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Hanqing Liu,1,&ast; Qian Chen,2,&ast; Bohao Liu,3 Jiaxi Wang,1 Chuang Chen,1 Shengrong Sun1 1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chuang Chen; Shengrong Sun, Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University at Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan, 430060, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 27 88041911, Fax +86 27 88041911, Email chenc2469@163.com; sun137@sina.comPurpose: Although most patients with papillary thyroid cancer can be cured by surgery and I-131 ablation, a small proportion will progress to radioactive iodine refractory (RAIR) thyroid cancer. The prediction of RAIR in its early stages can improve patient prognosis. The aim of this article is to evaluate the blood biomarkers in patients with RAIR and to establish a prediction model.Patients and Methods: Data collected from patients with thyroid cancer that were enrolled from Jan. 2017 to Dec. 2021 were screened. RAIR was defined based on the criteria in the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines. The blood biomarkers from the study participants at three admissions timepoints (surgery and first and secondary I-131 ablations) were compared using both parametric and nonparametric tests to identify predictive factors for RAIR. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to construct a prediction model using parameters associated with surgical procedure decision. The model was then assessed with receiver operating characteristic curves.Results: Thirty-six patients were included in the data analysis. Sixteen blood variables, including the low density lipoprotein-cholesterol-total cholesterol ratio, neutrophils, thyroglobulins, thyroglobulin antibody, thyroid peroxidase antibody, anion gap, etc., were revealed to be predictors for RAIR. The prediction model, which incorporated two parameters, reached an area under the curve of 0.861 (p< 0.001).Conclusion: Conventional blood biomarkers can be used in the prediction of early-stage RAIR. In addition, a prediction model incorporating multiple biomarkers can improve the predictive accuracy.Keywords: thyroid carcinoma, radioiodine refractoriness, scoring system, multivariable, PTC

Jianhua Liu,1,&ast; Liantao Guo,1,&ast; Yan Rao,2 Weijie Zheng,1 Dongcheng Gao,1 Jing Zhang,2 Lan Luo,1 Xinwen Kuang,1 Saraswati Sukumar,3 Yi Tu,1 Chuang Chen,1 Shengrong Sun1 1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2Animal Biosafety Level III Laboratory at the Center for Animal Experiment, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shengrong Sun; Chuang Chen, Tel +86-13707198696 ; +86-1476064785, Email sun137@sina.com; chenc2469@163.comPurpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is challenging to treat with traditional “standard of care” therapy due to the lack of targetable biomarkers and rapid progression to distant metastasis.Methods: We synthesized a novel combination regimen that included chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) to address this problem. Here, we tested a magnetic nanosystem (MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX micelles) loaded with the near-infrared (NIR) photothermal agent IR780 and doxorubicin (DOX) to achieve chemo-photothermal and boost antitumor immunity. Intraductal (i.duc) administration of MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX could increase the concentration of the drug in the tumor while reducing systemic side effects.Results: We showed more uptake of MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX by 4T1-luc cells and higher penetration in the tumor. MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX exhibited excellent photothermal conversion in vivo and in vitro. The release of DOX from MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX is pH- and temperature-sensitive. Facilitated by i.duc administration, MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX displayed antitumor effects and prevented distant organs metastasis under NIR laser (L) irradiation and magnetic field (MF)while avoiding DOX-induced toxicity. More importantly, MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX alleviated tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment by increasing tumor CD8+ T cells infiltration and reducing the proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and Tregs.Conclusion: Intraductal administration of pH- and temperature-sensitive MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX with L and MF had the potential for achieving minimally invasive, targeted, and accurate treatment of TNBC.Keywords: triple-negative breast cancer, photothermal therapy, near-infrared image, intraductal administration, tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment

Liu J, Guo L, Rao Y, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2022;17:2661–2678. The Editor and Publisher of International Journal of Nanomedicine wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised regarding the duplication of mice images in Figure 4A and H&E images in Figure 9A. Specifically, The images for Figure 4A, MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX+MF, 6h and 24h appear to be duplicates of each other. The images for Figure 4A, MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX, 1h and 3h appear to be duplicates of each other. The images for Figure 9A, Liver, 1 (PBS) and 5 (MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX+L) appear to have overlapping regions. The images for Figure 9A, Spleen, 1 (PBS), 3 (MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX) and 6 (MNs-PEG/IR780-DOX+MF+L) appear to have overlapping regions. The authors were cooperative and provided some of the original data that was requested. However, the authors explained that the 6h data shown in Figure 4 did not exist and asked to remove it. The Editor questioned how non-existent data came to be used and was concerned that this issue was only being raised post-publication. The authors explanation regarding this did not clearly explain how the error was made. Overall, in combination with the alleged image duplication and addition of non-existent data, the Editor expressed their overall concerns relating to the integrity and reliability of the findings and requested for the article to be retracted. The authors were notified and agreed with this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Hanqing Liu,1,&ast; Ling Zhan,1,&ast; Liantao Guo,1 Xizi Yu,1 Lingrui Li,1 Hongfang Feng,2 Dan Yang,3 Zhiliang Xu,1 Yi Tu,1 Chuang Chen,1 Shengrong Sun1 1Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Huangshi Central Hospital of Edong Healthcare Group, Hubei Polytechnic University, Huangshi, 435000, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shengrong Sun; Chuang ChenDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University at Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan, 430060, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86 27 88041911Email sun137@sina.com; chenc2469@163.comPurpose: Many thyroid cancer patients have suffered from treatment delays caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Although there have been many reviews, recommendations, or clinical experiences, clinical evidence that evaluates patient disease status is lacking. The aim of our research was to evaluate thyroid cancer behaviour in the post-COVID-19 era.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted and thyroid cancer patient data from February 1, 2017 to September 15, 2020 were pooled for analysis. The demographic, ultrasound and pathological data of the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups were compared. Lymph node metastases, tumour size, extrathyroidal extension, and multifocality were compared year-by-year to evaluate annual changes in patient characteristics. Regression analyses were adopted to reveal cancer behaviour along with the admission date interval and to reveal risk factors for lymph node metastasis. Patient ultrasound data were compared before and after the lockdown to assess tumour progression. The outcomes of delays in treatment ≤ 180 days were then studied.Results: The post-lockdown patients were more likely to have multiple lesions (31.2% vs 36.5%, p = 0.040), extrathyroidal extension (65.5% vs 72.2%, p = 0.011) and lymph node metastases (37.7% vs 45.0%, p = 0.007), while tumour size remained stable (1.01cm vs.1.02cm, p = 0.758). The lymph node metastasis rate increased by year (p < 0.001). The tumour size correlated negatively with the post-lockdown admission date (p = 0.002). No significant difference in tumour size, multifocality or lymph node metastasis on ultrasound was revealed between the pre- and post-lockdown group. No significant difference in tumour size, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension or lymph node metastasis was revealed among patients with a delayed treatment time ≤ 180 days.Conclusion: Patients with a COVID-19-induced treatment delay had more aggressive cancer behaviour. Rebound medical visits and annually increasing aggressiveness may be potential reasons for this observation, as individual patient tumour did not progress during the delay.Keywords: treatment delay, lockdown, rebound medical visit, tumor behavior

Sun J, Chen C, Jiang G, Tian W, Li Y, Sun S. Int J Nanomedicine. 2014;9(1):1339–1346. An error during the preparation of Figure 3 for publishing led to the inadvertent creation of a duplicate region in figure part 3A on page 1342. The journal wishes to apologise for this error. The correct version of Figure 3 is shown below. Figure 3 The different Ki67 expressions detected by QD-IHC (A and C) and IHC (B and D) in the same specimens.Abbreviations: IHC, immunohistochemistry; QD-IHC, quantum dot-immunohistochemistry.Notes: (A and B) are the same specimens; (C and D) are the same specimens. Scale bar: 25 μm.

BACKGROUND The etiology of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) remains unknown. This study aimed to detect bacteria in GLM using Nanopore sequencing and identify the relationship between GLM and Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii. METHODS AND MATERIALS The bacterial detection on fresh samples (including breast pus and tissue) of 50 GLM patients using nanopore sequencing and culture methods. The bacterial detection rate of participants with different stages were compared and analyzed. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from 39 patients were performed on Gram staining to identify Gram-positive bacilli (GPB) within lipid vacuoles. Moreover, the clinicopathological characteristics of GLM patients in different bacterial subgroups were also conducted. RESULTS In 50 GLM patients, the detection rate of bacteria was 78% using nanopore sequencing method, especially in the early stage of GLM (over 80%), which was significantly higher than that using culture methods (24%, p

Dynamic compressive behavior of 2 kinds of Al/Teflon reactive materials samples are analyzed by using the Split Hopkinson pressure bar. The mass percentage of the samples is 26.5% Al and 73.5% Tefl...

The present study aimed to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) muscleblind-like 1 antisense RNA 1 (MBNL1-AS1) in the progression of Prostate cancer (PCa). MBNL1-AS1 and microRNA (miR)-181a-5p expression in PCa tissues and several human PCa cell lines were analyzed, respectively, using StarBasev3.0 project and RT-qPCR assay. After MBNL1-AS1 overexpression, cell proliferation, invasion and migration were, respectively, evaluated using CCK-8, colony formation, transwell and wound healing assays. Dual luciferase assay were used for analysis of the interactions among MBNL1-AS1, miR-181a-5p, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). Subsequently, the expression of PTEN and proteins in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling was examined using western blot analysis after transfection with miR-181a-5p mimic. The rescue assays were performed to investigate the effects of MBNL1-AS1 and miR-181a-5p on the functions of PCa cells and the expression of PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling by co-transfection with MBNL1-AS1 plasmid and miR-181a-5p mimic. Results indicated that MBNL1-AS1 was conspicuously downregulated while miR-181a-5p upregulating in PCa tissues and cell lines. MBNL1-AS1 overexpression decreased the abilities of cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Further study revealed that MBNL1-AS1 acted as a sponge for miR-181a-5p and positively regulated PTEN by a sponge effect. Additionally, rescue assays proved that the effect of MBNL1-AS1-upregulation on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of PCa cells was dependent on miR-181a-5p. Furthermore, miR-181a-5p overexpression counteracted the expression of PTEN and proteins in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling exerted by MBNL1-AS1-upregulation in PCa cells. This study suggests that MBNL1-AS1 inhibits the progression of PCa via sponging miR-181a-5p and regulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway., GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM), also known as idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM), is a chronic inflammatory lesion of the breast. The incidence of GLM has been increasing in recent years, especially among young women. The etiologies of GLM have not been fully elucidated but are associated with autoimmunity and bacterial infection. Bacteria, especially Corynebacterium species, play important roles in GLM. In this article, we review research progress regarding the bacteriology of GLM attained with the application of several new high-throughput detection techniques. Accurate detection might be important for deepening our understanding of the pathogenesis of GLM and hold promise for personalized GLM therapy.

The leakage of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas threats the global climate changes and personnel safety. Monitoring the concentration of SF6 in its application places is an industry regulation. In th...

This paper is concerned with the inspection and evaluation methods on dynamic performance of highway bridges under moving vehicular loads. The background and development process of the existing specifications are stated and discussed. Up to now, four specifications or drafts for approval related to dynamic performance inspection and evaluation have been published. The deficiencies of the existing specifications are discussed and the differences among them are compared, including dynamic loading test methods, data processing, and evaluation criteria. Finally, some key research topics about the inspection and evaluation methods on dynamic performance of highway bridges are proposed.

Multilayer neural networks are used in a non-linear adaptive control problem. The plant is an unknown feedback linearizable continuous-time system with relative degree 1. The single-input:/single-output system is studied first and then the methodology is extended to control square multi-input/multi-output systems. The control objective is for the plant to track a reference trajectory, and the control law is defined in terms of the outputs of the neural networks. The parameters of the networks are updated on-line according to an augmented tracking error and the network derivatives. A local convergence theorem is given on the convergence of the tracking error. This control algorithm is applied to control a two-input/two-output relative-degree-two system.