Feasibility and accuracy of targeted axillary dissection by carbon tattooing in biopsy-proven node-positive breast cancer: A prospective study.

Introduction: Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) is used for less-invasive axillary staging in patients with initially node-positive breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). However, the efficacy of TAD using carbon suspension remains unclear. Here, the aim was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of TAD, combining sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using a single blue dye tracer with target lymph node biopsy (TLNB) using carbon suspension.

Risk factors for and prognosis of postoperative cardiac events in older patients with hip fractures: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Postoperative cardiac events (PCEs) are life threatening in older patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for PCEs in these patients and to evaluate the impact of PCEs on all-cause mortality after surgery.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients who underwent surgery for hip fractures at the Seventh Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, from January 2012 to December 2020.

Phonon-limited carrier mobility modeling of two-dimensional semiconductors based on first principles.

Two-dimensional semiconductors are set to form the foundation of next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices such as field-effect transistors, solar cells, and light-emitting devices. carrier mobility is one of the key properties that determines the device performance, such as the switching frequency, the photoelectric efficiency, and so on. The correct evaluation of carrier mobility requires accurate modeling of both the electronic and vibrational properties of a material, and thus it is an intrinsically difficult problem as one cannot focus on only one of the two sets of properties.

KCNK2-mediated regulation of MMP-2/9 by PlGF influences uterine artery function in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Background: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is characterized by aberrant uterine arterial remodeling, a process tightly associated with an imbalance between placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt 1) as well as the down regulation of matrix metalloproteinases 2/9 (MMP 2/9). This study investigated the regulatory effect of PlGF on the two pore domain potassium channel KCNK2 and its downstream targets MMP 2/9, and explored the role of the PlGF KCNK2 MMP 2/9 axis in PIH related uterine arterial dysfunction.

Methods: In vitro, human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were assessed for proliferation and migration using CCK 8 and Transwell assays.

Designing a Self-Extinguishing System in a Composite Electrolyte for Highly Safe Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

The thermal runaway issue of polymer electrolytes (solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs)) at high temperatures, particularly the irreconcilable contradiction between thermal safety and electrochemical performance, remains a great challenge for SPEs that can be applied to solid-state lithium batteries. Here, an intelligent self-extinguishing system originating from the core-shell structure of microcapsules is designed to snuff out the possibility of thermal runaway and provides a high-performance solid-state Li metal battery. The polymer shell of the microcapsules not only serves as a barrier to eliminate detrimental interactions of the flame retardant with the electrolyte or the active lithium metal anode but also acts as a thermoresponsive agent to release the flame retardant.

Predicting the prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma based on systemic immune inflammatory index and prognostic nutritional index.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) undergoing surgery, and to establish a nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 240 RCC patients who underwent surgery. SII and PNI values were calculated, and optimal cutoff value were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves.

Timing of surgery and 1-year postoperative outcomes in patients with breast cancer and preoperative COVID-19 history: A matched, longitudinal, ambidirectional cohort study.

Preoperative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection increases the risk of postoperative complications and mortality and has long-lasting effects on multiple organ systems. The scheduling of elective surgery after SARS-CoV-2 infection depends on infection severity, vaccination status, patient factors, and surgical urgency. In the post-vaccination Omicron era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is limited evidence regarding the medium- and long-term postoperative outcomes and optimal surgical timing for patients with breast cancer recovering from COVID-19.

Association between leukocyte telomere length and renal cell carcinoma: insight from Mendelian randomization study.

Background: To investigate whether leukocyte telomere length (LTL) causally influences renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk, this study applied Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Prior research examining LTL as a potential biomarker for RCC risk has yielded inconsistent findings.

Methods: We obtained summary-level LTL data from the UK Biobank genome-wide association study (n = 472,174) and gathered RCC data from both the FinnGen Consortium (n = 289,360) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (n = 13,230).

Expression and Subtype Discordance Between Core Needle Biopsy and Surgical Specimen in Breast Cancer.

Introduction: Estrogen receptors (ERs), progesterone receptors (PRs), and human epidermal growth factor receptors 2 (HER2s) are crucial for the molecular subtype classification and therapy decision-making in breast cancer. Core needle biopsy (CNB) serves as an essential preoperative diagnostic tool for biomarker evaluation, offering minimal invasiveness and convenience. However, CNB has limitations including insufficient sampling volume, sampling errors, underestimation and false results.

Giant Tunneling Magnetoresistance Based on Spin-Valley-Mismatched Ferromagnetic Metals.

Half metals, which are amenable to perfect spin filtering, can be utilized for high-magnetoresistive devices. However, available half metals are very limited. Here, we demonstrate that materials with intrinsic spin-valley-mismatched (SVM) states can be used to block charge transport, resembling half metals and leading to giant tunneling magnetoresistance.

Exactly Solvable Mobility Edges for Phonons in One-Dimensional Quasiperiodic Chains.

Mobility edges, which demarcate the boundary between extended and localized states, are fundamental to understanding the physics of localization in condensed matter systems. Systems exhibiting exact mobility edges are rare, and the localization properties of phonons have received limited prior investigation. In this work, we reveal analytical mobility edges in one-dimensional quasiperiodic-modulated spring-mass chains.

Effect of visceral fat area on prognosis of patients undergoing radical gastrectomy and construction of nomogram.

Background: We aim to investigate the impact of visceral fat area (VFA) on the prognosis of patients following radical gastric resection and develop a nomogram prediction model to forecast the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 156 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for distal gastric cancer in the 900th hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force from April 2018 to April 2020. We collected the CT image data and clinicopathological data one week prior to the operation and then used software to calculate the VFA, dividing it into two groups: a low VFA group (n = 71) and a high VFA group (n = 85).

Study on risk factors of preoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients with lower limb fractures and construction and validation of risk prediction nomogram model.

Background: To explore the correlation between the levels of D-dimer (D-D), fibrinogen (FIB), fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and platelets (PLT) in peripheral blood of patients with lower limb fractures and the formation of deep vein thrombosis in lower limbs, and to establish a new thrombosis prediction model for patients with lower limb fractures.

Methods: The patients were divided into DVT group and non DVT group according to whether there was deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity. The differences in the levels of D-D, FIB, FDP and platelets between the two groups were analyzed and compared.

Association of inflammatory blood markers and pathological complete response in HER2-positive breast cancer: a retrospective single-center cohort study.

Introduction: The association between inflammatory blood markers (IBMs) (monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio [MLR], neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR]) and breast cancer has been extensively studied. However, the predictive role of IBMs in the neoadjuvant response of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer remains unclear.

Methods: This study included 744 patients with HER2 positive breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy.

Innovative fabrication of eco-friendly bio-based foam from sugarcane bagasse and sodium alginate with enhanced properties and sustainable applications for plastic replacement.

Foam materials possess notable features, including low density, high porosity, low thermal conductivity, and high impact resistance, making them extensively used in various sectors such as construction, transportation, water treatment, and packaging. However, the majority of commercial foam materials are derived from synthetic polymers based on fossil fuels, which raises concerns regarding health and ecology. In this work, we present a straightforward and scalable approach (physical cross-linking and common pressure drying) for fabricating a bio-based foam material using pulp fibers sourced from discarded sugarcane bagasse and sodium alginate extracted from seaweed.

Prognosis and immunotherapy significances of a cancer-associated fibroblasts-related gene signature in bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Background: The biological significance of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) warrants further investigation. There is an urgent need to explore the predictive utility of CAF-related genes for prognosis in BUC.

Methods: The transcriptome and clinical data of 407 BUC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analyzed and a prognostic model was established.

Effects of Toothpaste Containing 2% Zinc Citrate on Gingival Health and Three Related Bacteria-A Randomized Double-Blind Study.

Objectives: Gingivitis is the initial stage of periodontitis, one of the most common oral diseases and the primary cause of tooth loss. This study aims to evaluate the effect of toothpaste containing 2% zinc citrate on gingival health and the abundance of three bacteria related to gingivitis and periodontitis.

Methods And Materials: Eleven volunteers with the same oral health status were randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 5) and control (n = 6) groups.

Web log mining techniques to optimize Apriori association rule algorithm in sports data information management.

To optimize the current college sports data information management system, this study combines the Apriori association rule algorithm with web application development technology to upgrade the management system. Firstly, this study explores novel log mining techniques in genetic algorithms and web application development technology. Secondly, by integrating log mining techniques to optimize the Apriori algorithm, associations between sports data and information are discovered.

Identification of sequence polymorphism in the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA as a risk factor for breast cancer.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variations affect the efficiency of the electron transport chain and production of reactive oxygen species, contributing to carcinogenesis. The D-loop region of mtDNA has emerged as a variation hotspot region in human neoplasia; however, the potential contribution of these variations in breast cancer risk prediction remains unknown. We investigated the relationship between germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the entire D-loop region and breast cancer risk in Chinese women.

Analytical study of water infiltration and contaminant transport in barrier systems.

An analytical model was developed to assess the service time of the barrier system consisting of a two-layer cover system and a cut-off wall. The recursive method is used to evaluate the influence of the variable head loss boundary condition caused by the water infiltration. The impact of the types of cover systems and cut-off walls on the barrier system performance is assessed.

MAZ-mediated up-regulation of BCKDK reprograms glucose metabolism and promotes growth by regulating glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase stability in triple-negative breast cancer.

Tumour metabolic reprogramming is pivotal for tumour survival and proliferation. Investigating potential molecular mechanisms within the heterogeneous and clinically aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype is essential to identifying novel therapeutic targets. Accordingly, we investigated the role of branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) in promoting tumorigenesis in TNBC.

YY1 mediated DCUN1D5 transcriptional activation promotes triple-negative breast cancer progression by targeting FN1/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is more aggressive and has a higher metastasis rate compared with other subtypes of breast cancer. Due to the lack of drug-targetable receptors, chemotherapy is now the only available systemic treatment for TNBC. However, some patients might still develop drug resistance and have poor prognosis.

Autophagy inhibition mediated via an injectable and NO-releasing hydrogel for amplifying the antitumor efficacy of mild magnetic hyperthermia.

While mild hyperthermia holds great potential in the treatment of solid tumors, the thermal stress-triggered self-repairing autophagy significantly compromises its efficacy. To circumvent this obstacle, an injectable hydrogel (NO-Gel) composed of thermosensitive poly(ethylene glycol)-polypeptide copolymers modified with abundant NO donors on their side chains is developed. Meanwhile, ferrimagnetic ZnFeO magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with high magnetic-heat conversion efficiency are synthesized and loaded into NO-Gel to obtain MNPs@NO-Gel.