Improving the Quality of Laser Drilling by Assisted Process Methods of Static Solution and Mist Blowing.

The use of static solution-assisted laser drilling can effectively improve hole roundness, decrease taper angle, and reduce recast layer thickness and hole wall slag adhesion. However, the enormous energy of the laser will evaporate the solution to form a suspension droplet and reduce the quality and efficiency of laser drilling. To deal with this defect, the mist-blowing method was used to reduce the influence of droplets on the taper angle and recast layer. In this work, the effect of wind speed on drilling quality was examined, and laser drilling in air, water, and NaCl solution was carried out to analyse the effect of solution composition on hole wall morphology. The results showed that a speed fan with a proper wind speed that disperses the droplets formed in the processing area can significantly reduce the refraction and scattering of the laser, and the taper angle and roundness of the drilling hole were also reduced by 15.6% and improved by 2.4%, respectively, under the wind speed of 2 m/s. The hole wall morphology showed a thicker recast layer and cracking in air, while it was thinner in water and there was little or no layer in the NaCl solution in the same current. When drilling in NaCl, the taper angle and roundness of the drilling hole were reduced by 4.13% and improved by 2.11%, respectively, compared to water. Due to the mechanical effect of the laser in the NaCl solution, the impact force on the material was much greater than that in water. The solution cavitation effect, generated by the absorption of laser energy, caused an explosive impact on the molten material adhered to the surface of the hole wall. Above all, drilling in the NaCl solution with a current of 200 A and a wind speed of 2 m/s was the optimal condition for obtaining the best processing quality.

The allocation of carbon resources in marine capture fisheries.

Marine fishery carbon emissions play a significant role in agricultural carbon emissions, making resource allocation a crucial topic for the overall marine ecological protection. This paper evaluates the dynamic iteration method as a research approach with the factors of resource allocation consisting of value assessment, optimization objective, difference between value assessment and objective, and optimization calculation. The paper selects the shadow price from the Super-SBM model as the judgment function for the goal value, aiming for the fairness criterion. From an equity standpoint, the allocation of carbon resources in marine capture fisheries proves to be unreasonable. The fishery model exhibits an excessive supply of carbon resources, resulting in wastage, while the green fishery model faces a relatively limited supply, with a focus on energy conservation and environmental protection. To address this issue, this paper proposes a new method and discusses the corrective results. This result shows that the stabilization point achieved is a short-term equilibrium rather than a long-term one. By rectifying the social contradiction of profit-oriented approaches, this research provides a fresh perspective for economic studies and applications, particularly in industrial layout and resource utilization optimization.

A study of the effect of population aggregation on common prosperity: Evidence from 283 Chinese cities.

More than 40 years of urbanization in China has brought rapid economic growth, but the uneven development of region and how to achieve common prosperity through urbanization remain a serious concern. This paper analyzes the effect of the urbanization mode of population aggregation in central cities on common prosperity in China. Using panel data of 283 cities from 2004 to 2019, the study constructs a common prosperity index based on the coupling coordination degree of economy, ecology, and society. The Spatial Durbin Model is used to analyze the influence of population aggregation in central cities on common prosperity and the moderating effect of financial self-sufficiency rate. The results show that population aggregation in central cities has a positive effect on common prosperity. There is also a spatial spillover effect, but the impact exhibits an inverted U-shaped characteristic. Moreover, the fiscal self-sufficiency rate has a negative moderating impact on the effect of population aggregation on common prosperity in the early stage, but a positive moderating impact in the later period. This paper concludes by suggesting that the government should promote urbanization, control the size of large cities, accelerate the reform of household registration, and pay attention to the coordinated development of economy, society, and ecology to promote the realization of common prosperity.

Polarization-Sensitive, Self-Powered, and Broadband Semimetal MoTe2/MoS2 van der Waals Heterojunction for Photodetection and Imaging.

The emerging type II Weyl semimetal 1T' MoTe2 as a promising material in polarization-sensitive photodetectors has aroused much attention due to its narrow bandgap and intrinsic in-plane anisotropic crystal structure. However, the semimetal properties lead to a large dark current and a low response. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time an all-2D semimetal MoTe2/MoS2 van der Waals (vdWs) heterojunction to improve the performance of the photodetectors and realize polarization-sensitive, self-powered, and broadband photodetection and imaging. Owing to the built-in electric field of the heterojunction, the device achieves a self-powered photoresponse ranging from 520 to 1550 nm. Under 915 nm light illumination, the device demonstrates outstanding performance, including a high responsivity of 79 mA/W, a specific detectivity of 1.2 × 1010 Jones, a fast rise/decay time of 180/202 µs, and a high on/off ratio of 1.3 × 10.3 Wavelength-dependent photocurrent anisotropic ratio is revealed to vary from 1.10 at 638 nm to 2.24 at 1550 nm. Furthermore, we demonstrate the polarization imaging capabilities of the device in scattering surroundings, and the DoLP and AoLP images achieve 78% and 112% contrast enhancement, respectively, compared to the S0. This work opens up new avenues to develop anisotropic semimetals heterojunction photodetectors for high-performance polarization-sensitive photodetection and next-generation polarized imaging.

Oxidization-Temperature-Triggered Rapid Preparation of Large-Area Single-Crystal Cu(111) Foil.

The controlled preparation of single-crystal Cu(111) is intensively investigated owing to the superior properties of Cu(111) and its advantages in synthesizing high-quality 2D materials, especially graphene. However, the accessibility of large-area single-crystal Cu(111) is still hindered by time-consuming, complicated, and high-cost preparation methods. Here, the oxidization-temperature-triggered rapid preparation of large-area single-crystal Cu(111) in which an area up to 320 cm2 is prepared within 60 min, and where low-temperature oxidization of polycrystalline Cu foil surface plays a vital role, is reported. A mechanism is proposed, by which the thin Cux O layer transforms to a Cu(111) seed layer on the surface of Cu to induce the formation of a large-area Cu(111) foil, which is supported by both experimental data and molecular dynamics simulation results. In addition, a large-size high-quality graphene film is synthesized on the single-crystal Cu(111) foil surface and the graphene/Cu(111) composites exhibit enhanced thermal conductivity and ductility compared to their polycrystalline counterpart. This work, therefore, not only provides a new avenue toward the monocrystallinity of Cu with specific planes but also contributes to improving the mass production of high-quality 2D materials.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy caused by Utidelone: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Utidelone (UTD1) is a new chemotherapeutic drug for recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. However, it usually leads to severe peripheral neuropathy (PN) and causes numbness of the hands and feet and significant pain in patients' life. Electroacupuncture (EA) is considered beneficial in improving PN and relieving numbness of the hands and feet. This trial aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of EA on PN caused by UTD1 in patients with advanced breast cancer. Methods and analysis: This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial. A total of 70 patients with PN caused by UTD1 will be randomly assigned to the EA treatment group and the control group in a ratio of 1:1. The patients in the EA treatment group will receive 2 Hz EA three times a week for 4 weeks. The patients in the control group will take mecobalamin (MeCbl) tablets orally, one tablet each, three times a day for 4 weeks. The main outcome measures will be the evaluation scale of peripheral neurotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN 20-item (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) and the peripheral neurotoxicity assessment rating according to NCI CTCAE version 5.0. Secondary outcomes will be the quality of life scale according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). The results will be evaluated at baseline, post-treatment phase, and follow-up. All major analyses will be based on the intention-to-treat principle. Ethics and dissemination: This protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital on 26 July 2022. The license number is IRB-2022-425. This study will provide clinical efficacy data on EA in the treatment of PN caused by UTD1 and will help to prove whether EA is an effective and safe therapy. The study results will be shared with healthcare professionals through the publication of manuscripts and conference reports. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2200062741.

Fast Living 3D Printing via Free Radical Promoted Cationic RAFT Polymerization.

The application of reversible deactivation radical polymerization techniques in 3D printing is emerging as a powerful method to build "living" polymer networks, which can be easily postmodified with various functionalities. However, the building speed of these systems is still limited compared to commercial systems. Herein, a digital light processing (DLP)-based 3D printing system via photoinduced free radical-promoted cationic reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of vinyl ethers, which can build "living" objects by a commercial DLP 3D printer at a relatively fast building speed (12.99 cm h-1 ), is reported. The polymerization behavior and printing conditions are studied in detail. The livingness of the printed objects is demonstrated by spatially controlled postmodification with a fluorescent monomer.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Warm Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Related Upper Limb Lymphedema: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with warm acupuncture in treating breast cancer associated with upper limb lymphedema (BCRL). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using a paired control design. Fifty-two BCRL patients were assigned to the control group (27 cases) and the treatment group (25 cases). The patients in the control group were treated with lymphedema comprehensive detumescence treatment (CDT) for 4 weeks, including systematic therapy composed of manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandage, skincare, and functional exercise. The patients in the treatment group were treated with TEAS combined with warm acupuncture based on the control group methods. Each treatment lasted for 30 min and was applied twice a week for 4 weeks. The arm circumference (AC) of different positions of the affected limb and the degree of swelling of the affected limb were evaluated before the first treatment and after the last treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the degree of edema before and after treatment. All adverse events during treatment were recorded. RESULTS: The patients' AC and the swelling feeling of the affected limb in the treatment group and the control group were both reduced compared with those before treatment. Compared with the control group, AC of the wrist joint transverse stria, the midpoint between the wrist joint transverse stria and the elbow joint transverse stria in the treatment group were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The decrease in AC diameter at the midpoint between the elbow joint transverse stria and the axillary transverse stria was the most significant (P<0.01). The swelling degree of the affected limbs in the treatment group was significantly lower than before treatment, and was significantly lower compared with the control group after treatment (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 72% in the treatment group, significantly higher than that in the control group (55.56%, P<0.05). No serious adverse events occured in either group. CONCLUSIONS: TEAS combined with warm acupuncture can effectively reduce AC and swelling feeling of the affected limb in patients with BCRL. The effect is better than that of CDT therapy alone. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200062075).

The reversal of anti-HER2 resistance in advanced HER2-positive breast cancer using apatinib: two cases reports and literature review.

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted treatment has yielded a notable clinical benefit in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. However, nearly 50% of patients still suffer disease progression due to resistance to HER2-targeted therapy. After the failure of macromolecular monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) therapy, we can choose small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to reverse HER2 resistance. When small molecule TKIs resistance, we can use mAb combined with small molecule TKI, or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to reverse HER2 resistance. However, then due to the availability and price of ADCs, patients may not use them. Consequently, new therapeutic approaches are required to overcome HER2-targeted therapy resistance. Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors (VEGF/VEGFRs) promote tumor angiogenesis. They can also activate downstream signaling pathways to promote tumorigenesis. VEGFR is a key regulator of the tyrosine kinase signaling pathway and may be a potential target in HER2-positive breast cancer. Apatinib is a small molecule TKI that specifically binds to VEGFR2 and thus exerts an antitumor effect. Although there is no definite indication for apatinib in breast cancer, it has a good benefit in advanced gastric cancer. Case Description: The two patients we reported were both HER2-positive breast cancer who we followed for more than 10 years. After the failure of multi-line anti-HER2 treatment, apatinib combined with anti-HER2 treatment had PFS of 8.4 months and 10.6 months, respectively. One patient had grade 2 hand-foot syndrome. The other had grade 2 leukopenia and grade 2 thrombocytopenia, both of them improved after control. And the best response of them were PR and SD, respectively. Conclusions: Our cases demonstrate that, in HER2-positive breast cancer patients with HER2-targeted resistance, apatinib may be able to reverse HER2 resistance. These two cases suggest an alternative method for clinical HER2-targeted treatment of drug-resistant breast cancer patients and provide new insights for future research.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture with different frequencies in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common complication in patients with cancer during chemotherapy. It mainly leads to severe numbness of the hands and feet and causes great pain in patients. Electroacupuncture (EA) is considered to be beneficial in improving peripheral neuropathy and relieving numbness of the hands and feet. This trial aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of different frequencies of EA on CIPN in patients with cancer. Methods and analysis: This study is a randomized controlled trial. In total, 160 eligible CIPN patients are randomly assigned to the 2 Hz EA group, 100 Hz EA group, 2/100 Hz EA group, and control group in the ratio of 1:1:1:1. All patients in the EA treatment groups receive treatment with EA three times a week for 4 weeks and following up for 4 weeks. The patients in the control group are given Mecobalamin (MeCbl) tablets orally, one tablet at a time, three times a day, for 4 weeks, and following up for 4 weeks. The primary outcome measures are the participant neurotoxicity questionnaire (PNQ) and the peripheral neurotoxicity assessment rating (NCI CTCAE V5.0). Secondary outcomes are the quality of life scale (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the measurement of peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV). The results are evaluated at baseline, post-treatment phase, and following up for 4 weeks. All major analyses are based on the intention to treat principle. Ethics/dissemination: This protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital) on 7 December 2021. The license number is IRB-2021-458. This study provides clinical efficacy data of different frequencies of EA in the treatment of CIPN. The results help to prove whether EA is an effective therapy for CIPN and optimize the frequency of EA for CIPN. The results of this study are shared with health care professionals, the public, and relevant organizations through the publication of manuscripts and conference reports. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100054458.

Cardiac Safety in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Pegylated Liposome Doxorubicin Sequential Anti-HER2 Monoclonal Antibody Therapy.

Background: Cardiotoxicity associated with the sequential use of anthracyclines followed by trastuzumab is common in adjuvant therapy of patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (eBC). However, the cardiac safety of trastuzumab concurrent with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is relatively less studied. Method: Clinical data of patients with HER2-positive eBC treated with PLD and cyclophosphamide (PLD-C) followed by taxanes plus trastuzumab ± pertuzumab (TH or TPH) who then completed standard anti-HER2 treatment for 12 months from June 2012 to August 2021 were retrospectively collected. The primary endpoints were clinical and subclinical cardiotoxicity. Result: In total, 70 eligible patients were enrolled. Among them, 55 patients (78.6%) received PLD-C → TH and 15 patients (21.4%) received PLD-C → TPH. The median follow-up time was 41.8 months. Until August 2021, only two patients had recurrent or metastatic diseases, with 2-year and 5-year disease-free survivals of 98.6% and 96.8%, respectively. Clinical cardiotoxicity occurred in six patients (8.6%), and all of them had an absolute decline of ≥16% from baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) but not below the lower limit of normal (LLN = 50%). Subclinical cardiotoxicity events occurred in 17 patients (24.3%), and all of them had absolute declines of ≥10% and <16% from baseline LVEF but not below the LLN. No patients were interrupted from treatment, and all patients completed anti-HER2 treatment for 12 months. The sharpest decrease in LVEF was observed at 18 months after the start of PLD treatment. The cumulative incidences of clinical and subclinical cardiotoxicity were 9.8% and 28.3%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, body mass index, age, left chest wall radiotherapy, and ongoing cardiovascular risk factors were not significantly associated with clinical or subclinical cardiotoxicity (p > 0.05). No patients had congestive heart failure or death caused by PLD or anti-HER2 treatment. Conclusion: The sequential use of PLD and trastuzumab showed a lower incidence of clinical cardiotoxicity, presented as asymptomatic decreased LVEF, compared with the results obtained in previous clinical studies using conventional anthracycline, taxanes and trastuzumab. The study regimen demonstrated good cardiac tolerance and is an alternative strategy for cardioprotection in patients with HER2-positive eBC.

Hsa-miR-221-3p promotes proliferation and migration in HER2-positive breast cancer cells by targeting LASS2 and MBD2.

BACKGROUND: Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive breast cancers account for nearly 20% of all breast cancer cases and microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in disease progression. The study was aimed to explore the role of miR-221-3p in HER2-positive breast cancer. METHODS: Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by high-throughput sequencing. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate mRNA levels of corresponding genes. CKK8 and transwell assays were performed to evaluate cell viability and migration. The translation binding was assessed by luciferase assay. RESULTS: Hsa-miR-221-3p was highly upregulated in HER2-positive breast cancer samples, particularly in patients with advanced or metastatic disease, as compared to healthy controls. miR-221-3p upregulation using mimics promoted cell proliferation and migration in HER2-positive cell lines, whereas miR-221-3p suppression had the opposite effect. Additionally, miR-221-3p mimics reduced the expression levels of LASS2 and MBD2 in HER2-positive breast cancer cells; conversely, miR-221-3p inhibition upregulated LASS2 and MBD2. miR-221-3p inhibited the translation of LASS2 and MBD2 by directly binding to their 3'-untranslated regions. Forced expression of LASS2 and MBD2 significantly attenuated the ability of miR-221-3p mimics to enhance cell growth and migration in HER2-positive but not in HER2-negative breast cancer cells. In HER-2-positive breast cancer patients, the levels of miR-221-3p were negatively correlated with the mRNA levels of LASS2 and MBD2. CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of hsa-miR-221-3 in HER2-positive breast cancer contributes to cancer cell proliferation and migration by directly targeting the tumor suppressors LASS2 and MBD2. Therefore, the hsa-miR-221-3 may serve as a promising and actionable therapeutic target in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Anlotinib attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice model of multiple sclerosis via modulating the differentiation of Th17 and Treg cells.

BACKGROUND: In multiple sclerosis (MS), the imbalance between T helper (Th)-17 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical in autoimmune central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and demyelination. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an established mouse MS model and simulates MS at diverse levels. OBJECTIVES: This study aims at investigating the impact of anlotinib on the clinical severity of EAE and CD4+ T cell differentiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EAE-induced mice were treated with water (control) or 6 mg/kg anlotinib by gavage daily. At the peak of EAE, histopathological examination and flow cytometry analysis of CNS-infiltrating CD4+ T cells were performed. In vitro differentiation of CD4+ T cells under different conditions was detected by flow cytometry and quantitative real-time PCR. Finally, the impacts of anlotinib on the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and the transcription levels of key genes involved in Th17 and Treg differentiation were tested. RESULTS: Anlotinib attenuated the clinical severity of EAE and changed the frequencies of CNS-infiltrating CD4+ T cell subsets. Anlotinib inhibited the differentiation of Th17 cells in vitro, decreased the phosphorylation of STAT3, and reduced the expression of Rorc. Anlotinib promoted the differentiation of Treg cells and upregulated the expression levels of CD39 and CD73. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Anlotinib alleviated the symptoms of EAE via inhibiting the Th17 cell differentiation and promoting Treg cell differentiation. Our study provides new opportunities for the exploitation of anlotinib as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of MS.

Combined everolimus and endocrine therapy in advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative Chinese breast cancer patients: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Everolimus (EVE) is an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and it is approved for the treatment of advanced breast cancer (ABC). However, there is still little real-world data on using EVE in Chinese breast cancer patients. We retrospectively analyzed real-world data to determine the factors affecting EVE treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the treatment information of ABC patients treated with EVE from 2013 to 2020 in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression methods were used to calculate and compare the progression-free survival (PFS), and identify the factors associated with EVE treatment efficacy. RESULTS: The study finally enrolled 84 patients meeting the requirement; the median PFS in all 84 patients was 6.87 months. Multivariate analysis showed that liver metastasis [hazard ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00-2.84; P=0.049], and brain metastasis (hazard ratio, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.07-6.58; P=0.036) were independent risk factors. Subgroup analyses demonstrated EVE + fulvestrant (FUL) was not superior to EVE + aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for PFS (5.77 vs. 7.97 months, P=0.0735). Furthermore, it showed EVE + AI was superior to EVE + FUL in some subgroups: postmenopausal group (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.26-0.98); without bone metastasis group (hazard ratio, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.06-0.80); visceral disease group (hazard ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.20-0.69). CONCLUSIONS: EVE combined with endocrine therapy is an effective treatment option for Chinese patients with hormone-receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer, although EVE + FUL was not superior to EVE + AI. Liver metastasis and brain metastasis were independent risk factors for successful EVE + endocrine therapy.

Ultrafast, Self-Powered, and Charge-Transport-Layer-Free Ultraviolet Photodetectors Based on Sequentially Vacuum-Evaporated Lead-Free Cs2AgBiBr6 Thin Films.

Researchers have focused on perovskite-based ultraviolet photodetectors due to their significance in fundamental scientific and practical applications. However, toxicity and instability hold back their mass production and commercialization. The lead-free Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskite, promised to be an alternative, is fabricated mostly by spin coating, which restricts the practical application in high-resolution image sensors. Herein, we demonstrate a sequential vacuum evaporation method for the fabrication of the Cs2AgBiBr6 film. A self-powered ultraviolet photodetector based on the evaporated Cs2AgBiBr6 thin film is further constructed without any carrier-transport layers, for the first time. The best-performing device has a high on/off ratio of 6.6 × 103, and its response time is fast, less than 6.13 µs. Moreover, the as-prepared devices exhibit salient stability under harsh operational conditions (continuous illumination, high temperature, and humidity). In addition, the pixelated image sensor containing a 25 × 25 Cs2AgBiBr6 photodetector array achieves a proof-of-concept special pattern recognition. Our work paves the way for new-generation ultraviolet image sensors composed of environmentally friendly and high-performance perovskite photodetector arrays.

Prone position combined with high-flow nasal oxygen could benefit spontaneously breathing, severe COVID-19 patients: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China in December 2019, the overall fatality rate of severe and critical patients with COVID-19 is high and the effective therapy is limited. CASE SUMMARY: In this case report, we describe a case of the successful combination of the prone position (PP) and high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) therapy in a spontaneously breathing, severe COVID-19 patient who presented with fever, fatigue and hypoxemia and was diagnosed by positive throat swab COVID-19 RNA testing. The therapy significantly improved the patient's clinical symptoms, oxygenation status, and radiological characteristics of lung injury during hospitalization, and the patient showed good tolerance and avoided intubation. Additionally, we did not find that medical staff wearing optimal airborne personal protective equipment (PPE) were infected by the new coronavirus in our institution. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the combination of PP and HFNO could benefit spontaneously breathing, severe COVID-19 patients. The therapy does not increase risk of healthcare workers wearing optimal airborne PPE to become infected with virus particles.

Ki67 and progesterone receptor status predicts sensitivity to palbociclib: a real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Palbociclib combined with endocrine therapy has been approved as a front-line treatment for hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC). A key challenge remains to uncover biomarkers to identify those patients who may benefit from palbociclib treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the values of Ki67 and progesterone receptor (PR) as detected by immunohistochemistry in 81 ABC patients with palbociclib and hormone therapy treatment, and evaluated the impact on progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: In the total population, women with Ki67 ≥14% had marginally significantly shorter PFS than those with Ki67 <14% (P=0.062). Patients with Ki67 ≥30% had significantly shorter PFS than those with Ki67 <30% (P=0.048). Meanwhile, PR ≥20% was associated with longer PFS. Moreover, the change of Ki67 or PR from primary tissue to metastatic lesions was related to PFS. As for the hormone therapy subgroup, there were significant associations between Ki67 and PR levels and PFS in the aromatase inhibitors (AIs) subgroup. Patients with Ki67 ≥14% or Ki67 ≥30% had shorter PFS than those with Ki67 <14% or Ki67 <30%, respectively (P=0.024, P<0.001). Additionally, the change of Ki67 or PR from primary tissue to metastatic lesions was related to PFS. When both Ki67 and PR were considered, there were significant differences between the different cohorts. Compared with patients with Ki67 ≥14% and PR <20%, those with Ki67 <14% and PR ≥20% had significantly longer PFS. In addition, patients with Ki67 <30% and PR ≥20% had significantly longer PFS than those with Ki67 ≥30% and PR <20%. Furthermore, in the AI cohort, patients with Ki67 <14% and PR ≥20% had significantly longer PFS than those with Ki67 ≥14% and PR <20%. Women with Ki67 <30% and PR ≥20% had significantly longer PFS than those with Ki67 ≥30% and PR <20%. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that both Ki67 and PR have great impacts on palbociclib and hormone therapy and may contribute to selecting more effective partners for palbociclib.

Long non-coding RNA TPT1-AS1 sensitizes breast cancer cell to paclitaxel and inhibits cell proliferation by miR-3156-5p/caspase 2 axis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key modulators during cancer progression. Application of using lncRNA expression to evaluate patient prognosis and sensitivity to treatment is highly anticipated, yet the expression and mechanism of many lncRNAs remain unknown. Herein, we projected for the investigation of TPT1-AS1 function in breast cancer. TPT1-AS1 was assessed by bioinformatic analysis of publicly available datasets and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell sensitivity to paclitaxel and cell proliferation was measured by flow cytometry and CCK-8. Interaction among TPT1-AS1, microRNA (miRNA, miR)-3156-5p and Caspase 2 (CASP2) was studied by bioinformatic analysis, qRT-PCR, western blot as well as dual luciferase reporter assay. Herein, TPT1-AS1 was significantly diminished in breast cancer from publicly available datasets and our collected samples. In breast cancer cells, TPT1-AS1 overexpression repressed cell proliferation and sensitized breast cancer cells to paclitaxel. RegRNA 2.0 predicted a potential interaction between TPT1-AS1 and miR-3156-5p which was confirmed by qRT-PCR as well as dual luciferase reporter assay. CASP2, a proapoptotic gene, was corroborated to be targeted by miR-3156-5p. Meanwhile, TPT1-AS1 upregulated CASP2 in breast cancer cells, and its biological function was reversed by CASP2 knockdown. Collectively, TPT1-AS1 diminished cell proliferation and sensitized cells to chemotherapy by sponging miR-3156-5p and upregulating CASP2, acting as a biomarker for patients with breast cancer.

Multiple Receptive Field Network (MRF-Net) for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Fishing Net Detection Using Forward-Looking Sonar Images.

Underwater fishing nets represent a danger faced by autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). To avoid irreparable damage to the AUV caused by fishing nets, the AUV needs to be able to identify and locate them autonomously and avoid them in advance. Whether the AUV can avoid fishing nets successfully depends on the accuracy and efficiency of detection. In this paper, we propose an object detection multiple receptive field network (MRF-Net), which is used to recognize and locate fishing nets using forward-looking sonar (FLS) images. The proposed architecture is a center-point-based detector, which uses a novel encoder-decoder structure to extract features and predict the center points and bounding box size. In addition, to reduce the interference of reverberation and speckle noises in the FLS image, we used a series of preprocessing operations to reduce the noises. We trained and tested the network with data collected in the sea using a Gemini 720i multi-beam forward-looking sonar and compared it with state-of-the-art networks for object detection. In order to further prove that our detector can be applied to the actual detection task, we also carried out the experiment of detecting and avoiding fishing nets in real-time in the sea with the embedded single board computer (SBC) module and the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier embedded system of the AUV platform in our lab. The experimental results show that in terms of computational complexity, inference time, and prediction accuracy, MRF-Net is better than state-of-the-art networks. In addition, our fishing net avoidance experiment results indicate that the detection results of MRF-Net can support the accurate operation of the later obstacle avoidance algorithm.

Pin1 Promotes NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK Pathway in Septic Shock.

Pin1 is the only known peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) that can specifically recognize and isomerize the phosphorylated Serine/Threonine-Proline (pSer/Thr-Pro) motif, change the conformation of proteins through protein phosphorylation, thus regulate various cellular processes in the body. Pin1 plays an important role in cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and autoimmune diseases. However, the specific mechanism of Pin1 regulation in LPS-induced septic shock is unclear. Here, we found that lack of Pin1 reduced shock mortality and organ damage in mice, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation also was reduced in this process. We further confirmed that Pin1 can affect the expression of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase1, and this process can be regulated through the p38 MAPK pathway. We analyzed that p38 MAPK signaling pathway was highly expressed in septic shock and showed a positive correlation with Pin1 in the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We found that Pin1 could affect the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, have no obvious difference in extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and Jun-amino-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling. We further found that Pin1 and p-p38 MAPK interacted, but not directly. In addition, Pin1 deficiency inhibited the cleavage of gasdermin D (GSDMD) and promoted the death of macrophages with LPS treatment, and reduced secretion of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1ß and IL-18. In general, our results suggest that Pin1 regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome activation by p38 MAPK signaling pathway in macrophages. Thus, Pin1 may be a potential target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as septic shock.