Antitumor Immunity Augmented by Combining Radiofrequency Ablation with Anti-CTLA-4 Therapy in a Subcutaneous Murine Hepatoma Model.

Purpose: To evaluate whether antitumor immunity is enhanced by combining radiofrequency (RF) ablation and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) therapy and to evaluate its effect on untreated tumors.

Materials And Methods: First, 40 mice with tumors established in the bilateral flanks were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the RF ablation-alone group, the anti-CTLA-4-alone group, and the RF ablation + anti-CTLA-4 group. In each group, 8 mice were used for untreated tumor evaluation and survival observation, and another 2 mice were killed for histopathologic study.

Upregulation of miR-340 Inhibits Tumor Growth and Mesenchymal Transition via Targeting c-MET in Glioblastoma.

Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is involved in various cancers including glioblastoma. Our previous study has shown that miR-340 negatively correlated with EMT process in glioblastoma.

Purpose: In the present study, we aim to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-340 in EMT process of glioblastomas.

Reversibly Switching the Charge State and Adsorption Location of A Single Potassium Atom on Ultrathin CuO Films.

Potassium (K) cations are spontaneously formed upon thermal deposition of low-coverage K onto an ultrathin CuO monolayer grown on Cu(110) and they were explored by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The formed K cations are highly immobile and thermally stable. The local work function around an individual K cation decreases by 1.

[Effects of inhibitors and pig manure on the transformation of urea nitrogen in paddy soil].

With the aim to understand the response of different nitrogen forms in paddy soil under the conditions of urea combined with inhibitors and pig manure, and to explore the nitrogen retention and supply capacity of paddy soil under different management strategy, we conducted a pot experiment with N labeled urea. There were six treatments: no nitrogen fertilizer (CK), pig manure (M), urea (N), urea+pig manure (NM), urea+inhibitor (NI), urea+inhibitor+pig manure (NIM). Urease inhibitor (PPD+NBPT) and nitrification inhibitor (DMPP) were used as the inhibitor combination.

Radiographic and neurobehavioral profile of sports-related concussion associated with scholastic wrestling: a case report.

Sports-related concussions (SRCs) are typically characterized by transient neurologic deficits due to physiologic and metabolic brain injury. However, following an SRC, subsequent insults may lead to severe and permanent injury in the affected brain cells. We present the case of a 15-year-old female scholastic wrestler who developed acute encephalopathy, macroscopic white matter injury on imaging, and chronic behavioral changes from inadequate neuro-recovery after a documented SRC.

Publisher Correction: A human monoclonal antibody blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Antibacterial mechanism of the polysaccharide produced by Chaetomium globosum CGMCC 6882 against Staphylococcus aureus.

GCP, a polysaccharide produced by endophytic fungus Chaetomium globosum CGMCC 6882, was found to be antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus via disrupting cell permeability. However, the antibacterial mechanism of GCP has not been studied before. In present work, results showed that GCP could retard the growth of S.

Integrity of randomized controlled trials: challenges and solutions.

There has been increasing concern about compromised integrity in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) because it undermines the authority of this top-level evidence-generating method and puts patients at risk. Compromised RCTs also jeopardize the validity of systematic reviews and meta-analyses when they are included. The publication-driven research environment is responsible for the emergence of integrity issues in RCTs, which has been facilitated by insufficient efforts to prevent, identify, and disclose research misconduct.

Data integrity of 35 randomised controlled trials in women' health.

While updating a systematic review on the topic of ovulation of induction, we observed unusual similarities in a number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published by two authors from the same institute in the same disease spectrum in a short period of time. We therefore undertook a focused analysis of the data integrity of all RCTs published by the two authors. We made pairwise comparisons to find identical or similar values in baseline characteristics and outcome tables between trials.

A human monoclonal antibody blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The emergence of the novel human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China has caused a worldwide epidemic of respiratory disease (COVID-19). Vaccines and targeted therapeutics for treatment of this disease are currently lacking. Here we report a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 (and SARS-CoV) in cell culture.

Construction of a prognostic model for lung adenocarcinoma based on bioinformatics analysis of metabolic genes.

Background: Long-term observations and studies have found that the occurrence and development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is associated with certain metabolic changes and that metabolic disorders are directly related to carcinogenic gene mutations. We attempted to establish a prognostic model for LUAD based on the expression profiles of metabolic genes.

Method: We analyzed the gene expression profiles of patients with LUAD obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Cardiac motion non-influential in percutaneous computed tomography-guided biopsies of small (≤ 20 mm) lung nodules near pericardium.

Purpose: To assess the impact of cardiac motion during percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided core needle biopsy (PCT-CNB) of small lung lesions near pericardium, focusing on safety and diagnostic accuracy.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-eight PCT-CNBs were performed between March 2010 and June 2018 in 78 patients with small (≤ 20 mm) lung nodules, each within 10 mm of pericardium. Shifts in distance and length of interface separating lesions from pericardium were calculated and compared by cardiac chambers (left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium, or right ventricle).

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2-Specific Antibody Responses in Coronavirus Disease Patients.

A new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has recently emerged to cause a human pandemic. Although molecular diagnostic tests were rapidly developed, serologic assays are still lacking, yet urgently needed. Validated serologic assays are needed for contact tracing, identifying the viral reservoir, and epidemiologic studies.

Safety of early discharge with a chest tube after pulmonary segmentectomy.

Objectives: Early removal of chest tube is an important step in enhanced recovery after surgery protocols. However, after pulmonary resection with a wide dissection plane, such as pulmonary segmentectomy, prolonged air leak, a large volume of pleural drainage and the risk of developing empyema in patients can delay chest tube removal and result in a low rate of completion of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol. In this study, we aimed to assess the safety of discharging patients with a chest tube after pulmonary segmentectomy.

Methylene blue degradation by the VUV/UV/persulfate process: Effect of pH on the roles of photolysis and oxidation.

This study investigated methylene blue (MB) degradation by the vacuum-ultraviolet/ultraviolet/persulfate (VUV/UV/PS) process using a mini-fluidic VUV/UV photoreaction system. Results show that MB degradation by the VUV/UV/PS process was significantly higher than that of the conventional UV/PS process, as the VUV photolysis of HO and PS generated more reactive oxygen species (ROSs). HO and SO, identified as the main ROSs, were mostly consumed by dissolved organic carbon and Cl in real waters, respectively.

Water-soluble carbon dots with blue, yellow and red emissions: mechanism investigation and array-based fast sensing application.

In this study, three kinds of CDs with blue, yellow and red emissions were prepared and their luminescence mechanisms through theoretical calculations together with experimental data were further investigated in depth. Afterwards, a sensor array was constructed by using three kinds of CD-metal ions for rapid discrimination of different types of sulfur-containing species.

Radiofrequency ablation of synchronous multiple primary lung cancer assisted by a magnetic navigation system: a case report.

With the widespread use of low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer in China, the incidence of multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC) has increased in recent years. Surgical resection is the standard treatment for early-stage MPLC; however, a significant proportion of patients with MPLC cannot undergo surgery. For patients with multiple pulmonary nodules who cannot tolerate surgical treatment, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of multiple pulmonary lesions under the help of electromagnetic navigation system is a new treatment method.

Serologic Detection of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Functional Antibodies.

We developed and validated 2 species-independent protein-based assays to detect Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus functional antibodies that can block virus receptor-binding or sialic acid-attachment. Antibody levels measured in both assays correlated strongly with virus-neutralizing antibody titers, proving their use for serologic confirmatory diagnosis of Middle East respiratory syndrome.

Systems Toxicology Approaches Reveal the Mechanisms of Hepatotoxicity Induced by Diosbulbin B in Male Mice.

Diosbulbin B (DIOB) is an effective component of air potato yam with antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities, and it is the main toxic component leading to hepatotoxicity. However, the mechanism of its hepatotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to systematically elucidate the molecular action of DIOB on liver metabolic function through systems toxicology approaches.

Mechanical stretch increases Kv1.5 current through an interaction between the S1-S2 linker and N-terminus of the channel.

The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.5 plays important roles in atrial repolarization and regulation of vascular tone. In the present study, we investigated the effects of mechanical stretch on Kv1.

Analysis of the Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Lung Adenocarcinoma With Mutation.

Introduction: Lung adenocarcinoma with mutation is relatively uncommon, and its clinicopathologic characteristics, disease course, and prognosis have not been well-studied.

Methods: A total of 564 lung adenocarcinoma patients were enrolled in this study. The relationship between mutational status and clinicopathologic parameters, the rates of relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), and the mutational status of other genes commonly mutated in lung adenocarcinoma were analyzed.

A tutorial on calibration measurements and calibration models for clinical prediction models.

Our primary objective is to provide the clinical informatics community with an introductory tutorial on calibration measurements and calibration models for predictive models using existing R packages and custom implemented code in R on real and simulated data. Clinical predictive model performance is commonly published based on discrimination measures, but use of models for individualized predictions requires adequate model calibration. This tutorial is intended for clinical researchers who want to evaluate predictive models in terms of their applicability to a particular population.

CT radiomics features as a diagnostic tool for classifying basal ganglia infarction onset time.

Objective: This study was aimed to discuss the application of radiomics using CT analysis in basal ganglia infarction (BGI) for determining the time since stroke onset (TSS) which could provide critical information to clinicians in deciding stroke treatment options such as thrombolysis.

Methods: This study involved 316 patients with BGI (237 in the training cohort and 79 in the independent validation cohort). Region of interest segmentation and feature extraction was done by ITK-SNAP software.

Methodologies for detecting environmentally induced DNA damage and repair.

Environmental DNA damaging agents continuously challenge the integrity of the genome by introducing a variety of DNA lesions. The DNA damage caused by environmental factors will lead to mutagenesis and subsequent carcinogenesis if they are not removed efficiently by repair pathways. Methods for detection of DNA damage and repair can be applied to identify, visualize, and quantify the DNA damage formation and repair events, and they enable us to illustrate the molecular mechanisms of DNA damage formation, DNA repair pathways, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis.