Prognostic factors influencing survival in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for isolated colorectal peritoneal metastases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer confer the worst survival among all metastatic sites. The adoption of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can offer selected patients with isolated colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM) a favourable long-term survival. There are numerous factors postulated to influence survival in patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC. The aim of this study was to identify the key perioperative prognostic factors that influence survival in patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC for isolated CRPM.

METHOD

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate prognostic factors influencing survival in patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC for isolated CRPM.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies fitted the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, with 25 studies included in the meta-analysis. On pooled analysis, incomplete cytoreduction, increasing peritoneal carcinoma index (PCI) and lymph node involvement were significantly associated with a worse survival. Additionally, a rectal primary [hazard ratio (HR) 1.93, 95% CI 1.10-3.37], adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.93) and perioperative grade III/IV morbidity (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.17-2.16) were also found to significantly influence survival. Notably, tumour differentiation and signet ring cell histology did not influence survival on pooled analysis.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis confirms that in patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC for isolated CRPM, incomplete cytoreduction, high PCI and lymph node involvement have a negative influence on survival. In addition, a rectal primary, adjuvant chemotherapy use and grade III/IV morbidity are important factors that also significantly influence survival.

Effects of Language History on Sentence Recognition in Noise or Two-Talker Speech: Monolingual, Early Bilingual, and Late Bilingual Speakers of English

Purpose Language history is an important factor in masked speech recognition. Listeners who acquire the target language later in life perform more poorly than native speakers. However, there are inconsistencies in the literature regarding performance of bilingual speakers who begin learning the target language early in life. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate speech-in-noise and speech-in-speech recognition for highly proficient early bilingual listeners compared to monolingual and late bilingual listeners. Method Three groups of young adults participated: native monolingual English speakers, bilingual Mandarin-English speakers who learned English from birth (early bilinguals), and native Mandarin speakers who learned English later in life (late bilinguals). All participants had normal hearing and were full-time college students. Recognition was assessed for English sentences in speech-shaped noise and two-talker English speech. Participants provided linguistic and demographic information, and late bilinguals completed the Versant test of spoken English abilities. Results All listeners performed better in speech-shaped noise than two-talker speech. Performance was similar for monolingual and early bilinguals. Late bilinguals performed more poorly overall. There was evidence for a stronger association between masked speech recognition and English dominance for late bilinguals compared to early bilinguals. Conclusion These results support the conclusion that bilingualism itself does not necessarily result in a disadvantage when recognizing masked speech in noise and speech in speech. For populations similar to those studied here (highly proficient early bilinguals), it would be appropriate to evaluate masked speech recognition using the same simple stimuli and normative data used for monolingual speakers of English.

Measurement of the cosmic ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite

The precise measurement of the spectrum of protons, the most abundant component of the cosmic radiation, is necessary to understand the source and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. This work reports the measurement of the cosmic ray proton fluxes with kinetic energies from 40 GeV to 100 TeV, with 2 ¹/₂ years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). This is the first time that an experiment directly measures the cosmic ray protons up to ~100 TeV with high statistics. The measured spectrum confirms the spectral hardening at ~300 GeV found by previous experiments and reveals a softening at ~13.6 TeV, with the spectral index changing from ~2.60 to ~2.85. Our result suggests the existence of a new spectral feature of cosmic rays at energies lower than the so-called knee and sheds new light on the origin of Galactic cosmic rays.

The effect of target/masker fundamental frequency contour similarity on masked-speech recognition

Greater informational masking is observed when the target and masker speech are more perceptually similar. Fundamental frequency (f0) contour, or the dynamic movement of f0, is thought to provide cues for segregating target speech presented in a speech masker. Most of the data demonstrating this effect have been collected using digitally modified stimuli. Less work has been done exploring the role of f0 contour for speech-in-speech recognition when all of the stimuli have been produced naturally. The goal of this project was to explore the importance of target and masker f0 contour similarity by manipulating the speaking style of talkers producing the target and masker speech streams. Sentence recognition thresholds were evaluated for target and masker speech that was produced with either flat, normal, or exaggerated speaking styles; performance was also measured in speech spectrum shaped noise and for conditions in which the stimuli were processed through an ideal-binary mask. Results confirmed that similarities in f0 contour depth elevated speech-in-speech recognition thresholds; however, when the target and masker had similar contour depths, targets with normal f0 contours were more resistant to masking than targets with flat or exaggerated contours. Differences in energetic masking across stimuli cannot account for these results.

[Clinical analysis of hemorrhagic cystitis in children and adolescents with hematological diseases post haplo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

目的

观察儿童及青少年血液病患者单倍型造血干细胞移植（haplo-HSCT）后出血性膀胱炎（HC）的临床特征并探讨其影响因素。

方法

回顾性分析2015至2016年接受haplo-HSCT的89例儿童及青少年血液病患者的临床资料。

结果

全部89例患者中，≤14岁62例（儿童组）、>14~<18岁27例（青少年组）；男56例，女33例；中位移植年龄10（1~17）岁；急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）44例，急性髓系白血病（AML）33例，急性混合细胞白血病（AHL）3例，骨髓增生异常综合征（MDS）9例。移植物来源均为骨髓+外周血干细胞。全部89例患者中32例（36%）发生HC，其中迟发型31例，早发型1例；Ⅰ度6例、Ⅱ度16例、Ⅲ度8例、Ⅳ度2例；HC发病中位时间为移植后25（2~55）d，中位持续时间为19（3~95）d；所有患儿均获得治愈。儿童组HC发病率低于青少年组[27.4%（17/62）对55.6%（15/27），χ²=6.466，P<0.05]。儿童组中<5岁组HC发生率低于5~14岁组[0（0/12）对34%（17/50），χ²=4.043，P<0.05]。

结论

HC是儿童及青少年血液病患者haplo-HSCT的常见并发症，总体预后良好，年龄是其发生的影响因素。

IgG1+ B-cell immunity predates IgE responses in epicutaneous sensitization to foods

BACKGROUND

The generation of IgE-mediated food allergy in humans is silent and only diagnosed upon manifestation of clinical symptoms. While experimental models have been used to investigate some mechanisms of allergic sensitization, the generation of humoral immunity and memory remains to be elucidated. Here, we defined the evolution of allergen-specific B-cell responses during epicutaneous sensitization to foods.

METHODS

Wild-type and genetic knockout animals, and drug or antibody strategies for cell depletion and immunoglobulin signaling blockade were used to investigate epicutaneous sensitization and disease progression; we analyzed allergen-specific germinal centers and IgG1⁺ memory B cells by flow cytometry, evaluated humoral responses, and determined clinical reactivity (anaphylaxis).

RESULTS

Epicutaneous sensitization caused microscopic skin damage, inflammation, and recruitment of activated dendritic cells to the draining lymph nodes. This process generated allergen-specific IgG1⁺ germinal center B cells, serum IgG1, and anaphylaxis that was mediated by the alternative pathway. Whether we used peanut and/or ovalbumin from the egg white for sensitization, the allergen-specific IgG1⁺ memory compartment predominantly exhibited an immature, pro-germinal center phenotype (PDL-2^- CD80^- CD35⁺ CD73⁺ ). Subsequent subclinical exposures to the allergen induced IgE⁺ germinal center B cells, serum IgE, and likely activated the classical pathway of anaphylaxis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that IgG1⁺ B-cell immunity against food allergens in epicutaneous sensitization precedes the generation of IgE responses. Therefore, the assessment of allergen-specific cellular and humoral IgG1⁺ immunity may help to identify individuals at risk of developing IgE-mediated food allergy and hence provide a window for therapeutic interventions.

[Pharmacokinetics of generic dasatinib in the management of chronic myeloid leukemia in the choronie phase]

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of generic dasatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the choronie phase (CML-CP). Methods: Using randomized, parallel, overlapping, self-control designed study, a 100 mg dose of the reference or test tablet was given to 12 CML-CP patients who were resistant or intolerant to Imatinib and Nilotinib in a randomized two-way crossover design, and the plasma concentration of the medicine was assayed by HPLC-MS-MS. The main pharmacokinetic parameters and bioequivalence of the two formulations were evaluated. Results: The major pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: C_max (209.01±58.69) μg/L and (223.07±79.51) μg/L, T_max (1.1±0.8) h and (1.1±0.8) h, T_1/2 (5.10±1.34) h and (4.39±0.74) h, AUC_0-τ (646.65±185.67) h·μg/L and (695.84±273.40) h·μg/L (all P>0.05); AUC_0-∝ (668.11±186.00) h·μg/L and (712.42±278.08) h·μg/L, MRT (5.32 ± 1.70) h and (4.68 ± 1.53) h (all P>0.05). Conclusion: The two formulations were bioequivalent.

Identifying Nanoscale Structure-Function Relationships Using Multimodal Atomic Force Microscopy, Dimensionality Reduction, and Regression Techniques

Correlating nanoscale chemical specificity with operational physics is a long-standing goal of functional scanning probe microscopy (SPM). We employ a data analytic approach combining multiple microscopy modes using compositional information in infrared vibrational excitation maps acquired via photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM) with electrical information from conductive atomic force microscopy. We study a model polymer blend comprising insulating poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and semiconducting poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). We show that PiFM spectra are different from FTIR spectra but can still be used to identify local composition. We use principal component analysis to extract statistically significant principal components and principal component regression to predict local current and identify local polymer composition. In doing so, we observe evidence of semiconducting P3HT within PMMA aggregates. These methods are generalizable to correlated SPM data and provide a meaningful technique for extracting complex compositional information that is impossible to measure from any one technique.

GRAPHITE: A Graphical Environment for Scalable in situ Video Tracking of Moving Insects

1. Methods for measuring animal movement are critical for understanding numerous ecological and evolutionary processes. However, few methods are available for small organisms, and even fewer methods offer consistent individual-level resolution while remaining affordable, scalable and operable in the field. 2. We describe a low-cost animal movement tracking method with a user-friendly graphical interface, called GRAPHITE. Our automated software can quantify motions of insects by offline video analysis of inexpensive and lightweight human-readable tags attached to individual insects. The integrated graphical editor provides a full-featured environment for users to review the generated tracking data and make individual- or group-level edits. 3. GRAPHITE is a novel video analysis and graphical editing software (MATLAB v.9.0.0+) that identifies tags in image frames with a minimal false negative rate, links sequences of corresponding tags into "tracks" for each individual insect, infers the tag identifier, and provides a user-friendly graphical environment for editing tracking data. Users can either batch process raw video data using the full analysis pipeline or execute GRAPHITE modules independently for a tailored analysis. 4. We demonstrate the efficacy of the developed software with a specific application to the movement of honey bees at the entrance of hives. However, this system can be easily modified to track individually marked insects of 3 mm and larger. A notable advantage of this method is its ability to provide easy access to individual-level tracking data using human-readable tags.