Development and validation of novel immune-inflammation-based clinical predictive nomograms in HER2-negative advanced gastric cancer

PurposeTo explore the predictive value of multiple immune-inflammatory biomarkers including serum VEGFA and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in HER2-negative advanced gastric cancer (AGC) and establish nomograms for predicting the first-line chemotherapeutic efficacy, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with this fatal disease.MethodsFrom November 2017 to April 2022, 102 and 34 patients with a diagnosis of HER2-negative AGC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College were enrolled as development and validation cohorts, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the clinical value of the candidate indicators. The variables were screened using LASSO regression analysis. Predictive models were developed using significant predictors and are displayed as nomograms.ResultsBaseline VEGFA expression was significantly higher in HER2-negative AGC patients than in nonneoplastic patients and was associated with malignant serous effusion and therapeutic efficacy (all p<0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that VEGFA was an independent predictor for first-line therapeutic efficacy and PFS (both p<0.01) and SII was an independent predictor for first-line PFS and OS (both p<0.05) in HER2-negative AGC patients. The therapeutic efficacy model had an R2 of 0.37, a Brier score of 0.15, and a Harrell’s C-index of 0.82 in the development cohort and 0.90 in the validation cohort. The decision curve analysis indicated that the model added more net benefits than VEGFA assessment alone. The PFS/OS models had Harrell’s C-indexes of 0.71/0.69 in the development cohort and 0.71/0.62 in the validation cohort.ConclusionThe established nomograms integrating serum VEGFA/SII and commonly available baseline characteristics provided satisfactory performance in predicting the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of HER2-negative AGC patients

An Attempt to Understand Kidney's Protein Handling Function by Comparing Plasma and Urine Proteomes

With the help of proteomics technology, the human plasma and urine proteomes, which closely represent the protein compositions of the input and output of the kidney, respectively, have been profiled in much greater detail by different research teams. Many datasets have been accumulated to form “reference profiles” of the plasma and urine proteomes. Comparing these two proteomes may help us understand the protein handling aspect of kidney function in a way, however, which has been unavailable until the recent advances in proteomics technology.After removing secreted proteins downstream of the kidney, 2611 proteins in plasma and 1522 in urine were identified with high confidence and compared based on available proteomic data to generate three subproteomes, the plasma-only subproteome, the plasma-and-urine subproteome, and the urine-only subproteome, and they correspond to three groups of proteins that are handled in three different ways by the kidney. The available experimental molecular weights of the proteins in the three subproteomes were collected and analyzed. Since the functions of the overrepresented proteins in the plasma-and-urine subproteome are probably the major functions that can be routinely regulated by excretion from the kidney in physiological conditions, Gene Ontology term enrichment in the plasma-and-urine subproteome versus the whole plasma proteome was analyzed. Protease activity, calcium and growth factor binding proteins, and coagulation and immune response-related proteins were found to be enriched.The comparison method described in this paper provides an illustration of a new approach for studying organ functions with a proteomics methodology. Because of its distinctive input (plasma) and output (urine), it is reasonable to predict that the kidney will be the first organ whose functions are further elucidated by proteomic methods in the near future. It can also be anticipated that there will be more applications for proteomics in organ function research

Association between Pretreatment Serum Uric Acid Levels and Progression of Newly Diagnosed Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose. Increased evidence reveals that uric acid (UA) may have an important neuroprotective effect through its antioxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between pretreatment serum UA levels and the progression of newly diagnosed primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods. This prospective observational cohort study included 64 patients with newly diagnosed PACG who were followed up for a mean period of 12.77 months (range: 3–28 months). All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological examination during the baseline and final follow-up visits, together with the acquisition of blood samples for UA measurements. During the follow-up period, the progression of PACG was defined as a clinical diagnosis of medically uncontrolled intraocular pressure and a loss of visual field with a mean deviation of >1 dB/year. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to investigate the association between baseline serum UA levels and the progression of PACG. The cumulative probability of progression of glaucoma was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results. During follow-up, 32 subjects were defined as progressive PACG, among whom baseline UA values were significantly higher in nonprogressing subjects than in progressing subjects (0.314±0.069 mmol/l versus [vs.] 0.258±0.069 mmol/l, respectively; P=0.002). Similar results were also observed in male and female subgroups (P<0.05). In a multivariable model, a decreased baseline serum UA level was associated with an increased risk for progressing PACG: both in male (hazard ratio [HR] 6.088 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.163–31.8638]; P=0.032) and female subjects (HR 3.565 [95% CI 1.131–11.236]; P=0.030). Subjects with high UA levels demonstrated higher cumulative probabilities of nonprogressing PACG than those with low UA levels (male [16.67% vs. 80.00%; P=0.0084] and female [29.41% vs. 68.00%; P=0.0182]). Conclusion. An association between high baseline serum UA levels and a decreased risk for progressing PACG was found. This primary finding suggests that high serum UA levels may have a protective role against PACG and could slow disease progression

Lack of Association between Serum Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D Levels with Different Types of Glaucoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Although vitamins play a major role in health, and their deficiency may be linked to symptoms of optic-nerve dysfunction, the association between serum vitamin levels and glaucoma in humans remains controversial. In this study, articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched up to 25March 2017. Nine studies on primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), four studies on normal tension glaucoma (NTG), and six studies on exfoliative glaucoma (EXG) were retrieved. The combined results showed no differences in the levels of serum vitamin B6 between POAG (p = 0.406) and EXG (p = 0.139) patients and controls. The weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 2.792 ng/mL (−3.793 to 9.377) and 1.342 ng/mL (−3.120 to 0.436), respectively. There was no difference between POAG (p = 0.952), NTG (p = 0.757), or EXG (p = 0.064) patients and controls in terms of serum vitamin B12. The WMDs with 95% CIs were 0.933 pg/mL (−31.116 to 29.249), 6.652 pg/mL (−35.473 to 48.777), and 49.946 pg/mL (−102.892 to 3.001), respectively. The serum vitamin D levels exhibited no differences (p = 0.064) between POAG patients and controls; the WMD with 95% CI was 2.488 ng/mL (−5.120 to 0.145). In conclusion, there was no association found between serum vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or vitamin D levels and the different types of glaucoma

Pretreatment Serum Uric Acid as an Efficient Predictor of Prognosis in Men with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose. Uric acid (UA) is a major antioxidant molecule that has been hypothesized to have a protective effect against cancer-induced oxidative damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether preoperative levels of serum UA are associated with the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC). Methods. A total of 814 male LSCC patients (followed up for five years) and 814 normal control subjects were enrolled from January 2007 to December 2011. The rates of total mortality and cancer mortality were 23.46% and 21.36%, respectively. The prevalence of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were evaluated to identify UA as a prognostic factor. Results. The serum UA and UA/Cr (creatinine) ratio levels were significantly reduced (P0.310 mmol/l) and UA/Cr ratio (>3.97) experienced five more years of OS, DFS, and CSS than did patients with low UA (<0.310 mmol/l) and UA/Cr ratio (<3.97) levels. Conclusion. High preoperative UA serum levels were identified as an independent prognostic factor associated with improved clinical outcomes among LSCC patients

Design and Verification of Crab Steering System for High Clearance Self-Propelled Sprayer

A crab steering system aiming at improving the steering flexibility and operation efficiency of the high clearance sprayer was designed. First, a steering transmission mechanism of the high clearance sprayer was designed according to the operational and structural characteristics of the sprayer. Meanwhile, a crab steering hydraulic system based on load sensing was designed, and a mathematical model of the steering transmission mechanism and hydraulic system was established to describe the working characteristics of the crab steering system. On the basis of analyzing the operating environment of the sprayer and the operating characteristics of crab steering mode, a control strategy and algorithm of the crab steering system were proposed. The simulation model of the crab steering control system was built according to the established mathematical model, and the simulation analysis of the crab steering system was carried out. The simulation results showed that under the excitation of step signal, the average deviation of the two front wheels is 0.063&deg;, and the absolute value of the maximum deviation is 2.75&deg;, which is within the allowable range of deviation and meets the crab steering demand of the sprayer. Additionally, in order to verify the effectiveness of the designed system, an actual vehicle test platform of the crab steering system was built based on the 3WPG-3000 high clearance self-propelled sprayer independently developed by the research group, and the field test results revealed that the average deviation of the four wheels was 0.285&deg;, the maximum absolute deviation was 2.587&deg;, the rotation deviation was small, within the allowable and reasonable range. Altogether, the results of the simulation and field test verify the accuracy, stability and practicability of the crab steering system, which effectively improved the maneuverability of the sprayer

Relationship between Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Visual Field Progression in Patients with Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma

Purpose. To investigate the serum changes of oxidative stress markers and the relationship between these factors and visual field (VF) progression in patients with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods. A case-control and a prospective cohort study. A total of 94 patients with PACG and 89 normal controls were enrolled. Furthermore, 94 PACG subjects were followed up for at least two years (once every six months). All participants were evaluated for serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant status (TAS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and detailed eye and systematic examination. Binary logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed. Results. The serum levels of SOD and TAS in the PACG group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p12 had a significantly higher percentage of PACG progression (p<0.05). Conclusions. Decreased levels of TAS and SOD as well as increased levels of MDA at baseline were associated with VF progression in patients with PACG. These findings suggest that oxidative stress was involved in the onset and development of PACG

Research on the Digital Machine for Killing the Larva of Longicorn Beetle with Microwave Based on the Arduino

International audienceLongicorn beetle is an important wood-boring insect. In order to probe into the effective eco-friendly method controlling longicorn beetle, this document recommends a new dual optical digital machine for killing the larva of longicorn beetle with microwave based on the arduino. This machine uses the arduino with temperature controller as the core, touch switch, and a temperature sensor as important parts. By using arduino and sensor measurement technology, a kind of economical close-loop grinding control system is formed to control the temperature with the control of duty cycle and frequency of pulses. The results of the operation showed that the temperature controlling, microwave power is adjustable, man - machine dialogue is woven and seized. It is reliable to be easy to operate and high in automation