Rational hapten design, antibody preparation, and immunoassay development for rapid screening xylazine in biological samples.

Xylazine (XYL) is an illicit adulterant in opioids and an approved veterinary sedative drug, which has been abused, misused, and residued in food samples, endangering people health, causing drug-facilitated crimes and even death. Immunoassay used antibody as core biomaterial could to achieve highly sensitive and rapid detection screening purpose for XYL in situ. Here, we rationally designed four novel XYL haptens with different spacer arms to produce antibodies with high affinity and specificity.

Investigation of Antibody Tolerance in Methanol for Analytical Purposes: Methanol Effect Patterns and Molecular Mechanisms.

The extraction of targets from biological samples for immunoassays using organic solvents, such as methanol, is often necessary. However, high concentrations of organic solvents in extracts invariably lead to instability of the employed antibody, resulting in poor performance of the immunoassay. Evaluating the tolerance ability and exploring the molecular mechanisms of antibody tolerance in organic solvents are essential for the development of robust immunoassays.

A two-center study of a combined nomogram based on mammography and MRI to predict ALN metastasis in breast cancer.

Objectives: To develop and validate a predictive method for axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis of breast cancer by using radiomics based on mammography and MRI.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 492 women from center 1 (The affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University) and center 2 (Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital) with primary breast cancer from August 2013 to May 2021 was carried out. The radscore was calculated using the features screened based on preoperative mammography and MRI from the training cohort of Center 1 (n = 231), then tested in the validation cohort (n = 99), an internal test cohort (n = 90) from Center 1, and an external test cohort (n = 72) from Center 2.

Prediction of Disease-Free Survival in Breast Cancer using Deep Learning with Ultrasound and Mammography: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer morbility and mortality in women. The possibility of overtreatment or inappropriate treatment exists, and methods for evaluating prognosis need to be improved.

Materials And Methods: Patients (from January 2013 to December 2018) were recruited and divided into a training group and a testing group.

The Application of Three-Dimensional-Printed Hydrogels in Bone Tissue Engineering.

Bone defects are a prevalent clinical issue that presents a serious medical challenge. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) has emerged as an effective approach for treating large bone defects. Hydrogels, as hydrophilic three-dimensional polymers, are recognized as suitable material for BTE due to their excellent biocompatibility and degradability.

A gas-selective Zn-MOF exhibits selective sensing of Fe ions by doping with Tb.

Here, a new Zn metal organic framework, {[MeNH][Zn(L)(DTZ)]·2DMF·3HO} (Zn-MOF), has been synthesized with low-symmetric carboxylic acid ligand 2,6 bis(2',5'-dicarboxyphenyl)pyridine (HL) as the main ligand and 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-riazole (DTZ) containing an electron-rich N atom as an auxiliary ligand. Because of its high structural stability and adsorption properties, it can be used to efficiently separate CO/CH and CH/CH. In addition, Tb@Zn-MOF was obtained by doping with Tb to partially replace Zn.

Trans-scale interface engineering: Constructing nature-inspired spider-web networks for regulating thermal transport and mechanical performance of carbon fiber/phenolic composites.

The development of interfacial engineering was crucial for achieving the industrialization of high-performance carbon fiber/phenolic composites. In this study, establishing scalable interpenetrating networks (cellulose nanofiber-zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8/aramid nanofiber-boron nitride) on the fiber/matrix interphase, was in favor of realizing precise repairation of interfacial defects, further regulating thermal conductivity, mechanical and tribological properties of the composites. Based on the physical and chemical bridging-effects arising from above spider-web networks, the flexural strength and modulus of modified sample were 74.

A Proof-of-Concept Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay Development for Small Molecules.

A sandwich immunoassay theoretically exhibits higher sensitivity and specificity compared to a competitive counterpart; however, it is extremely difficult to obtain a pair of antibodies that can bind to a small molecule simultaneously, which is always thought to be a single epitope. In the present study, abamectin (ABM) was selected to prove the effect of hapten design and antibody recognition properties on the development of a sandwich immunoassay for small molecules. First, the epitopes of ABM were roughly located, and epitope distances were determined.

Enhanced selectivity of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation by multielectrode configuration.

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) has been gaining momentum as a non-invasive rehabilitation approach to restore movement to paralyzed muscles after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, its low selectivity limits the types of movements that can be enabled and, thus, its potential applications in rehabilitation.In this cross-over study design, we investigated whether muscle recruitment selectivity of individual muscles could be enhanced by multielectrode configurations of tSCS in 16 neurologically intact individuals.

Noninvasive prediction of node-positive breast cancer response to presurgical neoadjuvant chemotherapy therapy based on machine learning of axillary lymph node ultrasound.

Objectives: To explore an optimal model to predict the response of patients with axillary lymph node (ALN) positive breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with machine learning using clinical and ultrasound-based radiomic features.

Methods: In this study, 1014 patients with ALN-positive breast cancer confirmed by histological examination and received preoperative NAC in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University (QUH) and Qingdao Municipal Hospital (QMH) were included. Finally, 444 participants from QUH were divided into the training cohort (n = 310) and validation cohort (n = 134) based on the date of ultrasound examination.

Enhanced selectivity of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation by multielectrode configuration.

Objective: Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) has been gaining momentum as a non-invasive rehabilitation approach to restore movement to paralyzed muscles after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, its low selectivity limits the types of movements that can be enabled and, thus, its potential applications in rehabilitation.

Approach: In this cross-over study design, we investigated whether muscle recruitment selectivity of individual muscles could be enhanced by multielectrode configurations of tSCS in 16 neurologically intact individuals.

Minimum Distance Between Two Epitopes in Sandwich Immunoassays for Small Molecules.

The pursuit of the limit between dimensionalities is a scientific goal with high applicability. Sandwich immunoassay, usually based on two antibodies binding two epitopes, is one of the most popular mainstay tools in both academic and industrial fields. Herein, we determined and evaluated the minimum distance of two epitopes in sandwich immunoassays for small molecules.

Valuable aramid/cellulose nanofibers derived from recycled resources for reinforcing carbon fiber/phenolic composites.

The scale-up preparation of aramid nanofiber (ANF) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF), still faces serious challenges such as extreme production cost and lengthy preparation cycle. Herein, a feasible top-down strategy was proposed to achieve the efficient reclamation of waste resources, further realizing the large-scale production of high value-added nanofibers. The ANF/CNF as nanoscale building blocks and their reinforcement effects on the mechanical performances of carbon fiber/phenolic composites were investigated.

Metal-organic frameworks/polydopamine synergistic interface enhancement of carbon fiber/phenolic composites for promoting mechanical and tribological performances.

Carbon fiber/phenolic composites have wide application prospects in the transmission of vehicles, where the combination of prominent mechanical and tribological properties is required. Multiscale metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and polydopamine (PDA) as binary reinforcements were employed to construct a rigid-flexible hierarchical structure for improving the interfacial performances of friction materials. This unique rigid-flexible (MOFs/PDA) reinforcement could act as an effective interfacial linker, significantly facilitating the integration of fibers into the matrix and establishing a strong mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding onto the fiber/matrix interphase, thus boosting the mechanical and tribological properties of the composites.

Estimands for overall survival in clinical trials with treatment switching in oncology.

An addendum of the ICH E9 guideline on Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials was released in November 2019 introducing the estimand framework. This new framework aims to align trial objectives and statistical analyses by requiring a precise definition of the inferential quantity of interest, that is, the estimand. This definition explicitly accounts for intercurrent events, such as switching to new anticancer therapies for the analysis of overall survival (OS), the gold standard in oncology.

Breast cancer subtypes affect the ultrasound performance for axillary lymph node status evaluation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of breast cancer subtypes on the diagnostic value of axillary ultrasound for node status evaluation after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Pathologic node-positive breast cancer patients underwent axillary ultrasound imaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. The enrolled patients were classified into four subtypes: Luminal A, Luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched and triple-negative.

A Randomized Phase II Study of AGS-16C3F Versus Axitinib in Previously Treated Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Lessons Learned: The primary endpoint of this phase II study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of the investigational compound, AGS-16C3F, versus axitinib in previously treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) was not met. Median progression-free survival, the primary endpoint, was 2.9 months with AGS-16C3F and 5.

Household air pollution from cooking and heating and its impacts on blood pressure in residents living in rural cave dwellings in Loess Plateau of China.

Cave dwelling is an ancient and unique type of residence in the Loess Plateau of Northern China, where the economics are less-developed. The majority of the local dwellers rely on traditional solid fuels for cooking and heating, which can emit large amounts of particles into both indoor and outdoor environments. In this study, we measured the real-time household concentrations of PM and explored the association between personal daily PM exposure and blood pressure (BP).

Correlation between imaging features and molecular subtypes of breast cancer in young women (≤30 years old).

Objectives: To analyze the features of digital mammography (DM) plus digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of breast cancer in young women (≤30 years old) and the correlation with molecular subtypes.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective study of imaging features of consecutive young women aged ≤30 years who were treated and surgically confirmed with breast cancer between January 2013 and December 2019 in our institution. All patients were Chinese women.

Maternal ambient air pollution exposure with spatial-temporal variations and preterm birth risk assessment during 2013-2017 in Zhejiang Province, China.

Preterm birth (PTB) can give rise to significant neonatal morbidity and mortality, as well as children's long-term health defects. Many studies have illustrated the associations between ambient air pollution exposure during gestational periods and PTB risks, but most of them only focused on one single air pollutant, such as PM. In this population-based environmental-epidemiology study, we recruited 6275 pregnant mothers in Zhejiang Province, China, and evaluated their gestational exposures to various air pollutants during 2013-2017.

Ecological risk assessment of the increasing use of the neonicotinoid insecticides along the east coast of China.

In the past two decades, neonicotinoid insecticides have been widely used in agricultural activities in China. Many previous studies have investigated the neonicotinoid pollution in aquatic ecosystems, but the status of water safety of neonicotinoid uses in China is very scarce. The present study aims to reveal the spatial and temporal distribution of neonicotinoids in rivers, and then evaluate the ecological risks to aquatic animals.

Resolution of the Ongoing Challenge of Estimating Nonpoint Source Neonicotinoid Pollution in the Yangtze River Basin Using a Modified Mass Balance Approach.

Neonicotinoid insecticides have been widely consumed worldwide, particularly in China. There is a growing interest in the environmental research community about the occurrence, fates, sources, and risks of neonicotinoids. Nine neonicotinoids in river/lake water were measured at 12 sites along the Yangtze River Basin during the dry and wet seasons in 2016, and nonpoint sources were also identified based on a modified mass balance method.

A Mixed-Effects Model for Detecting Disrupted Connectivities in Heterogeneous Data.

The human brain is an amazingly complex network. Aberrant activities in this network can lead to various neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and autism. functional magnetic resonance imaging has emerged as an important tool to delineate the neural networks affected by such diseases, particularly autism.

Emergency volunteering willingness and participation: a cross-sectional survey of residents in northern China.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors that influence people's willingness to volunteer and participation in emergency volunteering in northern China.

Design/setting: This study was conducted in Heilongjiang province in September and October 2014 using a mixed methods approach, which included a cross-sectional questionnaire survey on community residents and in-depth interviews with community residents and relevant organisational managers and officials in relation to emergency responses. A stratified cluster sampling strategy was employed to select questionnaire respondents.

A Phase I, Dose Escalation Study of Oral ASP8273 in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancers with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations.

Acquired T790M mutations are the most frequently identified resistance mechanism to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in patients with -mutant lung cancers. ASP8273 is a third-generation EGFR TKI with antitumor activity in preclinical models of EGFR-mutant lung cancer that targets mutant EGFR, including T790M. In this multicohort, phase I study (NCT02113813), escalating doses of ASP8273 (25-500 mg) were administered once daily to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with disease progression after prior treatment with an EGFR TKI.