To explore the predictive value of morphological signs and quantitative parameters from spectral CT for EGFR gene mutations in intermediate and advanced non-small–cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
This ...retrospective observational study included patients with intermediate or advanced NSCLC at Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019. The patients were divided into the EGFR gene mutation-positive and -negative groups.
Seventy-nine patients aged 60.75 ± 9.66 years old were included: 32 were EGFR mutation-positive, and 47 were negative. There were significant differences in pathological stage (P<0.001), tumor diameter (P=0.019), lobulation sign, intrapulmonary metastasis, mediastinal lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis (P<0.001), bone metastasis (P<0.001), arterial phase normalized iodine concentration (NIC) (P=0.001), venous phase NIC (P=0.001), slope of the energy spectrum curve (λ) (P<0.001), and CT value at 70 keV in arterial phase (P=0.004) and venous phase (P=0.003) between the EGFR mutation-positive and -negative patients. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that intrapulmonary metastasis, distant metastasis, venous phase NIC, venous phase λ, and pathological stage were independent factors predicting EGFR gene mutations, with high diagnostic power (AUC = 0.975, 91.5% sensitivity, and 90.6% specificity).
The pathological stage and the spectral CT parameters of intrapulmonary metastasis, distant metastasis, venous phase NIC, and venous phase λ might pre-operatively predict EGFR gene mutations in intermediate and advanced NSCLC.
•Spectral CT predicts EGFR mutations in intermediate and advanced NSCLC.•Pathological grade and CT parameters predict EGFR gene mutations.•Intrapulmonary and distant metastasis affect EGFR mutation status.•Venous phase NIC and λ are predictive factors for EGFR mutations.•Multivariate logistic regression shows high diagnostic power.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Nano-sized meteoric smoke particles (MSPs) with iron-magnesium silicate compositions, formed in the upper mesosphere as a result of meteoric ablation, may remove sulphuric acid from the gas-phase ...above 40 km and may also affect the composition and behaviour of supercooled H2SO4-H2O droplets in the global stratospheric aerosol (Junge) layer. This study describes a time-resolved spectroscopic analysis of the evolution of the ferric (Fe3+) ion originating from amorphous ferrous (Fe2+)-based silicate powders dissolved in varying Wt % sulphuric acid (30–75 %) solutions over a temperature range of 223–295 K. Complete dissolution of the particles was observed under all conditions. The first-order rate coefficient for dissolution decreases at higher Wt % and lower temperature, which is consistent with the increased solution viscosity limiting diffusion of H2SO4 to the particle surfaces. Dissolution under stratospheric conditions should take less than a week, and is much faster than the dissolution of crystalline Fe2+ compounds. The chemistry climate model UMSLIMCAT (based on the UKMO Unified Model) was then used to study the transport of MSPs through the middle atmosphere. A series of model experiments were performed with different uptake coefficients. Setting the concentration of 1.5 nm radius MSPs at 80 km to 3000 cm−3 (based on rocket-borne charged particle measurements), the model matches the reported Wt % Fe values of 0.5–1.0 in Junge layer sulphate particles, and the MSP optical extinction between 40 and 75 km measured by a satellite-borne spectrometer, if the global meteoric input rate is about 20 tonnes per day. The model indicates that an uptake coefficient ≥0.01 is required to account for the observed two orders of magnitude depletion of H2SO4 vapour above 40 km.
To investigate the impact of intermittent senescent cell clearance on the proliferation and differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) in long-term, large-scale expansion, and to explore ...strategies for maintaining the youthful state of DPSC
.
Human-derived dental pulp stem cells were isolated from healthy permanent teeth extracted for orthodontic or impeding eruption reasons, provided by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University. Long-term, large-scale
expansion of DPSC was conducted. The study compared young DPSC (passage 5) with aged DPSC (passage 25) using cellular senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining, colony formation assay, and Alizarin Red S staining for osteogenic differentiation induction. To assess the differences between the two cell populations in terms of senescence and amplification and differentiation ability. Medicine screening for the most effective senolytic was compared among 5 common senolytics Navitoclax (ABT
Neutron and x-ray diffraction studies show that the simultaneous first-order transition to an orthorhombic and antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordered state in BaFe2As2 splits into two transitions with Co ...doping. For Ba(Fe0.953Co0.047)2As2, a tetragonal-orthorhombic transition occurs at TS=60 K, followed by a second-order transition to AFM order at TN=47 K. Superconductivity occurs in the orthorhombic state below TC=17 K and coexists with AFM. Below TC, the static Fe moment is reduced along with a redistribution of low energy magnetic excitations indicating competition between coexisting superconductivity and AFM order.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
DTI has been proved valuable for the diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy, whereas its capacity for predicting the outcome of surgery is still under debate. Here we conduct a prospective ...cohort study to analyze the capacity of DTI for evaluating and predicting laminoplasty surgery outcome for degenerative cervical myelopathy.
We recruited 55 patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy who underwent DTI before surgery and at 3- and 6-month follow-up stages, and 20 healthy subjects. For clinical assessment, the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale was recorded for each patient at different stages. DTI metrics were compared between patients before surgery and healthy subjects. Spearman correlation and receiver operating characteristic were used to analyze the evaluation and prediction capacity of DTI for the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale, respectively. We analyzed different vertebral levels: maximal compression level, average of all compression levels, and C2 level.
DTI metrics were significantly different between patients before surgery and healthy subjects. Before surgery, DTI for the maximal compression level or DTI for the average of all compression levels had no significant correlation with the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale. For all stages, DTI at the C2 level was correlated with the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale. DTI metrics at the C2 level before surgery were significantly correlated with the postoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale recovery rate. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that fractional anisotropy at C2 was capable of predicting the postoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scale recovery rate (
= .04).
The DTI metrics before laminoplasty surgery, especially fractional anisotropy at the C2 level, have the potential for evaluating and predicting the degenerative cervical myelopathy surgery outcome.
Objective
To clarify whether preconception paternal smoking has any adverse effects on the offspring.
Design
Prospective, population‐based study.
Setting
Preconception registry data from the National ...Free Preconception Health Examination Project.
Population or sample
Couples planning pregnancy, with complete information on preconception paternal smoking behaviour and pregnancy outcomes.
Methods
The effect of questionnaire‐based paternal smoking behaviour during preconception and pregnancy was assessed via logistic regression. Additionally, we performed a 1:1 case–control (birth defects versus normal pregnancy) analysis, matched for maternal province, folic acid supplementation and paternal alcohol consumption.
Main outcome measures
Risk of birth defects in offspring.
Results
In total, 566 439 couples with complete information on preconception paternal smoking behaviour and pregnancy outcomes were enrolled. The preconception paternal smoking rate was 28.7% (162 482) overall: 8.7% (49 303) stopped smoking, 13.3% (75 517) decreased their smoking, and 6.6% (37 662) continued smoking during early pregnancy. The risk of birth defects was higher in the continued‐smoking (P < .000, odds ratio OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.36–2.56) and decreased‐smoking groups (P = .007, OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.10–1.82). In the case–control analysis, infants whose fathers stopped (P = .003, OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.15–0.67) or decreased smoking (P = .000, OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.13–0.49) were at lower risk of congenital heart diseases, limb abnormalities, digestive tract anomalies and neural tube defects than those whose fathers continued smoking.
Conclusion
Preconception paternal smoking may be associated with congenital heart diseases, limb abnormalities and neural tube defects in the offspring. Changes in smoking behaviour may reduce this risk.
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This study suggests that preconception paternal smoking is associated with birth defects in offspring. Changes in smoking behaviour may reduce this risk.
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This study suggests that preconception paternal smoking is associated with birth defects in offspring. Changes in smoking behaviour may reduce this risk.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Laparoscopy is widely adopted across nearly all surgical subspecialties in the elective setting. Initially finding indication in minor abdominal emergencies, it has gradually become the standard ...approach in the majority of elective general surgery procedures. Despite many technological advances and increasing acceptance, the laparoscopic approach remains underutilized in emergency general surgery and in abdominal trauma. Emergency laparotomy continues to carry a high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, there has been a growing interest from emergency and trauma surgeons in adopting minimally invasive surgery approaches in the acute surgical setting. The present position paper, supported by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), aims to provide a review of the literature to reach a consensus on the indications and benefits of a laparoscopic-first approach in patients requiring emergency abdominal surgery for general surgery emergencies or abdominal trauma.
This position paper was developed according to the WSES methodology. A steering committee performed the literature review and drafted the position paper. An international panel of 54 experts then critically revised the manuscript and discussed it in detail, to develop a consensus on a position statement.
A total of 323 studies (systematic review and meta-analysis, randomized clinical trial, retrospective comparative cohort studies, case series) have been selected from an initial pool of 7409 studies. Evidence demonstrates several benefits of the laparoscopic approach in stable patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery for general surgical emergencies or abdominal trauma. The selection of a stable patient seems to be of paramount importance for a safe adoption of a laparoscopic approach. In hemodynamically stable patients, the laparoscopic approach was found to be safe, feasible and effective as a therapeutic tool or helpful to identify further management steps and needs, resulting in improved outcomes, regardless of conversion. Appropriate patient selection, surgeon experience and rigorous minimally invasive surgical training, remain crucial factors to increase the adoption of laparoscopy in emergency general surgery and abdominal trauma.
The WSES expert panel suggests laparoscopy as the first approach for stable patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery for general surgery emergencies and abdominal trauma.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Many researches on polar-molecular electrorheological (PMER) fluids with giant electrorheological effects were reported in recent years. The particles of PMER fluids (PMER particles) are known to ...have a dielectric core with high dielectric constant and a shell of polar molecules. Our calculation of local electric fields using the finite element approach shows that the local electric field can cause an orientational polarization of the polar molecules. The saturation of the orientational polarization occurs on the outer shells of two nearby PMER particles. Then, it causes the strong outer shell−outer shell interaction between the two particles, and this kind of interaction is just responsible for the giant electrorheological effect. It is further realized that the PMER effect is mainly due to the interaction of the tail−head connected polar molecules within the two outer shells between the two PMER particles. Our theoretical results of static yield stresses are shown to be in excellent agreement with the reported experimental data by several groups. For general PMER fluids, the calculated static yield stress is nearly proportional to R x−1. When h/R, the ratio between the thickness of shells and radius of PMER particles, changes from 0.05 to 0.5, the index x changes accordingly from 0.64 to 0.51. It is also found that particles with thinner thickness h and smaller radius R have larger electrorheological effects until the static yield stress shows a peak when R reaches about 10 nm.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Vertical malocclusion is a developmental condition, resulting from complex interactions among multiple etiological factors during the growth period. As a tricky dentofacial deformity clinically, ...long-face (LF) morphology is characterized by excessive vertical facial growth with severe disarrangement of jaws and teeth. Since the improvement of LF patients on facial profile and occlusion is often difficult and lacks long-term stability, it becomes important to unravel the etiology of LF pattern formation for early prevention and treatment. In the current studies, we identified a transgenic mouse model that exhibited a dysplastic coronoid process and LF morphology. Although the mutant mice exhibited jaw structures and occlusion comparable to controls at birth, they all acquired typical LF morphology with anterior open bite during postnatal growth, resembling clinical features of the selected skeletal class III patients. Since the coronoid process provides an insertion site for the temporalis attachment, we examined the initial development and differentiation of the temporalis and found identical results in both control and mutant mice before E17.5 when the temporal muscle makes attachment to the coronoid process. However, thereafter, we observed altered orientation and reduced size of the cross-sectional area of the temporalis in mutant mice, which persisted to the weaning stage. Biomechanical analysis and simulation modeling further support the idea that altered morphology of the coronoid process may impair the efficiency of the vertical temporalis contraction and appears to correlate with LF formation. Consistently, we present evidence that a dysplastic mandibular coronoid process was also seen in some human patients with skeletal III LF morphology. Taken together, the results presented in this study establish an association of the craniofacial bony structures with vertical patterning, which will have implications in earlier prediction for clinical precaution and intervention.
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CMK, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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