De novo metastatic lobular breast carcinoma: A population-based study from SEER database.

PURPOSE: Patients with metastatic lobular breast carcinoma constitute a heterogeneous group with distinguishing features. Our aim was to describe the features and survival of them, and further subdivide them into subcategories for prognostic stratification and treatment planning. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer from 2010 to 2018 were identified using the SEER database. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to calculate odds ratios. The within-pair difference was minimized by propensity score matching. Multiple comparisons based on Cox proportional hazards model were performed to investigate the interactions of M1 subcategory and treatment modality on survival. RESULTS: A total of 1,675 patients with de novo metastatic lobular breast carcinoma were identified, they were more likely to have HR+/HER2- subtype, low histologic grade, low T/N stage, fewer metastatic sites, but worse prognosis compared with patients with metastatic ductular breast carcinoma. The M1 stage was subdivided into 3 subcategories with significantly different prognoses. The benefits of primary tumor surgery were more pronounced in M1a/b disease, whereas the benefits of chemotherapy increased with the progression of metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: Patients with metastatic lobular breast carcinoma have unique clinicopathological characteristics and metastatic patterns. M1 subcategory assists prognosis stratification and treatment planning for such patients.

Brain metastasis in de novo breast cancer: An updated population-level study from SEER database.

PURPOSE: Although there are current studies on breast cancer brain metastasis, population-level analysis is still lacking. As treatment for metastatic breast cancer has improved, an updated population-level analysis is necessary. Our aim was to use the SEER database to characterize the incidence and survival of patients with brain metastases at the initial diagnosis of breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with breast cancer from 2010 to 2018 were identified using the SEER database. The stratified incidence and median survival of patients with BM at diagnosis were described. Multivariate logistic and Cox regression were performed to determine the covariates associated with brain metastasis and survival outcomes, respectively. Multiple comparisons based on Cox proportional hazards model were performed for the analysis of interactive effects on overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 2,248 patients with brain metastases at the initial diagnosis of breast cancer were identified, accounting for 0.40% of all patients with breast cancer, and 7.26% of patients with metastatic disease. Incidence proportions were highest, and survival outcomes were worst among patients with hormone receptor (HR)-negative human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and triple-negative subtypes. For patients with brain metastases, the prognostic differences among different molecular subtypes have been gradually narrowing, and the survival benefits from various treatment methods have been all increased over time. CONCLUSION: Our study provides an updated population-level estimate of the incidence and survival for patients with brain metastases at the diagnosis of breast cancer, thus may help early identification, prognostic stratification and treatment planning for such patients.

Survival Benefit of Surgical Treatment Added Into Systemic Treatment for Isolated Breast Cancer Liver Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Compared with systemic treatment alone, whether surgical treatment combined with systemic treatment can improve survival outcomes of patients with isolated breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM) is still controversial. This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment for patients with isolated BCLM. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to May 13, 2021 was conducted for relevant studies. The primary outcome was overall survival. The meta-analysis was performed using R software. The quality of the pooled study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The publication bias was evaluated by funnel plots and Begg's and Egger's tests. Fixed- and random-effects models were applied according to heterogeneity. Results: 9 retrospective studies involving 13 cohorts (7 unmatched cohorts and 6 matched cohorts) were included in this study. The surgical cohorts had better overall survival than the systemic cohorts in the pooled analysis of all the included studies, in the subgroup analysis of liver resection, and in the subset of the matched cohorts. Conclusions: Compared with systemic treatment alone, surgical treatment combined with systemic treatment was proven to be associated with superior survival outcomes, which should be considered in selected patients with isolated BCLM.

The detection rate of methylene blue combined with another tracer in sentinel lymph node biopsy of early-stage breast cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Methylene blue (MB) alone or combined with 99mtechnetium-labeled sulphur colloid (Tc99m) or indocyanine green (ICG) is widely used for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) of early-stage breast cancer in developing countries and regions. However, studies investigating the effectiveness of MB combined with another tracer have produced heterogeneous results. The purpose of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to evaluate the detection rate of MB alone, MB + Tc99m, and MB + ICG, and to examine the differences between the 3 methods. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive electronic literature search on the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang Data databases from inception to October 2021. The meta-analysis included 7,498 patients in 49 studies. The risk of bias for each study was independently assessed as low, moderate, or high using criteria adapted from the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Fixed- and random-effects models were used to calculate pooled estimates. Mixed-comparison analysis using random-effects models. We assessed statistical heterogeneity by I2 statistics and evaluated publication bias using Begg's test. RESULTS: The identification rate (IR), false-negative rate (FNR), sensitivity (SEN), and accuracy rate (AR) using MB + Tc99m were 96%, 7%, 93%, and 96%, respectively; the IR, FNR, SEN, and AR using MB + ICG were 97%, 7%, 93%, and 97%, respectively. The NMA found that IR and AR between MB + ICG and MB + Tc99m was OR =1.37 (95% CI: 0.41-4.20) and OR =1.33 (95% CI: 0.56-3.32), respectively. DISCUSSION: Our results are similar to those of most previous studies, and meta-analysis showed that the MB + Tc99m or MB + ICG mapping methods can be used to obtain higher IR and lower FNR than MB alone. Our NMA showed no statistical significance between MB + Tc99m and MB + ICG with IR and AR. Both MB + Tc99m and MB + ICG can be used as effective mapping methods in SLNB of early-stage breast cancer to improve the detection rate.

The Effect of Transitioning between Feeding Methods on the Gut Microbiota Dynamics of Yaks on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Here we aimed to explore the change in yak gut microbiota after transferring yaks from grazing grassland to a feedlot, and determine their diet adaptation period. Five yaks were transferred from winter pasture to an indoor feedlot. Fecal samples were obtained from grazing (G) and feedlot feeding yaks at day 1 (D1), day 4 (D4), day 7 (D7), day 11 (D11), and day 16 (D16). The dynamic variation of the bacterial community was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that the yak gut microbial community structure underwent significant changes after diet transition. At the phylum and genus levels, most bacteria changed within D1-D11; however, no significant changes were observed from D11-D16. Furthermore, we used random forest to determine the key bacteria (at class level) disturbing gut micro-ecology. The relative abundance of the top four classes (Erysipelotrichia, Gammaproteobacteria, Saccharimonadia, and Coriobacteriia) was highest on D1-D4, and then decreased and plateaued over time. Our results demonstrated that an abrupt adjustment to a diet with high nutrition could influence the gut micro-ecology, which was stabilized within 16 days, thus providing insights into diet adaptation in the yak gut.

Intraoperative radiotherapy versus whole-breast external beam radiotherapy, and other factors associated with the prognosis of early breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy: a retrospective study from SEER database.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of early breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and radiotherapy. Besides, we focused our attention exclusively on the comparison of the impact on prognosis between intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and whole-breast external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). METHODS: An observational cohort study was performed on patients with Tis-2 N0-1 M0 breast cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database who treated with BCS and radiotherapy. Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to estimate risk factors for overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). RESULTS: Of the 98,614 early breast cancer patients treated with BCS and radiotherapy, 97,164 (98.5%) patients underwent EBRT and 1,450 (1.5%) underwent IORT. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that early breast cancer patients with age ≥65, poor marital status, lack of medical insurance, histological grade III/IV (SEER 4 grades), high T stage, high N stage, and TNBC were associated with a decreased OS/BCSS, whereas ER-positive and PR-positive were associated with an improved OS/BCSS. No significant difference was observed in survival between IORT and EBRT groups (P=0.213 for OS, P=0.180 for BCSS), or between intraoperative beam radiation and intraoperative radioactive implants groups (P=0.319 for OS, P=0.972 for BCSS). CONCLUSIONS: Our study can help clinicians identify patients with poor prognosis after breast-conserving therapy. IORT may be an alternative to EBRT for early breast cancer patients who are unable to complete the long-term postoperative radiation treatment. Beam radiation and radioactive implants are both ideal alternatives for patients who choose IORT.

Mesoporous g-C3N4/ß-CD nanocomposites modified glassy carbon electrode for electrochemical determination of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.

A novel method using mesoporous g-C3N4 and ß-cyclodextrin nanocomposite (mpg-C3N4/ß-CD) for the electrochemical detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is presented. The unique structure of the mesoporous g-C3N4/ß-CD nanocomposite facilitates both mpg-C3N4 electrocatalysis and ß-CD inclusion-complexation of the analytes. When compared to GCE or mpg-C3N4 modified GCE, the mpg-C3N4/ß-CD modified glassy carbon electrode exhibits superior performance in the detection of TNT. Hence, we used mpg-C3N4/ß-CD modified GCE for the development of TNT detection method using linear sweep voltammetry at -0.45 V reduction potential with 100 s accumulation time. The TNT calibration curve is linear within the 1-100 µM concentration range and the corresponding sensitivity and LOD values are 0.2 µA/µM and 68 ppb respectively. When p-nitrophenol and o-nitrophenol introduced into the matrix, the mpg-C3N4/ß-CD modified GCE sensor showed high selectivity and sensitivity to the nitroaromatic compounds. Optimized mpg-C3N4/ß-CD modified GCE sensor was used for the detection of TNT in a natural lake water sample with an 96.8% peak recovery. The results shown in work illustrate the potential of using g-C3N4/ß-CD modified GCE sensors in monitoring TNT and other nitroaromatic compounds in environmental analysis.

[Values of Hematological Indicators in the Screening of α-Thalassemia in Fujian Area of China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the genotypes and the hematological phenotypic characteristics of α-thalassemia in different areas of Fujian and to evaluate the values of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), hemoglobin (Hb), RBC distribution width/red blood cell (RDW/RBC) for screening α-thalassemia in this area. METHODS: The Gap-PCR assay was applied for detecting 3 common deletional mutations of patients with α-thalassemia, and the reverse dot-blot (RDB) assay was adopted to detect the foci of 3 common non-deletional gene mutations.Then,the hematological parameters of individuals with α-thalassemia were analyzed. Finally, the optimal cut-off value in hematological indexes for screening α-thalassemia were determined by the ROC curve. RESULTS: Altogether 16 types of gene mutations were found in 772 patients with α-thalassemia. Among them, the -SEA/αα deletion mutation was the most common which was observed in 521 cases(67.49%). Compared with the control group, the differences in MCV, MCH, and Hb were statistically significant between the patients of the same sex but no same type. In male groups, the RDW/RBC ratio was statistically significant in individuals of light type and HbH disease as compared with the healthy control group. But in female groups, the statistical different of RDW/RBC ratio was found between only HbH disease group and control group. MCV<81.25 fl, MCH<27.30 pg, Hb(male)<128.5 g/L, and Hb(female) <123.5 g/L, with the highest specificity and the highest sensitivity, were the best cut-off points for screening α-thalassemia in the laboratory. CONCLUSION: Due to the difference of regional heterogeneity and hospital equipment environment, the different laboratories need to establish cut-off value for screening α-thalassemia suitable for its local region. In future, our laboratory can use MCV<81.25 fl, MCH<27.30 pg, Hb(male)<128.5 g/L, and Hb(female) <123.5 g/L for value for clinical screening, of α-thalassemia.

Two new cadinane-type sesquiterpenes from cultures of the basidiomycete Trichaptum pargamenum.

Two new cadinane-type sesquiterpenes, trichapargins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Trichaptum pargamenum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods. Trichapargin A showed weak activity to SW480 with an IC50 value of 24.8 µM.

A new N-methoxyl-carbonyl benzylisoquinoline from Litsea cubeba.

A new benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (•)-N-methoxycarbonyl-norjuziphine (1) was isolated from Litsea cubeba. Its structure was identified by extensively spectroscopic techniques and confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against HL-60 and MCF-7 cells, with IC50 values of 18.1 and 15.0 µM, respectively, comparable to 3.1 and 17.5 µM of the cisplatin (positive control).

alpha-Synuclein redistributed and aggregated in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease rats.

Objective To observe the influence of rotenone on the distribution of alpha-synuclein (ASN) in rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups and received 2 mg/kg rotenone (s.c.) or sunflower oil (as control group) for about 4 weeks. The hippocampus, substantia nigra and striatum of brain were observed. Hematoxylin and eosin stain were used to observe the Lewy body like inclusion. The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or ASN protein was determined by anti-TH or anti-alpha-synuclein immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results In control rats, ASN protein distributed widely in brain, especially in hippocampus, cortex and striatum. Rotenone obviously increased TH positive neurons and fibers loss in substantia nigra and striatum (P < 0.05). In rotenone treated rats, ASN positive cells increased in global brain but not distributed in an even manner. In substantia nigra, ASN positive stuff was found aggregate in both cytoplasm and nucleus, and some formed spherical inclusion; in striatum, ASN positive neurites end aggregated and agglomerated around neurons; and in hippocampus, few dot-like ASN were aggregated in cell body, and no notable change was found in nucleus. Conclusion In rotenone administrated PD rats, ASN protein aggregated in several brain regions but most obviously in striatum and substantia nigra, and the distribution region of ASN was changed from peri-synapse to the cytoplasm and nucleus of dopaminergic neuron.

[Construction of a cDNA subtractive library of rat brain after repeated +Gz exposure].

Objective. To construct a cDNA subtractive library of rat brain after repeated + Gz exposures with suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Method. Wistar [correction of Wister] rats were randomly divided into control group and repeated +Gz exposure group. Using an animal centrifuge, control rats were exposed to +1 Gz and exposure rats were exposed to +10 Gz for three times, each for 1 min with 30 min interval in between. Brains were taken 6 h after the last centrifuge run and Poly (A) + RNA were isolated. Moreover, single-strand cDNAs and double-strand cDNAs were synthesized in turn. After Rsa I enzyme restriction, +Gz exposure rat brain cDNAs were divided into two groups and ligated to the specific adaptor 1 and adaptor 2R, respectively. Then +Gz exposure rat brain cDNAs were hybridized with the control rat brain cDNA twice and underwent nested PCR twice. The PCR product was ligated with T/A plasmid vectors to set up the subtractive library. Result. The cDNA subtractive library of rat brain after repeated +Gz exposures with high subtractive efficiency was set up successfully. Conclusion. The highly efficient cDNA subtractive library may provide a solid foundation for screening and cloning differentially expressed genes in rat brain after repeated exposures to +Gz.

[A study of insertion/delation polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene in pilots].

In order to understand insertion/delation (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene in pilots,and to explore the relationship between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and the performance of the pilots, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the genotypes for an I/D polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene in 118 pilots and 96 healthy subjects as controls. The result showed that the I/D polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene was categorized into three genotypes: two deletion alleles (genotype DD), heterozygous alleles (genotype ID), and two insertion alleles (genotype II). The genotype II and I allele frequency were significantly higher in pilots (44.07% and 0.65) than that in healthy subjects (31.25% and 0.52). It is suggested that I gene of ACE may play a role in performance of the pilots.