Sorafenib Continuation after First Disease Progression Could Reduce Disease Flares and Provide Survival Benefits in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Pilot Retrospective Study

Fu, Si-Rui,Zhang, Ying-Qiang,Li, Yong,Hu, Bao-Shan,He, Xu,Huang, Jian-Wen,Zhan, Mei-Xiao,Lu, Li-Gong,Li, Jia-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Background: Sorafenib is a promising drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, treatment may be discontinued for multiple reasons, such as progressive disease, adverse events, or the cost of treatment. The consequences of sorafenib discontinuation and continuation are uncertain. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 88 HCC patients treated with sorafenib from July 2007 to January 2013. Overall survival (OS), post-disease progression overall survival (pOS), and time to disease progression (TTP) were compared for survival analysis. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to assess the effect of important factors on OS in the overall patient population and on pOS in patients who continued sorafenib treatment. Results: Sorafenib was discontinued and continued in 24 and 64 patients, respectively. The median OS (355 vs 517 days respectively; p=0.015) and median post-PD OS (260 vs 317 days, respectively; p=0.020) were statistically different between the discontinuation and continuation groups. Neither the median time to first PD nor the time to second PD were significantly different between the 2 groups. In the discontinuation group, 3 of the 24 patients (12.5%) suffered disease outbreaks. In Cox proportional hazard regression analysis after correction for confounding factors, BCLC stage (p=0.002) and PD site (p=0.024) were significantly correlated with pOS in patients who continued sorafenib treatment. Conclusions: Sorafenib discontinuation may cause HCC flares or outbreaks. It is advisable to continue sorafenib treatment after first PD, particularly in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B disease or only intrahepatic PD.

Finite Element and Experimental Analysis of Ultrasonic Vibration Milling of High-Volume Fraction SiCp/Al Composites

Zhan-Li Shi,Dao-Hui Xiang,Hao-Ren Feng,Bang-Fu Wu,Zhi-Meng Zhang,Guo-Fu Gao,Bo Zhao 한국정밀공학회 2021 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.22 No.10

SiCp/Al composites have been widely used in many fields due to their excellent mechanical properties. However, the addition of reinforced phase SiC particles makes the overall properties of the composites hard and brittle, which brings great challenges to milling. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted processing technology has great advantages in processing hard and brittle materials. However, the process of rupture of SiC particles cannot be effectively observed during the test processing, and a large number of tests increase the cost of the test. The combination of finite element analysis and experiment was used to study the machining performance of High-volume fraction SiCp/Al composites in longitudinal-torsional ultrasonicassisted milling (LTUAM), and its feasibility was evaluated by comparing with conventional Milling (CM). By analyzing the trajectories of cutting edges in ultrasonic-assisted milling, It was found that ultrasonic frequency determines the time of periodic contact-separation between chisel edge and workpiece, and ultrasonic amplitude determines the maximum distance of contact-separation. Using ABAQUS finite element software, a polygon SiC particles model with a high-volume fraction was established to investigate the SiC particles crushing process under different ultrasonic-assisted milling conditions. The results showed that high-frequency ultrasonic-assisted milling could soften SiCp/Al composites, and the structural integrity of silicon carbide particles could be better maintained under appropriate ultrasonic amplitudes, reducing the probability of fragmentation. The removal mode was mainly plastic removal or crushing into small particles. The surface roughness value and milling force were reduced, improving the surface quality of the processed composite material. The conclusions of the milling test were basically consistent with the simulation results, which prove the correctness and feasibility of the simulation results

Characterization of ginsenoside compound K loaded ionically cross-linked carboxymethyl chitosan―calcium nanoparticles and its cytotoxic potential against prostate cancer cells

Jianmei Zhang,Jinyi Zhou,Qiaoyun Yuan,Changyi Zhan,Zhi Shang,Qian Gu,Ji Zhang,Guangbo Fu,Weicheng Hu 고려인삼학회 2021 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.45 No.2

Backgroud: Ginsenoside compound K (GK) is a major metabolite of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides and has remarkable anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. This work used an ionic cross-linking method to entrap GK within O-carboxymethyl chitosan (OCMC) nanoparticles (Nps) to form GK-loaded OCMC Nps (GK―OCMC Nps), which enhance the aqueous solubility and stability of GK. Methods: The GK―OCMC Nps were characterized using several physicochemical techniques, including x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, zeta potential analysis, and particle size analysis via dynamic light scattering. GK was released from GK―OCMC Nps and was conducted using the dialysis bag diffusion method. The effects of GK and GK―OCMC Nps on PC3 cell viability were measured by using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay. Fluorescent technology based on Cy5.5-labeled probes was used to explore the cellular uptake of GK―OCMC Nps. Results: The GK―OCMC NPs had a suitable particle size and zeta potential; they were spherical with good dispersion. In vitro drug release from GK―OCMC NPs was pH dependent. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxicity study and cellular uptake assays indicated that the GK―OCMC Nps significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of GK toward the PC3 cells. GK―OCMC Nps also significantly promoted the activities of both caspase-3 and caspase-9. Conclusion: GK―OCMC Nps are potential nanocarriers for delivering hydrophobic drugs, thereby enhancing water solubility and permeability and improving the antiproliferative effects of GK.

Biotransformation, a Promising Technology for Anti-cancer Drug Development

Gao, Fei,Zhang, Jin-Ming,Wang, Zhan-Guo,Peng, Wei,Hu, Hui-Ling,Fu, Chao-Mei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

With the high morbidity and mortality caused by cancer, finding new and more effective anti-cancer drugs is very urgent. In current research, biotransformation plays a vital role in the research and development of cancer drugs and has obtained some achievements. In this review, we have summarized four applications as follows: to exploit novel anti-cancer drugs, to improve existing anti-cancer drugs, to broaden limited anti-cancer drug resources and to investigate correlative mechanisms. Three different groups of important anti-cancer compounds were assessed to clarify the current practical applications of biotransformation in the development of anti-cancer drugs.

Forecasting Logistics Demand Using Unbiased GM (1,1) Model Optimized by AIWPSO Algorithm

Li-Yan Geng,Zhan-Fu Zhang 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Hybrid Information Techno Vol.9 No.10

Accurate forecast of logistics demand can provide scientific guidance for logistics planning and decision making. With the complexity and uncertainty characteristics in logistics demand, the forecasting of logistics demand shows comprehensive and complex. The forecasting precision of the traditional forecasting methods often are not satisfying. It is necessary to look for novel forecasting methods to enhance the forecasting precision of logistics demand. Integrating the unbiased GM (1,1) model (UGM (1,1)) into the adaptive inertia weight particle swarm optimization (AIWPSO) algorithm, this paper developed a novel model for forecasting logistics demand, called AIWPSO-UGM (1,1) model, in which the UGM (1,1) model was used to forecast logistics demand and the AIWPSO algorithm was adopted to optimize the grey parameters needed in UGM (1,1) model. Two examples were selected to prove the out-of-sample performance of the AIWPSO-UGM (1,1) model in forecasting logistics demand. The results imply that the proposed AIWPSO-UGM (1,1) model performs better in logistics demand forecasting compared to the GM (1,1) model optimized by AIWPSO algorithm (AIWPSO-GM (1,1)), UGM (1,1), and GM (1,1) models.

Optimization study on roof break direction of gob-side entry retaining by roof break and filling in thick-layer soft rock layer

Yang, Dang-Wei,Ma, Zhan-Guo,Qi, Fu-Zhou,Gong, Peng,Liu, Dao-Ping,Zhao, Guo-Zhen,Zhang, Ray Ruichong Techno-Press 2017 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.13 No.2

This paper proposes gob-side entry retaining by roof break and filling in thick-layer soft rock conditions based on the thick-layer soft rock roof strata migration law and the demand for non-pillar gob-side entry retaining projects. The functional expressions of main roof subsidence are derived for three break roof direction conditions: lateral deflection toward the roadway, lateral deflection toward the gob and vertically to the roof. These are derived according to the load-bearing boundary conditions of the main roadway roof stratum. It is concluded that the break roof angle is an important factor influencing the stability of gob-side entry retaining surrounding rock. This paper studies the stress distribution characteristics and plastic damage scope of gob-side entry retaining integrated coal seams, as well as the roof strata migration law and the supporting stability of caving structure filled on the break roof layer at the break roof angles of $-5^{\circ}$, $0^{\circ}$, $5^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$ and $15^{\circ}$ are studied. The simulation results of numerical analysis indicate that, the stress concentration and plastic damage scope to the sides of gob-side entry retaining integrated coal at the break roof angle of $5^{\circ}$ are reduced and shearing stress concentration of the caving filling body has been eliminated. The disturbance of coal mining to the roadway roof and loss of carrying capacity are mitigated. Field tests have been carried out on air-return roadway 5203 with the break roof angle of $5^{\circ}$. The monitoring indicates that the break roof filling section and compaction section are located at 0-45 m and 45-75 m behind the working face, respectively. The section from 75-100 m tends to be stable.

Effect of Ultrasonic Vibration Tensile on the Mechanical Properties of High-Volume Fraction SiCp/Al Composite

Dao-Hui Xiang,Zhi-Meng Zhang,Bang-Fu Wu,Hao-Ren Feng,Zhan-Li Shi,Bo Zhao 한국정밀공학회 2020 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.21 No.11

Silicon carbide particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composite has been widely used in the military and aerospace industry due to its special performance; however, there remain many problems in processing. The present paper introduces an ultrasonic vibration tensile device with a view to investigating an ultrasonic vibration tensile specimen. The results show that there are three major stages in the change in stress of the material under ultrasonic vibration: the ultrasonic stress superposition effect, softening effect, and Hall–Petch strengthening effect, these three effects occupy different proportions in different tensile stages. In addition, increasing the frequency of ultrasonic vibration increased the degree of stress reduction. Increasing the ultrasonic vibration amplitude reduced the fracture strength of the material. Comparison of the fracture morphology shows that the conventional condition was mainly interfacial peeling of SiC particles, and cleavage of the fracture occurred under ultrasonic vibration conditions.