than 80%. The results showed that the mortality rate of An. sinensis in Qiongzhong County in 24 h-post-exposure to 0.05% deltamethrin was 95.0% with a resistance degree of M. That to 0.05% deltamethrin in the other 4 sites was 17.0%-63.0%, all with a resistance degree of R. That to 4% DDT in Haikou, Sanya, Lingshui, Qiongzhong and Changjiang was 36.0%, 27.0%, 24.0%, 59.1%, and 82.0%, with a resistance level of R, R, R, R, and M, respectively. That to 5% malathion in Haikou, Sanya, and Lingshui was 16.0%-41.0%, all with a resistance degree of R, while that to malathion in Qiongzhong and Changjiang was 100% and 98.0%, respectively, with a resistance level of S.

[Resistance assay of malaria vectors to four kinds of common insecticides in some endemic areas of Hainan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the resistance of malaria vectors to four kinds of common insecticides in some endemic areas of Hainan Province. METHODS: Anopheline mosquitoes were collected between 2008 and 2010 from malaria endemic areas where insecticides were used for years. Anopheles dirus were collected from human-baited trap in Wangxia Town of Changjiang County. An. minimus and An. sinensis were collected by cow-baited trap in Jiangbian Town of Dongfang City. F0 generation female An. sinensis, F1 generation of female An. dirus and An. minimus were selected and exposed to insecticide impregnated papers with discriminating concentrations of DDT (4%), deltamethrin (0.05%), cyfluthrin (0.15%), and malathion (5%) using WHO standard assays. Knockdown rate was recorded at 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min, and KTm values were calculated. Mortality was recorded after 24 hours of exposure. RESULTS: Mortality in An. dirus was 100% to DDT, deltamethrin and malathion. Knockdown rate of An. dirus exposed to DDT and deltamethrin was 82.0% and 100%, with a KT50 value of 46.9 and 18.4 min, respectively. Mortality of An. minimus to DDT, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin and malathion was 98.1%, 99.0%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The knockdown rate of An. minimus to DDT, deltamethrin, and cyfluthrin was 96.3%, 99.0%, and 100%, respectively, and the KTs value was 31.3, 16.8, and 7.4 min, respectively. Mortality of An. sinensis to DDT, deltamethrin, and malathion was 19.8%, 22.9%, and 43.8%, respectively. Knockdown rate of An. sinensis to DDT and deltamethrin was 2.0%, the KT50 can not be calculated. CONCLUSION: An. dirus and An. minimus, the main malaria vectors in the survey sites of Hainan Province, are susceptible to the four insecticides, while secondary malaria vector An. sinensis showed resistance to DDT, deltamethrin, and malathion.