70 research outputs found

    Predicting recurrence and survival in patients with non-metastatic renal-cell carcinoma after nephrectomy: a prospective population-based study with multicenter validation

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    Background: Accurate prognostication of oncological outcomes is crucial for the optimal management of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after surgery. Previous prediction models were developed mainly based on retrospective data in the Western populations, and their predicting accuracy remains limited in contemporary, prospective validation. We aimed to develop contemporary RCC prognostic models for recurrence and overall survival (OS) using prospective population-based patient cohorts and compare their performance with existing, mostly utilized ones. Methods: In this prospective analysis and external validation study, the development set included 11 128 consecutive patients with non-metastatic RCC treated at a tertiary urology center in China between 2006 and 2022, and the validation set included 853 patients treated at 13 medical centers in the USA between 1996 and 2013. The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary outcome was OS. Multivariable Cox regression was used for variable selection and model development. Model performance was assessed by discrimination [Harrell’s C-index and time-dependent areas under the curve (AUC)] and calibration (calibration plots). Models were validated internally by bootstrapping and externally by examining their performance in the validation set. The predictive accuracy of the models was compared with validated models commonly used in clinical trial designs and with recently developed models without extensive validation. Results: Of the 11 128 patients included in the development set, 633 PFS and 588 OS events occurred over a median follow-up of 4.3 years [interquartile range (IQR) 1.7–7.8]. Six common clinicopathologic variables (tumor necrosis, size, grade, thrombus, nodal involvement, and perinephric or renal sinus fat invasion) were included in each model. The models demonstrated similar C-indices in the development set (0.790 [95% CI 0.773–0.806] for PFS and 0.793 [95% CI 0.773–0.811] for OS) and in the external validation set (0.773 [0.731–0.816] and 0.723 [0.731–0.816]). A relatively stable predictive ability of the models was observed in the development set (PFS: time-dependent AUC 0.832 at 1 year to 0.760 at 9 years; OS: 0.828 at 1 year to 0.794 at 9 years). The models were well calibrated and their predictions correlated with the observed outcome at 3, 5, and 7 years in both development and validation sets. In comparison to existing prognostic models, the present models showed superior performance, as indicated by C-indices ranging from 0.722 to 0.755 (all P<0.0001) for PFS and from 0.680 to 0.744 (all P<0.0001) for OS. The predictive accuracy of the current models was robust in patients with clear-cell and non-clear-cell RCC. Conclusions: Based on a prospective population-based patient cohort, the newly developed prognostic models were externally validated and outperformed the currently available models for predicting recurrence and survival in patients with non-metastatic RCC after surgery. The current models have the potential to aid in clinical trial design and facilitate clinical decision-making for both clear-cell and non-clear-cell RCC patients at varying risk of recurrence and survival

    3D-printed air-blast microfluidic nozzles for preparing calcium alginate microparticles

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    Seeing is believing: in situ/operando optical microscopy for probing electrochemical energy systems

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    This review discusses a range of in situ/operando techniques based on optical microscopy reported in literatures for studying electrochemical energy systems. Compared to other techniques (scanning probe microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray microscopy), optical microscopy offers many advantages including the simplicity of the instrument and operation, cost effectiveness, and nondestructive nature. In the past few decades, significant advances in the field of optical microscopy have been made, enabling new opportunities of more elaborate studies on electrochemical energy systems. Herein, different methodologies are compared, with the emphasis on experimental setup designs and findings, to illustrate their aptness

    Association Between Cerebral Hypoperfusion and Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Chronic Vertebra-Basilar Stenosis

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    Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between cognitive impairment and cerebral haemodynamic changes in patients with chronic vertebra-basilar (VB) stenosis.Methods: Patients with severe posterior circulation VB stenosis and infarction or a history of infarction for more than 2 weeks from January 2014 to January 2015 were enrolled (n = 96). They were divided into three groups, namely, the computed tomography perfusion (CTP) normal group, the CTP compensated group, and the CTP decompensated group. Cognitive function was assessed using a validated Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Regression models were used to identify independent risk factors for cognitive impairment.Results: The MMSE and FAB scores of patients in the CTP decompensated group were significantly lower than those of patients in the CTP normal and CTP compensated groups (all p &lt; 0.05). The RBANS total and its domain scores, including immediate memory, visual acuity, and delayed memory, in the CTP compensated and CTP decompensated groups were significantly lower than those in the CTP normal group (all p &lt; 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that CTP compensation, CTP decompensation, severe VB tandem stenosis, and multiple infarctions were independent risk factors for cognitive impairment.Conclusions: Low perfusion caused by severe VB stenosis can lead to extensive cognitive impairments in areas such as immediate memory, visual span, and delayed memory

    Mice Deficient in Cyp4a14 Have An Increased Number of Goblet Cells and Attenuated Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis

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    Background/Aims: Cyp4a14 is a member of cytochrome P450 (Cyp450) enzyme superfamily that possesses NADPH monooxygenase activity, which catalyzes omega-hydroxylation of medium-chain fatty acids and arachidonic acid. Study suggests that down-regulation of Cyp4a14 has an anti-inflammatory response in intestine. The present study was to test the function of Cyp4a14 in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Methods: Female Cyp4a14-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with DSS for 6 days to induce colitis. The colon of mice was histologically observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&#38;E) and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. The serum malondialdehyde (MDA), an endogenous indicator of oxidative stress, was chemically measured. Proinflammatory and NADPH oxidase genes were examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: Cyp4a14-KO mice had a significantly higher number of goblet cells in the colon and were more resistant to DSS-induced colitis compared with the WT mice. The DSS-treated KO mice had lower levels of MDA. Consistent with the milder inflammatory pathological changes, DSS-treated KO mice had lower levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA in the liver and the colon. Moreover, the colon of DSS-treated Cyp4a14-KO and WT mice had higher mRNA levels of two members of NADPH oxidases, Nox2 and Nox4, suggesting that both Nox2 and Nox4 are inflammatory markers. By contrast, DSS-treated WT and KO mice had drastically decreased epithelium-localized Nox1 and dual oxidase (Duox) 2 mRNA levels, coinciding with the erosion of the mucosa induced by DSS. Conclusion: These results suggests a hypothesis that the increased goblet cell in the colon of Cyp4a14-KO mice provides protection from mucosal injury and Cyp4a14-increased oxidative stress exacerbates DSS-induced colitis. Therefore, Cyp4a14 may represent a potential target for treating colitis
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