Effect of acupotomy combined with electroacupuncture on knee function of patients with knee osteoarthritis. / åˆƒé’ˆç»“åˆç”µé’ˆæ²»ç–—å¯¹è†å ³èŠ‚éª¨å ³èŠ‚ç‚Žæ‚£è€ è†å ³èŠ‚åŠŸèƒ½çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical effect of combined therapy of acupotomy and electroacupuncture (EA) with the simple application of EA on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and their influence on knee function. METHODS: Sixty-eight KOA patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, an acupotomy group and an EA group. In the acupotomy group, the combined therapy of acupotomy and EA was adopted. In the EA group, EA was simply used, delivered once every two days, 3 treatments a week；and the duration of treatment was 4 weeks. In the acupotomy group, besides the treatment as the EA group, acupotomy was combined once weekly, and the duration of treatment was 4 weeks. Separately, before and after treatment, and in 4 and 12 weeks after treatment completion (1-month and 3-month follow-up), the results of the timed up and go test (TUG), the 9-step stair climb test (9-SCT) and the knee function (Western Ontario and McMaster University osteoarthritis index visualization scale ［WOMAC］) were measured in the two groups. RESULTS: By the intention-to-treat analysis, the results of TUG, 9-SCT and WOMAC scores were reduced after treatment and in 1-month and 3-month follow-up when compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05). Compared with the EA group at the same time point, TUG results were decreased after treatment and in 1-month follow-up, and WOMAC score was reduced after treatment in the acupotomy group. WOMAC score in 1-month follow-up was reduced when compared with that before treatment within the acupotomy group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Either the simple application of EA or the combined therapy of acupotomy and EA can improve knee function, but the combined therapy obviously increases the walking speed and relieves the symptoms such as joint pain and morning stiffness. The treatment with acupotomy and EA is safe and effective on KOA and the long-term effect is satisfactory.

Sambucus williamsii Hance: A comprehensive review of traditional uses, processing specifications, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics.

OBJECTIVE: Sambucus williamsii Hance, belonging to the Sambucus L. family (Viburnaceae), possesses medicinal properties in its roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. It is recognized for its ability to facilitate bone reunion, enhance blood circulation, remove stasis, and dispel wind and dampness. This traditional Chinese medicine holds significant potential for development and practical use. Hence, this paper offers an in-depth review of S. williamsii, covering traditional uses, processing guidelines, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics, aiming to serve as a reference for its further development and utilization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information for this study was gathered from various books, bibliographic databases, and literature sources such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Baidu Scholar, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and Wanfang Data. RESULTS: Phytochemical investigations have identified approximately 238 compounds within the root bark, stem branches, leaves, and fruits of S. williamsii. These compounds encompass flavonoids, sugars, glycosides, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, phenols, phenolic glycosides, and other chemical constituents, with phenylpropanoids being the most prevalent. S. williamsii exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects, particularly in promoting osteogenesis and fracture healing. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive review delves into the traditional uses, processing guidelines, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of S. williamsii. It provides valuable insights into this plant, which will prove beneficial for future research involving S. williamsii.

Establishment of new transurethral catheterization methods for male mice.

Transurethral catheterization in mice is multifaceted, serving essential functions such as perfusion and drug delivery, and is critical in the development of various urological animal disease models. The complex anatomy of the male mouse urethra presents significant challenges in transurethral catheterization, leading to a predominance of research focused on female specimens. This bias limits the utilization of male mice in lower urinary tract disease studies. Our research aims to develop new reliable methods for transurethral catheterization in adult male mice, thereby expanding their use in relevant disease research. Experiments were conducted on adult male C57BL/6J mice. Utilizing a PE10 catheter measuring 4.5-5 cm in length, the catheter was inserted into the bladder via the mouse's urethra under anesthesia. The intubation technique entailed regulating the insertion force, ensuring the catheter's lubrication, using a trocar catheter, modifying the catheter's trajectory, and accommodating the curvature of the bladder neck. Post-catheter insertion, ultrasound imaging was employed to confirm the catheter's accurate positioning within the bladder. Subsequent to catheterization, the bladder was perfused using trypan blue. This method was further validated through its successful application in establishing an acute urinary retention (AUR) model, where the mouse bladder was infused with saline to a pressure of 50 or 80 cm H2O, maintained steadily for 30 min. A thorough morphological assessment of the mouse bladder was conducted after the infusion. Our study successfully pioneered methods for transurethral catheterization in male mice. This technique not only facilitates precise transurethral catheterization but also proves applicable to male mouse models for lower urinary tract diseases, such as AUR.

Comparison of perioperative outcomes of selective arterial clipping guided by near-infrared fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green versus undergoing standard robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study employs a meta-analytic approach to investigate the impact of robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy, with and without near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF-RAPN vs S-RAPN), on patients' perioperative outcomes and postoperative changes in renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors conducted a comprehensive and rigorous systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis of primary outcomes following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), AMSTAR (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews) Guidelines, and Risk-of-Bias Tool (RoB2). To ensure a thorough search, the authors systematically searched five major databases, including Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science, from databases' inception to April 2023. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of age ( P =0.19), right side ( P =0.54), BMI ( P =0.39), complexity score ( P =0.89), tumor size ( P =0.88), operating time ( P =0.39), estimated blood loss ( P =0.47), length of stay ( P =0.87), complications ( P =0.20), transfusion ( P =0.36), and positive margins ( P =0.38). However, it is noteworthy that the NIRF-RAPN group exhibited significant reductions in warm ischemia time ( P =0.001), the percentage change in estimated glomerular filtration rate at discharge ( P =0.01) compared to the S-RAPN group. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides evidence that the group undergoing NIRF-RAPN showed a statistically significant protective effect on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Quality markers of Guchang Zhixie pills based on multicomponent qualitative and quantitative analysis combined with network pharmacology and chemometric analysis.

Traditional Chinese medicine Guchang Zhixie pills(GCZX) is one of the famous varieties of "Qin medicine" that has been extensively applied to treating irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). However, despite the acknowledged clinical advantages of GCZX there are significant constraints on its quality control and evaluation. The present study utilized UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS to analyze the chemical composition of GCZX. Additionally, network pharmacology approaches were utilized to explore the underlying mechanism by which blood components exert therapeutic effects in the treatment of IBS. Furthermore, the GCZX samples were evaluated for their quality on the basis of the qualitative results obtained from 25 batches of GCZX samples using fingerprinting; subsequently, multivariate statistical analysis methods were employed for further analysis. The results indicated the presence of 198 individual components. Among them, 17 prototype compounds were detected in the serum of rats that were administered with GCZX. The potential therapeutic mechanism of GCZX in the treatment of IBS may be associated with the modulation of the neurological system, the immunological system, and the inflammatory response. Moreover, a total of seven prominent peaks were identified after fingerprint analysis. The range of fingerprint similarity among the 25 batches of samples varied from 0.843 to 1.000. The application of chemometrics analysis successfully facilitated the categorical classification of 25 batches of GCZX into three distinct groups. Seven components hold significant importance and should be duly considered during the quality control process of GCZX. The present study can establish the Q-Markers of GCZX for IBS, thereby providing a foundation for investigating the theoretical underpinnings and elucidating the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of GCZX in the treatment of IBS.

Competing-risks analysis for evaluating the prognosis of patients with microinvasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma based on the SEER database.

BACKGROUND: Utilizing the traditional Cox regression model to identify the factors affecting the risk of mortality due to microinvasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (micSCC) may produce skewed results. Since cause-specific mortality can guide clinical decision-making, this study employed the Fine-Gray model based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify significant predictive variables for the risk of micSCC-related mortality. METHODS: This study used the information of patients with micSCC who were listed in the SEER database during 2000-2015. Cox regression and Fine-Gray models were utilized for the multivariable analysis, and Gray's test and the cumulative incidence function were used for the univariable analyses. RESULTS: There were 100 patients who died from other reasons and 38 who died from micSCC among the 1259 qualified patients with micSCC. Most were female, white, married, had localized metastasis, etc. According to the univariable Gray's test (P < 0.05), the cumulative incidence rate for events of interest was strongly associated with age, sex, marital status, American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, radiation status, summary stage, chemotherapy status, surgery status, and tumor size. Multivariable Cox regression analysis and multivariable competing-risks analysis indicated that age, tumor size, and income were independent risk variables for the prognosis of patients with micSCC. In both age and tumor size variables, the competing-risks model showed a slight decrease in the hazard ratio and a slight narrowing of the 95% confidence interval compared with the Cox regression model. However, this pattern is not evident in the income variable. CONCLUSIONS: This study established a Fine-Gray model for identifying the independent risk factors that influence the risk of mortality among patients with micSCC. This study uncovers that, in the context of competing risks, age, tumor size, and income serve as independent risk factors influencing the risk of mortality due to micSCC among patients. Our findings have the potential to provide more accurate risk assessments for patient outcomes and contribute to the development of individualized treatment plans.

Effect of the TERT mutation on the prognosis of patients with urothelial carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mutation represents the most prevalent genetic mutation found in urothelial carcinoma (UC) and holds potential as a prognostic indicator for tumor outcomes. However, the association between TERT mutation and prognosis in UC patients remains poorly elucidated due to conflicting findings in existing literature. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the TERT mutation on the survival of UC patients. METHODS: We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies that investigated the relationship between the TERT mutation and the prognosis of UC patients. Endpoints included the 2-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Review Manager 5.3 was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Nine studies with a total of 1,552 patients were included in the analysis. Two studies were prospective, and seven were retrospective. The TERT promoter mutation was associated with a lower 2-year OS (relative risk [RR] = 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-0.98; P = 0.007) and a lower 5-year OS (RR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.94; P = 0.008) compared with the TERT wild type. However, no significantly differences were found between two groups in terms of HR for OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.29, 95% CI 0.80-2.08; P = 0.29). Furthermore, we investigated the differences in RFS and disease-specific survival (DSS) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The TERT mutation increases the risk of death and decreases the survival time of UC patients. TERT may be a valuable marker with individual prognostic value.

5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy for a refractory severe kerion: A case report.

Kerion is a subtype of tinea capitis with a severe inflammatory response, requiring early diagnosis to prevent secondary bacterial infection, folliculitis and permanent alopecia. Oral antifungal drugs are considered the first-line treatment for tinea capitis; however, drugs therapy is challenged by the long treatment duration, side effects, and drug resistance. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely used to treat dermatomycosis and has shown significant efficacy in recent years. We report the case of a girl who presented with refractory severe kerion following unregulated treatment and insensitivity to itraconazole; however,she was cured with 5-aminolevulinic acid-PDT. The case showed that PDT is a potentially promising alternative treatment for cutaneous fungal infections.

Comparison of perioperative, oncologic, and functional outcomes between 3D and 2D laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Literature regarding experience with 3D laparoscopy about prostatectomy has remained scanty, and this could be related to the rise of robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to perform a systemic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes between 3D and 2D laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies that compared perioperative, functional, or oncologic outcomes of both 3D and 2D LRP. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool and Jadad scale were used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Review Manager 5.3 was used for the meta-analysis. Results: Seven studies with a total of 542 patients were included in the analysis. Among them, two were RCTs. There was no difference between groups in terms of preoperative characteristics. Anastomosis time, hospital day, and overall complication rates were similar in 3D than 2D group. However, operative time [mean difference (MD) -36.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] -59.25 to -14.67; p = 0.001], blood loss (MD -83.5; 95% CI -123.05 to -43.94; p <0.0001), and days of drainage (MD -1.48; 95% CI -2.29 to -0.67; p = 0.0003) were lower in 3D LRP. 2D and 3D LRP showed similarity in the positive surgical margin (PSM) rate and biochemical recurrence (BCR) rate at 3, 6, and 12months postoperatively. Additionally, there was no significant differences in continence and potency recovery rate between two group except higher continence rate of 3D LRP at 3 months. Conclusion: Current evidence shows that 3D LRP offers favorable outcomes compared with 2D LRP, including operative time, blood loss, days of drainage, and early continence. However, there was no conclusive evidence that 3D LRP was advantaged in terms of oncologic and functional outcomes (except for continence rate at 3 months). Systematic review registration: The study has been registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42023426403).

Low intensity pulsed ultrasound ameliorates Adriamycin-induced chronic renal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis.

OBJECTIVE: It is very important to develop a new therapeutic strategy to cope with the increasing morbidity and mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD). As a kind of physical therapy, low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has remarkable anti-inflammatory and repair-promoting effects and is expected to become a new therapeutic method for CKD. This study aims to clarify the treatment effect of LIPUS on CKD-related renal inflammation and fibrosis, and to further explore the potential signal network of LIPUS treatment for ameliorating chronic renal injury. METHODS: A rat model simulating the progress of CKD was established by twice tail-vein injection of Adriamycin (ADR). Under anesthesia, bilateral kidneys of CKD rats were continuously stimulated by LIPUS for four weeks. The parameters of LIPUS were 1.0 MHz, 60 mW/cm2, 50% duty cycle and 20 min/d. RESULTS: LIPUS treatment effectively inhibited ADR-induced renal inflammation and fibrosis, and improved CKD-related to oxidative stress and ferroptosis. In addition, the therapeutic effect of LIPUS is closely related to the regulation of TGF-ß1/Smad and Nrf2/keap1/HO-1 signalling pathways. DISCUSSION: This study provides a new direction for further mechanism research and lays an important foundation for clinical trials.

Salt Tolerance Evaluation of Cucumber Germplasm under Sodium Chloride Stress.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important horticultural crop worldwide. Sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) in the surface soil are the major limiting factors in coastal areas of Shandong Province in China. Therefore, to understand the mechanism used by cucumber to adapt to sodium chloride (NaCl), we analyzed the phenotypic and physiological indicators of eighteen cucumber germplasms after three days under 100 and 150 mM NaCl treatment. A cluster analysis revealed that eighteen germplasms could be divided into five groups based on their physiological indicators. The first three groups consisted of seven salt-tolerant and medium salt-tolerant germplasms, including HLT1128h, Zhenni, and MC2065. The two remaining groups consisted of five medium salt-sensitive germplasms, including DM26h and M1-2-h-10, and six salt-sensitive germplasms including M1XT and 228. A principal component analysis revealed that the trend of comprehensive scores was consistent with the segmental cluster analysis and survival rates of cucumber seedlings. Overall, the phenotype, comprehensive survival rate, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis revealed that the salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive germplasms were Zhenni, F11-15, MC2065, M1XT, M1-2-h-10, and DM26h. The results of this study will provide references to identify or screen salt-tolerant cucumber germplasms and lay a foundation for breeding salt-tolerant cucumber varieties.

Diagnostic accuracy of glioma pseudoprogression identification with positron emission tomography imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is a promising molecular neuroimaging technique and has been proposed as one of the criteria for glioma management. However, there is some controversy concerning the diagnostic accuracy of PET using different radiotracers to differentiate between glioma pseudoprogression (PsP) and true progression (TPR). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically evaluate the methodological quality and clinical value of original studies for distinguishing PsP from TPR in glioma. Methods: The Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception until September 1, 2022. Retrieved clinical studies only investigated the PsP cases but did not include the cases of radiation necrosis or other treatment-related changes. Eligible studies were screened for data extraction and evaluated by 2 independent reviewers using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tool. A random effects model was used to describe summary receiver operating characteristics. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were applied to identify any sources of heterogeneity. Results: The meta-analysis included 20 studies, comprising 317 (30.9%) patients with PsP and 708 (69.1%) with TPR. The summary sensitivity and specificity of general PET for identifying PsP were 0.86 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77-0.91] and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.79-0.88), respectively. The statistical heterogeneity was explained by sample size, study design, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, gold standard, and radiotracer type. The summary sensitivity and specificity of O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET PET) were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.88) and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.75-0.85), respectively. The maximum tumor-to-brain ratio (TBRmax) and the mean tumor-to-brain ratio (TBRmean) both showed excellent diagnostic performance in 18F-FET studies, the summary sensitivity was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72-0.91) and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.65-0.98), respectively, and the specificity was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.68-0.84) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88), respectively. Conclusions: PET imaging is generally accurate in identifying glioma PsP. Considering the credibility of meta-evidence and the practicability of using radiotracer, 18F-FET PET holds the highest clinical value, while TBRmax and TBRmean should be regarded as reliable parameters. PET used with the radiotracers and multiple-parameter combinations of PET with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiomics analysis have broad research and application prospects, whose diagnostic values for identifying glioma PsP warrant further investigation.

Effect of Peritoneal Interposition Flap to Prevent Symptomatic Lymphoceles in Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy with Pelvic Lymphadenectomy: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether peritoneal interposition flap (PIF) prevent lymphocele formation after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with extended pelvic lymph node dissection. Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis of the primary outcomes according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews guidelines and risk-of-bias tool. Five databases, including Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science, were systematically searched. The time frame of the search was set from the creation of the database to February 2023. Results: Meta-analysis of symptomatic lymphoceles (sLCs) rates revealed significant difference between PIF and no PIF group (eight studies pooled; p = 0.005), The sLCs rates account for 2.6% (28/1074) and 7.1% (85/1186) in the PIF and no PIF group, respectively. The resulting odds ratio was 0.34 (95% confidence interval: 0.16-0.73), taking into account the heterogeneity of these studies (Q = 14.32, p = 0.05; I2 = 51%). Conclusion: PIF is an effective intraoperative modification on the prevention or reduction of sLC, which is worthy of further clinical promotion. Systematic Review Registration: National Institute for Health and Care Research, identifier CRD42022364461.

[Medicinal evolution and modern research progress on Mume Fructus].

Prunus mume is an edible and medicinal material, and Mume Fructus is its processed product, which was first recorded in Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing). It is an effective drug for stopping diarrhea with astringents and promoting fluid production to quiet ascaris. By consulting the ancient herbal works of the past dynasties, modern codes, and other rela-ted literature, this paper sorted out the medicinal evolution of Mume Fructus, examined the ancient efficacy of Mume Fructus and the main indications, and summarized the inclusion of Mume Fructus in national and provincial standards. It is recorded in the ancient herbal works of the past dynasties that Mume Fructus can be processed by various methods such as roasting, stir-frying or micro-frying, stir-frying with charcoal, single steaming, steaming with wine, and steaming after soaking in wine or vinegar, and prepared into pills, powders, and ointments, which are used in the treatment of fatigue, diabetes, malaria, dysentery, ascariasis, and other diseases. Mume Fructus has been included in nine editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia and 19 provincial and municipal preparation specifications. The processing method of Mume Fructus is determined, namely, clean P. mume should be softened by moistening in water or steaming and pitted. By reviewing the effects of processing on its chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and its modern clinical application, this paper identified the following issues. The ancient application methods of Mume Fructus are diverse but less commonly used in modern times, there is a lack of standardized research on the processing, and the research on the changes caused by the difference in Mume Fructus before and after processing is not deep. Therefore, it is necessary to further investigate the change pattern of its chemical composition before and after processing and its correlation between its medicinal activity to standardize the processing technology and provide a solid basis for the use of Mume Fructus in parts and its quality control.

JMJD2A participates in cytoskeletal remodeling to regulate castration-resistant prostate cancer docetaxel resistance.

BACKGROUND: To investigate underlying mechanism of JMJD2A in regulating cytoskeleton remodeling in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) resistant to docetaxel. METHODS: Tissue samples from CRPC patients were collected, and the expression of JMJD2A, miR-34a and cytoskeleton remodeling-related proteins were evaluated by qPCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry, and pathological changes were observed by H&E staining. Further, JMJD2A, STMN1 and TUBB3 were knocked down using shRNA in CRPC cell lines, and cell viability, apoptosis and western blot assays were performed. The interaction between miR-34a/STMN1/ß3-Tubulin was analyzed with dual-luciferase reporter and co-immunoprecipitation assays. RESULTS: In clinical experiment, the CRPC-resistant group showed higher expression of JMJD2A, STMN1, α-Tubulin, ß-Tubulin and F-actin, and lower expression of miR-34a and ß3-Tubulin compared to the sensitive group. In vitro experiments showed that JMJD2A could regulate cytoskeletal remodeling through the miR-34a/STMN1/ß3-Tubulin axis. The expression of miR-34a was elevated after knocking down JMJD2A, and miR-34a targeted STMN1. The overexpression of miR-34a was associated with a decreased expression of STMN1 and elevated expression of ß3-Tubulin, which led to the disruption of the microtubule network, decreased cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, and increased apoptosis. CONCLUSION: JMJD2A promoted docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer cells by regulating cytoskeleton remodeling through the miR-34a/STMN1/ß3-Tubulin axis.

Prognosis of the Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue Based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database.

Background: The objective of this study is to determine the prognostic factors of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (KTSCC) and to establish a prognostic nomogram of KTSCC to assist clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: This study identified 3874 patients with KTSCC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and these patients were randomly divided into the training (70%, (n = 2711) and validation (30%, n = 1163) cohorts. Cox regression was then used to filter variables. Nomograms were then constructed based on meaningful variables. Finally, the concordance index (C-index), net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), calibration charts, and decision-curve analysis (DCA), were used to evaluate the discrimination, accuracy and effectiveness of the model. Results: A nomogram model was established for predicting the 3-, 5-, and 8-year overall survival (OS) probabilities of patients with KTSCC. The model indicated that age, radiotherapy sequence, SEER stage, marital status, tumor size, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, radiotherapy status, race, lymph node dissection status, and sex were factors influencing the OS of patients with KTSCC. Verified by C-index, NRI, IDI, calibration curve, and DCA curve, our model has better discrimination, calibration, accuracy and net benefit compared to the AJCC system. Conclusions: This study identified the factors that affect the survival of KTSCC patients and established a prognostic nomogram that can help clinicians predict the 3-, 5-, and 8-year survival rates of KTSCC patients.

Efficient production of cordycepin by engineered Yarrowia lipolytica from agro-industrial residues.

Cordycepin, a nucleoside compound with a variety of biological activities, has been extensively applied in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. The advancement of microbial cell factories using agro-industrial residues provides a sustainable pathway for cordycepin biosynthesis. Herein, the cordycepin production was enhanced by the modification of glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway in engineered Yarrowia lipolytica. Then, cordycepin production based on economical and renewable substrates (sugarcane molasses, waste spent yeast, and diammonium hydrogen phosphate) was analyzed. Furthermore, the effects of C/N molar ratio and initial pH on cordycepin production were evaluated. Results indicated that the maximum cordycepin productivity of 656.27 mg/L/d (72 h) and cordycepin titer was 2286.04 mg/L (120 h) by engineered Y. lipolytica in the optimized medium, respectively. The cordycepin productivity in the optimized medium was increased by 28.81% compared with the original medium. This research establishes a promising way for efficient cordycepin production from agro-industrial residues.

Coevolutionary Dynamics of Host Immune and Parasite Virulence Based on an Age-Structured Epidemic Model.

Hosts can activate a defensive response to clear the parasite once being infected. To explore how host survival and fecundity are affected by host-parasite coevolution for chronic parasitic diseases, in this paper, we proposed an age-structured epidemic model with infection age, in which the parasite transmission rate and parasite-induced mortality rate are structured by the infection age. By use of critical function analysis method, we obtained the existence of the host immune evolutionary singular strategy which is a continuous singular strategy (CSS). Assume that parasite-induced mortality begins at infection age [Formula: see text] and is constant v thereafter. We got that the value of the CSS, [Formula: see text], monotonically decreases with respect to infection age [Formula: see text] (see Case (I)), while it is non-monotone if the constant v positively depends on the immune trait c (see Case (II)). This non-monotonicity is verified by numerical simulations and implies that the direction of immune evolution depends on the initial value of immune trait. Besides that, we adopted two special forms of the parasite transmission rate to study the parasite's virulence evolution, by maximizing the basic reproduction ratio [Formula: see text]. The values of the convergence stable parasite's virulence evolutionary singular strategies [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] increase monotonically with respect to time lag L (i.e., the time lag between the onset of transmission and mortality). At the singular strategy [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], we further obtained the expressions of the case mortalities [Formula: see text] and how they are affected by the time lag L. Finally, we only presented some preliminary results about host and parasite coevolution dynamics, including a general condition under which the coevolutionary singular strategy [Formula: see text] is evolutionarily stable.