Abstract
Understanding the competition between superconductivity and other ordered states (such as antiferromagnetic or charge-density-wave (CDW) state) is a central issue in condensed matter ...physics. The recently discovered layered kagome metal
A
V
3
Sb
5
(
A
= K, Rb, and Cs) provides us a new playground to study the interplay of superconductivity and CDW state by involving nontrivial topology of band structures. Here, we conduct high-pressure electrical transport and magnetic susceptibility measurements to study CsV
3
Sb
5
with the highest
T
c
of 2.7 K in
A
V
3
Sb
5
family. While the CDW transition is monotonically suppressed by pressure, superconductivity is enhanced with increasing pressure up to P1 ≈ 0.7 GPa, then an unexpected suppression on superconductivity happens until pressure around 1.1 GPa, after that,
T
c
is enhanced with increasing pressure again. The CDW is completely suppressed at a critical pressure P2 ≈ 2 GPa together with a maximum
T
c
of about 8 K. In contrast to a common dome-like behavior, the pressure-dependent
T
c
shows an unexpected double-peak behavior. The unusual suppression of
T
c
at P1 is concomitant with the rapidly damping of quantum oscillations, sudden enhancement of the residual resistivity and rapid decrease of magnetoresistance. Our discoveries indicate an unusual competition between superconductivity and CDW state in pressurized kagome lattice.
Gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (GEAs) are heterogeneous cancers where immune checkpoint inhibitors have robust efficacy in heavily inflamed microsatellite instability (MSI) or Epstein-Barr virus ...(EBV)-positive subtypes. Immune checkpoint inhibitor responses are markedly lower in diffuse/genome stable (GS) and chromosomal instable (CIN) GEAs. In contrast to EBV and MSI subtypes, the tumor microenvironment of CIN and GS GEAs have not been fully characterized to date, which limits our ability to improve immunotherapeutic strategies.
Here we aimed to identify tumor-immune cell association across GEA subclasses using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (N = 453 GEAs) and archival GEA resection specimen (N = 71). The Cancer Genome Atlas RNAseq data were used for computational inferences of immune cell subsets, which were correlated to tumor characteristics within and between subtypes. Archival tissues were used for more spatial immune characterization spanning immunohistochemistry and mRNA expression analyses.
Our results confirmed substantial heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment between distinct subtypes. While MSI-high and EBV+ GEAs harbored most intense T cell infiltrates, the GS group showed enrichment of CD4+ T cells, macrophages and B cells and, in ∼50% of cases, evidence for tertiary lymphoid structures. In contrast, CIN cancers possessed CD8+ T cells predominantly at the invasive margin while tumor-associated macrophages showed tumor infiltrating capacity. Relatively T cell-rich ‘hot’ CIN GEAs were often from Western patients, while immunological ‘cold’ CIN GEAs showed enrichment of MYC and cell cycle pathways, including amplification of CCNE1.
These results reveal the diversity of immune phenotypes of GEA. Half of GS gastric cancers have tertiary lymphoid structures and are therefore promising candidates for immunotherapy. The majority of CIN GEAs, however, exhibit T cell exclusion and infiltrating macrophages. Associations of immune-poor CIN GEAs with MYC activity and CCNE1 amplification may enable new studies to determine precise mechanisms of immune evasion, ultimately inspiring new therapeutic modalities.
•There is large heterogeneity in the immune contexture of gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) subtypes.•Chromosomal instable GEAs are often T cell excluded, which is associated with enhanced MYC and cell cycle pathways.•Genome stable cancers, contrarily, often have tertiary lymphoid structures.•This study argues for more personalized immunotargeting strategies in gastroesophageal cancer treatment.
Background
Patients undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery are at risk of cardiovascular complications. Raised levels of high‐sensitivity troponin are frequently detected before operation among these ...patients. However, the prognostic value of high‐sensitivity troponin in predicting postoperative outcomes remains unclear.
Methods
A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Science Citation Index Expanded was undertaken for observational studies published before March 2018 that reported associations between raised preoperative levels of high‐sensitivity troponin and postoperative major adverse cardiac events and/or mortality after non‐cardiac surgery. Meta‐analyses were performed, where possible, using random‐effects models.
Results
Seven cohort studies with a total of 4836 patients were included. A raised preoperative high‐sensitivity troponin level was associated with a higher risk of short‐term major adverse cardiac events (risk ratio (RR) 2·92, 95 per cent c.i. 1·96 to 4·37; I2 = 82·6 per cent), short‐term mortality (RR 5·39, 3·21 to 9·06; I2 = 0 per cent) and long‐term mortality (RR 2·90, 1·83 to 4·59, I2 = 74·2 per cent). The addition of preoperative high‐sensitivity troponin measurement provided improvements in cardiovascular risk discrimination (increase in C‐index ranged from 0·058 to 0·109) and classification (quantified by continuous net reclassification improvement) compared with Lee's Revised Cardiac Risk Index alone. There was substantial heterogeneity and inadequate risk stratification analysis in the included studies.
Conclusion
Raised preoperative levels of high‐sensitivity troponin appear to represent a risk for postoperative major adverse cardiac events and mortality. Further study is required before high‐sensitivity troponin can be used to predict risk stratification in routine clinical practice.
Antecedentes
Los pacientes a los que se realiza una cirugía mayor no cardíaca tienen riesgo de presentar complicaciones cardiovasculares. En estos pacientes se observan con frecuencia niveles preoperatorios elevados de troponina de alta sensibilidad (high‐sensitivity troponin, hs‐cTn). Sin embargo, el valor pronóstico de la hs‐cTn para predecir los resultados postoperatorios no está bien definido.
Métodos
Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática en las bases de datos PubMed, EMBASE y Science Citation Index Expanded de estudios observacionales publicados antes de marzo de 2018 que analizasen la posible relación de los niveles elevados preoperatorios de hs‐cTn y los efectos adversos graves de tipo cardíaco (major adverse cardiac events, MACE) postoperatorios y/o la mortalidad después de la cirugía no cardíaca. Se realizó el metaanálisis utilizando modelos de efectos aleatorios siempre que fuera posible.
Resultados
Se incluyeron siete estudios de cohortes con un total de 4.836 pacientes. La elevación preoperatoria de hs‐cTn se asoció con un mayor riesgo de MACE a corto plazo (tasa de riesgo, risk ratio, RR 2,92, i.c. del 95% 1,96‐4,37, I2 = 82,6%) y con la mortalidad a corto plazo (RR 5,39, i.c. del 95 % 3,21‐9,06, I2 = 0%) y a largo plazo (RR 2,90, i.c. del 95% 1,83‐4,59, I2 = 74,2%). Añadir la medición preoperatoria de hs‐cTn mejoró la capacidad discriminativa para el riesgo cardiovascular (aumento de 5,8% a 10,9% en el índice C) y también la clasificación de los pacientes (cuantificada mediante el índice de reclasificación neta continua) en comparación con el uso de solo el índice de riesgo cardíaco revisado de Lee. En los estudios incluidos, hubo gran heterogeneidad y análisis inadecuado de la estratificación del riesgo.
Conclusión
Los niveles preoperatorios elevados de troponina de alta sensibilidad parecen ser un marcador de riesgo de efectos adversos graves de tipo cardíaco en el postoperatorio y de mortalidad. Se requieren más estudios antes de utilizar la troponina de alta sensibilidad para la estratificación del riesgo en la práctica clínica rutinaria.
This systematic review and meta‐analysis explored the prognostic implication of preoperative high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs‐cTn) level in patients undergoing non‐cardiac surgery who are at risk of cardiovascular complications. An increase in preoperative hs‐cTn level was identified as a risk marker for postoperative major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and death. Further study is required before hs‐cTn assays could be used for routine preoperative risk stratification.
High‐sensitivity cardiac troponin appears useful
We previously demonstrated that pretreatment quantitative anti–hepatitis B core protein (qAnti-HBc) levels can predict the treatment response for both interferon and nucleoside analogue therapy, but ...the characteristics of qAnti-HBc during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remain poorly understood. To understand this issue, the qAnti-HBc levels were evaluated in individuals with past HBV infection, occult HBV infection and chronic HBV infection in the immune tolerance phase, immune clearance phase, low-replicative phase and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis phase. Individuals with hepatitis B surface antigen (n = 598, 3.74 ± 0.90 log10 IU/mL) had significantly higher (p < 0.001, approximately 1000-fold) serum qAnti-HBc levels than those who had occult HBV, and serum qAnti-HBc levels were significantly higher in the occult HBV group than in the past HBV infection group (p < 0.001). qAnti-HBc levels were positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase levels (R = 0.663, p < 0.001), and subjects with an abnormal alanine aminotransferase level had a higher qAnti-HBc level (p < 0.001). Serum qAnti-HBc level varied in different phases of HBV infection, as determined by host immune status. Serum qAnti-HBc level is strongly associated with hepatitis activity in subjects with chronic HBV infection.
The vacuolar‐type H+‐ATPase (V‐ATPase) is an ATP‐dependent proton pump, which regulates various cellular processes. To date, most functional studies on V‐ATPases of insects have focused on subunits ...of the V1 complex, and there is little information on the VO genes. In this study, two cDNA sequences of LmV‐ATPase a were identified in Locusta migratoria. RT‐qPCR analysis revealed that LmV‐ATPase a1 and LmV‐ATPase a2 are differentially expressed in various tissues and developmental stages. Injection of dsRNA for the common region of LmV‐ATPase a1 and LmV‐ATPase a2 into third‐instar nymphs resulted in a significant suppression of LmV‐ATPase a. The injected nymphs ceased feeding, lost body weight and finally died at a mortality of 98.6%. Furthermore, aberrations of midgut epithelial cells, the accumulation of electron‐lucent vesicles in the cytoplasm, and a partially damaged brush border were observed in dsLmV‐ATPase a‐injected nymphs using transmission electron microscopy. Especially, the mRNA level of wingles, and notch genes were dramatically down‐regulated in the dsLmV‐ATPase a‐injected nymphs. Taken together, our results suggest that LmV‐ATPase a is required for survival and midgut development of L. migratoria. Hence, this gene could be a good target for RNAi‐based control against locusts.
Injected dsLmV‐ATPase a into 3rd instar nymphs resulted in a mortality of 98.6%.
Nymphs ceased feeding, lost body weight and there was almost no food in midguts.
The accumulation of electron‐lucent vesicles in the cytoplasm, and a partially damaged brush border were observed in dsLmV‐ATPase a‐injected nymphs.
Discrete bisoliton fiber laser Liu, X M; Han, X X; Yao, X K
Scientific reports,
10/2016, Letnik:
6, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Dissipative solitons, which result from the intricate balance between dispersion and nonlinearity as well as gain and loss, are of the fundamental scientific interest and numerous important ...applications. Here, we report a fiber laser that generates bisoliton - two consecutive dissipative solitons that preserve a fixed separation between them. Deviations from this separation result in its restoration. It is also found that these bisolitons have multiple discrete equilibrium distances with the quantized separations, as is confirmed by the theoretical analysis and the experimental observations. The main feature of our laser is the anomalous dispersion that is increased by an order of magnitude in comparison to previous studies. Then the spectral filtering effect plays a significant role in pulse-shaping. The proposed laser has the potential applications in optical communications and high-resolution optics for coding and transmission of information in higher-level modulation formats.
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of wheat bran (WB) and antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal immunity, barrier function, and microbial composition in broiler chickens. A ...total of 168 one-day-old male Arbor Acre chicks were allocated to 3 treatments consisting of 7 replicates with 8 birds per replicate. The 3 treatments were: an antibiotic-free control diet (control, CON), CON + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline as an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP), and CON + 3% WB. Birds fed AGP and WB had greater (P < 0.05) ADG during days 1 to 21 and lower (P < 0.05) feed-to-gain ratio during each phase than those fed CON. The WB supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and diamine oxidase activity compared with CON on both day 21 and 42. The AGP and WB supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) interleukin-1β concentration in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and increased (P < 0.05) secretory immunoglobulin A concentration in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and 42. The relative expression of occludin in jejunal mucosa was upregulated (P < 0.05) in WB than in CON on day 21. Moreover, both AGP and WB supplementation upregulated (P < 0.05) the relative expression of zonula occludens-1 in jejunal mucosa on day 21 and 42. The WB supplementation enhanced the α-diversity of cecal microbiota, as evidenced by the increased Shannon index (P < 0.05). At the phylum level, the phylum Firmicutes was enriched (P < 0.05) in WB. At the genus level, the WB supplementation enriched (P < 0.05) Lachnoclostridium and Butyricicoccus. The WB supplementation increased (P < 0.05) cecal total short chain fatty acids concentrations on day 21 and 42, and butyric acid concentrations on day 42 compared with CON. Collectively, supplementation of 3% WB could promote growth by improving intestinal immunity, barrier function, and microbial composition in broilers. Thus, WB may have a role in replacing antibiotics for improved growth performance and intestinal health in broilers.
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