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Abstract Based on some studies, there are many important parts of tool machines, all of which have some essential smaller-the-better-type quality characteristics. The six sigma quality index of the smaller-the-better type offers accurate measurement of the process yield and the six sigma quality level. In this paper, we first proposed a six sigma product index by integrating all evaluation indicators for products that contain several quality characteristics of the smaller-the-better type. Next, we derived the confidence interval of this six sigma product index and developed an evaluation model for product quality. When a product passes the evaluation of this model, not only can it be guaranteed that the product reaches the required quality level, but also a high rate of product yield can be ensured. In addition, we also created a product improvement testing model, which can avoid missing opportunities for improvement in the process to ensure improvement effects. This complete evaluation and improvement model is applicable to the entire machine tool industry chain. It can not only increase the product value of the machine tool industry chain but also decrease environmental pollution caused by rework or scrap, which is beneficial to companies to enhance their image of fulfilling social responsibilities. Apart from the above advantages, the model formed in this paper is based on confidence intervals, thereby reducing the chance of misjudgment resulting from sampling error.

Abstract Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide that is characterized by abnormal lesions or malignant hyperplasia of soft and hard tissues in the oral cavity. Previous research has found that HDAC6 may be a potential therapeutic target for cancer patients and has the ability to regulate immune cells. However, the mechanism of HDAC6 in OSCC pathogenesis is unclear. We collected clinical samples and analyzed the level of HDAC6 in OSCC patients. The results showed that in the high HDAC6 expression group, HDAC6 expression was positively correlated with the grade of OSCC (R = 0.182, P = 0.036) and that this group had a 3.248-fold increase in the mortality risk compared with the low HDAC6 expression group (P = 0.003). Survival analysis also identified a correlation between the expression of HDAC6 and overall survival in OSCC patients, and it was found that the expression of HDAC6 was inversely correlated with survival (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, we found that HDAC6 induced IL-13 expression through AP-1, resulting in M2 polarization of macrophages. Together, these results demonstrate that the level of HDAC6 may be a useful prognostic biomarker and offer a novel immune cell-related therapeutic strategy of targeting IL-13 in OSCC.

Abstract The association between phthalate exposure and breast cancer remains controversial. We performed a prospective patient cohort design to explore the interaction between creatinine-corrected urinary phthalate metabolites and hormone receptors as well as body mass index (BMI) on recurrent breast cancer. In this follow-up study, 636 female breast cancer patients and 45 new recurrent cases diagnosed for a total of 1576.68 person-years of follow-up were recruited. Mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) was negatively associated with breast cancer recurrence, with adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3rd vs. 1st quartile of 0.15 (95% CI 0.04–0.51). The MEOHP presented as a non-monotonic dose–response (NMDR) curve, being U-shaped. In the stratification of hormone receptors, MEOHP still exhibited a U-shaped dose–response curve. The third quartile of MEOHP showed significant lowest recurrent risk in the status of ER-positive (aHR 0.18, 95% CI 0.05–0.66), PR-negative (aHR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03–0.63), and HER2-negative (aHR 0.24, 95% CI 0.08–0.76). Whether in BMI

Abstract Phthalate, an environmental toxin, has been considered as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. Growing evidence has demonstrated links between endocrine-disrupting chemicals, tissue development, and reproductive physiology, but the mechanisms of gene expression regulation by environmental factors that affect cell differentiation are unclear. Herein, we investigated the effects of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) on human endometrial mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (EN-MSC) differentiation and identified a novel signaling pathway. Differentiation of endometrial mesenchymal stem/stromal cells decreased after administration of BBP. We analyzed BBP regulation of gene expression in EN-MSC using cDNA microarrays and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software to identify affected target genes and their biological functions. PITX2 emerged as a common gene hit from separate screens targeting skeletal and muscular disorders, cell morphology, and tissue development. BBP decreased transcription of PITX2 and elevated expression of the microRNA miR-137, the predicted upstream negative regulator of PITX2. These data indicated that BBP affects PITX2 expression through miR-137 targeting of the 3′ untranslated region of PITX2 mRNA. PITX2 down-regulation also decreased MyoD transcript levels in EN-MSC. Our results demonstrate that BBP decreases EN-MSC myogenic differentiation through up-regulation of miR-137, contribute to our understanding of EN-MSC differentiation, and underline the hazardous potential of environmental hormones.