The predictive role of soluble programmed death ligand 1 in digestive system cancers

IntroductionThe prognostic role of soluble programmed death ligand 1 (sPD-L1) in digestive system cancers (DSCs) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to explore the predictive value of sPD-L1 expression in DSCs.MethodsComprehensive searches were run on the electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) to identify studies that assessed the prognostic role of sPD-L1 in DSCs. Review Manager software (version 5.3) was used for all analyses. Pooled data for survival outcomes were measured as hazard ratios (HRs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and odds ratios and their 95% CIs.ResultsThe search identified 18 studies involving 2,070 patients with DSCs. The meta-outcome revealed that a high level of sPD-L1 was related to poorer overall survival (HR, 3.06; 95% CI: 2.22–4.22, p<0.001) and disease-free survival (HR, 2.53; 95% CI: 1.67–3.83, p<0.001) in DSCs. Individually, the prognostic significance of high level of sPD-L1 expression was the highest in hepatic cell carcinoma (HR, 4.76; p<0.001) followed by gastric cancer (HR=3.55, p<0.001).ConclusionsPD-L1 may be a prognostic factor in DSCs for overall survival and disease-free survival. Inflammatory cytokines, treatment approaches, and other factors may affect the expression of sPD-L1. Therefore, the prognostic value of sPD-L1 for recurrence and metastasis should be further investigated. sPD-L1 may also predict response to treatment. Well-designed prospective studies with standard assessment methods should be conducted to determine the prognostic value of sPD-L1 in DSCs

Clinical and radiological characteristics of pediatric COVID-19 before and after the Omicron outbreak: a multi-center study

IntroductionThe emergence of the Omicron variant has seen changes in the clinical and radiological presentations of COVID-19 in pediatric patients. We sought to compare these features between patients infected in the early phase of the pandemic and those during the Omicron outbreak.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 68 pediatric COVID-19 patients, of which 31 were infected with the original SARS-CoV-2 strain (original group) and 37 with the Omicron variant (Omicron group). Clinical symptoms and chest CT scans were examined to assess clinical characteristics, and the extent and severity of lung involvement.ResultsPediatric COVID-19 patients predominantly had normal or mild chest CT findings. The Omicron group demonstrated a significantly reduced CT severity score than the original group. Ground-glass opacities were the prevalent radiological findings in both sets. The Omicron group presented with fewer symptoms, had milder clinical manifestations, and recovered faster than the original group.DiscussionThe clinical and radiological characteristics of pediatric COVID-19 patients have evolved with the advent of the Omicron variant. For children displaying severe symptoms warranting CT examinations, it is crucial to weigh the implications of ionizing radiation and employ customized scanning protocols and protective measures. This research offers insights into the shifting disease spectrum, aiding in the effective diagnosis and treatment of pediatric COVID-19 patients

Bacterial community structure in maize stubble-amended soils with different moisture levels estimated by bar-coded pyrosequencing

It is of ecological significance to investigate microbial communities in response to straw amendment and moisture in arable soils. However, in Chinese fluvo-aquic soils, these responses are still poorly understood. We designed an incubation experiment involving two soils with and without the addition of maize stubble at two moisture levels, and bacterial community structure at days 20, 80, and 200 after the start of incubation was assessed via bar-coded pyrosequencing of the 16S rDNA amplicons. In the presence of stubble with identical moisture level, we observed higher bacterial diversity and richness in long-term organic manure-fertilized soil compared with the unfertilized soil at days 20 and 80, which we attributed to the different quality and quantity of organic matter between the two soils. However, there was no significant difference in bacterial diversity and richness between the two soils at day 200, indicating that long-term straw amendment probably lessens the difference in bacterial community structure between the two soils. In the amended soils bacterial diversity, richness, and community composition at 25% of the water-holding capacity distinctly differed from those at 55% of the water-holding capacity, indicating that moisture strongly affects bacterial distribution in the amended soils. As stubble-C availability declined over time, the dominance of copiotrophic population weakened, and oligotrophic population was moderately abundant. Finally, our study suggests that dissolved organic carbon, which drives redistribution in copiotrophic and oligotrophic categories in response to the varying water and stubble-C availability, is a determinant of bacterial community composition in the amended soils. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Engineering the Phases and Heterostructures of Ultrathin Hybrid Perovskite Nanosheets

Low-dimensional perovskites have gained increasing attention recently, and engineering their material phases, structural patterning and interfacial properties is crucial for future perovskite-based applications. Here a phase and heterostructure engineering on ultrathin perovskites, through the reversible cation exchange of hybrid perovskites and efficient surface functionalization of low-dimensional materials, is demonstrated. Using PbI2 as precursor and template, perovskite nanosheets of varying thickness and hexagonal shape on diverse substrates is obtained. Multiple phases, such as PbI2, MAPbI3 and FAPbI3, can be flexibly designed and transformed as a single nanosheet. A perovskite nanosheet can be patterned using masks made of 2D materials, fabricating lateral heterostructures of perovskite and PbI2. Perovskite-based vertical heterostructures show strong interfacial coupling with 2D materials. As a demonstration, monolayer MoS2/MAPbI3 stacks give a type-II heterojunction. The ability to combine the optically efficient perovskites with versatile 2D materials creates possibilities for new designs and functionalities

Engineering the Phases and Heterostructures of Ultrathin Hybrid Perovskite Nanosheets

Low-dimensional perovskites have gained increasing attention recently, and engineering their material phases, structural patterning and interfacial properties is crucial for future perovskite-based applications. Here a phase and heterostructure engineering on ultrathin perovskites, through the reversible cation exchange of hybrid perovskites and efficient surface functionalization of low-dimensional materials, is demonstrated. Using PbI2 as precursor and template, perovskite nanosheets of varying thickness and hexagonal shape on diverse substrates is obtained. Multiple phases, such as PbI2, MAPbI3 and FAPbI3, can be flexibly designed and transformed as a single nanosheet. A perovskite nanosheet can be patterned using masks made of 2D materials, fabricating lateral heterostructures of perovskite and PbI2. Perovskite-based vertical heterostructures show strong interfacial coupling with 2D materials. As a demonstration, monolayer MoS2/MAPbI3 stacks give a type-II heterojunction. The ability to combine the optically efficient perovskites with versatile 2D materials creates possibilities for new designs and functionalities