Einstein Finsler Metrics and Killing Vector Fields on Riemannian Manifolds

In this paper, we use a Killing form on a Riemannian manifold to construct a class of Finsler metrics. We find equations that characterize Einstein metrics among this class. In particular, we construct a family of Einstein metrics on $S^3$ with ${\rm Ric} = 2 F^2$, ${\rm Ric}=0$ and ${\rm Ric}=- 2 F^2$, respectively. This family of metrics provide an important class of Finsler metrics in dimension three, whose Ricci curvature is a constant, but the flag curvature is not

Current Progress in CAR-T Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors

Cancer immunotherapy by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cells has shown exhilarative clinical efficacy for hematological malignancies. Recently two CAR-T cell based therapeutics, Kymriah (Tisagenlecleucel) and Yescarta (Axicabtagene ciloleucel) approved by US FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) are now used for treatment of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) respectively in the US. Despite the progresses made in treating hematological malignancies, challenges still remain for use of CAR-T cell therapy to treat solid tumors. In this landscape, most studies have primarily focused on improving CAR-T cells and overcoming the unfavorable effects of tumor microenvironment on solid tumors. To further understand the current status and trend for developing CAR-T cell based therapies for various solid tumors, this review emphasizes on CAR-T techniques, current obstacles, and strategies for application, as well as necessary companion diagnostics for treatment of solid tumors with CAR-T cells

Clinical study on high-risk factors for contralateral lymph node metastasis in unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background and purpose: The occurrence of lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) can have adverse effects on the prognosis of patients. This study aimed to investigate risk factors related to the occurrence of contralateral central lymph node metastases (CLNM) and contralateral lateral lymph node metastases (LLNM) when imaging suspected ipsilateral LLNM in unilateral PTC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 526 patients who received surgical treatment in the same treatment group of Jiangsu Cancer Hospital Head and Neck Surgery Department from January 2011 to December 2021. They were initially treated with total thyroidectomy and bilateral central lymph node dissection (CLND) ± lateral lymph node dissection, and their postoperative pathology was uni-PTC. This study analyzed the relevant high-risk factors of contralateral lymph node metastasis. Results: Among the 526 patients, 295 had CLNM, including 272 ipsilateral CLNM, 129 contralateral CLNM and 106 of both sides CLNM; 165 patients had LLNM including 129 ipsilateral LLNM, 18 contralateral LLNM, and 18 of both ipsilateral and contralateral LLNM. Contralateral CLNM occurred in 65 (17.8%) of 365 patients who underwent preventive CLND, and contralateral CLNM was found in 68 (42.2%) of 161 patients with therapeutic CLND. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that contralateral CLNM was associated with maximum diameter of tumor ≥2 cm, multiple foci, no Hashimoto's thyroiditis, tumor invasion, number of CLNM≥6 and age <55 years (P<0.05). Maximum diameter of tumor ≥2 cm was related to contralateral LLNM (P<0.05), while lymph extracapsular extension and lymph node metastasis at tumor side were independent risk factors for contralateral CLNM and contralateral LLNM (P<0.05). Follow-up showed that 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 97.9% and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 97.5%. Conclusion: Contralateral CLNM is more likely to occur in patients with maximum diameter of tumor ≥2 cm, multiple foci, no Hashimoto's thyroiditis, number of CLNM ≥6, age <55 years, tumor and lymph extracapsular extension and lymph node metastasis at the cancer side. In clinical practice, bilateral CLND should be considered for patients with high-risk factors to reduce the residual recurrence of the tumor. Since metastatic rate of contralateral LLNM is relatively low, preventive contralateral lateral lymph node dissection should not be performed routinely when there are no high-risk factors mentioned above

Effects of waste milk feeding on rumen fermentation and bacterial community of pre-weaned and post-weaned dairy calves

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of waste milk with antibiotic residue on rumen fermentation and rumen bacterial composition of dairy calves during pre-weaned and post-weaned periods. A total of 24 Holstein male calves (43.4 ± 0.93 kg body weight, mean ± standard error) were allocated into four blocks based on birth date. Dairy calves were supplied 100% milk replacer (MR, n = 8), 50% milk replacer mixed with 50% waste milk (MM, n = 8), or 100% waste milk (WM, n = 8). Ruminal samples were collected at 49 and 63 days of age and then subjected to determinations of pH value, volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The results showed that feeding WM had no effect on the pH value, the concentrations of VFA (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid), and NH3–N in dairy calves compared to feeding MR. However, from 49 to 63 days of age, the pH value (p < 0.001) was significantly increased, while the levels of total VFA (p = 0.004), acetic acid (p = 0.01), propionic acid (p = 0.003) and valeric acid (p < 0.001) were significantly decreased. For rumen microorganisms, there was no differences in bacterial diversity among the treatments. But the relative abundance of Veillonellaceae was significantly lower (p = 0.05) in the calves fed WM than that from MR group at 49 days of age; however, no difference was detected at 63 days of age. Feeding WM to calves tended to reduce family Veillonellaceae and genus Olsenella in the rumen at 49 days of age (p = 0.049). Analysis of temporal changes in rumen bacteria based on alpha-diversity and beta-diversity as well as the microbial relative abundances did not exhibit any difference. In addition, relative abundances of Clostridia_UCG-014, Prevotella, Syntrophococcus, Eubacterium_nodatum_group, Pseudoramibacter and Solobacterium were correlated with rumen pH value and the concentrations of TVFA, propionic acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid and NH3–N. In conclusion, compare to MR, calves supplied with WM had little changes on the rumen pH value, NH3–N or VFAs contents. Additionally, limited effects could be found on rumen microbiota in the calves fed WM. However, further studies needed to explore if there exist any long-term effects of early-life rumen microbiota modulation on dairy cows