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Objective To explore the correlation between circulating lymphocyte profiles and the outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy. Methods A retrospective cohort of 40 patients who received EGFR-TKI therapy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital was designed. Circulating lymphocyte subsets were collected using flow cytometry for dynamic monitoring during EGFR-TKI therapy. The survival of each patient was followed up by telephone call. The correlation of baseline and dynamic change of the peripheral blood circulating lymphocyte subsets and survival were further analyzed. Results Patients who responded to EGFR-TKI therapy had significantly higher baseline circulating CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+ T-cell counts during dynamic monitoring. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for the entire population was 27.1 months; however, overall survival (OS) was not achieved. The median PFS did not differ significantly between patients with higher and lower baseline CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+ T-cell counts. Furthermore, dynamic changes in CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+ T-cell counts were significantly correlated with not only the response to EGFR-TKI therapy response, but also PFS. PFS of patients with stable or increased CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+ T-cell counts during the EGFR-TKI therapy was significantly longer than that of patients with decreased CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+ T-cell counts (29.1 months vs. 9.4 months; P＜0.001). Conclusions Higher baseline circulating CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+ T-cell counts indicate a better EGFR-TKI response, and dynamic changes in CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+ T-cell counts are associated with prolonged PFS.

Objective To investigate the “Precision Treatment for Oncology” course, which is offered by Peking Union Medical College.The course is aiming for collecting students′ opinions and suggestions to optimize the course setting and improve the teaching quality. Methods This investigation collected data by questionnaire survey and interviewing from Dec.2021 to Feb.2022. The questionnaire data and interview data were analysed. Results Thirty-six quantitative questionnaires and five qualitative questionnaires were included. Improving professional knowledge and personal interests were two main reasons for students to choose courses, which existed statistical differences on different aspects of course evaluation. The overall score evaluated by medical students was 9.22 and 94.4% of the students thought the course achieved the desired goal. The scores of teachers′ teaching attitude, frontier and practicality of course content were 9.81, 9.08 and 8.86 points respectively. The students hoped to increase the case analysis practice and thematic discussion activities to enrich the teaching form. Conclusions This elective course for graduate is recognized and accepted by students. More efforts are needed in future to optimize curriculum settings, innovate teaching methods, improve teaching quality and explore new pathways for medical graduate education matching the needs of students.

Background: Surgical intervention, complemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide, constitutes the conventional treatment protocol for patients with newly diagnosed grade 4 glioma. We have conducted a research to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an integrated treatment regimen that incorporates tumor-treating fields with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Methods: This retrospective research analyzed the clinical data of 39 adults who were newly diagnosed with World Health Organization (WHO) grade 4 gliomas at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, between February 2022 and April 2023. Each participant received a concurrent treatment regimen consisting of temozolomide (75 mg/m2 daily), tumor-treating fields (200 kHz), and brain irradiation (60 Gy delivered in 30 fractions). Maintenance treatment comprised ongoing temozolomide and tumor-treating fields. Adverse events were documented in accordance with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE 5.0) and specific grading criteria for dermatological adverse events associated with tumor-treating fields. Results: Among the 39 enrolled patients, disease progression was observed in 22 individuals (56.4%), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 14.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.1-14.3 months). The median overall survival (OS) was 18.2 months (95% CI: 17.3 months to not reached). Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma had a median PFS of 13.1 months (95% CI: 12.9-14.2 months) and a median OS of 18.2 months (95% CI: 17.3 months to not reached). In contrast, patients diagnosed with astrocytoma had a median PFS of 14.3 months (95% CI: 12.8 months to not reached) and a median OS of 17.0 months (95% CI: 10.6 months to not reached). Twenty-five patients (64.1%) experienced dermatological adverse events, and 30 (77.0%) experienced mild hematological adverse reactions related to chemoradiotherapy. Conclusion: The application of tumor-treating fields concurrent with post-surgery chemoradiotherapy is both safe and effective for treating patients with newly diagnosed WHO grade 4 gliomas, exhibiting only limited toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 capture from the flue gas is a promising approach to mitigate global warming. However, regulating the carbon-based adsorbent in terms of textural and surface modification is still a challenge. To overcome this issue, the present study depicts the development of cost-effective and high-performance CO2 adsorbents derived from petroleum coke, an industrial by-product, using a two-step process involving thiourea modification and KOH activation. A series of N,S-codoped porous carbons was synthesized by varying activation temperatures and KOH quantity. The optimized sample exhibited a high specific surface area of 1088 m2/g, a narrow micropore volume of 0.52 cm3/g, and considerable heteroatom doping (1.57 at.% nitrogen and 0.19 at.% sulfur). The as-prepared adsorbent achieved a CO2 adsorption capacity of 3.69 and 5.08 mmol/g at 1 bar, 25 °C and 0 °C, respectively, along with a CO2/N2 selectivity of 17. Adsorption kinetics showed 90% of equilibrium uptake was achieved within 5 min, while cyclic studies revealed excellent stability with 97% capacity retention after five cycles. Thermodynamic analysis indicated moderate isosteric heat of adsorption (Qst) values ranging from 18 to 47 kJ/mol, ensuring both strong adsorption and efficient desorption. These findings highlight the potential of petroleum coke-derived porous carbons for sustainable and efficient CO2 capture applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The comparison of chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Dalbergia odorifera essential oils, obtained by hydrodistillation and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction methods. Methods: Their compositions and antimicrobial activity were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and microdilution methods, respectively. Results: Hydro-distilled essential oil (HD-EO) consisted of 8 components, accounting for 98.67%, whereas supercritical carbon dioxide extracted essential oil (SC-EO) consisted of 13 components, accounting for 87.90%. The significant differences between the compositions of these essential oils were nerolidol oxide Ⅰ (23.69% for HD-EO and 16.10% for SC-EO), nerolidol oxide Ⅱ (43.40% for HD-EO and 34.52% for SC-EO), and nerolidol oxide Ⅲ (3.61% for HD-EO and 7.27% for SC-EO). S. epidermidis and S. pneumoniae were more sensitive to HD-EO than to SC-EO. Moreover, HD-EO possessed anti- B. cereus and anti- S. dysenteriae activities, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 13.6 mg/mL. SC-EO exhibited anti- C. albicans activity with an MIC value of 2.9 mg/mL. Moreover, the essential oils were tested but found inactive against E. aerogenes, E. faecalis, K. pneumonia, P. vulgaris, S. typhi, S. typhimurium, or V. parahaemolyticus. Conclusion: These results support for the rational utilization and further development of D. odorifera essential oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]