Hyperon Polarization along the Beam Direction Relative to the Second and Third Harmonic Event Planes in Isobar Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam direction has been measured relative to the second and third harmonic event planes in isobar Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. This is the first experimental evidence of the hyperon polarization by the triangular flow originating from the initial density fluctuations. The amplitudes of the sine modulation for the second and third harmonic results are comparable in magnitude, increase from central to peripheral collisions, and show a mild p_{T} dependence. The azimuthal angle dependence of the polarization follows the vorticity pattern expected due to elliptic and triangular anisotropic flow, and qualitatively disagrees with most hydrodynamic model calculations based on thermal vorticity and shear induced contributions. The model results based on one of existing implementations of the shear contribution lead to a correct azimuthal angle dependence, but predict centrality and p_{T} dependence that still disagree with experimental measurements. Thus, our results provide stringent constraints on the thermal vorticity and shear-induced contributions to hyperon polarization. Comparison to previous measurements at RHIC and the LHC for the second-order harmonic results shows little dependence on the collision system size and collision energy.

Tumor Treatment Response Assessed During the Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Patients

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To evaluate intratumoral treatment response distribution with using FDG-PET/CT during the chemoradiotherapy of nasopharyngeal patients (NPC).

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 5 of 30 patients with stage III-IVA NPC were enrolled in the institutional protocol for induction/concurrent chemoradiotherapy with radiation dose of 70 Gy in 33 fractions. For each patient, a pre-radiation treatment FDG-PET/MRI image (SUV0) and a mid-treatment image (SUVm) at the treatment dose of 31.8 Gy were obtained. Followed by deformable PET/MRI registration between SUV0 and SUVm, the tumor voxel SUV reduction ratio was obtained to construct a tumor dose response matrix (DRM). Tumor SUVavid was also constructed by limiting tumor voxel SUVm > a given value. Spatial correlations of the tumor SUV0, SUVm, SUVavid and DRM were determined.

RESULTS

The mean and coefficient variation (CV) of the SUV0, SUVm and DRM for all tumors were 5.05 (52%), 2.72 (49%) and 0.64 (63%) (Table contains the individual data), which were smaller than those on the SUVs of head-n-neck HPV+ patients reported previously due to the induction chemotherapy, but had much larger DRM mean and CV. The inter-tumoral CVs of SUV0 and DRM were 29% and 27%, which were much lower than those of the intra-tumoral CVs 43% and 57%. Meanwhile, the intra-tumoral variations on SUV0 was smaller than the one of head-neck HPV+ patients, but the DRM intra-variation was much larger. There was a weak correlation between SUV0 and SUVm with the correlation coefficient 0.13, a medium correlation of -0.55 between SUV0 and DRM, but a strong correlation, 0.72, between SUVm and DRM. However, the spatial correlation between tumor DRM and SUVavid was getting weaker as the SUVavid value increasing and equal 0.47 with SUVavid value > 3.

CONCLUSION

The spatial dose response DRM for NPC in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy was relatively high, while had relatively low baseline tumor metabolic activity SUV0. It was most likely due to the induction chemotherapy. In addition, the tumor dose response showed vary large intra-tumoral variation. The high correlations between DRM and SUVm imply that SUVavid could be used partially to guide adaptive modification of NPC treatment with carefully selected boundary value.

Synergistic graphene-MnOx/honeycomb activated carbon (G-MnOx/HAC) and plasma technology for eradication of pathogenic microorganisms

This paper addresses the risk for environmental transmission of pathogenic microorganisms in confined spaces and the serious health hazards for personnel, and research on efficient eradication methods for the pathogenic microorganisms was carried out to provide technical support for ensuring the health of personnel in confined spaces. A series of graphene-MnO2 (G-MnO2) catalytic materials was prepared by hydrothermal and precipitation methods, and processing parameters such as the graphene doping method, the raw material ratio and the plasma action time were optimized. It was shown that G-MnOX-P/HAC prepared by a one-step precipitation method and with a graphene doping ratio of 10% had the best bactericidal effect in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor after 4 min of reaction. The eradication rates for Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), coronavirus and Aspergillus niger were all greater than 99.9%. The characterization techniques TEM, SEM, XRD, XPS, BET and FT-IR showed that the G-MnOX-P samples prepared by the one-step precipitation method had larger specific surface areas with more oxygen vacancies and functional groups on the surfaces, which was conducive to decomposition of the ozone generated by the dissociated plasma and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the microbial eradication process. Finally, by comparing the ozone-decomposition activity with the plasma co-catalytic performance, it was verified that efficient decomposition of the ozone facilitated the eradication of microorganisms. Based on this, an analysis of the mechanism for efficient eradication was carried out.

Measurements of the Elliptic and Triangular Azimuthal Anisotropies in Central ^{3}He+Au, d+Au and p+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The elliptic (v_{2}) and triangular (v_{3}) azimuthal anisotropy coefficients in central ^{3}He+Au, d+Au, and p+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV are measured as a function of transverse momentum (p_{T}) at midrapidity (|η|<0.9), via the azimuthal angular correlation between two particles both at |η|<0.9. While the v_{2}(p_{T}) values depend on the colliding systems, the v_{3}(p_{T}) values are system independent within the uncertainties, suggesting an influence on eccentricity from subnucleonic fluctuations in these small-sized systems. These results also provide stringent constraints for the hydrodynamic modeling of these systems.

Observation of Directed Flow of Hypernuclei _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H in sqrt[s_{NN}]=3 GeV Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report here the first observation of directed flow (v_{1}) of the hypernuclei _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H in mid-central Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3  GeV at RHIC. These data are taken as part of the beam energy scan program carried out by the STAR experiment. From 165×10^{6} events in 5%-40% centrality, about 8400 _{Λ}^{3}H and 5200 _{Λ}^{4}H candidates are reconstructed through two- and three-body decay channels. We observe that these hypernuclei exhibit significant directed flow. Comparing to that of light nuclei, it is found that the midrapidity v_{1} slopes of _{Λ}^{3}H and _{Λ}^{4}H follow baryon number scaling, implying that the coalescence is the dominant mechanism for these hypernuclei production in the 3 GeV Au+Au collisions.

Beam Energy Dependence of Triton Production and Yield Ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}) in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the triton (t) production in midrapidity (|y|<0.5) Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=7.7-200  GeV measured by the STAR experiment from the first phase of the beam energy scan at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The nuclear compound yield ratio (N_{t}×N_{p}/N_{d}^{2}), which is predicted to be sensitive to the fluctuation of local neutron density, is observed to decrease monotonically with increasing charged-particle multiplicity (dN_{ch}/dη) and follows a scaling behavior. The dN_{ch}/dη dependence of the yield ratio is compared to calculations from coalescence and thermal models. Enhancements in the yield ratios relative to the coalescence baseline are observed in the 0%-10% most central collisions at 19.6 and 27 GeV, with a significance of 2.3σ and 3.4σ, respectively, giving a combined significance of 4.1σ. The enhancements are not observed in peripheral collisions or model calculations without critical fluctuation, and decreases with a smaller p_{T} acceptance. The physics implications of these results on the QCD phase structure and the production mechanism of light nuclei in heavy-ion collisions are discussed.

Preparation and characterization of graphene oxide/O-carboxymethyl chitosan (GO/CMC) composite and its unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) adsorption performance from wastewater

The removal of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) has long been a concern because of its harmful effect on the environment and humans. This study aimed to prepare a novel graphene oxide/O-carboxymethyl chitosan (GO/CMC) composite adsorbent using the solution-blending method for the removal of UDMH from wastewater. The prepared GO/CMC was systematically characterized by Fourier-transform infrared, Raman, scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric, and zeta potential analyses. The effects of initial pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, contact time, and recyclability on the UDMH adsorption behaviour of GO/CMC were studied. The adsorption kinetics was consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, and the adsorption process was mainly controlled by chemisorption. Adsorption isotherms indicated that the adsorption of UDMH by GO/CMC followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption mechanisms were mainly electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and surface complexation. Furthermore, GO/CMC composites can be used as a renewable and eco-friendly adsorbent for the removal of UDMH wastewater. The designed GO/CMC composites exhibited a relatively satisfactory recyclability and removal efficiency after five adsorption-desorption cycles.

Measurement of Sequential ϒ Suppression in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV with the STAR Experiment

We report on measurements of sequential ϒ suppression in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV with the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) through both the dielectron and dimuon decay channels. In the 0%-60% centrality class, the nuclear modification factors (R_{AA}), which quantify the level of yield suppression in heavy-ion collisions compared to p+p collisions, for ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) are 0.40±0.03(stat)±0.03(sys)±0.09(norm) and 0.26±0.08(stat)±0.02(sys)±0.06(norm), respectively, while the upper limit of the ϒ(3S) R_{AA} is 0.17 at a 95% confidence level. This provides experimental evidence that the ϒ(3S) is significantly more suppressed than the ϒ(1S) at RHIC. The level of suppression for ϒ(1S) is comparable to that observed at the much higher collision energy at the Large Hadron Collider. These results point to the creation of a medium at RHIC whose temperature is sufficiently high to strongly suppress excited ϒ states.

In situ artificial solid electrolyte interface engineering on an anode for prolonging the cycle life of lithium-metal batteries

Lithium, with its high theoretical capacity and low potential, has been widely investigated as the anode in energy storage/conversion devices. However, their commercial applications always suffer from undesired dendrite growth, which forms in the charging process and may puncture the separator, leading to short cycle lives and even security problems. Herein, by an in situ displacement reaction using SnF₂ at room temperature, we constructed an artificial solid electrolyte interface (ASEI) of LiF/Li-Sn outside the Li anode. This hybrid strategy can induce a synergy between the high Li⁺ conductivity of the Li-Sn alloy and good electrical insulation of LiF. Moreover, extreme synergy can be achieved by moderating the thickness of the LiF/Li-Sn ASEI, guiding dendrite-free lithium plating and stripping. As a result, a Li//LiFePO₄ battery that is assembled from the LiF/Li-Sn ASEI-engineered Li anode can obtain 1000 cycled lives with 86.3% capacity retention under a charge/discharge rate of 5 C. This work provides an alternative way to construct dendrite-free lithium metal anodes, which significantly benefit the cycle lives of LMBs.

Beam Energy Dependence of Fifth- and Sixth-Order Net-Proton Number Fluctuations in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the beam energy and collision centrality dependence of fifth and sixth order cumulants (C_{5}, C_{6}) and factorial cumulants (κ_{5}, κ_{6}) of net-proton and proton number distributions, from center-of-mass energy (sqrt[s_{NN}]) 3 GeV to 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Cumulant ratios of net-proton (taken as proxy for net-baryon) distributions generally follow the hierarchy expected from QCD thermodynamics, except for the case of collisions at 3 GeV. The measured values of C_{6}/C_{2} for 0%-40% centrality collisions show progressively negative trend with decreasing energy, while it is positive for the lowest energy studied. These observed negative signs are consistent with QCD calculations (for baryon chemical potential, μ_{B}≤110  MeV) which contains the crossover transition range. In addition, for energies above 7.7 GeV, the measured proton κ_{n}, within uncertainties, does not support the two-component (Poisson+binomial) shape of proton number distributions that would be expected from a first-order phase transition. Taken in combination, the hyperorder proton number fluctuations suggest that the structure of QCD matter at high baryon density, μ_{B}∼750  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3  GeV is starkly different from those at vanishing μ_{B}∼24  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and higher collision energies.

[Efficacy and safety of daratumumab in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of daratumumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. Methods: Fifty-two RRMM patients treated with daratumumab from September 2019 to November 2021 in West China Hospital were retrospectively enrolled, including 31 males and 21 females. The mean age of these patients at the first diagnosis of multiple myeloma was (58±10) years. According to the dosage of daratumumab, patients were divided into low dosage group (n=10) and high dosage group (n=42). Overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse event rates were investigated. Univariate and multivariate analysis of potential factors were conducted. Results: Of the 52 patients, 8 received daratumumab monotherapy, 27 received daratumumab plus immuno-modulatory drug (IMiD) treatment, 4 received daratumumab plus proteosome inhibitor (PI) treatment, and 11 received daratumumab plus dexamethasone treatment. The diagnosis age of high dosage group patients was (57±9) years, which was significantly younger than that of low dosage group [(66±10) years] (P=0.009). The baseline creatinine level of high dosage group patients [M (Q₁, Q₃)] was 91 (68, 196) μmol/L, which was significantly higher than that of low dosage group [66 (51, 76) μmol/L] (P=0.021). There was no significant difference in other baseline clinical characteristics, previous treatment regimens, previous lines of treatment, and regimen and cycles of daratumumab between the high dosage group and low dosage group (all P>0.05). The ORR for the 52 patients was 71.2% (37/52). The ORR for daratumumab plus IMiD group was 81.5% (22/27), which was significantly higher than that in monotherapy or dexamethasone group [ORR: 52.6% (10/19), P=0.036). With a median follow-up [M (Q₁, Q₃)] of 7 (5, 26) months, the median PFS for overall cohort was 17 (95%CI: 9.6-24.4) months. The median PFS for daratumumab plus IMiD group was 26 (95%CI: 6.0-46.0) months, which was significantly better than that in monotherapy or dexamethasone group [12 (95%CI: 3.5-20.5) months] (HR=0.231, 95%CI: 0.075-0.715, P=0.011). Higher diagnosis age was the risk factor of progression (HR=1.085, 95%CI: 1.016-1.158, P=0.014), while more cycles of daratumumab treatment was the protective factor of progression (HR=0.669, 95%CI: 0.495-0.904, P=0.009). There was no significant influence of daratumumab dosage on progression (high dosage vs low dosage, HR=1.016, 95%CI: 0.221-4.668, P=0.984). The median OS for overall cohort was 26 (95%CI: 13.1-38.9) months. Higher serum calcium was the independent risk factor of death (HR=12.190, 95%CI: 1.170-127.048, P=0.037). There was no significant influence of daratumumab dosage on death (high dosage vs low dosage, HR=0.818, 95%CI: 0.171-3.917, P=0.802). Adverse events included infections (43.2%, 16/37), infusion-associated reactions (29.7%, 11/37), and thrombocytopenia (27.0%, 10/37). Conclusions: Daratumumab is effective to treat RRMM. The dosage of daratumumab has no significant influence on prognosis when used in combined treatment. The incidence of adverse events is relatively low, with a favorable safety profile.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome]

Subjective To investigate clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (LAHS) patients. Methods: The clinical data of patients diagnosed with LAHS from January 2010 to October 2021 in West China Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristics, treatment, overall response rate (ORR), and overall survival (OS) were investigated. Univariate and multivariate analysis of potential factors were conducted. Results: Of all 94 patients included, 59 were male and 35 were female. The age at hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) diagnosis was (40.5±17.3) years. Seventy-four cases were T/NK cell lymphoma; 15 were B cell lymphoma; 5 were Hodgkin lymphoma. The age at HLH diagnosis of T/NK cell LAHS patients was (37.9±16.2) years, while that of B cell LAHS patients was (55.9±14.0) years. T/NK cell LAHS patients were significantly younger than B cell LAHS patients (P<0.001). Baseline fibrinogen of T/NK cell LAHS patients was 1.34 (0.86, 2.44) g/L, while that of B cell LAHS patients was 2.20 (1.75, 4.25) g/L. T/NK cell LAHS patients showed significantly lower fibrinogen levels than B cell LAHS patients (P=0.008). Combined treatment of anti-HLH and anti-lymphoma treatment was conducted in 35 patients; anti-HLH treatment was conducted in 31 patients; anti-lymphoma treatment was conducted in 8 patients; glucocorticoid treatment was conducted in 7 patients. ORR was 49.4%, and the median OS was 61 days for overall patients. Patients who received anti-HLH treatment and turned to anti-lymphoma treatment early displayed the best ORR and OS, significantly higher than those of anti-HLH patients (69.0 vs 38.7%, P=0.019, and 192.0 vs 24.5 days, P=0.028, respectively), which were also insignificantly higher than those of anti-lymphoma patients. Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma or aggressive natural killer cell leukemia was the risk factor of LAHS prognosis (HR=0.113, 95%CI: 0.018-0.728, P=0.022). Conclusions: Prognosis of LAHS patients is poor. Anti-lymphoma treatment should be initiated as soon as HLH is rapidly controlled.

[Effects of exosomes from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on inflammatory response of mouse RAW264.7 cells and wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in mice]

Objective: To investigate the effects of exosomes from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) on inflammatory response of mouse RAW264.7 cells and wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in mice. Methods: The experimental research methods were adopted. The discarded adipose tissue was collected from 3 female patients (aged 10-25 years) who underwent abdominal surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University. ADSCs were extracted from the adipose tissue by collagenase Ⅰ digestion and identified with flow cytometry. Exosomes were extracted from the human ADSCs by differential ultracentrifugation, the morphology of the exosomes was observed by transmission electron microscopy, the particle diameter of the exosomes was detected by nanoparticle tracking analyzer, and the protein expressions of CD9, CD63, tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101), and β-actin were detected by Western blotting. The human ADSCs exosomes (ADSCs-Exos) and RAW264.7 cells were co-cultured for 12 h, and the uptake of RAW264.7 cells for human ADSCs-Exos was observed. The RAW264.7 cells were divided into phosphate buffer solution (PBS) group stimulated with PBS for suitable time, endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation 2 h group, LPS stimulation 4 h group, LPS stimulation 6 h group, LPS stimulation 12 h group, and LPS stimulation 24 h group stimulated with LPS for corresponding time, with 3 wells in each group, and the mRNA expressions of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-6, and IL-10 were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. The RAW264.7 cells were divided into PBS group, LPS alone group, and LPS+ADSCs-Exos group, with 3 wells in each group, which were dealt correspondingly for the time screened out in the previous experiment, the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, trasforming growth factor β (TGF-β,) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by real time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR method, and the protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase 1 (Arg1) were detected by Western blotting. Twenty-four 8-week-old male BALB/c mice were divided into PBS group and ADSCs-Exos group according to the random number table, with 12 mice in each group, and a full-thickness skin defect wound with area of 1 cm×1 cm was inflicted on the back of each mouse. Immediately after injury, the wounds of mice in the two groups were dealt correspondingly. On post injury day (PID) 1, the concentration of IL-1β and TNF-α in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were detected by real time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR method. On PID 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15, the wound healing was observed and the wound non-healing rate was calculated. On PID 15, the defect length of skin accessory and collagen volume fraction (CVF) were detected by hematoxylin eosin staining and Masson staining, respectively, the CD31 expression and neovascularization were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the ratio of Ki67 positive cells, the ratio of iNOS and Arg1 double positive cells, and the ratio of iNOS positive cells to Arg1 positive cells and their fluorescence intensities were detected by immunofluorescence method. The number of samples in animal experiments was 6. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, and independent sample t test. Results: At 12 h of culture, the cells exhibited a typical spindle shape, which were verified as ADSCs with flow cytometry. The exosomes with a vesicular structure and particle diameters of 29-178 nm, were positively expressed CD9, CD63, and TSG101 and negatively expressed β-actin. After 12 h of co-culture, the human ADSCs-Exos were endocytosed into the cytoplasm by RAW264.7 cells. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 of RAW264.7 cells in LPS stimulation 2 h group, LPS stimulation 4 h group, LPS stimulation 6 h group, LPS stimulation 12 h group, and LPS stimulation 24 h group were significantly higher than those in PBS group (with t) values of 39.10, 14.55, 28.80, 4.74, 48.80, 22.97, 13.25, 36.34, 23.12, 18.71, 29.19, 41.08, 11.68, 18.06, 8.54, 43.45, 62.31, 22.52, 21.51, and 37.13, respectively, P<0.01). The stimulation 12 h with significant expressions of all the inflammatory factors was selected as the time point in the following experiment. After stimulation of 12 h, the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 of RAW264.7 cells in LPS alone group were significantly higher than those in PBS group (with t values of 44.20, 51.26, 14.71, and 8.54, respectively, P<0.01); the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 of RAW264.7 cells in LPS+ADSCs-Exos group were significantly lower than those in LPS alone group (with t values of 22.89, 25.51, and 8.03, respectively, P<0.01), while the mRNA expressions of IL-10, TGF-β, and VEGF were significantly higher than those in LPS alone group (with t values of 9.89, 13.12, and 7.14, respectively, P<0.01). After stimulation of 12 h, the protein expression of iNOS of RAW264.7 cells in LPS alone group was significantly higher than that in PBS group and LPS+ADSCs-Exos group, respectively (with t values of 11.20 and 5.06, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the protein expression of Arg1 was significantly lower than that in LPS+ADSCs-Exos group (t=15.01, P<0.01). On PID 1, the serum concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α and the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in wound tissue of mice in ADSCs-Exos group were significantly those in lower than PBS group (with t values of 15.44, 12.24, 9.24, 7.12, and 10.62, respectively, P<0.01). On PID 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 d, the wound non-healing rates of mice in ADSCs-Exos group were (73.2±4.1)%, (53.8±3.8)%, (42.1±5.1)%, (24.1±2.8)%, and 0, which were significantly lower than (82.5±3.8)%, (71.2±4.6)%, (52.9±4.1)%, (41.5±3.6)%, and (14.8±2.5)% in PBS group, respectively (with t values of 4.77, 8.93, 5.54, 7.63, and 7.59, respectively, P<0.01). On PID 15, the defect length of skin accessory in wounds of mice in PBS group was significantly longer than that in ADSCs-Exos group (t=9.50, P<0.01), and the CVF was significantly lower than that in ADSCs-Exos group (t=9.15, P<0.01). On PID 15, the CD31 expression and the number of new blood vessels (t=12.99, P<0.01), in wound tissue of mice in ADSCs-Exos group were significantly more than those in PBS group, and the ratio of Ki67 positive cells was significantly higher than that in PBS group (t=7.52, P<0.01). On PID 15, the ratio of iNOS and Arg1 double positive cells in wound tissue of mice in PBS group was (12.33±1.97)%, which was significantly higher than (1.78±0.29)% in ADSCs-Exos group (t=13.04, P<0.01), the ratio of iNOS positive cells and the fluorescence intensity of iNOS were obviously higher than those of ADSCs-Exos group, and the ratio of Arg1 positive cells and the fluorescence intensity of Arg1 were obviously lower than those of ADSCs-Exos group. Conclusions: The human ADSCs-Exos can alleviate inflammatory response of mouse RAW264.7 cells, decrease macrophage infiltration and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, increase the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines to promote neovascularization and cell proliferation in full-thickness skin defect wounds of mice, hence accelerating wound healing.

[Effects of exosomes from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on pulmonary vascular endothelial cells injury in septic mice and its mechanism]

Objective: To investigate the effects of exosomes from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) on pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) injury in septic mice and its mechanism. Methods: The experimental research method was adopted. The primary ADSCs were isolated and cultured from the discarded fresh adipose tissue of 3 patients (female, 10-25 years old), who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University undergoing abdominal surgery, and the cell morphology was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope on the 5th day. The expressions of CD29, CD34, CD44, CD45, CD73, and CD90 of ADSCs in the third passage were detected by flow cytometry. The third to the fifth passage of ADSCs were collected, and their exosomes from the cell supernatant were obtained by differential ultracentrifugation, and the shape, particle size, and the protein expressions of CD9, CD63, tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101), and β-actin of exosomes were detected, respectively, by transmission electron microscopy, nano-particle tracking analysis and Western blotting. Twenty-four adult male BALB/c mice were adopted and were divided into normal control group, caecal ligation perforation (CLP) alone group, and CLP+ADSC-exosome group with each group of 8 according to random number table (the same grouping method below) and were treated accordingly. At 24 h after operation, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) levels of mice serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and lung tissue morphology of mice was detected by hematoxylin-eosin and myeloperoxidase staining, and the expression of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) of mouse lung cells was detected by immunofluorescence method. Primary PMVECs were obtained from 1-month-old C57 mice regardless gender by tissue block method. The expression of CD31 of PMVECs was detected by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The third passage of PMVECs was co-cultured with ADSCs derived exosomes for 12 h, and the phagocytosis of exosomes by PMVECs was detected by PKH26 kit. The third passage of PMVECs were adopted and were divided into blank control group, macrophage supernatant alone group, and macrophage supernatant+ADSC-exosome group, with 3 wells in each group, which were treated accordingly. After 24 h, the content of reactive oxygen species in cells was detected by flow cytometry, the expression of 8-OHdG in cells was detected by immunofluorescence, and Transwell assay was used to determine the permeability of cell monolayer. The number of samples in above were all 3. Data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference t test. Results: The primary ADSCs were isolated and cultured to day 5, growing densely in a spindle shape with a typical swirl-like. The percentages of CD29, CD44, CD73 and CD90 positive cells of ADSCs in the third passage were all >90%, and the percentages of CD34 and CD45 positive cells were <5%. Exosomes derived from ADSCs of the third to fifth passages showed a typical double-cavity disc-like structure with an average particle size of 103 nm, and the protein expressions of CD9, CD63 and TSG101 of exosomes were positive, while the protein expression of β-actin of exosomes was negative. At 24 h after operation, compared with those in normal control group, both the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β of mice serum in CLP alone group were significantly increased (with t values of 28.76 and 29.69, respectively, P<0.01); compared with those in CLP alone group, both the content of TNF-α and IL-1β of mice serum in CLP+ADSC-exosome group was significantly decreased (with t values of 9.90 and 4.76, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). At 24 h after surgery, the pulmonary tissue structure of mice in normal control group was clear and complete without inflammatory cell infiltration; compared with those in normal control group, the pulmonary tissue edema and inflammatory cell infiltration of mice in CLP alone group were more obvious; compared with those in CLP alone group, the pulmonary tissue edema and inflammatory cell infiltration of mice in CLP+ADSC-exosome group were significantly reduced. At 24 h after operation, endothelial cells in lung tissues of mice in 3 groups showed positive expression of CD31; compared with that in normal control group, the fluorescence intensity of 8-OHdG positive cells of the lung tissues of mice in CLP alone group was significantly increased, and compared with that in CLP alone group, the fluorescence intensity of 8-OHdG positive cells in the lung tissues of mice in CLP+ADSC-exosome group was significantly decreased. The PMVECs in the 3rd passage showed CD31 positive expression by immunofluorescence, and the result of flow cytometry showed that CD31 positive cells accounted for 99.5%. At 12 h after co-culture, ADSC-derived exosomes were successfully phagocytose by PMVECs and entered its cytoplasm. At 12 h after culture of the third passage of PMVECs, compared with that in blank control group, the fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species of PMVECs in macrophage supernatant alone group was significantly increased (t=15.73, P<0.01); compared with that in macrophage supernatant alone group, the fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species of PMVECs in macrophage supernatant+ADSC-exosome group was significantly decreased (t=4.72, P<0.01). At 12 h after culture of the third passage of PMVECs, and the 8-OHdG positive fluorescence intensity of PMVECs in macrophage supernatant alone group was significantly increased; and compared with that in blank control group, the 8-OHdG positive fluorescence intensity of PMVECs in macrophage+ADSC-exosome supernatant group was between blank control group and macrophage supernatant alone group. At 12 h after culture of the third passage PMVECs, compared with that in blank control group, the permeability of PMVECs monolayer in macrophage supernatant alone group was significantly increased (t=6.34, P<0.01); compared with that in macrophage supernatant alone group, the permeability of PMVECs monolayer cells in macrophage supernatant+ADSC-exosome group was significantly decreased (t=2.93, P<0.05). Conclusions: Exosomes derived from ADSCs can ameliorate oxidative damage in mouse lung tissue, decrease the level of reactive oxygen species, 8-OHdG expression, and permeability of PMVECs induced by macrophage supernatant.

Photocatalytic degradation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine on TiO2/SBA-15 under 185/254 nm vacuum-ultraviolet

In this work, TiO₂/SBA-15 was synthesized via an in situ hydrothermal method and was used for vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) photocatalytic degradation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) for the first time. Compared with photocatalysis under UV irradiation, VUV photocatalysis exhibited higher photodegradation efficiency due to the synergetic effect of direct photolysis, indirect photooxidation and photocatalytic oxidation. The synthesized TiO₂/SBA-15 catalysts exhibited ordered mesoporous structure and anatase phase TiO₂. Titanium content, initial pH and substrate concentration impacted degradation efficiency of UDMH in the VUV photocatalysis process. Among the prepared catalysts, TiO₂/SBA-15 with the molar ratio of Ti/Si = 1 : 3 (TS-2) showed the best photocatalytic activity under VUV light, with the rate constant of 0.02511 min⁻¹, which is 1.91 times that with VUV/P25. The superior photocatalytic activity of TS-2 is mainly related to the good balance between the specific surface area and TiO₂ contents. The photodegradation efficiency decreases with the increase in the initial UDMH concentration and the maximum degradation rate was obtained at pH 9.0. In the VUV/TS-2 process, ˙OH played a more important role in the degradation of UDMH than ˙O₂⁻ and the degradation pathways contained bond breaking, amidation, isomerisation and oxidation reactions. The TS-2 also showed good reusability with the rate constant maintained at above 90% after five cycles and exhibited satisfactory degradation efficiency in tap water.

Mesoporous TiO₂/SBA-15 under VUV irradiation: enhanced photocatalytic oxidation for UDMH degradation.

Degradation of gaseous unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine by vacuum ultraviolet coupled with MnO2

Enhanced degradation of gaseous UDMH under VUV irradiation by catalytic ozonation with MnO₂.

Efficacy of utidelone plus capecitabine versus capecitabine for heavily pretreated, anthracycline- and taxane-refractory metastatic breast cancer: final analysis of overall survival in a phase III randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Primary analysis of the phase III trial BG01-1323L demonstrated that utidelone plus capecitabine significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) versus capecitabine alone in heavily-pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Here, we report the final overall survival (OS) analysis and updates of other endpoints.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 405 patients were randomised 2:1 to receive utidelone (30 mg/m² IV daily, days 1-5, over 90 min) plus capecitabine (1000 mg/m² orally b.i.d., days 1-14) or capecitabine alone (1250 mg/m² orally b.i.d., days 1-14) every 21 days. The secondary endpoint, OS, was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit approach at a two-sided alpha level of 0.05 after the prespecified 310 death events had been reached. Exploratory analyses of the primary endpoint, PFS, and the secondary endpoint, ORR, were also done. Safety was analysed in patients who had at least one dose of study drug.

RESULTS

At the final OS analysis, the median duration of follow-up was 19.6 months in the utidelone plus capecitabine group and 15.4 months in the capecitabine alone group. In the intention-to-treat population, 313 deaths had occurred at data cut-off, 203 of 270 patients in the combination group and 110 of 135 in the monotherapy group. Median OS in the combination group was 19.8 months compared with 16.0 months in the monotherapy group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.75, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.59-0.94, P = 0.0142]. The updated analysis of PFS and ORR showed that the combination therapy remained superior to monotherapy. Safety results were similar to those previously reported with respect to incidence, severity and specificity. No late-emerging toxicities or new safety concerns occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

For heavily-pretreated, anthracycline- and taxane-resistant MBC patients, utidelone plus capecitabine significantly improved OS versus capecitabine alone. These results support the use of utidelone plus capecitabine as a novel therapeutic regimen for patients with MBC.

[Clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with presacral recurrent rectal cancer]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors in patients with presacral recurrent rectal cancer (PRRC). Methods: PRRC was defined as recurrence of rectal cancer after radical surgery involving posteriorly the presacral soft tissue, the sacrum/coccyx, and/or sacral nerve root. The diagnosis is confirmed with clinical symptoms (pain of pelvis/back/lower limb, bloody stools, increased frequency of defecation, and abnormal secretions), physical examination of perineal or pelvic masses, radiological findings, colonoscopy with histopathological biopsy, and the evaluation by multi-disciplinary team (MDT). Inclusion criteria: (1) primary rectal cancer undergoing radical surgery without distant metastasis; (2) PRRC was diagnosed; (3) complete inpatient, outpatient and follow-up data. According to the above criteria, clinical data of 72 patients with PRRC in Peking University People's Hospital from January 2008 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinicopathological features and follow-up data were summarized. Cox proportional hazard models was used to analyze the prognostic factors of PRRC. Results: Among 72 patients, 45 were male and 27 were female with a male-to-female ratio of 1.7:1.0. The median age at recurrence was 58 (34 to 83) years and the median interval from surgery to recurrence was 2.0 (0.2 to 17.0) years. The main symptom was pain in 48.6% (35/72) of patients. In addition, gastrointestinal symptoms were found in 25.0% (18/72) of patients. The presacral recurrent sites were presacral fascia in 36 (50.0%) patients, lower sacrum (S3~S5 or coccyx) in 25 (34.7%) patients, and higher sacrum (S1~S2) in 11 (15.3%) patients. Forty-seven (65.3%) patients underwent radical surgery (abdominal resection, abdominoperineal resection, sacrectomy, abdominosacral resection), 12 (16.7%) underwent non-radical surgery (colostomy, cytoreductive surgery), and 13 (18.1%) did not undergo any surgery but only receive palliative chemoradiotherapy and nutritional support treatment. Thirty-three (45.8%) patients received radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, capecitabine, irinotecan, etc.). All the patients received follow-up, and the median follow-up time was 19 (2 to 72) months. The median overall survival time was 14 (1 to 65) months. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 67.1% and 32.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that age at recurrence (P=0.031) and radical resection (P<0.001) were associated with prognosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that radical resection was independent factor of good prognosis (RR=0.140, 95%CI: 0.061-0.322, P<0.001). Conclusions: Patients tend to develop presacral recurrent rectal cancer within 2 years after primary surgery. The main symptom is pain. Patients undergoing radical resection have a relatively good prognosis.

[Comparison of clinical efficacy among different surgical methods for presacral recurrent rectal cancer]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and prognosis of three surgical methods for presacral recurrent rectal cancer (PRRC). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Case inclusion criteria: (1) primary rectal cancer without distant metastasis and undergoing radical surgery; (2) patients undergoing radical surgery after the diagnosis of PRRC; (3) complete inpatient, outpatient and follow-up data. Clinical data of 47 patients meeting the above criteria who underwent operation at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Peking University People's Hospital from January 2008 to December 2017 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. Of the 47 patients, 31 were male and 16 were female; the mean age was 57 years old; 9 (19.1%) were low differentiation or signet ring cell carcinoma, 38 (80.9%) were medium differentiation; 19 (40.4%) received neoadjuvant therapy. According to operative procedure, 22 patients were in the abdominal/abdominoperineal resection group, 15 in the sacrectomy group and 10 in the abdominosacral resection group. The operative data, postoperative data and prognosis were compared among the three groups. Survival curve was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test was used to compare survival difference among three groups. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline data among three groups (all P>0.05). All the 47 patients completed the radical resection successfully. The mean operation time was (4.7±2.1) hours, the median intraoperative blood loss was 600 ml, and the median postoperative hospitalization time was 17 days. Fifteen cases (31.9%) had perioperative complications, of which 3 cases were grade III-IV. There was no perioperative death. The mean operative time was (7.4±1.6) hours in the abdominosacral resection group, (4.9±1.6) hours in the abdominal/abdominoperineal resection group, and (3.0±1.1) hours in the sacroectomy group, with a significant difference (F=25.071, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospitalization days and perioperative complications among the three groups (all P>0.05). The median follow-up period of all the patients was 24 months, 12 cases (25.5%) developed postoperative dysfunction. The incidence of postoperative dysfunction in the abdominosacral resection group was 5/10, which was higher than 4/15 in the sacrectomy group and 3/22 (13.6%) in the abdominoperineal resection group with statistically significant difference (χ(2)=9.307, P=0.010). The 1-year and 3-year overall survival rates were 86.1% and 40.2% respectively. The 1-year overall survival rates were 86.0%, 86.7% and 83.3%, and the 3-year overall survival rates were 33.2%, 40.0% and 62.5% in the abdominal/abdominoperineal resection group, sacrectomy group and abdominosacral resection group, respectively, whose difference was not statistically significant (χ(2)=0.222, P=0.895). Conclusions: Abdominal/abdominoperineal resection, sacrectomy and abdominosacral resection are all effective for PRRC. Intraoperative function protection should be concerned for patients undergoing abdominosacral resection.

[Effects and mechanism of pyrroloquinoline quinine on mitochondrial function and cell survival of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells under oxidative stress]

Objective: To observe the effects of pyrroloquinoline quinine (PQQ) on the mitochondrial function and cell survival of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) under oxidative stress, and to explore its mechanism. Methods: BMSCs of rats were cultured in vitro with Dulbecco's minimum essential medium/F12 medium containing fetal bovine serum in the volume fraction of 10% (hereinafter referred to as normal medium). The rat BMSCs of third to fifth passages in logarithmic growth phase were selected for the following experiments. (1) The cells were divided into normal control group, normal control+ PQQ group, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) alone group, and H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group. The cells in normal control group were cultured in normal medium for 24 hours; the cells in normal control+ PQQ group were cultured in normal medium containing 100 μmol/L PQQ for 24 hours; the cells in H(2)O(2) alone group were cultured in normal medium containing 200 μmol/L H(2)O(2) for 24 hours; the cells in H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group were pre-incubated with normal medium containing 100 μmol/L PQQ for 2 hours, and then with H(2)O(2) added to the concentration of 200 μmol/L and cultured for 24 hours. The cell morphology of each group was observed under the inverted phase contrast microscope, and the cell survival rate was detected by cell count kit 8 method. (2) Five batches of cells were collected, and the cells of each batch were divided into normal control group, H(2)O(2) alone group, and H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group. The cells in each group received the same treatment as that in the corresponding group of experiment (1). After 24 hours of culture, one batch of cells was collected for apoptosis detection by flow cytometry, and the apoptosis rate was calculated. One batch of cells was subjected to mitochondrial membrane potential assay and JC-1 fluorescent staining observation using the JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential detection kit and the inverted phase contrast fluorescence microscope, respectively. One batch of cells was collected for mitochondrial morphology observation under the transmission electron microscope. One batch of cells was subjected to catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity assay by CAT activity assay kit and SOD activity assay kit, respectively. One batch of cells was subjected to Western blotting for determination of protein level of Epac1, adenine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphorylated AMPK, cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase 3 (caspase-3), and cleaved caspase-3, and the phosphorylation level of AMPK and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 ratio were calculated. Six replicates were measured in each group for each index except for morphological observation. Data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and independent sample equal variance t test. Results: (1) After 24 hours of culture, compared with those in normal control group (the cell survival rate was set to 100.0%), there was an increase in cell vacuole and a decrease in cell number in H(2)O(2) alone group, and the cell survival rate was significantly reduced to (74.3±2.9)% (t=6.39, P<0.01). Compared with those in H(2)O(2) alone group, the cell morphology of H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group was significantly improved, and the cell survival rate was significantly increased to (116.9±4.2)% (t=6.92, P<0.01); the cell survival rate in normal control+ PQQ group was (101.2±1.1)%, close to that of control group (t=1.06, P>0.05). (2) After 24 hours of culture, compared with (13.6±1.0)% in normal control group, the apoptosis rate of cells in H(2)O(2) alone group was significantly increased to (37.1±2.0)% (t=10.57, P<0.01). Compared with that in H(2)O(2) alone group, the apoptosis rate of cells in H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group was significantly declined to (17.0±0.7)% (t=9.49, P<0.01). (3) After 24 hours of culture, compared with those in normal control group, the mitochondrial membrane potential of cells in H(2)O(2) alone group was depolarized, the JC-1 fluorescent dye mainly existed in the cytoplasm in the form of monomer, which emitted green fluorescence, and a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential was shown (t=4.18, P<0.01). Compared with those in H(2)O(2) alone group, the mitochondrial membrane potential of cells in H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group was increased to normal level (t=4.43, P<0.01), and the JC-1 fluorescent dye accumulated in mitochondria following the polarized mitochondrial membrane potential and emitted red fluorescence. (4) After 24 hours of culture, compared with that in normal control group, the mitochondrial structure of cells in H(2)O(2) alone group was disordered, with disappeared mitochondrial cristae and decreased mitochondrial matrix density. Compared with that in H(2)O(2) alone group, the mitochondrial structure of cells in H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group was regular and intact, with clearly visible mitochondrial cristae and increased mitochondrial matrix density. (5) After 24 hours of culture, compared with those in normal control group, the CAT activity of cells in H(2)O(2) alone group was significantly increased (t=4.54, P<0.05), and the SOD activity was significantly decreased (t=3.93, P<0.05). Compared with those in H(2)O(2) alone group, the CAT activity of cells in H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group was obviously increased (t=8.65, P<0.01), while there was no significant change in the SOD activity (t=0.72, P>0.05). (6) After 24 hours of culture, compared with those in normal control group, the protein expression of Epac1 of cells in H(2)O(2) alone group was significantly decreased (t=4.67, P<0.01), while the AMPK phosphorylation level and the cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 ratio were significantly increased (t=7.88, 3.62, P<0.01). Compared with those in H(2)O(2) alone group, the protein expression of Epac1 and the AMPK phosphorylation level of cells in H(2)O(2)+ PQQ group were both significantly increased (t=4.34, 16.37, P<0.01), while the cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 ratio was significantly declined (t=3.17, P<0.05). Conclusions: Pretreatment with PQQ can improve the mitochondrial function, reduce cell apoptosis rate, and enhance cell survival rate of rat BMSCs under oxidative stress, which may be related to the up-regulation of Epac1 protein expression, activation of AMPK signaling pathway, and down-regulation of cleaved caspase-3 protein level.

[Procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids versus stapled transanal rectal resection in the treatment of grade IV hemorrhoids]

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of two procedures in the treatment of hemorrhoid: the procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) and stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR). Methods: A retrospective cohort research was conducted. Clinical data of 263 patients undergoing the first elective surgery for grade IV hemorrhoids by the same team of surgeons at our department from January 2015 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively, while those had other anorectal diseases, emergency surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, tumor and incomplete clinical data were excluded. PPH was performed in 129 patients and STARR was performed in 134 patients. PPH procedure: a circular purse 2-0 string suture was made at 4 cm above the dentate line; in accordance with the standard protocol, the PPH circular stapling devicewas introduced; the suture was closed, and a pull-through followed; the traction was continued; the stapler was fired; the prolapsed mucosa and submucosa were removed. STARR procedure: 3-5 needles were sutured in the anterior rectal mucosa, protecting the posterior wall mucosa; with the help of a finger the PPH stapler was inserted into the vaginal lumen; the sutures were hooked from both sides of the stapler to maintain traction; according to the disease condition, the suturewas tightened appropriately; stapler was screwed and activated; the anterior wall mucosa was removed; the joint of the both ends of anastomosis was cut; the posterior wall mucosa was removed as well. The short-term efficacy, surgical safety and prognosis of the two groups were compared. Results: There were 67 males (51.9%) in the PPH group and 57 (42.5%) males in the STARR group. The median age of the two groups was 51.0 (22.0, 80.0) years and 49.0 (24.0, 74.0) years, respectively. There were no significant differences in the baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). No significant differences in the intraoperative bleeding, length of hospital stay, postoperative analgesic drug use, postoperative bleeding, postoperative infection, etc. were found between two groups (all P>0.05). As compared to PPH group, STAAR group had longer operation time and higher hospitalization cost with significant differences [(44.0±19.3) minutes vs. (26.3±8.5) minutes, t=9.701, P=0.001; (11 047±473) yuan vs. (7674±309) yuan, t=32.826, P=0.001]. One case in STAAR group developed rectovaginal fistula. The median follow-up period of the whole group was 40 (33, 52) months. A total of 108 cases in STARR group and 114 cases in PPH group completed the follow-up. The 3-year disease-relapse rate was 0 in STARR group and 4.2% in PPH group (P=0.042). Conclusion: STARR procedure can improve the prognosis in the treatment of grade IV hemorrhoid, but attention should be paid to the development of complications.

Hollow core-shell structured TS-1@S-1 as an efficient catalyst for alkene epoxidation

Hollow core-shell structured TS-1@S-1 zeolite (HCS-TS) was prepared successfully for the first time, which exhibited excellent activity in the epoxidation of alkenes. Combining TEM, UV-vis, UV-Raman, pyridine-IR, solid-state MAS NMR, XPS and so on characterization, the improvement in the catalytic performance of hollow core-shell structured TS-1@S-1 zeolite was credited to the newly formed superior active sites: defective Ti(OSi)₃(OH) species in HCS-TS and six-coordinated titanium active species in uncalcined HCS-TS (HCS-TS^P). Interestingly, these two different titanium active species in the samples could be constructed through calcination or not in the same synthesis process. A possible formation mechanism was investigated in detail; it indicated that the hollowing treatment of TS-1 in the first step was conducive to the construction of the new superior active sites in the samples, and there was a synergistic effect on the formation of these active sites between TPAOH and TEOS in the second step of the synthesis process. This strategy is feasible to enhance the catalytic performance of TS-1, and is suitable for the synthesis of TS-1 on an industrial scale.

Low temperature hidden Fermi-liquid charge transport in under doped La x Sr1-x CuO2 infinite layer electron-doped thin films

We have studied the low temperature electrical transport properties of La _x Sr_1-x CuO₂ thin films grown by oxide molecular beam epitaxy on (1 1 0) GdScO₃ and TbScO₃ substrates. The transmission electron microscopy measurements and the x-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the epitaxy of the obtained films and the study of their normal state transport properties, removing the ambiguity regarding the truly conducting layer, allowed to highlight the presence of a robust hidden Fermi liquid charge transport in the low temperature properties of infinite layer electron doped cuprate superconductors. These results are in agreement with recent observations performed in other p  and n doped cuprate materials and point toward a general description of the superconducting and normal state properties in these compounds.

[Clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients in endometrial cancer with bone metastases]

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients in endometrial cancer with bone metastases. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was performed to analyze patients with endometrial cancer who developed bone metastases at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from January 2004 to December 2017, including patients with bone metastases at the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and at recurrence of endometrial cancer. The patient's clinicopathological features, bone metastasis characteristics, treatment process and prognoses were also analyzed. Results: The incidence of bone metastasis of endometrial cancer in PUMCH from 2004 to 2017 was 0.57% (14/2 458). (1) General clinical pathological features: the median age of the 7 patients with bone metastases diagnosed at the time of initial diagnosis was 50 years old, and the main pathological type was endometrioid carcinoma (n=5). The median age of the other 7 patients was 57 years old, with no significant difference comparing to the former groups (P=0.559). (2) The majority site of bone metastasis in endometrial cancer were discovered in pelvic bones, followed by the tibia. (3) Treatment: according to the staging of endometrial cancer, a comprehensive treatment based on surgery was performed, and one patient with isolated bone metastases underwent resection of bone metastasis. (4) Prognosis: nine out of the 14 patients died during the follow-up period. The median over all survival time was 25.5 months (range: 7.7-258.0 months). The median survival of population after diagnosis of bone metastases was 15.0 months (range: 3.0-51.0 months). The survival rate of endometrial cancer at 1-year after diagnosis of bone metastasis was 71.4%. The 2-year survival rate was 40.8%. (5) No independent prognostic factors affecting survival was found (P>0.05). Conclusions: The incidence of bone metastasis in endometrial cancer is less than 1%. Bone metastasis could occur at the diagnosis of endometrial cancer or recurrence of endometrial cancer. Bone metastasis suggests a poor prognosis. There is no standard follow-up and treatment protocols so that individualized treatment is needed.

Abstract P3-03-08: Not presented

This abstract was not presented at the conference.

Citation Format: Liang Y, Chen X, Zhan W, Zhu Y, Wu J, Huang O, He J, Zhu L, Li Y, Chen W, Shen K. Not presented [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-08.

Abstract P3-04-02: Not presented

This abstract was not presented at the conference.

Citation Format: Chen X, Tong Y, Chen W, Li Y, Shen K. Not presented [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-04-02.

Expression of miR-33 from an SREBP2 intron inhibits the expression of the fatty acid oxidation-regulatory genes CROT and HADHB in chicken liver

1. Limiting the growth of adipose tissue in chickens is a major issue in the poultry industry. In chickens, de novo synthesis of lipids occurs primarily in the liver. Thus, it is necessary to understand how fatty acid accumulation in the liver is controlled. The miR-33 is an intronic microRNA (miRNA) of the chicken sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (SREBF2), which is a master switch in activating many genes involved in the uptake and synthesis of cholesterol, triglycerides, fatty acids and phospholipids. 2. In the current study, the genes CROT and HADHB known to encode enzymes critical for fatty acid oxidation were predicted to be potential targets of miR-33 in chickens via the miRNA target prediction programs 'miRanda' and 'TargetScan'. Co-transfection and dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that the expression of luciferase reporter gene linked to the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of the chicken CROT and HADHB mRNA was down-regulated by overexpression of the chicken miR-33 (P < 0.05). This down-regulation was completely abolished when the predicted miR-33 target sites in the CROT and HADHB 3'UTR were mutated. 3. Transfecting miR-33 mimics into the LMH cells led to a decrease in the mRNA expression of CROT and HADHB (P < 0.01), and this transfection had a similar effect on the proteins (P < 0.05). In contrast, the expression of CROT in primary chicken hepatocytes was up-regulated after transfection with the miR-33 inhibitor LNA-anti-miR-33 (P < 0.05). 4. Using quantitative RT-PCR, it was shown that the expression of miR-33 was increased in the chicken liver from day 0 to day 49 of age, whereas the CROT and HADHB mRNA levels decreased during the same period. 5. These findings support the conclusion that miR-33 might play an important role in lipid metabolism in the chicken liver by negatively regulating the expression of the CROT and HADHB genes, which encode enzymes critical for lipid oxidation.

RAB7A phosphorylation by TBK1 promotes mitophagy via the PINK-PARKIN pathway

Removal of damaged mitochondria is orchestrated by a pathway involving the PINK1 kinase and the PARKIN ubiquitin ligase. Ubiquitin chains assembled by PARKIN on the mitochondrial outer membrane recruit autophagy cargo receptors in complexes with TBK1 protein kinase. While TBK1 is known to phosphorylate cargo receptors to promote ubiquitin binding, it is unknown whether TBK1 phosphorylates other proteins to promote mitophagy. Using global quantitative proteomics, we identified S72 in RAB7A, a RAB previously linked with mitophagy, as a dynamic target of TBK1 upon mitochondrial depolarization. TBK1 directly phosphorylates RAB7AS72, but not several other RABs known to be phosphorylated on the homologous residue by LRRK2, in vitro, and this modification requires PARKIN activity in vivo. Interaction proteomics using nonphosphorylatable and phosphomimetic RAB7A mutants revealed loss of association of RAB7AS72E with RAB GDP dissociation inhibitor and increased association with the DENN domain-containing heterodimer FLCN-FNIP1. FLCN-FNIP1 is recruited to damaged mitochondria, and this process is inhibited in cells expressing RAB7AS72A. Moreover, nonphosphorylatable RAB7A failed to support efficient mitophagy, as well as recruitment of ATG9A-positive vesicles to damaged mitochondria. These data reveal a novel function for TBK1 in mitophagy, which parallels that of LRRK2-mediated phosphorylation of the homologous site in distinct RABs to control membrane trafficking.

Elevated plasma ferritin in elderly individuals with high neocortical amyloid-β load

Ferritin, an iron storage and regulation protein, has been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, it has not been investigated in preclinical AD, detected by neocortical amyloid-β load (NAL), before cognitive impairment. Cross-sectional analyses were carried out for plasma and serum ferritin in participants in the Kerr Anglican Retirement Village Initiative in Aging Health cohort. Subjects were aged 65-90 years and were categorized into high and low NAL groups via positron emission tomography using a standard uptake value ratio cutoff=1.35. Ferritin was significantly elevated in participants with high NAL compared with those with low NAL, adjusted for covariates age, sex, apolipoprotein E ɛ4 carriage and levels of C-reactive protein (an inflammation marker). Ferritin was also observed to correlate positively with NAL. A receiver operating characteristic curve based on a logistic regression of the same covariates, the base model, distinguished high from low NAL (area under the curve (AUC)=0.766), but was outperformed when plasma ferritin was added to the base model (AUC=0.810), such that at 75% sensitivity, the specificity increased from 62 to 71% on adding ferritin to the base model, indicating that ferritin is a statistically significant additional predictor of NAL over and above the base model. However, ferritin's contribution alone is relatively minor compared with the base model. The current findings suggest that impaired iron mobilization is an early event in AD pathogenesis. Observations from the present study highlight ferritin's potential to contribute to a blood biomarker panel for preclinical AD.

[Influence on compliance of subcutaneous immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis by We-Media management]

Objective:To investigate the influence on compliance of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in patients with allergic rhinitis by We-Media management.Method:One hundred and eighty patients of allergic rhinitis were randomly divided into We-Media management group (Group A 90 cases) and telephone management group (Group B 90 cases). All of patients were treated with SLIT. In the group A, the doctor-patient WeChat and/or QQ group were formed. The specific duty doctor acted as group leader, made monthly plans, sent SLIT related knowledge more than 3 times a week and assessed patient reported outcomes. In the group B, the patients were conductd on-the-spot demonstration and explanation and followed up by telephone once three month. The statistical analysises were made on the rates and reason of dropouts on the first, third, sixth, ninth, twelfth post-treatment months in two groups.Result:The rates of dropouts in group A and group B were 13.3%(12/90) and 32.2%(29/90) respectively in the first year. The statistical difference were noticeable between group A and group B(P=0.003). Most dropouts were happened in the first 3 months, group A 41.7%(5/12) and group B 51.7%(15/29) respectively. It had no statistically significant(P=0.558). Two major reasons of dropouts were no improvement of symptoms and lack of confidence.Conclusion:Percentage of dropouts in SLIT patients through telephone management was comparatively high, which can be significantly improved by We-Media management. We-Media management has more advantage,especially during long-term follow-up.

Safety, quality and effect of complete mesocolic excision vs non-complete mesocolic excision in patients with colon cancer: a systemic review and meta-analysis

AIM

The application of complete mesocolic excision (CME) in colon cancer is controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the safety, quality and effect of CME with non-complete mesocolic excision (NCME) in patients with colon cancer.

METHOD

We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library and Scopus to identify studies comparing CME with NCME in colon cancer. We focused on three study outcome areas: safety (operation time, blood loss, complications, mortality); quality (large bowel length, distance from the tumour to the high vascular tie, area of mesentery, total lymph nodes); and effect (long-term survival).

RESULTS

A total of 8586 patients from 12 studies were included in the meta-analysis. CME was associated with greater intra-operative blood loss [weighted mean difference (WMD) 79.87, 95% CI: 65.88-93.86], more postoperative surgical complications (relative risk 1.23, 95% CI: 1.08-1.40), longer large bowel resection (WMD 47.06, 95% CI: 10.49-83.62), greater distance from the tumour to the high vascular tie (WMD 17.51, 95% CI: 15.16-19.87), larger area of mesentery (WMD 36.09, 95% CI: 18.06-54.13) and more lymph nodes (WMD 6.13, 95% CI: 1.97-10.28) than NCME. CME also had positive effects on 5-year survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13-0.81], 3-year survival (HR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39-0.86) and 3-year survival for Stage III disease (HR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.60-0.80) compared with NCME.

CONCLUSION

Limited evidence suggests that CME is a more effective strategy for improving specimen quality and survival but with a higher complication rate.

Abstract P5-16-29: Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer: A meta-analysis

Background: Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-Paclitaxel), a novel solvent-free taxane-based regimen, was hypothesized to have enhanced drug transport to tumors, shorter infusion schedules and no need for premedication. The value of nab-Paclitaxel in neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) for breast cancer remains uncertain. We performed a meta-analysis to assess efficacy and toxicity of nab-Paclitaxel compared to conventional taxane regimens (paclitaxel, docetaxel) within randomized clinical trials.

Methods: A systematic search was performed using the medical subject heading (MeSH) terms ''breast neoplasms'', as well as (1) breast cancer; AND (2) nab-Paclitaxel OR nanoparticle paclitaxel; AND (3) neoadjuvant OR preoperative OR primary systemic in both Pubmed databases and proceedings of oncologic meetings including ASCO, ESMO and SABCS. Pooled rates of pathological complete response(pCR), odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed-effect or random-effect model to determine the effect of neoadjuvant nab-paclitaxel.

Results: Twenty-one studies with 2357 patients were included, 3 of which (GeparSepto[1], ETNA[2], Showa trial[3]) were randomized clinical trials. The aggregate pCR rate (ypT0/is ypN0) was 32% (95% CI 25-38%) in unselected breast cancer patients and was 14%(95% CI 11-17%), 41%(95% CI 38-45%), 54%(95% CI 43-66%) in hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-), triple negative breast cancer(TNBC), HER2+ patients, respectively. Within the HER2+ population, pCR rate was 61%(95% CI 47-74%) for HR- and 40%(95% CI 28-52%) for HR+ tumors. Regarding randomized clinical trials, the probability of achieving pCR was significantly higher in the nab-paclitaxel group than in the conventional taxanes group (OR=1.383, 95%CI 1.141-1.676, p=0.001). A funnel plot of the effect size for each randomized trial against the precision showed no asymmetry, which indicating no potential publication bias. In the safety analysis (GeparSepto[1], ETNA[2]), hematological toxic effects were generally equivalent in nab-paclitaxel and paclitaxel group. For non-hematological toxic effects, all grades and grade≥ 3 peripheral sensory neuropathy occurred more frequently with nab-paclitaxel compared to paclitaxel (all grades, OR=2.090, 95%CI 1.016-4.302, p=0.045; grade≥ 3, OR=3.766, 95%CI 2.324-6.100, p&lt;0.001). Hypersensitivity was more common with paclitaxel than nab-paclitaxel at any grade and grade≥ 3. Other non-hematological toxic effects did not significantly differ between two groups.

Conclusion: nab-Paclitaxel is an effective antitumor drug in NST of breast cancer, especially for TNBC and HER2+ tumors, in terms of pCR. Exchange of nab-Paclitaxel for conventional taxanes could significantly improve pCR rate with reasonable toxicities.

Clinical trial information: 1.Lancet Oncol.2016,17:345-56.; 2.J Clin Oncol.2016,34(suppl; abstract 502).; 3.J Clin Oncol.2015,33(suppl; abstract 136).

Citation Format: Zong Y, Wu J, Shen K. Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer: A meta-analysis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-16-29.

Abstract P5-16-07: Non-anthracycline-containing docetaxel plus cyclophosphomide was inferior to docetaxel, anthracycline and cyclophosphomide in neoadjuvant treatment of triple negative or HER2 positive breast cancer: Long term follow-up result from NATT study

This abstract was not presented at the symposium.