Understanding Continuance Intention to Use Mobile Fitness Services: The Roles of Technological Characteristics and Network Effects

Mobile fitness platforms are effective in promoting healthy behaviors but these platforms generally suffer from low retention rates. It is necessary to study how to retain users of mobile fitness platforms. Based on customer value theory and Socio-technical approach, this study proposed a theoretical model to study the factors that affect users’ continuance intention to use mobile fitness platforms from a holistic perspective. A total of 320 valid questionnaires were collected to verify the model. The results indicate that utilitarian value and hedonic value are positively related to continuance intention. Social ties are negatively related to continuance intention. Meanwhile, it is found that technological characteristics have significant positive influences on utilitarian value, hedonic value and social ties. Network effects have significant positive influences on hedonic value and social ties. These findings extend our understanding of users’ continued usage of mobile fitness platforms and provide practical implications for mobile fitness service providers

Sorafenib modulates the radio sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro in a schedule-dependent manner

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high incidence and mortality. Radiotherapy and sorafenib have proven effective for HCC. Here, we investigated whether sorafenib modulated the response of HCC cells to irradiation in vitro, effect of timing of sorafenib, and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Cell viability of the HCC cell lines, SMMC-7721 and Bel-7402, was examined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2(4-sulfophenyl)-2 H-terazolium (MTT) assays. Clonogenic growth assays of SMMC-7721 and Bel-7402 were determined by colony formation assays. DNA damage was assessed by monitoring γ-HAX foci in irradiated cells with immunofluorescence microscopy, and cell cycle distribution changes were examined by flow cytometry. Effects of sorafenib (15 μM) added 30 min prior to radiation (pre-irradiation sorafenib) of SMMC-7721 and BEL-7402 or 24 h post-irradiation (post-irradiation sorafenib) on irradiated SMMC-7721 and BEL-7402 cells were compared to those of radiation alone or no treatment. RESULTS: The effect of sorafenib was dependent on its time of addition in relationship to irradiation of cells. Pre-irradiation sorafenib did not significantly affect the viability of SMMC-7221 and BEL-7402 cells compared with irradiation treatment alone. In contrast, post-irradiation sorafenib increased the sensitivity of irradiated SMMC-7221 and BEL-7402 cells significantly in a time-dependent manner. Pre-irradiation sorafenib significantly increased the surviving fraction of SMMC-7221 and BEL-7402 cells in clonogenic assays whereas post-irradiation sorafenib significantly reduced the surviving fractions of SMMC-7221 and BEL-7402 cells. SMMC-7721 cells treated with sorafenib 30 min before irradiation had significantly fewer cells with γ-H2AX foci (23.8 ± 2.9%) than SMMC-7721 cells receiving radiation alone (59.9 ± 2.4; P < 0.001). Similarly, BEL-7402 cells receiving sorafenib prior to irradiation had significantly fewer cells with γ-H2AX foci (46.4 ± 3.8%) than those receiving radiation alone (25.0 ± 3.0%; P < 0.001). In addition, irradiation (6 Gy) caused a significant increase in the percentage of both SMMC-7721 and BEL-7402 cells in G2/M at 12 to 16 h post irradiation, which was markedly delayed by pre-irradiation sorafenib. CONCLUSIONS: Sorafenib combined with irradiation exerted a schedule-dependent effect in HCC cells in vitro, which has significant implications for the combined use of sorafenib and radiotherapy for HCC patients

Tumor characteristics and surgical outcome in incidentally discovered pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas

Objective: The proportion of incidentally discovered pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) has increased over time. However, our knowledge of them is quite limited. The purpose of this retrospective study is to generalize the commonalities in incidentally discovered PPGL, offer evidence for clinical diagnosis and management. Methods: Five hundred twenty-six patients were included in our study after filtration from the database of West China Hospital of Sichuan University between May, 2007 and December, 2016. Among the patients, 148 of them were incidental findings and 378 of them were suspected findings. All patients’ demography and tumor characteristics were recorded in detail, especially hemodynamic records and hormonal assays. The reasons for taking radiography were also collected. Most patients received preoperative medical preparation. Intraoperative and postoperative courses as well as surgical outcomes were also analyzed to identify differences between incidental findings and suspected findings. Results: Incidentally discovered PPGL took up 28.1% of the study population. Suspected PPGLs had a higher prevalence of hypertension, lower proportion of non-functioning PPGL, higher prevalence of MEN2 and better post-surgical blood pressure recovery than incidental finding group. However, patients in the incidental finding group showed no significant difference in preoperative blood pressure and hormonal assays with suspected findings in metaphrine and normetaphrine in plasma and urine (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Due to the development of technology, more PPGLs are discovered incidentally. Considering the tumor characteristics and surgical outcome, surgical decisions should be made more cautiously

The emerging nanomedicine-based technology for non-small cell lung cancer immunotherapy: how far are we from an effective treatment

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a prominent etiology of cancer-related mortality. The heterogeneous nature of this disease impedes its accurate diagnosis and efficacious treatment. Consequently, constant advancements in research are imperative in order to comprehend its intricate nature. In addition to currently available therapies, the utilization of nanotechnology presents an opportunity to enhance the clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients. Notably, the burgeoning knowledge of the interaction between the immune system and cancer itself paves the way for developing novel, emerging immunotherapies for treating NSCLC in the early stages of the disease. It is believed that with the novel engineering avenues of nanomedicine, there is a possibility to overcome the inherent limitations derived from conventional and emerging treatments, such as off-site drug cytotoxicity, drug resistance, and administration methods. Combining nanotechnology with the convergence points of current therapies could open up new avenues for meeting the unmet needs of NSCLC treatment

Sorafenib modulates the radio sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells <it>in vitro</it> in a schedule-dependent manner

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high incidence and mortality. Radiotherapy and sorafenib have proven effective for HCC. Here, we investigated whether sorafenib modulated the response of HCC cells to irradiation in vitro, effect of timing of sorafenib, and the underlying mechanisms. Methods Cell viability of the HCC cell lines, SMMC-7721 and Bel-7402, was examined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2(4-sulfophenyl)-2 H-terazolium (MTT) assays. Clonogenic growth assays of SMMC-7721 and Bel-7402 were determined by colony formation assays. DNA damage was assessed by monitoring γ-HAX foci in irradiated cells with immunofluorescence microscopy, and cell cycle distribution changes were examined by flow cytometry. Effects of sorafenib (15 μM) added 30 min prior to radiation (pre-irradiation sorafenib) of SMMC-7721 and BEL-7402 or 24 h post-irradiation (post-irradiation sorafenib) on irradiated SMMC-7721 and BEL-7402 cells were compared to those of radiation alone or no treatment. Results The effect of sorafenib was dependent on its time of addition in relationship to irradiation of cells. Pre-irradiation sorafenib did not significantly affect the viability of SMMC-7221 and BEL-7402 cells compared with irradiation treatment alone. In contrast, post-irradiation sorafenib increased the sensitivity of irradiated SMMC-7221 and BEL-7402 cells significantly in a time-dependent manner. Pre-irradiation sorafenib significantly increased the surviving fraction of SMMC-7221 and BEL-7402 cells in clonogenic assays whereas post-irradiation sorafenib significantly reduced the surviving fractions of SMMC-7221 and BEL-7402 cells. SMMC-7721 cells treated with sorafenib 30 min before irradiation had significantly fewer cells with γ-H2AX foci (23.8 ± 2.9%) than SMMC-7721 cells receiving radiation alone (59.9 ± 2.4; P  Conclusions Sorafenib combined with irradiation exerted a schedule-dependent effect in HCC cells in vitro, which has significant implications for the combined use of sorafenib and radiotherapy for HCC patients.</p

Preoperative selective vs non-selective α-blockade in PPGL patients undergoing adrenalectomy

Purpose: Preoperative preparation for adrenalectomy for pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) is universally recognized as necessary, while the optimal strategy remains controversial. Our aims were to increase intraoperative hemodynamic stability, expedite postoperative recovery, decrease side effects and reduce costs for patients with PPGL undergoing adrenalectomy. Methods: We identified 526 patients undergoing open adrenalectomy for PPGL in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University between May, 2007 and December, 2016. 149 patients received preoperative selective α-blockade with phenoxybenzamine, and 377 patients received non-selective α-blockade with prazosin, doxazosin or terazosin. There were no statistical differences between groups regarding preoperative patient and tumor characteristics. Operations were planned once hypertensive patients were well-controlled with blood pressure ≤130/85 mmHg. Intraoperatively, all patients received arterial blood pressure monitoring, and indwelling urinary catheters to record urine output. We recorded intraoperative hemodynamics, status in the postanesthesia or intensive care unit, postoperative recovery and complications. Results: Patients in the non-selective group showed a more significant decline in postoperative systolic blood pressure than the selective group (P = 0.041). Also, patients in the non-selective group appeared to receive a long-term anti-hypertensive effect, especially for diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.037), which was a novel finding, based on the current literature. Conclusions: Our results confirmed that non-selective α-blockade produced a more significant anti-hypertensive effect than selective α-blockade. However, we found no significant difference in intraoperative hemodynamic instability, postoperative recovery and postoperative complications between groups

MiR-222-3p promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells through targeting SLC4A4

Objective. An increasing number of studies indicate that miR-222-3p is upregulated in various cancers and can regulate tumor progression. This study aimed to explore the regulatory mechanism of miR-222- 3p in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods. TCGA database was used to dig differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs in PTC tissue. Relevant references were searched to determine target miRNA. StarBase, TargetScan and miRDB were applied to predict mRNAs that had binding sites with the target miRNA. Then, the mRNAs were intersected with differentially downregulated mRNAs in TCGA to determine the target mRNA. qRT-PCR was exerted to evaluate gene expression of miR-222-3p and SLC4A4 in PTC. Western blot was performed out to evaluate the protein expression of SLC4A4 in PTC cells. CCK-8, wound healing assay and cell invasion assay were undertaken to observe the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of PTC cells. Dual-luciferase assay was employed to test the binding relationship between miR222-3p and SLC4A4. Results. MiR-222-3p was highly expressed in PTC while SLC4A4 was lowly expressed. Moreover, miR222-3p was able to promote the proliferation, invasion, and migration of PTC cells. SLC4A4 was able to reverse these promotive effects of miR-222-3p. Conclusion. MiR-222-3p can promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of PTC cells through targeting SLC4A4. MiR-222-3p is expected to be a molecular therapeutic target for PTC patients