To investigate the clinical characteristics of abnormal liver function in patients with advanced esophageal squamous carcinoma treated with programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibody SHR-1210 alone or in ...combination with apatinib and chemotherapy.
Clinical data of 73 patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma from 2 prospective clinical studies conducted at the Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from May 11, 2016, to November 19, 2019, were analyzed, and logistic regression analysis was used for the analysis of influencing factors.
Of the 73 patients, 35 had abnormal liver function. 13 of the 43 patients treated with PD-1 antibody monotherapy (PD-1 monotherapy group) had abnormal liver function, and the median time to first abnormal liver function was 55 days. Of the 30 patients treated with PD-1 antibody in combination with apatinib and chemotherapy (PD-1 combination group), 22 had abnormal liver function, and the median time to first abnormal liver function was 41 days. Of the 35 patients with abn
High-fill foundations can solve the problem of land shortage in mountainous cities. In high ground stress and water immersion environment, stress concentration will lead to gravel particle breakage ...in drainage blind ditch, and the drainage blind ditch exists a risk of drainage failure, which will bring great harm to high-fill foundation. In this paper, model tests and PFC simulation were carried out to analyze the mechanical response of gravel particles in drainage blind ditch under high ground stress and water immersion. Firstly, large-scale triaxial shear tests were carried out to explore the effects of confining pressures, dry-wet conditions and initial void ratios on breakage and mechanical characteristics of gravel particles. The stress-strain curve of gravel particles was studied and the influence of variation of gravel graduation and particle crush rate on peak strength and dilatancy were analyzed. Then, the single particle breakage model under high pressure was established and the influence of immersion was considered in numerical simulation. The crushing test of gravel particles was carried out and the impact of particle breakage on mechanical characteristics was studied. The results show that the stress-strain curve of gravel particles has a behavior of strain hardening. Particle breakage has a significant impact on the strength and dilatancy of gravel particle. The gravel particle breakage rate is approximately linear with confining pressure and initial void ratio. Immersion of the gravel particle increased the volumetric strain, weakened the dilatancy and increased the gravel particle breakage rate.
This paper aims at analyzing energy and exergy efficiencies in the Chinese transportation sector. Historical data is used to investigate the development of efficiencies from 1980 to 2009. Firstly, we ...calculate energy consumption values in PJ (petajoule) for nine transportation modes of five transportation sub-sectors. Then, the weighted energy and exergy efficiencies for each transportation mode, calculated by multiplying weighting factors with efficiency values of that mode, are summed up to calculate the weighted mean overall efficiencies for a particular year. We find that: (1) In 2009, the energy consumed in transportation sector was 12179.80 PJ, whereas that was 589.25 PJ in 1980. (2) Highways transport was the biggest energy consumer, which consumed 82.0% of total transport energy consumption in 2009. (3) Up to 2009, the oil consumed by transportation accounted for 75.1% of that in the whole country, which is more than the net oil import. (4) The average overall energy and exergy efficiencies are found to be 21.22% and 19.95%, respectively. (5) A comparison with other countries showed that energy and exergy efficiencies of the Chinese transportation sector are slightly lower than those of Jordan, Malaysian, Saudi Arabian and Norwegian, and higher than that incurred in Turkish.
► We firstly calculate energy consumption values in PJ (petajoule) for nine transportation modes of five transportation sub-sectors. ► Based on the historical data from 1980 to 2009, energy and exergy efficiencies in the Chinese transportation sector is analyzed. ► The obtained energy and exergy efficiency values were compared with those reported for Jordan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Norway and Turkey.
Based on the method combining the critical plane with crystallographic slip theory, an anisotropic low cycle fatigue life model is proposed to reflect the effects of orientation dependence and damage ...factors on fatigue life. According to this method, the crystallographic slip plane is adopted as the critical plane by searching for 30 potential slip systems. In addition, considering the effects of normal strain and strain ratio on fatigue failure, the normal strain ratio is introduced into model and regression model is obtained by fitting method. The proposed model is verified by estimating the low cycle fatigue lives of single crystal nickel–based superalloys PWA1480, CMSX‐2 and DD3 for different loading conditions. The results show that the proposed model is applicable for more complicated loading situations and give a higher prediction accuracy compared to Sun's model.
Parkinsons Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Much of the scientific literature on the Parkinson's disease has been focused on the ...evaluation and management of motor conditions in PD. Much less stress has been laid on evaluating and managing the cognitive disturbances found comorbidly in this condition. Studies have suggested that the cognitive dysfunction observed in PD can range anywhere from individual cognitive deficits to the clinical picture of minimal cognitive impairment to as much as a full-blown dementia like clinical picture. Perhaps because of this poor understanding, the treatments for this comorbidity have not been able to be adequately developed. Right now, only rivastigmine is the approved drug of choice for treatment of dementia associated with PD. In this review we aim at elaborating the individual cognitive deficits associated with PD instead of focusing on full-blown dementia. Our aim at focusing on individual symptoms is important because these symptoms should be evaluated even at the most beginning stages of PD rather than waiting for the patient to report for the symptoms. Therefore, we will aim at elaborating the prevalence, symptomatology and implications for treatment for these cognitive dysfunctions individually. Because covering all the domains of cognitive dysfunctions are not possible here, we will focus on three cognitive impairments which are most commonly observed in the PD patients. These are the (1) Executive function deficits (2) Memory deficits and (3) visuospatial deficits. We will, finally, have an overview of the condition of minimal cognitive deficits observed in PD.
Summary
Background There are ethnic differences in the prevalence and types of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Although there have been several reports on the prevalence and types of AGA in caucasian ...and Asian populations, there are very few data on a Chinese population that have been derived from a sufficient number of samples.
Objectives To estimate the prevalence and types of AGA in a Chinese population, and to compare the results with those in caucasians and Koreans reported previously in the literature.
Methods A population‐based cross‐sectional study was carried out in 7056 subjects (3519 men and 3537 women) from May 2006 to December 2006 in a community of Shanghai. Questionnaires were completed during face‐to‐face interviews at the subjects’ homes. The degree of AGA was classified according to the Norwood and Ludwig classifications.
Results The prevalence of AGA in Chinese men was 19·9%, and the prevalence of female pattern AGA in men was 0·1%. The most common type in men was type III vertex (3·5%). The prevalence of AGA in women was 3·1%, while male pattern AGA was found in those aged over 50 years (0·4%), and the most common type was type I (Ludwig classification) (1·4%). A family history of AGA was present in 55·8% of men and 32·4% of women with AGA.
Conclusions The prevalence of AGA in Chinese men was lower than in caucasian men but was similar to that in Korean men; however, over the age of 60 years it was approaching that in caucasian men but was higher than that in Korean men. The most common type in Chinese men with AGA was type III vertex. Interestingly, the prevalence of AGA in Chinese women was lower than that in Korean women and caucasian women, and type I was the most common type (Ludwig classification).
The fast capacity decay and poor rate performance hinder the application of commercial LiMn2O4 (LMO) cathode in Li-ion batteries despite the low cost and environmental friendliness. Herein, ...commercial LMO was hydrothermally modified with poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). The PVDF-modified LMO with 1.0 wt% PVDF exhibits excellent rate performance (delivering discharge capacities of 128.2, 121.7, 112.4, 99.9, 85.5, 62.4 mAh g−1 at current densities of 20, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 mA g−1, respectively) and superior cyclability (attaining capacity retention above 90% after 150 cycles at 100 mA g−1). The enhanced performance associates with the uniform PVDF coating on the surface of LMO particles (which suppresses the dissolution of Mn-ions in electrolyte to maintain the structural stability of LMO) and F-doing in LMO (which improves Li+ conductivity and reversible capacity). The PVDF-modification may push the application of the commercial LMO cathode forward.
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Spray dry technique was applied to produce paclitaxel loaded microspheres of biodegradable poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as an alternative delivery system. Various emulsifiers such as
...l-α-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), cholesterol, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), gelatin were incorporated in order to achieve high encapsulating efficiency of paclitaxel in the microspheres and desired properties for a sustained release. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the surface of the microspheres with high ratio of lipid was spherical and smooth. Those made with other emulsifiers had rougher surface with pores. Incorporation of lipid, cholesterol or gelatin can significantly increase the drug content in the microspheres. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) result indicated that the paclitaxel trapped in the microspheres existed in an amorphous or disordered-crystalline status in the polymer matrix. The zeta potential of the microspheres was negative in general and was strongly influenced by the type of the emulsifiers used in fabrication. The system formulated with cholesterol was most stable. The release profiles of various formulations with PVA, gelatin as well as low ratio of DPPC showed almost zero-order release kinetics in the first 3 weeks after an initial burst less than 5% in the first day. The release rate then gradually decreased. The microspheres fabricated with high ratio of DPPC exhibited large initial burst. When cholesterol was combined together with DPPC as an emulsifier, the release became faster.
Studies have shown that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is associated with metastasis and chemoresistance of osteosarcoma. The TGF-β kinase inhibitor LY2109761 could inhibits metastasis and ...enhances chemosensitivity in several cancers, but its role and mechanisms in osteosarcoma (OS) is unclear. Here, we investigated the role and mechanism of LY2109761 on metastasis and chemosensitivity of OS MG-63 cells.
MG-63 cells were treated with LY2109761 or/and cisplatin. The cell viability and apoptosis of MG-63 cells were detected by MTT and ELISA. Matrigel invasion assay was used to detect cell invasion in vitro. pSMAD2 and S100A4 was detected by western blot assay. Furthermore, the efficacy of LY2109761 combined with S100A4 cDNA plaismid transfection on cell viability, apoptosis and chemosensitivity to cisplatin in OS MG-63 cells was further examined.
LY2109761 was sufficient to induce apoptosis and inhibited growth of MG-63 cells in vitro. Combination with LY2109761 significantly augmented the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in MG-63 cells. LY2109761 significantly inhibited invasion of MG-63 cells in vitro. The LY2109761-induced increase in cell apoptosis and the cytotoxicity of cisplatin, and decrease in cell invasion was blocked completely when S100A4 expression was restored in the MG-63 cells by S100A4 cDNA plasmid transfection.
Our data indicate that LY2109761 suppresses OS metastasis and enhanced chemosensitivity by targeting S100A4. LY2109761 may have important implications for the development of strategies for inhibiting metastasis and overcoming OS cell resistance to chemotherapy.
Here, we present results from a clinical trial employing a new vaccination method using dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with mRNA from allogeneic prostate cancer cell lines (DU145, LNCaP and PC-3). ...In all, 20 patients were enrolled and 19 have completed vaccination. Each patient received at least four weekly injections with 2 x 10(7) transfected DCs either intranodally or intradermally. Safety and feasibility of vaccination were determined. Immune responses were measured as delayed-type hypersensitivity and by in vitro immunoassays including ELISPOT and T-cell proliferation in pre- and postvaccination peripheral blood samples. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and bone scans were monitored. No toxicity or serious adverse events related to vaccinations were observed. A total of 12 patients developed a specific immune response to tumour mRNA-transfected DCs. In total, 13 patients showed a decrease in log slope PSA. This effect was strengthened by booster vaccinations. Clinical outcome was significantly related to immune responses (n = 19, P = 0.002, r = 0.68). Vaccination with mRNA-transfected DCs is safe and results in cellular immune responses specific for antigens encoded by mRNA derived from the prostate cancer cell lines. The observation that in some patients vaccination affected the PSA level suggests that this approach may become useful as a treatment modality for prostate cancer patients.
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