Speculation on optimal numbers of examined lymph node for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer from the perspective of stage migration

IntroductionIn early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), how to perform lymphadenectomy to avoid stage migration and achieve reliable targeted excision has not been explored in depth. This study comprehensively considered the stage migration and survival to determine appropriate numbers of examined lymph node (ELN) for early-stage EOC and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).MethodsFrom the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we obtained 10372 EOC cases with stage T1M0 and ELN ≥ 2, including 2849 HGSOC cases. Generalized linear models with multivariable adjustment were used to analyze associations between ELN numbers and lymph node stage migration, survival and positive lymph node (PLN). LOESS regression characterized dynamic trends of above associations followed by Chow test to determine structural breakpoints of ELN numbers. Survival curves were plotted using Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsMore ELNs were associated with more node-positive diseases, more PLNs and better prognosis. ELN structural breakpoints were different in subgroups of early-stage EOC, which for node stage migration or PLN were more than those for improving outcomes. The meaning of ELN structural breakpoint varied with its location and the morphology of LOESS curve. To avoid stage migration, the optimal ELN for early-stage EOC was 29 and the minimal ELN for HGSOC was 24. For better survival, appropriate ELN number were 13 and 8 respectively. More ELNs explained better prognosis only at a certain range.DiscussionNeither too many nor too few numbers of ELN were ideal for early-stage EOC and HGSOC. Excision with appropriate numbers of lymph node draining the affected ovary may be more reasonable than traditional sentinel lymph node resection and systematic lymphadenectomy

Three-junction tandem photovoltaic cell for a wide temperature range based on a multilayer circular truncated cone metamaterial emitter

To improve the conversion efficiency of thermophotovoltaic devices, we designed a thermophotovoltaic system based on an InAs/InGaAsSb/GaSb three-junction tandem cell. The tandem cell can recover photons in the wavelength range of 200–3650 nm and therefore enhance the output power of the system. To further improve system performance, we designed a multilayer circular truncated cone metamaterial emitter matching the tandem cell. Existing TPV systems based on multi-junction tandem PV cells can achieve conversion efficiencies of 33.3%–41%, while the thermophotovoltaic system coupled with the multilayer circular truncated cone metamaterial can recover more photons of 1.44 mol/(m·s) and achieve a higher conversion efficiency of 52.8% at 1773 K. The thermophotovoltaic system designed here demonstrates an extremely high energy conversion efficiency and has good application prospects

Dynamic modeling and flexible control of combined heat and power units integrated with thermal energy storage system

The high percentage of renewable energy connected to the grid requires high operational flexibility of combined heat and power (CHP) units. As two products of the CHP units, electricity and heat are coupled, making it challenging to achieve coordinated control. The thermal energy storage (TES) system can smooth out the fluctuations in heat load demand by storing or releasing heat, thus aiding in the decoupling and coordinated control of electricity and heat. In this paper, an optimized control strategy of CHP units integrated with the TES system is proposed to improve the units’ operating flexibility. First, according to the operating mechanism, the dynamic models of the CHP unit and the TES system are established. On this basis, considering the heat source steam active response based on the linear quadratic regulator and the heat-supply support of the TES system, the boiler-turbine-heating-storage coordinated control system of a CHP unit is designed. The simulation experiment is conducted in a 300 MW CHP unit. The results show that compared with the conventional control strategy, the MAE, MAPE, MSE, and RMSE indicators of the electrical power output are decreased by 45.88%, 45.28%, 71.95%, and 47.04%, respectively

Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Aurantiamide and Aurantiamide Acetate in Rats after Oral Administration of Portulaca oleracea L. Extracts

Aurantiamide and aurantiamide acetate are the main active constituents of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), an edible plant with various biological activities. In this study, we developed a validated UHPLC-MS/MS method to quantitate the concentrations of aurantiamide and aurantiamide acetate in the plasma and various organ tissues of rat as the basis to study their pharmacological profile and distribution in vivo. Aurantiamide and aurantiamide acetate were rapidly absorbed following oral administration, both achieving a <i>C</i>_max at around 0.2 h. The extent of their metabolisms also varied among different organ tissues, resulting in about 90% reduction in concentrations 4 h after their administration, thus leaving no long-term accumulation in the tissues. This is the first study to examine the pharmacokinetic and biodistribution of aurantiamide and aurantiamide acetate in rat, and our work may serve as the first step toward the investigation of the underlying mechanisms associated with the biological activity of purslane

Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Aurantiamide and Aurantiamide Acetate in Rats after Oral Administration of Portulaca oleracea L. Extracts

Aurantiamide and aurantiamide acetate are the main active constituents of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), an edible plant with various biological activities. In this study, we developed a validated UHPLC-MS/MS method to quantitate the concentrations of aurantiamide and aurantiamide acetate in the plasma and various organ tissues of rat as the basis to study their pharmacological profile and distribution in vivo. Aurantiamide and aurantiamide acetate were rapidly absorbed following oral administration, both achieving a <i>C</i>_max at around 0.2 h. The extent of their metabolisms also varied among different organ tissues, resulting in about 90% reduction in concentrations 4 h after their administration, thus leaving no long-term accumulation in the tissues. This is the first study to examine the pharmacokinetic and biodistribution of aurantiamide and aurantiamide acetate in rat, and our work may serve as the first step toward the investigation of the underlying mechanisms associated with the biological activity of purslane

Sex differences in the association between visceral adipose tissue and atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes patients with normal bodyweight: A study in a Chinese population

ABSTRACT Aims/Introduction To investigate the impact of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) on atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes patients with normal bodyweight (OB[−]) in the Chinese population, and to further assess the sex–age differences between them. Materials and Methods A total of 8,839 type 2 diabetes patients from two of the National Metabolic Management Centers in China were included in this study. Participants were classified into four groups by visceral fat area (VFA; cm2) and body mass index (BMI; kg/m2): VFA < 100 and BMI < 23.9 (VA[−]OB[−]), VFA < 100 and BMI ≥ 23.9 (VA[−]OB[+]), VFA ≥ 100 and BMI < 23.9 (VA[+]OB[−]), VFA ≥ 100 and BMI ≥ 23.9 (VA[+]OB[+]). Atherosclerosis was defined by brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV; cm/s), and we analyzed the association between VFA, BMI and the tertiles of baPWV values. Results The VA(+)OB(−) prevalence was 3.7% among these participants. Patients with VA(+)OB(−) had the highest baPWV value (P < 0.001) and the highest proportion of the tertile 3 of baPWV (P < 0.001) among four groups, and were significantly associated with baPWV (standardized β = 0.026, P = 0.008). VFA was significantly related to tertile 2 to tertile 3 of baPWV in (OB[−]) type 2 diabetes patients, when compared with tertile 1 of baPWV, respectively. In sex–age stratified analysis, the association of VFA and the tertiles of baPWV showed sex differences. For the 55 years age stratification analysis, there was no age difference in the relationship between VFA and baPWV in (OB[−]) patients. Conclusion Increased VAT was an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in female type 2 diabetes patients with normal weight