We carried out this meta-analysis to demonstrate efficacies of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients based on randomized, ...controlled trials (RCTs).
We comprehensively searched electronic databases and manuscripts for RCTs and extracted data from eligible studies for meta-analysis. Overall survival (OS) with hazard ratios (HRs), locoregional recurrence rate (LRR) and distant metastasis rate (DMR) with relative risks (RRs) were concerned using random and/or fixed-effects models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also carried out.
Six trials in NACT group (n = 1418) and five in AC group (n = 1187) were eligible. HR of death for NACT was 0.82 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69–0.98, P = 0.03, corresponding to an absolute survival gain of 5.13% after 3 years. Significant reduction of DMR (P = 0.0002; RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56–0.84) was also found from NACT. But no decrease in LRR (P = 0.49; RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.66–1.22) was observed. Patients receiving additional AC had lower LRR (P = 0.03; RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53–0.96). But no benefit of OS and DMR were seen in AC.
NACT can effectively enhance OS and reduce DMR, not LRR in NPC. And AC only helps to better control locoregional recurrence of NPC.
The diffusion coefficients of several transition elements (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and a few non-transition elements (Mg, Si, Ga, and Ge) in fcc and liquid Al are critically reviewed ...and assessed by means of the least-squares method and semi-empirical correlations. Inconsistent experimental data are identified and ruled out. In the case of the elements, for which plentiful experimental data are available in the literature, the least-squares analysis gives rise to the activation energies and pre-exponential factors in an Arrhenius equation. For the elements with limited experimental data or no data at all, the diffusion parameters are estimated from two semi-empirical correlations. In one correlation, the logarithmic pre-exponential factors are plotted against the activation energies for various elements in Al. In the other correlation, the activation energies are shown as a function of valences relative to Al. The diffusion coefficients calculated by using the evaluated diffusion parameters agree reasonably with the reliable experimental data. The proposed semi-empirical correlations are used to predict the diffusion coefficients of a few elements in liquid Al. A satisfactory agreement between the predicted and measured diffusion coefficients is obtained.
An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to establish the dietary vitamin E requirement of juvenile cobia. The basal diet was supplemented with 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120 mg vitamin E kg−1 as ...all‐rac‐α‐tocopheryl acetate. The results indicated that fish fed the diets supplemented vitamin E had significantly higher specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, feed efficiency and survival rate than those fed the basal diet. It was further observed that vitamin E concentrations in liver increased significantly when the dietary vitamin E level increased from 13.2 to 124 mg kg−1. Fish fed the basal diet had significantly higher thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances concentrations in liver than those fed the diets supplemented vitamin E. Fish fed the diets supplemented with 45.7 and 61.2 mg kg−1 vitamin E had significantly higher red blood cell and haemoglobin than those fed the basal diet, while fish fed the diets supplemented with 61.2 and 124 mg kg−1 vitamin E had higher immunoglobulin concentration than those fish fed the basal diet. Lysozyme and superoxide dismutase were significantly influenced by the dietary vitamin E level. The dietary vitamin E requirement of juvenile cobia was established based on second‐order polynomial regression of weight gain and lysozyme to be 78 or 111 mg all‐rac‐α‐tocopheryl acetate kg−1 diet, respectively.
Underwater calls of frogs are poorly documented, probably because they are usually weak and difficult to detect out of water because the impedance contrast at the water–air interface limits sound ...transmission. The tympanic middle ear and vocal sacs, which may not be essential for underwater acoustic communication, are often reduced in high‐elevation anurans. In addition to the Andean Telmatobius and Sierra Nevada Rana sierrae, many other highland frog species may vocalize underwater rather than be mute as previously thought. We report evidence from the eastern Tibetan Plateau supporting this speculation. In two species of the megophryid genus Scutiger, breeding males emitted trill‐like calls in series under submerged rocks at elevations of approximately 3700 m a.s.l. Because the few high‐elevation anurans known to vocalize underwater are all highly aquatic, this strategy is possibly used because the signal receivers usually remain in water during the breeding season. The finding of underwater calling in Scutiger characterized by reduced middle ears was partly guided by co‐occurrence of loose skin and underwater vocalization in some frog species and constitutes another independent case of such co‐occurrence. We suggest that the presence/absence of loose skin folds should be routinely included in the morphological descriptions of anurans, because an increased surface/volume ratio facilitates effective cutaneous respiration that is required for metabolically costly underwater behaviors which are usually cryptic to human observers.
Underwater calls of frogs are poorly documented, probably because they are usually weak and difficult to detect out of water because the impedance contrast at the water–air interface limits sound transmission. We found that breeding males of two Tibetan frog species emitted trill‐like calls in series under submerged rocks at elevations of approximately 3700 m a.s.l. This finding was partly guided by a co‐occurrence of loose skin and underwater vocalization in some frogs. Because the few high‐elevation frogs known to vocalize underwater are all highly aquatic, this strategy is possibly used because the signal receivers usually remain in water during the breeding season.
A CoCO3-added Pb((Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.20(Zr0.50Ti0.50)0.80)O3 (0.2PZN–0.8PZT) system was prepared and investigated. The results reveal that Co ions are present in the mixed valence form of +2 and +3, and ...their relative mole ratio depends on doping content. Co doping induces a phase transformation from the MPB to the tetragonal phase side, and the corresponding domain size increases accordingly. The solubility limit of Co ions in the perovskite matrix is near 0.2wt.% in CoCO3 form. Below the solubility limit, Co ions enter the B sites of the oxygenic octahedral center, and the charge-compensating oxygen vacancies accelerate mass transport, which assists in the densification of the specimens. Above the solubility limit, excess Co ions gather in the grain boundaries and triple junctions, which facilitate the formation of a liquid phase with excess PbO and lead to remarkable grain growth. The resulting size effect plays a dominant role in improving the piezoelectric properties, which compensates for the hardening effect of acceptor doping. The optimum piezoelectric parameters are obtained at 0.8wt.% CoCO3-doped 0.2PZN–0.8PZT system: d33=310pCN−1, kp=0.66, and εmax=14,600.
The solute-membrane interactions between trace organic compounds (TrOCs) and nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) membranes result in the adsorption of TrOCs onto membranes and in turn affect ...the rejection of TrOCs. This study investigated the adsorption and rejection of four positively charged, two neutral and one negatively charged pharmaceuticals (PhACs) by four commercial NF/RO membranes to correlate the adsorbed amount and the steady-state rejection, and to quantitatively evaluate the role of various solute-membrane interactions in adsorption and rejection. The adsorbed amounts of PhACs were determined in static adsorption tests using the isolated polyamide (PA) layers when the RO and tight NF membranes were used, and were calculated from the decline of rejection during filtration when the two loose NF membranes were used. The impacts of electrostatic and non-electrostatic interactions (including hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding) were quantified for positively charged PhACs by comparing the respective adsorption and rejection at neutral pH with that at the isoelectric point (IEP) of each membrane. Results showed that at neutral pH, the adverse effect of adsorption on the steady-state rejection was < 6% for the tight ESPA1 and NF90 membranes and 7–36% for the loose NF270 and HL. A higher adsorbed amount generally corresponded to a larger relative decrease of rejection for all the four membranes. The adsorbed amounts of the positively charged PhACs onto the isolated PA layers of ESPA1 and NF90 at neutral pH were primarily attributed to electrostatic attraction (generally > 65%). Electrostatic attraction was also found to cause the rejection of the tight membranes for the positively charged PhACs to decrease by 0.8–4.3%, that of the loose membranes to decrease by 13.4–28.3%, while the impact of non-electrostatic interactions on the rejection was 1.1–2.3% for the tight membranes and 4.0–9.8% for the loose membranes.
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•Adsorption reduced rejection by < 6% and 7–36% for tight and loose membranes.•A higher adsorbed amount corresponded to a larger relative decrease of rejection.•Adsorption of positively charged PhACs were primarily attributed to electrostatic attraction.•The impacts of electrostatic and non-electrostatic interactions on rejection were quantified.
•Ozonation alone did not generate significant amount of brominated DBPs.•Ozonation prior to chlorination might increase the formation potential of many DBP classes.•THM, THAA, and DHAA formation ...potentials first increased and then decreased with increased ozone dose.•Ozonation prior to chlorination caused a shift to more brominated DBPs.
Ozone has been widely used for drinking water treatment recently. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dosing ozone on the formation potentials and speciation of disinfection by-products (DBPs, brominated DBPs in particular) during subsequent chlorination. Trihalomethanes (THMs), trihaloacetic acids (THAAs), dihaloacetic acids (DHAAs), dihaloacetonitriles (DHANs), chloral hydrate (CH)and trichloronitromethane (TCNM) were included. The results showed that the yields of THMs, THAAs and DHAAs reached the maxima at 1.83, 0.65 and 0.56μM, respectively, corresponding to an ozone dose approximately at 2mgL−1. The formation potentials of CH and TCNM increased, while that of DHAN decreased, with the increase of ozone dose up to 6mgL−1. The bromide incorporation factor values of THMs, THAAs, DHAAs and DHANs increased from 0.62, 0.37, 0.45 and 0.39 at O3=0mgL−1 to 0.89, 0.65, 0.62 and 0.89 at O3=6mgL−1, respectively. It indicated that the use of ozone as a primary disinfectant may cause a shift to more brominated DBPs during subsequent chlorination, and the shift may be more evident with increased ozone dose. The total percentage of brominated DBPs (as bromide) reached the maximum value of 55% at 2mgL−1 ozone dose.
Histone methylation assumes a crucial role in the intricate process of enamel development. Our study has illuminated the substantial prevalence of H3K4me3 distribution, spanning from the cap stage to ...the late bell stage of dental germs. In order to delve into the role of H3K4me3 modification in amelogenesis and unravel the underlying mechanisms, we performed a conditional knockout of Ash2l, a core subunit essential for the establishment of H3K4me3 within the dental epithelium of mice. The absence of Ash2l resulted in reduced H3K4me3 modification, subsequently leading to abnormal morphology of dental germ at the late bell stage. Notably, knockout of Ash2l resulted in a loss of polarity in ameloblasts and odontoblasts. The proliferation and apoptosis of the inner enamel epithelium cells underwent dysregulation. Moreover, there was a notable reduction in the expression of matrix-related genes, Amelx and Dspp, accompanied with impaired enamel and dentin formation. Cut&Tag-seq (cleavage under targets and tagmentation sequencing) analysis substantiated a reduction of H3K4me3 modification on Shh, Trp63, Sp6, and others in the dental epithelium of Ash2l knockout mice. Validation through real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence consistently affirmed the observed downregulation of Shh and Sp6 in the dental epithelium following Ash2l knockout. Intriguingly, the expression of Trp63 isomers, DNp63 and TAp63, was perturbed in Ash2l defect dental epithelium. Furthermore, the downstream target of TAp63, P21, exhibited aberrant expression within the cervical loop of mandibular first molars and incisors. Collectively, our findings suggest that ASH2L orchestrates the regulation of crucial amelogenesis-associated genes, such as Shh, Trp63, and others, by modulating H3K4me3 modification. Loss of ASH2L and H3K4me3 can lead to aberrant differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis of the dental epithelium by affecting the expression of Shh, Trp63, and others genes, thereby contributing to the defects of amelogenesis.
Plant environmental responses involve dynamic changes in growth and signaling, yet little is understood as to how progress through these events is regulated. Here, we explored the phenotypic and ...transcriptional events involved in the acclimation of the Arabidopsis thaliana seedling root to a rapid change in salinity. Using live-imaging analysis, we show that growth is dynamically regulated with a period of quiescence followed by recovery then homeostasis. Through the use of a new high-resolution spatio-temporal transcriptional map, we identify the key hormone signaling pathways that regulate specific transcriptional programs, predict their spatial domain of action, and link the activity of these pathways to the regulation of specific phases of growth. We use tissue-specific approaches to suppress the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway and demonstrate that ABA likely acts in select tissue layers to regulate spatially localized transcriptional programs and promote growth recovery. Finally, we show that salt also regulates many tissue-specific and time point—specific transcriptional responses that are expected to modify water transport, Casparian strip formation, and protein translation. Together, our data reveal a sophisticated assortment of regulatory programs acting together to coordinate spatially patterned biological changes involved in the immediate and long-term response to a stressful shift in environment.
Whether females have better survival than males in nasopharyngeal carcinoma is barely acknowledged and the exact explanations remain unknown.
Overall, 5929 patients receiving treatment between ...January 2005 and December 2010 were separately stratified by stage into early and advanced stage groups, and by age into premenopausal (⩽45 years), menopausal (46-54 years) and postmenopausal (⩾55 years) groups. Matched males and females in each group were identified using the propensity score matching method. Differences in disease-free survival (DSS), overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model.
Overall, 398, 923, 744, 319 and 313 pairs of males and females were matched in early stage, advanced stage, premenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal group, respectively. Females showed significant advantage over males across all end points in both early and advanced stage groups (P⩽0.042). However, this advantage persisted at premenopausal age (P⩽0.042), declined during menopause (DMFS, P=0.021; DSS, P=0.100; OS, P=0.693; LRFS, P=0.330) and totally disappeared at postmenopausal age (P⩾0.344).
Sex significantly affects NPC survival, with a definite female advantage regardless of tumour stage. Intrinsic biologic traits appear to be the exact explanation according to the declining magnitude of sex effect with age.
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