[en] Objective: To compare the time spent for operation, safety and clinical curative effect of ultrasound-guided (US-guided) radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with those of CT-guided RFA in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: From April 2010 to November 2014, 158 admitted patients with HCC received US-guided RFA (US group, n = 59) or CT-guided RFA (CT group, n = 99). The time spent for RFA procedure, intraoperative adverse reactions and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The patients were followed up to observe the local recurrence rate, progression-free survival (PFS) time and overall survival (OS) time. Results: There was no significant difference in the occurrence rate of postoperative serious adverse reactions between the two groups (P = 0.193). The safety of the two groups was the same. The average time spent for RFA procedure in US group was 26.03 minutes which was obviously lower than 61.78 minutes in CT group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference in the local recurrence rate existed between the two groups. The PFS and OS in US group were 287.0 d (157.9-416.1 d) and 1907.0 d (1281.7-2532.3 d) respectively, which were 272.0 d (177.9-366.1 d) and 1932 d respectively in CT group (as the number of deaths in CT group did not exceed 50%, it was not able to estimate the 95% confidence interval). The differences in PFS and OS between the two groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: RFA, regardless of under US guidance or under CT guidance, can be successfully accomplished in HCC patients. US-guided RFA is simpler and quicker, the time spent for procedure is shorter, and its curative effect for HCC is similar to that of CT-guided RFA. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the curative effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with endovascular ¹²⁵I seed strip implantation for the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) complicated by extensive portal vein tumor thrombus. Methods: The clinical data of 72 patients with PHC complicated by extensive portal vein tumor thrombus were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into group A (n = 32) and group B (n = 40). TACE combined with endovascular ¹²⁵I seed strip implantation was performed for the patients of group A, while only TACE was employed for the patients of group B. The changes of portal vein tumor thrombus, the survival time and procedure-related adverse events were recorded. The preoperative and postoperative measured values were compared using paired samples t test, the count data were evaluated by χ² test, and the survival time was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Technical success rate of portal vein ¹²⁵I seed strip implantation was 100%. No serious procedure-related adverse events occurred. The median survival periods of group A and group B were 210 days and 141 days respectively, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.012). Conclusion: For the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by extensive portal vein tumor thrombus, TACE combined with endovascular ¹²⁵I seed strip implantation can significantly improve the patient's survival time. (authors)

[en] Objective: To compare the dose distribution of postoperative plans with preoperative plans for 3D printing coplanar template assisted radioactive seed implantation, and to explore the accuracy of the technique in seed implantation. Methods: From November 2015 to December 2016 a total of 32 patients were selected and underwent 3D printing coplanar template assisted radioactive seed implantation in Tengzhou Central People's Hospital of Shandong province. There were 36 implanted lesions,including 10 in the lungs, 5 in neck lymphs, 3 in pelvic cavities, 3 in vertebral body, 2 in pancreas, 2 in abdominal lymph nodes, 2 in portal veins, and 9 in the other parts. All patients were given preoperative planning and guided by the coplanar templates. Compared with the preoperative plan, all levels needles inserted at the same time. According to preoperative planning the implantation surgery was completed accurately. The postoperative dosimetry was evaluated. The preoperative and postoperative dosimetry parameters were compared, including D₉₀, D₁₀₀, V₉₀, V₁₀₀, V₁₅₀, V₂₀₀ and conformal index(CI), external index(EI), and homogeneity index(HI). The paired t test was used to perform the statistical analysis. Result: There was no significant differences in D₉₀, D₁₀₀, V₉₀, V₁₀₀, V₁₅₀, V₂₀₀, CI, EI and HI between before and after operation(P > 0.05). Conclusions: The dose parameters in postplan showed no difference compared with preplan in this study. For fixed and moving organ tumors, 3D printing coplanar template assisted radioactive seed implantation has good therapeutic accuracy, and may be a standardized surgicalmethod for seed implantation in the future. (authors)

[en] Objective: To evaluate the curative efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of hepatic metastases from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET). Methods: The clinical data of 25 patients with surgically or pathologically proved hepatic metastases from PNET, who received TACE, were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 87 TACE procedures were performed. The effective rate was evaluated by MRI, and the progression-free survival time (PFS), overall survival time (OS) and complications were analyzed. Results: The interventional therapy was successfully accomplished in all the 25 patients. The MRI evaluation of the curative effect showed that complete remission (CR) was obtained in 0 patient, partial remission (PR) in 15 patients, stable disease (SD) in 4 patients, and progression disease (PD)in 6 patients. The total effective rate was 60%. The median PFS was 13 months and the median OS was 18 months. No serious complications occurred in all patients except for one patient who developed pseudoaneurysm during operation. Conclusion: For the treatment of patients with inoperable hepatic metastases from PNET, TACE is safe and effective. (authors)

[en] Circular RNA (circRNA) belongs to the non-coding RNA family and is involved in various human cancers, such as lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, whether circRNA expression is related to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) progression remains largely unclear. In our study, we investigated the role of circ-CBFB in CLL. We found that circ-CBFB was markedly overexpressed in CLL cells compared to normal controls. Furthermore, we found that circ-CBFB could serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for CLL patients. We also explored the physiological function of circ-CBFB. We found that circ-CBFB knockdown significantly suppressed CLL cell proliferation, arrested cell cycle progression, and induced cellular apoptosis. In terms of its mechanism, we identified circ-CBFB as a sponge of miR-607, which targeted FZD3. By inhibiting miR-607 availability, circ-CBFB promoted FZD3 expression, leading to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and consequent CLL progression. Taken together, our findings revealed that the circ-CBFB/miR-607/FZD3/Wnt/β-catenin regulatory signaling cascade contributes to CLL progression.

[en] Highlights: • The structure engineering strategy with a rationally design is used to prepare the N/S co-doped ordered hierarchical carbon (NSHPC). • The obtained NSHPC possesses a high specific surface area of 2711.7 m² g⁻¹. • The capacitive performance of the electrodes is optimized by modifying the synthetic procedure and tuning the pores distribution. • The supercapacitor based on NSHPC-1:1 shows superior capacitance performance and excellent rate capability. Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon (NSC) is considered as a promising electrode material for supercapacitors (SCs). However, the specific capacitance and the rate performance of NSC are not satisfied for practical applications due to its inappropriate structural properties. Herein, we report the structural engineering of NSC by optimizing pore structure to obtain an ordered hierarchical pore network. The as-prepared NSC possesses a high gravimetric capacitance of 322 F g^-1 at the current density of 1.0 A g⁻¹ and retains 206 F g⁻¹ (64% of its capacitance at 1.0 A g⁻¹) at the high current density of 100 A g⁻¹. Moreover, it reveals an excellent cycling performance with ∼93.4% capacitance retention after 10000 cycles at the current density of 20 A g⁻¹. An assembled symmetric supercapacitor (SC) shows a remarkable energy density of 11.4 Wh kg⁻¹ and a high power density of 12.9 kW kg⁻¹. The outstanding performances of NSC electrodes benefit from the efficient ion diffusion and fast charge transfer. This work paves a way to rationally design and engineer the structure of NSC for achieving both high rate capability and high specific capacitance for SCs applications.

[en] A novel and simple approach to synthesize the hollow porous silica fibers with hierarchical structure had been proposed, in which natural silk fiber was used as template with the aid of supercritical CO₂. Supercritical CO₂ can be used to proceed with coating, during which silica precursor (TEOS) dissolved in supercritical CO₂ and the supercritical CO₂ was in contact with the silk templates. After removal of silk templates by calcinations, the final silica fiber materials replicate not only macroscopic alignment structure along the silk direction, but also microscopic porous structure on the surface of silk. We have shown that it is possible to tune the diameter, wall thickness, and the porous structure of the tube-like silica fibers by varying the pressure and temperature of the supercritical CO₂

[en] Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish an animal model of implanted inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVCTT) and to evaluate the effect of linear iodine-125 seeds strand in treating implanted IVCTT. Methods: Tumor cell line VX₂ was inoculated subcutaneously into New Zealand rabbit to develop the parent tumor. The tumor strip was inoculated into inferior vena cava (IVC) to establish the IVCTT model. The IVCTT was confirmed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) after 2 weeks. Twelve rabbits with IVCTT were randomly divided into two groups. Treatment group (group T; n = 6) underwent Iodine-125 seeds brachytherapy, and the control group (group C; n = 6) underwent blank seeds strand. The blood laboratory examination (including blood routine examination, hepatic and renal function), body weight, survival time, and IVCTT volume by MDCT were monitored. All rabbits were dissected postmortem, and the therapeutic effects were evaluated on the basis of histopathology. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen index (PI) and apoptosis index (AI) of IVCTT were compared between two groups. T test, Wilcoxon rank test, and Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis were used. Results: The success rate of establishing IVCTT was 100 %. The body weight loss and cachexia of rabbits in group C appeared earlier than in group T. Body weight in the third week, the mean survival time, PI, AI in groups T and C were 2.23 ± 0.12 kg, 57.83 ± 8.68 days, (16.73 ± 5.18 %), (29.47 ± 7.18 %), and 2.03 ± 0.13 kg, 43.67 ± 5.28 days, (63.01 ± 2.01 %), (6.02 ± 2.93 %), respectively. There were statistically significant differences between group T and group C (P < 0.05). The IVCTT volume of group T was remarkably smaller than that of group C. Conclusions: Injecting and suspensory fixing VX2 tumor strip into IVC is a reliable method to establish IVCTT animal model. The linear Iodine-125 seeds strand brachytherapy was a safe and effective method for treating IVCTT in rabbit model

[en] Highlights: • Novel bubble-like phosphorus-doped carbon nitride was synthesized without template. • Low bandgap of P-C₃N₄ enabled its excellent photocatalytic activity on RhB. • P-C₃N₄ displayed good durability and stability. • h⁺ and O₂⁻ were the main active species for RhB degradation. A novel photocatalytic material that is phosphorus-doped and graphite-like (carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄)) was successfully prepared through direct thermal co-poly-condensation using ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate as the phosphorus source and melamine as the g-C₃N₄ precursor. The catalyst was characterized by analyses from multiple tools: X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The unique bubble-like structure provided the phosphorus-doped g-C₃N₄ (P-C₃N₄) with a unique property for spatial electron transfer and a large specific surface area (40.89 m²g^-1). The photocatalytic performance of P-C₃N₄ was determined by assessing rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under visible-light irradiation. The results showed that P-C₃N₄ exhibited superior photocatalytic performance that is 18 and 4 times higher than pristine bulk g-C₃N₄ (B-C₃N₄) and modified multi-aperture g-C₃N₄ (M-C₃N₄), respectively. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity was attributed to the improved light harvesting capacity and the narrowing energy band structure of the copolymer that result from the substitution of phosphorus atoms by carbon atoms in the g-C₃N₄ framework. The photoelectron emission measurements confirmed that P-C₃N₄ promoted the separation efficiency of the charge carriers. The bubble-like structured P-C₃N₄ also possessed superior durability and stability. The radical quenching tests indicated that superoxide radicals (O₂⁻) and holes (h⁺) were the dominant active species for RhB degradation.

[en] Highlights: • Ag/P-g-C₃N₄ were synthesized by thermal polymerization and photo-deposition method. • 5% Ag/P-g-C₃N₄ composite showed the best photocatalytic activity on SMX degradation. • Holes were the primary reactive species involved in SMX photocatalytic degradation. • 22 intermediates were identified and 7 degradation pathways were proposed. -- Abstract: A series of Ag/P-g-C₃N₄ composites with different Ag content were synthesized for the first time by thermal polymerization combined with photo-deposition method. The composites were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra, N₂ absorption-desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Ag was successfully dispersed on the surface of P-g-C₃N₄. The photocatalytic performance of P-g-C₃N₄ and Ag/P-g-C₃N₄ was evaluated by degrading sulfamethoxazole (SMX) under visible light irradiation. In the presence of 5% Ag/P-g-C₃N₄, 100% of SMX was degraded within 20 min. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag/P-g-C₃N₄ was attributed to the surface plasmon resonance effect of metallic Ag and Schottky barrier formed on the interface between Ag and P-g-C₃N₄, which could speed up the generation rate of electrons and holes and inhibit the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The radical quenching tests indicated that holes and superoxide radicals were the dominant active species involved in SMX degradation. The synthesized materials maintained high catalytic activity after five cycle runs. The concentration and the intermediates during the degradation process were determined by LC–MS/MS, and the tentative degradation pathways of SMX in photocatalytic system were proposed.