Development and validation of a prognostic immunoinflammatory index for patients with gastric cancer.

Background: Studies have demonstrated the influence of immunity and inflammation on the development of tumors. Although single biomarkers of immunity and inflammation have been shown to be clinically predictive, the use of biomarkers integrating both to predict prognosis in patients with gastric cancer remains to be investigated.

Aim: To investigate the prognostic and clinical significance of inflammatory biomarkers and lymphocytes in patients undergoing surgical treatment for gastric cancer.

Evaluating the influence of sarcopenia and myosteatosis on clinical outcomes in gastric cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor.

Background: The development and progression of gastric cancer (GC) are closely linked to the nutritional status of patients. Although immunotherapy has been demonstrated to be clinically effective, the relationships of sarcopenia and myosteatosis with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with gastric cancer remain to be characterized.

Aim: To assess the effects of sarcopenia and myosteatosis on the clinical outcomes of patients with GC undergoing treatment with an ICI.

Preoperative glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts survival in cancer.

Background: Systemic inflammation and glucose metabolism have been closely related to the survival of cancer patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether preoperative glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) can be used to predict the survival of cancer patients.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 2172 cancer patients who underwent surgery from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2016.

Exosomes Derived from Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Insulin Sensitivity in Insulin Resistant Human Adipocytes.

Insulin resistance is an essential characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which can be induced by glucotoxicity and adipose chronic inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their exosomes were reported to ameliorate T2DM and its complications by their immunoregulatory and healing abilities. Exosomes derived from MSCs contain abundant molecules to mediate crosstalk between cells and mimic biological function of MSCs.

Early-life nutrition and metabolic disorders in later life: a new perspective on energy metabolism.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic disorders have become an epidemic globally. However, the pathogenesis remains largely unclear and the prevention and treatment are still limited. In addition to environmental factors during adulthood, early life is the critical developmental window with high tissue plasticity, which might be modified by external environmental cues.

Potential contribution of the gut microbiota to hypoglycemia after gastric bypass surgery.

Obesity has become a global health problem. Lifestyle modification and medical treatment only appear to yield short-term weight loss. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the most popular bariatric procedure, and it sustains weight reduction and results in the remission of obesity-associated comorbidities for obese individuals.

Spatial Heterojunction in Nanostructured TiO and Its Cascade Effect for Efficient Photocatalysis.

A highly efficient photoenergy conversion is strongly dependent on the cumulative cascade efficiency of the photogenerated carriers. Spatial heterojunctions are critical to directed charge transfer and, thus, attractive but still a challenge. Here, a spatially ternary titanium-defected TiO@carbon quantum dots@reduced graphene oxide (denoted as @CQDs@rGO) in one system is shown to demonstrate a cascade effect of charges and significant performances regarding the photocurrent, the apparent quantum yield, and photocatalysis such as H production from water splitting and CO reduction.

Interfacial co-existence of oxygen and titanium vacancies in nanostructured TiO for enhancement of carrier transport.

The interfacial co-existence of oxygen and metal vacancies in metal oxide semiconductors and their highly efficient carrier transport have rarely been reported. This work reports on the co-existence of oxygen and titanium vacancies at the interface between TiO and rGO via a simple two-step calcination treatment. Experimental measurements show that the oxygen and titanium vacancies are formed under 550 °C/Ar and 350 °C/air calcination conditions, respectively.

Maternal exercise and its beneficial effects on glucose metabolism in offspring.

It shows that detrimental exposures and conditions in mothers can lead to the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes in offspring. This can lead to a vicious cycle of metabolic dysfunction, where rising rates of obesity, pre-diabetes, and diabetes in individuals of reproductive age, propagating risks to subsequent generations. It is well established that regular exercise has important health benefits for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Correction: Synthesis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic TiO nanofluids for transformable surface wettability and photoactive coating.

Correction for 'Synthesis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic TiO2 nanofluids for transformable surface wettability and photoactive coating' by Jie Hu et al., Chem. Commun.

Synthesis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic TiO nanofluids for transformable surface wettability and photoactive coating.

Two modified TiO nanofluids were developed, with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties. The hydrophobic TiO nanofluid, embedded in an organo-silyl salt, could be transformed into a hydrophilic TiO nanofluid by exchange of the chloride with an organo-sulphonate ion. Both modified TiO nanofluids exhibited high fluidity, thermal stability and photoactivity.

Structural elucidation of three antioxidative polysaccharides from Tricholoma lobayense.

Tricholoma lobayense is a nutritious mushroom with great health benefits. Three polysaccharides with purity higher than 99% were successfully extracted from Tricholoma lobayense. The molecular weights of TLH-1, TLH-2 and TLH-3 were determined to be 8.

The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and its role in the occurrence and development of HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common tumor worldwide and has a very poor prognosis. Its occurrence has been on the increase in recent years. Surgical resection and liver transplantation are the primary methods of treatment for HCC patients, but can only be applied to 15% of patients.

[Pollution Assessment and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Heavy Metals in Soils of Coal Mining Area in Longkou City].

The present paper takes the coal mining area of Longkou City as the research area. Thirty-six topsoil (0-20 cm) samples were collected and the contents of 5 kinds of heavy metals were determined, including Cd, As, Ni, Ph, Cr. Geo-statistics analysis was used to analyze the spatial distribution of heavy metals.

Blood pressure control rate and associated risk factors in hospitals of different grades in Chongqing, China.

Objective: The present article aimed to provide accurate estimate of the control rate of hypertension and the influencing factors in hospitals of different grades in Chongqing.

Methods: In this survey, hypertensive outpatients were recruited from 5 tertiary hospitals, 6 secondary hospitals and 5 primary hospitals in 9 districts of Chongqing from November 2011 to May 2012. Outpatients were investigated by clinical interview with BP measurement and questionnaire.

On-chip spectrometer with a circular-hole defect for optical sensing applications.

We propose an optical sensor by integrating a circular-hole defect with an etched diffraction grating spectrometer based on amorphous silicon photonic platforms. There are some superiorities of this device, such as high sensitivity (~10000 nm/RIU), and ability to deliver component analysis from the near-infrared spectrum by using the integrated spectrometer. As application example, the chip is used for distinguishing similar biodiesel types and accurately determining their concentrations in a diesel oil mixture.

Curcumin improves bone microarchitecture and enhances mineral density in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis are often observed to co-occur in clinical practice. The present study aimed to evaluate the bone microarchitecture and bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal tibia in APP/PS1 transgenic mice by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and to search for evidence that curcumin can be used to reduce bone mineral losses and treat osteoporosis after senile dementia in these transgenic mice. Three-month-old female mice were divided into the following groups (n=9 per group): wild-type mice (WT group); APP/PS1 transgenic mice (APP group); and APP/PS1 transgenic mice with curcumin treatment (APP+Cur group).

In vivo magnetic resonance tracking of Feridex-labeled bone marrow-derived neural stem cells after autologous transplantation in rhesus monkey.

Bone marrow stroma cells-derived neural stem cells (BMSCs-D-NSCs) transplantation is a promising strategy for the treatment of nervous system disorders. The development of a non-invasive method to follow the fate of BMSCs-D-NSCs in vivo is very important for the future application of this treatment. In this paper, we show for the first time, that BMSCs-D-NSCs from rhesus monkeys can be labeled in vitro with the superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) contrast agent Feridex and Poly-L-lysine (PLL) without affecting morphology, cell cycle, telomerase activity, proliferation and differentiation ability of the labeled cells.

[Clinical analysis of 4 treatments for woman polycystic ovarian syndrome with infertility].

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of 4 different treatments for woman polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with infertility.

Methods: One hundred and twenty women PCOS with infertility were divided into 4 Groups : patients in Group 1 were directly treated with clomiphene (CC)/CC + human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) + human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to accelerate ovulation; patients in Group 2 were treated with the same way as Group 1 after taking marvolon for 2 cycles; patients in Group 3 took marvolon for 2 cycles and metformin for 8 weeks, and then were treated the same as Group 1; patients in Group 4 were treated with laparosocopy. The body mess index (BMI), emmenia period, weight, volume of ovary, LH, and T were measured before and after the treatment in all patients.