Development and Validation of the Quality-of-Life Assessment System for Lung Cancer Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has many unique features. Thequality-of-life (QoL) instrument for lung cancer based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (QLASTCM-Lu) was the first self-reported instrument specifically developed to assess the quality of life from the perspective of TCM. Structured group methods and theory in developmental rating scale were employed to establish a general and a specific module, respectively. Quantitative and qualitative data from 240 lung cancer patients were collected to assess the psychometric properties. The three identified scales of the QLASTCM-Lu (correspondence between man and universe, unity of the body and spirit, and lung cancer specific module) and the total score demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. Test-retest reliability of all domains ranged from 0.93 to 0.96, and internal consistency α ranged from 0.86 to 0.93. Correlation and factor analysis demonstrated good construct validity. Significant differences in the QLASTCM-Lu scales and total score were found among groups differing in TCM syndrome, supporting the clinical sensitivity of the QLASTCM-Lu. Statistically significant changes were found for each scale and the total score. Responsiveness of the QLASTCM-Lu was greater than that of QLQ-LC43. The QLASTCM-Lu is a psychometrically sound and clinically sensitive measure of quality of life for lung cancer patients, which can be applied to both TCM therapy and Western medicine therapy

Progress and hotspot of diet or exercise therapy in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

IntroductionThe primary treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is modifying lifestyle through dietary or exercise interventions. In recent decades, it has received increasing attention. However, the lack of bibliometric analysis has posed a challenge for researchers seeking to understand the overall trends in this field.MethodsAs of February 3rd, 2024, 876 articles on treating NAFLD through diet or exercise therapy from 2013 to 2023 had been retrieved. Two software tools, VOSviewer and CiteSpace, were utilized to analyze the growth of publications, countries, institutions, authors, journals, citations, and keywords. Additionally, the keywords with strong citation burstiness were identified to determine the changes and future trends of research hotspots in this field.ResultsChina had the highest number of articles, followed by the United States and South Korea. Yonsei University and Nutrients were the institutions and journals with the most significant contributions. Professor Younossi Zobair M, from the United States, is the most prolific author in this field. Through analyzing the keywords, three research hotspots were identified: research on the pathogenesis of NAFLD, research on the treatment modalities of NAFLD, and research on the risk factors and diagnosis methods of NAFLD. In recent years, the research emphasis in this field has changed, suggesting that future research will focus on two frontier keywords: “oxidative stress” and “aerobic capacity.”ConclusionIn the past eleven years, the attention in this field was still rising, and the authors, journals, countries and so on had formed a considerable cooperative relationship. There were also many highly influential and productive researchers in this field. It is speculated that new research will continue around “aerobic exercise” and “oxidative stress” in the future

Synthesis of highly thermally stable daidzein-based main-chain-type benzoxazine resins

In recent years, main-chain-type benzoxazine resins have been extensively investigated due to their excellent comprehensive properties for many potential applications. In this work, two new types of main-chain benzoxazine polymers were synthesized from daidzein, aromatic/aliphatic diamine, and paraformaldehyde. Unlike the approaches used synthesizing traditional main-chain-type benzoxazine polymers, the precursors derived from daidzein can undergo a further cross-linking polymerization in addition to the ring-opening polymerization of the oxazine ring. The structures of the new polymers were then studied by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the molecular weights were determined by using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). We also monitored the polymerization process by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and in situ FT-IR. In addition, the thermal stability and flame-retardant properties of the resulting polybenzoxazines were investigated using TGA and microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC). The polybenzoxazines obtained in this study exhibited a very high thermal stability and low flammability, with a Tg value greater than 400 °C, and a heat release capacity (HRC) value lower than 30 J/(g K)

Softening–Melting Properties and Slag Evolution of Vanadium Titano-Magnetite Sinter in Hydrogen-Rich Gases

Blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF–BOF) process is the predominant method for smelting vanadium titano-magnetite (VTM) in China. Hydrogen-rich (H2-rich) gas injection in BF is considered as an important way to reduce CO2 emission under the background of low carbon metallurgy. In this paper, the softening–melting behaviors of VTM sinter in H2–rich gases were investigated by the method of determination of its reduction softening drippinger performance under load. The experimental results indicated that the permeability of VTM sinter during the softening–melting process was improved by increasing the H2 content of the reducing gases. The maximum pressure drop of the burden decreased gradually from 29.76 kPa to 19.97 kPa, and the total characteristic value (representing the comprehensive softening–melting property) also decreased obviously from 2357.52 kPa·°C to 630.94 kPa·°C with the increase in H2 content. The softening interval of the samples was widened, while the melting–dripping interval increased firstly and then decreased. In that case, the position of the melting–dripping zone in BF would move downwards, which was beneficial to smelting smoothly. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that Ti- and Fe-bearing phases were more difficult to be reduced than iron oxides, and H2-rich gas is beneficial to the reduction of that kind of oxides. Titano-magnetite will be reduced stepwise to form Fe2TiO4, and then in the order of FeTiO3→TiO2→Ti(C,N). Wustite (FeO) was an important component during the slag-forming process, whose content increased firstly and then decreased. Perovskite and silicate were the main phases in the dripping slag samples

Softening–Melting Properties and Slag Evolution of Vanadium Titano-Magnetite Sinter in Hydrogen-Rich Gases

Blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF–BOF) process is the predominant method for smelting vanadium titano-magnetite (VTM) in China. Hydrogen-rich (H2-rich) gas injection in BF is considered as an important way to reduce CO2 emission under the background of low carbon metallurgy. In this paper, the softening–melting behaviors of VTM sinter in H2–rich gases were investigated by the method of determination of its reduction softening drippinger performance under load. The experimental results indicated that the permeability of VTM sinter during the softening–melting process was improved by increasing the H2 content of the reducing gases. The maximum pressure drop of the burden decreased gradually from 29.76 kPa to 19.97 kPa, and the total characteristic value (representing the comprehensive softening–melting property) also decreased obviously from 2357.52 kPa·°C to 630.94 kPa·°C with the increase in H2 content. The softening interval of the samples was widened, while the melting–dripping interval increased firstly and then decreased. In that case, the position of the melting–dripping zone in BF would move downwards, which was beneficial to smelting smoothly. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that Ti- and Fe-bearing phases were more difficult to be reduced than iron oxides, and H2-rich gas is beneficial to the reduction of that kind of oxides. Titano-magnetite will be reduced stepwise to form Fe2TiO4, and then in the order of FeTiO3→TiO2→Ti(C,N). Wustite (FeO) was an important component during the slag-forming process, whose content increased firstly and then decreased. Perovskite and silicate were the main phases in the dripping slag samples

Selumetinib, an Oral Anti-Neoplastic Drug, May Attenuate Cardiac Hypertrophy via Targeting the ERK Pathway.

Although extracellular-regulated kinases (ERK) are a well-known central mediator in cardiac hypertrophy, no clinically available ERK antagonist has been tested for preventing cardiac hypertrophy. Selumetinib is a novel oral MEK inhibitor that is currently under Phase II and Phase III clinical investigation for advanced solid tumors. In this study, we investigated whether Selumetinib could inhibit the aberrant ERK activation of the heart in response to stress as well as prevent cardiac hypertrophy.In an in vitro model of PE-induced cardiac hypertrophy, Selumetinib significantly inhibited the ERK activation and prevented enlargement of cardiomyocytes or reactivation of certain fetal genes. In the pathologic cardiac hypertrophy model of ascending aortic constriction, Selumetinib provided significant ERK inhibition in the stressed heart but not in the other organs. This selective ERK inhibition prevented left ventricular (LV) wall thickening, LV mass increase, fetal gene reactivation and cardiac fibrosis. In another distinct physiologic cardiac hypertrophy model of a swimming rat, Selumetinib provided a similar anti-hypertrophy effect, except that no significant fetal gene reactivation or cardiac fibrosis was observed.Selumetinib, a novel oral anti-cancer drug with good safety records in a number of Phase II clinical trials, can inhibit ERK activity in the heart and prevent cardiac hypertrophy. These promising results indicate that Selumetinib could potentially be used to treat cardiac hypertrophy. However, this hypothesis needs to be validated in human clinical trials

Selumetinib inhibits ERK1/2 activation upon stress and cardiac hypertrophy in NRCs.

<p><b>(A).</b> Representative immunoblots using antibodies against phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and total ERK1/2 (tERK1/2) to probe proteins extracted from NRCs for indicated treatments. The bar graph shows the means ± SEM signals of the pERK/tERK (relative expression from immunoblots of n = 5). <b>(B).</b> Representative micrographs of cultured NRCs for indicated treatments. The bar graph shows the means ± SEM of the mean cellular area (n = 3, each time, 90 cells were randomly selected and measured). <b>(C).</b> Bar graphs indicate the expression levels of β-MHC, ANP and α-SMA in NRCs for indicated treatments (n = 5).</p

The ERK inhibition effect with AZD6244 was mild in normal cardiomyocytes, but it was more significant in hypertrophic hearts.

<p><b>(A).</b>Upper Panel: Representative immunoblots using antibodies against phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and total ERK1/2 (ERK1/2) to probe proteins extracted from NRCs lysates treated with 50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 500 nM, and 1μM AZD or without AZD. Lower Panel: the percent of pERK/tERK normalized to control, n = 3. <b>(B).</b>Upper Panel: representative immunoblots using antibodies against phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and total ERK1/2 (ERK1/2) to probe proteins extracted from NRCs lysates treated with PE and AZD or without AZD. Lower Panel: the percent of pERK/tERK normalized with PE. * Significantly different from PE(P<0.001, n = 3).</p

The ERK inhibition effect with AZD6244 was significant in neoplastic cells and mild in non-neoplastic cells.

<p><b>(A).</b>Representative immunoblots using antibodies against phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and total ERK1/2 (ERK1/2) to probe proteins extracted from MCF7, Colo205, 786-O, and Panc02 cell lysates treated with 50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 500 nM, and 1μM AZD or without AZD, n = 3. <b>(B).</b>Representative immunoblots using antibodies against phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and total ERK1/2 (ERK1/2) to probe proteins extracted from BRL-3A, HUVEC, fibroblasts, and H9C2 cell lysates treated with50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 500 nM, and 1μM AZD or without AZD, n = 3.</p