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•Spectral properties and Cu-binding properties of DOM collected from the upper lake and lower lake in Nansi Lake were studied.•Humic-/fulvic-like substances were the main substance of ...DOM collected from Nansi Lake.•Protein-like components exhibited higher Cu (II) binding abilities than humic-/fulvic-like ones.•Interactions of Cu2+ with DOM were probably affected by submerged plants and the water conservancy projects.
Interaction between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and heavy metals have been widely studied, and the differences in DOM properties have a great impact on the capacity of DOM-metals binding. In this study, the samples were collected from the upper lake and lower lake in Nansi Lake, respectively. According to the ratio of the fluorescence intensity of component to the total fluorescence intensity (%Fmax) in the two areas, obvious differences were found in the properties of DOM. The content of humic-like substances showed a decreasing trend from the north to south in Nansi Lake. On this basis, samples from north and south ends of Nansi Lake were selected for fluorescence titration. All components were quenched with the increasing of Cu2+ addition. Combining the results of Synchronous fluorescence (SF) spectra with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS), fluorescent quenching near 275 nm was quicker than the changes that occurred at the wavelength that after 275 nm, which suggested that the complexation occurred firstly for protein-like components as compared with humic-like components. The modified Stern-Volmer model suggested that protein-like components had larger effective quenching constants (logKa = 3.47 ± 0.13 for component C5 in the upper lake and logKa = 3.57 ± 0.19 for component C4 in the lower lake) than humic-like components and it is not affected by the region, indicating that protein-like substances might have a higher metal binding potential than humic-like substances in Nansi Lake. The binding constants and the binding sites suggested that humic-like components also had a nonnegligible binding potential in Nansi Lake although the protein-like components revealed a stronger binding ability in fluorescence quenching.
The global plasticizer market is projected to increase from $17 billion in 2022 to $22.5 billion in 2027. Various emerging/alternative plasticizers entered the market following the ban on several ...phthalate plasticizers because of their harmful effects. However, there are limited data (especially peer-reviewed) on emerging plasticizers' toxicity and environmental impact. This review compiles available data on toxicity, exposure, environmental effects, and safe production of emerging plasticizers. It identifies gaps in scientific research and provides evidence that emerging plasticizers are potential cases of regrettable substitution. Several alternative plasticizers, such as acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2 dicarboxylate (DINCH), tris-2-ethylhexyl phosphate (TEHP), tricresyl phosphate (TCP), tris-2-ethylhexyl phosphate (TPHP), bis-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT), and tris-2-ethylhexyl trimellitate (TOTM), show potential endocrine-disrupting properties and other toxic characteristics. Some chemicals like bis-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA), diisobutyl adipate (DIBA), ATBC, DINCH, bis-2-ethylhexyl sebacate (DOS), diethylene glycol dibenzoate (DEGDB), DEHT, and phosphate esters showed the potential to cause toxicity in aquatic species. Plus, there is great lack of information on compounds like diisononyl adipate (DINA), dibutyl adipate (DBA), diisodecyl adipate (DIDA), dipropylene glycol dibenzoate (DPGDB), dibutyl sebacate (DBS), alkylsulfonic phenyl ester (ASE), trimethyl pentanyl diisobutyrate (TXIB), DEGDB and bis-2-ethylhexyl sebacate (DOS). Some compounds like epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO), castor-oil-mono-hydrogenated acetate (COMGHA), and glycerin triacetate (GTA) are potentially safer or less toxic. Alternative plasticizers such as adipates (log
K
ow
4.3-10.1), cyclohexane dicarboxylic acids (log
K
ow
10), phosphate esters (log
K
ow
2.7-9.5), sebacates (log
K
ow
6.3-10.1), terephthalates (log
K
ow
8.4), and vegetable oil derivatives (log
K
ow
6.4-14.8) have log
K
ow
values that are comparable to phthalate plasticizers (log
K
ow
7.5-10.4), indicating potential bioaccumulation and health consequences. Field studies have demonstrated that phosphate esters can undergo bioaccumulation and biomagnification, but there is a lack of bioaccumulation studies for other compounds. We also discuss the metabolism of emerging plasticizers, though data are limited. Our article highlights that numerous alternative compounds display potential health and ecological risks, indicating they might not be suitable substitutes for legacy plasticizers. There is also a lack of scientific data on most emerging plasticizers. This way, we call for increased research and timely regulatory action to prevent global contamination and health risks. Finally, this study presents a scientifically robust protocol to avoid harmful substitutions and ensure the production of safer chemicals.
The global plasticizer market is projected to increase from $17 billion in 2022 to $22.5 billion in 2027.
Sediment dissolved organic matter (DOM) was collected in November 2018 from Lake Dongping, China. The lake was divided into the entrance of the Dawen River, the open region of the lake, the tourism ...district and the macrophyte-dominated region based on principal component analysis (PCA) of 9 DOM-related parameters. Multispectroscopic tools were used to investigate the binding of zinc (Zn) with four kinds of DOM collected from the entrance of the Dawen River (EDOM), the open area of the lake (ODOM), the macrophyte-dominated area (mainly dominated by Potamogeton crispus L.) (PDOM) and the tourism district (TDOM). Three fluorescent components, the humic-like (components 1 and 3) and protein-like (component 2) components, were found by excitation-emission matrix spectra with parallel factor analysis. The EDOM, ODOM and TDOM were controlled by protein-like components, and the PDOM was controlled by humic-like components. Different components respond differently to Zn addition. The binding order of the tyrosine-like fraction > the tryptophan fraction > the humic-like fraction was identified by Synchronous fluorescence (SF) spectra and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). The fluorescence intensity of the protein-like component was suppressed, and the humic-like component was enhanced with the addition of Zn. The effective quenching constants (log K) of the protein-like component in PDOM were clearly higher than those in the EDOM, ODOM and TDOM, indicating higher metal binding potential in PDOM than in other kinds of DOM in Lake Dongping. The %Fmax (the amounts of each component measured as % of the total fluorescence maxima for the three components) of the humic-like components exhibited a gradual increase in all kinds of DOM with the addition of Zn, suggesting that the addition of Zn increased the humification of DOM.
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•Different Zn-DOM binding affinities in different lake regions were investigated.•Lake Dongping was divided into four regions based on PCA.•Protein-like component was quenched and humic-like component was released with Zn addition.•The interaction of Zn with PDOM was stronger than with EDOM, ODOM and TDOM.
With the rapid development of new technologies, including artificial intelligence and genome sequencing, radiogenomics has emerged as a state-of-the-art science in the field of individualized ...medicine. Radiogenomics combines a large volume of quantitative data extracted from medical images with individual genomic phenotypes and constructs a prediction model through deep learning to stratify patients, guide therapeutic strategies, and evaluate clinical outcomes. Recent studies of various types of tumors demonstrate the predictive value of radiogenomics. And some of the issues in the radiogenomic analysis and the solutions from prior works are presented. Although the workflow criteria and international agreed guidelines for statistical methods need to be confirmed, radiogenomics represents a repeatable and cost-effective approach for the detection of continuous changes and is a promising surrogate for invasive interventions. Therefore, radiogenomics could facilitate computer-aided diagnosis, treatment, and prediction of the prognosis in patients with tumors in the routine clinical setting. Here, we summarize the integrated process of radiogenomics and introduce the crucial strategies and statistical algorithms involved in current studies.
Nansi Lake is the largest lake along the eastern route of China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP). It is divided into the upper lake and the lower lake by a dam. By using UV-Vis ...spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence (SF) spectroscopy, excitation-emission matrix and parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC), spatial, and temporal differences in the properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were found in the 2 areas of Nansi Lake under different hydrological conditions. A total of 5 fluorescence components were obtained by EEM-PARAFAC, which included 3 humic-like components (C1–C3) and 2 protein-like components (C4 and C5). On the spatial scale, the fluorescence intensities (
F
max
) of humic-like substances and the ratio of the fluorescence intensity of humic-like components to the total fluorescence intensity (%
F
max
) and degree of humification (HIX) in the upper lake were higher than those in the lower lake. This indicated the strong contributions of terrestrial sources to the upper lake, while DOM properties in the lower lake were more endogenous than those in the upper lake. On the temporal scale, protein-like substances played a more important role in DOM properties in April (
F
max
=0.72±0.03 in the upper lake and 1.84±0.13 in the lower lake) and July (
F
max
=1.10±0.05 in the upper lake and 1.49±0.04 in the lower lake) than in October. This result might be related to the water transfer of the eastern route of the SNWDP and to the death of submerged plants. However, the contents of humic-like substances (ranging from 55.61±1.23% to 66.56±0.58% for the upper lake and 29.98±1.56% to 61.98±0.99% for the lower lake) and degree of humification (from 2.23±0.06 to 3.10±0.05 for the upper lake and 1.06±0.05 to 2.62±0.08 for the lower lake) in Nansi Lake showed an increasing trend from April to October. In addition, significant correlations and good linear relationships between humic-like components,
a
254
, and DOC in the 3 months reflected the continuous contribution of humic-like substances to DOM properties in Nansi Lake. Rapid changes in the fluorescence signal were largely dependent on changes in water quality. The fluorescence signal could be a tool for the management of water quality in Nansi Lake.
Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death (RCD), and its emergence has provided a new approach to the progression and drug resistance of breast cancer (BRCA). However, there is still a great ...gap in the study of ferroptosis-related genes in BRCA, especially luminal-type BRCA patients. We downloaded the mRNA expression profiles and corresponding clinical data of BRCA patients from the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Then, we built a prognostic multigene signature with ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the METABRIC cohort and validated it in the TCGA cohort. The predictive value of this signature was investigated in terms of the immune microenvironment and the probability of a response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The patients were divided into a high-risk group and a low-risk group according to the ferroptosis-associated gene signature, and the high-risk group had a worse overall survival (OS). The risk score based on the 10 ferroptosis-related gene-based signature was determined to be an independent prognostic predictor in both the METABRIC and TCGA cohorts (HR, 1.41, 95% CI, 1.14-1.76, P = 0.002; HR, 2.19, 95% CI, 1.13-4.26, P = 0.02). Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that the term "cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction" was enriched in the high-risk score subgroup. Moreover, the immune infiltration scores of most immune cells were significantly different between the two groups, the low-risk group was much more sensitive to immunotherapy, and six drugs might have potential therapeutic implications in the high-risk group. Finally, a nomogram incorporating a classifier based on the 10 ferroptosis-related genes, tumor stage, age and histologic grade was established. This nomogram showed favorable discriminative ability and could help guide clinical decision-making for luminal-type breast carcinoma.
The unique hydrogeological conditions of karst area make the groundwater react rapidly to rainfall events, which makes the groundwater more susceptible to anthropogenic pollutions. The current study ...based on a combined excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) and geochemical–statistical investigation of water samples from the karst water system in Xintian County, Hunan Province, China, gives crucial information about the principal factors influencing karst water hydrochemistry and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The analyzed data revealed that both surface water and descending spring samples were within the Ca-Mg–HCO
3
water type and dominated by humic-like fluorophore, and well water samples were within both the Ca–Mg–HCO
3
and Na–HCO
3
water types and controlled by protein-like fluorophore. The chemical compositions of surface water and descending springs were mainly influenced by the weathering of silicate, carbonate, and evaporate rocks and precipitation. In addition to be affected by the weathering of silicate, carbonate, and evaporate rocks and precipitation, the well water was also impacted by ion exchange and other activities like anthropogenic. The DOM in the karst water system was affected by allochthonous and autochthonous inputs as well as the chemical compositions of the water.
Background. The incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is higher in females than in males, but it remains unclear whether gender is associated with the aggressiveness of this disease. We ...aimed to clarify the influence of gender on the risk of developing lymph node metastasis (LNM) and on the prognosis of PTC patients. Study Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Academic tertiary care center. Methods. Clinical data of PTC patients who were admitted to the Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, between January 2013 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The differences in clinical features and outcomes between female and male patients were compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the impact of gender on LNM. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to estimate recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results. A total of consecutive 2536 patients were enrolled in this study. Males accounted for 25.2% (639 cases) of all patients. Central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) and lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) rates were 52.5% (1346/2536) and 22.0% (558/2536), respectively. Male presented with higher LNM rates than female patients (65.7% vs. 51.2%; P<0.001). Male gender was independently associated with LNM (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.59–2.35; P<0.001). After full adjustment, male gender still remained significantly associated with CLNM in all subgroups; however, subgroup analyses indicated no significant relationship between gender and LLNM. In addition, after a median follow-up period of 30 months, no significant difference was found in RFS between female and male patients (P=0.15). Conclusions. This observational cohort study revealed that male gender was significantly associated with CLNM; whereas, LLNM was not different between female and male PTC patients in southwestern China. Moreover, currently, there is insufficient evidence to justify that male gender is an independent prognostic factor for recurrence.
Purpose
To comprehensively investigate the implications of lymph node dissection (LND) and the prognostic impact of the number of lymph node (LN) metastases on survival in intrahepatic ...cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) using a large‐scale study.
Methods
Patients who underwent surgical resection for ICC between 2004 and 2018 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries. The Kaplan–Meier and log‐rank tests were used to compare cancer‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) between different groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) and subgroup analyses were performed to balance potential confounding factors. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify prognostic factors of survival outcomes. Restricted cubic splines fitted in the Cox proportional hazard regression models were also conducted to examine associations between continuous variables and outcomes.
Results
In all, 1028 patients were enrolled. There were 652 (63.4%) patients undergoing LND, with lymph node metastasis (LNM) confirmed in 212 (32.5%) cases. Patients receiving LND did not show better survival outcomes than those receiving non‐LND (NLND). We divided the LND group into two subgroups: patients with LNM (+) and those without LNM (−). Among these three groups, patients with LNM experienced the worst CSS and OS, while NLND patients had similar survival times to LNM (−) patients. Restricted cubic spline analysis indicated that an increased number of LNM was associated with a decreased chance of survival (p < 0.001). Patients who received LND were further categorized as having no nodal metastasis (N0), 1–2 LNM (N1), or ≥3 LNM (N2) according to the number of LNM. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that the mortality risk of patients with N0, N1, and N2 disease (median CSS, N0 50.0 vs. N1 22.0 vs. N2 14.0 months; median OS, N0 46.0 vs. N1 21.0 vs. N2 14.0 months, all p < 0.01) increased significantly, except for patients who had <6 LNs harvested. On multivariable survival analysis, a higher nodal stage (N1 vs. N0: CSS, hazard ratio HR 2.135, 95% CI 1.636–2.788, p < 0.001; OS, HR 2.100, 95% CI 1.624–2.717, p < 0.001; N2 vs. N0: CSS, HR 4.027, 95% CI 2.791–5.811, p < 0.001; OS, HR 3.678, 95% CI 2.561–5.282, p < 0.001) was an independent prognostic risk factor for survival.
Conclusions
Despite the lack of a clear survival benefit of LND in patients with ICC, a significant positive association between the number of LNM and poor outcomes was observed. We still suggest adequate LND by examining at least six LNs to ensure precise staging. On this basis, the recently proposed nodal classification of N0, N1, and N2 stages may also allow better prognostic stratification of ICC patients.
Regarding ICC, the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system simply classified the N stage as N0 and N1 on the basis of LN status. The implications of lymph node dissection (LND) and the prognostic impact of the number of lymph node metastases on survival in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remain unclear. By analyzing a large cohort of more than 1000 resected ICC patients, the present study showed that despite the lack of a clear survival benefit of LND in patients with ICC, a Significant positive association between the number of LNM and poor outcomes was observed. We still suggest adequate LND by examining at least 6 lymph nodes to ensure precise staging. On this basis, the recently proposed nodal classification of N0, N1, and N2 stages may also allow better prognostic stratification of ICC patients.
While there are no clear indications of whether central lymph node dissection is necessary in patients with T1-T2, non-invasive, clinically uninvolved central neck lymph nodes papillary thyroid ...carcinoma (PTC), this study seeks to develop and validate models for predicting the risk of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in these patients based on machine learning algorithms.
This is a retrospective study comprising 1,271 patients with T1-T2 stage, non-invasive, and clinically node negative (cN0) PTC who underwent surgery at the Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery of The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from February 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018. We applied six machine learning (ML) algorithms, including Logistic Regression (LR), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), and Neural Network (NNET), coupled with preoperative clinical characteristics and intraoperative information to develop prediction models for CLNM. Among all the samples, 70% were randomly selected to train the models while the remaining 30% were used for validation. Indices like the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated to test the models' performance.
The results showed that ~51.3% (652 out of 1,271) of the patients had pN1 disease. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, gender, tumor size and location, multifocality, age, and Delphian lymph node status were all independent predictors of CLNM. In predicting CLNM, six ML algorithms posted AUROC of 0.70-0.75, with the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model standing out, registering 0.75. Thus, we employed the best-performing ML algorithm model and uploaded the results to a self-made online risk calculator to estimate an individual's probability of CLNM (https://jin63.shinyapps.io/ML_CLNM/).
With the incorporation of preoperative and intraoperative risk factors, ML algorithms can achieve acceptable prediction of CLNM with Xgboost model performing the best. Our online risk calculator based on ML algorithm may help determine the optimal extent of initial surgical treatment for patients with T1-T2 stage, non-invasive, and clinically node negative PTC.
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