[en] More than 90% of primary thyroid cancers are differentiated papillery or follicular types. The popular treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) consist of surgery, radioiodine ablation and thyroid stimulating hormone suppressive therapy, which increase clinical benefit rate. During tumor progression, cellular de-differentiation occurs in up to 30% of cases and usually result in the loss of iodine uptake. The current reserches aiming to improve treatment effect of DTC including clinical application of rhTSH, retinoic acid inducement to re-differentiation and gene therapy on sodium-iodide symporter. (authors)

[en] Purpose: To evaluate the degree of gastric, enteric, colonic, and rectal filling in multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) whole gastroenterography. Methods: In this prospective study involving 124 patients, 78 and 46 patients underwent MDCT whole gastroenterography using positive and neutral oral contrast agents, respectively. The degree of filling of the stomach, small and large bowel, was qualitatively analyzed by experienced radiologists using a 3-point scoring system. Results: The majority of patients received a score of ≥2 for small intestine filling using both positive and neutral contrast agents (90.5% and 78.2%, respectively), and <9% of the patients had a score of 0. The highest score for the degree of filling in the small intestine was observed in the ileum, followed by the duodenum and jejunum. There was a significant difference in the degree of filling achieved with positive and neutral contrast agents in the duodenum (P = .013) and jejunum (P = .047). More than 74% of cases had an optimal filling of the stomach, whereas >80% of the cases had an optimal filling of the colorectal segments. Only ≤5.1% had a score of 0 for the analyzed segments of the colorectum. Positive and neutral contrast agents were associated with similar degree of filling in the stomach and colon segments without a significant difference in the extent of contrast agent filling (P > .05). Conclusions: Multidetector computed tomography whole gastroenterography was found to be a simple, safe, noninvasive, painless, and effective modality for the diagnosis of stomach and bowel complications in clinical settings. (author)

[en] Objective: To determine the consistency between quantitative CT perfusion measurements of colorectal cancer obtained from single section with maximal tumor dimension and from average of whole tumor, and compare intra- and inter-observer consistency of the two analysis methods. Methods: Twenty-two patients with histologically proven colorectal cancer were examined prospectively with 256-slice CT and the whole tumor perfusion images were obtained. Perfusion parameters were obtained from region of interest (ROI) inserted in single section showing maximal tumor dimension, then from ROI inserted in all tumor-containing sections by two radiologists. Consistency between values of blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV) and time to peak (TTP) calculated by two methods was assessed. Intra-observer consistency was evaluated by comparing repeated measurements done by the same radiologist using both methods after 3 months. Perfusion measurements were done by another radiologist independently to assess inter-observer consistency of both methods. The results from different methods were compared using paired t test and Bland-Altman plot. Results: Twenty-two patients were examined successfully. The perfusion parameters BF, BV and TTP obtained by whole tumor perfusion and single-section analysis were (35.59 ± 14.59) ml · min"-"1 · 100 g"-"1, (17.55 ±4.21) ml · 100 g"-"1, (21.30 ±7.57) s and (34.64 ± 13.29)ml · min"-"1 · 100 g"-"1, (17.61 ±6.39)ml · 100 g"-"1, (19.82 ±9.01) s, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the means of the perfusion parameters (BF, BV, TTP) calculated by the two methods (t=0.218, -0.033, -0.668, P>0.05, respectively). The intra-observer 95% limits of consistency of perfusion parameters were BF -5.3% to 10.0%, BV -13.8% to 10.8%, TTP -15.0% to 12.6% with whole tumor analysis, respectively; BF -14.3% to 16.5%, BV -24.2% to 22.2%, TTP -19.0% to 16.1% with single section analysis, respectively. The inter-observer 95% limits of consistency of perfusion parameters were BF .8.0% to 8.3%, BV -10.9% to 11.5%, TTP -14.5% to 11.1% with whole volume analysis, respectively; BF -10.2% to 14.1%, BV -19.0% to 17.6%, TTP -22.0% to 24.0% with single section analysis, respectively. Conclusion: There was no statistically different between the single section and whole volume analysis of tumor perfusion CT. The whole volume perfusion analysis apparently improves intra- and inter-observer consistency and can reflect the whole tumor angiogenesis more accurately and repeatedly. (authors)

[en] Objective: To evaluate the value of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging in predicting the prognosis of newly diagnosed SCLC with normal serum LDH (SCLC-nsLDH). Methods: A total of 68 SCLC patients (59 males, 9 females, median age: 58.5 years) proved by pathology between June 2005 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. The general information of patients, including LDH, NSE, 0S, PFS and SUV_max, were recorded. SUV_max differences were analyzed with Mann-Whitney u test. Life-table method and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to estimate the survival rate and median survival time. The survival function curve was drawn. Log-rank test was used to analyze whether there existed statistical differences in survival period among different groups. Cox regression analysis was used for screening the influencing factors of prognosis. Results: (1) In 68 SCLC patients,there were 38 cases with limited disease (LD) and 30 cases with extensive disease (ED). There were 3 cases in stage I, 7 cases in stage II, 29 cases in stage III, 29 cases in stage IV. The median SUV_max of the primary tumor was 11.35 (9.90, 13.90). There was no significant difference between the median SUV_max of LD group and that of ED group: 11.05(9.72, 13.60) vs 12.25(10.05, 14.12)months; z = -0.797, P = 0.426. The median serum LDH was 195.15(171.00, 220.80) U/L. (2) The median follow-up time was 18(range: 2-101) months. The disease developed in 46 patients and 35 patients died. The median 0S was 23 (95% CI: 13.3-32.7) months and median PFS was 17 (95% CI: 11.4-22.6) months. (3) R0C curve showed the optimal SUV_max cutoff value was 10.85. The 0S of patients with SUV_max ≤ 10.85 (n = 25) and with SUV_max > 10.85 (n = 43) were 40.0(95% CI: 2.5-77.5) months and 18.0(95% CI: 13.3-22.7) months(χ² = 8.956, P = 0.003), respectively. (4) Weight loss, VALG stage and primary tumor SUV_max were independent prognostic factors for OS (all P < 0.05). Only VALG stage was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (P < 0.001). Conclusion: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT can help to differentiate the different prognosis of SCLC-nsLDH patients, and provide more evidence for the choice of individual treatment strategy. (authors)

[en] We report a one-step fabrication of α-iron oxyhydroxide/reduced graphene oxide (α-FeOOH/rGO) composites, in which the ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄·7H₂O) are used as the iron raw and reducing agent to grow goethite (α-FeOOH) and reduce graphite oxide (GO) to rGO in the same time. The morphology, composition and microstructure of the as-obtained samples are systematically characterized by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FT-IR. Moreover, their electrochemical properties are investigated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge techniques. The specific capacitance of 452 F g⁻¹ is obtained at a specific current of 1 A g⁻¹ when the mass ratio of α-FeOOH to rGO is up to 80.3:19.7. In addition, the α-FeOOH/rGO composite electrodes exhibit the excellent rate capability (more than 79% retention at 10 A g⁻¹ relative to 1 A g⁻¹) and well cycling stability (13% capacitance decay after 1000 cycles). These results suggest the importance and great potential of α-FeOOH/rGO composites in the applications of high-performance energy-storage. - Graphical abstract: α-FeOOH loaded on rGO sheets reveals excellent super-capacitive performance. Display Omitted - Highlights: • A one-step synthesis of the environmentally friendly electrode material is designed. • Ferrous sulfate is used as both iron raw source of goethite and reductant of GO. • α-FeOOH nanorods loaded on rGO sheets arrange into a raft-like array. • The resultant composite exhibits high specific capacitance and long cycling stability

[en] Large-scale copper nanowall array on the bulk Fe-Co-Ni alloy substrate has been prepared in aqueous solution at room temperature via an electroless deposition method. The thickness of the nanowalls is about 15 nm. A possible growth mechanism of the nanowalls was proposed. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time and the amount of critical agent (Fe³⁺) on the morphology and crystalline phase of the nanowalls were investigated. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of Sn film supported on the as-prepared copper nanowalls current collector is enhanced in comparison with that on the commercial copper foil when used as anode for Li-ion batteries with the operating voltage window of 0.01-2.0 V (vs. Li). After 20 cycles, the discharge capacity of Sn-Cu nanowalls anode still remained 365.9 mAh g^-1, that is, 40% retention of the reversible capacity, while the initial charge capacity of Sn film cast on commercial Cu foil was 590 mAh g^-1, dropping rapidly to 260 mAh g^-1 only after 10 cycles.

[en] Objective: To evaluate the clinical impact of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT on patients with suspected cervical cancer recurrence. Methods: Fifty-one cervical cancer patients, clinically suspected to have tumor recurrence during follow-up, underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT examination. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT results were compared with those of conventional images, as referred to histopathology or clinical follow-up. Impacts of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT were evaluated based on documented changes of clinical management. Results: In total, 43 patients were found to have positive lesions by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, in which 40 were true recurrence,but 2 were pelvic abscess and 1 was radiation enterocolitis. Other 8 patients were found negative by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and confirmed by pathology or follow-up. In patient-based analyses, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for the detection of tumor recurrence were 100% (40/40), 72.73% (8/11), and 94.12% (48/51) respectively. In 7 patients, the clinical management was changed due to ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT findings. Conclusion: ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT is an efficient tool for determining the recurrence of cervical cancer and instructing the clinical management. (authors)

[en] The functionality of lncRNA snaR has only been characterized in breast cancer and colon cancer. The aim of the current study is to explore the involvement of lncRNA snaR in ovarian carcinoma (OC).

[en] So far, research on quantum image representation has gone through more than 20 years. During this time, the quantum image representation models used have almost all been based on state vectors. However, in practical problems, the environment and the principal quantum system cannot be separated, and isolated quantum systems do not exist in principle. This case is often referred to as an open quantum system. In open quantum systems, many problems involve density matrices, such as the calculation of Von Neumann entropy, the quantization of coherence, and the operator-sum representations of quantum operations. Therefore, the existing quantum image representation models are only suitable for closed quantum systems. To this end, the paper proposes three models that can not only represent quantum images in an open quantum system but also decompose the evolution process of quantum images utilizing operator-sum decomposition. These three models are the representation model of quantum gray-scale images, the tensor product representation model of quantum color images, and the representation model of quantum color images based on mixed states in the Bloch sphere, respectively. All these image representation models have strong correlations among them and are very different from their classical analogues. Between them, the biggest difference is that the paper employs density matrices, inspired by incoherent-coherent states, to represent quantum images rather than classical state vectors. By means of one of the representation models proposed in the paper, we finally demonstrate the evolution process of the quantum image going through the amplitude damping channel.

[en] Three-dimensional (3D) dendrite-shaped CuO hollow micro/nanostructures have been prepared via a Kirkendall-effect-based approach for the first time and have been demonstrated as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The as-prepared hollow structures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical properties. A CuO hollow structure composed of nanocubes outside and a dense film inside was selected as a typical example of the optimized design; it exhibited significantly improved cyclability at a current rate of 0.5 C, with the average Coulombic efficiency of ∼97.0% and 57.9% retention of the discharge capacity of the second cycle after 50 cycles. The correlation between the structure features of the hollow CuO and their electrochemical behavior was discussed in detail. Smaller size of primary structure and larger internal space of electrode materials are crucial to better electrochemical performance. This work represents that Kirkendall effect is a promising method to fabricate excellent hollow electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. - Graphical abstract: SEM images of 3D dendrite-shaped CuO hollow micro/nanostructures prepared via a Kirkendall-effect-based approach have been shown. The as-prepared CuO electrode exhibited significantly improved cyclability for Li-ion batteries.