Exploitation of room temperature (RT) photochromism and photomagnetism to induce single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior has potential applications toward optical switches and magnetic memories, and ...remains a tremendous challenge in the development of new bulk magnets. Herein, a series of chain complexes Ln3(H–HEDP)3(H2–HEDP)3·2H3–TPT·H4–HEDP·10H2O (QDU-1; Ln = Dy (QDU-1(Dy)), Gd (QDU-1(Gd)), and Y (QDU-1(Y)); HEDP = hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate; TPT = 2,4,6-tri(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine) were synthesized by solvothermal reactions. All the compounds exhibited reversible photochromic and photomagnetic behaviors via UV light irradiation at RT, induced by the photogenerated radicals via a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. More importantly, the PET process induced significant variations in magnetic interactions for the Dy(III) congener. Strong ferromagnetic coupling with remarkably slow magnetic relaxation without applied dc fields was observed between DyIII ions and photogenerated O• radicals, showing SMM behavior after RT illumination. For the first time, we observed the reversible RT photochromism and photomagnetism in the lanthanide-based materials. This work realized the radicals-actuated on/off SMM behavior via RT light irradiation, providing a new strategy for constructing the light-induced SMMs.
The immune infiltration of tumors is closely related to clinical outcomes. The composition of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) can serve as biomarkers for predicting response to treatment and ...survival in different patient subgroups in terms of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This study is focused on investigating the clinical implications of TIICs in breast cancer patients. We performed several in silico analyses of gene expression profiles in 2976 nonmetastatic tumor samples. CIBERSORT was used to estimate the proportion of 22 immune cell types to analyze their correlation with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in different breast cancer subtypes and stages. Our results showed that a higher fraction of plasma cells in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients indicated an increase in DFS (hazard ratio HR=0.66, 95% confidence interval CI 0.54~0.82, p< 0.01), while a decreased OS was correlated with a greater number of M0 macrophages (HR=2.02, 95% CI 1.27~3.30, p=0.01) and regulatory T cells (HR=1.90, 95% CI 1.20~3.02, p=0.02). In ER-negative or progesterone receptor (PR)-negative subtypes or in a combined subtype, the increase in activated memory CD4+ T cells was correlated with increased DFS (HR=0.46, 95% CI 0.33~0.63, p< 0.01). In all breast cancer patients, a higher proportion of M0 macrophages indicated a decreased DFS (HR=1.67, 95% CI 1.22~2.27, p< 0.01), while increased OS was associated with relatively larger fractions of resting memory CD4+ T cells (HR=0.70, 95% CI 0.55~0.90, p=0.02) and γδ T cells (HR=0.66, 95% CI 0.51~0.85, p< 0.01). Therefore, this study revealed that the composition of TIICs is different in patients with various subtypes of breast cancer and is directly related to prognosis, suggesting that TIICs are important participants in tumor progression and may, potentially be used for future diagnosis and treatment.
Photoswitchable room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials are of great interest due to their potential applications in optical devices and switches. Herein, two Zn‐based coordination polymers ...(CPs) (H3‐TPB)·Zn6(H‐HEDP)(HEDP)3(H2O)2·5H2O (complex 1; HEDP = hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate; TPB = 1,3,5‐tris(4‐pyridyl)benzene) and (H‐TPB)·Zn3(H‐HEDP)(HEDP)(H2O)·2H2O (complex 2) with distinguishable photochromism and tunable RTP are synthesized involving photoactive TPB molecules with different packing modes. Complex 1 exhibits bidirectionally on/off RTP regulation via on‐switch with excitation of 250−330 nm light and off‐switch with 350−380 nm, and the “turn‐on” behavior can be attributed to the advance of Förster resonance energy transfer‐assisted intersystem crossing (ISC) process while “turn‐off” process due to the transformation from H3‐TPB cations to H3‐TPB· radicals. Complex 2 exhibits photoswitchable RTP accompanied with reversible photochromism by leveraging the self‐absorption and RTP emission. Two demos based on the above compounds are further applied to demonstrate the application in information recording and encryption fields. This work supplies a strategy toward the design of switchable RTP systems using electron transfer photochromism, shedding light on broadening the frontiers of photoresponsive materials.
This study for the first time exhibits the bidirectional on/off room temperature phosphorescence regulation via on‐switch with excitation of 250−330 nm and off‐switch with 350−380 nm light irradiation in an electron transfer photochromic complex, and two demos are further applied to demonstrate the application of the compounds in information recording and encryption fields.
Background
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) infusion was reported to improve liver function in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC); however, whether the medication can improve outcome of ...these patients is poorly understood.
Methods
This prospective, open-labeled, randomized controlled study enrolled 219 patients with HBV-related DLC who were divided into control group (
n
= 111) and umbilical cord-derived MSC (UC-MSC)-treated group (
n
= 108), then all of them received a follow-up check from October 2010 to October 2017. The treated patients received three times of UC-MSC infusions at 4-week intervals plus conventional treatment that was only used for control group. The overall survival rate and HCC-free survival rate were calculated as primary endpoints and the liver function and adverse events associated with the medication were also evaluated.
Results
During the follow-up check period from 13 to 75th months, there was a significantly higher overall survival rate in the treated group than the control group, while the difference of the hepatocellular carcinoma event-free survival rate between the treated and control groups was not observed during the 75-month follow-up. UC-MSC treatment markedly improved liver function, as indicated by the levels of serum albumin, prothrombin activity, cholinesterase, and total bilirubin during 48 weeks of follow-up. No significant side effects or treatment-related complications were observed in the UC-MSC group.
Conclusions
Therapy of UC-MSC is not only well tolerated, but also significantly improves long-term survival rate, as well as the liver function in patients with HBV-related DLC. UC-MSC medication, therefore, might present a novel therapeutic approach for the disease.
Graphic abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the diagnostic value of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) software on ultrasound in distinguishing benign and malignant breast masses and avoiding unnecessary biopsy.
Methods
This ...prospective, multicenter study included patients who were scheduled for pathological diagnosis of breast masses between April 2019 and November 2020. Ultrasound images, videos, CAD analysis, and BI-RADS were obtained. The AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were calculated and compared with radiologists.
Results
Overall, 901 breast masses in 901 patients were enrolled in this study. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of CAD software were 89.6%, 94.2%, 87.0%, 80.4%, and 96.3, respectively, in the long-axis section; 89.0%, 91.4%, 87.7%, 80.8%, and 94.7%, respectively, in the short-axis section. With BI-RADS 4a as the cut-off value, CAD software has a higher AUC (0.906 vs 0.734 vs 0.696, all
p
< 0.001) than both experienced and less experienced radiologists. With BI-RADS 4b as the cut-off value, CAD software showed better AUC than less experienced radiologists (0.906 vs 0.874,
p
< 0.001), but not superior to experienced radiologists (0.906 vs 0.883,
p
= 0.057). After the application of CAD software, the unnecessary biopsy rate of BI-RADS categories 4 and 5 was significantly decreased (33.0% vs 11.9%, 37.8% vs 14.5%), and the malignant rate of biopsy in category 4a was significantly increased (11.6% vs 40.7%, 7.4% vs 34.9%, all
p
< 0.001).
Conclusions
CAD software on ultrasound can be used as an effective auxiliary diagnostic tool for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast masses and reducing unnecessary biopsy.
Clinical trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 03887598)
Key Points
•
Prospective multicenter study showed that computer-aided diagnosis software provides greater diagnostic confidence for differentiating benign and malignant breast masses
.
•
Computer-aided diagnosis software can help radiologists reduce unnecessary biopsy
.
•
The management of patients with breast masses becomes more appropriate
.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer associated with a poor prognosis. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds vascular endothelial growth factor, a mediator of tumor ...angiogenesis. Bevacizumab is currently under investigation as treatment for HCC. We performed a systematic review of the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced HCC.
PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched using the terms "bevacizumab AND hepatocellular carcinoma AND (advanced OR unresectable)". Phase II trials of bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced HCC were included. Outcomes of interest included progression-free and overall survival (PFS and OS), tumor response, and toxicities.
A total of 26 records were identified. Of these, 18 were excluded. Hence, eight trials involving 300 patients were included. Bevacizumab was given as monotherapy (n = 1 trial) or in combination with erlotinib (n = 4 trials), capecitabine (n = 1 trial), capecitabine+oxaliplatin (n = 1 trial), or gemcitabine+oxaliplatin (n = 1 trial). Most trials (five of eight) reported median PFS and OS between 5.3 months and 9.0 months and 5.9 and 13.7 months, respectively. The disease control rate was consistent in five of eight trials, ranging from 51.1% to 76.9%. The response and partial response rates ranged from 0 to 23.7%, but were around 20% in four trials. Only one patient had a complete response. Frequently reported Grade 3/4 toxicities were increased aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (13%), fatigue (12%), hypertension (10%), diarrhea (8%), and neutropenia (5%). Thirty patients experienced gastrointestinal bleeding (grade 1/2 = 18, grade 3/4 = 12), typically due to esophageal varices.
Bevacizumab shows promise as an effective and tolerable treatment for advanced HCC. The reported efficacy of bevacizumab appears to compare favorably with that of sorafenib, the only currently approved treatment for unresectable HCC. Phase III trials are warranted to comprehensively examine the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab for treatment of advanced HCC.
Trigonal planar units with large polarizability anisotropy and high physicochemical stability are ideal structural units for exploring nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Integrating the merits of two ...types of triangular‐like moieties, a family of second‐order NLO‐active hybrid halides, MATX (X = Cl (1), Br (2), and I (3)), are achieved. MATX crystallizes in a nonpolar space group of P6¯$P\overline 6 $2c but exhibits the optimal spatial arrangement and superior NLO performance. The low coordination planar trigonal AgX3 units enable segregation in layers of the three‐winged propeller‐like Me3TPA units. All of the layers are packed in a perfect parallel fashion, making the functional materials exhibit superior NLO performances, including the phase matchable behavior with strong SHG responses (6.2/1, 6.5/2, and 7.6/3 times that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate), large birefringence (0.232/1, 0.252/2 and 0.260/3 at 1064 nm), high laser damage threshold, wide transparent window, and easiness of crystal growth. The first‐principles calculations reveal that the coexistence of strong linear and nonlinear optical properties are ascribed to the synergistic effect of the trigonal moieties. This study points out a useful path for the rational design of excellent NLO materials.
Me3TPAAgX3X (X = Cl, Br or I) exhibits optimal planar alignment of two types of triangular‐like units and superior NLO performances, including the phase matchable behavior with strong second‐harmonic generation response, large birefringence, high LDT, wide band gap, and easiness of crystal growth.
To enhance robustness of complex networked systems, a simple method is introducing reinforced nodes which always function during failure propagation. A random scheme of node reinforcement can be ...considered as a benchmark for finding an optimal reinforcement solution. Yet there still lacks a systematic evaluation on how node reinforcement affects network structure at a mesoscopic level upon failures. Here we study this problem through the lens of K-cores of networks. Based on an analytical percolation framework, we first show that, on uncorrelated random graphs, with a critical size of reinforced nodes, an abrupt emergence of K-cores is smoothed out to a continuous one, and a detailed phase diagram is derived. We then show that, with a cost–benefit analysis on random reinforcement, for proper weight factors in cost functions with constant and increasing marginal costs, a gain function shows a unimodality, thus we can analytically find an optimal reinforcement fraction by locating the maximal gain. In all, our framework offers a gain-oriented analytical perspective to designing robust interconnected systems.
•We define a K-core percolation model with reinforced nodes on a network.•We develop a theory for the model on random graphs with random node reinforcement.•We analyze hybrid-to-continuous transition behaviors in the model.•We locate optimal fractions for random reinforcement with a cost–benefit analysis.
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•A new microwave equipment that can emit CPM was constructed.•The phase transition of structure of starch by CPM treatments were investigated.•After CPM treated starch, the molecular ...structure was destroyed.•RWH was more destructive to the internal crystalline region than SWH.•The problems of uneven heating and poor experimental repeatability were improved.
Although lots of work has reported the structural variations of starch in microwave treatment, most of them are detected in the environment with non-constant microwave power and inhomogeneous heating, and the results are always in poor repeatability. In this study, the equipment with constant microwave power (CPM) and homogeneous heating was designed. And the phase transition of multi-scale structure of rice starch (30% moisture content) caused by CPM treatments with two heating modes, namely rapid microwave heating (RWH) and slow microwave heating (SWH) were investigated systematically. SEM results showed that the surface of starch granules after CPM treatment were rough and broken, and the damage caused by RWH was more distinct than that by SWH. SAXS, XRD and 13C NMR results revealed that the CPM treatment decreased the degree of crystallinity and content of double helices of starch. Moreover, the influence of RWH on the variation of starch granules was greater than that of SWH, which can be attributed to the intensive friction and collision as well as the rapid evaporation of water in RWH treatment. Specifically, it exhibited greater destruction on the linkage of starch and the internal crystalline region in RWH treatment than SWH treatment, thereby resulting in more obvious damages on the lamellar and morphological structure of rice starch. In conclusion, CPM equipment has improved the problems of uneven heating and poor experimental repeatability. After CPM treated starch, the molecular structure of starch was destroyed, which provides a useful method to modify properties of starch.
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