Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells and PD-L1 as Prognostic Biomarkers in Primary Esophageal Small Cell Carcinoma

Primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESCC) is a weakly prevalent but lethal malignancy with early metastasis and a poor prognosis. Currently, neither effective prognostic indicators nor curative therapies are available for PESCC. Immunotherapy has now evolved into one of the most promising therapies for cancer patients. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells which are integral to the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) are recognized as highly important for prognosis prediction, while the responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockade may be subject to the features of TIME. In this study, we aim to identify the TIME and provide indication for the applicability of immune checkpoint therapy in PESCC. We found that PD-L1 expression was detected in 33.33% (27/81) of all the patients, mostly exhibiting a stroma-only pattern and that it was positively associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD163(+)). In 74.07% of PD-L1-positive specimens, PD-L1(+)CD163(+) cells were colocalized more with CD4(+) than CD8(+) T cells. 83.95% (68/81) of all the specimens were infiltrated with more CD4(+) than CD8(+) T cells. Further analysis showed FoxP3(+) Tregs constituted 13-27% of the total CD4(+) T cell population. The Kaplan--Meier analysis indicated several factors that contribute to poor survival, including negative PD-L1 expression, rich CD4 expression, rich FoxP3 expression, a low CD8/CD4 ratio, and a high FoxP3/CD8 ratio. A nomogram model was constructed and showed good performance for survival prediction. These results highlight that a suppressive TIME contributes to poor survival of patients with PESCC. TIME analyses might be a promising approach to evaluate the possibility and effect of immune checkpoint-based immunotherapeutics in PESCC patients

Epithelial p38α Controls Immune Cell Recruitment in the Colonic Mucosa

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) compose the first barrier against microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. Although the NF-κB pathway in IECs was recently shown to be essential for epithelial integrity and intestinal immune homeostasis, the roles of other inflammatory signaling pathways in immune responses in IECs are still largely unknown. Here we show that p38α in IECs is critical for chemokine expression, subsequent immune cell recruitment into the intestinal mucosa, and clearance of the infected pathogen. Mice with p38α deletion in IECs suffer from a sustained bacterial burden after inoculation with Citrobacter rodentium. These animals are normal in epithelial integrity and immune cell function, but fail to recruit CD4+ T cells into colonic mucosal lesions. The expression of chemokines in IECs is impaired, which appears to be responsible for the impaired T cell recruitment. Thus, p38α in IECs contributes to the host immune responses against enteric bacteria by the recruitment of immune cells

Correction: Si, X., et al. Combined Process of Ozone Oxidation and Ultrafiltration as an Effective Treatment Technology for the Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Appl. Sci. 2018, 8, 1240

We, the authors, wish to make the following correction to our published paper [...

Research on the cultivation of applied innovative talents in art design under the background of new liberal arts construction based on Cocos Digital Technology

In today’s new era of digital technology-driven innovation, the continuous development of information technology has brought reforms and innovations to the education field, and has injected new vitality into the modernization of education in my country. The use of information technology to promote educational reforms is incorporated into education related policies. Innovation is the driving force of national development, and it is also the focus of international competition and talent training under the background of economic globalization. The construction of new liberal arts is an innovative development measure for China’s higher liberal arts education in the new era. It is the emphasis and requirement of liberal arts in the development of science and technology today. In the context of the new liberal arts, the training of art design professionals should be cross-integrated with computer science, information technology and other disciplines, combined with the development and needs of regional digital industries, breaking professional boundaries, and mastering cutting-edge technology on the premise of adhering to the core values of art and design education. At the same time, reconstruct the talent training model. This article elaborated on the development trend of digital and informatization of art design education in the talent training and discipline construction of the art design major, and the official team of Cocos Engine-Yaji Software to build the Cocos Digital Technology Industry College to create a new mode of efficient integration of production and education., To build a unique digital art talent training system, to effectively connect the talent chain and the industrial chain, to promote the industrialization of academic achievements, to cultivate application-oriented talents that meet the needs of the digital industry, and to promote the construction of a new liberal arts major in art design

Combined Process of Ozone Oxidation and Ultrafiltration as an Effective Treatment Technology for the Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the secondary effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants are of great concern when water reuse is intended. The combined process of ozone (O3) and ultrafiltration (UF) is a promising EDC removal method. The removal efficiency of five EDCs using O3, UF and their combination were investigated and compared. The five EDCs were estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-ethynyl estradiol and bisphenol A, which are typically present in secondary effluent. Results showed that organic matters in secondary effluent became easier to be removed by the combined process, with ultraviolet absorbance reduction enhanced by 11%–18% or 24%–26% compared to the UF or O3 alone. The removal efficiency of EDC concentration, estrogenicity and acute ecotoxicity by the combined process was 17%–29% or 54%–92%, 19% or 73%, 40% or 60% greater, respectively, than that of the O3 or UF alone. Particularly, when EDCs were treated by the combination of O3 and UF, about 100% EDC removal efficiency was achieved. Overall, the combined application of O3 and UF offers an effective approach to control the concentration and toxicity of EDCs in secondary effluent

Additional file 1 of Baicalin enhances proliferation and reduces inflammatory-oxidative stress effect in H2O2-induced granulosa cells apoptosis via USP48 protein regulation

Additional file 1

The Influence of Recycling on the Properties of Interface between Ceramic and Dental Alloys

Statement of Problem. Results are discrepant regarding the metal-ceramic interface of dental alloys affected by recycling. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of recycling on the properties of interface between 2 dental alloys and their corresponding porcelains. Materials and Methods. Noble alloy (Pd-Cu-Ga) and high-noble alloy (Au-Pt) were used in this study. Metal matrices (cylinders Φ4 mm×4 mm with pedestal Φ5 mm×1 mm) were prepared by arc melting in argon after recasting 1-3 times. Corresponding porcelain with overall dimensions of Φ4 mm×2 mm was veneered on each metal cylinder. There were 22 specimens in each alloy group. Specifically, two specimens of each group were chosen randomly for interfacial morphology and diffusion analyses by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The remaining 20 specimens were divided into 2 groups with or without thermal cycling. The bond strength was evaluated by shear test, and the data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The failure mode of shear test specimen was observed with a stereoscopic microscopy and subjected to the exact probability test (α=0.05). Results. According to the results from SEM, no obvious difference was observed in the interfacial morphology of both Pd-Cu-Ga and Au-Pt alloys among different recasting specimens. EDS analysis revealed that no significant difference was found in the width of elemental diffusion among 2 test alloys after recycling 1-3 times. Notably, in Pd-Cu-Ga alloy groups, the peak of Ga in thrice recasting was lower than those in first and second recastings. And there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the metal-ceramic shear bond strength of Pd-Cu-Ga and Au-Pt alloys after recycling 1-3 times, with or without thermal cycling. The results of failure modes observed on specimens were not affected by the recycling and thermal cycling in the 2 tested alloys. Conclusions. Within the limitations of this study, the Pd-Cu-Ga and Au-Pt alloys can be recycled 2 times without significant changes on the properties of metal-ceramic interface, with or without thermal cycling