Association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with risk of lung cancer in individuals aged 40 years and older: A cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2013-2018.

Background: It remains unclear whether chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an independent risk factor for lung cancer after excluding confounding factors such as smoking, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, etc.

Methods: Data from 11,440 participants (≥ 40 years old) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2018 were analyzed. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between COPD and lung cancer risk.

Generation of cylindrical vector modes via astigmatic mode conversion.

In this work, we propose and demonstrate experimentally a compact technique for generating cylindrical vector beams based on a Michelson interferometer and a π-astigmatic mode converter. The latter is required to invert the topological charge of higher-order Laguerre-Gauss (LG) beams. Our proposed technique generalizes the use of astigmatic mode conversion, commonly associated only with scalar beams, to vector beams with a non-homogeneous polarization distribution.

[Liujunzi Decoction treats 4NQO-induced esophageal cancer in mice: a study based on serum metabolomics].

This study aims to explore the mechanism of Liujunzi Decoction in the treatment of 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide(4NQO)-induced esophageal cancer in mice. One hundred mice of 35-45 days were randomized into blank, model, and low-, medium-, and high-concentration(18.2, 36.

Tunable longitudinal spin-orbit separation of complex vector modes.

Complex vector modes are opening burgeoning opportunities for a wide variety of applications and therefore the flexible manipulation of their various properties has become a topic of late. As such, in this Letter, we demonstrate a longitudinal spin-orbit separation of complex vector modes propagating in free space. To achieve this, we employed the recently demonstrated circular Airy Gaussian vortex vector (CAGVV) modes, which feature a self-focusing property.

Experimental generation of arbitrary abruptly autofusing Circular Airy Gaussian vortex vector beams.

Complex vector modes represent a general state of light nonseparable in their spatial and polarization degrees of freedom, which have inspired a wide variety of novel applications and phenomena, such as their unexpected propagation behaviour. For example, they can propagate describing periodic polarization transitions, changing from one vector beam to another. Here, we put forward a novel class of vector modes with the capability to experience an abruptly autofocusing behaviour.

The latest research progress on minimally invasive treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to the high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in China, the incidence of HCC in China is high, and liver cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis also brings great challenges to treatment. This paper reviewed the latest research progress on minimally invasive treatments for HCC, including percutaneous thermal ablation and new nonthermal ablation techniques, and introduced the principles, advantages, and clinical applications of various therapeutic methods in detail.

Parabolic-accelerating vector waves.

Complex vector light fields have become a topic of late due to their exotic features, such as their non-homogeneous transverse polarisation distributions and the non-separable coupling between their spatial and polarisation degrees of freedom (DoF). In general, vector beams propagate in free space along straight lines, being the Airy-vector vortex beams the only known exception. Here, we introduce a new family of vector beams that exhibit novel properties that have not been observed before, such as their ability to freely accelerate along parabolic trajectories.

Polarisation-insensitive generation of complex vector modes from a digital micromirror device.

In recent time there has been an increasing amount of interest in developing novel techniques for the generation of complex vector light beams. Amongst these, digital holography stands out as one of the most flexible and versatile with almost unlimited freedom in the generation of scalar and complex vector light fields featuring arbitrary polarisation distributions and spatial profiles. In this manuscript we put forward a novel technique, which relies on the polarisation-insensitive attribute of Digital Micromirror Devices (DMDs).

International-focused Online Forum: A Good Way to Jointly Manage the COVID-19 Pandemic for Global Critical Care Community.

Xiao-Bo H, Poonyathawon S, Semedi BP, Xiao-Yi Z, Wei F, Da-Wei W, International-focused Online Forum: A Good Way to Jointly Manage the COVID-19 Pandemic for Global Critical Care Community. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(4):283-284.

Massive abdominal hemorrhage after radiofrequency ablation of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma with successful hemostasis achieved through transarterial embolization: a case report.

Acute massive abdominal hemorrhage after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an infrequent and severe complication. Delayed diagnosis and treatment may be life-threatening. We herein describe a 60-year-old man with a history of postoperative HCC.

Does the structure of light influence the speckle size?

It is well known that when a laser is reflected from a rough surface or transmitted through a diffusive medium, a speckle pattern will be formed at a given observation plane. An important parameter of speckle is its size, which for the case of homogeneous illumination, well-known relations for its computation have been derived. This is not the case for structured light beams of non-homogeneous intensity and phase distribution.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and destruction of pancreatic β cells in type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from dysfunction of pancreatic islets β cells. Recent studies supported that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress takes an important role in pancreatic β cell excessive loss, resulting in T1D. Here, we aimed to review the relationship between ER stress and T1D.

Real-time Stokes polarimetry using a digital micromirror device.

Stokes polarimetry (SP) is a powerful technique that enables spatial reconstruction of the state of polarization (SoP) of a light beam using only intensity measurements. A given SoP is reconstructed from a set of four Stokes parameters, which are computed through four intensity measurements. Since all intensities must be performed on the same beam, it is common to record each intensity individually, one after the other, limiting its performance to light beams with static SoP.

Numb confers to inhibit epithelial mesenchymal transition via β-catenin/Lin28 signaling pathway in breast cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate role of Numb in the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer.

Methods: Numb and β-catenin were inhibited in MCF-7 cells using sh-RNA and overexpressed in T47D cells by pcDNA3.0-Numb, pcDNA3.

LIGHT/IFN-γ triggers β cells apoptosis via NF-κB/Bcl2-dependent mitochondrial pathway.

LIGHT recruits and activates naive T cells in the islets at the onset of diabetes. IFN-γ secreted by activated T lymphocytes is involved in beta cell apoptosis. However, whether LIGHT sensitizes IFNγ-induced beta cells destruction remains unclear.

Laser Ablation of 6H-SiC Single Crystals and Spectral Characterization.

Laser micromachining has proven to be a useful tool for precision processing of semiconductors. For Silicon Carbide (SiC) single crystals, ablation with ultraviolet wavelength laser could lead to the maximum absorption efficiency of incident energy. In this paper, laser ablations were performed on 6H-SiC single crystals through a 355 nm solid state laser.

STAT1-mediated down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression is involved in IFN-γ/TNF-α-induced apoptosis in NIT-1 cells.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ are the major pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in beta-cell destruction. The fate of islet beta-cells in the cytokine-induced intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway is determined by the interaction between members of the Bcl-2 family. However, the mechanism through which beta-cell apoptosis is regulated remains unclear.

Synthesis of stable ACC using mesoporous silica gel as a support.

Stable amorphous calcium carbonate supported by mesoporous silica gel was successfully synthesized. The silica gel support is prepared through the hydrolytic polycondensation of ethyl silicate under suitable conditions. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) observations reveal that the morphology of the products is branched with cruciform-like and flower-like structure.

C5a stimulates the proliferation of breast cancer cells via Akt-dependent RGC-32 gene activation.

Complement system activation contributes to various immune and inflammatory diseases, as well as cancers.However, the role of complement activation in the proliferation of cancer cells is not clear. In the present study, we investigated the consequences of complement activation on the proliferation of breast cancer cells and its possible mechanisms.

[Effects of diterpene phenol extract of Rosmarinus officinalis on TGFbeta1 and mRNA expressions of its signaling pathway molecules in the lung tissue of pulmonary fibrosis rats].

Objective: To investigate the regulative mechanism of the diterpene phenol extract of Rosmarinus Officinalis (DERO) on the imbalance of collagen metabolism of the lung tissue in pulmonary fibrosis rats.

Methods: Fifty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal saline group (NS), the bleomycin-induced lung injury group (BLM), the low dose DERO group (at the daily dose of 50 mg/kg), the moderate dose DERO group (at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg), and the high dose DERO group (at the daily dose of 200 mg/kg), 10 in each group (abbreviated as DERO 1, 2, 3, respectively). The pulmonary fibrosis rat model was prepared by disposable intratracheal instillation of bleomycin.

Interleukin-2 gene polymorphisms and prognosis of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) plays a key role in the proliferation of T cells and natural killer cells. It has been reported that polymorphisms in the IL-2 gene are associated with various cancers.

Dickkopf-1 as a novel predictor is associated with risk stratification by GRACE risk scores for predictive value in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a retrospective research.

Objective: Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), a major regulator of the Wnt pathway, plays an important role in cardiovascular disease. However, no study has evaluated the association of DKK-1 and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated this association and whether the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) hospital-discharge risk score predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) can be improved by adding the DKK-1 value.