Clinicopathological characteristics,prognosis, and chemosensitivity in patients with metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma

PurposeTo investigate the clinical characteristics, chemosensitivity, and outcome of metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).Patients and MethodsRecords of patients with metastatic UTUC since January 2005 were retrieved from a database that included clinical and survival data. Statistical analyses including survival and multivariate analyses of factors were respectively performed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model.ResultsA total of 250 consecutive UTUC cases were evaluated. There were 56 patients (22.4%) with initially diagnosed stage IV disease. The most common metastatic sites were lung (39.6%), distant lymph nodes (39.2%), bone (19.6%), liver (18.0%), and adrenal gland (7.2%), respectively, and the local recurrence rate was 10.4%. Two hundred thirteen patients received first-line chemotherapy. The overall response rate was only 28.7% and the median progression-free survival time was only 5.0 months. The overall survival time of the cohort was 18.0 months. Multivariate analyses showed that initially diagnosed stage IV disease, number of metastatic organs ≥3, no response to chemotherapy and cycles of chemotherapy ≤2 were adverse prognosticators for overall survival.ConclusionUTUC presented to be more prone to metastasize than locally recur and thought to have low chemosensitivity. Stage IV disease at initial diagnosis, number of metastatic organs, response and cycles of chemotherapy were independent prognosticators for metastatic UTUC.     

A novel predictive model for pelvic lymph node metastasis in patients with penile cancer: A multi-institutional study

PurposeWe determined whether a clinicopathological nomogram is able to predict the risk of pelvic lymph node metastasis (LNM) in penile cancer patients after inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND).MethodsNinety-eight patients with bilateral ILND who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy at 10 centers were retrospectively analyzed. The most predictive features in the nomogram were selected by the stepwise logistic regression method and then tested and verified by multivariate logistic regression analyses. The nomogram was assessed using concordance indices and calibration curves.ResultsOf the 181 pelvic basins, pelvic LNM was observed in 52 packages (43 patients). Bilateral pelvic LNM was present in 9 patients (9/43, 20.9%). There was no crossover metastatic spread from one inguinal side to the other pelvic side. Age, previous resection, the biopsy procedure for inguinal lymph nodes, vascular invasion, and ipsilateral inguinal lymph node status were all independent risk factors for pelvic LNM (all P < 0.05) in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The nomogram exhibited a good probability for survival agreement, with a concordance index of 0.868 (95% CI: 0.813–0.922).ConclusionsA novel nomogram suggests that the risk of pelvic LNM can be effectively predicted in penile carcinoma patients and may provide a useful guide for clinicians. Further external validation is needed.     

Relationships between anthropometric adiposity indexes and bone mineral density in a cross-sectional Chinese study

Background ContextPrevious studies have reported conflicting results for the relationships between anthropometric adiposity indexes and bone mineral density, based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, few studies were published based on quantitative computed tomography (QCT), especially for Chinese population.PurposeTo evaluate the associations of spine bone mineral density (BMD) with body mass index (BMI), waist circumstance (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and a body shape index (ABSI) using QCT.Study Design/SettingA Cross-sectional study.Patient SampleAround 3,457 participants in multiple communities across 7 administrative regions of China.Outcome MeasuresSpine BMD was measured using QCT, and the classification of osteoporosis was defined as follows: 1) osteoporosis if BMD <80mg/cm³, 2) osteopenia if BMD 80–119 mg/cm³, and 3) normal bone mass if BMD≥120 mg/cm³.MethodsThis study was conducted using convenient sampling between 2013 and 2017. Multivariable linear regression model and logistic regression models were used for the associations of continuous and categorical BMD, respectively.ResultsAround 3,405 participants were included in the final analyses, including 1,272 males and 2,133 females, with spine BMD of 111.00±35.47 mg/cm³ and 99.38±40.60 mg/cm³, respectively. Spine BMD decreased significantly with the increase of ABSI in females (adjusted β, ?5.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], ?8.50 to ?2.98), and this trend also was kept in females aged at less than 60 years (adjusted β, ?14.54; 95% CI, ?20.40 to ?8.68), and females with age ≥60 years (adjusted β, ?7.59; 95% CI, ?10.91 to ?4.28). However, this inverse association was observed only in males with age ≥ 60 years (adjusted β, ?5.19; 95% CI, ?10.08 to ?0.29). Except ABSI, negative associations of Spine BMD with WC (adjusted β, ?0.46; 95% CI, ?0.77 to ?0.15), WHR (adjusted β, ?6.25; 95% CI, ?10.63 to ?1.86), WHtR (adjusted β, ?6.80; 95% CI, ?11.63 to ?1.97) were shown in females aged at <60 years, and positive association with BMI in males with age ≥60 years (adjusted β, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.29–1.55).ConclusionsABSI had more remarkable association with spine BMD, compared with the other four indexes.     

Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue,which one induced thyroid dysfunction in patients with morbid obesity

BackgroundThyroid dysfunction in patients with morbid obesity usually resolves after bariatric surgery. However, the role of diverse types of adipose tissue in the process remains unknown.ObjectivesWe aim to investigate the effects of visceral and subcutaneous fat on thyroid function in a Chinese population with morbid obesity who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG).SettingUniversity hospital, Shanghai, ChinaMethodsRepeated measurement data of thyroid hormone and body fat were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after sleeve gastrectomy. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer and quantitative computerized tomography (CT) were used to compute visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. Repeated measures correlation (rmmcorr) package was employed for correlation analysis with generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) determining the independent factors.ResultsThyroid stimulating-hormone (TSH) showed notable decrease at 36 months after surgery, coupled with reduction of BMI (38.08 kg/cm² versus 24.28 kg/cm²), C-reactive protein (CRP), visceral adipose tissue (786.74 cm² versus 367.44 cm²), body fat rate, and waistline (118.13 cm versus 100.87 cm). Only visceral fat, diabetes, and CRP proved to be independent variables for TSH decline, without correlation with subcutaneous fat.ConclusionThe present study is first to report the effects of different types of body fat on thyroid function in a Chinese population with morbid obesity, revealing that loss of visceral fat is the key to improving endocrine and metabolic activity after bariatric surgery.     

Targeting NF-κB c-Rel in regulatory T cells to treat corneal transplantation rejection

The relevance of Tregs in the induction of tolerance against corneal allografts has been well established. Although it is well known that the conversion of Tregs into effector-like cells contributes to the loss of corneal immune privilege, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. Using heterologous penetrating keratoplasty model, we found that Tregs from corneal allograft rejected mice (inflam-Tregs) exhibit impaired function and characteristics of effector T cells. Further study showed that the expression of NF-κB c-Rel, a key mediator of effector T cell function, was significantly increased in inflam-Tregs. Mechanistic study revealed that elevated NF-κB c-Rel level in inflam-Tregs impaired Treg function through the promotion of inflammatory cytokine production and glycolysis. More importantly, we demonstrated that targeting NF-κB c-Rel was able to improve the immune suppressive function of inflam-Tregs in vitro and enhance the potential of them to suppress corneal transplantation rejection. Therefore, our current study identified NF-κB c-Rel as a key mediator of the conversion of Tregs into effector-like cells when under inflammatory environment.     

经椎间孔入路经皮内窥镜下腰椎椎间盘切除术治疗腰椎椎间盘突出症的疗效及预后影响因素分析

目的探讨经椎间孔入路经皮内窥镜下腰椎椎间盘切除术(PETD)治疗腰椎椎间盘突出症(LDH)的临床疗效,并探讨影响患者预后的相关因素。方法采用前瞻性队列研究设计,纳入2015年8月—2016年9月诊断为LDH并行PETD治疗的102例患者。分别于术前1 d及术后1 d、3个月、6个月、12个月、36个月时评估疼痛视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分、Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)、日本骨科学会(JOA)评分,采用改良MacNab标准评估临床疗效。分析患者临床特征和影像学资料等因素对预后的影响。结果86例患者完成36个月及以上随访,其中男56例、女30例,年龄19~88(46.96±14.03)岁,随访36~46(40.91±3.21)个月。86例患者手术顺利完成,无术中转开放手术。并发症发生率为1.2%(1/86),复发率为5.8%(5/86)。术后1 d、3个月、6个月、12个月、36个月,腰痛和腿痛VAS评分及ODI均较术前下降,JOA评分较术前升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。根据改良MacNab标准,术后36个月优良率为94.2%(81/86)。突出髓核(HNP)越大,术后腿痛VAS评分、ODI和JOA评分改善越明显,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与体质量指数(BMI)<25 kg/m^2的患者相比,BMI≥25 kg/m^2的患者JOA评分改善较小,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论PETD治疗LDH可取得满意疗效。HNP大小是影响患者预后的主要因素,BMI可能对预后也有一定影响,但尚需扩大样本量进一步研究。     

根治性手术切除结直肠癌肺转移灶的临床疗效及预后影响因素分析

目的探讨根治性手术切除结直肠癌肺转移灶的临床疗效及预后影响因素。方法采用回顾性队列研究方法。收集2004年1月至2015年12月北京大学肿瘤医院收治的63例结直肠癌肺转移病人的临床病理资料;男35例,女28例;年龄为(57±12)岁。病人均行原发灶和结直肠癌肺转移灶根治性R 0切除术。观察指标:(1)诊断及治疗情况。(2)随访及生存情况。(3)预后影响因素分析。采用门诊和电话方式进行随访,了解病人术后生存情况,随访时间截至2018年12月。正态分布的计量资料以x±s表示,偏态分布的计量资料以M(范围)表示。计数资料以绝对数或百分比表示。采用Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率并绘制生存曲线,单因素分析采用Log-rank检验,多因素分析采用COX比例风险模型。结果(1)诊断及治疗情况:63例结直肠癌肺转移病人中,同时性肺转移6例,异时性肺转移57例。18例病人胸部X线片检查初始发现肺部可疑转移灶,经X线计算机体层摄影术(CT)检查进一步证实为肺转移灶,45例病人胸部CT检查初始发现肺转移灶。63例病人均行原发灶和肺转移灶根治性R 0切除术。22例病人行纵隔淋巴结清扫,其中2例各有1枚纵隔淋巴结转移。所有病人术后恢复良好,未出现严重并发症。63例病人中,57例接受>6个月以氟尿嘧啶类药物为主的术后辅助化疗及靶向治疗。(2)随访及生存情况:63例病人均获得术后随访,随访时间为8~143个月,中位随访时间为58个月。63例病人中,19例死亡,24例出现二次复发,5年复发率为38.1%(24/63),复发时间为18个月(3~58个月)。24例二次复发病人中,19例发生肺转移,3例发生脑转移,2例发生骨转移,2例发生肝转移。同1例病人可同时发生多处转移。24例二次复发病人中,5例行再次手术治疗,19例行化疗和放化疗。63例病人5年总体生存率为62.7%。(3)预后影响因素分析:单因素分析结果为原发灶部位、肺转移灶数目和肺转移灶切除术前癌胚抗原水平是影响结直肠癌肺转移病人预后的相关因素(χ²=4.162、7.175、6.725,P<0.05)。多因素分析结果显示:肺转移灶数目和肺转移灶切除术前癌胚抗原水平是结直肠癌肺转移病人预后的独立影响因素(风险比=2.725,2.778,95%可信区间为1.051~7.064、1.072~7.021,P<0.05)。结论根治性手术切除结直肠癌肺转移灶安全、可行。肺转移灶数目和肺转移灶切除术前癌胚抗原水平是结直肠癌肺转移病人预后的独立影响因素。     

Preparation of Battery-Grade FePO4·2H2O Using the Stripping Solution Generated from Resource Recycling of Bauxite Residue

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - A novel process for the high-value-use of iron from bauxite residue was proposed in this work. The process was trying to use the...     

Magnetization of Bauxite Residue to Enhance the Removal Efficiency Towards Heavy Metals

Bauxite residues are a mass of industrial wastes derived from aluminum metallurgy. This work provided a simple pyrolysis method to magnetize the bauxite residue to serve as a magnetic adsorbent towards heavy metals removal. The X-ray diffraction patterns and Mossbauer spectrum results confirmed the partial reduction of iron species with an obvious enhancement in magnetization. The magnetized bauxite residue exhibited excellent removal efficiencies for Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ with maximum adsorption capacities of 219.0 mg g^?1, 275.4 mg g^?1, and 100.4 mg g^?1, which could be quickly separated through a magnet. The adsorption equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model, while the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model. According to the characterization results, chemical precipitation and sorption was the major mechanism for the removal of Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Cd²⁺. Thus, the magnetized bauxite residue exhibited promising applications for heavy metals removal in wastewater.

     

Preparation of Iron Carbon Composite Material by Extracting Iron from Bauxite Residue and Its Adsorption of Heavy Metal Cd(II)

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - An effective method of iron extraction from bauxite residue was explored, and iron was used to prepare iron carbon composite material, which...