Green and Low-Cost Modified Pisha Sandstone Geopolymer Gel Materials for Ecological Restoration: A Phase Review.

Pisha sandstone (PS) is a special interbedded rock in the middle reaches of the Yellow River that experiences severe weathering and is loose and broken. Due to severe multiple erosion events, the Pisha sandstone region is called "the most severe water loss and soil erosion in the world" and "the ecological cancer of the earth". As a special pozzolanic mineral, PS has the potential to be used as precursors for the synthesis of green and low-carbon geopolymer gel materials and applied in ecological restoration. This paper aims to undertake a phase review of the precursors for geopolymer gel materials. The genesis and distribution, physical and chemical characterization, erosion characteristics, and advances in the ecological restoration of PS are all summarized. Furthermore, current advances in the use of PS for the synthesis of geopolymer gel materials in terms of mechanical properties and durability are discussed. The production of Pisha sandstone geopolymer gels through the binder jetting technique and 3D printing techniques is prospected. Meanwhile, the prospects for the resource application of PS in mine rehabilitation and sustainable ecology are discussed. In the future, multifactor-driven comprehensive measures should be further investigated in order to achieve ecological restoration of the Pisha sandstone region and promote high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

Development and validation of a deep-learning model for the detection of non-displaced femoral neck fractures with anteroposterior and lateral hip radiographs.

Background: Hip fractures, including femoral neck fractures, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population and are typically diagnosed using plain radiography. However, diagnosing non-displaced femoral neck fractures can be challenging due to their subtle appearance on hip radiographs. Previous deep-learning models have shown low accuracy in identifying these fractures on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs; however, no studies have used lateral radiographs. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of using deep-learning with both AP and lateral hip radiographs to automatically identify non-displaced femoral neck fractures. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with femoral neck fractures at The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University. All the hip radiographs were reviewed, and cases of non-displaced femoral neck fractures were included in the study. Additionally, 439 participants with normal hip radiographs were also included in the study. A vision transformer (Vit) model was developed using 1,536 AP and lateral hip radiograph. The model's performance was compared to the performance of two groups of human observers: an expert group comprising orthopedic surgeons and radiologists, and a non-expert group, including emergency physicians and general practice doctors. We also carried out the external validation using two additional data sets to assess the generalizability of the model. Results: The Vit model showed exceptional performance in detecting non-displaced femoral neck fractures on paired AP and lateral hip radiographs, achieving a binary accuracy of 95.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 94.9%, 96.8%] and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.988. Compared to the human observers, the model had a higher accuracy of 96.7% (95% CI: 93.9%, 99.5%) on the paired AP and lateral hip radiographs, while the accuracy of the expert group was 90.5% (95% CI: 85.7%, 95.2%). Further, the model maintained good performance during the external validation, with an AUC of 0.959 on the paired AP and lateral views. Conclusions: Our Vit model showed expert-level performance in identifying non-displaced femoral neck fractures on paired AP and lateral hip radiographs. This model has the potential to enhance diagnosis accuracy and improve patient outcomes by reducing the need for additional examinations and preoperative time.

Overexpression Pattern of miR-301b in Osteosarcoma and Its Relevance with Osteosarcoma Cellular Behaviors via Modulating SNX10.

Prior studies have noted the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in development and progression of osteosarcoma (OS), but the influence of miR-301b is less investigated. This investigation aimed to explore the biological role of miR-301b/SNX10 in OS. GSE28423 and GSE28424 arrays delivered the corresponding miR-301b and sorting nexin 10 (SNX10) expression levels in OS samples. miR-301b and SNX10 expressions were also measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting in cells. Cell counting kit (CCK)-8 and transwell analysis were applied to measure cell characteristics. Luciferase reporter assay and Pearson correlation analysis were used to detect the relevance between miR-301b and SNX10. miR-301b was extremely increased in OS tissues compared with normal tissues, while SNX10 was decreased. The proliferation, invasion, and migration capabilities were limited following a low expression level of miR-301b whereas miR-301b overexpression promoted cellular malignant behaviors. miR-301b negatively targeted SNX10. The elevated SNX10 expression highlighted the inhibitory function on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in OS cells treated by miR-301b inhibitor. Reduction of miR-301b induced the decrease of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers including N-cadherin, Vimentin, and matrix metallo-proteinase 9 (MMP)9. These results are added to the complete expanding field of the potential effects of miR-301b in OS cell malignant behaviors and demonstrate its promising role for further use to treat human OS.

[Effectiveness of minimally invasive plate and medial supporting cannulated screw fixation via tarsal sinus approach for Sanders type â ¡ and â ¢ calcaneal fractures].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of minimally invasive plate and medial supporting cannulated screw fixation via tarsal sinus approach in treatment of Sanders type Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures. Methods: A clinical data of 46 patients with Sanders type Ⅱand Ⅲ calcaneal fractures met the selective criteria between March 2016 and March 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. The factures were fixed with minimally invasive plate and medial supporting cannulated screws via tarsal sinus approach in 20 cases (group A) and with minimally invasive plate in 26 cases (group B). There was no significant difference between groups in term of the gender, age, injury causes, fracture type and side, the time from injury to operation, and preoperative calcaneal length and width, Böhler angle, Gissane angle, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and the interval between operation and full weight-bearing were recorded. The pain improvement of patients was evaluated by VAS scores before operation and at 48 hours after operation. The ankle joint function was evaluated by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score at 3 and 12 months after operation. Besides, the calcaneal length and width, Böhler angle, and Gissane angle were measured by X-ray films before and after operation. Furthermore, the difference (loss value) between 3, 12 months and 1 day after operation was calculated. Moreover, the fracture healing and healing time was observed. Results: All operations of two groups were successfully completed. The incisions healed by first intention, and no vascular/nerve injury or incision infection occurred. The operation time of group A was significantly longer than that of group B ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and the interval between operation and full weight-bearing ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up 12-36 months (mean, 14.8 months). The VAS scores at 48 hours after operation were significantly lower than those before operation in the two groups ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the difference of pre- and post-operative VAS score between groups ( P>0.05). The AOFAS scores at 12 months after operation were significantly higher than those at 3 months after operation in the two groups ( P<0.05); and there was no significant difference between groups at 3 and 12 months ( P>0.05). X-ray films showed that the fractures of the two groups healed and there was no significant difference in healing time ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in calcaneal length and width and Gissane angle between groups at each time point ( P>0.05), but there was significant difference in Böhler angle between groups at 12 months ( P<0.05). The imaging indexes of the two groups significantly improved at each time point after operation when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between different time points after operation ( P>0.05) in the imaging indexes of group A. There were significant differences in the calcaneal length, calcaneal width, and Gissane angle of group B between 12 months and 1 day, 3 months after operation ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between 1 day and 3 months after operation ( P>0.05). The differences in Böhler angle of group B between different time points after operation were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between groups in the loss of all imaging indexes at 3 months after operation ( P>0.05). The losses of calcaneal width, Böhler angle, and Gissane angle in group A at 12 months after operation were significantly smaller than those in group B ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the loss of calcaneus length between groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion: Compared with only minimally invasive plate fixation, the combination of minimally invasive plate and medial supporting cannulated screw fixation via tarsal sinus approach for Sanders type Ⅱ and Ⅲ calcaneal fractures has the advantages of less trauma, less incision complications, reliable fracture reduction and fixation, and good long-term stability.

A mechanistic study on electro-Fenton system cooperating with phangerochate chrysosporium to degrade lignin.

The combined catalytic system of Electro-Fenton (E-Fenton) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium (P. chrysosporium) was constructed in liquid medium with additional potential to overcome the limitations of lignin degradation by white rot fungi alone. To further understand the mechanism of synergistic catalysis, we optimized the optimum potential for lignin catalysis by P. chrysosporium and built synergistic versus separate catalyses. After 48 h of incubation, the optimum growth environment and the highest lignin degradation rate (43.8%) of P. chrysosporium were achieved when 4 V was applied. After 96 h, the lignin degradation rate of the cocatalytic system was 62% (E-Fenton catalysis alone 22% and P. chrysosporium catalysis alone 19%), the pH of the growth maintenance system of P. chrysosporium was approximately 3.5, and the lignin peroxidase (LiP) and manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) enzyme activities, were significantly better than those of the control. The qPCR results indicated that the expression of both MnP and LiP genes was higher in the cocatalytic system. Meanwhile, FTIR and 2D-HSQC NMR confirmed that the synergistic catalysis was effective in breaking the aromatic functional groups and the side chains of the aliphatic region of lignin. This study showed that the synergistic catalytic process of electro-Fenton and P. chrysosporium was highly efficient in the degradation of lignin. In addition, the synergetic system is simple to operate, economical and green, and has good prospects for industrial application.

Long non-coding RNA, LINC01614 as a potential biomarker for prognostic prediction in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may serve as potential biomarkers of cancers including breast cancer (BRCA). This study aimed to identify lncRNAs with strong prognostic value for BRCA. METHODS: LncRNA expression profiles of 929 tissue samples were downloaded from TANRIC database. We performed differential expression analysis between paired BRCA and adjacent normal tissues. Survival analysis was used to identify lncRNAs with prognostic value. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to confirm the independent prognostic value of potential lncRNAs. Dysregulated signaling pathways associated with lncRNA expression were evaluated using gene set enrichment analysis. RESULTS: We found that a total of 398 lncRNAs were significantly differentially expressed between BRCA and adjacent normal tissues (adjusted P value <= 0.0001 and |logFC| >= 1). Additionally, 381 potential lncRNAs were correlated Overall Survival (OS) (P value < 0.05). A total of 48 lncRNAs remained when differentially expressed lncRNAs overlapped with lncRNAs that had prognostic value. Among the 48 lncRNAs, one lncRNA (LINC01614) had stronger prognostic value and was highly expressed in BRCA tissues. LINC01614 expression was validated as an independent prognostic factor using univariate and multivariate analyses. Higher LINC01614 expression was observed in several molecular subgroups including estrogen receptors+, progesterone receptors+ and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)+ subgroup, respectively. Also, BRCA carrying one of four gene mutations had higher expression of LINC01614 including AOAH, CIT, HER2 and ODZ1. Higher expression of LINC01614 was positively correlated with several gene sets including TGF-ß1 response, CDH1 signals and cell adhesion pathways. CONCLUSIONS: A novel lncRNA LINC01614 was identified as a potential biomarker for prognosis prediction of BRCA. This study emphasized the importance of LINC01614 and further research should be focused on it.

Enhanced osteogenic proliferation and differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells on a porous n-HA/PGS-M composite scaffold.

This study explored the applicability, cellular efficacy, and osteogenic activities of porous nano-hydroxyapatite/Poly (glycerol sebacate)-grafted maleic anhydride (n-HA/PGS-g-M) composite scaffolds. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses indicated that approximately 43% of the hydroxide radicals in PGS were displaced by maleic anhydride. Resonance bands at 1036 cm-1 occurred in scaffolds containing nHA powders, and peak areas increased when n-HA weight increased in PGS-M-n-HA-0.4, PGS-M-n-HA-0.5, and PGS-M-n-HA-0.6 scaffolds. The n-HA/PGS-g-M composite scaffolds exhibited porous microstructure with average pore size of 150-300 µm in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) identified the glass transition temperature (Tg) as -25-30 °C, indicative of quality resilience. The modulus of compressibility increased when n-HA content increased. Interestingly, viability of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) in vitro and expression of the osteogenic related genes RUNX2, OCN, and COL1A1 was enhanced in the n-HA/PGS-g-M composite scaffolds compared to those factors observed in PGS-g-M scaffolds. Finally, simulated body fluid (SBF) tests indicated more apatite deposits on the surface of n-HA/PGS-g-M scaffolds compared to PGS-g-M scaffolds. Overall, porous n-HA/PGS-g-M composite scaffolds possessed acceptable biocompatibility and mechanical properties, and they stimulated hADSC cell proliferation and differentiation. Given these qualities, the composite scaffolds have potential applications in bone tissue engineering.

MiR-17-5p may serve as a novel predictor for breast cancer recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence following conventional therapies in patients with breast cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate potential predictive biomarkers for breast cancer recurrence especially microRNAs (miRNAs). METHODS: The primary breast cancer patients who were scheduled to undergo curative resection in our hospital from May 2007 to May 2012 were recruited in this study. Clinical and pathological characteristics were compared in patients with or without recurrence. The expressions of tissue miRNAs by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were also analyzed in patients with recurrence or not. Multivariate Cox analysis was fit to evaluate potential predicative factors for breast cancer recurrence. Kaplan-Meier plots was conducted to further evaluate the association between miR-17-5p expression and recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: A total of 133 consecutive patients were enrolled into the final analysis and 29 of them have suffered recurrence within 5 years after the operation. Our results revealed tissue miR-17-5p expression as an independent risk factor for breast cancer recurrence (HR: 4.45; 95% CI: 1.58-11.53, P= 0.015). Patients with a higher miR-17-5p expression was significantly associated with a worse 5-year RFS by log-rank test (p= 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that miR-17-5p might be a useful predictive factor for breast cancer recurrence.

The correlations between DNA methylation and polymorphisms in the promoter region of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene with postoperative recurrence in patients with thyroid carcinoma (TC).

BACKGROUND: This study aims at exploring the correlations between DNA methylation and polymorphisms in the promoter region of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene and postoperative recurrence in patients with thyroid carcinoma (TC). METHODS: A total of 312 patients diagnosed with TC were chosen for the study and categorized into recurrence (n = 75) and non-recurrence (n = 237) groups. The hTERT rs2736100 and rs2736098 polymorphisms were detected by performing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. DNA methylation in the promoter region of hTERT gene was evaluated by pyrosequencing. A telephonic and/or outpatient follow-up was conducted for all patients. The correlations of DNA methylation and polymorphisms in the promoter region of hTERT with postoperative recurrence of TC patients underwent analysis. RESULTS: The patient in the recurrence group showed evidently different pathological types and tumor stages in comparison to the non-recurrence group. The GG genotype of hTERT rs2736100 might increase the recurrence risk of TC patients. No correlations between hTERT rs2736098 polymorphisms and recurrence risk were observed. Compared to the TT + TG genotype frequency, the rs2736100 GG genotype frequency increased in patients without multicentricity, patients with extrathyroidal invasion, patients with lymph node metastasis, patients with undifferentiated carcinoma, and patients in the III + IV stage. The recurrence group showed significantly higher DNA methylation level compared to the non-recurrence group. The DNA methylation level was closely associated to tumor stage and lymph node metastasis of TC patients in the recurrence group. CONCLUSIONS: The DNA methylation and rs2736100 polymorphisms in the promoter region of hTERT gene might be in correlation to postoperative recurrence of TC patients.

Preparation of a nano- and micro-fibrous decellularized scaffold seeded with autologous mesenchymal stem cells for inguinal hernia repair.

Prosthetic meshes used for hernioplasty are usually complicated with chronic pain due to avascular fibrotic scar or mesh shrinkage. In this study, we developed a tissue-engineered mesh (TEM) by seeding autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells onto nanosized fibers decellularized aorta (DA). DA was achieved by decellularizing the aorta sample sequentially with physical, mechanical, biological enzymatic digestion, and chemical detergent processes. The tertiary structure of DA was constituted with micro-, submicro-, and nanosized fibers, and the original strength of fresh aorta was retained. Inguinal hernia rabbit models were treated with TEMs or acellular meshes (AMs). After implantation, TEM-treated rabbit models showed no hernia recurrence, whereas AM-treated animals displayed bulges in inguinal area. At harvest, TEMs were thicker, have less adhesion, and have stronger mechanical strength compared to AMs (P<0.05). Moreover, TEM showed better cell infiltration, tissue regeneration, and neovascularization (P<0.05). Therefore, these cell-seeded DAs with nanosized fibers have potential for use in inguinal hernioplasty.

MiR-221, a potential prognostic biomarker for recurrence in papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have reported several transcriptionally deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) tissue in comparison with benign thyroid nodules and normal thyroid tissues. However, the correlation between miRNA expressions and PTC recurrence still remains unclear. METHODS: The PTC patients who scheduled to undergo total thyroidectomy by the same surgical team in Ningbo NO.2 Hospital from March 1998 to March 2008 were enrolled in this study. The clinical and pathological characteristics of each patient were recorded in detail. The selected miRNA expressions were detected using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Potential predictive factors for cancer recurrence were evaluated by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients were enrolled with 49 females at a mean age of 45.8 years. Enrolled patients were divided into two groups: nonrecurrent group (n = 54) and recurrent group (n = 24). The results from the univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that primary tumor size, TNM stage, extrathyroid extension, miR-221, and miR-222 expressions were significantly associated with PTC recurrence (P < 0.05). The tissue expression of miR-221 was the only independent risk factor for PTC recurrence (HR 1.41; 95%CI 1.14-1.95, P = 0.007) by multiple Cox proportional hazard analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the potential role of miR-221 as a prognostic biomarker for the recurrence in PTC.

Comparison of Completion Thyroidectomy and Primary Total Surgery for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the complication rates between completion thyroidectomy and primary total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). METHODS: PubMed, the Web of Knowledge, and the China Journal Net were searched for studies concerning the treatment of DTC published in 1990-2014. A meta-analysis was performed to compare the effects of different treatments. RESULTS: 7 studies with a total of 1,208 patients were included. There were no statistically significant differences regarding the presence of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy, permanent RLN palsy, temporary hypocalcemia, permanent hypocalcemia, hematoma, and wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: Completion thyroidectomy can be performed with acceptable morbidity in select cases of DTC who could not be properly diagnosed perioperatively or who recurred after less than total thyroidectomy.

MRI and ultrasonography detection of cervical lymph node metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma before reoperation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) for cervical lymph nodal metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) before reoperation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From June 2011 to May 2013, preoperative MRI and ultrasound data were collected from differentiated thyroid cancer patients who underwent a reoperation. The following characteristics were assessed: the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of MRI and US. The MRI and ultrasound findings were correlated with the histological diagnosis after reoperation. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-eight cases were included in the analysis. 88.4% (122/138) of which had evidence of residual thyroid cancer tissue or metastatic nodal involvement at final histology. Lymph nodal metastases were confirmed in the central compartment in 76.42% (81/106) of patients and in lateral compartment in 73.28% (85/116) of patients. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI VS US for detecting central compartment metastases was 75% VS 41.67% (P=0.04), 90.91% VS 100% (P=1) and 80% VS 60% (P=0.618), respectively; For detecting lateral compartment metastases was 83.33% VS 77.78% (P=1), 25% VS 50% (P=0.606) and 65.38% VS 69.23% (P=1), respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the sensitivity of MRI and ultrasound for diagnose of central compartment metastases. The MRI features with the greatest correlation with positive lymph nodal metastases were fusion and enhancing lesions. The ultrasound features with the greatest correlation with positive lymph nodal metastases were hypoechoic and microcalcifications. CONCLUSION: MRI is more sensitive than ultrasonography in detecting central compartment metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma. There is no significant difference in diagnosis of lateral neck node metastases between MRI and US.

A double-blind randomized trial of adefovir dipivoxil in Chinese subjects with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.

Four hundred and eighty Chinese subjects with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were enrolled in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) 10 mg once daily. There was a significant difference in reduction of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA after 12 weeks between subjects who received ADV and those who received the placebo (3.4 and 0.1 log10 copies/mL, respectively, P < .001). Further reductions in serum HBV DNA and increases in the proportion of subjects with an HBV DNA level of at most 10(5) copies/mL, with HBV DNA undetectable, and with ALT normalization were observed in ADV-treated subjects at week 52 (median HBV DNA reduction of 4.5 log(10) copies/mL, 67% with HBV DNA

[Occurrence and predictive factors of hepatitis B virus polymerase YMDD variation among patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis during lamivudine therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence and the predictive factors of HBV polymerase YMDD variation among patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis during lamivudine therapy. METHODS: The clinical data and serial sera of 313 chronic HBV infected patients (249 chronic hepatitis B and 64 liver cirrhosis) treated with lamivudine were collected. YMDD variations were determined by mispairing PCR-RFLP assay. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The cumulative rates of variation among patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis were 8.84% and 17.19%, 20.91% and 32.40%, 26.92% and 39.56%, 26.92% and 58.79% after 12, 24, 36 and 48 months of lamivudine treatment, respectively. The results of log-rank test and Cox's proportional hazard model analysis indicated that lamivudine monotherapy, low ALT level, high HBV DNA level, and the patients with liver cirrhosis at baseline were significantly related to an occurrence of YMDD variation. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that lower ALT and higher HBV DNA levels at baseline before lamivudine treatment, lamivudine monotherapy without combining alpha-interferon, and the patients with liver cirrhosis seem to be statistically significant for predicting the occurrence of YMDD variation.