ABSTRACT Objectives: Accurate preoperative prediction of adverse pathology is crucial for treatment planning of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Previous studies have emphasized the potential of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) in differentiating between benign and malignant localized renal tumors. However, there is a scarcity of case reports elucidating the identification of aggressive pathological features using PET/CT. Our study was designed to prospectively compare the diagnostic value of enhanced CT, 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) with necrosis or sarcomatoid or rhabdoid differentiation. Materials and Methods: A prospective case series of patients with a newly diagnosed renal mass who underwent enhanced CT, 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-FDG PET/CT within 30 days prior to nephrectomy was included. Complete preoperative and postoperative clinicopathological data were recorded. Patients who received neoadjuvant targeted therapy, declined enhanced CT or PET/CT scanning, refused surgical treatment or had non-ccRCC pathological indications were excluded. Radiological parameters were compared within subgroups of pathological characteristics. Bonferroni corrections were used to adjust for multiple testing and statistical significance was set at a p-value less than 0.017. Results: Seventy-two patients were available for the final analysis. Enhanced CT demonstrated poor performance in identifying necrosis, sarcomatoid or rhabdoid differentiation and adverse pathology (all P > 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT was more effective than 18F-FDG PET/CT in identifying tumor necrosis and adverse pathology, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 (cutoff value=25.26, p<0.001; Delong test z=2.709, p=0.007) for tumor necrosis and AUC of 0.90 (cutoff value=25.26, p<0.001; Delong test z=3.433, p<0.001) for adverse pathology. However, no significant statistical difference was found between 68Ga-PSMA-11 and 18F-FDG PET/CT in predicting sarcomatoid or rhabdoid feature (AUC of 0.91 vs.0.75, Delong test z=1.998, p=0.046). Subgroup analyses based on age, sex, tumor location, maximal diameter, stage and WHO/ISUP grade demonstrated that 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT SUVmax had a significant predictive value for adverse pathology. Enhanced CT value and SUVmax demonstrated strong reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) > 0.80], indicating a robust correlation. Conclusions: 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT demonstrates distinct advantages in identifying aggressive pathological features of primary ccRCC when compared to enhanced CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Further research and assessment are warranted to fully establish the clinical utility of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in ccRCC. Objectives RCC. RCC . (RCC) prostatespecific prostate specific PSMA PETCT PET tumors However 68GaPSMA11 GaPSMA 68Ga 11 Ga 68Ga-PSMA-1 18Ffluorodeoxyglucose Ffluorodeoxyglucose 18F fluorodeoxyglucose F 18FFDG FFDG FDG (18F-FDG clearcell clear (ccRCC Methods 3 included recorded therapy scanning nonccRCC non excluded characteristics pvalue p 0017 0 017 0.017 Results Seventytwo Seventy two analysis all 0.05. 005 0.05 05 0.05) (SUVmax 085 85 0.8 cutoff value2526 25 26 value=25.26 p<0.001 p0001 001 z2709 z 2 709 z=2.709 p=0.007 p0007 007 090 90 0.9 z3433 433 z=3.433 091 91 vs075 vs 75 vs.0.75 z1998 1 998 z=1.998 p=0.046. p0046 p=0.046 046 p=0.046) age sex location diameter WHOISUP WHO ISUP intraclass ICC (ICC 0.80, 080 0.80 , 80 0.80] Conclusions (RCC 68GaPSMA1 68Ga-PSMA- 01 0.01 00 0.0 08 8 0. value252 value=25.2 p<0.00 p000 z270 70 z=2.70 p=0.00 09 9 z343 43 z=3.43 vs07 7 vs.0.7 z199 99 z=1.99 p004 p=0.04 04 68GaPSMA 68Ga-PSMA value25 value=25. p<0.0 p00 z27 z=2.7 p=0.0 z34 4 z=3.4 vs0 vs.0. z19 z=1.9 value2 value=25 p<0. p0 z2 z=2. p=0. z3 z=3. vs.0 z1 z=1. value=2 p<0 z=2 p=0 z=3 vs. z=1 value= p< z= p=

Abstract Objective: To investigate the impact of recombinant human interferon α1b (rhIFNα1b) treatment in infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections on subsequent wheezing. Methods: The clinical data of infants (n = 540) with viral pneumonia, wheezy bronchitis, or bronchiolitis hospitalized in 19 Chinese hospitals from June 2009 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The parameters relevant to wheezing episodes within the last year were collected by telephone and questionnaires. The rhIFNα1b treatment group (n = 253) and control group (n = 287) were compared in terms of wheezing episodes within the last year. Moreover, the wheezing group (95 cases) and non-wheezing group (445 cases) were compared. Results: Out of 540 cases, 95 (17.6%) experienced wheezing episodes, 13.8% (35/253) cases treated with rhIFNα1b, and 20.9% (60/287) cases without rhIFNα1b experienced wheezing episodes within the last year. The rhIFNα1b treatment significantly improved wheezing episodes within the last year, compared with the control peers (p = 0.031). Single-factor regression showed statistically significant differences between the wheezing and non-wheezing groups in terms of age, rhIFNα1b use, childhood and family history of allergy, housing situation, and feeding history (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression showed a childhood history of allergy (OR = 2.14, p = 0.004), no rhIFNα1b use (OR = 1.70, p = 0.028), and living in a crowded house (OR = 1.92, p = 0.012) might be risk factors of subsequent wheezing. Accordingly, breastfeeding (OR = 0.44, p = 0.008) and hospitalization age of 1-year-old (OR = 0.58, p = 0.024) were protective factors. Conclusions: Early use of rhIFNα1b in infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections and breastfeeding could prevent subsequent wheezing. Living in a crowded house could promote subsequent wheezing.

ABSTRACT A dinuclear ruthenium complex [Ru2(bpy)4(bip-phenol)](ClO4)4 {bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, bip-phenol = 2,4-bis(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)phenol} has been synthesized and characterized. The calf thymus (ct) DNA binding properties of the complex are investigated by means of DNA viscosity and optical spectroscopic techniques of UV-visible absorption and emission spectral titrations, steady-state emission quenching with ferrocyanide, ethidium bromide competitive binding, DNA thermal denaturation and reverse salt effect, together with molecular simulation technology. The results suggest that the complex is a promising DNA groove binder with a large DNA binding constant on 106 M−1 order of magnitude. The fluorescence of the complex manifests by 6.3-fold upon binding saturately to DNA. The complex is also demonstrated to be an efficient photocleaver of pBR 322 DNA.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bipolar transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate (B-TUERP) versus bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (B-TURP) in the treatment of prostates larger than 60g. Material and Methods: Clinical data for 270 BPH patients who underwent B-TUERP and 204 patients who underwent B-TURP for BPH from May 2007 to May 2013 at our center were retrospectively analyzed. Outcome measures included operative time, decreased hemoglobin level, total prostate specific antigen (TPSA), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), quality of life (QoL) score, post void residual urine volume (RUV), bladder irrigation duration, hospital stay, and the weight of resected prostatic tissue. Other measures included perioperative complications including transurethral resection syndrome (TURS), hyponatremia, blood transfusion, bleeding requiring surgery, postoperative acute urinary retention, urine incontinence and urinary sepsis. Patients in both groups were followed for two years. Results: Compared with the B-TURP group, the B-TUERP group had shorter operative time, postoperative bladder irrigation duration and hospital stay, a greater amount of resected prostatic tissue, less postoperative hemoglobin decrease, better postoperative IPSS and Qmax, as well as lower incidences of hyponatremia, urinary sepsis, blood transfusion requirement, urine incontinence and reoperation (P<0.05 for all). Conclusions: B-TUERP is superior to B-TURP in the management of large volume BPH in terms of efficacy and safety, but this finding needs to be validated in further prospective, randomized, controlled studies.

Human enterokinase (synonym: enteropeptidase, EC 3.4.21.9) light chain (hEKL) gene was designed and artificially synthesized with built-in codon blas towards Escherichia colicodon preference. The synthetic hEKL gene was cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pMAL-s and transferred into the expression strain E. coli BL21 (DE3). Recombinant hEKL protein with a maltose binding protein (MBP) tag was expressed at high levels in soluble form, which yielded about 42% of the total cellular protein. The target protein was then purified to the homogeneity (> 95%) by affinity chromatography. The peptide substrate GST-Melittin with enterokinase recognition site was completely cleaved by the purified MBP-hEKL at the molar ratio of 1:5000 (enzyme:substrate). Tricine SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the activity of MBP-hEKL was approximately seven times that of bovine enterokinase catalytic subunit (EKMaxTM, Invitrogen). From 1 L flask culture, 206 mg pure active MBP-hEKL was with specific activity of 1.4×104U/mg.