Mn2+ luminescence of Gd(Zn,Mg)B5O10 pentaborate under high pressure

The results of X-ray diffraction studies of the Gd(Mg_0.95-x,Zn_xMn_-0.05)B₅O₁₀ down-converting phosphor as a function of Mg-Zn composition are presented. The lattice parameters and unit cell volumes of GdMg_0.95-xZn_xMn_0.05B₅O₁₀ pentaborates are examined. The relationships between the structure and optical properties of these materials are explicated based on the results of theoretical calculations of the energy structure. The effect of pressure on the luminescence of Mn²⁺ in this system was studied up to ca. 32 GPa. The observed quenching of Mn²⁺ luminescence is due to the crossing of the emitting ⁴T_1g level with the non-emitting ²T_2g state. This crossing sets a long-wavelength limit on the possibility of observing the emission of Mn²⁺ ions, which is around 850 nm.

MiR-124 changes the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to cisplatin through targeting STAT3

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-124 in drug resistance of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to explore its underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression levels of miR-124 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in maternal A549 cells and cisplatin-resistant A549/DDP cells were detected via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. A549 and A549/DDP cells were transfected with miR-124 mimics and miR-124 negative control (NC), respectively. Changes in the expression of STAT3 were detected via qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Meanwhile, the sensitivity of cells transfected with miR-124 mimics to cisplatin was detected via methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The effects of miR-124 on the apoptosis, invasion and metastasis of cells were detected via flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. Moreover, wild-type and mutant-type STAT3 luciferase reporter plasmids were co-transfected with miR-124 mimics or miR-124 NC. Luciferase activity was analyzed using the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

QRT-PCR and Western blotting revealed that the expression level of miR-124 in A549/DDP cells was significantly lower than that of A549 cells. However, the expression level of STAT3 in A549/DDP cells was significantly higher than that of A549 cells. Overexpression of miR-124 remarkably reduced the expression level of STAT3 in A549/DDP cells, increased the sensitivity of A549/DDP cells to cisplatin, and inhibited the invasion and metastasis capacities of cells. In addition, luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that miR-124 could negatively regulate the protein expression of STAT3 by binding to its 3'-untranslated region (UTR).

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-124 regulates the sensitivity of NSCLC to cisplatin. Moreover, it inhibits the invasion and metastasis capacities through targeting STAT3, which can serve as a therapeutic target for cisplatin-based chemotherapy resistance of NSCLC.

Design of a novel bimodal cavity

Here, we introduce and analyze a novel concept of using one single cavity to support dual modes instead of using separate cavities. One advantage of using a dual-mode cavity is that only one cavity needs to be manufactured, which is space-saving and obviously economic. Apart from this, by operating both the fundamental mode and the certain harmonic mode simultaneously in one single cavity, bunch lengthening during the acceleration process could be linearly achieved, providing great potential in improving the beam brightness in linacs, storage rings, and other accelerating structures. Through the detailed design study, a structure combining the fundamental and the chosen second harmonic modes is characterized. The RF performance of the designed bimodal cavity is deeply analyzed, and it could be put into actual use for different goals to improve either the beam dynamic characteristics or the compactness of the certain system.

[Efficacy comparison between robot-assisted and laparoscopic surgery for mid-low rectal cancer: a prospective randomized controlled trial]

Objective: To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of robot-assisted and laparoscopic radical resection for mid-low rectal cancer. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 130 patients with mid-low rectal cancer (inclusion criteria: age > 18 or ≤80 years old; pathological diagnosis of rectal adenocarcinoma by colonoscopy; distance from tumor to the anal verge ≤12 cm; no distant metastasis; cT1-3N0-1 or ycT1-3 after neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy; suitable for laparoscopic and robotic surgery) at the Department of Colorectal Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from October 2016 to September 2018 were prospectively enrolled. According to computer-generated random number method, patients were randomly divided into the robot group (n=66) and laparoscopy group (n=64), and underwent robot-assisted surgery or laparoscopic surgery respectively. Clinicopathological data of all the patients were collected and analyzed. The demographic parameters, short- and long-term outcomes were compared between two groups. Results: One patient in robot group whose postoperative sample was diagnosed as rectal adenoma by pathology was excluded. There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, BMI, ASA classification, distance from tumor to the anal verge, serum CEA level, CA199 level between two groups (all P>0.05). Operations were successfully performed in all the patients without conversion to open operation. Robotic surgery was found to be associated with less intraoperative blood loss than laparoscopic surgery [(73.4±49.7) ml vs. (119.1±65.7) ml, t=-4.461, P<0.001], while there were no statistically significant differences in surgical procedures, operation time, time to first flatus, time to first liquid intake, time to removal of catheter or postoperative hospital stay between two groups (all P>0.05). Besides, there was no significant difference in the morbidity of postoperative complication between two groups [10.8% (7/65) vs. 12.5 (8/64), χ(2)=4.342, P=0.720]. The median number of harvested lymph node in the robot group and the laparoscopy group was 15.7±6.2 and 13.8±6.1 (t=1.724, P=0.087). There were no significant differences between two groups in tumor sample length, distance between proximal and distal resection margin, integrity grade of TME specimen, number of positive lymph nodes, postoperative pathological stage and tumor differentiation (all P>0.05). The distal resection margin of samples in two groups was all negative. One case in the robot group was found to have positive circumferential resection margin. The median follow up was 24 (9 to 31) months. In the robot group and the laparoscopy group, the 2-year overall survival rate was 95.4% and 90.6% respectively; the 2-year disease-free survival rate was 90.8% and 85.9% respectively, whose differences were not significant (both P>0.05). Conclusion: Robot-assisted radical resection for mid-low rectal cancer can achieve similar short-term and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic resection, while robot-assisted surgery can decrease blood loss during operation, leading to more precise practice in minimally invasive surgery.

[Key points and skills of assistant in robotic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer]

An excellent assistant for robotic radical gastrectomy can play an important role in the operation, especially in a initial team. In robotic gastric cancer surgery, an excellent assistant should actively participate in the operation process, choose the appropriate trocar position according to patient's body habitus. Moreover, he should master various surgical instruments skillfully and switch instruments fluently to assist the surgeon to expose key parts during operation, and provide effective help in the operative details, so that the whole operation process can run more smoothly and the operation efficiency and quality will be greatly improved. The growth of the assistants needs constant practice and summary of experience. Meanwhile, the encouragement of the chief surgeon also plays a positive role in promoting the development of the assistants.

Proposed design and optimization of a higher harmonic cavity for ALS-U

Higher harmonic cavities (HHCs), also known as Landau cavities, have been proposed to increase the beam lifetime and Landau damping by lengthening the bunch and increasing the synchrotron tune spread. Here, we present an optimized 1.5 GHz normal conducting HHC design for the Advanced Light Source Upgrade project at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab with a superconducting-like geometry for lower R/Q. The optimization goal is to reach the required shunt impedance while maintaining a relatively high Q value of the cavities. A multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA)-based optimization process is applied to optimize the radio frequency (RF) design. This study serves as an example of how a genetic algorithm can be used to optimize RF cavities. Detailed exploration and characterization of the MOGA-based RF cavity optimization have been demonstrated from the aspects of minimizing the coupled bunch instabilities and analyzing the higher-order modes and the corresponding impedance of the HHC.

Multiparametric 18F-Choline PET/MR in childhood and teenage-young adult gliomas: assessment of suspected disease progression

Aim

Evaluation of post-treatment glioma burden remains a significant challenge in childhood, Teenage and Young Adults (TYA). Although amino acid PET impacts on glioma imaging, 18fluoro-Choline Positron Emission Tomography (ChoPET) is more widely available. The aim was to evaluate the utility of ChoPET/MRI for suspected disease progression in childhood and TYA gliomas.

Methods

27 consecutive patients with suspected glioma disease progression were evaluated with ChoPET/MR and 59 scans included. Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), ADC and SUVmax in enhancing (enh), non-enhancing (ne) tumour volumes and normal appearing white matter (wm) were calculated (rCBVenh, rCBVne, rCBVwm, ADCenh, ADCne, ADCwm, SUVenh, SUVne, SUVwm). Blinded nuclear medicine and neuroradiologist scored the images on tumour probability (1:unlikely-5:definitely). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis considering as gold standard histopathology or clinical follow-up was performed.

Results

Combined ChoPET/MR accuracy was 100% for residual tumour, conventional MR accuracy was 96.3% (91.7% <14years, 100% ≥15years) and ChoPET accuracy was 73.1% (66.7% <14years, 80.0% ≥15 years). Lack ack of agreement in 9/27 with ChoPET superior to MR in 1 case. Tumour component analysis demonstrated significantly higher SUVenh and SUVne than SUVwm (SUVenh: p<0.001,SUVne: p=0.003) equivalent to ADC (ADCenh, ADCnenh: p<0.001) and rCBV (rCBVenh, rCBVnenh: p<0,001).

Conclusions

Combined ChoPET/MR has 100% accuracy in TYA gliomas with suspected disease progression. ChoPET is able to detect enhancing and non-enhancing tumour but it is more reliable for evaluating enhancing disease >15 years. In selected cases where MRI is equivocal, a quantitative multi-modality ChoPET/MR better defines both enhancing and non-enhancing tumour for improved assessment of childhood and TYA gliomas.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with lupus nephritis: clinical correlations and associations with long-term outcomes

Whether the presence or absence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) is associated with differences in clinical outcomes remains unclear. We reviewed LN patients at a single centre during 2000-2017, and compared the clinical features and long-term outcomes between patients who were seropositive or seronegative for aPL. aPL was detected in 53/149 (35.6%) patients with biopsy-proven LN, and anticardiolipin IgM, anticardiolipin IgG, anti-β2 glycoprotein I and lupus anticoagulant was detected in 18.8%, 18.1%, 10.7% and 8.1%, respectively. Follow-up was 155.8 ± 61.0 months, and was similar between aPL-seropositive and -seronegative patients. aPL seropositivity persisted in 94.3% of patients during remission. aPL-seropositive patients showed inferior patient survival (91% and 85% at 10 and 15 years, respectively, compared to 99% and 95% in aPL-seronegative patients; p = 0.043). Nine (6.0%) patients died during follow-up, including six aPL-seropositive (four thrombotic events and two bleeding complications related to anticoagulation) and three aPL-seronegative patients. aPL seropositivity was associated with more rapid decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (-1.44 mL/min/year compared to -0.38 mL/min/year in aPL-seronegative patients; p = 0.027) and inferior long-term renal survival (82% and 74% at 10 and 15 years, respectively, compared to 91% and 87% in aPL-seronegative patients; p = 0.034). aPL-seropositive patients also had a higher incidence of thrombotic events and miscarriage (32.1% and 13.2%, respectively, compared to 16.7% and 2.1% in the aPL-seronegative group; p = 0.030 and 0.006). We concluded that aPL seropositivity was associated with inferior long-term patient and renal survival and more frequent thrombotic events and miscarriage in LN patients.

P5476Usefulness of haemoglobin level combined with CAMI-STEMI score for predicting MACCE in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction after PCI

Background

Early risk stratification was strongly recommended to guide therapeutic management and to improve outcome for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Anaemia and high haemoglobin levels are common in STEMI patients, but the effect of the haemoglobin level on the prognosis of STEMI patients remains in dispute. The China Acute Myocardial Infarction registry-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (CAMI-STEMI) score can predict in-hospital mortality among Chinese STEMI patients, with similar performance to the well-established Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score, while relying solely on simple and practical variables. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the haemoglobin level combined with the CAMI-STEMI score in STEMI patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

We included 360 STEMI patients who underwent PCI. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the first haemoglobin value after PCI, group 1 (male: Hb<120 g/L, female: Hb<110 g/L; 42 cases), group 2 (male: 120 g/L ≤ Hb<160 g/L, female: 110 g/L≤Hb<150 g/L; 278 cases), and group 3 (male: Hb ≥160 g/L, female: Hb ≥150 g/L; 40 cases). Clinical characteristics, and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) during the follow-up period were recorded.

Results

The incidence of MACCE in the 3 groups increased with a decrease in the haemoglobin level. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the CAMI-STEMI score was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 30 days after PCI and that anaemia was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 6 months and 1 year after PCI. A high haemoglobin level was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 1 year after PCI. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of the haemoglobin level, CAMI-STEMI score and haemoglobin level combined with CAMI-STEMI score predicting the occurrence of MACCE in STEMI patients within 30 days after PCI were 0.604, 0.614, and 0.639, respectively.

Figure 1. MACCE-free survival curve

Conclusion

The CAMI-STEMI score was an independent predictor of MACCE incidence at 30 days after PCI. The haemoglobin level combined with the CAMI-STEMI score improved the predictive value of MACCE in STEMI patients within 30 days after PCI.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This study was supported by grants to Chengchun Tang from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Research Grant #81670237)

Tuning high-Q nonlinear dynamics in a disordered quantum magnet

Quantum states cohere and interfere. Atoms arranged imperfectly in a solid rarely display these properties. Here we demonstrate an exception in a disordered quantum magnet that divides itself into nearly isolated subsystems. We probe these coherent spin clusters by driving the system nonlinearly and measuring the resulting hole in the linear spectral response. The Fano shape of the hole encodes the incoherent lifetime as well as coherent mixing of the localized excitations. For the Ising magnet LiHo0.045Y0.955F4, the quality factor Q for spectral holes can be as high as 100,000. We tune the dynamics by sweeping the Fano mixing parameter q through zero via the ac pump amplitude as well as a dc transverse field. The zero crossing of q is associated with a dissipationless response at the drive frequency. Identifying localized two-level systems in a dense and disordered magnet advances the search for qubit platforms emerging from strongly interacting, many-body systems.