Risk factors analysis of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective study of 830 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors for lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: Clinicopathological data (age, gender, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, preoperative circulating tumor cells (CTCs), multifocal, maximum lesion diameter, invaded capsule, T stage, and lymph node metastasis) of 830 PTC patients diagnosed and treated in Meizhou People's Hospital from June 2021 to April 2023 were collected. The related factors of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 334 (40.2%), and 103 (12.4%) PTC patients with central lymph node metastasis, and lateral cervical lymph node metastasis, respectively. Compared with patients without lateral cervical lymph node metastasis, PTC patients with lateral cervical lymph node metastasis had a higher proportion of multifocal, maximum lesion diameter > 1 cm, invaded capsule, T3-T4 stage. Regression logistic analysis showed that male (odds ratio (OR): 2.196, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.279-3.769, p = 0.004), age < 55 years old (OR: 2.057, 95% CI: 1.062-3.988, p = 0.033), multifocal (OR: 2.759, 95% CI: 1.708-4.458, p < 0.001), maximum lesion diameter > 1 cm (OR: 5.408, 95% CI: 3.233-9.046, p < 0.001), T3-T4 stage (OR: 2.396, 95% CI: 1.241-4.626, p = 0.009), and invaded capsule (OR: 2.051, 95% CI: 1.208-3.480, p = 0.008) were associated with lateral cervical lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Male, age < 55 years old, multifocal, maximum lesion diameter > 1 cm, T3-T4 stage, and invaded capsule were independent risk factors for lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC.

Active and machine learning-enhanced discovery of new FGFR3 inhibitor, Rhapontin, through virtual screening of receptor structures and anti-cancer activity assessment.

Introduction: This study bridges traditional remedies and modern pharmacology by exploring the synergy between natural compounds and Ceritinib in treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), aiming to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicities. Methods: Using a combined approach of computational analysis, machine learning, and experimental procedures, we identified and analyzed PD173074, Isoquercitrin, and Rhapontin as potential inhibitors of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). Machine learning algorithms guided the initial selection, followed by Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the interaction dynamics and stability of Rhapontin. Physicochemical assessments further verified its drug-like properties and specificity. Results: Our experiments demonstrate that Rhapontin, when combined with Ceritinib, significantly suppresses tumor activity in NSCLC while sparing healthy cells. The molecular simulations and physicochemical evaluations confirm Rhapontin's stability and favorable interaction with FGFR3, highlighting its potential as an effective adjunct in NSCLC therapy. Discussion: The integration of natural compounds with established cancer therapies offers a promising avenue for enhancing treatment outcomes in NSCLC. By combining the ancient wisdom of natural remedies with the precision of modern science, this study contributes to evolving cancer treatment paradigms, potentially mitigating the side effects associated with current therapies.

Hydrogen-bond-modulated negative linear compressibility in a V-shaped molecular crystal.

A material with the "hidden" negative linear compressibility (NLC) will expand along a specific crystal direction upon uniformly compression to a critical pressure; such materials are thought to be promising candidates for non-linear actuators, switches and sensors. Herein, we use density functional theory (DFT) calculations to uncover the hidden NLC in a V-shaped molecular crystal, bis(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methane (BATZM). The calculations indicate that the crystal is normally compressed over the pressure range of 0-3 GPa while it expands along the b-axis when the external hydrostatic pressure exceeds 3 GPa. The compressive behavior of the BATZM crystal is modulated by inter-molecular hydrogen bonds, which act as highly compressible springs at low pressures but robust struts at high pressures. Hence, the crystal prefers to compress the hydrogen bonds coupled with PLC at first and flatten the molecules, coupled with later NLC to resist the increasing external pressure. The compressive behavior of BATZM provides a strategy to design more hidden NLC materials via the rational use of the hydrogen bonds.

Diagnostic value of circulating tumor cells in patients with thyroid cancer: a retrospective study of 1478 patients.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection is one form of liquid biopsy. It is a novel technique that is beginning to be applied in the field of thyroid cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic value of CTCs in patients with thyroid cancer. METHODS: A total of 1478 patients were retrospectively analyzed and divided into malignant group (n = 747) and benign group (n = 731). Peripheral blood was collected, and CTCs were enriched and quantified before surgery. The baseline data of the two groups were matched by Propensity Score Matching (PSM). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of different indicators for thyroid cancer. The malignant group before PSM was further divided into subgroups according to the BRAF V600E mutation and lymphatic metastasis (N stage), and the number of CTCs in different subgroups was compared. RESULTS: After 1:1 PSM, baseline characteristics of the malignant group and benign group were matched and assigned 315 cases in each group. The number of CTCs and the TPOAb values were comparable in the two groups (p > 0.05). The TgAb values [1.890 (1.110 - 16.010) vs 1.645 (1.030 - 7.073) IU/mL, p = 0.049] were significantly higher in the malignant group than in the benign group. After PSM, ROC analyses showed that the areas under the curve (AUCs) of CTC, TgAb and ultrasound were 0.537 (sensitivity 65.6%, specificity 45.8%), 0.546 (sensitivity 40.0%, specificity 70.8%) and 0.705 (sensitivity 77.1%, specificity 63.2%), respectively. The AUCs of the combined detection of 'CTC + ultrasound' (combine 1) and the combined detection of 'CTC + TgAb + ultrasound' (combine 2) were 0.718 (sensitivity 79.3%, specificity 61.7%) and 0.724 (sensitivity 78.0%, specificity 63.3%), respectively. The AUC of ultrasound was significantly higher than CTC (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in AUC between combination 1 and ultrasound, and between combination 2 and ultrasound (p > 0.05). The number of CTCs between the N0 and N1 subgroups, and between the BRAF mutant and BRAF wild subgroups was comparable (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As an emerging and noninvasive testing tool, the efficacy of CTCs in diagnosing thyroid cancer is limited.

Increased PKN2 and M2-Polarized Macrophages Promote HCT116 Cell Invasion.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant tumor, with highly invasive and metastatic potential in the later stage. This study investigated the role of PKN2 overexpression and M2-polarized macrophages in dictating the malignant phenotype of colorectal cancer cells. HCT116 colorectal cancer cell line with PKN2 overexpression was generated to investigate the functional role of PKN2. THP-1 cells were polarized into M2-like macrophages, and the co-culture system of THP-1/M2 cells and HCT116 cells was established to examine the impacts of M2-polairzed macrophages on the malignant phenotype of colorectal cancer cells. PKN2 overexpression promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells, and reduced spontaneous cell death in the cell culture. Besides, the presence of M2-polarized THP-1 cells significantly enhanced the aggressive phenotype of HCT116 cells. Both PKN2 overexpression and M2-polarized THP-1 cells increased the expression of NF-κB p65 in HCT116 cells, indicating that enhanced NF-κB signaling may contribute to the augmented aggressiveness of HCT116 cells. These findings suggest PKN2 as an oncogenic factor in colorectal cancer and that M2-polarized THP-1 cells may promote the progression of colorectal cancer by activating NF-κB signaling.

The Enhancement Mechanism of Different Single-Transition Metal Atomic Catalysts/Sulfur Cathode on High-Performance of Li-S Batteries.

Materials with various single-transition metal atoms dispersed in nitrogenated carbons (M─N─C, M = Fe, Co, and Ni) are synthesized as cathodes to investigate the electrocatalytic behaviors focusing on their enhancement mechanism for performance of Li-S batteries. Results indicate that the order of both electrocatalytic activity and rate capacity for the M─N─C catalysts is Co > Ni > Fe, and the Co─N─C delivers the highest capacity of 1100 mAh g-1 at 1 C and longtime stability at a decay rate of 0.05% per cycle for 1000 cycles, demonstrating excellent battery performance. Theoretical calculations for the first time reveal that M─N─N─C catalysts enable direct conversion of Li2 S6 to Li2 S rather than Li2 S4 to Li2 S by stronger adsorption with Li2 S6 , which also has an order of Co > Ni > Fe. And Co─N─C has the strongest adsorption energy, not only rendering the highest electrocatalytic activity, but also depressing the polysulfides' dissolution into electrolyte for the longest cycle life. This work offers an avenue to design the next generation of highly efficient sulfur cathodes for high-performance Li-S batteries, while shedding light on the fundamental insight of single metal atomic catalytic effects on Li-S batteries.

A Novel Zn2Cys6 Transcription Factor, TopC, Positively Regulates Trichodin A and Asperpyridone A Biosynthesis in Tolypocladium ophioglossoides.

Asperpyridone A represents an unusual class of pyridone alkaloids with demonstrated potential for hypoglycemic activity, primarily by promoting glucose consumption in HepG2 cells. Trichodin A, initially isolated from the marine fungus Trichoderma sp. strain MF106, exhibits notable antibiotic activities against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Despite their pharmacological significance, the regulatory mechanisms governing their biosynthesis have remained elusive. In this investigation, we initiated the activation of a latent gene cluster, denoted as "top", through the overexpression of the Zn2Cys6 transcription factor TopC in Tolypocladium ophioglossoides. The activation of the top cluster led to the biosynthesis of asperpyridone A, pyridoxatin, and trichodin A. Our study also elucidated that the regulator TopC exerts precise control over the biosynthesis of asperpyridone A and trichodin A through the detection of protein-nucleic acid interactions. Moreover, by complementing these findings with gene deletions involving topA and topH, we proposed a comprehensive biosynthesis pathway for asperpyridone A and trichodin A in T. ophioglossoides.

Corrigendum: Design of a SMA-based soft composite structure for wearable rehabilitation gloves.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2023.1047493.].

Development of a New Heteropolyoxotantalate Cluster for Multidimensional Polyoxotantalate Materials.

A unique heteropolyoxotantalate (hetero-POTa) cluster [P2O7Ta5O14]7- (P2Ta5) was first developed using pyrophosphate as a key to open the ultrastable skeleton of the classical Lindqvist-type [Ta6O19]8- precursor. The P2Ta5 cluster can serve as a general and flexible secondary building unit to create a family of brand-new multidimensional POTa architectures. This work not only promotes the limited structural diversity of hetero-POTa but also provides a practical strategy for new extended POTa architectures.

Advances in efficacy prediction and monitoring of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has become mainstream in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The idea of harnessing the immune system to fight cancer is fast developing. Neoadjuvant treatment in NSCLC is undergoing unprecedented change. Chemo-immunotherapy combinations not only seem to achieve population-wide treating coverage irrespective of PD-L1 expression but also enable achieving a pathological complete response (pCR). Despite these recent advancements in neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy, not all patients respond favorably to treatment with ICIs plus chemo and may even suffer from severe immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). Similar to selection for target therapy, identifying patients most likely to benefit from chemo-immunotherapy may be valuable. Recently, several prognostic and predictive factors associated with the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in NSCLC, such as tumor-intrinsic biomarkers, tumor microenvironment biomarkers, liquid biopsies, microbiota, metabolic profiles, and clinical characteristics, have been described. However, a specific and sensitive biomarker remains to be identified. Recently, the construction of prediction models for ICI therapy using novel tools, such as multi-omics factors, proteomic tests, host immune classifiers, and machine learning algorithms, has gained attention. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the different positive prognostic and predictive factors in treating preoperative patients with ICIs, highlight the recent advances made in the efficacy prediction of neoadjuvant immunotherapy, and provide an outlook for joint predictors.

Concept design of hybrid-actuated lower limb exoskeleton to reduce the metabolic cost of walking with heavy loads.

This paper proposes the conceptual design method for a hybrid-actuated lower limb exoskeleton based on energy consumption simulation. Firstly, the human-machine coupling model is established in OpenSim based on the proposed three passive assistance schemes. On this basis, the method of simulating muscle driving is used to find out the scheme that can reduce the metabolic rate the most with 3 passive springs models. Then, an active-passive cooperative control strategy is designed based on the finite state machine to coordinate the operation of the power mechanism and the passive energy storage structure and improve the mobility of the wearer. In the end, a simulation experiment based on the human-machine coupled model with the addition of active actuation is proceeded to evaluate its assistance performance according to reducing metabolic rate. The results show that the average metabolic cost decreased by 7.2% with both spring and motor. The combination of passive energy storage structures with active actuators to help the wearer overcome the additional consumption of energy storage can further reduce the body's metabolic rate. The proposed conceptual design method can also be utilized to implement the rapid design of a hybrid-actuated lower limb exoskeleton.

Investigation of the mechanism of different 3D printing performance of starch and whole flour gels from tuber crops.

This study aims to reveal the variation in 3D printing performance of whole flour and starch gels as derived from different varieties of tuber crops including cassava, potato, and yam, along with its mechanism. The whole flour of the same tuber crops showed a higher branching degree, average molecular weight (R¯h), and the proportion of AM chains for 100 < X ≤ 1000 than its starch. Due to the higher degree of branching, the crystallinity of whole flour reached a higher level. In this circumstance, G2' of the dispersion system decreased, which facilitated smooth extrusion of ink from the nozzle, thus improving the precision of printing for the final product. Besides, a higher R¯h and the percentage of AM chains for 100 < X ≤ 1000 made it easier for the material to extrude, thus enhancing the printing accuracy of the product. The higher short-range ordered structure of whole flour also enhanced the printing performance of 3D printed products. This research contributes an effective solution to the selection of starch and whole flour for food 3D printing.

Oxalate-assisted assembly of two polyoxotantalate supramolecular frameworks with proton conduction properties.

An oxalate-assisted strategy was first developed for creating new polyoxotantalates (POTas). With this strategy, two brand-new POTa supramolecular frameworks based on uncommon dimeric POTa secondary building units (SBUs) were constructed and characterized. Interestingly, the oxalate ligand can not only serve as a coordination ligand to form unique POTa SBUs but also act as a key hydrogen bond acceptor to construct supramolecular architectures. Besides, the architectures show outstanding proton conductivity. The strategy opens up new opportunities for developing new POTa materials.

Design of a SMA-based soft composite structure for wearable rehabilitation gloves.

The combination of smart soft composite structure based shape memory alloy (SMA) and exoskeleton technology has the advantages of light weight, energy saving, and great human-exoskeleton interaction. However, there are no relevant studies on the application of SMA-based soft composite structure (SSCS) in hand exoskeletons. The main difficulty is that directional mechanical properties of SSCS need to comply with fingers movement, and SSCS can deliver enough output torque and displacement to the relevant joints. This paper aims to study the application of SSCS for wearable rehabilitation gloves and explore its bionic driving mechanism. This paper proposes a soft wearable glove (Glove-SSCS) for hand rehabilitation actuated by the SSCS, based on finger force analysis under different drive modes. The Glove-SSCS can support five-finger flexion and extension, weighs only 120 g, and adopts modular design. Each drive module adopts a soft composite structure. And the structure integrates actuation, sensing and execution, including an active layer (SMA spring), a passive layer (manganese steel sheet), a sensing layer (bending sensor) and connection layers. To obtain a high-performance SMA actuators, the performance of SMA materials was tested in terms of temperature and voltage, temperature at the shortest length, pre-tensile length and load. And the human-exoskeleton coupling model of Glove-SSCS is established and analyzed from force and motion. The results show that the Glove-SSCS can realize bidirectional movements of fingers flexion and extension, with ranges of motion are 90-110° and 30-40°, and their cycles are 13-19 s and 11-13 s. During the use of Glove-SSCS, the temperature of gloves is from 25 to 67°C, and the surface temperature of hands is from 32 to 36°C. The temperature of Glove-SSCS can be kept at the lowest temperature of SMA operation without much impact on the human body.

Dual Function Modification of Cs2CO3 for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PeSCs) attract much attention in the field of solar cells due to their excellent photovoltaic performance. Many efforts have been devoted to improving their power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, few works focus on simultaneously improving their electrical and optical property. Herein, a simple strategy is proposed to improve the PCE from 19.8% of a reference device to 22.9%, by utilizing cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3) to modify indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. The insertion of a Cs2CO3-modification layer between ITO substrate and SnO2 electron transport layer simultaneously offers two benefits: improving the electron extraction capability and adjusting the light field distribution in the device. The optical optimization effect of Cs2CO3 revealed in this work has not been reported before. This work provides a new and simple strategy to obtain high performance PeSCs by improving the electrical and optical properties of the devices at the same time.

Abnormal Compressive Behaviors of Metal-Organic Frameworks under Hydrostatic Pressure.

Intuition indicates that materials will contract in all crystal directions under hydrostatic pressure, i.e., all of their axes exhibit positive linear compressibility (PLC) when uniformly compressed. However, some exceptions have been found to exhibit negative linear compressibility (NLC), negative area compressibility (NAC), zero linear compressibility (ZLC), or zero area compressibility (ZAC); these materials are thought to have promising applications under high-pressure conditions, such as would be needed for highly sensitive pressure detectors and deep-sea optical devices. In this Perspective, we summarize the four kinds of abnormal compressive behaviors of MOFs under hydrostatic pressure, including the mechanisms and effects of guest, PTM, and metal atomic radius, which we hope to be helpful to develop practical future application of abnormal compressive materials.

The Genomic Evolution and the Transmission Dynamics of H6N2 Avian Influenza A Viruses in Southern China.

In China, the broad prevalence of H6 subtype influenza viruses, increasingly detected in aquatic birds, promotes their exchange materials with other highly pathogenic human-infecting H5N1, H5N6, and H7N9 influenza viruses. Strikingly, some H6 subtype viruses can infect pigs, dogs, and humans, posing risks to public health. In this study, 9 H6N2 viruses recovered from waterfowl species in the Guangdong province of China in 2018 were isolated and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genome sequences of these H6N2 viruses belonged to Group I, except for the NP gene in Group III. Coalescent analyses demonstrated that the reassortment of NA and NS genes have occurred in two independent clusters, suggesting H6 subtype viruses had been undergoing a complex reassortant. To examine the evolutionary dynamics and the dissemination of the H6 subtype viruses, a Bayesian stochastic search variable selection was performed for results showing higher viral migration rates between closer provinces, including Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Fujian. Notably, the transmission routes of the H6 subtype viruses were concentrated in Jiangxi Province, the most frequent location for input and output transmission and a region containing Poyang Lake, a well-known wintering site for migration birds. We also found that the aquatic birds, especially ducks, were the most common input source of the viral transmission. In addition, we also found that eight positively selected amino acid sites were identified in HA protein. Given their continuous dissemination and the broad prevalence of the H6 subtype influenza viruses, continued surveillance is warranted in the future.

Flexible lower limb exoskeleton systems: A review.

BACKGROUND: As an emerging exoskeleton robot technology, flexible lower limb exoskeleton (FLLE) integrates flexible drive and wearable mechanism, effectively solving many problems of traditional rigid lower limb exoskeleton (RLLE) such as higher quality, poorer compliance and relatively poor portability, and has become one of the important development directions in the field of active rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: This review focused on the development and innovation process in the field of FLLE in the past decade. METHOD: Related literature published from 2010 to 2021 were searched in EI, IEEE Xplore, PubMed and Web of Science databases. Seventy target research articles were further screened and sorted through inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: FLLE is classified according to different driving modes, and the advantages and disadvantages of passive flexible lower limb exoskeletons and active flexible lower limb exoskeletons are comprehensively summarized. CONCLUSION: At present, FLLE's research is mainly based on cable drive, bionic pneumatic muscles followed and matured, and new exoskeleton designs based on smart material innovations also trend to diversify. In the future, the development direction of FLLE will be lightweight and drive compliance, and the multi-mode sensory feedback control theory, motion intention recognition theory and human-machine interaction theory will be combined to reduce the metabolic energy consumption of walking.

Facile method to produce sub-1 nm pore-rich carbon from biomass wastes for high performance supercapacitors.

Sub-1 nm pores can lead to an anomalous increase in the supercapacitive performance [1], but it still faces great challenges from its relatively low sub-1 nm pore content, complicated preparation process, low yield and high cost. Here we successfully prepared a sub-1 nm pore-rich carbon from biomass wastes using a facile method by pre-treating walnut shell powder at 380 ℃ in air for different times to delicately tailor carbon defects, followed by KOH activation at 700 ℃. The as-prepared optimal material delivers the highest sub-1 nm pore content (Vsub-1 nm = 0.57 cm3 g-1, Vsub-1 nm/Vt = 58.4 %) among all reported porous carbons. A supercapacitor made from the material accomplishes an ultrahigh specific capacitance of 298.7F g-1 at 1 A g-1 in a two-electrode device, excellent rate capability (78.8 % retention from 1 to 10 A g-1) and long-cyclic life (94 % retention after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g-1) in KOH. Even in Et4NBF4 electrolyte that is often used in commercial supercapacitors, a high energy density of 82.8 Wh kg-1 at 7 kW kg-1 and excellent cycling performance (90 % retention after 10,000 cycles at 5 A g-1) can be achieved, ranking the best among all reported carbon-based electrical double layer capacitors tested in the same electrolyte. More importantly, it drives a light-emitting-diode (LED) to operate for as long as 20 min, vividly demonstrating the great potential of sub-1 nm pore-rich carbon-based high performance supercapacitors in practical applications.

Synergistically boosting the electrochemical performance of polypyrrole-coated activated carbon derived from carbon dots for a high-performance supercapacitor.

Hybrid materials were prepared via the controlled fumigation-based polymerization of pyrrole on the surface of activated carbon derived from carbon dots, combining the stability of carbon materials, the wettability of carbon dots, and the high pseudocapacitance of polypyrrole; all of these synergistically boosted the electrochemical performance, resulting in a high specific capacitance (481 F g-1) and good stability for supercapacitor applications.