Retention behavior of nucleosides and nucleobases on a 3 µm undecylenic acid-functionalized silica column in per aqueous liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography separation modes.

A 3 µm undecylenic acid-functionalized stationary phase (UAS) was prepared for the separation of nucleosides and nucleobases using per aqueous liquid chromatography (PALC) and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). The retention behaviors of nucleosides and nucleobases in PALC and HILIC modes were explored by adjusting parameters such as water content, buffer concentration, pH of the mobile phase and column temperature. The experimental data and separation chromatogram demonstrated that PALC could provide retention comparable to that of HILIC for nucleosides and nucleobases. Comparative studies using diluted adenosine solutions evaluated theoretical plates and peak shape for the same retention factors (between 0.25 and 5.0) in PALC and HILIC. There was no buffer component in the mobile phases used to operate the comparisons. HILIC mode is more efficient for adenosine than PALC mode at low retention factors. It's the exact opposite phenomenon for high retention factors. It is proposed that the mass transfer of adenosine between the UAS, the water-rich layer and the ACN-rich mobile phase in HILIC is relatively slow. Given the significant use of toxic ACN in HILIC, PALC emerges as a safer and more effective alternative for separating nucleosides and nucleobases.

A facile approach to undecylenic acid-functionalized stationary phases for per aqueous liquid chromatography.

Green chromatography techniques using low-toxic mobile phase are getting increasingly attention in recent years. The core is developing stationary phases that possess adequate retention and separation under the mobile phase of high content water. Using thiol-ene click chemistry, an undecylenic acid-bonded silica stationary phase (UAS) was prepared in a facile manner. Elemental analysis (EA), solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) confirmed the successful preparation of UAS. The synthesized UAS was employed for per aqueous liquid chromatography (PALC), which uses little organic solvent during separation. Due to the hydrophilic carboxy, thioether group and hydrophobic alkyl chains of the UAS, various categories of compounds (including nucleobases, nucleosides, organic acids and basic compounds) with different properties can achieve enhanced separation under the mobile phase of high content water compared with commercial C18 and silica stationary phases. Overall, our present UAS stationary phase shows excellent separation ability toward highly polar compounds and meets the requirements of green chromatography.

Implementation of visual inspection with acetic acid and Lugol's iodine for cervical cancer screening in rural China.

OBJECTIVE: To address the value of visual inspection where HPV-based screening is not yet available, we evaluated the real-world effectiveness of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and with Lugol's iodine (VILI) as a primary screening method for cervical cancer in rural China. METHODS: A total of 206 133 women aged 30-59 years received two rounds of VIA/VILI screening for cervical cancer in 2006-2010. Women with positive screening results underwent colposcopy and direct biopsy, and were treated if cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) was diagnosed. Clinical effectiveness of VIA/VILI was evaluated by process and outcome measures. RESULTS: The VIA/VILI positivity rate, biopsy rate and detection rate of CIN2+ in the second round were significantly lower than in the first round. The 2-year cumulative detection rate of CIN2+ varied from 0.53% to 0.90% among the four cohorts initiated in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The first round of screening detected 60%-83% of CIN2, 70%-86% of CIN3, and 88%-100% of cervical cancer. Over 92% of CIN2+ were found at the early stage. CONCLUSION: Multiple rounds of visual inspection with continuous training and quality assurance could act as a temporary substitutional screening method for cervical cancer in resource-restricted settings.

Biomechanics of extreme lateral interbody fusion with different internal fixation methods: a finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: Establishing a normal L3-5 model and using finite element analysis to explore the biomechanical characteristics of extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) with different internal fixation methods. METHOD: The L3-5 CT image data of a healthy adult male volunteer were selected to establish a normal lumbar finite element model (M0). The range of motion (ROM) of L3-4 and L4-5, under flexion, extension, left bending, right bending, left rotation, and right rotation, together with L3-4 disc pressure was analyzed. Then the L4-5 intervertebral disc was excised and implanted with a cage, supplemented by different types of internal fixation, including lateral two-hole plate model (M1), lateral four-hole plate model (M2), VerteBRIDGE plating model (M3), lateral pedicle model (M4), posterior unilateral pedicle screw model (M5) and posterior bilateral pedicle screw model (M6). The ROM,the maximum stress value of the cage, and the maximum stress value of the intervertebral disc of L3-4 were analyzed and studied . RESULTS: The ROM of L3-4 and L4-L5 segments in the validation model under various motion states was basically consistent with previous reports. The lumbar finite element model was validated effectively. After XLIF-assisted internal fixation, the range of activity in L3-4 segments of each internal fixation model was greater than that of the normal model under various working conditions, among which the M5、M6 model had the larger range of activity in flexion and extension. After the internal fixation of L4-5 segments, the mobility in M1-M6 was significantly reduced under various motion patterns. In terms of flexion and extension, the posterior pedicle fixation model (M5、M6) showed a significant reduction,followed by M2. The maximal von mises cage stress of M1 was obviously greater than that of other models (except the left bending). Compared with M0, the intervertebral disc stress of M1-M6 at L3-4 segments was increased. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that the posterior bilateral pedicle screw model is the first choice, followed by the lateral four-hole plate model for fixation during XLIF surgery. However, it is still necessary to be aware of the occurrence of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in the later stage.

Titanium Alloy Gamma Nail versus Biodegradable Magnesium Alloy Bionic Gamma Nail for Treating Intertrochanteric Fractures: A Finite Element Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To using finite element analysis to investigate the effects of the traditional titanium alloy Gamma nail and a biodegradable magnesium alloy bionic Gamma nail for treating intertrochanteric fractures. METHODS: Computed tomography images of an adult male volunteer of appropriate age and in good physical condition were used to establish a three-dimensional model of the proximal femur. Then, a model of a type 31A1 intertrochanteric fracture of the proximal femur was established, and the traditional titanium alloy Gamma nails and biodegradable magnesium alloy bionic Gamma nails were used for fixation, respectively. The von Mises stress, the maximum principal stress, and the minimum principal stress were calculated to evaluate the effect of bone ingrowth on stress distribution of the proximal femur after fixation. RESULTS: In the intact model, the maximum stress was 5.8 MPa, the minimum stress was -11.7 MPa, and the von Mises stress was 11.4 MPa. The maximum principal stress distribution of the cancellous bone in the intact model appears in a position consistent with the growth direction of the principal and secondary tensile zones. After traditional Gamma nail healing, the maximum stress was 32 MPa, the minimum stress was -23.5 MPa, and the von Mises stress was 31.3 MPa. The stress concentration was quite obvious compared with the intact model. It was assumed that the nail would biodegrade completely within 12 months postoperatively. The maximum stress was 18.7 MPa, the minimum stress was -12.6 MPa, and the von Mises stress was 14.0 MPa. For the minimum principal stress, the region of minimum stress value less than -10 MPa was significantly improved compared with the traditional titanium alloy Gamma nail models. Meanwhile, the stress distribution of the bionic Gamma nail model in the proximal femur was closer to that of the intact bone, which significantly reduced the stress concentration of the implant. CONCLUSION: The biodegradable magnesium alloy bionic Gamma nail implant can improve the stress distribution of fractured bone close to that of intact bone while reducing the risk of postoperative complications associated with traditional internal fixation techniques, and it has promising clinical value in the future.

Comparison of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes Between Upper Fibular Curvature and Non-Curvature with Medial Knee Osteoarthritis Following Proximal Fibular Osteotomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study with Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of proximal fibular osteotomy (PFO) in treating medial knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with upper fibular curvature and non-curvature. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed. From January 2016 to January 2017, a total of 51 patients (nine males and 42 females) at a mean age of 63.7 years (range 48-79 years) with medial KOA who underwent PFO procedure at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University were included in the study. The patients were divided into the two groups, namely curvature group (28 patients, six males and 22 females, aged 62.6 ± 7.7 years) and non-curvature group (23 patients, three males and 20 females, aged 64.5 ± 7.6 years). Perioperative parameters and Kellgren-Lawrence classification were recorded and analyzed in the two groups, respectively. All patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months at the first year of post-operation, and then every 6 months from the second year of post-operation. A telephone survey with standard questionnaire survey, including Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scoring system, was used to evaluate postoperative clinical outcomes. Radiological results were assessed using the femorotibial angle (FTA), hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), and settlement value of medial tibial platform (MTP) in the two groups. RESULTS: The average follow-up periods of the curvature group and the non-curvature group were 34.8 ± 6.1 and 33.9 ± 5.4 months, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups of demographic data in terms of number of patients, age, body mass index (BMI), gender, KOA side, and Kellgren-Lawrence classification (P > 0.05). The VAS scores of the curvature group and non-curvature group were (3.53 ± 1.62 vs 3.68 ± 1.43 at 1 month, 3.46 ± 0.79 vs 3.57 ± 0.66 at 3 months, and 2.43 ± 0.88 vs 2.83 ± 0.94 at 6 months, both P > 0.05), while significant differences were found from 12 months post-operation (1.54 ± 0.72 vs 2.03 ± 0.85 at 12 months, and 1.04 ± 0.69 vs 1.74 ± 0.75 at 24 months, both P < 0.05). The HSS scores of the curvature group and non-curvature group were (79.67 ± 5.14 vs 78.25 ± 6.37 at 1 month, 84.65 ± 3.76 vs 83.18 ± 3.64 at 3 months, and 86.27 ± 3.13 vs 85.49 ± 3.25 at 6 months, both P > 0.05), while significant differences were found from 12 months post-operation (90.64 ± 4.32 vs 87.71 ± 5.63 at 12 months, and 92.93 ± 2.07 vs 90.06 ± 2.08 at 24 months, both P < 0.05). In addition, the FTA and settlement value of the curvature group were lower than the non-curvature group (177.18 ± 1.52 vs 178.35 ± 1.86, and 5.29 ± 1.74 vs 6.49 ± 2.09, both P < 0.05) while the HKA were higher than the non-curvature group (175.32 ± 2.34 vs 173.83 ± 2.64, P < 0.05) at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Medial KOA patients with upper fibular curvature is an optimal surgical indication for PFO surgery, with the advantages of pain relief, better functional recovery, and alignment correction.

Oncological and Reproductive Outcomes of Fertility-sparing Surgery in Women with Early-stage Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

With delayed childbearing in women, preservation of fertility is an important issue for reproductive-age patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). Fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) can be considered in patients with early-stage disease in order to preserve fertility and improve quality of life. In order to evaluate oncological safety, attitudes toward childbearing and reproductive outcomes in women with EOC who underwent FSS, this multicenter retrospective study was conducted. Between January 2005 and December 2014, total of 87 young women with FIGO stage I EOC were included, with their clinicopathologic parameters in relation to disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) assessed. Attitudes toward childbearing, ovarian function and fertility were studied in women undergoing FSS (n=36). As a result, in contrast to radical surgery, FSS did not affect prognosis by Kaplan-Meier curves (log-rank test; DFS: P=0.484; OS: P=0.125). However, two of the three recurrence cases and both death cases were in FSS group stage IC. All women undergoing FSS resumed regular menstrual periods after chemotherapy. Only 16 (44.44%) had tried to conceive, and 17 pregnancies occurred in 15 (93.75%) women. Among 20 women who did not attempt conception, the most common reason was not being married (70%), followed by already having children (15%). In summary, FSS is considered safe in young women with stage IA EOC. Regular menstruation and good obstetric outcomes can be achieved. This study also provides some insight into the attitudes and social factors regarding fertility in EOC patients.

Notch1 Affects Chemo-resistance Through Regulating Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Epithelial Ovarian cancer cells.

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, chemo-resistance is the main cause for treatment failure. Our previous studies have found that SKOV3 could promote immune escape and tumor progression via Notch1 pathway. Therefore, Notch1 is suspected to be involved in chemo-resistance. The current study is to investigate the possible mechanisms of platinum-resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer mediated by Notch1. Methods: The expressions of Notch1, Snail, MMP-2, N-cadherin, Vimentin and E-cadherin were detected by Western-blot. A stable high expression or low expression of Notch1 in ovarian cancer cells was established by using lentiviral gene engineering. The cell migration and invasion ability were observed by scratch test and transwell test. Cell apoptosis rate and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: The expression levels of Notch1, Snail, MMP-2, N-cadherin and Vimentin in ovarian cancer were high, while the expression levels of E-cadherin were low.Notch1 promoted the expression of Snail, vimentin, N-cadherin and MMP2 protein, but inhibiting the expression of E-cadherin, promoting cell migration and invasion. Notch1 affected apoptosis of cells through Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), increasing the proportion of cells in S phase and G2 phase, thus affecting drug resistance. Conclusion: Notch1 affects EOC cells chemo-resistance by regulating EMT. This may provide a new target for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Volar, Splitting, and Collapsed Type of Die-Punch Fracture Treated by Volar Locking Plate (VLP): A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of different types of die-punch fractures treated by volar locking plate (VLP). METHODS: Between January 2013 and February 2018, a total of 71 patients with die-punch fracture of distal radius were treated by VLP and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Of them, 18 were classified as volar type, 24 as splitting type, and 28 as collapsed type of fracture, based on the preoperative radiographs and CT scans. The minimum follow-up period was 12 months. Radiological parameters, wrist function, range of motion (ROM), and complications were evaluated and compared. Pearson chi-square test was used to assess the difference of gender distribution, injury side, dominance, mechanism, type and classification of fracture, and postoperative complications, when necessary (P < 0.05), followed by pairwise comparisons using partitions of chi-square test. Two-tailed P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. For pairwise comparisons, adjustment of statistical level as P < 0.017 (0.05/3) was used. SPSS 21.0 was used to perform all the analyses. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 14.5 months, and at the mean of postoperative 8 weeks all patients obtained bony union, without delayed or non-union. The grip strength was 26.6 ± 7.9 kg for patients in volar fracture group, 27.0 ± 9.4 kg in splitting group, and 26.2 ± 9.4 kg in collapsed group, without significant difference (P = 0.628).The disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) (9.2 ± 10.0 for volar group, 8.8 ± 7.9 for splitting group, and 10.6 ± 8.7 for collapsed group) or Gartland-Werley score (5.1 ± 2.8 for volar group, 4.8 ± 3.2 for splitting group, and 6.4 ± 2.7 for collapsed group) either did not differ among the three groups (all P > 0.05). There was a poorer ROM in the group of collapsed fractures, but the difference was non-significant for any parameter (P > 0.05). As for radiographic parameters, we did not find any significant difference for volar tilt, radial inclination, radial height, and ulnar variance (all P > 0.05), except for articular step-off (P < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons showed a significantly greater step-off (1.2 mm vs 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm) and higher rate of total complications in group of collapsed fracture (39.3%), compared to either volar (10.5%) or splitting type (12.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The collapsed type of die-punch fracture posed a greater articular step-off and a higher rate of complications, especially secondary wrist osteoarthritis, which deserved more attention in clinical treatment.

Synchronous occurrence of benign mesothelioma and adenomatoid tumor of uterus: A case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Synchronous occurrence of benign cystic mesothelioma and adenomatoid tumor of uterus (UAT) are very rare and few cases have been published in the English literature. They are easily misdiagnosed as malignant by clinicians, due to the lack of reports. PATIENT CONCERNS: A case of benign mesothelial combined with uterus adenomatoid tumor (UAT) in a 48-year-old Chinese woman was reported. Our patient presented with abdominal pain and surgery showed a large subserous mass (12.0 × 11.4 × 9.8 cm) combined with a small intramural solid nodule (2.0 × 1.0 × 1.0 cm), and multiple minute neoplastic growth on the ovary. DIAGNOSIS: Due to the patient's symptoms, pathological findings, she was diagnosed with synchronous occurrence of benign mesothelioma and UAT. INTERVENTIONS: We treated her with a total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy. OUTCOMES: The patient is now in stable condition, without any signs of recurrence during 1 year of follow-up. LESSONS: Most mesotheliomas are malignant, synchronous occurrence of benign mesothelioma and UAT are extremely rare. And they are often misdiagnosed as malignancy by clinicians. Our case report can improve the awareness of the disease and avoid excessive treatment.

Biomechanical Comparison of Three Internal Fixation Techniques for Stabilizing Posterior Pelvic Ring Disruption: A 3D Finite Element Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical stability and compatibility of two iliosacral screws (ISS), a tension band plate (TBP), and a minimally invasive adjustable plate (MIAP) for treating Tile C pelvic fractures. METHODS: Three groups of finite element models of the intact pelvis, including the main ligament and the proximal one-third of both femurs, were developed to simulate vertical sacral fractures and treated with the three abovementioned internal fixation techniques. A 500 N vertical load, a 500 N vertical load plus a 10 Nm moment of forward sagittal direction, and 500 N vertical load plus a 10 Nm moment of right lateral direction were applied to the sacrum to simulate standing status, bending status, and flexion status, respectively. The maximum displacement value, the stress value, and the stress value of the fracture interface were compared among the three internal fixation techniques. RESULTS: The results showed that all three internal fixation techniques effectively restored the biomechanical transmission of the injured pelvis. The stress on the implants in the TBP model was 167.47% and 53.41% higher than that in the ISS model and the MIAP model, respectively, and the stress shielding phenomenon of the TBP model was more obvious than in the other two models. Meanwhile, the stress between the fracture interfaces in the TBP fixation models was apparently higher than that in the other two models. However, the vertical displacement of the MIAP model was not significantly different from that in the ISS and TBP model; therefore, strong fixation could be obtained in all three models. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we believe that the stability of Tile C pelvic fracture fixed with MIAP was similar to that of fractures fixed with ISS and TBP, but the stress shielding phenomenon and safety of implants in the TBP models were inferior to those in the MIAP and ISS fixation models. Meanwhile, MIAP and ISS fixation were more helpful to the healing processing than was TBP fixation, especially at the fracture interface of the second and third vertebral body levels.

MiRNA detection in cervical exfoliated cells for missed high-grade lesions in women with LSIL/CIN1 diagnosis after colposcopy-guided biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (LSIL/CIN1) preceded by colposcopy guided biopsy is recommended conservative follow-up, although some of these lesions are actually high-grade lesions, which are missed on an initial colposcopy. Therefore, in this work, we evaluate the potential role of miRNA detection in cervical exfoliated cells in a clinic-based population for predicting missed high-grade lesions in women diagnosed with LSIL/CIN1 after colposcopy-guided biopsy. METHODS: A total number of 177 women with a diagnosis of LSIL/CIN1 obtained by colposcopy-guided biopsy were grouped into two categories according to the histology of the conization specimens: consistent LSIL/CIN1 group (surgical pathology consistent with colposcopic diagnosis) and missed high-grade lesion group (surgical pathology found high-grade lesion). The expression of eight miRNAs, such as miRNA195, miRNA424, miRNA375, miRNA218, miRNA34a, miRNA29a, miRNA16-2, and miRNA20a was detected by real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in cervical exfoliated cells of the 177 patients. Pearson Chi-Square was used to compare the performance efficiency of patients' characteristics. Nonparametric Man-Whitney U test was used to assess differences in miRNA expression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the performance of miRNA evaluation in detecting missed high-grade lesions. RESULTS: Among the 177 women with biopsy-confirmed CIN1, 15.3% (27/177) had CIN2+ in the conization specimen (missed high-grade lesion group) and 84.7% (150/177) had CIN1-(consistent LSIL/CIN1 group). The relative expression of miRNA-195 and miRNA-29a in the missed high-grade lesion group was significantly lower than that in the consistent LSIL/CIN1 group. The relative expression of miRNA16-2 and miRNA20a in the missed high-grade lesion group was significantly higher than that in the consistent LSIL/CIN1 group. No significant difference was observed between these two groups regarding the other four miRNAs. Of these significant miRNAs, miRNA29a detection achieved the highest Youden index (0.733), sensitivity (92.6%), positive predictive value (46.2%), negative predictive value (98.3%) and higher specificity (80.7%) when identifying missed high-grade lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of miRNA might provide a new triage for identifying a group at higher risk of missed high-grade lesions in women with colposcopy diagnosis of LSIL/CIN1.

Weather-Manipulated Smart Broadband Electromagnetic Metamaterials.

Smart materials and structures with tunable electromagnetic (EM) properties are highly demanded for active environmental sensitive systems. As polar molecules in the environment, in this work, water and ice are utilized as wetting and freezing conditions to manipulate the electromagnetic response behaviors in a graphene-based composite material, aiming to achieve a smart weather-manipulated EM metamaterial. Owing to the introduced polar water and ice phase in the self-assembled porous electromagnetic attenuating networks, energy consumption of EM waves is significantly altered via multiple scattering of polar induced interfaces. In frozen conditions, a wide absorption band (2-18 GHz) with efficient absorption (reflection loss < -10 dB) has been obtained. Additionally, the mechanical feature of the as-assembled metamaterials could also be manipulated via altering the weather conditions in terms of changing the phase of the introduced water. Interestingly, the mechanical properties could be massively changed while the broadband absorption capability has rarely been impacted. Implication of the results highlights an efficient method for fabricating smart EM metamaterials that are capable of being manipulated by the environment.

The inhibition of UBC13 expression and blockage of the DNMT1-CHFR-Aurora A pathway contribute to paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer.

Paclitaxel is widely used as a first-line chemotherapeutic drug for patients with ovarian cancer and other solid cancers, but drug resistance occurs frequently, resulting in ovarian cancer still presenting as the highest lethality among all gynecological tumors. Here, using DIGE quantitative proteomics, we identified UBC13 as down-regulated in paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer cells, and it was further revealed by immunohistochemical staining that UBC13 low-expression was associated with poorer prognosis and shorter survival of the patients. Through gene function experiments, we found that paclitaxel exposure induced UBC13 down-regulation, and the enforced change in UBC13 expression altered the sensitivity to paclitaxel. Meanwhile, the reduction of UBC13 increased DNMT1 levels by attenuating its ubiquitination, and the up-regulated DNMT1 enhanced the CHFR promoter DNA methylation levels, leading to a reduction of CHFR expression, and an increased in the levels of Aurora A. Our findings revealed a novel function for UBC13 in regulating paclitaxel sensitivity through a DNMT1-CHFR-Aurora A pathway in ovarian cancer cells. UBC13 could potentially be employed as a therapeutic molecular drug for reversing paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer patients.

Clinical Predictors of Recurrence and Prognostic Value of Lymph Node Involvement in the Serous Borderline Ovarian Tumor.

AIM: This study was aimed to evaluate the risk factors of recurrence and the value of nodal involvement in patients with serous borderline ovarian tumors (SBOT). METHODS: Two hundred twenty-five patients who underwent surgery and were diagnosed with SBOT were retrospectively studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the risk factors for recurrence. Patients' clinical pathologic characteristics were compared between the patients who presented lymph node involvement and those who did not. The significant values of lymph condition influencing 5-year disease-free survival were also evaluated by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that risk factors for recurrence were micropapillary (P = 0.021), fertility-preserving surgery (P = 0.014), and laparoscopic approach (P = 0.009). Of these 112 patients on whom lymphadenectomy was performed, 17 cases showed lymph node positive, whereas the remaining 95 patients did not. Significant differences in terms of lymph node numbers (P < 0.0001), invasive implant (P = 0.022), and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging (P < 0.0001) were observed between the 2 groups of lymphatic node involved or not. Kaplan-Meier curves of 5-year disease-free survival revealed that there were no significant differences either between groups of lymphatic node involved or not (P = 0.778) and groups of removed nodes whether more than 10 or not (P = 0.549). CONCLUSIONS: Micropapillary, fertility-preserving, and laparoscopic approach were factors significantly affecting the recurrence of SBOT by both univariate and multivariate analysis. Lymph node metastasis did not seem to be correlated to a worse prognosis of SBOT.

Constructing Repairable Meta-Structures of Ultra-Broad-Band Electromagnetic Absorption from Three-Dimensional Printed Patterned Shells.

Ultra-broad-band electromagnetic absorption materials and structures are increasingly attractive for their critical role in competing with the advanced broad-band electromagnetic detection systems. Mechanically soft and weak wax-based materials composites are known to be insufficient to serve in practical electromagnetic absorption applications. To break through such barriers, here we developed an innovative strategy to enable the wax-based composites to be robust and repairable meta-structures by employing a three-dimensional (3D) printed polymeric patterned shell. Because of the integrated merits from both the dielectric loss wax-based composites and mechanically robust 3D printed shells, the as-fabricated meta-structures enable bear mechanical collision and compression, coupled with ultra-broad-band absorption (7-40 and 75-110 GHz, reflection loss  smaller than -10 dB) approaching state-of-the-art electromagnetic absorption materials. With the assistance of experiment and simulation methods, the design advantages and mechanism of employing such 3D printed shells for substantially promoting the electromagnetic absorption performance have been demonstrated. Therefore, such universal strategy that could be widely extended to other categories of wax-based composites highlights a smart stage on which high-performance practical multifunction meta-structures with ultra-broad-band electromagnetic absorption could be envisaged.

Graphene-Based Sandwich Structures for Frequency Selectable Electromagnetic Shielding.

Due to substantial development of electronics and telecommunication techniques, materials with electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance are significant in alleviating the interference impacts induced from a remarkable variety of devices. In the work, we propose novel sandwich structures for manipulating the EM wave transport, which holds unique EMI shielding features of frequency selectivity. By employing electrical and magnetic loss spacers, the resultant sandwich structures are endowed with tunable EMI shielding performance, showing substantial improvements in overall shielding effectiveness along with pronounced shielding peak shift. The mechanisms suggest that the multiple interfaces, electromagnetic loss media, and changes of representative EM wavelength could be critical roles in tailoring the EMI shielding performance. The results provide a versatile strategy that could be extended in other frequency ranges and various types of sandwich structures, promising great opportunities for designing and fabricating advanced electromagnetic attenuation materials and devices.

Influence of Different Boundary Conditions in Finite Element Analysis on Pelvic Biomechanical Load Transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of boundary conditions and connect conditions on biomechanics predictions in finite element (FE) pelvic models. METHODS: Three FE pelvic models were constructed to analyze the effect of boundary conditions and connect conditions in the hip joint: an intact pelvic model assumed contact of the hip joint on both sides (Model I); and a pelvic model assumed the hip joint connecting surfaces fused together with (Model II) or without proximal femurs (Model III). The model was validated by bone surface strains obtained from strain gauges in an in vitro pelvic experiment. Vertical load was applied to the pelvic specimen, and the same load was simulated in the FE model. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation between the FE analysis results of Model I and the experimental results (R 2 = 0.979); meanwhile, the correlation coefficient and the linear regression function increased slightly with increasing load force. Comparing the three models, the stress values in the point near the pubic symphysis in Model III were 48.52 and 39.1% lower, respectively, in comparison with Models I and II. Furthermore, the stress values on the dome region of the acetabulum in Models II and III were 103.61 and 390.53% less than those of Model I. Besides, the posterior acetabular wall stress values of Model II were 197.15 and 305.17% higher than those of Models I and III, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the effect of the connect condition in the hip joint should not be neglected, especially in studies related to clinical applications.

Prognostic value of human papillomavirus 16/18 genotyping in low-grade cervical lesions preceded by mildly abnormal cytology.

Histological low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (LSIL/CIN1) preceded by normal or mildly abnormal cytology is recommended for conservative follow-up, with no separated management. In this study, we assessed the triage value of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 genotyping in 273 patients with LSIL/CIN1. HPV16/18 genotyping was performed at baseline and follow-up was at 6-monthly intervals for up to 2 years. At each follow-up, women positive for cytology or high-risk HPV (hrHPV) were referred for colposcopy. Enrollment cytology, HPV16/18 genotyping, and questionnaire-obtained factors were linked to the 2-year cumulative progression rate. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed taking into account time-to-event with Cox proportional hazard regression. The results showed that 190 cases (69.6%) regressed, 37 (13.6%) persisted, and 46 (16.8%) progressed. HPV16/18 positivity (hazard ratio (HR), 2.708; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.432-5.121; P=0.002) is significantly associated with higher 2-year cumulative progression rate. Sub-analysis by enrollment cytology and age restricted the positive association among patients preceded by mildly abnormal cytology and aged 30 years or older. Immediate treatment is a rational recommendation for the high-risk subgroup, when good compliance is not assured.