Prognosis Prediction of Colorectal Cancer Using Gene Expression Profiles

Background: Investigation on prognostic markers for colorectal cancer (CRC) deserves efforts, but data from China are scarce. This study aimed to build a prognostic algorithm using differentially expressed gene (DEG) profiles and to compare it with the TNM staging system in their predictive accuracy for CRC prognosis in Chinese patients.Methods: DEGs in six paired tumor and corresponding normal tissues were determined using RNA-Sequencing. Subsequently, matched tumor and normal tissues from 127 Chinese patients were assayed for further validation. Univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were used to identify informative DEGs. A predictive index (PI) was derived as a linear combination of the products of the DEGs and their Cox regression coefficients. The combined predictive accuracy of the DEGs-based PI and tumors' TNM stages was also examined by a logistic regression model including the two predictors. The predictive performance was evaluated with the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUCs).Results: Out of 75 candidate DEGs, we identified 10 DEGs showing statistically significant associations with CRC survival. A PI based on these 10 DEGs (PI-10) predicted CRC survival probability more accurately than the TNM staging system [AUCs for 3-year survival probability 0.73 (95% confidence interval: 0.64, 0.81) vs. 0.68 (0.59, 0.76)] but comparable to a simplified PI (PI-5) using five DEGs (LOC646627, BEST4, KLF9, ATP6V1A, and DNMT3B). The predictive accuracy was improved further by combining PI-5 and the TNM staging system [AUC for 3-year survival probability: 0.72 (0.63, 0.80)].Conclusion: Prognosis prediction based on informative DEGs might yield a higher predictive accuracy in CRC prognosis than the TNM staging system does

Elastic stability of an internally constrained hyperelastic material

The main part of this research deals with the elastic stability of a thick slab, a half space, and a cylindrical tube made of a Bell constrained material subjected to static loading. Euler\u27s stability criterion is applied to derive equations for the stability analysis. For the thick slab problem, we introduce a potential function to derive a canonical 4th order partial differential equation, and then investigate the solution of this equation for different cases. Further, general formulae for the buckling equations are developed. Based on Biot\u27s idea (1), the half-space problem is studied as an extension of the stability problem of a thick slab. For the cylindrical tube problem, it turns out that the mathematical model is very similar to that of the stability problem studied by Wilkes\u27 (2) for the case of an incompressible material. Hence, the strategy presented in (2) is referred to. However, in contrast to (2), the roots of the characteristic equation are examined for three possible situations in which these roots may be real, pure imaginary, or complex conjugate. The solutions of the system of ordinary differential equations corresponding to these cases are discussed, and the buckling equation is thus derived. The stability problem of a thin-walled tube is also studied. In the remaining part of this research, we use the wave speed criterion to discuss certain restrictions on the coefficients of the aforementioned canonical 4th order paritial differential equation, and the existence of equibiaxial deformations of a Bell constrained material under an all around Caucky stress. It is shown that, for a simple hyperelastic Bell constrained material or a material which obeys Bell\u27s law, equibiaxial deformations under an all around Cauchy stress are inherently unstable, and cannot be sustained in either of these materials

Effects of explosion puffing on the nutritional composition and digestibility of grains

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of explosion puffing on the nutritional composition, physical properties, and digestibility of grains including millet, barley, black rice, rice, glutinous rice, and wheat. Explosion puffing of grains resulted in the nutritional composition with higher total sugar content and lower moisture, starch and fat contents. Although the protein content scarcely changed comparing with the untreated grains, the solubility declined significantly. Moreover, explosion puffing could significantly improve the physical properties including the water absorption index, water solubility index and gelatinization degree. The in vitro digestion experiment was employed to investigate the influences of explosion puffing on the starch hydrolysis rate and free amino acid content, and it was indicated that the digestibility of the starch and protein in grains was highly improved. The results demonstrated that explosion puffing is a suitable technique to improve the physical properties and digestibility of grains, which provided the theoretic foundation for the use of explosion puffing technology in coarse cereal processing

An integrated single-shot spectrometer with large bandwidth-resolution ratio and wide operation temperature range

Abstract There has been a rapidly growing demand for low-cost, integrated single-shot spectrometers to be embedded in portable intelligent devices. Even though significant progress has been made in this area, two major problems are still remaining, namely the high temperature sensitivity and poor bandwidth-resolution ratio (BRR) that can’t meet the requirement of most applications. In this work, we present an integrated single-shot spectrometer relying on a silicon photonic circuit that has a footprint less than 3mm2, but could achieve broad operation bandwidth about 100 nm and high resolution up to 0.1 nm (with a BRR ~ 1000). Moreover, for the first time, we demonstrate an integrated spectrometer that could operate within a wide temperature range (between 10 and 70 degrees Celsius) without additional power consumption for temperature management

Prediction of Poor Prognosis in Breast Cancer Patients Based on MicroRNA-21 Expression: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>MicroRNA-21 (miRNA-21 or miR-21) may act as a prognostic biomarker of cancer. However, the available evidence is controversial. Therefore, the present meta-analysis summarizes this evidence and evaluates the prognostic role of this gene in breast cancer.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The meta-analysis was conducted by searching the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Chinese database-China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Data were extracted from studies that investigated the association between miR-21 expression and survival outcomes in breast cancer patients. With respect to survival outcomes, the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) of miR-21 were calculated given a 95% confidence interval (CI).</p><p>Results</p><p>Our meta-analysis identified a total of 10 studies involving 1,439 cases. Further investigation demonstrated that a high miR-21 expression can predict poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.37—4.81, <i>P</i> = 0.003) and shortened disease-free/recurrence-free survival (DFS/RFS) (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16—1.82, <i>P</i> = 0.001) in breast cancer patients. Moreover, high miR-21 expression was significantly correlated with lowered OS in the Asian group (HR = 5.07, 95% CI: 2.89—8.92, <i>P</i> < 0.001), but not in the Caucasian cohort (HR = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.99—2.10, <i>P</i> = 0.058). Furthermore, odds ratios (ORs) showed that up-regulated miR-21 levels were associated with multiple clinical characteristics.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Our results indicated that miR-21 can predict unfavorable prognoses in breast cancer patients, especially in Asians.</p></div

Association between skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio and arterial stiffness in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Background The skeletal muscle mass-to-visceral fat area ratio (SVR) has been linked to arterial stiffness in non-diabetic adults. We examined the association between the SVR and arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (252 men and 171 women) aged 40–75 years were enrolled and divided into three groups according to SVR tertiles. Arterial stiffness was measured as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), with baPWV> 1800 mm/s defined as high. Spearman’s partial correlation was used to adjust confounding factors. The odds ratio for high baPWV was determined by multiple logistic regression analyses, and receiver-operating characteristic analysis was conducted. Results SVR was associated with baPWV in Chinese patients with T2DM (Spearman’s partial correlation = − 0.129, P < 0.01). SVR was found to be significantly associated with baPWV on multiple logistic regression analysis. Patients in the lower SVR tertiles had a higher OR than did those in the higher SVR tertiles, after adjusting for multiple covariates (Q1: OR = 4.33 in men and 4.66 in women; Q3: OR = 1). The area under the curve for SVR was significantly greater than that for appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM), ASM/height2, and visceral fat area (VAF) for identifying high baPWV (0.747 in men and 0.710 in women). The optimal cutoffs values of SVR for detecting high baPWV were 191.7 g/cm2 for men and 157.3 g/cm2 for women. Conclusions SVR has an independent, negative association with arterial stiffness, and is a better risk-assessment tool than ASM, ASM/height2, and VFA in clinical practice to identify patients with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk

Sensitivity analysis for OS (A) and DFS/RFS (B).

<p>Sensitivity analysis for OS (A) and DFS/RFS (B).</p

Forest plots of the relationship between elevated miR-21 level and OS (A) and DFS/RFS (B).

<p>Forest plots of the relationship between elevated miR-21 level and OS (A) and DFS/RFS (B).</p

Natural Course of Metabolically Healthy Overweight/Obese Subjects and the Impact of Weight Change

Few studies have described the characteristics of metabolically healthy individuals with excess fat in the Chinese population. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the natural course of metabolically healthy overweight/obese (MH-OW/OB) adults, and to assess the impact of weight change on developing metabolic abnormalities. During 2009–2010, 525 subjects without any metabolic abnormalities or other obesity-related diseases were evaluated and reevaluated after 5 years. The subjects were categorized into two groups of overweight/obese and normal weight based on the criteria of BMI by 24.0 at baseline. At follow-up, the MH-OW/OB subjects had a significantly increased risk of developing metabolically abnormalities compared with metabolically healthy normal-weight (MH-NW) individuals (risk ratio: 1.35, 95% confidence interval: 1.17–1.49, p value &lt; 0.001). In the groups of weight gain and weight maintenance, the MH-OW/OB subjects was associated with a larger increase in fasting glucose, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol comparing with MH-NW subjects. In the weight loss group, no significant difference of changes of metabolic parameters was observed between MH-OW/OB and MH-NW adults. This study verifies that MH-OW/OB are different from MH-NW subjects. Weight management is needed for all individuals since weight change has a significant effect on metabolic health without considering the impact of weight change according to weight status

Flow diagram of the study selection process.

<p>Flow diagram of the study selection process.</p