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A novel BHEs is proposed that can overcome the problems associated with the low heat-transfer efficiency of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) that are connected in series (BHEs-S) and the low heat-transfer temperature differences of BHEs that are connected in parallel (BHEs-P). The new BHE uses a combined series and parallel connection (BHEs-CSP), which can further be classified into individual in-series and in-parallel zones. A numerical model of the new BHEs-CSP is then developed to optimize the key design parameters such as borehole spacing, number of series stages, and heat-extraction methods. The results show that, with the optimal configuration, the average soil temperature with a BHEs-CSP is 6.70°C higher than for a BHE that is connected in parallel. Furthermore, the heat-transfer efficiency can be improved by 4.1% compared to BHEs that are connected in series. It is recommended that the distance between buried pipes in the series area and parallel area should be 5.25 m, and the series number of buried pipe groups should be 4. To study the overall performance of the solar-assisted ground-source heat-pump with a BHEs-CSP (SAGSHP-CSP), a TRNSYS model is developed. The results show that the optimal area- and heat-storage-ratios (for in-series zone to inparallel zone), using SAGSHP-CSP, are 1:4 and 3:2, respectively. Under these conditions, the system coefficient of performance (SCOP) is over 5.2 and the COP and SCOP is improved by 9.8% and 13.0% compared to GSHP systems with BHEs-P. Furthermore, an improvement by 18.4% and 18.2%, compared to the GSHP system with BHEs-S, is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has been hailed as a powerful tool for comprehending disease etiology and advancing drug screening across various domains. While earlier iPSC-based disease modeling and drug assessment primarily operated at the cellular level, recent years have witnessed a significant shift towards organoid-based investigations. Organoids derived from iPSCs offer distinct advantages, particularly in enabling the observation of disease progression and drug metabolism in an in vivo-like environment, surpassing the capabilities of iPSC-derived cells. Furthermore, iPSC-based cell therapy has emerged as a focal point of clinical interest. In this review, we provide an extensive overview of non-integrative reprogramming methods that have evolved since the inception of iPSC technology. We also deliver a comprehensive examination of iPSC-derived organoids, spanning the realms of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and oncology, as well as systematically elucidate recent advancements in iPSC-related cell therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of computed tomography (CT)-guided radioactive 125I seeds brachytherapy (RISB) for lung oligometastases (LO) from colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Data for 144 LOs from 70 CRC patients who underwent CT-guided RISB were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were technical success, local control rate (LCR), and complications. Kaplan–Meier method was used for survival analysis. Cox model was used to identify the independent predictors of poor prognosis. Results: The RISB procedures were successfully performed in all patients, and the success rate was 100%. The median follow-up was 27.8 months. The median PFS was 10.0 months (95% CI: 8.9–11.1) and the 1- and 2-year PFS rates were 32.9% and 5.9%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ≤ 15 ng/ml (P = 0.048), middle-high differentiated pathological classification (P = 0.015), primary TNM stages I-III (P = 0.001), LO number ≤ 2 (P < 0.001) and cumulative gross tumor volume (GTV) ≤ 40 cm3 (P < 0.001) showed superior PFS. The median OS was 30.8 months (95% CI: 27.1–34.4) and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 95.7%, 67.4%, and 42.5%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, serum CEA ≤ 15 ng/ml (P = 0.004), middle-high differentiated pathological classification (P < 0.001), primary TNM stages I-III (P < 0.001), LO number ≤ 2 (P < 0.001), cumulative GTV ≤ 40 cm3 (P < 0.001) and system treatments combined with chemotherapy and target therapy (P < 0.001) showed superior OS. The LCR for 3, 6, and 12 months was 97.9%, 91.0%, and 83.6%, respectively. There were 4 cases of pneumothorax at 5.7% that required drainage. Conclusions: RISB for LO from CRC is safe and effective, and serum CEA, TNM stage, LO number, cumulative GTV, and system treatments should be emphasized for long OS. Key points: • CT-guided RISB is a new treatment for lung oligometastases from CRC. • RISB can be an alternative therapy for patients who are unsuitable for surgery, ablation, or SBRT. • Serum CEA, TNM stage, LO number, cumulative GTV, and system treatments are prognostic factors. • RISB is a safe method with a curative effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of celiac plexus block (CPB) combined with 125I seeds implantation (ISI) for refractory epigastric pain from abdominal malignancies. Methods: The data of 81 patients with refractory epigastric pain [visual analog scale (VAS) score ≥ 4] from abdominal malignancies were collected in this retrospective case–control study. Group A (n = 40) was treated with CPB alone, while Group B (n = 41) underwent CPB combined with ISI. The primary study endpoints were the VAS score, quality of life (QoL), and local tumor control (LTC) rate. The secondary endpoints were complications, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: The VAS scores at week 2 (T2), week 4 (T4), week 8 (T8), and week 12 (T12) in both groups were significantly lower compared with the pretreatment values (all P < 0.01). VAS scores in Group B showed a sustained decrease, especially for "mild pain" and "moderate pain," while the VAS scores in Group A rebounded at T8 and T12 (both P < 0.01). The QoL in Group B improved significantly from T4 until T12, which better than that at T12 in Group A (all P < 0.01). The LTC rates at T8 were 35.0% and 92.7% in Groups A and B, respectively, with a significant difference (P < 0.01). Group B had a slightly lower complication rate and a slightly longer median PFS/OS than group A, but neither was statistically different (P = 0.09 and P = 0.99, respectively). Conclusion: CPB combined with ISI performs more sustained pain relief (up to 12 weeks) compared to CPB alone, and ultimately improves the patients' QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) combined with 125I seed strand brachytherapy (ISSB) for the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA). Methods: The clinical data of 64 patients with HCCA (median age 62.5, male 29, female 35) treated in our department from April 2017 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-four patients in the experimental group (EG) were treated with PBD combined with ISSB, while 30 patients in the control group (CG) were treated with PBD alone. The primary study endpoints were technical success, clinical success and the 2-month local tumor control (LTC) rate. Secondary endpoints were early/late complications, median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS). Results: The technical and clinical success in the EG and CG showed no significant differences (100 vs. 100%, 94.1 vs. 93.3%, P > 0.05). Both early and late complications showed no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). The 2-month LTC rates were significantly better in the EG versus the CG (94.1% vs. 26.7%, 157.7 ± 115.3 vs. 478.1 ± 235.3 U/ml), respectively (P < 0.05). The mPFS and mOS were 4.3 (95% CI 3.9–4.7) months and 2.8 (95% CI 2.5–3.1) months and 13.5 (95% CI 10.7–16.3) months and 8.8 (95% CI 7.8–9.8) months, respectively, with significant differences (P < 0.05). Conclusion: PBD combined with ISSB is a safe and effective treatment for HCCA that can inhibit local tumors and prolong PFS and OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the abnormal search volume intensity for lottery-related keywords from the Baidu search engine, we construct a daily and provincial lottery preference index in China and re-examine the relationship between lottery preference and stock market return. Consistent with the previous studies, we find that when lottery preference is high, stocks will earn a positive return in the short-run, but this effect will reverse in the next few periods. We also have some new findings: (1) the total effect of lottery preference is mainly driven by the global preference but not the local preference; (2) the positive effects of the global part will last longer among regions with stronger lottery preference, and only in these regions, local lottery preference has a positive impact in the short-run. (3) there is an asymmetric effect that during the bull market, the short-term positive effect of lottery preference persists longer, and it delays the reversal process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The sampling of vascular obstruction diseases remains a challenge in clinical practice. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, and safety of intravascular forceps biopsy (IVFB) for the diagnosis of vascular obstructive diseases., Methods: From January 2015 to January 2022, of the total of 35 patients who underwent IVFB (21 male, 14 female; mean age 60±11 years; range, 39-81 years), 32 (91.4%) did so during interventional planned revascularization procedures and 3 (8.6%) did so due so due to inaccessible or failed percutaneous access. The outcomes of technical success, biopsy times, patient radiation dose (PRD), complications, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy rate (AR) were analyzed., Results: The technical success of IVFB was 100%. The median number of biopsies taken per biopsy session and PRD were 4.0 (range, 3-6) and 712.6 mGy (range, 383.4-1,450.8), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and AR of IVFB were 87.5% (21/24), 100% (11/11), 100% (21/21), 78.6% (11/14), and 91.4% (32/35), respectively. There were no complications related to IVFB., Conclusions: IVFB is a technically feasible and safe technique with good diagnostic value. The procedure should be considered in patients who are not suitable for percutaneous access, show indistinct imaging characteristics, or are scheduled to undergo revascularization procedure., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://qims.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/qims-23-597/coif). Mengyao Song, X.Z., X.H., and D.J. report funding support from the Henan Province Science and Technology Research Project (grant No. 232102311132). The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery. All rights reserved.)