Recombinant human adenovirus-p53 therapy for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a meta-analysis

To compare clinical curative effects and toxicity of recombinant human adenovirus-p53 injection (rAd-p53, Gendicine) combining chemoradiotherapy (CRT)/radiotherapy (RT) with those obtained with CRT/RT alone in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We searched all the eligible studies from the Pubmed, Cochran Library, Embase, Web of science, Wanfang database and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). A total of twelve studies including 566 participants met the criteria to perform a meta-analysis. The results indicated the complete remission (CR) and overall response (OR) in the combination therapy group were significantly improved compared with the CRT/RT group (CR:RR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.66–2.48, p < 0.00001; OR:RR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.13–1.33, p < 0.00001), and patients who received the combination therapy showed significantly prolonged 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS), 2 year disease-free survival (DFS) rate and 2 year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate (1 year OS:RR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.00–1.17, p = 0.04; 2 year OS:RR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.00–1.26, p = 0.04; 2 year DFS:RR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.09–1.83, p = 0.008; 2 year RFS:RR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.03–1.31, p = 0.02), but there was no significance in 3 year OS rate and 2 year distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) rate (3 year OS:RR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.00–1.62, p = 0.05; 2 year DMFS:RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.89–1.24, p = 0.55). Furthermore, CRT/RT combined with rAd-p53 could not aggravate the myelosuppression versus CRT/RT alone (RR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.51–1.23, p = 0.30). The results demonstrated CRT/RT combined with rAd-p53 can result in enhanced survival and better clinical responses of patients with NPC. Therefore, rAd-p53 has great potential as an effective therapy for NPC

Selective oxidation of H2S over V2O5 supported on CeO2-intercalated Laponite clay catalysts

A series of V2O5 supported on CeO2-intercalated clay catalysts (named V2O5/Ce-Lap catalysts) with mesoporous structure and high specific surface area were prepared. The structural characteristics and physicochemical properties were studied in detail. These catalysts were evaluated for the H2S selective oxidation. It was revealed that all V2O5/Ce-Lap catalysts showed high catalytic activities in the temperature range of 120-220 degrees C due to the redox reaction of highly dispersed V5+ species, and the catalytic mechanism obeyed a redox process, i.e. a stepwise mechanism. Additionally, the chemically absorbed oxygen also played an important role in H2S selective oxidation. Among them, the 5% V2O5/Ce-Lap catalyst presented the best catalytic activity and excellent regenerability at 180 degrees C. Finally, the catalyst deactivation mechanism was explored

Effect of tankyrase 1 on autophagy in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells from ageing rats with erectile dysfunction and its potential mechanism

This study compared tankyrase 1 expression and autophagy quantity between erectile dysfunction (ED) and non-ED rats' corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CSMCs). This study aslo explored the effect and possible mechanism of tankyrase 1 on autophagy and cell proliferation in ageing ED rats' CSMCs. The intracavernous pressure and mean systemic arterial pressure were measured to investigate erectile function so that eight 24-month-old ED and eight 8-month-old male Wistar rats were choosed respectively. The rat CSMCs were isolated and cultured by enzyme digestion, in which tankyrase 1 expression and autophagy quantity were compared. Tankyrase 1 overexpression was induced with plasmid transfection by Lipofectamine(™). The effect of tankyrase 1 overexpression on proliferation, autophagy and mTOR pathway in 24-month-old ED rats' CSMCs was measured by the cell growth curve in MTT assay, cell cycle analysis in flow cytometry (FCM), key protein expression in Western blot, autophagy quantity in transmission electron microscopy, monodansylcadaverine staining and GFP-LC3 fluorescence. The primary CSMCs were confirmed by immunofluorescence, and the purity was 99.1% in FCM. Compared with that of 8-month-old rats, tankyrase 1 expression and autophagy quantity significantly decreased in 24-month-old ED rats' primary CSMCs (P < 0.01). Tankyrase 1 overexpression significantly increased the growth rate (P < 0.05) and increased the S phase of cell cycle (P < 0.01). The autophagosome quantity was remarkably increased (P < 0.01), LC3-I/II and Beclin 1 were upregulated (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), and p-p70S6K (Thr(389)) was downregulated in 24-month-old ED rat CSMCs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Tankyrase 1 and autophagy decrease in the CSMCs from aging rats with ED, and tankyrase 1 may have a positive effect on proliferation by enhancing autophagy and regulating the mTOR signalling pathway

Effects of Badminton Expertise on Representational Momentum: A Combination of Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies

Representational momentum (RM) has been found to be magnified in experts (e.g., sport players) with respect to both real and implied motion in expert-familiar domains. However, it remains unclear whether similar effects can be achieved in expert-unfamiliar domains, especially within the context of implied motion. To answer this question, we conducted two independent experiments using an implied motion paradigm and examined the expert effects of badminton training on RM in both adult and child players. In Experiment 1, we used a cross-sectional design and compared RM between adult professional badminton players and matched controls. The results revealed significantly enhanced RM for adult players, supporting the expert effect in expert-unfamiliar domains for implied motion. However, cross-sectional studies could not ascertain whether the observed expert effect was due to innate factors or expertise acquirement. Therefore, in Experiment 2, we used a longitudinal design and compared RM between two groups of child participants, naming child players who had enrolled professional badminton training program at a sports school and age-matched peer non-players who attended an ordinary primary school without sports training. Before training, there were no differences in RM among child players, their non-player peers, and adult non-players. However, after 4 years of badminton training, child players demonstrated significantly enhanced RM compared to themselves prior to training. The increased RM observed in both adult and child players suggests that badminton expertise modulates implied motion RM

Graphene-Based Nanocomposites for Energy Storage

Since the first report of using micromechanical cleavage method to produce graphene sheets in 2004, graphene/graphene-based nanocomposites have attracted wide attention both for fundamental aspects as well as applications in advanced energy storage and conversion systems. In comparison to other materials, graphene-based nanostructured materials have unique 2D structure, high electronic mobility, exceptional electronic and thermal conductivities, excellent optical transmittance, good mechanical strength, and ultrahigh surface area. Therefore, they are considered as attractive materials for hydrogen (H2) storage and high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors, rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion batteries, Li–sulfur batteries, Li–air batteries, sodium (Na)-ion batteries, Na–air batteries, zinc (Zn)–air batteries, and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), etc., as they can improve the efficiency, capacity, gravimetric energy/power densities, and cycle life of these energy storage devices. In this article, recent progress reported on the synthesis and fabrication of graphene nanocomposite materials for applications in these aforementioned various energy storage systems is reviewed. Importantly, the prospects and future challenges in both scalable manufacturing and more energy storage-related applications are discussed

Dihydroartemisinin Enhances Apo2L/TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells via ROS-Mediated Up-Regulation of Death Receptor 5

BACKGROUND: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin, has recently shown antitumor activity in various cancer cells. Apo2 ligand or tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) is regarded as a promising anticancer agent, but chemoresistance affects its efficacy as a treatment strategy. Apoptosis induced by the combination of DHA and Apo2L/TRAIL has not been well documented, and the mechanisms involved remain unclear. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we report that DHA enhances the efficacy of Apo2L/TRAIL for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We found that combined therapy using DHA and Apo2L/TRAIL significantly enhanced apoptosis in BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cells compared with single-agent treatment in vitro. The effect of DHA was mediated through the generation of reactive oxygen species, the induction of death receptor 5 (DR5) and the modulation of apoptosis-related proteins. However, N-acetyl cysteine significantly reduced the enhanced apoptosis observed with the combination of DHA and Apo2L/TRAIL. In addition, knockdown of DR5 by small interfering RNA also significantly reduced the amount of apoptosis induced by DHA and Apo2L/TRAIL. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that DHA enhances Apo2L/TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells through reactive oxygen species-mediated up-regulation of DR5

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy vs Alteplase for Patients With Minor Nondisabling Acute Ischemic Stroke

Importance Intravenous thrombolysis is increasingly used in patients with minor stroke, but its benefit in patients with minor nondisabling stroke is unknown. Objective To investigate whether dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is noninferior to intravenous thrombolysis among patients with minor nondisabling acute ischemic stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter, open-label, blinded end point, noninferiority randomized clinical trial included 760 patients with acute minor nondisabling stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score ≤5, with ≤1 point on the NIHSS in several key single-item scores; scale range, 0-42). The trial was conducted at 38 hospitals in China from October 2018 through April 2022. The final follow-up was on July 18, 2022. Interventions Eligible patients were randomized within 4.5 hours of symptom onset to the DAPT group (n = 393), who received 300 mg of clopidogrel on the first day followed by 75 mg daily for 12 (±2) days, 100 mg of aspirin on the first day followed by 100 mg daily for 12 (±2) days, and guideline-based antiplatelet treatment until 90 days, or the alteplase group (n = 367), who received intravenous alteplase (0.9 mg/kg; maximum dose, 90 mg) followed by guideline-based antiplatelet treatment beginning 24 hours after receipt of alteplase. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was excellent functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 or 1 (range, 0-6), at 90 days. The noninferiority of DAPT to alteplase was defined on the basis of a lower boundary of the 1-sided 97.5% CI of the risk difference greater than or equal to −4.5% (noninferiority margin) based on a full analysis set, which included all randomized participants with at least 1 efficacy evaluation, regardless of treatment group. The 90-day end points were assessed in a blinded manner. A safety end point was symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage up to 90 days. Results Among 760 eligible randomized patients (median [IQR] age, 64 [57-71] years; 223 [31.0%] women; median [IQR] NIHSS score, 2 [1-3]), 719 (94.6%) completed the trial. At 90 days, 93.8% of patients (346/369) in the DAPT group and 91.4% (320/350) in the alteplase group had an excellent functional outcome (risk difference, 2.3% [95% CI, −1.5% to 6.2%]; crude relative risk, 1.38 [95% CI, 0.81-2.32]). The unadjusted lower limit of the 1-sided 97.5% CI was −1.5%, which is larger than the −4.5% noninferiority margin (P for noninferiority &amp;amp;lt;.001). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage at 90 days occurred in 1 of 371 participants (0.3%) in the DAPT group and 3 of 351 (0.9%) in the alteplase group. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with minor nondisabling acute ischemic stroke presenting within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, DAPT was noninferior to intravenous alteplase with regard to excellent functional outcome at 90 days. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0366141