Oriented Arrangement: The Origin of Versatility for Porous Graphene Materials

Macroscopic porous graphene materials composed of graphene sheets have demonstrated their advantageous aspects in diverse application areas. It is essential to maximize their excellent performances by rationally controlling the sheet arrangement and pore structure. Bulk porous graphene materials with oriented pore structure and arrangement of graphene sheets are prepared by marrying electrolyte-assisted self-assembly and shear-force-induced alignment of graphene oxide sheets, and the super elasticity and anisotropic mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties induced by this unique structure are systematically investigated. Its application in pressure sensing exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity of 313.23 kPa(-1) for detecting ultralow pressure variation below 0.5 kPa, and it shows high retention rate for continuously intercepting dye molecules with a high flux of approximate to 18.7 L m(-2) h(-1) bar(-1) and a dynamic removal rate of 510 mg m(-2) h(-1)

Impact of Atypical Hyperplasia at Surgical Margins on breast cancer outcomes in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BackgroundWomen with atypical hyperplasia (AH) is associated with a higher risk of future breast cancer. However, whether AH found at margins in patients with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) needs re-excision is not well-defined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of AH at the surgical margins on the local recurrence and survival outcomes in breast cancer patients treated with NAC and BCS.MethodsA retrospective analysis comparing patients who treated with NAC and BCS with AH at the margins to those without AH was performed.Results598 patients were included in this study. The 5-year rates of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) were 4.6% and 6.2% in patients with and without AH, respectively. No significant differences were observed among the two groups in terms of IBTR, DMFS, or OS. HER2 overexpressing breast cancer patients with severe AH at margins have a significantly higher risk of IBTR compared to those without severe AH.ConclusionOur study suggests that the presence of AH at the surgical margins of BCS in patients who received NAC does not appear to increase the risk of ipsilateral breast cancer. Therefore, there is no need for surgeons to routinely perform additional re-excision of AH found at the margins of BCS in these patients. However, selective re-excision should be considered in certain cases, particularly in patients with HER2 overexpression

Clinical Predictive Models for Chemotherapy-Induced Febrile Neutropenia in Breast Cancer Patients: A Validation Study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Predictive models for febrile neutropenia (FN) would be informative for physicians in clinical decision making. This study aims to validate a predictive model (Jenkin’s model) that comprises pretreatment hematological parameters in early-stage breast cancer patients.</p><p>Patients and Methods</p><p>A total of 428 breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy without any prophylactic use of colony-stimulating factor were included. Pretreatment absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) and absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) were used by the Jenkin’s model to assess the risk of FN. In addition, we modified the threshold of Jenkin’s model and generated Model-A and B. We also developed Model-C by incorporating the absolute monocyte count (AMC) as a predictor into Model-A. The rates of FN in the 1st chemotherapy cycle were calculated. A valid model should be able to significantly identify high-risk subgroup of patients with FN rate >20%.</p><p>Results</p><p>Jenkin’s model (Predicted as high-risk when ANC≦3.1*10∧9/L;ALC≦1.5*10∧9/L) did not identify any subgroups with significantly high risk (>20%) of FN in our population, even if we used different thresholds in Model-A(ANC≦4.4*10∧9/L;ALC≦2.1*10∧9/L) or B(ANC≦3.8*10∧9/L;ALC≦1.8*10∧9/L). However, with AMC added as an additional predictor, Model-C(ANC≦4.4*10∧9/L;ALC≦2.1*10∧9/L; AMC≦0.28*10∧9/L) identified a subgroup of patients with a significantly high risk of FN (23.1%).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>In our population, Jenkin’s model, cannot accurately identify patients with a significant risk of FN. The threshold should be changed and the AMC should be incorporated as a predictor, to have excellent predictive ability.</p></div

Optimal threshold of AMC.

<p>To incorporate AMC into Model-A (3a) or Model-B (3b), we calculated the AUC and P-value of the new model when different threshold of AMC was used. A new model (Model-C) could be developd from Model-A (3a) with the highest AUC value and lowest P value, when the threshold of AMC = 0.283*10∧9/L. No valid model could be established when AMC was incorporated into Model-B (3b).</p

Pretreatment WBC, ANC and ALC values in our pupulation are comparable to Jenkins study.

<p>Pretreatment WBC, ANC and ALC values in our pupulation are comparable to Jenkins study.</p

Validation of Jenkin’s model and Modified Jenkin’s model.

<p>*In Jenkin’s model, patients were classified into different groups without overlaps. For example, group IV comprises patients with ANC ≦3.8 and ALC ≦1.8 who do not fulfil the criteria for group V.</p>†<p>Chi-square test was used.</p

Patients features of the included patients.

<p>BMI, body mass index. BSA, body surface area ER, estrogen receptor; PR, progesterone receptor; HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; FN, febrile neutropenia.?High risk regimen(DEC, DE); Intermediate risk regimen (TEC,ET OTHERS); ?C, Cyclophosphomide;M, Methotrexate; E, epirubicin; F, 5-Fluorouracil; T, Paclitaxle; D, Docetaxel;Others included regimens contained herceptins cisplatin, or nolvelbine; NS, non-significant;</p

Univariate analysis of predictive hematological factors for FN.

<p>Mann-Whitney U test was used as a univariate analysis and the P-value was shown. White cell count, absolute neutrophil count and hematocrit with P-value less than 0.1 was incorporated into multivariate analysis.</p