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Abstract Background To investigate the efficacy of three-compartment restriction spectrum imaging (RSI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the assessment of lymph node metastases (LNM) in rectal cancer. Methods A total of 77 patients with rectal cancer who underwent pelvic MRI were enrolled. RSI-derived parameters (f1, f2, and f3), DKI-derived parameters (Dapp and Kapp), and the DWI-derived parameter (ADC) were calculated and compared using a Mann–Whitney U test or independent samples t-test. Logistic regression (LR) analysis was used to identify independent predictors of LNM status. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Delong analysis were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of each parameter. Results The LNM-positive group exhibited significantly higher f1 and Kapp levels and significantly lower f3, Dapp, and ADC levels compared to the LNM-negative group (p

This study evaluated the radiosensitising effect of niraparib; a poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor on HeLa cervical cancer cells in nude mice and explored its possible mechanism. Twenty-four 3–5-week-old female BALB/c nude mice, inoculated with HeLa cells into the right hind leg, were randomly assigned into eight groups with three mice per group and treated. The tumour volume was significantly reduced under niraparib + radiotherapy combination as compared to monotherapy and untreated mice. The tumour growth was significantly delayed by 23.33–39 days when treated with combination therapy (p

Abstract Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) small molecule bis-[3-(9,9-dimethyl-9,10-dihydroacridine)-phenyl]-sulfone (m-ACSO2) was used as a universal host to sensitize three conventional fluorescent polymers for maximizing the electroluminescent performance. The excitons were utilized via inter-molecular energy transfer and the non-radiative decays were successfully refrained in the condensed states. Therefore, the significant enhancement of the electroluminescent efficiencies was demonstrated. For instance, after doping poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) into m-ACSO2, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) was improved by a factor of 17.0 in the solution-processed organic light-emitting device (OLED), as compared with the device with neat F8BT. In terms of the other well-known fluorescent polymers, i.e., poly (para-phenylene vinylene) copolymer (Super Yellow, SY) and poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV), their EQEs in the devices were respectively enhanced by 70% and 270%, compared with the reference devices based on the conventional host 1,3-di(9H-carbazol-9-yl) benzene (mCP). Besides the improved charge balance in the bipolar TADF host, these were partially ascribed to reduced fluorescence quenching in the mixed films. Graphical abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common gastrointestinal tumor that threatens human health. The sensitivity and specificity of traditional tumor markers do not meet the requirements for detection of GC. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial for the development of tumors. Hence, in this study, LINC01060 will be evaluated for its diagnostic value in GC.

Background: The values of biomarkers play a central role in routine clinical decision-making. Whereas the performance of different automated chemical analyzers remains unclear. To determine the performance of different platforms, we compared the consistency and accuracy between Roche Cobas 8000 and Mindray BS2000M. Methods: A total of 1869 remaining serum samples were collected. CK, LDH-1, RBP, Cys-C, IgA, IgM, and IgG were assessed using paired t-test, Passing-Bablok regression analysis, and Bland-Altman analysis according to CLSI EP5-A3. Results: There were significant differences in the average bias of all items between the two machines (P

Background: Periodontitis is a prevalent disease caused teeth lost. The present rat models inducing periodontitis with thread ligature and metal steel ligature have some disadvantages.Methods: We modified the existing rat ligature periodontitis model by fixing the thread ligature on the metal steel ligature passed through the gap between the first and second molars of rats with detailed modeling steps and illustrations. We research the pathological process of the periodontitis induced by the modified model, and briefly compared the modified model with the thread ligature model and the metal steel ligature model.Result: Our experimental results showed that there was an aggravation in inflammatory infiltration and alveolar bone resorption in modeling area within 14 days of initial induction. After that, the inflammatory infiltration was reduced. And no significant increase in alveolar bone destruction appeared. The modified model was more reliable compared to the thread ligature model, and had greater ability of bacterial aggregation compared to the metal steel ligature model.Conclusion: The modified method covered pathological process of the periodontitis, and showed sufficient efficiency and reliability in inducing rat periodontitis.

Over the past two decades, there has been a tendency toward early diagnosis of prostate cancer due to raised awareness among the general public and professionals, as well as the promotion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. As a result, patients with prostate cancer are detected at an earlier stage. Due to the risks of urine incontinence, erectile dysfunction, etc., surgery is not advised because the tumor is so small at this early stage. Doctors typically only advise active surveillance. However, it will bring negative psychological effects on patients, such as anxiety. And there is a higher chance of cancer progression. Focal therapy has received increasing attention as an alternative option between active monitoring and radical therapy. Due to its minimally invasive, oncological safety, low toxicity, minimal effects on functional outcomes and support by level 1 evidence from the only RCT within the focal therapy literature, photodynamic treatment (PDT) holds significant promise as the focal therapy of choice over other modalities for men with localized prostate cancer. However, there are still numerous obstacles that prevent further advancement. The review that follows provides an overview of the preclinical and clinical published research on PDT for prostate cancer from 1999 to the present. It focuses on clinical applications of PDT and innovative techniques and technologies that address current problems, especially the use of nanoparticle photosensitizers in PDT of prostate cancer.

Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can involve multiple organs or systems. Lupus nephritis (LN) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. However, plenty of patients do not respond to present treatment or relapse. Iguratimod (IGU) is a new small molecular, anti-rheumatic drug and has shown the potential for drug repurposing from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to LN treatment. It has been approved for treating RA in northeast Asia. Beyond expectation in a recent observational study, over 90% of thirteen refractory LN patients responded to iguratimod monotherapy in 24 weeks, with no steroids dose increasing or any other medication add-on during the entire follow-up. Methods/design This study is a multi-center, randomized, 52-week parallel positive drug-controlled study. The study was designed as a head-to-head comparison between the iguratimod and present first-line therapy on LN patients. A total of 120 patients (60 patients each group) is in the enrolling plan. All enrolled patients are assigned randomly into trial and control groups. The patients will be selected from six study sites in China and will all have biopsy-proven active lupus nephritis. In the first 24 weeks of the trial, IGU is compared with cyclophosphamide as an induction therapy, and in the second 24 weeks, IGU is compared with azathioprine as a maintenance therapy. The primary outcome is renal remission rate including both complete remission and partial remission at week 52, which will be analyzed using a non-inferiority hypothesis test. Discussion Most patients diagnosed with SLE will develop LN within 5 years and LN remains a major cause of morbidity and death for SLE patients. Although some medications are proven effective for the treatment of this condition, at least 20–35% LN patients have to suffer from relapse or ineffective treatment and medication intolerance is also frequent. This trial is designed to demonstrate whether iguratimod can be used as an alternative induction or maintenance therapy in subjects who have lupus nephritis. Data from this study will provide an evidence on whether or not iguratimod should be recommended to active LN patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 02936375 . Registered on October 18, 2016.

In the process of electric energy substitution, many industries have gradually replaced the traditional energy consumption equipment with new electrical ones. To avoid the disadvantage of one-sidedness in equipment evaluation and provide a more comprehensive reference for enterprises to replace equipment, a two-dimensional evaluation model composed of static and dynamic rating model is proposed in this paper based on combined weighting and rating algorithm, considering the comprehensive performance in both the inherent properties and the actual power consumption features of electrical equipment. The static and dynamic parameters related are firstly extracted, and then the weights of parameters are determined by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) subjective weighting algorithm and principal component analysis (PCA) objective weighting algorithm. To compare the performance of different equipment more intuitively, the rank sum ratio (RSR) and technology for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) are used to rate the static and dynamic scores, respectively. Case studies for different types of electrical tea dryers in Anji, Zhejiang Province, China, show that the proposed evaluation model is more comprehensive and the rating result is more reasonable, which helps the enterprises have a more comprehensive understanding of the electrical equipment performance.

Objective Renal impairment is a significant complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Additionally, infection in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) attributable to SLE is common, and it increases the risk of mortality. This study explored the infection profile and risk factors for mortality in patients with ESRD attributable to SLE. Methods In this retrospective, observational study of 125 hospitalized patients, demographic, clinical, laboratory, treatment, and prognosis data were retrieved and analyzed. Results The 125 cases included 98 pulmonary infections (78.4%), 14 urinary infections (11.2%), and 13 intestinal infections (10.4%). Twenty-six patients died within 1 month after enrollment. Univariate Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses revealed several possible indicators potentially influencing patient survival. Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis identified a higher SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 score, recent higher-dose glucocorticoid use, hypertension, and catheter indwelling as risk factors for higher mortality. Conclusions Infections were common in patients with advanced SLE and ESRD, and several risk factors might increase the risk of mortality. Once infection is identified, empiric antibiotics should be initiated immediately, and subsequent antibiotics should be applied per the results of drug sensitivity testing to clear the infection.

Organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) on the silicon backplanes processed via the standard foundry complementary metal–oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes were developed with the state-of-the-art electrical doping technology to meet the optical and electrical requirements, resulting in high luminance (over 5000 cd/m2) for the green emissive OLED microdisplay. The unavoidable oxidized aluminium contact after the CMOS processes on the top layer of the pixel was found to significantly increase the driving voltage of the device (up to 1 V at 100 cd/m2 luminance). To aid in the extraction of the accurate device parameters for setting up an equivalent circuit, the reference top-emitting OLEDs without bottom metal contacts were deposited directly on interconnection-metal-only silicon substrates from the CMOS foundry. The distribution of the AlOx of the top-layer metal contact on silicon (the bottom anode of OLEDs) was confirmed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiles.

ObjectiveTo evaluate neurological function and its influencing factors in patients with anti-γ -aminobutyric acid B receptor (GABABR) encephalitis.MethodsThis was a clinical cohort study of patients diagnosed with anti-GABABR encephalitis; long-term follow-up was performed by telephone. Clinical factors associated with prognosis were analyzed, including clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, imaging features, tumor comorbidities and therapeutic responses.ResultsTwenty-two patients with anti-GABABR encephalitis were evaluated (median age: 55 years). Lung cancer was detected in eight patients. All were with serum tumor markers (mainly NSE), and three of them had additional onconeuronal antibodies. The patients with tumors were older than the patients without tumors and more likely to develop status epilepticus (62.5% vs. 14.3%; p = 0.052), central hypoventilation (50% vs. 7.1%; p = 0.039), and hyponatremia (87.5% vs. 14.3%; p = 0.001). The patients with tumors had higher mortality (87.5% vs. 0%; p < 0.05). Although 92.9% of the patients without tumors became functionally independent (mRS ≤2), sequelae of symptomatic seizures, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cognitive impairment were still observed in 14.3%, 21.4%, and 21.4% of patients, respectively.Conclusions(1) Elderly patients with anti-GABABR antibodies, especially those with severe symptoms, serum tumor markers, and additional onconeuronal antibodies, should be screened for lung cancer. (2) Anti-GABABR encephalitis with tumors has a poor prognosis. (3) Most patients without tumors achieve self-care, but some still experience remaining neurological deficits.

In recent years, organic/inorganic hybrid materials have attracted much attention in the field of multilayer antireflection films because of their excellent optical properties. In this paper, the organic/inorganic nanocomposite was prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and titanium (IV) isopropoxide (TTIP). The hybrid material has a wide, tunable window of refractive index, i.e., 1.65–1.95, at a wavelength of 550 nm. The atomic force microscope (AFM) results of the hybrid films show the lowest root-mean-square surface roughness of 2.7 Å and a low haze of 0.23%, indicating that the films have good potential for optical applications. The double-sided antireflection films (10 × 10 cm2) with one side of hybrid nanocomposite/cellulose acetate and the other side of hybrid nanocomposite /polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) achieved high transmittances of 98% and 99.3%, respectively. After 240 days of aging testing, the hybrid solution and the antireflective film remained stable with almost no attenuation. Furthermore, the application of the antireflection films in perovskite solar cell modules increased the power conversion efficiency from 16.57% to 17.25%.

Organic semiconductors with bipolar transporting character are highly attractive as they offer the possibility to achieve high optoelectronic performance in simple device structures. However, the continual efforts in preparing bipolar materials are focusing on donor-acceptor (D-A) architectures by introducing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing units into one molecule in static molecular design principles. Here, we report a dynamic approach to construct bipolar materials using only electron-donating carbazoles connected by N-P=X resonance linkages in a donor-resonance-donor (D-r-D) structure. By facilitating the stimuli-responsive resonance variation, these D-r-D molecules exhibit extraordinary bipolar properties by positively charging one donor of carbazole in enantiotropic N+=P-X- canonical forms for electron transport without the involvement of any acceptors. With thus realized efficient and balanced charge transport, blue and deep-blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes hosted by these D-r-D molecules show high external quantum efficiencies up to 16.2% and 18.3% in vacuum-deposited and spin-coated devices, respectively. These results via the D-r-D molecular design strategy represent an important concept advance in constructing bipolar organic optoelectronic semiconductors dynamically for high-performance device applications.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like dementia and pathology. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a key role in the development of cognitive impairment in T2DM. Zonisamide (ZNS) was found to suppress ERS-induced neuronal cell damage in the experimental models of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the protective effect of Zonisamide in the treatment of diabetes-related dementia is not determined. Here, we studied whether ZNS can attenuate cognitive impairments in T2DM mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) and received one intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to develop T2DM. After the 9-week diet, the mice were orally gavaged with ZNS or vehicle for 16 consecutive weeks. We found that ZNS improved spatial learning and memory ability and slightly attenuated hyperglycemia. In addition, the expression levels of synaptic-related proteins, such as postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) and synaptophysin, were increased along with the activation of the cyclic AMP response element-binding (CREB) protein and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) both in the hippocampus and cortex of T2DM mice. Meanwhile, ZNS attenuated Aβ deposition, Tau hyperphosphorylation at Ser-396/404, and also decreased the activity of Tau upstream kinases including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, ZNS also decreased the ERS hallmark protein levels. These data suggest that ZNS can efficiently prevent cognitive impairment and improve AD-like pathologies by attenuating ERS in T2DM mice.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate disease-activity-guided stepwise tapering or discontinuation of rhTNFR:Fc, an etanercept biosimilar, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a prospective, randomized, open-label, multicentric study. Methods: Active AS patients with AS disease activity score (ASDAS) ⩾2.1 recruited from 10 hospitals were treated with rhTNFR:Fc 50 mg weekly for 12 weeks, and further randomized into different tapering or discontinuation groups according to ASDAS at week 12. Patients who achieved clinical remission (ASDAS

Background/Aims: Renal involvement is one of the most common extra-articular complications caused by ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Most studies have focused on the incidence rate, clinical manifestation and pathology, while risk factors have hardly been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the risk factors of renal involvement in patients with AS. Methods: Clinical and biochemical data of 926 AS patients were collected. Based on the manifestations of renal involvement, patients were divided into three groups and the differences in clinical and biochemical characteristics were compared. A group with non-renal involvement served as a control. Multivariable logistic regression was used for analyzing risk factors of renal involvement in AS. Results: Of the 926 AS patients, 201 patients suffered from renal involvement. Moreover, female AS patients faced a higher risk of hematuria compared to male patients. As indicated by the data obtained from multivariate logistic regression analysis, gender, uric acid (UA), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and serum albumin (ALB) were found to be risk factors of renal involvement in AS. An increase in UA or IgA levels, or a decrease in ALB level can increase the risk of renal involvement with multiple manifestations (more than one manifestation of renal damage). According to our findings, no definite variable was identified as a risk factor of proteinuria in AS patients. Conclusion: In AS patients, UA, IgA, and ALB levels can indicate the risk of renal involvement in AS patient and need to be paid special attention. Furthermore, women are subjected to a higher risk of hematuria.

Straw resources are abundant in Jiangsu province, the utilization and burning of straw is an important problem in agriculture carbon emission reduction. In order to analyze the effect of straw’s comprehensive utilization technology on agricultural carbon emission, the STIRPAT model is introduced, which takes straw utilization technology as the core explanatory variable while other influencing factors as control variables, and the ridge regression is adopted to conduct an empirical analysis on the influencing factors of agricultural carbon emission in Jiangsu province from 2008 to 2018. The results demonstrate that for every 1% increasing of straw’s comprehensive utilization technology, agriculture carbon emission will be reduced by 0.17%; the labor force is the biggest driver of agriculture carbon emissions; agriculture economic development, energy consumption takes a certain inhibitory effect on agriculture carbon emissions, but not very great.

Two species of the genus Neoperla from China are described as new: Neoperla furcostyla sp. n., and N. similidella sp. n. The new species are compared to similar taxa.

A novel fiber Bragg grating direct current sensor with intrinsic temperature compensation is presented in this article. The operating principle of the sensor is based on the deflection of a cantilever beam due to the electromagnetic force between a static-iron and a moving-iron attached to the free end of the cantilever which is enclosed within a solenoid through which the current under test is passed. The deflection of the cantilever beam is measured by differential strain sensing using two fiber Bragg gratings mounted on either side of the beam, thus achieving temperature compensation. The sensor operation is theoretically described, and experimental measurements confirm the operation of the fiber Bragg grating direct current sensor up to 500 A. A 382-pm Bragg wavelength shift difference is detected when the current is 500 A. The test results are analyzed and discussed in the time domain and frequency domain. The resistance to electromagnetic interference immunity of the fiber Bragg grating sensor is improved compared with the strain gauge sensor.