Search

Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality globally. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of nutritional interventions on clinical outcomes in GC patients.

Objective To analyze the cardiac safety of trastuzumab on HER2 positive breast cancer patients. Methods Trastuzumab was administrated every three weeks in 185 patients with HER2 positive breast cancer. The initial dose was 8 mg/kg, and the subsequent dose was 6 mg/kg, for 4-36 cycles. The cardiotoxicity of these patients was analyzed. Results The median treatment was 17 cycles in Her-2 positive breast cancer patients who received trastuzumab. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) level dropped in 88 cases (47.6%) after trastuzumab treatment; 74 patients (40.0%) occurred valvular regurgitation (new+ aggravation); 16 patients (8.0%) occurred the reduction of diastolic function of left ventricle; 88 patients (47.6%) experienced cardiotoxicity, among which 83 patients experienced gradeⅠcardiotoxicity and five patients experienced grade Ⅱ cardiotoxicity, no patient experienced grade Ⅲ cardiotoxicity. Conclusion The treatment of trastuzumab on Chinese patients with HER2 positive breast cancer shows a satisfactory cardiac safety. However, the potential cardiotoxicity of trastuzumab should be carefully monitored during therapy.

Abstract Background Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is endemic in Liaoning Province, China, and this province was the most serious area affected by HFRS during 2004 to 2005. In this study, we conducted a spatial analysis of HFRS cases with the objective to determine the distribution of HFRS cases and to identify key areas for future public health planning and resource allocation in Liaoning Province. Methods The annual average incidence at the county level was calculated using HFRS cases reported between 2000 and 2005 in Liaoning Province. GIS-based spatial analyses were conducted to detect spatial distribution and clustering of HFRS incidence at the county level, and the difference of relative humidity and forestation between the cluster areas and non-cluster areas was analyzed. Results Spatial distribution of HFRS cases in Liaoning Province from 2000 to 2005 was mapped at the county level to show crude incidence, excess hazard, and spatial smoothed incidence. Spatial cluster analysis suggested 16 and 41 counties were at increased risk for HFRS (p < 0.01) with the maximum spatial cluster sizes at ≤ 50% and ≤ 30% of the total population, respectively, and the analysis showed relative humidity and forestation in the cluster areas were significantly higher than in other areas. Conclusion Some clustering of HFRS cases in Liaoning Province may be etiologically linked. There was strong evidence some HFRS cases in Liaoning Province formed clusters, but the mechanism underlying it remains unknown. In this study we found the clustering was consistent with the relative humidity and amount of forestation, and showed data indicating there may be some significant relationships.

This paper explores whether it is feasible to use the RGB color information in images of wheat canopies that were exposed to low temperatures during the growth season to achieve fast, non-destructive, and accurate determination of the severity of any freeze injury it may have incurred. For the study presented in this paper, we compared the accuracy of a number of algorithmic classification models using either meteorological data reported by weather services or the color gradation skewness-distribution from high-definition digital canopy images acquired in situ as inputs against a reference obtained by manually assessing the severity of the freeze injury inflicted upon wheat populations at three experimental stations in Shandong, China. The algorithms we used to construct the models included in our study were based on either K-means clustering, systematic clustering, or naïve Bayesian classification. When analyzing the reliability of our models, we found that, at more than 85%, the accuracy of the Bayesian model, which used the color information as inputs and involved the use of prior data in the form of the reference data we had obtained through manual classification, was significantly higher than that of the models based on systematic or the K-means clustering, which did not involve the use of prior data. It was interesting to note that the determination accuracy of algorithms using meteorological factors as inputs was significantly lower than that of those using color information. We also noted that the determination accuracy of the Bayesian model had some potential for optimization, which prompted us to subject the inputs of the model to a factor analysis in order to identify the key independent leaf color distribution parameters characterizing wheat freeze injury severity. This optimization allowed us to improve the determination accuracy of the model to over 90%, even in environments comprising several different ecological zones, as was the case at one of our experimental sites. In conclusion, our naïve Bayesian classification algorithm, which uses six key color gradation skewness-distribution parameters as inputs and involves the use of prior data in the form of manual assessments, qualifies as a contender for the development of commercial-grade wheat freeze injury severity monitoring systems supporting post-freeze management measures aimed at ensuring food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and robust bifunctional non-precious metal electrocatalysts, used for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), are crucial to develop water splitting commercial applications. Herein, a bottom-up self-assembly strategy is proposed to construct ternary electrocatalysts of nitrogen-doped graphene-like carbon layers encapsulated Mo x C (x = 1, 2) and Ni 3 Fe alloy nanoparticles (Mo x C/Ni 3 Fe@GL) for efficient water electrolysis. The optimized sample (0.27Mo x C/Ni 1.5 Fe@GL, 0.27 represent the mass of ammonium molybdate in the precursor) requires overpotentials (η 10) of 88 and 150, 265 mV in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 for HER and 1.0 M KOH for HER and OER, respectively. Furthermore, as a bifunctional electrocatalyst in a two-electrode cell, 0.27Mo x C/Ni 1.5 Fe@GL requires only 1.523 V at 10 mA cm−2, which surpasses the noble metal RuO 2 (+)||Pt/C(−) in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte, and shows excellent stability by working at 20 mA cm−2 long as 150 h. The superior electrocatalytic performance can mainly originate from Mo x C and Ni 3 Fe alloys synergistically effected results. The partial doping of Ni or Fe atoms into Mo 2 C optimizes the electronic structure, making the intrinsic activity enhanced. On the other hand, the incorporation of Mo x C heterophases effectively inhibits the Ni 3 Fe nanoparticles agglomeration, benefitting to expose more active sites. Moreover, the protection of encapsulated thin N-doped graphene-like carbon layers for the nanoparticles against corrosion, guarantees the long-time durability. This work provides a potential general bottom-up self-assembly approach to construct high-performance electrocatalysts with multiphase heterostructures with enriched abundant active sites and enhanced intrinsic activity for energy coversion fields. Ternary Mo x C (x = 1, 2) and Ni 3 Fe alloy nanoparticles encapsulated in N-doped graphene-like carbon layers (Mo x C/Ni 3 Fe@GL) are synthesized by a bottom-up self-assembly method. Mo x C/Ni 3 Fe@GL exhibits efficient and stable electrocatalytic water splitting performance. [Display omitted] • Mo x C/Ni 3 Fe@GL was prepared by a facile bottom-up self-assembly strategy. • The synergistic effect of Mo x C and Ni 3 Fe alloy enhanced the intrinsic activity. • N-doped graphene-like thin carbon layers improved the conductivity and stability. • Water splitting required only 1.523 V to reach 10 mA cm−2 and stably for 150 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]