Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising energy storage devices due to the high ionic conductivity of the aqueous electrolyte as well as the safety, eco‐friendliness, and low cost. Vanadium ...oxide‐based materials are attractive cathode materials for aqueous ZIBs because of their high capacity from their layered structure and multiple valences. However, it is difficult to achieve high cycle stability and rate capability due to the low electrical conductivity and trapping of diffused electrolyte cations within the crystal structure, limiting the commercialization of aqueous ZIBs. In this study, the authors propose a facile sonochemical method for controlling the interlayer of the vanadate nanofiber crystal structure using poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) to overcome the shortcomings of vanadium oxide‐based materials. In addition, the electrochemical correlation between the interplanar distance of the expanded vanadate layers by the insertion of PEDOT and the behavior of Zn2+ ions is investigated. As a result, the intercalation of the conducting polymer increases the electron pathway and extends the distance of the vanadate layers, which helps to increase the number of active sites inside the vanadate and accelerate the zinc ion intercalation/de‐intercalation process. Their findings may guide research on the next generation of ZIBs that can replace lithium ion batteries.
The controlling interlayer of the vanadate nanofiber crystal structure using intercalation of conducting polymers is fabricated via a facile sonochemical method and used as a cathode material in zinc ion batteries. Intercalated conducting polymers act as strong pillars and facilitate rapid Zn2+ ion diffusion and electron transport, resulting in reversible electrochemical reactions and high rate performance.
It is challenging to develop alloying anodes with ultrafast charging and large energy storage using bulk anode materials because of the difficulty of carrier‐ion diffusion and fragmentation of the ...active electrode material. Herein, a rational strategy is reported to design bulk Bi anodes for Na‐ion batteries that feature ultrafast charging, long cyclability, and large energy storage without using expensive nanomaterials and surface modifications. It is found that bulk Bi particles gradually transform into a porous nanostructure during cycling in a glyme‐based electrolyte, whereas the resultant structure stores Na ions by forming phases with high Na diffusivity. These features allow the anodes to exhibit unprecedented electrochemical properties; the developed Na–Bi half‐cell delivers 379 mA h g−1 (97% of that measured at 1C) at 7.7 A g−1 (20C) during 3500 cycles. It also retained 94% and 93% of the capacity measured at 1C even at extremely fast‐charging rates of 80C and 100C, respectively. The structural origins of the measured properties are verified by experiments and first‐principles calculations. The findings of this study not only broaden understanding of the underlying mechanisms of fast‐charging anodes, but also provide basic guidelines for searching battery anodes that simultaneously exhibit high capacities, fast kinetics, and long cycling stabilities.
With the difficulty in simultaneously achieving a large capacity, ultrafast charging capability, and long cycling stability in a battery anode, a bulk Bi anode is presented for Na‐ion batteries that provides a simple yet practical route to address this issue without using expensive nanoscale materials and additional complex modifications.
Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery improves survival of patients with stage II–III, resectable gastric cancer. However, the overall survival benefit observed after adjuvant chemotherapy is moderate, ...suggesting that not all patients with resectable gastric cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy benefit from it. We aimed to develop and validate a predictive test for adjuvant chemotherapy response in patients with resectable, stage II–III gastric cancer.
In this multi-cohort, retrospective study, we developed through a multi-step strategy a predictive test consisting of two rule-based classifier algorithms with predictive value for adjuvant chemotherapy response and prognosis. Exploratory bioinformatics analyses identified biologically relevant candidate genes in gastric cancer transcriptome datasets. In the discovery analysis, a four-gene, real-time RT-PCR assay was developed and analytically validated in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour tissues from an internal cohort of 307 patients with stage II–III gastric cancer treated at the Yonsei Cancer Center with D2 gastrectomy plus adjuvant fluorouracil-based chemotherapy (n=193) or surgery alone (n=114). The same internal cohort was used to evaluate the prognostic and chemotherapy response predictive value of the single patient classifier genes using associations with 5-year overall survival. The results were validated with a subset (n=625) of FFPE tumour samples from an independent cohort of patients treated in the CLASSIC trial (NCT00411229), who received D2 gastrectomy plus capecitabine and oxaliplatin chemotherapy (n=323) or surgery alone (n=302). The primary endpoint was 5-year overall survival.
We identified four classifier genes related to relevant gastric cancer features (GZMB, WARS, SFRP4, and CDX1) that formed the single patient classifier assay. In the validation cohort, the prognostic single patient classifier (based on the expression of GZMB, WARS, and SFRP4) identified 79 (13%) of 625 patients as low risk, 296 (47%) as intermediate risk, and 250 (40%) as high risk, and 5-year overall survival for these groups was 83·2% (95% CI 75·2–92·0), 74·8% (69·9–80·1), and 66·0% (60·1–72·4), respectively (p=0·012). The predictive single patient classifier (based on the expression of GZMB, WARS, and CDX1) assigned 281 (45%) of 625 patients in the validation cohort to the chemotherapy-benefit group and 344 (55%) to the no-benefit group. In the predicted chemotherapy-benefit group, 5-year overall survival was significantly improved in those patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery compared with those who received surgery only (80% 95% CI 73·5–87·1 vs 64·5% 56·8–73·3; univariate hazard ratio 0·47 95% CI 0·30–0·75, p=0·0015), whereas no such improvement in 5-year overall survival was observed in the no-benefit group (72·9% 66·5–79·9 in patients who received chemotherapy plus surgery vs 72·5% 65·8–79·9 in patients who only had surgery; 0·93 0·62–1·38, p=0·71). The predictive single patient classifier groups (chemotherapy benefit vs no-benefit) could predict adjuvant chemotherapy benefit in terms of 5-year overall survival in the validation cohort (pinteraction=0·036 in univariate analysis). Similar results were obtained in the internal evaluation cohort.
The single patient classifiers validated in this study provide clinically important prognostic information independent of standard risk-stratification methods and predicted chemotherapy response after surgery in two independent cohorts of patients with resectable, stage II–III gastric cancer. The single patient classifiers could complement TNM staging to optimise decision making in patients with resectable gastric cancer who are eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. Further validation of these results in prospective studies is warranted.
Ministry of ICT and Future Planning; Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy; and Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Although many studies have demonstrated the excellent potential of hard carbon as an anode in sodium ion batteries, the contribution of its active sites to the capacities of the sloping and plateau ...voltage regions is not yet clear. Herein, systematical investigation of the relationship between the active sites and sodium ion (Na+) storage in the sloping and plateau voltage regions was presented. In light of the physicochemical properties of the lignin-derived hard carbon (graphitization degree, interlayer spacing, micropore size distribution, and specific surface area), the results of Na+ ion diffusivity, and the change in these properties during Na+ ion insertion/extraction (as characterized by ex situ techniques), new mechanistic insights into Na+ ion storage were proposed. At the beginning of the sodiation process, Na+ ions were adsorbed on defect/edge sites; then partial micropore filling occurred in the sloping region above 0.1 V. In the plateau region below 0.1 V, Na+ ions were intercalated in the graphitic layers, and further adsorption in the micropores occurred near the cutoff potential. Furthermore, sodium clustering occurred below 0.1 V owing to the high concentration of Na+ ions in the micropores.
Proposed new sodium ion storage mechanism in hard carbon derived from lignin. At the beginning of the sodiation process, Na+ ions are adsorbed on defect/edge sites; then partial micropore filling occurs in the sloping region above 0.1 V. In the plateau region below 0.1 V, Na+ ions are intercalated in the graphitic layers, and further adsorption in the micropores occurs near the cutoff potential. Furthermore, sodium clustering occurs below 0.1 V owing to the high concentration of Na+ ions in micropores. Display omitted
Although depression and anxiety represent significant yet treatable comorbidities in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), their impact on the clinical course and prognosis of IPF remain ...unclear.
We investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of depression and anxiety in patients with IPF.
The present study included a prospective cohort comprising 112 Korean patients with IPF who had completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire.
Symptoms of depression and anxiety were present in 25.9% and 21.4% of patients with IPF, respectively (HADS scores ≥8). No significant differences in demographic data, age, sex, smoking status, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (MMRC) scores, pulmonary function tests, or Gender-Age-Physiology Index for IPF were observed between patients with depression or anxiety and those without. However, in patients with anxiety, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores were significantly higher than those of patients without anxiety (40.5 versus 23.5; p = 0.003). The survival rate and total number of hospital admissions did not significantly differ between patients with depression/anxiety and those without.
Our findings indicate that depression and anxiety are relatively common in patients with IPF. Although no significant differences were noted with regard to survival rate and hospitalization, the present study suggests that depression and anxiety significantly influence quality of life in patients with IPF.
Excavating the molecular details of many diverse enzymes from metagenomes remains challenging in agriculture, food, health, and environmental fields. We present a versatile method that accelerates ...metabolic enzyme discovery for highly selective gene capture in metagenomes using next‐generation sequencing. Culture‐independent enzyme mining of environmental DNA is based on a set of short identifying degenerate sequences specific for a wide range of enzyme superfamilies, followed by multiplexed DNA barcode sequencing. A strategy of ‘focused identification of next‐generation sequencing‐based definitive enzyme research’ enabled us to generate targeted enzyme datasets from metagenomes, resulting in minimal hands‐on obtention of high‐throughput biological diversity and potential function profiles, without being time‐consuming. This method also provided a targeted inventory of predicted proteins and molecular features of metabolic activities from several metagenomic samples. We suggest that the efficiency and sensitivity of this method will accelerate the decryption of microbial diversity and the signature of proteins and their metabolism from environmental samples.
Focused identification of next‐generation sequencing‐based definitive enzyme research (FINDER), as a culture‐independent high‐throughput enzyme screening platform technology, enabled us to quickly determine the value of metagenomic samples and to collect a large amount of information regarding useful enzyme profiles. FINDER could also allow us to rapidly characterize environmental microbiota at any given time, and yield established catalogs of functional genes in situ. This large‐scale screening method is a versatile approach for identifying novel biocatalysts and excavating natural deposits of novel enzymes at a metagenomic scale.
Objectives/Hypothesis
We compared the scar quality when different protocols were applied, and eventually aim to find the optimal scar management protocol.
Study Design
We conducted a prospective, ...randomized, and blinded comparison of different scar management protocols in a single center.
Methods
We allocated 126 patients who underwent thyroidectomy via collar neck incision randomly into three groups. Patients in group A were treated with tissue adhesive only. Patients in group B were treated by means of subcuticular suturing and early scar management with a non‐ablative fractional laser (NAFL) and intralesional triamcinolone injection (ILI). Patients in group C had skin closure with tissue adhesive and early scar management. At 6 months after the operation, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and the width of the final scar were compared.
Results
Comparing the sum of PSAS, groups B and C showed significant higher satisfaction than did group A (22.81 ± 11.66 in group A, 10.9 ± 5.14 in group B, and 15.19 ± 9.98 in group C). In the sum of OSAS, group B also showed a significant difference than did groups A and C (17.74 ± 6.75 in group A, 10.26 ± 3.60 in group B, and 14.52 ± 6.48 in group C). Also, group B showed a narrower scar width than did groups A and C.
Conclusions
Our finding suggests that subcuticular suturing using barbed suture material and early treatment with a combination therapy using NAFL and ILI showed a favorable aesthetic outcome for both patients and operators. Based on our algorithmic approach for thyroidectomy scar, we anticipate an optimal aesthetic outcome.
Level of Evidence
II Laryngoscope, 131:E2188–E2195, 2021
In the CLASSIC and MAGIC trials, microsatellite instability (MSI)-high status was a favorable prognostic and potential negative predictive factor for neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy in resectable ...gastric cancer (GC). Given the low prevalence of MSI-high status in GC and its association with other positive prognostic variables, large data sets are needed to draw robust evidence of its prognostic/predictive value.
We performed a multinational, individual-patient-data meta-analysis of the prognostic/predictive role of MSI in patients with resectable GC enrolled in the MAGIC, CLASSIC, ARTIST, and ITACA-S trials. Prognostic analyses used multivariable Cox models (MVM). The predictive role of MSI was assessed both in an all-comer population and in MAGIC and CLASSIC trials by MVM testing of the interaction of treatment (chemotherapy plus surgery
surgery) with MSI.
MSI status was available for 1,556 patients: 121 (7.8%) had MSI-high status; 576 were European, and 980 were Asian. In MSI-high versus MSI-low/microsatellite stable (MSS) comparisons, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 71.8% (95% CI, 63.8% to 80.7%) versus 52.3% (95% CI, 49.7% to 55.1%); the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 77.5% (95% CI, 70.0% to 85.8%) versus 59.3% (95% CI, 56.6% to 62.1%). In MVM, MSI was associated with longer DFS (hazard ratio HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.28 to 2.76;
< .001) and OS (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.73;
= .008), as were pT, pN, ethnicity, and treatment. Patients with MSI-low/MSS GC benefitted from chemotherapy plus surgery: the 5-year DFS compared with surgery only was 57% versus 41% (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.79), and the 5-year OS was 62% versus 53% (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.94). Conversely, those with MSI-high GC did not: the 5-year DFS was 70% versus 77% (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.53 to 3.04), and the 5-year OS was 75% versus 83% (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.55 to 4.12).
In patients with resectable primary GC, MSI is a robust prognostic marker that should be adopted as a stratification factor by clinical trials. Chemotherapy omission and/or immune checkpoint blockade should be investigated prospectively in MSI-high GCs according to clinically and pathologically defined risk of relapse.
Background
Mucinous gastric adenocarcinoma (MGC) is a rare but distinctive histologic subtype of gastric cancer (GC). The clinico-pathologic and genomic characteristics of MGC have not been well ...evaluated.
Methods
We collected individual data from five cohorts targeting the microsatellite instability (MSI) of GC (
n
= 5089) to evaluate the clinico-pathologic characteristics of MGC. In addition, public genomic databases were used for genomic analysis. The characteristics of MGC were compared with those of non-mucinous GC (NMGC).
Results
MGC (
n
= 158, 3.1%) showed distinctive characteristics in terms of age, sex, and TNM stage compared to NMGC (
n
= 4931). MGC was frequently associated with MSI-high (OR: 2.24, 95% confidence interval CI 1.44–3.40,
p
< 0.001), while mutually exclusive to the Epstein–Barr virus type. The prognosis of MGC was better than that of NMGC (adj.HR: 0.731, 95% CI 0.556–0.962,
p
= 0.025). There was no clear benefit from postoperative chemotherapy in MGC.
TP53
was the main driver mutation in the MGC without recurrent variants. MGC was related to high expression of
GPR120
and
B3GNT6
and moderate regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-up signature with a high EMT-down signature, and those characteristics was related to favorable prognosis of GC (log-rank
p
= 0.044,
p
< 0.001,
p
< 0.001, respectively). MSI-H of MGC was associated with low cancer-associate fibroblasts but high
CD274
(PD-L1) expression compared to microsatellite stable MGC, suggesting that immune checkpoint inhibitors may be useful for the MSI-H of MGC.
Conclusion
MGC could be a surrogate for performing MSI but not the EBV test in GC. Further, its genetic characteristics lead to a favorable prognosis for MGC.
Enhanced expression of the cancer stem cell (CSC) marker, CD133, is closely associated with a higher rate of tumor formation and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Despite its ...clinical significance, the molecular mechanism underlying the deregulation of CD133 during tumor progression remains to be clarified. Here, we report on a novel mechanism by which interleukin‐6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (IL‐6/STAT3) signaling up‐regulates expression of CD133 and promotes HCC progression. STAT3 activated by IL‐6 rapidly bound to CD133 promoter and increased protein levels of CD133 in HCC cells. Reversely, in hypoxic conditions, RNA interference silencing of STAT3 resulted in decrease of CD133 levels, even in the presence of IL‐6, with a concomitant decrease of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF‐1α) expression. Active STAT3 interacted with nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) p65 subunit to positively regulate the transcription of HIF‐1α providing a mechanistic explanation on how those three oncogenes work together to increase the activity of CD133 in a hypoxic liver microenvironment. Activation of STAT3 and its consequent induction of HIF‐1α and CD133 expression were not observed in Toll‐like receptor 4/IL‐6 double‐knockout mice. Long‐term silencing of CD133 by a lentiviral‐based approach inhibited cancer cell‐cycle progression and suppressed in vivo tumorigenicity by down‐regulating expression of cytokinesis‐related genes, such as TACC1, ACF7, and CKAP5. We also found that sorafenib and STAT3 inhibitor nifuroxazide inhibit HCC xenograft formation by blocking activation of STAT3 and expression of CD133 and HIF‐1α proteins. Conclusion: IL‐6/STAT3 signaling induces expression of CD133 through functional cooperation with NF‐κB and HIF‐1α during liver carcinogenesis. Targeting STAT3‐mediated CD133 up‐regulation may represent a novel, effective treatment by eradicating the liver tumor microenvironment. (Hepatology 2015;62:1160‐1173)
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