Azoanthracene-core structure as Cu2+-assisted CO sensing probe: Characterization, performance, and bioimaging

Detection of endogenous CO (carbon monoxide) is an interesting topic in biology because it has been discovered as a messenger for signal transduction and therapeutic effects in vital biological activities. Fluorescence imaging has proven a powerful tool for detecting endogenous CO, which drives the development of low-cost and easy-to-use fluorescent probes. In this study, four azobenzene derivatives (A1, A2, A3, and A4) with various substituents were reported, including their geometric structures, photophysical parameters, and spectral responses to Cu2+ and CO. The relationship between substituent structure and performance was discussed along with Cu2+ quenching and CO sensing mechanisms. The optimal probe (A1), which had no substituent, efficiently quenched fluorescence in the presence of Cu2+, with its PLQY decreased from 0.33 to 0.02, PLQY = photoluminescence quantum yield. Upon CO deoxidization, A1's fluorescence could be recovered (PLQY recovered to 0.32) within 180 s. Its sensing mechanism was static by forming a non-fluorescent complex with Cu2+ (with a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1). The bioimaging performance of A1 for endogenous CO in HeLa cells was reported.

Prediction of High-Risk Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Recurrence Based on Delta-CT Radiomics Modeling: A 3-Year Follow-up Study After Surgery

Background

Medium- to high-risk classification-gastrointestinal stromal tumors (MH-GIST) have a high recurrence rate and are difficult to treat. This study aims to predict the recurrence of MH-GIST within 3 years after surgery based on clinical data and preoperative Delta-CT Radiomics modeling.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical imaging data of 242 cases confirmed to have MH-GIST after surgery, including 92 cases of recurrence and 150 cases of normal. The training set and test set were established using a 7:3 ratio and time cutoff point. In the training set, multiple prediction models were established based on clinical data of MH-GIST and the changes in radiomics texture of enhanced computed tomography (CT) at different time periods (Delta-CT radiomics). The area under curve (AUC) values of each model were compared using the Delong test, and the clinical net benefit of the model was tested using decision curve analysis (DCA). Then, the model was externally validated in the test set, and a novel nomogram predicting the recurrence of MH-GIST was finally created.

Results

Univariate analysis confirmed that tumor volume, tumor location, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), diabetes, spicy hot pot, CT enhancement mode, and Radscore 1/2 were predictive factors for MH-GIST recurrence (P < .05). The combined model based on these above factors had significantly higher predictive performance (AUC = 0.895, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.839-0.937]) than the clinical data model (AUC = 0.735, 95% CI = [0.6 62-0.800]) and radiomics model (AUC = 0.842, 95% CI = [0.779-0.894]). Decision curve analysis also confirmed the higher clinical net benefit of the combined model, and the same results were validated in the test set. The novel nomogram developed based on the combined model helps predict the recurrence of MH-GIST.

Conclusions

The nomogram of clinical and Delta-CT radiomics has important clinical value in predicting the recurrence of MH-GIST, providing reliable data reference for its diagnosis, treatment, and clinical decision-making.

Pearl-Inspired Intelligent Marine Hetero Nanocomposite Coating Based on "Brick&Mortar" Strategy: Anticorrosion Durability and Switchable Antifouling

Corrosion activities and biofouling pose significant challenges for marine facilities, resulting in substantial economic losses. Inspired by the "brick&mortar" structure of pearls, a novel nanocomposite coating (Pun-HJTx) with long-lasting anticorrosion and intelligent antifouling modes is fabricated by integrating a compatible MoS2/MXene heterostructure as the "brick" into a polyurea-modified PDMS (Pun) acting as "mortar." Notably, the presence of multiple hydrogen bonds within the coating effectively reduces the pinholes resulted from solution volatilizing. In the dark, where fouling adhesion and microbial corrosion activities are weakened, the MoS2/MXene plays a role in contact bactericidal action. Conversely, during daylight when fouling adhesion and microbial corrosion activities intensify, the coating releases reactive oxygen species (such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide ions) to counteract fouling adhesion. Additionally, the coating exhibits multisource self-healing performance under heated or exposed to light (maximum self-healing rate can reach 99.46%) and proves efficient self-cleaning performance and adhesion strength (>2.0 Mpa), making it highly suitable for various practical marine applications. Furthermore, the outstanding performance of the Pun-HJT1 is maintained for ≈180 days in real-world marine conditions, which proving its practicality and feasibility in real shallow sea environments.

Single-cell analysis identified POSTN+ cells associated with the aggressive phenotype and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Tumors are intricate and heterogeneous systems characterized by mosaic cancer cell populations with diverse expression profiles. Leveraging single-cell technologies, we employed the Scissor algorithm to delineate an epithelial subpopulation associated with the aggressive phenotype in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This identified subpopulation exhibited elevated expression of genes involved in critical pathways, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and PI3K-Akt. Key signature genes within this subpopulation, namely CAV1, COL3A1, COL6A1, POSTN, and TAGLN, demonstrated significant upregulation concomitant with both tumorigenesis and tumor progression across independent single-cell datasets. Furthermore, we selected 1,450 expression quantitative trait loci of the top 62 signature genes of this cell subpopulation to investigate their potential in predicting ESCC risk. The results showed that the POSTN loci were predominantly associated with ESCC susceptibility. Through functional annotation and replication analyses, we identified that the rs1028728 in the POSTN promoter was significantly associated with increased ESCC risk in 7,049 ESCC cases and 8,063 controls (odds ratio = 1.29, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-1.42, p = 4.03 × 10-8). Subsequent biochemical experiments showed that the rs1028728[T] allele enhanced POSTN expression by affecting the binding of PRRX1 in the POSTN promoter. In summary, our meticulous single-cell analysis delineates an invasive epithelial subpopulation in ESCC, with POSTN emerging as an important marker for the aggressive phenotype. These findings offer more insights into potential strategies for the prevention and intervention of ESCC, enriching our understanding of this complex cancer landscape.

Ex vivo drug testing of patient-derived lung organoids to predict treatment responses for personalized medicine

Lung cancer is the leading cause of global cancer-related mortality resulting in ∼ 1.8 million deaths annually. Systemic, molecular targeted, and immune therapies have provided significant improvements of survival outcomes for patients. However, drug resistance usually arises and there is an urgent need for novel therapy screening and personalized medicine. 3D patient-derived organoid (PDO) models have emerged as a more effective and efficient alternative for ex vivo drug screening than 2D cell culture and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. In this review, we performed an extensive search of lung cancer PDO-based ex vivo drug screening studies. Lung cancer PDOs were successfully established from fresh or bio-banked sections and/or biopsies, pleural effusions and PDX mouse models. PDOs were subject to ex vivo drug screening with chemotherapy, targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy. PDOs consistently recapitulated the genomic alterations and drug sensitivity of primary tumors. Although sample sizes of the previous studies were limited and some technical challenges remain, PDOs showed great promise in the screening of novel therapy drugs. With the technical advances of high throughput, tumor-on-chip, and combined microenvironment, the drug screening process using PDOs will enhance precision care of lung cancer patients.

Serum Levels of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 as Biomarkers to Predict Radiotherapy Sensitivity in Cervical Cancer

Background

Cervical cancer is a significant global health burden, and individualized treatment approaches are necessary due to its heterogeneity. Radiotherapy is a common treatment modality; however, the response varies among patients. The identification of reliable biomarkers to predict radiotherapy sensitivity is crucial.

Methods

A cohort of 189 patients with stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer, treated with radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy, was included. Serum samples were collected before treatment, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) concentrations were determined. Patients were categorized into radiotherapy-sensitive (RS) and radiotherapy-resistant (RR) groups based on treatment response. Clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates were analyzed.

Results

The analysis of clinicopathological characteristics showed that age, family history of cervical cancer and post-menopausal status did not significantly differ between RS and RR groups. Tumor size demonstrated a borderline significant association with radiotherapy response, while differentiation degree was significantly associated. Serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 concentrations were significantly higher in the RR group compared to the RS group. Combined detection of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 improved the predictive ability for radiotherapy sensitivity. Higher serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels were observed in patients with lower tumor differentiation. Five-year overall survival rates differed significantly between patients with high and low ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels.

Conclusion

Serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels show potential as predictive biomarkers for radiotherapy sensitivity in cervical cancer.

Protective Effects of Aspirin Supplemented With Quercetin in L-NAME-Induced Preeclampsia-Like Rats

Aspirin supplemented with quercetin was reported to enhance the therapeutic effects of aspirin in a rat model of preeclampsia. In this study, the underlying mechanisms were further explored. Preeclampsia was induced by L-NAME (50 mg/kg/day) via oral gavage from gestation day (GD)14 to GD19. Aspirin (1.5 mg/kg/day) administration was performed using aspirin mixed with rodent dough from GD0 to GD19. The administration of quercetin (2 mg/kg/day) was performed by intraperitoneal infusion from GD0 to GD19. Protein levels were evaluated using ELISA or Western blot, and microRNA (miRNA) level was evaluated by RT-PCR. Aspirin supplemented with quercetin ameliorated the increase of systolic blood pressure (SBP), proteinuria, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and improved the pregnancy outcomes in preeclampsia rats. Aspirin supplemented with quercetin inhibited miR-155 expression in preeclampsia rats. The decreased miR-155 level in placenta further increased the protein level of SOCS1 and inhibited the phosphorylation of p65. In this study, we demonstrated that aspirin supplemented with quercetin enhanced the effects of aspirin for the treatment of preeclampsia.

Slippery Porous-Liquid-Infused Porous Surface (SPIPS) with On-Demand Responsive Switching between "Defensive" and "Offensive" Antifouling Modes

Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) have received widespread attention in the antifouling field. However, the reduction in antifouling performance caused by lubricant loss limits their application in marine antifouling. Herein, inspired by the skin of a poison dart frog which contains venom glands and mucus, a porous liquid (PL) based on ZIF-8 is prepared as a lubricant and injected into a silicone polyurethane (SPU) matrix to construct a new type of SLIPS for marine antifouling applications: the slippery porous-liquid-infused porous surface (SPIPS). The SPIPS consists of a responsive antifoulant-releasing switch between "defensive" and "offensive" antifouling modes to intelligently enhance the antifouling effect after lubricant loss. The SPIPS can adjust antifouling performance to meet the antifouling requirements under different light conditions. The wastage of antifoulants is reduced, thereby effectively maintaining the durability and service life of SLIPS materials. The SPIPS exhibits efficient lubricant self-replenishment, self-cleaning, anti-protein, anti-bacterial, anti-algal, and self-healing (97.48%) properties. Furthermore, it shows satisfactory 360-day antifouling performance in actual marine fields during boom seasons, demonstrating the longest antifouling lifespan in the field tests of reported SLIPS coatings. Hence, the SPIPS can effectively promote the development of SLIPS for neritic antifouling.

Prognostic modeling for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NC) undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy using clinical and enhanced MRI-Delta radiomics data: A preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NC) is one of the prevalent malignancies of the head and neck region with poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to establish a predictive model for assessing NC prognosis based on clinical and MR radiomics data, subsequently to develop a nomogram for practical application.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and imaging data collected between May 2010 and August 2018, involving 211 patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed NC who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy or radical surgery in Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital. According to 5-10 years of follow-up results, the patients were divided into two groups: the study group (n= 76), which experienced recurrence, metastasis, or death, and the control group (n= 135), characterized by normal survival. Training and testing subsets were established at a 7:3 ratio, with a predefined time cutoff. In the training set, three prediction models were established: a clinical data model, an imaging model, and a combined model using the integrated variation in clinical characteristics along with MR radiomics parameters (Delta-Radscore) observed before and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Model performance was compared using Delong's test, and net clinical benefit was assessed via decision curve analysis (DCA). Then, external validation was conducted on the test set, and finally a nomogram predicting NC prognosis was created.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis identified that the risk factors impacting the prognosis of NC included gender, pathological type, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), degree of tumor differentiation, MR enhancement pattern, and Delta-Radscore (P< 0.05). The combined model established based on the abovementioned factors exhibited significantly higher predictive performance [AUC: 0.874, 95% CI (0.810-0.923)] than that of the clinical data model [AUC: 0.650, 95% CI (0.568-0.727)] and imaging model [AUC: 0.824, 95% CI (0.753-0.882)]. DCA also demonstrated superior clinical net benefit in the combined model, a finding further verified by results from the test set. The developed nomogram, based on the combined model, exhibited promising performance in clinical applications.

CONCLUSION

The Delta-Radscore derived from MR radiomics data before and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy helps enhance the performance of the NC prognostic model. The combined model and resultant nomogram provide valuable support for clinical decision-making in NC treatment, ultimately contributing to an improved survival rate.

Systematical identification of key genes and regulatory genetic variants associated with prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) stands as a highly lethal malignancy characterized by pronounced recurrence and metastasis, resulting in a bleak 5-year survival rate. Despite extensive investigations, encompassing genome-wide association studies, the identification of robust prognostic markers has remained elusive. In this study, leveraging four independent data sets comprising 404 ESCC patients, we conducted a systematic analysis to unveil pivotal genes influencing overall survival. our meta-analysis identified 278 genes significantly associated with ESCC prognosis. Further exploration of the prognostic landscape involved an examination of expression quantitative trait loci for these genes, leading to the identification of six tag single nucleotide polymorphisms predictive of overall survival in a cohort of 904 ESCC patients. Notably, functional annotation spotlighted rs11227223, residing in the enhancer region of nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), as a crucial variant likely exerting a substantive biological role. Through a series of biochemistry experiments, we conclusively demonstrated that the rs11227223-T allele, indicative of a poorer prognosis, augmented NEAT1 expression. Our results underscore the substantive role of NEAT1 and its regulatory variant in prognostic predictions for ESCC. This comprehensive analysis not only advances our comprehension of ESCC prognosis but also unveils a potential avenue for targeted interventions, offering promise for enhanced clinical outcomes.

[Etiological diagnostic methods and research progress of forest encephalitis]

Forest encephalitis is a natural focal disease transmitted through the bite of hard ticks, and its pathogen is the tick-borne encephalitis virus from the Flaviviridae family. The mortality rate of forest encephalitis is relatively high, making laboratory testing significant in diagnosing this disease. This article elaborates on the etiological diagnostic methods and recent research progress in forest encephalitis. Laboratory tests for forest encephalitis mainly include routine examinations, serological tests, virus isolation, and molecular biological testing. The detection of serum-specific IgM antibodies against the forest encephalitis virus is of great importance for early diagnosis, and specific IgG antibodies serve as a "gold standard" for differentiation from other diseases. Techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or indirect immunofluorescence assay for detecting specific IgM antibodies in serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid, the serum hemagglutination inhibition test or serum complement fixation test, and the double serum hemagglutination inhibition test or complement fixation test all contribute to the early diagnosis. The development of molecular testing methods is rapid, and techniques such as metabolomics, digital PCR, and matrix metalloproteinases are also applied in the early diagnosis of forest encephalitis.

Multimodal Imaging-Guided Photoimmunotherapy of Pancreatic Cancer by Organosilica Nanomedicine

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatments have contributed to substantial clinical progress. However, challenges persist, including inefficient drug delivery and penetration into deep tumor areas, inadequate response to ICB treatments, and potential risk of inflammation due to over-activation of immune cells and uncontrolled release of cytokines following immunotherapy. In response, this study, for the first time, presents a multimodal imaging-guided organosilica nanomedicine (DCCGP) for photoimmunotherapy of pancreatic cancer. The novel DCCGP nanoplatform integrates fluorescence, magnetic resonance, and real-time infrared photothermal imaging, thereby enhancing diagnostic precision and treatment efficacy for pancreatic cancer. In addition, the incorporated copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) lead to improved tumor penetration and provide external regulation of immunotherapy via photothermal stimulation. The synergistic immunotherapy effect is realized through the photothermal behavior of CuS NPs, inducing immunogenic cell death and relieving the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Coupling photothermal stimulation with αPD-L1-induced ICB, the platform amplifies the clearance efficiency of tumor cells, achieving an optimized synergistic photoimmunotherapy effect. This study offers a promising strategy for the clinical application of ICB-based combined immunotherapy and presents valuable insights for applications of organosilica in precise tumor immunotherapy and theranostics.

Deep learning for the early identification of periodontitis: a retrospective, multicentre study

AIM

To develop a deep-learning model to help general dental practitioners diagnose periodontitis accurately and at an early stage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, the panoramic radiographs (PARs) from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were input into the convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture to establish the PAR-CNN model for healthy controls and periodontitis patients. Then, the PARs from the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were included in the second testing set to validate the effectiveness of the model with data from two centres. Heat maps were produced using a gradient-weighted class activation mapping method to visualise the regions of interest of the model. The accuracy and time required to read the PARs were compared between the model, periodontal experts, and general dental practitioners. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) were used to evaluate the performance of the model.

RESULTS

The AUC of the PAR-CNN model was 0.843, and the AUC of the second test set was 0.793. The heat map showed that the regions of interest predicted by the model were periodontitis bone lesions. The accuracy of the model, periodontal experts, and general dental practitioners was 0.800, 0.813, and 0.693, respectively. The time required to read each PAR by periodontal experts (6.042 ± 1.148 seconds) and general dental practitioners (13.105 ± 3.153 seconds), which was significantly longer than the time required by the model (0.027 ± 0.002 seconds).

CONCLUSION

The ability of the CNN model to diagnose periodontitis approached the level of periodontal experts. Deep-learning methods can assist general dental practitioners to diagnose periodontitis quickly and accurately.

Oncocytic Carcinoma in the Retromolar Trigone: A Case Report

Oncocytic carcinoma (OC) is a pretty rare malignant neoplasm. Oncocytic carcinomas mainly occur in major salivary glands but infrequently occur in minor salivary glands. We report a case of OC occurring in the retromolar glands involving the ipsilateral tonsil, which has not been reported in the English literature. This case may expand the database of OC, and provide diagnosis and treatment ideas for clinicians.

TMT-based quantitative proteomic analysis unveils uterine fluid difference in hens producing normal and pimpled eggs

Eggshell is a crucial indicator of egg quality. Pimpled eggs (PE) a type of eggshell defect are characterized by low eggshell strength, leading to substantial financial losses. Eggshell formation occurs in the uterine fluid (UF), which contains the required ions and matrix proteins However, the underlying mechanisms of PE formation remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the egg quality of PE, and normal eggs (NE) by examining the differences in UF from hens producing PE and NE (n = 6 each). This 2-wk-long assessment involved histomorphological and proteomics analyses. The results showed that NE had better eggshell quality compared to PE, and the uterus structure in PE hens was conducive to the formation of PE. Using quantitative proteomic analysis, we identified 68 differential abundance proteins (DAPs) in the UF of PE hens, including 9 key proteins related to ion transport, protein synthesis and folding, and immunity. Downregulation of CALM1 and SCNN1G proteins in PE hens might have negatively affected the calcium signaling pathway, decreasing the calcium amount in UF. Additionally, the PHB1 and TSN proteins may affect eggshell formation by regulating immune responses. Taken together, our results provide insights into the mechanism of PE production, with potential applications for enhancing eggshell quality.

Development and external validation of a clinical-radiomics nomogram for preoperative prediction of LVSI status in patients with endometrial carcinoma

PURPOSE

To develop and validate a model that incorporates radiomics based on MRI scans and clinical characteristics to predict lymphovascular invasion (LVSI) in endometrial cancer (EC) patients.

METHODS

There were 332 patients with EC enrolled retrospectively in this multicenter study. Radiomics score (Radscore) were computed using the valuable radiomics features. The independent predictors of LVSI were identified by univariate logistic analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to develop a clinical-radiomics predictive model. Based on the model, a nomogram was developed and validated internally and externally. The nomogram was evaluated with discrimination, calibration, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curves (CIC).

RESULTS

Three predictive models were constructed based on clinicopathological features, radiomic factors and a combination of them, and that the clinic-radiomic model performed best among the three models. Four independent factors comprised the clinical-radiomics model: dynamic contrast enhancement rate of late arterial phase (DCE2), deep myometrium invasion (DMI), lymph node metastasis (LNM), and Radscore. Clinical-radiomics model performance was 0.901 (95% CI 0.84-0.96) in the training cohort, 0.80 (95% CI 0.68-0.92) in the internal validation cohort, and 0.81 (95% CI 0.73-0.9) in the external validation cohort for identifying patients with LVSI, respectively. The model is used to develop a nomogram for clinical use.

CONCLUSIONS

The MRI-based radiomics nomogram could serve as a noninvasive tool to predict LVSI in EC patients.

[Observation on the efficacy of different targets low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of tremor-dominant subtypes of Parkinson's disease]

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of different targets low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for the treatment of tremor Parkinson's disease(PD). Method: A total of 82 patients with primary PD who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 were prospectively collected. According to the clinical characteristics of major movement disorders, 82 patients with tremor type (TD) were selected to enroll.The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups at a 1∶1∶1 ratio according to the randomized coding sequence of the trial: the primary motor cortex (M1) group with 26 cases, the cerebellum group with 26 cases and the dual-site (M1, cerebellum) group with 30 cases. All patients were treated with 1 Hz low-frequency stimulation of the corresponding target once a day for 5 days a week for 2 weeks, a total of 10 times; The dosage remained unchanged during the treatment for all groups. Before and after 2 weeks' treatment, the patients were assessed with the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) and PD Quality of Life Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39) without medication. Cortical excitability, namely transcranial magnetic stimulation motor evoked potential (TMS-MEP), [including resting motor threshold (rMT) and active motor threshold (aMT) examinations], timed up and go (TUG) and electromyographic tremor were conducted. Result: There were 82 patients, 39 males and 43 females, with an average age of (67±8) years. Before the treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the evaluation indicators among the three groups (all P>0.05). After the treatment, the differences of the UPDRS-Ⅲ score [(38.9±2.5) vs (29.2±3.6) ], UPDRS tremor score [(23.7±2.1) vs (14.6±3.1) ], TUG time [(44.8±3.1) s vs (33.7±4.1) s], tremor amplitude [(480±126) μV vs (276±94) μV], PDQ-39 score [(51±13) vs (45±13) ], rMT [(36±17)% vs (43±13)%], and aMT [(26±16)% vs (31±12)%] were statistically significant (all P<0.01) from those before the treatment. There was no statistical difference in the above factors between the M1 group and cerebellum group (all P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in tremor peak frequency among the three groups before and after the treatment (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Dual-site low-frequency rTMS can improve PD tremor, while M1 or cerebellar low-frequency rTMS does not significantly improve PD tremor. Its mechanism may be to improve PD tremor symptoms by regulating cortical excitability.

[Effect of PCSK9 inhibitors on early neurological deterioration in patients with branch atheromatous disease]

Objective: To investigate the effect of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors on the incidence of early neurological deterioration during the treatment of branch atheromatous disease (BAD). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 297 BAD patients admitted to the Department of Neurology in Zhengzhou People's Hospital from January 2020 to April 2023 was made. According to whether to use PCSK9 inhibitor treatment, they were divided into PCSK9 inhibitor group (81 cases) and control group (216 cases). Propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to eliminate the general situation difference between PCSK9 inhibitor group and control group. Seventy-two cases were successfully matched in each group. The early neurological deterioration (END) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were compared. END was defined as the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score increase≥2 points within 72 hours after stroke. Suspicious influencing factors leading to END were screened for multivariate logistic regression model analysis. Results: After PSM matching, among the 144 patients, 90 were male and 54 were female, aged (61.2±9.6) years. After matching, The hospital stay[M(Q1, Q3)] [9(7, 11)d vs 10(8, 13)d] in PCSK9 and NIHSS score at discharge [2(1, 3) vs 3(1, 4) points] were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). In addition, the incidence of END was reduced in the PCSK9 inhibitor group [12.5%(9/72) vs 31.9%(23/72),P<0.05]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that C-reactive protein (CRP)(OR=1.119,95%CI: 1.010-1.240, P<0.05) and PCSK9 inhibitor (OR=0.298, 95%CI: 0.117-0.755, P<0.05) were factors associated with the development of END. Conclusion: The use of PCSK9 inhibitors in the treatment of patients with BAD can reduce the incidence of END.

A Facile Strategy to Construct Anti-Swelling, Antibacterial, and Antifogging Coatings for Protection of Medical Goggles

During the COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) pandemic, traditional medical goggles are not only easy to attach bacteria and viruses in long-term exposure, but easy to fogged up, which increases the risk of infection and affects productivity. Bacterial adhesion and fog can be significantly inhibited through the hydrogel coatings, owing to super hydrophilic properties. On the one hand, hydrogel coatings are easy to absorb water and swell in wet environment, resulting in reduced mechanical properties, even peeling off. On the other hand, the hydrogel coatings don't have intrinsic antibacterial properties, which still poses a potential risk of bacterial transmission. Herein, an anti-swelling and antibacterial hydrogel coating is synthesized by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), acrylamide (AM), dimethylaminoethyl acrylate bromoethane (IL-Br), and poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). Due to the self-driven entropy reduction effect of polycation and polyanion, an ion cross-linking network is formed, which endows the hydrogel coating with excellent antiswelling performance. Moreover, because of the synergistic effect of highly hydrated surfaces and the active bactericidal effect from quaternary ammonium cations, the hydrogel coating exhibits outstanding antifouling performances. This work develops a facile strategy to fabricate anti-swelling, antifouling, and antifogging hydrogel coatings for the protection of medical goggles, and also for biomedical and marine antifouling fields.

Disentangling the roles of chance, abiotic factors and biotic interactions among epiphytic bryophyte communities in a tropical rainforest (Yunnan, China)

Epiphytes offer an appealing framework to disentangle the contributions of chance, biotic and abiotic drivers of species distributions. In the context of the stress-gradient theory, we test the hypotheses that (i) deterministic (i.e., non-random) factors play an increasing role in communities from young to old trees, (ii) negative biotic interactions increase on older trees and towards the tree base, and (iii) positive interactions show the reverse pattern. Bryophyte species distributions and abiotic conditions were recorded on a 1.1 ha tropical rainforest canopy crane site. We analysed co-occurrence patterns in a niche modelling framework to disentangle the roles of chance, abiotic factors and putative biotic interactions among species pairs. 76% of species pairs resulted from chance. Abiotic factors explained 78% of non-randomly associated species pairs, and co-occurrences prevailed over non-coincidences in the remaining species pairs. Positive and negative interactions mostly involved species pairs from the same versus different communities (mosses versus liverworts) and life forms, respectively. There was an increase in randomly associated pairs from large to small trees. No increase in negative interactions from young to old trees or from the canopy to the base was observed. Our results suggest that epiphytic bryophyte community composition is primarily driven by environmental filtering, whose importance increases with niche complexity and diversity. Biotic interactions play a secondary role, with a very marginal contribution of competitive exclusion. Biotic interactions vary among communities (mosses versus liverworts) and life forms, facilitation prevailing among species from the same community and life form, and competition among species from different communities and life forms.

Flexible SERS Biosensor Based on Core-Shell Nanotags for Sensitive and Multiple Detection of T1DM Biomarkers

Sensitive and multiple detection of the biomarkers of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is vital to the early diagnosis and clinical treatment of T1DM. Herein, we developed a SERS-based biosensor using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes as a flexible support for the detection of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA). Two kinds of silver-gold core-shell nanotags embedded with Raman probes and attached with GADA or IAA antibodies were synthesized to capture the targets, enabling highly sensitive and highly selective detection of GADA and IAA. The embedded Raman probes sandwiched between silver and gold layers guaranteed spectral stability and reliability. Moreover, the utilization of two Raman probes enables simultaneous and multiplexing detection of both GADA and IAA, improving the detection accuracy for T1DM. The proposed SERS-based method has been proven feasible for clinical sample detection, demonstrating its great potential in sensitive, reliable, and rapid diagnosis of T1DM.

[Perspectives on molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy for complex vascular malformations in pediatrics]

Vascular malformations are due to abnormal development of blood and/or lymphatic vessels during embryonic life without endothelial cell proliferation. Most of the previous treatments were symptomatic methods as surgery and sclerotherapy because the pathogenic mechanism was not clearly understood. With advances in molecular biology, the pathogenesis of vascular malformations is thought to be related to inherited and/or somatic mutations that eventually activate the PI3K/ATK/mTOR, Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways. Also, related studies have promoted the use of targeted inhibitors. This article provides a review of current causative genes and targeted drugs for pediatric vascular malformations, aiming to provide a basis for promoting accurate molecular diagnosis and precision targeted therapy for these diseases.

Exploring the Role of Modified Vascular Anatomical Molding (MVAM) in Prenatal Diagnosis Teaching and Prognosis Prediction of Fetal Complex Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD): A Preliminary Study

Objective

The present study aimed to explore the role of modified vascular anatomical molding (MVAM) in prenatal diagnosis teaching and prognosis prediction of fetal complex congenital heart disease (CCHD).

Methods

Step 1, MVAM method was used to cast the micro-blood vessels and trachea of 52 CCHD specimens. Subsequently, 52 MVAMs were analyzed and compared with the prenatal ultrasound to summarize their characteristics, misdiagnosis and MVAM's teaching role. Step 2, the surgical and follow-up data of 206 CCHD cases were retrospectively analyzed. Cases that evolved into critical illnesses or died within 1-3 years after surgery (poor prognosis) were classified into the study group (n = 77) and those with good prognosis into the control group (n = 129), which were split into the training set and the test set in the ratio 7:3 based on the time cut-off. In the training set, the prognosis of CCHD was predicted using the MVAM anatomical soft markers (distortion and narrowing of aorta/pulmonary artery, right ventricular infundibulum, etc.) and the decision curve analysis (DCA) performed. The model was validated using the test set, and a nomogram was finally established.

Results

It was observed that all 52 CCHD cases were confirmed using MVAM. A total of 91 cardiac malformations were recorded, among which 41 malformations were misdiagnosed, and 29 malformations were missed by the prenatal echocardiography. The MVAM method has a good teaching/feedback effect on prenatal diagnosis. The combined model exhibited a higher predictive performance in the training- and test-set. Its high clinical net benefit was proved by DCA. Additionally, the nomogram established using the combined model received a favorable response in clinical practice.

Conclusion

The research results indicated that MVAM improved the prenatal diagnosis teaching and training performance. The combined model established based on MVAM anatomical soft markers can offer a high clinical significance for prognosis prediction of CCHD.

The Photoperiod-Driven Cyclical Secretion of Pineal Melatonin Regulates Seasonal Reproduction in Geese (Anser cygnoides)

The photoperiod is the predominant environmental factor that governs seasonal reproduction in animals; however, the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. Herein, Yangzhou geese (Anser cygnoides) were selected at the spring equinox (SE), summer solstice (SS), autumn equinox (AE), and winter solstice (WS), and the regulation of seasonal reproduction via the light-driven cyclical secretion of pineal melatonin was investigated. We show that there were seasonal variations in the laying rate and GSI, while the ovarian area decreased 1.5-fold from the SS to the AE. Moreover, not only did the weight and volume of the pineal gland increase with a shortened photoperiod, but the secretory activity was also enhanced. Notably, tissue distribution further revealed seasonal oscillations in melatonin receptors (Mtnrs) in the pineal gland and the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The immunohistochemical staining indicated higher Mtnr levels due to the shortened photoperiod. Furthermore, the upregulation of aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) was observed from the SS to the AE, concurrently resulting in a downregulation of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropins (GtHs). This trend was also evident in the secretion of hormones. These data indicate that melatonin secretion during specific seasons is indicative of alterations in the photoperiod, thereby allowing for insight into the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction via an intrinsic molecular depiction of external photoperiodic variations.

Exploring the key genetic association between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through integrated bioinformatics

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develops rapidly and has a poor prognosis. It has been demonstrated that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis (CP) have a close connection. However, the underlying mechanisms for chronic pancreatitis transforming into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify real hub genes in the development of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Methods: RNA-seq data of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to construct a gene co-expression network between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. GEO2R and a Venn diagram were used to identify differentially expressed genes. Then visualized networks were constructed with ClueGO, and modules of PPI network were calculated by MCODE plugin. Further validation of the results was carried out in two additional cohorts. Analyses of CEL-coexpressed genes and regulators including miRNAs and transcription factors were performed by using the corresponding online web tool. Finally, the influence of CEL in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) was assessed by immune contextual analysis. Results: With the help of WGCNA and GEO2R, four co-expression modules and six hub genes were identified, respectively. ClueGO enrichment analysis and MCODE cluster analysis revealed that the dysfunctional transport of nutrients and trace elements might contribute to chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma development. The real hub gene CEL was identified with a markedly low expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in external validation sets. According to the miRNA-gene network construction, hsa-miR-198 may be the key miRNA. A strong correlation exists between CEL and TIME after an evaluation of the influence of CEL in TIME. Conclusion: Our study revealed the dysfunctional transport of nutrients and trace elements may be common pathogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis. Examination on these common pathways and real hub genes may shed light on the underlying mechanism.

A Gold Nanocage Probe Targeting Survivin for the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer

In this paper, Au nanocages (AuNCs) loaded with the MRI contrast agent gadolinium (Gd) and capped with the tumor-targeting gene survivin (Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes) were designed and applied as a targeted imaging agent for pancreatic cancer. With its capacity to transport fluorescent dyes and MR imaging agents, the gold cage is an outstanding platform. Furthermore, it has the potential to transport different drugs in the future, making it a unique carrier platform. The utilization of Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes has proven to be an effective means of targeting and localizing survivin-positive BxPC-3 cells within their cytoplasm. By targeting survivin, an antiapoptotic gene, the Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobe was able to induce pro-apoptotic effects in BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells. The biocompatibility of AuNCs•Gd, AuNCs•Gd-Cy7 nanoparticles, and Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes is evaluated through the hemolysis rate assay. The stability of AuNCs•Gd, AuNCs•Gd-Cy7 nanoparticles, and Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes was evaluated by determining their hydrodynamic dimensions following storage in different pH solutions for a corresponding duration. Excellent biocompatibility and stability of the Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes will facilitate their further utilization in vivo and in vitro. The surface-bound survivin plays a role in facilitating the Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes' ability to locate the BxPC-3 tumor. The probe was modified to incorporate Gd and Cy7, thereby enabling the simultaneous utilization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence imaging (FI) techniques. In vivo, the Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes were found to effectively target and localize survivin-positive BxPC-3 tumors through the use of MRI and FI. After being injected via the caudal vein, the Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes were found to accumulate effectively in an in situ pancreatic cancer model within 24 h. Furthermore, these nanoprobes were observed to be eliminated from the body through the kidneys within 72 h after a single injection. This characteristic is crucial for a diagnostic agent. Based on the aforementioned outcomes, the Sur-AuNC•Gd-Cy7 nanoprobes have significant potential advantages for the theranostic treatment of pancreatic cancer. This nanoprobe possesses distinctive characteristics, such as advanced imaging abilities and specific drug delivery, which offer the possibility of enhancing the precision of diagnosis and efficacy of treatment for this destructive illness.

Biomimetic Gold Nanorods Modified with Erythrocyte Membranes for Imaging-Guided Photothermal/Gene Synergistic Therapy

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most malignant cancers that develops rapidly and carries a poor prognosis. Synergistic cancer therapy strategy could enhance the clinical efficacy compared to either treatment alone. In this study, gold nanorods (AuNRs) were used as siRNA delivery vehicles to interfere with the oncogenes of KRAS. In addition, AuNRs were one of anisotropic nanomaterials that can absorb near-infrared (NIR) laser and achieve rapid photothermal therapy for malignant cancer cells. Modification of the erythrocyte membrane and antibody Plectin-1 occurred on the surface of the AuNRs, making them a promising target nanocarrier for enhancing antitumor effects. As a result, biomimetic nanoprobes presented advantages in biocompatibility, targeting capability, and drug-loading efficiency. Moreover, excellent antitumor effects have been achieved by synergistic photothermal/gene treatment. Therefore, our study would provide a general strategy to construct a multifunctional biomimetic theranostic multifunctional nanoplatform for preclinical studies of PC.

SERS-based biosensor for detection of f-PSA%: Implications for the diagnosis of prostate cancer

In diagnosing prostate cancer and distinguishing it from other prostate diseases, the ratio of the concentration of free prostate-specific antigen (f-PSA) to total prostate-specific antigen (t-PSA), i.e., (f-PSA%) is more accurate than the concentration of t-PSA alone. Immunoassay based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) frequency shift has been proven to be particularly suitable for detecting large biomolecules with high reproducibility. Along similar lines, the present study developed a SERS-based biosensor that simultaneously detects t-PSA and f-PSA. The 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) on the immunocapture substrate is coupled to the t-PSA antibody through the carboxyl group, and the combination of t-PSA induces the Raman frequency shifts of MBA. The immunocolloidal gold attached with f-PSA antibodies selectively capture the f-PSA that immobilized on the MBA-modified SERS substrates, allowing for f-PSA quantification according to the SERS intensities of the 5, 5'-Dithiobis (succinimidyl-2-nitrobenzoate) (DSNB) probe. The results show that f-PSA and t-PSA have good linear response in the concentration scale of 0.1-20 ng/mL, and 1-200 ng/mL, respectively. The biosensor combines Raman frequency shifts and intensities, which greatly simplifies traditional procedures for f-PSA% detection. All the results demonstrated the great potential of the proposed biosensor in highly reproducible and accurate diagnosis of prostate cancers.

Suvemcitug as second-line treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors and with FOLFIRI for pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer: phase Ia/Ib open label, dose-escalation trials

BACKGROUND

Suvemcitug (BD0801), a novel humanized rabbit monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has demonstrated promising antitumor activities in preclinical studies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The phase Ia/b trials investigated the safety and tolerability and antitumor activities of suvemcitug for pretreated advanced solid tumors and in combination with FOLFIRI (leucovorin and fluorouracil plus irinotecan) in second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer using a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design. Patients received escalating doses of suvemcitug (phase Ia: 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.5 mg/kg; phase Ib: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg/kg plus FOLFIRI). The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability in both trials.

RESULTS

All patients in the phase Ia trial had at least one adverse event (AE). Dose-limiting toxicities included grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia (one patient), hypertension and proteinuria (one patient), and proteinuria (one patient). The maximum tolerated dose was 5 mg/kg. The most common grade 3 and above AEs were proteinuria (9/25, 36%) and hypertension (8/25, 32%). Forty-eight patients (85.7%) in phase Ib had grade 3 and above AEs, including neutropenia (25/56, 44.6%), reduced leucocyte count (12/56, 21.4%), proteinuria (10/56, 17.9%), and elevated blood pressure (9/56, 16.1%). Only 1 patient in the phase Ia trial showed partial response, [objective response rate 4.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1% to 20.4%] whereas 18/53 patients in the phase Ib trial exhibited partial response (objective response rate 34.0%, 95% CI 21.5% to 48.3%). The median progression-free survival was 7.2 months (95% CI 5.1-8.7 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Suvemcitug has an acceptable toxicity profile and exhibits antitumor activities in pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes of 29 tomato germplasms: genome structures, phylogenetic relationships, and adaptive evolution

In order to compare and analyze the chloroplast (cp) genomes of tomato germplasms and understand their phylogenetic relationships, the cp genomes of 29 tomato germplasms were sequenced and analyzed in this study. The results showed highly conserved characteristics in structure, number of gene and intron, inverted repeat regions, and repeat sequences among the 29 cp genomes. Moreover, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci with high polymorphism located at 17 fragments were selected as candidate SNP markers for future studies. In the phylogenetic tree, the cp genomes of tomatoes were clustered into two major clades, and the genetic relationship between S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum was very close. In addition, only rps15 showed the highest average K _A/K _S ratio in the analysis of adaptive evolution, which was strongly positively selected. It may be very important for the study of adaptive evolution and breeding of tomato. In general, this study provides valuable information for further study of phylogenetic relationships, evolution, germplasm identification, and molecular marker-assisted selection breeding of tomato.

Comparative Transcriptome and Widely Targeted Metabolome Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanism of Powdery Mildew Resistance in Tomato

Powdery mildew is a serious problem in tomato production; therefore, the PM-resistant tomato inbred line, '63187', and the susceptible tomato variety, 'Moneymaker (MM)', were used as experimental materials for the combined analysis of transcriptome and widely targeted metabolome on tomato leaves at 0 h post inoculation (hpi), 12 hpi, and 48 hpi. The results indicated that 276 genes were expressed in all treatments, and the K-means cluster analysis showed that these genes were divided into eight classes in '63187' and ten classes in 'MM'. KEGG enrichment showed that amino acid metabolism, signal transduction, energy metabolism, and other secondary metabolites biosynthesis pathways were significantly enriched. Interestingly, the analysis of WRKY family transcription factors (TFs) showed that the expression of four TFs in '63187' increased with no obvious change in 'MM'; and the expression of one TF in 'MM' increased with no obvious change in '63187'. The combined analysis revealed that both phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were enriched in '63187' and 'MM'. In '63187', six metabolites involved in this pathway were downregulated, and four genes were highly expressed, while in 'MM', three metabolites were upregulated, four metabolites were downregulated, and ten genes were highly expressed. These metabolites and genes might be candidates for PM resistance or susceptibility in subsequent studies. These results provide favorable molecular information for the study of the different resistances of tomatoes to PM, and they provide a basis for the breeding of tomato varieties resistant to PM.

ROS-mediated SRMS activation confers platinum resistance in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among gynecological malignancies. Checkpoint blockade immunotherapy has so far only shown modest efficacy in ovarian cancer and platinum-based chemotherapy remains the front-line treatment. Development of platinum resistance is one of the most important factors contributing to ovarian cancer recurrence and mortality. Through kinome-wide synthetic lethal RNAi screening combined with unbiased datamining of cell line platinum response in CCLE and GDSC databases, here we report that Src-Related Kinase Lacking C-Terminal Regulatory Tyrosine And N-Terminal Myristylation Sites (SRMS), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is a novel negative regulator of MKK4-JNK signaling under platinum treatment and plays an important role in dictating platinum efficacy in ovarian cancer. Suppressing SRMS specifically sensitizes p53-deficient ovarian cancer cells to platinum in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SRMS serves as a "sensor" for platinum-induced ROS. Platinum treatment-induced ROS activates SRMS, which inhibits MKK4 kinase activity by directly phosphorylating MKK4 at Y269 and Y307, and consequently attenuates MKK4-JNK activation. Suppressing SRMS leads to enhanced MKK4-JNK-mediated apoptosis by inhibiting MCL1 transcription, thereby boosting platinum efficacy. Importantly, through a "drug repurposing" strategy, we uncovered that PLX4720, a small molecular selective inhibitor of B-RafV600E, is a novel SRMS inhibitor that can potently boost platinum efficacy in ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, targeting SRMS with PLX4720 holds the promise to improve the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy and overcome chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.

The HDAC inhibitor domatinostat induces type I interferon α in Merkel cell carcinoma by HES1 repression

BACKGROUND

Class I selective histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have been previously demonstrated to not only increase major histocompatibility complex class I surface expression in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) cells by restoring the antigen processing and presentation machinery, but also exert anti-tumoral effect by inducing apoptosis. Both phenomena could be due to induction of type I interferons (IFN), as has been described for HDACi. However, the mechanism of IFN induction under HDACi is not fully understood because the expression of IFNs is regulated by both activating and inhibitory signaling pathways. Our own preliminary observations suggest that this may be caused by suppression of HES1.

METHODS

The effect of the class I selective HDACi domatinostat and IFNα on cell viability and the apoptosis of MCPyV-positive (WaGa, MKL-1) and -negative (UM-MCC 34) MCC cell lines, as well as, primary fibroblasts were assessed by colorimetric methods or measuring mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular caspase-3/7, respectively. Next, the impact of domatinostat on IFNA and HES1 mRNA expression was measured by RT-qPCR; intracellular IFNα production was detected by flow cytometry. To confirm that the expression of IFNα induced by HDACi was due to the suppression of HES1, it was silenced by RNA interference and then mRNA expression of IFNA and IFN-stimulated genes was assessed.

RESULTS

Our studies show that the previously reported reduction in viability of MCC cell lines after inhibition of HDAC by domatinostat is accompanied by an increase in IFNα expression, both of mRNA and at the protein level. We confirmed that treatment of MCC cells with external IFNα inhibited their proliferation and induced apoptosis. Re-analysis of existing single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that induction of IFNα by domatinostat occurs through repression of HES1, a transcriptional inhibitor of IFNA; this was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Finally, siRNA-mediated silencing of HES1 in the MCC cell line WaGa not only increased mRNA expression of IFNA and IFN-stimulated genes but also decreased cell viability.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that the direct anti-tumor effect of HDACi domatinostat on MCC cells is at least in part mediated via decreased HES1 expression allowing the induction of IFNα, which in turn causes apoptosis.

A variant in CYP26B1 associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk by affecting retinoic acid metabolism

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is the natural and synthetic analogue of vitamin A, playing an essential tumor suppressive role in multiple cancers including the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily B member 1 (CYP26B1) exerts a critical regulator of ATRA levels through specific inactivation of ATRA to hydroxylated forms. Our previous exome-wide analyses revealed a rare missense variant in CYP26B1 significantly associated with ESCC risk in the Chinese population. However, it is still unclear whether there are common variants in CYP26B1 affect the susceptibility of ESCC and the tumor promotion role of CYP26B1 in vivo. In this research, we conducted a two-stage case-control study comprised of 5057 ESCC cases and 5397 controls, followed by a series of biochemical experiments to explore the function of CYP26B1 and its common variants in the tumorigenesis of ESCC. Intriguingly, we identified a missense variant rs2241057[A>G] in the fourth exon of CYP26B1 significantly associated with the ESCC risk (combined odds ratio = 1.28; 95% confidence interval = 1.15-1.42; p = 2.96 × 10^-6 ). Through further functional analysis, we demonstrated that ESCC cells with the overexpression of rs2241057[G] had a significant lower level of retinoic acid, compared with the overexpression of rs2241057[A] or the control vector. In addition, the CYP26B1 overexpression and knock-out ESCC cells affected cell proliferation rate both in vitro and in vivo. These results highlighted the carcinogenicity of CYP26B1 related to the ATRA metabolism in ESCC risk.

[The characteristics and correlations of vaginal flora in women with cervical lesions]

Objective: To explore the characteristics and correlations of vaginal flora in women with cervical lesions. Methods: A total of 132 women, including 41 women diagnosed with normal cervical (NC), 39 patients with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1), 37 patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2/3) and 15 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), who came from the gynecological clinic of Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University during January 2018 to June 2018, were enrolled in this study according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria strictly. The vaginal flora was detected by 16S rDNA sequencing technology. Co-occurrence network analysis was used to investigate the Spearman correlations between different genera of bacteria. Results: The dominant bacteria in NC, CIN 1 and CIN 2/3 groups were Lactobacillus [constituent ratios 79.4% (1 869 598/2 354 098), 63.6% (1 536 466/2 415 100) and 58.3% (1 342 896/2 301 536), respectively], while Peptophilus [20.4% (246 072/1 205 154) ] was the dominant bacteria in SCC group. With the aggravation of cervical lesions, the diversity of vaginal flora gradually increased (Shannon index: F=6.39, P=0.001; Simpson index: F=3.95, P=0.012). During the cervical lesion progress, the ratio of Lactobacillus gradually decreased, the ratio of other anaerobes such as Peptophilus, Sneathia, Prevotella and etc. gradually increased, and the differential bacteria (LDA score >3.5) gradually evolved from Lactobacillus to other anaerobes. The top 10 relative abundance bacteria, spearman correlation coefficient>0.4 and P<0.05 were selected. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that Prevotella, Peptophilus, Porphyrinomonas, Anaerococcus, Sneathia, Atopobium, Gardnerella and Streptococcus were positively correlated in different stages of cervical lesions, while Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with the above anaerobes. It was found that the relationship between vaginal floras in CIN 1 group was the most complex and only Peptophilus was significantly negatively correlated with Lactobacillus in SCC group. Conclusions: The increased diversity and changed correlations between vaginal floras are closely related to cervical lesions. Peptophilus is of great significance in the diagnosis, prediction and early warning of cervical carcinogenesis.

[Clinical features and long-term prognosis of diabetic patients with low or intermediate complexity coronary artery disease post percutaneous coronary intervention]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and long-term prognostic factors of diabetic patients with low or intermediate complexity coronary artery disease (CAD) post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: This was a prospective, single-centre observational study. Consecutive diabetic patients with SYNTAX score (SS)≤32 undergoing PCI between January and December 2013 in Fuwai hospital were included in this analysis. The patients were divided into two groups based on SS, namely SS≤22 group and SS 23-32 group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors related to poor 5-year prognosis. The primary outcomes were cardiac death and recurrent myocardial infarction, the secondary outcomes were all cause death and revascularization. Results: Of the 3 899 patients included in the study, 2 888 were men (74.1%); mean age was 59.4±9.8 years. There were 3 450 patients in the SS≤22 group and 449 patients in the SS 23-32 group. Compared with SS≤22 group, the incidence of revascularization was higher in SS 23-32 group (18.9% (85/449) vs. 15.2% (524/3450), log-rank P=0.019). There was no significant difference in all-cause death, cardiac death and recurrent myocardial infarction between the two groups (log-rank P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (HR=1.05, 95%CI 1.02-1.08, P<0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR=3.12, 95%CI 1.37-7.07, P=0.007) and creatinine clearance rate (CCr)<60 ml/min (HR=3.67, 95%CI 2.05-6.58, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for 5-year cardiac death, while left ventricular ejection fraction (HR=0.94, 95%CI 0.91-0.96, P<0.001) was a protective factor. Previous PCI (HR=2.04, 95%CI 1.38-3.00, P<0.001), blood glucose level≥11.1 mmol/L on admission (HR=2.49, 95%CI 1.32-4.70, P=0.005) and CCr<60 ml/min (HR=1.85, 95%CI 1.14-2.99, P=0.012) were independent risk factors for 5-year recurrent myocardial infarction. The SS of 23-32 was independently associated with risk of revascularization (HR=1.54, 95%CI 1.09-2.16, P=0.014), after adjusting for residual SS. Residual SS was not a risk factor for 5-year prognosis. Conclusions: In diabetic patients with low-or intermediate complexity CAD, SS 23-32 is associated with increased risk of 5-year revascularization; the clinical characteristics of the patients are associated with the long-term mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction, but not related to revascularization.

An unexpected synthesis of azepinone derivatives through a metal-free photochemical cascade reaction

Azepinone derivatives are privileged in organic synthesis and pharmaceuticals. Synthetic approaches to these frameworks are limited to complex substrates, strong bases, high power UV light or noble metal catalysis. We herein report a mild synthesis of azepinone derivatives by a photochemical generation of 2-aryloxyaryl nitrene, [2 + 1] annulation, ring expansion/water addition cascade reaction without using any metal catalyst. Among the different nitrene precursors tested, 2-aryloxyaryl azides performed best under blue light irradiation and Brønsted acid catalysis. The reaction scope is broad and the obtained products underwent divergent transformations to afford other related compounds. A computational study suggests a pathway involving a step-wise aziridine formation, followed by a ring-expansion to the seven-membered heterocycle. Finally, water is added in a regio-selective manner, this is accelerated by the added TsOH.

Analysis of the Safety and Pregnancy Outcomes of Fertility-sparing Surgery in Ovarian Malignant Sex Cord-stromal Tumours: A Multicentre Retrospective Study

AIMS

To assess the difference in survival between fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) and radical surgery and explore pregnancy outcomes after FSS in stage I malignant sex cord-stromal tumours (MSCSTs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a multicentre retrospective cohort study on patients who were diagnosed with MSCSTs and the tumour was confined to one ovary. The patients were divided into FSS and radical surgery groups. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance variables between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the difference in disease-free survival (DFS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to find risk factors of DFS. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors of pregnancy.

RESULTS

In total, 107 patients were included, of whom 54 (50.5%) women underwent FSS and 53 (49.5%) received radical surgery. After IPTW, a pseudo-population of 208 was determined and all of the covariates were well balanced. After a median follow-up time of 50 months (range 7-156 months), 10 patients experienced recurrence and two died. There was no significant difference in DFS between the two groups, both in unweighted (P = 0.969) or weighted cohorts (P = 0.792). In the weighted cohort, stage IC (P = 0.014), tumour diameter >8 cm (P = 0.003), incomplete staging surgery (P = 0.003) and no adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001) were the four high-risk factors associated with a shorter DFS. Among 14 patients who had pregnancy desire, 11 (78.6%) women conceived successfully; the live birth rate was 76.9%. In univariate analysis, only adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.009) was associated with infertility.

CONCLUSIONS

On the premise of complete staging surgery, FSS is safe and feasible in early stage MSCSTs with satisfactory reproductive outcomes.

The inhibition of ORMDL3 prevents Alzheimer's disease through ferroptosis by PERK/ATF4/HSPA5 pathway

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with high incidence and widespread attention. There is currently no clear clarification of the pathogenesis. However, ORMDL3 causes ferroptosis in AD, and the potential mechanisms remain unclear. So, this study explore the function of ORMDL3 on ferroptosis in AD and its potential regulatory mechanisms. APPswe/PS1dE9 mice and C57BL/6 mice were induced into the mice model. The murine microglial BV-2 cells also were induced into the vitro model. In serum samples of AD patients, ORMDL3 mRNA expression levels were upregulated. The serum ORMDL3 levels expression was positively related to the ADL score or MoCA score in AD patients. The serum ORMDL3 expression level was positively related to MMSE score or Hcy levels in AD patients. The mRNA expression of ORMDL3 in the hippocampal tissue of the mice model of AD was upregulated at one, four and eight months. The protein expression of ORMDL3 was upregulated in the mice model of AD. ORMDL3 promoted Alzheimer's disease, and increased oxidative response and ferroptosis in a model of AD. PERK/ATF4/HSPA5 pathway is one important signal pathway for the effects of ORMDL3 in a model of AD. Collectively, these data suggested that ORMDL3 promoted oxidative response and ferroptosis in a model of AD by the PERK/ATF4/HSPA5 pathway, which might be a novel target spot mechanism of ferroptosis in AD and may serve as a regulator of AD-induced ferroptosis.

Vascular epiphyte populations with higher leaf nutrient concentrations showed weaker resilience to an extreme drought in a montane cloud forest

Leaf stoichiometry can characterize plant ecological strategies and correlate with plant responses to climate change. The role of vascular epiphytes in the ecosystem processes of tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems cannot be ignored. Vascular epiphytes are very vulnerable to climate change, however, the relationship between the response of epiphytes to climate change and leaf stoichiometry is not well understood. We present data for 19 vascular epiphyte species that were collected during four consecutive censuses (in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020) over 15 years in a subtropical montane cloud forest. We assessed the relationships between the population dynamics and leaf stoichiometry of these vascular epiphytes. Experiencing an extreme drought, 14 of the 19 epiphyte species showed an obvious decrease in the number of individuals, and all species showed negative growth in the number of populations. Subsequently, the total number of individuals gradually recovered, increasing from 7,195 in 2010 to 10,121 in 2015, then to 13,667 in 2020. The increase in the number of vascular epiphyte individuals from 2010 to 2015 was significantly negatively correlated with leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, and was significantly positively correlated with the leaf carbon-nitrogen ratio. Vascular epiphyte populations with higher leaf nutrient concentrations exhibited weaker resilience to the extreme drought, which demonstrated that a resource-conservative strategy was advantageous for the recovery of epiphyte populations. Our findings suggest that ecological stoichiometry can be a useful framework for forecasting the dynamics of vascular epiphyte populations in response to climate change.

Insulin Resistance-Varying Associations of Adiposity Indices with Cerebral Perfusion in Older Adults: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVES

Excessive accumulation of adipose tissue may accelerate brain aging, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Several adiposity indices were proposed to assess obesity, while their linkage with brain health in older adults remained unclear. Here we aimed to examine the associations of adiposity indices with global and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in older adults, while considering insulin resistance.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional population-based study that included older adults derived from the baseline participants in the ongoing Multimodal Interventions to Delay Dementia and Disability in rural China (MIND-China) study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The study included 103 Chinese rural-dwelling older adults (age≥60 years; 69.9% women) who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging scans.

METHODS

We estimated eight adiposity indices based on anthropometric measures. We automatically quantified global and regional CBF using the arterial spin labeling scans. Insulin resistance was assessed using the triglyceride-glucose index and then dichotomized into high and low levels according to the median. Data were analyzed using general linear model and voxel-wise analysis.

RESULTS

Of the eight examined adiposity indices, only higher waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body roundness index (BRI) were associated with reduced global CBF (multivariable-adjusted β-coefficients and 95%CI: -1.76; -3.25, -0.27 and -1.77; -3.25, -0.30, respectively) and hypoperfusion in bilateral middle temporal gyri, angular gyri and superior temporal gyri, left middle cingulum and precuneus (P<0.05). There were statistical interactions of WHtR and BRI with levels of insulin resistance on CBF, such that the significant associations of higher WHtR and BRI with lower global and regional CBF existed only in people with high insulin resistance (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Higher WHtR and BRI are associated with cerebral hypoperfusion in older adults, especially in people with high insulin resistance. This may highlight the pathological role of visceral fat in vascular brain aging.

Prediction of Prognosis of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Clinical MR Imaging Data Modeling

Objective: Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is one of the most common and poor prognosis head and neck tumors. The purpose of this study is to establish a model for predicting TSCC prognosis based on clinical and MR radiomics data and to develop a nomogram. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and imaging data of 211 patients with pathologically confirmed TSCC who underwent radical surgery at xx hospital from February 2011 to January 2020. Patients were divided into a study group (recurrence, metastasis, and death, n = 76) and a control group (normal survival, n = 135) according to 1 to 6 years of follow-up. A training set and a test set were established based on a ratio of 7:3 and a time point. In the training set, 3 prediction models (clinical data model, imaging model, and combined model) were established based on the MR radiomics score (Radscore) combined with clinical features. The predictive performance of these models was compared using the Delong curve, and the clinical net benefit of the model was tested using the decision curve. Then, the external validation of the model was performed in the test set, and a nomogram for predicting TSCC prognosis was developed. Results: Univariate analysis confirmed that betel nut consumption, spicy hot pot or pickled food, unclean oral sex, drug use, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), depth of invasion (DOI), low differentiation, clinical stage, and Radscore were factors that affected TSCC prognosis (P < .05). In the test set, the combined model based on these factors had the highest predictive performance for TSCC prognosis (area under curve (AUC) AUC: 0.870, 95% CI [0.761-0.942]), which was significantly higher than the clinical model (AUC: 0.730, 95% CI [0.602-0.835], P = .033) and imaging model (AUC: 0.765, 95% CI [0.640-0.863], P = .074). The decision curve also confirmed the higher clinical net benefit of the combined model, and these results were validated in the test set. The nomogram developed based on the combined model received good evaluation in clinical application. Conclusion: MR-LASSO extracted texture parameters can help improve the performance of TSCC prognosis models. The combined model and nomogram provide support for postoperative clinical treatment management of TSCC.

A Large Retrospective Cohort Study on the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Association with Vascular Diseases and Cancer Therapy in Men with Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

No study was conducted on the long-term risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD) in association with vascular diseases in men with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the 26-year risk of ADRD in association with cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, hypertension, and diabetes in a nationwide cohort of men with prostate cancer.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) areas of the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

351,571 men diagnosed with prostate cancer at age ≥65 years.

MEASUREMENTS

Main exposures were CVD, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. Main outcome was the incidence of ADRD.

RESULTS

The crude 26-year cumulative incidence of any ADRD was higher in those with versus without CVD (33.80% vs 29.11%), stroke (40.70% vs 28.03%), hypertension (30.88% vs 27.31%), and diabetes (32.23% vs 28.68%). Men with CVD (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.15-1.20), stroke (1.59, 1.56-1.61), hypertension (1.13, 1.11-1.14), and diabetes (1.25, 1.23-1.27) were significantly more likely to develop ADRD than those without. Patients with 4 of these vascular diseases were 161% more likely to develop ADRD (2.61, 2.47-2.76) than those without. The risk of AD (0.89, 0.87-0.91) and ADRD (0.91, 0.90-0.93) became significantly lower in men with prostate cancer who received androgen deprivation therapy as compared to those who did not after considering death as a competing risk.

CONCLUSIONS

In men with prostate cancer, vascular diseases were associated with significantly higher risks of developing ADRD. Androgen deprivation therapy was associated with a significantly decreased risk of AD in men with prostate cancer.

[Impact of interventional therapy on top of standard drug therapy on left ventricular structure and function in HFrEF patients complicating with middle aortic syndrome caused by Takayasu arteritis]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of interventional therapy on top of drug therapy on cardiac function and structure in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients complicating with middle aortic syndrome caused by Takayasu arteritis (TA-MAS). Methods: It was a retrospective longitudinal study. The data of patients with TA-MAS and HFrEF, who received interventional therapy on top of drug therapy in Fuwai Hospital from January 2010 to September 2020, were collected and analyzed. Baseline clinical data (including demographic data, basic treatment, etc.) were collected through the electronic medical record system. Changes of indexes such as New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) before and after therapy were analyzed. Results: A total of 10 patients were collected. There were 8 females in this patient cohort, age was (18.4±5.0) years and onset age was (15.3±5.0) years. All 10 patients received standard heart failure medication therapy in addition to hormone and/or immunosuppressive anti-inflammatory therapy, but cardiac function was not improved, so aortic balloon dilatation and/or aortic stenting were performed in these patients. The median follow-up was 3.3(1.3, 5.6) years. On the third day after interventional therapy, the clinical symptoms of the 10 patients were significantly improved, NYHA classfication was restored from preoperative Ⅲ/Ⅳ to Ⅱ at 6 months post intervention(P<0.05). Compared with preoperation, NT-proBNP (P=0.028), LVEDD (P=0.011) and LVMI (P=0.019) were significantly decreased, LVEF was significantly increased (P<0.001) at 6 months after operation. Compared with preoperation, NT-proBNP (P=0.016), LVEDD (P=0.023) and LVMI (P=0.043) remained decreased, LVEF remained increased (P<0.001) at 1 year after operation. Conclusion: Results from short and medium term follow-up show that interventional therapy on top of heart failure drug therpay can effectively improve left cardiac function and attenuate cardiac remodeling in patients with TA-MAS comorbid with HFrEF.