Purpose
To assess the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in liver cancer patients with different times of previous conventional transarterial ...chemoembolization (cTACE) treatments.
Methods
367 liver cancer patients about to receive DEB-TACE treatment were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. All patients were divided into no previous cTACE group (NPC group), 1–2 times previous cTACE group (PC group) and triple or above previous cTACE group (TPC group) according to the times of previous cTACE treatments.
Results
There was no difference in complete response (CR) (
P
= 0.671) and objective response rate (ORR) (
P
= 0.062) among three groups. Additionally, no difference in overall survival (OS) among groups (
P
= 0.899) was found. As to liver function, most liver function indexes were deteriorative at 1 week after DEB-TACE operation, but returned to baseline at 1–3 months after DEB-TACE operation in all three groups, while percentage of abnormal total bile acid (TBA) patients was higher in TPC group than NPC and PC groups at 1–3 month post-DEB-TACE (
P
= 0.018). As for safety profiles, the incidence of pain during DEB-TACE operation was lower in TPC group compared to NPC and PC groups (
P
= 0.005), while no difference of other adverse events was found during and 1 month post-DEB-TACE treatment among three groups.
Conclusion
DEB-TACE treatment was equally efficient and tolerated in liver cancer patients with different times of previous cTACE treatments.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Using a total of 11.0 fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} collision data with center-of-mass energies between 4.009 and 4.6 GeV and collected with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, we measure fifteen exclusive cross ...sections and effective form factors for the process e^{+}e^{-}→Ξ^{-}Ξover ¯^{+} by means of a single baryon-tag method. After performing a fit to the dressed cross section of e^{+}e^{-}→Ξ^{-}Ξover ¯^{+}, no significant ψ(4230) or ψ(4260) resonance is observed in the Ξ^{-}Ξover ¯^{+} final states, and upper limits at the 90% confidence level on Γ_{ee}B for the processes ψ(4230)/ψ(4260)→Ξ^{-}Ξover ¯^{+} are determined. In addition, an excited Ξ baryon at 1820 MeV/c^{2} is observed with a statistical significance of 6.2-6.5σ by including the systematic uncertainty, and the mass and width are measured to be M=(1825.5±4.7±4.7) MeV/c^{2} and Γ=(17.0±15.0±7.9) MeV, which confirms the existence of the J^{P}=3/2^{-} state Ξ(1820).
Full text
Available for:
CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play key roles in plants and are regulated by several ROS-scavenging enzymes. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), which catalyzes the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water, a ...vital part of ROS formation, plays a significant role in higher plants. In this study, a cytosolic
APX
gene from
Populus tomentosa
, named
PcAPX
, was identified and characterized. Recombinant
PcAPX
had a calculated mass of 33.24 kD and showed high activity towards ascorbic acid (ASA) and hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
). Real-time PCR analysis showed that
APX
mRNA expression levels were higher in leaves than roots or stems of
P. tomentosa
. Compared with wild-type, transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing
PcAPX
showed no significant difference in morphology under normal conditions. However, the transgenic plants were more resistant to drought, salt and oxidative stress conditions, as shown by decreased levels of malondialdehyde and increased levels of chlorophyll. Moreover, decreased H
2
O
2
levels, increased ASA consumption, an increase in the NADP to NADPH ratio, and higher APX activity in the transgenic plants suggested an increased ability to eliminate ROS. These data suggest that
PcAPX
overexpression in transgenic tobacco plants can enhance tolerance to drought, salt and oxidative stress. Therefore, APX has a crucial role in abiotic stress tolerance in plants.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) have attracted notable credits in the development of smart isolators and absorbers due to their controllable stiffness and damping properties. For the purpose of ...mitigating unwanted structural and or machinery vibrations, the traditional MRE-based isolators have been generally proven effective because the MR effect can increase the stiffness when the magnetic field is strengthened. This study presents a novel MRE isolator that experienced reduced stiffness when the applied current was increased. This innovative work was accomplished by applying a hybrid magnet (electromagnet and permanent magnets) onto a multilayered MRE structure. To characterise this negative changing stiffness concept, a multilayered MRE isolator with a hybrid magnet was first designed, fabricated and then tested to measure its properties. An obvious reduction of the effective stiffness and natural frequency of the proposed MRE isolator occurred when the current was continuously adjusted. This device could also work as a conventional MRE isolator as its effective stiffness and natural frequency also increased when a negative current was applied. Further testing was carried out on a one-degree-of-freedom system to assess how effectively this device could isolate vibration. In this experiment, two cases were considered; in each case, the vibration of the primary system was obviously attenuated under ON-OFF control logic, thus demonstrating the feasibility of this novel design as an alternative adaptive vibration isolator.
We studied the effect of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) inhibitor BGJ-398 on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM MSC) into osteoblasts in wild type (wt) mice ...and in animals with mutation in
TBXT
gene (mt) and possible differences in the pluripotency of these cells. Cytology tests showed that the cultured BM MSC could differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. The effect of different BGJ-398 concentrations on the expression of
FGFR3
,
RUNX2
,
SMAD1
,
SMAD4
,
SMAD5
,
SMAD6
,
SMAD7
, and
SMAD8
were studied by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The expression of
RUNX2
protein was evaluated by Western blotting. BM MSC of mt and wt mice did not differ in pluripotency and expressed the same membrane marker antigens. BGJ-398 inhibitor reduced the expression of
FGFR3
and
RUNX2
. In BM MSC from mt and wt mice have similar gene expression (and its changing) in
FGFR3
,
RUNX2
,
SMAD1
,
SMAD4
,
SMAD5
,
SMAD6
,
SMAD7
, and
SMAD8
genes. Thus, our experiments confirmed the effect of decreased expression of
FGFR3
on osteogenic differentiation of BM MSC from wt and mt mice. However, BM MSC from mt and wt mice did not differ in pluripotency and are an adequate model for laboratory research.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Kinetic‐size magnetic holes (KSMHs) in the turbulent magnetosheath are statistically investigated using high time resolution data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. The KSMHs with short ...duration (i.e., <0.5 s) have their cross section smaller than the ion gyroradius. Superposed epoch analysis of all events reveals that an increase in the electron density and total temperature significantly increases (resp. decrease) the electron perpendicular (resp. parallel) temperature and an electron vortex inside KSMHs. Electron fluxes at ~90° pitch angles with selective energies increase in the KSMHs are trapped inside KSMHs and form the electron vortex due to their collective motion. All these features are consistent with the electron vortex magnetic holes obtained in 2‐D and 3‐D particle‐in‐cell simulations, indicating that the observed KSMHs seem to be best explained as electron vortex magnetic holes. It is furthermore shown that KSMHs are likely to heat and accelerate the electrons.
Key Points
Kinetic‐size magnetic holes are statistical investigated by MMS
Observed kinetic‐size magnetic holes seem to be best explained as electron vortex magnetic holes
Kinetic‐size magnetic holes are likely to heat and accelerate the electrons
Plain Language Summary
A nonlinear energy cascade in magnetized turbulent plasmas leads to the formation of different coherent structures which are thought to play an important role in dissipating energy and transporting particles. This study statistically investigate one new type of coherent structure, named electron vortex magnetic hole, used by Magnetospheric Multiscale data. It reveals the common features of this structure, including an increase in the electron density and total temperature, significantly increase (resp. decrease) the electron perpendicular (resp. parallel) temperature and an electron vortex inside these holes. The increase of electron temperature inside the holes indicates that these holes are likely to heat and accelerate the electrons. This gives new clue for energy dissipation in turbulent plasmas.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
ABSTRACT
By assuming the formation of a black hole soon after the merger event of GW170817, the maximum mass of non-rotating stable neutron star, MTOV ≃ 2.3 M⊙, is proposed by numerical relativity, ...but there is no solid evidence to rule out MTOV > 2.3 M⊙ from the point of both microphysical and astrophysical views. It is naturally expected that the equation of state (EOS) would become stiffer beyond a specific density to explain massive pulsars. We consider the possibility of EOSs with MTOV > 2.3 M⊙, investigating the stiffness and the transition density in a polytropic model, for two kinds of neutron stars (i.e. gravity-bound and strong-bound stars on surface). Only two parameters are input in both cases: (ρt, γ) for gravity-bound neutron stars, while (ρs, γ) for strong-bound strange stars, with ρt the transition density, ρs the surface density, and γ the polytropic exponent. In the matter of MTOV > 2.3 M⊙ for the maximum mass and 70 ≤ Λ1.4 ≤ 580 for the tidal deformability, it is found that the smallest ρt and γ should be ∼0.50 ρ0 and ∼2.65 for neutron stars, respectively, whereas for strange star, we have γ > 1.40 if ρs > 1.0 ρ0 (ρ0 is the nuclear saturation density). These parametric results could guide further research of the real EOS with any foundation of microphysics if a pulsar mass higher than 2.3 M⊙ is measured in the future, especially for an essential comparison of allowed parameter space between gravity-bound and strong-bound compact stars.
Observation of e+e- → γX(3872) at BESIII Achasov, M N; Albayrak, O; Ambrose, D J ...
Physical review letters,
2014-Mar-07, Volume:
112, Issue:
9
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
With data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring at center-of-mass energies from 4.009 to 4.420 GeV, the process e+e-→ γX(3872) is observed for the first time ...with a statistical significance of 6.3σ. The measured mass of the X(3872) is (3871.9 ± 0.7s tat ± 0.2 syst) MeV/c(2), in agreement with previous measurements. Measurements of the product of the cross section σe+e- → γX(3872) and the branching fraction BX(3872)→π+π-J/ψ at center-of-mass energies 4.009, 4.229, 4.260, and 4.360 GeV are reported. Our measurements are consistent with expectations for the radiative transition process Y(4260) → γX(3872).
Full text
Available for:
CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
Natural killer (NK) cells are enriched within the liver. Apart from conventional NK (cNK) cells, recent studies identified a liver-resident NK (LrNK) subset, which constitutes about half of hepatic ...NK cells and exhibits distinct developmental, phenotypic, and functional features. However, it remains unclear whether and how LrNK cells, as well as cNK cells, participate in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) individually. Here, we report that both LrNK and cNK cells are significantly decreased in HCC. The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) was significantly upregulated in both tumor-infiltrating LrNK and cNK cells and suppressed their cytokine secretion and cytotoxic activity. Mechanistically, phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) engagement promoted phosphorylation of Tim-3, which then competed with PI3K p110 to bind p85, inhibiting downstream Akt/mTORC1 signaling and resulting in malfunctioning of both NK-cell subsets. Tim-3 blockade retarded HCC growth in a NK-cell-dependent manner. These studies for the first time report the presence and dysfunction of LrNK cells in HCC and show that Tim-3-mediated PI3K/mTORC1 interference is responsible for the dysfunction of both tumor-infiltrating cNK and LrNK cells, providing a new strategy for immune checkpoint-based targeting. SIGNIFICANCE: Tim-3 enhances hepatocellular carcinoma growth by blocking natural killer cell function.
Abstract
Plasma effects, such as the multi-component kinetic diffusion and self-generated electromagnetic fields, are recognized as a pivotal key to understanding the physics of interface evolution ...in inertial confinement fusion and supernova remnants. In this work, a two-dimensional hybrid fluid-PIC code is used to investigate the ion kinetic effects of the single-mode Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) at the interface between hydrogen plasma and carbon plasma. After an electrostatic shockwave passing through the perturbed interface, the RMI, which reshapes the interface, grows via the vorticity depositing as well as the self-generated magnetic field. After scaling the growth of the interfacial mix region with time, the density transition layer has been found to exceed the disturbance wavelength and lead to a suppression of the instability evolution finally.
PDF
