Risk of interstitial lung disease with the use of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor compared with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor in patients with breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors have become integral elements within the current landscape of breast cancer treatment modalities; however, they are associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD), which is rare but potentially fatal. Notably, only a few studies have compared the difference in ILD incidence between PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the discrepancies regarding ILD risk between the two immune checkpoint inhibitors. We also reported three cases of ILD after PD-1 inhibitor treatment. Methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to identify clinical trials that investigated PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment for patients with breast cancer. Pooled overall estimates of incidence and risk ratio (RR) were calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and a mirror group analysis was performed using eligible studies. Results: This meta-analysis included 29 studies with 4639 patients who received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment. A higher ILD incidence was observed among 2508 patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors than among 2131 patients treated with PD-L1 inhibitors (0.05 vs. 0.02). The mirror group analysis further revealed a higher ILD event risk in patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors than in those treated with PD-L1 inhibitors (RR = 2.34, 95% CI, 1.13-4.82, P = 0.02). Conclusion: Our findings suggest a greater risk of ILD with PD-1 inhibitors than with PD-L1 inhibitors. These findings are instrumental for clinicians in treatment deliberations, and the adoption of more structured diagnostic approaches and management protocols is necessary to mitigate the risk of ILD.

Application of TiLOOP bra in implant-based breast reconstruction is associated with decreased complication risk compared with other meshes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: TiLOOP bra has been used for over 15 years, however, evidence regarding its safety in implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) for patients with breast cancer after mastectomy is still limited. We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate its risks and benefits in IBBR comparing with other meshes. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched to identify relevant studies comparing postoperative complications between TiLOOP bra and other reconstruction techniques in IBBR with or without meshes. We also compared patient satisfaction in physical well-being between two groups. Risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Seven studies representing 1203 cases were analyzed. Compared with other meshes, the use of TiLOOP bra significantly reduced the risk of infection (RR = 0.53, 95% CI, 0.32-0.86), seroma (RR = 0.21, 95% CI, 0.07-0.61), red breast syndrome (RR = 0.10, 95% CI, 0.02-0.45), and capsular contracture (RR = 0.20, 95% CI, 0.05-0.75). Patient satisfaction in physical well-being was comparable between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: TiLOOP bra in IBBR has a favored safety profile over other meshes, which significantly reduced postoperative complication risk and did not affect patient satisfaction. Although prospective well-designed controlled studies are still warranted, TiLOOP bra is safe and reliable at present.

Radio Frequency Drying Behavior in Porous Media: A Case Study of Potato Cube with Computer Modeling.

To study the mechanism of heat and mass transfer in porous food material and explore its coupling effect in radio frequency (RF) drying processes, experiments were conducted with potato cubes subjected to RF drying. COMSOL Multiphysics® package was used to establish a numerical model to simulate the heat and mass transfer process in the potato cube and solved with finite element method. Temperature history at the sample center and the heating pattern after drying was validated with experiment in a 27.12 MHz RF heating system. Results showed the simulation results were in agreement with experiments. Furthermore, the temperature distribution and water vapor concentration distribution were correspondent with water distribution in the sample after RF drying. The water concentration within the food volume was non-uniform with a higher water concentration than the corner, the maximum difference of which was 0.03 g·cm-3. The distribution of water vapor concentration in the sample was similar to that of water content distribution since a pressure gradient from center to corner allowed the mass transfer from the sample to the surrounding in the drying process. In general, the moisture distribution in the sample affected the temperature and water vapor concentration distribution since the dielectric properties of the sample were mainly dependent on its moisture content during a drying process. This study reveals the mechanism of RF drying of porous media and provides an effective approach for analyzing and optimizing the RF drying process.

Accelerated crystallization of magnetic 4A-zeolite synthesized from red mud for application in removal of mixed heavy metal ions.

To cope with the increasing environmental issues of red mud, an integrated technological route for its comprehensive utilization was developed through the extraction of valuable components and the synthesis of magnetic 4A-zeolite. To accelerate the crystallization process of the synthesized 4A-zeolite, sodium chloride (NaCl) was innovatively employed under hydrothermal treatment. The effects of various parameters, including mass ratio of red mud/NaOH, alkali fusion temperature, alkali fusion time and molar ratio of NaCl/Al2O3, were systematically investigated. The results showed that approximately 81.0% Al, 76.1% Si and 95.8% Fe were utilized from red mud using alkali fusion and acid leaching methods. The optimal conditions of the alkali fusion process were determined as: mass ratio of red mud/NaOH = 1/2, alkali fusion temperature of 800 °C, and time of 90 min. Furthermore, when the molar ratio of NaCl/Al2O3 was kept at 1.5, the crystallization time reduced from 240 min to 150 min, and particle size distributions narrowed from 20-100 µm to 1-10 µm. The practical applications in removal of mixed heavy metal ions (Zn2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+) from wastewater indicated that the as-synthesized magnetic 4A-zeolite is a promising candidate for heavy metals adsorption.

[Regulatory effect of compound Coptidis Rhizoma capsule on unbalanced expression of renal tissue TGF-ß1/BMP-7 and Smad signaling pathway in rats with early diabetic nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of compound Coptidis Rhizoma capsule (CCRC) on unbalanced expression of renal tissue TGF-ß1/BMP-7 and Smad signaling pathway in rats with early diabetic nephropathy (DN), and discuss CCRC's effect on DN rats with early diabetic nephropathy and its possible mechanism. METHOD: DN model rats were established by injecting streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were randomly divided into seven groups: the normal group, the model group, the enalapril treatment group, the xiaoke pill treatment group and three CRCC treatment groups. They were orally administered once a day for five weeks. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), insulin (Ins), 24 h urinary protein (24 h Upro) and 24 h urinary microalbumin (24 h UmAlb) were tested. The pathological changes in renal tissues were examined by optical microscopy. Immuno- histochemical measures were used to detect the expressions of TGF-ß1, BMP-7, Smad2/3, Smad1/5, and Smad7 protein, and RT-PCR was used to detect TGF-ß1 mRNA and BMP-7 mRNA in renal tissues. RESULT: Compared with model group, BUN, Scr, Ins, 24 h Upro and 24 h UmAlb levels decreased at different degrees in CCRC treatment groups; the abnormal pathomorphology in renal tissue was improved; immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad2/3 were reduced, while the expression of BMP-7, Smad1/5 and Smad7 increased in CRCC treatment groups; the expression of TGF-ß1 mRNA were reduced, but the expression of BMP-7 mRNA had no obvious change in CRCC treatment groups. CONCLUSION: CRCC can improve the early renal function, delay the progression of chronic renal pathology and maintain the dynamic balance of TGF-ß1/BMP-7 expression in renal tissues of DN rats. The mechanism may be related to down-regulation of renal TGF-ß1 and up-regulation of BMP-7 through Smad signaling pathway.

[Regulatory effect of berberine on unbalanced expressions of renal tissue TGF-beta1/SnoN and smad signaling pathway in rats with early diabetic nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of berberine (BBR) on unbalanced expression of renal tissue TGF-beta1/SnoN and Smad signal pathway in rats with early diabetic nephropathy (DN), and discuss BBR's effect on DN rats with early diabetic nephropathy and its possible mechanism. METHOD: DN rat model were established by injecting streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, three BBR (50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1)) treatment groups and the enalapril treatment group. They were orally administered once a day for five weeks. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), urinary protein (24 h Upro) and urinary microalbumin (24 h UmAlb) were tested. The pathological changes in renal tissues were examined by optical microscopy. Immunohistochemical measures were used to detect the expressions of TGF-beta1, SnoN, Smad2/3 and Smad7 protein, and RT-PCR was used to detect TGF-beta1 mRNA in renal tissues. RESULT: Compared with the model group, BBR-treated groups showed significant decrease in FBG, BUN, Scr, 24 h Upro, 24 h UmAlb, TGF-beta1 protein, mRNA and Smad2/3 protein, abnormal morphological improvement in renal tissues, and notable increase in the expressions of SnoN and Smad7 protein. CONCLUSION: BBR can maintain the dynamic balance in TGF-beta1/SnoN expression in renal tissues through Smad signaling pathway, so as to mitigate renal functional disorder in DN rats and delay DN and its development.

[Optimization of Glycyrrhiza flavonoid and ferulic acid cream by reflect-line orthogonal simplex method].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the formula of Glycyrrhiza flavonoid and ferulic acid cream and set up its quality control parameters. METHOD: Reflect-line orthogonal simplex method was used to optimize the main factors such as amount of Myrj52-glyceryl monostearate and dimethicone, based on the appearance, spreadability and stability of the cream. RESULT: 9.0% Myrj52-glyceryl monostearate (3:2) and 2.5% dimethicone were chosen in prescription. The prepared cream presented a good stability after being placed 24 h at 5 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C respectively,and its spreadability suited with the property of semi-fluid cream. CONCLUSION: [corrected] The formula of Glycyrrhiza flavonoid and ferulic acid cream is suitable, and its quality is stable. The reflect-line orthogonal simplex method is suitable for the formula optimization of cream.

[Effect of compound Rhizoma Coptidis capsule on expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and type IV collagen proteins in renal tissue of diabetic rats with nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of compound Rhizoma Coptidis capsule (CRCC) on diabetic nephropathy in experimental rats. METHOD: The rat model of early diabetic nephropathy was induced by injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were divided into 6 groups: normal control group, model group, 3 CRCC treatment groups and XKW treatment group. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), insulin (Ins) and urinary protein (Upro) were tested 30 days later. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and type IV collagen (IV-C) proteins and the pathological changes in renal tissue of diabetic rats with nephropathy were observed by optical micrography. RESULT: CRCC could reduce the levels of FBG, BUN, Cr, Upro and the expression of TGF-beta1 and IV-C proteins, and alleviate pathological lesion in renal tissue of diabetic rats with nephropathy. CONCLUSION: CRCC may protect the renal function and slow down the progression of diabetic nephropathy in rats by suppressing the expression of TGF-beta1 and IV-C proteins in renal tissue.