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Abstract The dynamic compression test of geopolymer concrete (GC) before and after water saturation was carried out by the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). And the effects of water saturation and strain rate on impact toughness of GC were studied. Based on Weibull statistical damage distribution theory, the dynamic constitutive model of GC after water saturation was constructed. The results show that the dynamic peak strain and specific energy absorption of GC have strain rate strengthening effect before or after water saturation. The impact toughness of GC decreases after water saturation. The size distribution of GC fragments has fractal characteristics, and the fractal dimension of GC fragments after water saturation is smaller than that before water saturation. The dynamic constitutive model based on Weibull statistical damage distribution theory can accurately describe the impact mechanical behavior of GC after water saturation, and the model fitting curves are in good agreement with the experimental stress–strain curves.

Abstract Background Chemotherapy related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a type of memory and cognitive impairment induced by chemotherapy and has become a growing clinical problem. Breast cancer survivors (BCs) refer to patients from the moment of breast cancer diagnosis to the end of their lives. Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) is a convenient and easy‐to‐apply psychological intervention that has been proven to improve quality of life and alleviate CRCI in BCs. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) has become an effective method for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of brain networks in CRCI. The fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and ALFF have often been used in analyzing the power and intensity of spontaneous regional resting state neural activity. Methods The recruited BCs were randomly divided into the CALM group and the care as usual (CAU) group. All BCs were evaluated by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Function (FACT‐Cog) before and after CALM or CAU. The rs‐fMRI imaging was acquired before and after CALM intervention in CALM group BCs. The BCs were defined as before CALM intervention (BCI) group and after CALM intervention (ACI) group. Results There were 32 BCs in CALM group and 35 BCs in CAU group completed the overall study. There were significant differences between the BCI group and the ACI group in the FACT‐Cog‐PCI scores. Compared with the BCI group, the ACI group showed lower fALFF signal in the left medial frontal gyrus and right sub‐gyral and higher fALFF in the left occipital_sup and middle occipital gyrus. There was a significant positive correlation between hippocampal ALFF value and FACT‐Cog‐PCI scores. Conclusions CALM intervention may have an effective function in alleviating CRCI of BCs. The altered local synchronization and regional brain activity may be correlated with the improved cognitive function of BCs who received the CALM intervention. The ALFF value of hippocampus seems to be an important factor in reflect cognitive function in BCs with CRCI and the neural network mechanism of CALM intervention deserves further exploration to promote its application.

In this research, graphene oxide (GO) was integrated into concrete to assess its effectiveness as an additive. Triaxial compression permeability experiments, variable-angle (30°, 45°, and 60°) shear experiments, and dynamic compression experiments were conducted on graphene oxide concrete (GOC) and normal concrete (NC). The Holmquist–Johnson–Cook model and LS-DYNA software were utilized to simulate the mesoscopic failure of NC and GOC under impact loading. The mechanism of GO was examined through scanning electron microscope (SEM) microscopic scanning and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) energy spectrum testing. The findings demonstrate that the contain of GO significantly enhances the destruction resistance of concrete under triaxial compression. The permeability of both NC and GOC exhibits a negative exponential decrease with increasing confining pressure, and carbon fiber reduces concrete permeability by 17.79%–60.9%. Compared to NC, the cohesion and internal friction angle of GOC increased by 7.80% and 8.55%, respectively. GO also improves energy conversion and storage capacity during the elastic stage of concrete, reducing inelastic energy loss during shear processes. Although, both NC and GOC exhibit strain rate sensitivity, the DIF value of GOC surpasses that of NC and the disparity between the two intensifies with increasing impact pressure. Simulation results indicate that the number of crushing units in GOC is significantly lower than in NC, maintaining integrity. Analysis of SEM microscopic test results reveals that the distribution of cement hydration products in NC is uniform, whereas in GOC, it displays regional characteristics, a phenomenon corroborated by EDS energy spectrum test results.

To study the impact of cutting blasting on the surface, a vibration waveform prediction function was constructed, and a method of dividing the affected area was proposed. Based on the equivalent spherical charge theory, it is possible to establish a connection between the fitting coefficient and the engineering parameters in the equivalent source intensity function. Furthermore, a blasting vibration waveform function suitable for engineering can be constructed. Secondly, the reliability of the method introduced is verified through the data monitored on-site. Finally, the affected partitions of blasting vibration are divided based on the peak particle velocity and vibration displacement as standards. The results show that the vibration waveform prediction system introduced can restore the vibration waveform corresponding to cutting blasting. In addition, the zoning method can reasonably divide the scope of the affected area.

Abstract Background Cancer‐related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a frequent consequence in breast cancer survivors after chemotherapy and lowers their quality of life (QOL). Psychological distress is frequently experienced by breast cancer survivors. There are currently few studies investigating the role of psychological distress in the genesis of CRCI. Methods In total, 122 breast cancer survivors after standard chemotherapy within a year were recruited and assessed using the Psychological Distress Thermometer (DT). Sixty breast cancer survivors had non‐psychological distress (NPD group) and sixty‐two breast cancer survivors with psychological distress (PD group). The scores of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), prospective and retrospective memory (PM and RM) Questionnaire (PRMQ), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐General (FACT‐G) and the levels of cytokines including interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) were compared between the two groups. Using PROCESS, we investigated whether psychological distress predicted cognitive function based on MMSE through IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and IL‐4. Results The PD group had higher scores on RM, PM, and FACT‐G and lower scores on MMSE than the NPD group (t = −11.357, t = −10.720, t = −15.419, t = 10.162, respectively; p

Abstract Background Chemotherapy‐related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a common but easily overlooked condition that markedly affects the quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer. The rs671 is a common gene polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) in Asia that is involved in aldehyde metabolism and may be closely related to CRCI. However, no study has yet summarised the association between ALDH2 and CRCI. Methods This study enrolled one hundred and twenty‐four patients diagnosed with breast cancer according to the pathology results, genotyped for ALDH2 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) to explore these. The mini‐mental state exam (MMSE), verbal fluency test (VFT), and digit span test (DST) results were compared in these patients before and after chemotherapy (CT). Results We found that patients with ALDH2 gene genotypes of rs671_GG, rs886205_GG, rs4648328_CC, and rs4767944_TT polymorphisms were more likely to suffer from cognitive impairment during chemotherapy. A trend toward statistical significance was observed for rs671_GG of DST (z = 2.769, p = 0.006), VFT (t = 4.624, P

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive, malignant cancer with a complex pathogenesis. However, effective therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers are limited. Sorafenib provides delaying cancer progression and survival improvement in advanced HCC. But despite 10 years of research on the clinical application of sorafenib, predictive markers for its therapeutic effect are lacking. Methods The clinical significance and molecular functions of SIGLEC family members were assessed by a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis. The datasets included in this study (ICGC-LIRI-JP, GSE22058 and GSE14520) are mainly based on patients with HBV infections or HBV-related liver cirrhosis. The TCGA, GEO, and HCCDB databases were used to explore the expression of SIGLEC family genes in HCC. The Kaplan–Meier Plotter database was used to evaluate relationships between the expression levels of SIGLEC family genes and prognosis. Associations between differentially expressed genes in the SIGLEC family and tumour-associated immune cells were evaluated using TIMER. Results The mRNA levels of most SIGLEC family genes were significantly lower in HCC than in normal tissues. Low protein and mRNA expression levels of SIGLECs were strongly correlated with tumour grade and clinical cancer stage in patients with HCC. Tumour-related SIGLEC family genes were associated with tumour immune infiltrating cells. High SIGLEC expression was significantly related to a better prognosis in patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib. Conclusions SIGLEC family genes have potential prognostic value in HCC and may contribute to the regulation of cancer progression and immune cell infiltration. More importantly, our results revealed that SIGLEC family gene expression may be used as a prognostic marker for HCC patients treated with sorafenib.

BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common diabetic complications, which has become the primary cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally. Macrophage infiltration has been proven vital in the occurrence and development of DN. This study was designed to investigate the hub genes involved in macrophage-mediated inflammation of DN via bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation.MethodsGene microarray datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public website. Integrating the CIBERSORT, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and DEGs, we screened macrophage M1-associated key genes with the highest intramodular connectivity. Subsequently, the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was utilized to further mine hub genes. GSE104954 acted as an external validation to predict the expression levels and diagnostic performance of these hub genes. The Nephroseq online platform was employed to evaluate the clinical implications of these hub genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed to elucidate the dominant biological functions and signal pathways. Finally, we conducted experiments to verify the role of GBP2 in M1 macrophage-mediated inflammatory response and the underlying mechanism of this role.ResultsSixteen DEGs with the highest connectivity in M1 macrophages-associated module (paleturquoise module) were determined. Subsequently, we identified four hub genes through LASSO regression analysis, including CASP1, MS4A4A, CD53, and GBP2. Consistent with the training set, expression levels of these four hub genes manifested memorably elevated and the ROC curves indicated a good diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve of greater than 0.8. Clinically, enhanced expression of these four hub genes predicted worse outcomes of DN patients. Given the known correlation between the first three hub genes and macrophage-mediated inflammation, experiments were performed to demonstrate the effect of GBP2, which proved that GBP2 contributed to M1 polarization of macrophages by activating the notch1 signaling pathway.ConclusionOur findings detected four hub genes, namely CASP1, MS4A4A, CD53, and GBP2, may involve in the progression of DN via pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype. GBP2 could be a promising prognostic biomarker and intervention target for DN by regulating M1 polarization.

Abstract The aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 point mutation (ALDH2*2) is a common frequent human gene variant, especially in East Asians. However, the expression and mechanism of action of ALDH2 in HNSC remain unknown. The present study explored the clinical significance and immune characteristics of ALDH2 in HNSC. The receiver operating characteristic curve was analysed to assess the diagnostic value of ALDH2 expression. ALDH2 expression in normal tissues and HNSC tissues was evaluated by IHC, and we also analysed ALDH2 gene expression in 4 HNSC cell lines. ALDH2 expression was significantly reduced in HNSC tissues compared to normal tissues (p

Background: The number of patients with breast cancer is increasing worldwide, resulting in a growing number of patients with chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), which seriously affects their quality of life. CRCI is associated with inflammatory factors and systemic inflammatory markers such as pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), which can reflect the level of inflammation in the body. While the Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) intervention has been demonstrated to alleviate CRCI in patients with breast cancer, the specific mechanism remains unclear. Objective: This study evaluated the impact of the CALM intervention on systemic inflammation. Methods: Ninety patients with breast cancer with CRCI were enrolled and randomized into care as usual (CAU) and CALM intervention groups. All patients were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog), Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) before and after the CAU/CALM intervention. The blood levels of inflammatory markers were also analyzed before and after the intervention. Results: Compared to the CAU group, the CALM group showed significantly improved cognitive function and significantly decreased PIV ( P

BackgroundThe changes in inflammation and tumor biomarkers are associated with the anti-tumor immunological processes. Early detection and intervention are of great significance to the clinical management of cancer-related diseases. Peripheral blood biomarkers [e.g., neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 153 (CA153)] are obtained in real-timely, conveniently, and less invasively, and proved to availably predicted the disease states and prognosis of various cancers, including breast cancer (BC). Inflammation and poor disease management promote cognitive impairment. Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) hazard long-term survival and quality of life (QOL) of BC patients, but its correlation with NLR, CEA, and CA153 is not clear.PurposeThis study aimed to investigate changes in NLR, CEA, and CA153 levels before and after chemotherapy and their correlation with CRCI in patients with early-stage BC.Materials and methodsThe 187 patients with BC who were measured for NLR, CEA, and CA153 values within the first 24 hours of admission, were assigned into two groups: the before/after chemotherapy group (BCG/ACG). The ACG was assigned into two subgroups based on the cognitive assessment results: the cognitive normal/impaired group (CNG/CIG). Patients’ self-perceived cognitive impairments were evaluated using a mini-mental state examination (MMSE), prospective and retrospective memory (PM and RM) questionnaire (PRMQ), and functional assessment of cancer therapy-cognitive function version 3 (FACT-Cog, version 3, including CogPCI, CogOth, CogPCA, and CogQOL). Their QOL was also evaluated.ResultsThe NLR and CA153 levels were elevated after chemotherapy (BCG vs ACG: Z = −1.996 and −1.615, P = 0.046 and 0.106, respectively), and significantly elevated in patients with CRCI (BCG vs CIG: Z = −2.444 and -2.293, P = 0.015 and 0.022; respectively). However, there was not reach significant difference in CEA levels between the four groups. In addition, there was a weak to moderate correlation between peripheral blood biomarkers (NLR, CEA, and CA153) levels and CRCI (r = −0.404, −0.205, −0.322; respectively; P < 0.001). Cognitive impairment scores (MMSE, PM, RM, and FACT-Cog) had a strong correlation with QOL in patients with early-stage BC (r = −0.786, 0.851, 0.849, and 0.938; respectively; P < 0.001).ConclusionNLR and CA153 m be valuable diagnostic adjuncts of CRCI, and CRCI has a strong correlation with QOL in patients with early-stage BC.

ObjectiveThe current research was to assess the relevance between depression disorder and first-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, quality of life in patients with oncogene-driver negative non-small cell cancer (NSCLC).MethodsNSCLC patients (33 with depression disorder and 34 with no depression disorder) who was received first-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy performed Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30).ResultsThe Progression-Free Survival (PFS) of depression disorder group survivors were lower than these of no depression disorder group survivors (HR, 0.352; 95% CI, 0.201-0.617; P