[Analysis on the ultrasonic characteristics of tonsillar lymphoma]

Objective: To analyze the ultrasonic features of tonsillar lymphoma to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Methods: The clinical, pathological and ultrasonic data of nine patients with tonsillar lymphoma confirmed by pathology at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital during June 2015 and June 2022 were analyzed retrospectively, and the characteristics of their ultrasonic images were summarized. Results: All 9 cases of tonsil lymphoma were unilateral tonsil disease, including 4 cases on the left side and 5 cases on the right side. The average maximum diameter of tonsil lymphoma in 9 cases was 4.32 cm. There were 3 cases with simultaneous involvement of tonsil and cervical lymph nodes, all of which were ipsilateral lymph nodes. Gray scale ultrasound showed that the lesions were hypoechoic, with clear boundaries in 7 cases and unclear boundaries in 2 cases. The shape was full and irregular in 5 cases and oval in 4 cases. The echo was uniform in 7 cases and uneven in 2 cases. Color Doppler ultrasonography showed abundant internal blood flow signal in 1 case, a little dotted linear internal blood flow signal in 5 cases, and no obvious internal blood flow signal in 3 cases. Conclusions: The ultrasonic features of tonsillar lymphoma include hypoechoic area, clear boundary, full shape, irregular and uniform internal echo, no or low linear signal of internal blood flow. Ultrasonography is of great value in the diagnosis of this disease and can help clinical decision-making.

The Transfer Dehydrogenation Method Enables a Family of High Crystalline Benzimidazole-linked Cu (II)-phthalocyanine-based Covalent Organic Frameworks Films

Heterocycle-linked phthalocyanine-based COFs with close-packed π-π conjugated structures are a kind of material with intrinsic electrical conductivity, and they are considered to be candidates for photoelectrical devices. Previous studies have revealed their applications for energy storage, gas sensors, and field-effect transistors. However, their potential application in photodetector is still not fully studied. The main difficulty is preparing high-quality films. In our study, we found that our newly designed benzimidazole-linked Cu (II)-phthalocyanine-based COFs (BICuPc-COFs) film can hardly formed with a regular aerobic oxidation method. Therefore, we developed a transfer dehydrogenation method with N-benzylideneaniline (BA) as a mild reagent. With this in hand, we successfully prepared a family of high crystalline BICuPc-COFs powders and films. Furthermore, both of these new BICuPc-COFs films showed high electrical conductivity (0.022-0.218 S/m), higher than most of the reported COFs materials. Due to the broad absorption and high conductivity of BICuPc-COFs, synaptic devices with small source-drain voltage (VDS=1 V) were fabricated with response light from visible to near-infrared. Based on these findings, we expect this study will provide a new perspective for the application of conducting heterocycle-linked COFs in synaptic devices.

A remotely-delivered pilot and feasibility program to promote physical and food literacy in adolescents with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

Youth with intellectual disabilities experience disparities in physical activity and diet quality. Physical and food literacy are hypothesised to support adoption of healthy lifestyles; however, few such interventions have been developed for this population.

METHOD

Participants with intellectual disabilities ages 12-16 years were recruited for a 12-week online sports skills and nutrition education intervention. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy were assessed by attendance, satisfaction, and pre-post measures of motor skills, perceived competence and motivation for physical activity, classifying foods, making healthy choices, and food consumption.

RESULTS

Six teens participated in the program and attended 87.5% of the sessions. Satisfaction data suggested that the program was well-received by both teens and parents. Trends toward improvements on physical activity and nutrition outcome measures were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Preliminary data from this pilot study suggest that physical and food literacy in youth with intellectual disabilities can be improved, which in turn may contribute to the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

An Acid-Responsive Iron-Based Nanocomposite for OSCC Treatment

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer, characterized by invasiveness, local lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. Traditional treatment and medications have limitations, making the specific inhibition of OSCC growth, invasion, and metastasis a challenge. The tumor microenvironment exhibits mildly acidity and high concentrations of H2O2, and its exploitation for cancer treatment has been widely researched across various cancers, but research in the oral cancer field is relatively limited. In this study, by loading ultra-small Prussian blue nanoparticles (USPBNPs) into mesoporous calcium-silicate nanoparticles (MCSNs), we developed an acid-responsive iron-based nanocomposite, USPBNPs@MCSNs (UPM), for the OSCC treatment. UPM demonstrated excellent dual enzyme activities, generating toxic ·OH in a mildly acidic environment, effectively killing OSCC cells and producing O2 in a neutral environment to alleviate tissue hypoxia. The results showed that UPM could effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells, as well as the growth of mice solid tumors, without obvious systemic toxicity. The mechanisms may involve UPM inducing ferroptosis of OSCC cells by downregulating the xCT/GPX4/glutathione (GSH) axis, characterized by intracellular iron accumulation, reactive oxygen species accumulation, GSH depletion, lipid peroxidation, and abnormal changes in mitochondrial morphology. Therefore, this study provides empirical support for ferroptosis as an emerging therapeutic target for OSCC and offers a valuable insight for future OSCC treatment.

[A study on the dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes among adolescents in Shandong Province]

Objective: To understand the current status and its associated factors of dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes among adolescents in Shandong Province and explore the reasons for dual use behavior. Methods: A self-administered survey was conducted among 7 999 middle school students who were selected by stratified multi-stage cluster sample method. Data were weighted and analyzed by the SPSS 25.0 complex program. Results: In Shandong Province, the prevalence rates of attempting and current dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes among adolescents appeared as 7.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Male, friends smoking, and secondhand smoke exposure in the past 7 days were risk factors for dual use. Compared with cigarette smokers, dual users have no differences in cognition and behavior in quitting smoking (P>0.05). The main reason for dual users to smoke e-cigarettes was curiosity. Conclusions: Dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes is common among adolescents in Shandong Province, and its influencing factors are similar to traditional cigarettes. Dual use is not a transitional stage for smoking cessation. Dual users are more likely to continue smoking in the future, which should be paid attention and concern.

Oleanolic acid alleviates obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a pentacyclic triterpene with reported protective effects against various diseases, including diabetes, hepatitis, and different cancers. However, the effects of OA on obesity-induced muscle atrophy remain largely unknown. This study investigated the effects of OA on skeletal muscle production and proliferation of C2C12 cells. We report that OA significantly increased skeletal muscle mass and improved glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. OA inhibited dexamethasone (Dex)-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myoblasts by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In addition, it also inhibited expression of MuRF1 and Atrogin1 genes in skeletal muscle of obese mice suffering from muscle atrophy, and increased the activation of PI3K and Akt, thereby promoting protein synthesis, and eventually alleviating muscle atrophy. Taken together, these findings suggest OA may have potential for the prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy.

Biomimetic nanocluster photoreceptors for adaptative circular polarization vision

Nanoclusters with atomically precise structures and discrete energy levels are considered as nanoscale semiconductors for artificial intelligence. However, nanocluster electronic engineering and optoelectronic behavior have remained obscure and unexplored. Hence, we create nanocluster photoreceptors inspired by mantis shrimp visual systems to satisfy the needs of compact but multi-task vision hardware and explore the photo-induced electronic transport. Wafer-scale arrayed photoreceptors are constructed by a nanocluster-conjugated molecule heterostructure. Nanoclusters perform as an in-sensor charge reservoir to tune the conductance levels of artificial photoreceptors by a light valve mechanism. A ligand-assisted charge transfer process takes place at nanocluster interface and it features an integration of spectral-dependent visual adaptation and circular polarization recognition. This approach is further employed for developing concisely structured, multi-task, and compact artificial visual systems and provides valuable guidelines for nanocluster neuromorphic devices.

[Ultrasonographic features of thyroid carcinoma of different sizes: comparison between medullary thyroid carcinomas and papillary thyroid carcinomas]

Objective: To investigate the ultrasonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) of different sizes and supply valid information for separating MTCs from papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). Methods: There were 87 patients with MTC and 220 patients with PTC detected by ultrasonography and confirmed by pathology at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from June 2018 to March 2022. Nodules were divided into the large nodule group (the maximum diameter of the tumor was＞1 cm) and the small nodule group (the maximum diameter of the tumor was ≤1 cm). There were 97 cases in the small nodule group, including 28 cases of MTC and 69 cases of PTC. There were 210 cases in the large nodule group, including 59 cases of MTC and 151 cases of PTC. After stratification by thyroid nodules, ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules and metastatic lymph nodes, preoperative serum calcitonin (CT) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were compared between MTC and PTC patients. Results: In the small nodule group, the proportion of MTCs exhibiting hypoecho, smooth margins, and having blood flow signals was higher than that of PTCs, with statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05). In the large nodule group, the proportion of MTCs showing cystic solidity, hypoecho, smooth margins, blood flow, and the type Ⅳvascular distribution was higher than PTCs, and the difference of calcification type between them was also statistically significant (all P＜0.05). In contrast, the differences in the number of lesions and aspect ratio between MTCs and PTCs were not statistically significant regardless of nodule size (all P＞0.05). In the small nodule group,6 metastatic lymph nodes of medullary thyroid carcinoma (LNM-MTC) and 11 metastatic lymph nodes of papillary thyroid carcinoma (LNM-PTC) were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound, respectively. The diagnostic compliance rate of ultrasound was 78.6% (22/28) and 78.3% (54/69), respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P=0.973). In the large nodule group, 28 LNM-MTC and 11 LNM-PTC were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound, respectively. The diagnostic compliance of ultrasound was 88.1% (52/59) and 73.5% (111/151), respectively, which was statistically significant (P=0.022). Among them, 82.1% of LNM-MTC and 56.6% of LNM-PTC showed abnormal blood flow signals, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.016). There were significant differences in preoperative serum CT and CEA levels of different sizes of MTCs (all P＜0.05). Conclusions: Different sizes of MTCs require diverse demonstrative criteria. Abnormal blood flow signal is of great significance in the diagnosis of LNM-MTC. Within the absence of ultrasonic characteristics, preoperative serum CT test can provide confidence for the diagnosis of MTC.

Saturation of Fishbone Instability by Self-Generated Zonal Flows in Tokamak Plasmas

Gyrokinetic simulations of the fishbone instability in DIII-D tokamak plasmas find that self-generated zonal flows can dominate the nonlinear saturation by preventing coherent structures from persisting or drifting in the energetic particle phase space when the mode frequency down-chirps. Results from the simulation with zonal flows agree quantitatively, for the first time, with experimental measurements of the fishbone saturation amplitude and energetic particle transport. Moreover, the fishbone-induced zonal flows are likely responsible for the formation of an internal transport barrier that was observed after fishbone bursts in this DIII-D experiment. Finally, gyrokinetic simulations of a related ITER baseline scenario show that the fishbone induces insignificant energetic particle redistribution and may enable high performance scenarios in ITER burning plasma experiments.

Degradation Mechanism Study for Secondary Degradants in Rosuvastatin Calcium and Determination of Degradant Acetaldehyde Using Static Headspace Gas Chromatography Coupled with Matrix Precipitation

During the development of headspace gas chromatography (HSGC) method for assessing residual solvents in rosuvastatin calcium (RSV) drug substance, acetaldehyde (AA) was detected in obtained chromatograms, with a calculated concentration of up to 226 ppm. After a series of experiments, it was established that acetaldehyde originates from matrix interference due to direct degradation of Imp-C, which is accompanied by the formation of impurity at relative retention time (RRT) 2.18, without the involvement of impurity at RRT 2.31. The thermal instability of Imp-C also results in the formation of impurity at RRT 2.31 through dehydration and decarboxylation. In addition, cyclization reaction of degradant at RRT 2.18 further resulted in the generation of impurity at RRT 2.22. The structure of these three degradants, were confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement. In order to minimize the said matrix interference, a simple precipitation procedure was proposed as a pretreatment to mitigate the impact of Imp-C. Subsequently, an HSGC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the degradant AA and the other five residual solvents used in RSV synthetic process. The final method was validated concerning precision, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ), linearity, and accuracy.

LINC01094 promotes human nasal epithelial cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and pyroptosis via upregulating HMGB1

BACKGROUND

Excessive epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of nasal epithelial cells (NECs) play a prominent role in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) pathogenesis. Long intergenic non-coding RNA 01094 (LINC01094) was previously reported to be overexpressed in CRSwNP, while the regulatory mechanism by which LINC01094 regulates CRSwNP progression remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the role of LINC01094 in CRSwNP development.

METHODS

hNEC were isolated from tissues of controls and CRSwNP patients and stimulated with interleukin (IL)-13. 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazolyl2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was employed to analyze hNEC viability. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze pyroptosis. Immunofluorescence was employed to analyze Snail nuclear translocation. The interactions between LINC01094, fused in sarcoma (FUS) and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) were analyzed by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays.

RESULTS

LINC01094 and EMT-related proteins were markedly upregulated in nasal polyp tissues of CRSwNP. LINC01094 knockdown inhibited IL-13-induced hNEC EMT and pyroptosis. LINC01094 promoted HMGB1 expression in CRSwNP by binding with FUS. HMGB1 promoted Snail nuclear import in GSK-B phosphorylation-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

LINC01094 facilitated hNEC EMT and pyroptosis in CRSwNP by activating the HMGB1/GSK-B Snail axis, which suggested that LINC01094 might serve as a biomarker and therapeutic target in CRSwNP.

[Application and exploration of artificial intelligence for caries management]

With the advent of big data era and improvement of computer performance, the artificial intelligence (AI) technology has rapidly boosted in the field of stomatology. Dental caries is one of the cutting-edge research domains in stomatology. The application of AI in dental caries is expected to promote intelligent, precise and high-efficient diagnosis and treatment of caries. This article focuses on the application of AI in medical-aided diagnosis, treatment and risk prediction of caries and discusses their challenges.

Inhibitory effect of thymoquinone from Nigella sativa against SARS-CoV-2 main protease. An in-silico study

Abstract Nigella sativa is known for the safety profile, containing a wealth of useful antiviral compounds. The main protease (Mpro, 3CLpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is being considered as one of the most attractive viral target, processing the polyproteins during viral pathogenesis and replication. In the current investigation we analyzed the potency of active component, thymoquinone (TQ) of Nigella sativa against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. The structures of TQ and Mpro was retrieved from PubChem (CID10281) and Protein Data Bank (PDB ID 6MO3) respectively. The Mpro and TQ were docked and the complex was subjected to molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for a period 50ns. Protein folding effect was analyzed using radius of gyration (Rg) while stability and flexibility was measured, using root means square deviations (RMSD) and root means square fluctuation (RMSF) respectively. The simulation results shows that TQ is exhibiting good binding activity against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, interacting many residues, present in the active site (His41, Cys145) and also the Glu166, facilitating the pocket shape. Further, experimental approaches are needed to validate the role of TQ against virus infection. The TQ is interfering with pocket maintaining residues as well as active site of virus Mpro which may be used as a potential inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2 for better management of COVID-19.

Development and validation of survival nomograms for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer with distant metastases: a SEER Program-based study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to develop a nomogram model of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer with distant metastases, and to evaluate and validate the nomogram. Also, its prognostic value was compared with that of the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor-node-metastasis staging system (AJCC8SS).

METHODS

Patients with distant metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DMDTC) from 2004 to 2015 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program to extract the clinical variables used for analysis. A total of 906 patients were divided into a training set (n = 634) and validation set (n = 272). OS and CSS were selected as the primary end point and secondary end point. LASSO regression analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were applied to screen variables for constructing OS and CSS nomograms for survival probability at 3, 5, and 10 years. Nomograms were evaluated and validated using the consistency index (C-index), time-dependent receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the ROC curve, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The predictive survival of the nomogram was compared with that of AJCC8SS. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to evaluate the risk-stratification ability OS and CSS nomograms.

RESULTS

CS and CSS nomograms included six independent predictors: age, marital status, type of surgical procedure, lymphadenectomy, radiotherapy, and T stage. The C-index for the OS nomogram was 0.7474 (95% CI = 0.7199-0.775), and that for the CSS nomogram was 0.7572 (0.7281-0.7862). The nomogram showed good agreement with the "ideal" calibration curve in the training set and validation sets. DCA confirmed that the survival probability predicted by the nomogram had high clinical predictive value. The nomogram could stratify patients more accurately, and showed more robust accuracy and predictive power, than AJCC8SS.

CONCLUSIONS

We established and validated prognostic nomograms for patients with DMDTC, which had significant clinical value compared with AJCC8SS.

Photoinduced Nonvolatile Memory Transistor Based on Lead-Free Perovskite Incorporating Fused π-Conjugated Organic Ligands

Perovskites field-effect transistors (PeFETs) have been intensively investigated for their application in detector and synapse. However, synapse based on PeFETs is still very difficult to integrate excellent charge carrier transporting ability, photosensitivity, and nonvolatile memory effects into one device, which is very important for developing bionic electronic devices and edge computing. Here, two-dimensional (2D) perovskites are synthesized by incorporating fused π-conjugated pyrene-O-ethyl-ammonium (POE) ligands and a systematic study is conducted to obtain enhanced performance and reliable PeFETs. The optimized (POE)2 SnI4 transistors display the hole mobility over 0.3 cm2  V-1  s-1 , high repeatability, and operational stability. Meanwhile, the derived photo memory devices show remarkable photoresponse, with a switching ratio higher than 105 , high visible light responsivity (>4 × 104  A W-1 ), and stable storage-erase cycles, as well as competitive retention performance (104  s). The photoinduced memory behavior can be benefiting from the insulating nature of quantum-well in 2D perovskite under dark and its excellent light sensitivity. The excellent photo memory behaviors have been maintained after 40 days in a N2 atmosphere. Finally, a 2D perovskite-only transistors with a multi-level memory behavior (16 distinct states) is described by controlling incident light pulse. This work provides broader attention toward 2D perovskite and optoelectronic application.

miR-100-5p is upregulated in multiple myeloma and involves in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma through targeting MTMR3

OBJECTIVES

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a kind of highly conserved single-stranded small endogenous non-coding RNA associated with multiple diseases, particularly cancer. The miRNAs expression profile in multiple myeloma (MM) has been barely elucidated.

METHODS

The miRNAs expression profiles in bone marrow plasma cells of 5 MM individuals and 5 iron-deficiency anemia volunteers were analyzed using RNA-sequencing. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) was performed to validate the expression of selected miR-100-5p. The biological function of selected miRNA was predicated by bioinformatics analysis. Finally, the function of miR-100-5p and its target on MM cells were evaluated.

RESULTS

MiRNA-sequencing showed that miR-100-5p was obviously upregulated in MM patients, which was further validated in an expanded cohort. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis characterized miR-100-5p as a valuable biomarker of MM. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that miR-100-5p is targeted to CLDN11, ICMT, MTMR3, RASGRP3, and SMARCA5, and their low expression are associated with poor prognosis of MM patients. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis suggested that the major interacting proteins of these five targets are mainly enriched in inositol phosphate metabolism and phosphatidylinositol signaling system pathway. In vitro study showed that miR-100-5p inhibition promoted the expression of these targets, especially MTMR3. In addition, miR-100-5p inhibition declined living number and metastasis, whereas promoted apoptosis of RPMI 8226 and U266 MM cells. The function of miR-100-5p inhibition was weakened by MTMR3 inhibition.

CONCLUSION

These results indicates that miR-100-5p is a promising biomarker for MM, and that it may involve in the pathogenesis of MM by targeting MTMR3.

A Phase 2 Trial of Efficacy and Safety of Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Laryngocarcinoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

For locally advanced laryngeal cancer (LAL), the local recurrence rate remains 19-40% after radical surgery with postoperative radiotherapy alone or with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with unfavorable prognostic factors. We evaluate local control and acute toxicity of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) as a tumor bed boost for locally advanced laryngeal cancer in this prospective phase 2 trial.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This phase II clinical study in which a total of 63 LAL patients (T2N1-3/T3N0-3/T4N0-3) were selected and received IORT (T2: 8-10Gy, T3,4:12-15 Gy) as a tumor bed boost during radical surgery, then received external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) at a total dose of 54-60Gy within 6 weeks after surgery, 5 times per week, 1.8-2Gy per time, 30 times in total. The median follow-up time was 20 months (7 -39 months). The primary outcome was the local control (LC) and 2 - year survival rate determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04278638.

RESULTS

A total of 63 patients consented to participate in the study; 59 males and 4 females, median age was 61 years (40-81 years), 14 patients had supraglottic LAL, 44 patients had glottic LAL and 5 patients had subglottic LAL. 10 patients showed high differentiation and 44 patients showed moderate differentiation and 9 patients showed low differentiation with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. 3 patients were in T2N1-2 stage, 40 patients in T3N0-2 stage, and 20 patients in T4N0-2 stage, 48 patients received total laryngectomy and 15 patients received hemilaryngectomy; 16 patients were lymph node-positive and 1 patient developed vascular tumor thrombus after surgery. After surgery combined with IORT and EBRT, the 1- and 2- year LC rates were 98.2% and 93.1 %, respectively, 2-year overall survival rate was 97.4%. Pharyngeal fistula was observed in 1 patient (1. 6 %) and wound infection in 3 patients (4.8%). Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grade 3 pain and RTOG grade 4 dyspnea were noted in one patient (1.6%) and 2 patients (3.2 %), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our prospective phase II trial proved that the addition of intraoperative radiotherapy as a tumor bed boost to postoperative radiotherapy provided local therapeutic benefit to patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer. Our data support the safety of this combined therapy. Additional investigation is warranted to determine the role of intraoperative radiotherapy in the local treatment of locally advanced laryngeal cancer.

The role of FoxM1 in immune cells

Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1), a proliferation specific transcriptional modulator, plays a principal role in many physiological and pathological processes. FoxM1-mediated oncogenic processes have been well addressed. However, functions of FoxM1 in immune cells are less summarized. The literatures about the expression of FoxM1 and its regulation on immune cells were searched on PubMed and Google Scholar. In this review, we provide an overview on the roles of FoxM1 in regulating functions of immune cells, including T cells, B cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, and discuss their contributions to diseases.

Long-Term Outcomes and Toxicity in Esophageal Cancer Patients after Neoadjuvant or Definitive Concurrent Chemotherapy with Proton Beam Therapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Proton-beam therapy (PT) is increasingly utilized over three dimensional-conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) photon irradiation for the treatment of various malignancies due to better toxicity reduction. We investigated the long-term outcomes and toxicity in esophageal cancer (EC) patients treated with PT as part of their neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation followed by surgery (nCRT) or definitive concurrent chemoradiation (dCRT) treatment regimen.

MATERIALS/METHODS

All consecutively treated, American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th edition clinical stage I-IV EC patients from 2006 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Standard RT dose for most patients was 50.4 Gy/28 fractions. nCRT patients had surgery within 4 months post-RT. Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) and distant metastatic-free survival (DMFS). Acute and chronic RT-related toxicities were graded with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0.

RESULTS

There were 510 EC PT patients: 204 (40%) had nCRT and 306 (60%) had dCRT. Most lesions were located in the lower esophagus, of adenocarcinoma histology and treated with passive scatter PT. Overall median follow-up was 72 months. Median, 3- and 5-year OS for all patients were 43 months, 54.1% and 44.9%, respectively. Median LRRFS and DMFS were not reached. Esophagitis was the most common grade ≥3 (G3+) toxicity (59 patients; 28.9%, including a G4 and a G5 toxicity), followed by nausea (29 patients; 14.2%) and esophageal stricture (26 patients, 12.7%). With nCRT, median, 3- and 5-year OS were 80 months, 64.7% and 56.1%, respectively, while the median LRRFS and DMFS were not reached again. Their most common G3+ toxicity was esophagitis in 14 patients (6.9%) followed by nausea (8 patients; 3.9%). An nCRT patient developed G4 RT pneumonitis. Pathological complete response (pCR) was observed in 58 patients (28.4%). Surgery-related pulmonary, cardiac and gastrointestinal complications were reported in 38 (18.6%), 40 (19.6%) and 43 (21.1%) patients, respectively. dCRT patients had a median follow-up of 65 months, and median, 3- and 5-year OS of 32 months, 46.7% and 37.0%, respectively. Although the median LRRFS was not reached, the median DMFS was 74 months. The most observed dCRT G3+ toxicity was esophagitis (45 patients, 22.1%: including both G4 and G5 patients) and then esophageal stricture (23 patients, 11.3%). A dCRT patient developed G4 fistula.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the largest single-institutional study on EC long-term outcomes and toxicity using PT. Our cohort reveals good outcomes and mostly mild CRT-related toxicities. Trimodality nCRT with protons demonstrates excellent outcomes relative to the CROSS trial (49.4 months) with identical pCR rate (29% in CROSS) and similar toxicity profile. nCRT with protons should be studied rigorously in the current randomized phase III trial NRG GI006.

Multidetector CT-derived tricuspid annulus measurements predict tricuspid regurgitation reduction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

AIM

To use multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT)-derived tricuspid annulus (TA) measurements to identify predictors for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) reduction after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and to investigate the impact of TR change on prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective, single-centre study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with concomitant baseline mild or more severe TR from April 2012 to April 2022. TA parameters were measured using MDCT.

RESULTS

The study comprised 266 patients (mean age 74.2 ± 7.6 years, 147 men) and 45.1% had more than one grade of TR reduction at follow-up. Independent predictors of TR reduction at follow-up were distance between TA centroid and antero-septal commissure (odd ratio [OR] 0.776; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.672-0.896, p=0.001), baseline TR of moderate or worse (OR 4.599; 95% CI: 2.193-9.648, p<0.001), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (OR 1.018; 95% CI: 1.002-1.035, p=0.027), age (OR 0.955; 95% CI: 0.920-0.993, p=0.019), and pre-existing atrial fibrillation (OR 0.209; 95% CI: 0.101-0.433, p<0.001). Patients without TR reduction had higher rates of rehospitalisation (hazard ratio [HR] 0.642; 95% CI: 0.413-0.998, p=0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

The MDCT-derived TA parameter was predictive of TR reduction after TAVR. Persistent TR after TAVR was associated with higher rates of rehospitalisation.

Developing an alternative classification method for predicting ham composition using linear measurements from the cross-sectional ham surface

Digital image analysis based on the ham cross-sectional face was used to measure two lean muscle and three subcutaneous fat locations from 248 bone-in hams. Linear measurements of the two selected fat locations were used to predict dual-energy X-ray (DXA) fat or lean percentages with prediction accuracies (R2) of 0.7 in a stepwise regression eq. A classification system was built based on the prediction equations, and the linear measurements aimed to classify extremes at the threshold of the 10th percentile of DXA fat percentage (> 32.0%) and lean percentage (< 60.2%). When using either DXA fat or lean percentage, lean ham prediction accuracy dropped by 18%, but fat ham prediction accuracy increased by 60% when the threshold was changed from the 10th percentile to the 30th percentile. This classification approach has the potential to be converted into a manual tool with several useful applications for commercial pork processors.

Digital template-guided genioplasty for patients with jaw deformity resulting from temporomandibular joint ankylosis: A comparison between single- and double-layer genioplasty

The aim of this study was to compare single- and double-layer digital template-assisted genioplasty for the correction of jaw deformity resulting from temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA). Thirteen patients with jaw deformity resulting from TMJA who underwent lateral arthroplasty, costochondral graft, or total joint replacement combined with single- or double-layer digital template-assisted genioplasty were included. Computed tomography data were obtained for the preoperative design. Digital templates were designed and manufactured using three-dimensional printing to assist with the chin osteotomy and repositioning in single- or double-layer genioplasty. Of the 13 patients included, seven underwent single-layer genioplasty and six underwent double-layer genioplasty. The digital templates precisely reflected the osteotomy planes and repositioning of the chin segments intraoperatively. The radiographic evaluation showed that the patients who underwent double-layer genioplasty exhibited more chin advancement (11.95 ± 0.92 mm vs 7.50 ± 0.89 mm; P < 0.001) with a slightly larger mean surface error (1.19 ± 0.14 mm vs 0.75 ± 0.15 mm; P < 0.001) than those who underwent single-layer genioplasty. This indicates that double-layer genioplasty better promoted chin advancement and improved the facial shape, but was accompanied by more surgical error compared with the preoperative design. Furthermore, hardly any nerve damage was observed. Digital templates are useful for assisting in surgical procedures.

MiR-222-3p suppresses C2C12 myoblast proliferation and differentiation via the inhibition of IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway

Numerous studies have revealed the profound impact of microRNAs on regulating skeletal muscle development and regeneration. However, the biological function and regulation mechanism of miR-222-3p in skeletal muscle remains largely unknown. In this study, miR-222-3p was found to be abundantly expressed in the impaired skeletal muscles, indicating that it might have function in the development and regeneration process of the skeletal muscle. MiR-222-3p overexpression impeded C2C12 myoblast proliferation and myogenic differentiation, whereas inhibition of miR-222-3p got the opposite results. The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) was the target gene of miR-222-3p. We next found that knockdown of IRS-1 could obviously suppress C2C12 myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Additionally, miR-222-3p-induced repression of myoblast proliferation and differentiation was verified to be associated with a decrease in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling. Overall, we demonstrated that miR-222-3p inhibited C2C12 cells myogenesis via IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway. Therefore, miR-222-3p may be used as a therapeutic target for alleviating muscle loss caused by inherited and nonhereditary diseases.

[Preliminary experience of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement using domestic balloon-expandable valve]

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary clinical results of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) with the domestically-produced balloon-expandable Prizvalve system. Methods: This is a prospective single-center observational study. Patients with postoperative right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction, who were admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University from September 2021 to March 2023 and deemed anatomically suitable for TPVR with balloon-expandable valve, were included. Clinical, imaging, procedural and follow-up data were analyzed. The immediate procedural results were evaluated by clinical implant success rate, which is defined as successful valve implantation with echocardiography-assessed pulmonary regurgitation Collapse

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MESH Headings

• Male
• Humans
• Pulmonary Valve/surgery
• Heart Valve Prosthesis/adverse effects
• Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation
• Constriction, Pathologic/complications
• Constriction, Pathologic/surgery
• Prospective Studies
• Ventricular Outflow Obstruction/etiology
• Ventricular Outflow Obstruction/surgery
• Treatment Outcome
• Cardiac Catheterization/methods
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

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Grants

• 2022ZDZX0030 Sichuan Science and Technology Program

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Affiliation(s)

Z G Zhao Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
R T Li Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
X Wei Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Y Peng Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
J F Wei Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
S He Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Q Li Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
X Li Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Y J Li Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
X Li Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
X Zhou Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
M X Zheng Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
G Chen Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Q An Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
M Chen Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Y Feng Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China

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A comparative study of pilomatricoma and epidermoid cyst with ultrasound

AIM

To explore and compare the ultrasonic (US) features of pilomatricoma (PM) and epidermoid cyst (EC) in the differential diagnosis and improve the accuracy of US diagnosis of PM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and nine patients who underwent US examination before surgery with a histopathological diagnosis of PM or EC after surgery were analysed retrospectively. The patients were categorised into the training and validation sets according to the inspection times. Univariate analysis was undertaken on the US and clinical features of PM and statistically significant variables (p<0.05) were included in the multivariate logistic regression model to establish a diagnostic model.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that the multivariate logistic regression model for PM was statistically significant (p<0.001). The risk factors included posterior echo attenuation and hypoechoic halos (odds ratio [OR] = 9.277, 10.254) and the protective factors included age, diameter thickness, and posterior echo enhancement (OR=0.936, 0.302, 0.156). The performance of the diagnostic model was tested using the training set (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.974, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.955-0.994) and the validation set (AUC = 0.967, 95% CI = 0.926-1.000), which demonstrated good discriminant ability.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic accuracy for PM was higher than that for EC when the nodule is characterised by posterior echo attenuation, hypoechoic halos, smaller thickness, and younger age. The US diagnostic model developed may be used to guide the diagnosis of PM.

[Characterization of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 and 8 in rat superior cervical ganglion and their changes following chronic intermittent hypoxia]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression and localization of metabotropic glutamate receptors 7 and 8 (mGluR7/8) in rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and their changes in response to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH).

METHODS

We detected the expressions of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the SCG of 8-week-old male SD rats using immunohistochemistry and characterized their distribution with immunofluorescence staining. The expression of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the cytoplasm and nucleus was detected using Western blotting. A 6-week CIH rat model was established by exposure to intermittent hypoxia (6% oxygen for 30 s followed by normoxia for 4 min) for 8 h daily, and the changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were measured. The effect of CIH on expression levels of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the SCG was analyzed using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Positive expressions of mGluR7 and mGluR8 were detected in rat SCG. mGluR7 was distributed in the neurons and small fluorescent (SIF) cells with positive staining in both the cytoplasm and nuclei, but not expressed in satellite glial cells (SGCs), nerve fibers or blood vessels; mGluR8 was localized in the cytoplasm of neurons and SIF cells, but not expressed in SGCs, nerve fibers, or blood vessels. Western blotting of the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of rat SCG further confirmed that mGluR7 was expressed in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, while mGluR8 exists only in the cytoplasm. Exposure to CIH significantly increased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure of the rats (all P < 0.001) and augmented the protein expressions of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the SCG (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

mGluR7 and mGluR8 are present in rat SCG but with different localization patterns. CIH increases blood pressure of rats and enhanced protein expressions of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in rat SCG.

First Measurement of Hard Exclusive π^{-}Δ^{++} Electroproduction Beam-Spin Asymmetries off the Proton

The polarized cross-section ratio σ_{LT^{'}}/σ_{0} from hard exclusive π^{-}Δ^{++} electroproduction off an unpolarized hydrogen target has been extracted based on beam-spin asymmetry measurements using a 10.2  GeV/10.6  GeV incident electron beam and the CLAS12 spectrometer at Jefferson Lab. The study, which provides the first observation of this channel in the deep-inelastic regime, focuses on very forward-pion kinematics in the valence regime, and photon virtualities ranging from 1.5  GeV^{2} up to 7  GeV^{2}. The reaction provides a novel access to the d-quark content of the nucleon and to p→Δ^{++} transition generalized parton distributions. A comparison to existing results for hard exclusive π^{+}n and π^{0}p electroproduction is provided, which shows a clear impact of the excitation mechanism, encoded in transition generalized parton distributions, on the asymmetry.

Clinical efficacy of modified sacral fixation under Leonardo da Vinci robot laparoscopy for pelvic organ prolapse

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical efficacy of modified sacral fixation under Leonardo da Vinci robot laparoscopy for pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty POP patients admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were picked and divided into Group A (laparoscopic Y-mesh, n = 20), Group B (laparoscopic sacrovaginal fixation, n = 20), and Group C (da Vinci robotic sacral fixation, n = 20). These three groups were compared in terms of the perioperative indexes, such as operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative indwelling catheter days, anal exhaust time, postoperative hospitalization days, etc. The occurrence of short-term and long-term complications in the three groups was compared. The changes of the following index values in the POP quantification system (POP -Q) staging before and 1 year after surgery were recorded and compared among the three groups. It mainly includes the midline of the anterior vaginal wall at 3 cm from the hymenal margin (Aa), the farthest point of the anterior vaginal vault from point Aa (Ba), the farthest point of the ectocervix (C), the location of the posterior vaginal vault or rectal uterine trap (D), the midline of the posterior vaginal wall at 3 cm from the hymenal margin (Ap), and the reflection of the posterior vaginal vault at the farthest point from the Ap point (Bp) values. The changes in Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-Short Form 20 (PFDI-20) and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) were recorded and compared before and 1 year after the operation.

RESULTS

The patients in Group C had significantly lower intraoperative bleeding, postoperative indwelling catheter days, anal exhaust time, and postoperative hospitalization days compared with those in Group A and Group B (p < 0.05). There existed no statistical difference in the incidence of short-term and long-term complications between Group B and Group C (p > 0.05), but both were much lower than Group A (p < 0.05). The differences in POP-Q staging, PFDI-20 scale, and PISQ-12 scale were not statistically significant among the three groups before surgery (p > 0.05), and the POP-Q staging Aa, Ba, C, D, Ap, and Bp values, PFDI-20 scale, and PISQ-12 scale were strongly improved in three groups after the surgery (p < 0.05). However, the POP-Q staging, PFDI-20 scale, and PISQ-12 scale among the three groups had no obvious difference after the surgery (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of modified sacral fixation under Leonardo da Vinci robot laparoscopy for POP was comparable to that of laparoscopic Y-mesh treatment and laparoscopic sacral vaginal fixation. However, da Vinci's robotic sacral fixation had the advantages of less intraoperative bleeding and faster postoperative recovery, which helped patients recover quickly and improved their quality of life.

[Feasibility and safety of transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement for severe mitral regurgitation]

A prospective, single-center, single-arm, and open-design study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement in the treatment of severe mitral regurgitation. Patients with symptomatic moderate-severe or severe mitral regurgitation at high-surgical risk and anatomically appropriate for the HighLife transseptal mitral valve replacement (TSMVR) system in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from December 2021 to August 2022 were enrolled. Four patients (1 male and 3 females) with severe mitral regurgitation were included, with a median age of 68.5 (64.0-77.0) years and a median Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score of 8.1% (6.4%-8.9%). Technical success was achieved in all the patients. There was no residual mitral regurgitation, paravalvular leakage, or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Three major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events occurred within 30 days after the procedure, including ventricular tachycardia, iatrogenic atrial septal defect closure, and heart failure readmission. The current study preliminarily demonstrates that transcatheter mitral valve replacement using the HighLife system via the transseptal approach for severe mitral regurgitation is feasible and relatively safe.

CCE and EODF as two distinct non-shivering thermogenesis models inducing weight loss

Increasing energy expenditure and reducing energy intake are considered two classical methods to induce weight loss. Weight loss through physical methods instead of drugs has been a popular research topic nowadays, but how these methods function in adipose and cause weight loss in body remains unclear. In this study, we set up chronic cold exposure (CCE) and every-other-day fasting (EODF) as two distinct models in long-term treatment to induce weight loss, recording their own characteristics in changes of body temperature and metabolism. We investigated the different types of non-shivering thermogenesis induced by CCE and EODF in white and brown adipose tissue through sympathetic nervous system (SNS), creatine-driven pathway, and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)-adiponectin axis. CCE and EODF could reduce body weight, lipid composition, increase insulin sensitivity, promote the browning of white fat, and increase the expression of endogenous FGF21 in adipose tissue. CCE stimulated the SNS and increased the thermogenic function of brown fat, and EODF increased the activity of protein kinase in white fat. In this study, we further explained the thermogenic mechanism function in adipose and metabolic benefits of the stable phenotype through physical treatments used for weight loss, providing more details for the literature on weight loss models. The influence on metabolism, non-shivering thermogenesis, endogenous FGF21, and ADPN changes in the long-term treatment of distinct methods (increasing energy expenditure and decreasing energy intake) to induce weight loss.

[Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain: a national multi-center survey of 35 566 population]

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.

Advances in the Therapeutic Applications of Plant-Derived Exosomes in the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases

Plant-derived exosomes (PLDEs) are small extracellular vesicles that encapsulate proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, and they are usually involved in intercellular communication and molecular transport in plants. PLDEs are widely used in the therapy of diseases due to their abundance and easy availability. The diverse roles of PLDEs, which include transportation of drugs, acting as biomarkers for diagnosis of diseases and their roles in different therapies, suggest that there is a need to fully understand all the mechanisms involved in order to provide the optimum conditions for their therapeutic use. This review summarizes the biogenesis, components and functions of PLDEs and focuses on their use as therapeutic agents in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. It also explores new ideas for novel approaches in which PLDEs could potentially help patients with inflammatory diseases in the future.

First CLAS12 Measurement of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering Beam-Spin Asymmetries in the Extended Valence Region

Deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) allows one to probe generalized parton distributions describing the 3D structure of the nucleon. We report the first measurement of the DVCS beam-spin asymmetry using the CLAS12 spectrometer with a 10.2 and 10.6 GeV electron beam scattering from unpolarized protons. The results greatly extend the Q^{2} and Bjorken-x phase space beyond the existing data in the valence region and provide 1600 new data points measured with unprecedented statistical uncertainty, setting new, tight constraints for future phenomenological studies.

Evaluating the effect of temperature and multiple bends on an automated pork belly firmness conveyor belt classification system

Skin-on, and bone-in bellies (n = 94) were cut into Canadian specifications and assessed on an automated conveyor belt system based on different levels of firmness. Temperature settings at 4 °C, 2 °C, and - 1.5 °C had significant effect (P < 0.05) on the bending angle, after 24 cm of the belly had passed the nosebar. The stepwise regression relationship had R² ∼ 0.18-0.67 between iodine value and bending angle at all temperatures. Bending bellies multiple times changed firmness classification of bellies at 4 and 2 °C, but bend number did not influence firmness classification at -1.5 °C. The automated conveyer belt system presented the potential to classify pork bellies based on firmness for industrial applications.

First Measurement of Λ Electroproduction off Nuclei in the Current and Target Fragmentation Regions

We report results of Λ hyperon production in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering off deuterium, carbon, iron, and lead targets obtained with the CLAS detector and the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility 5.014 GeV electron beam. These results represent the first measurements of the Λ multiplicity ratio and transverse momentum broadening as a function of the energy fraction (z) in the current and target fragmentation regions. The multiplicity ratio exhibits a strong suppression at high z and an enhancement at low z. The measured transverse momentum broadening is an order of magnitude greater than that seen for light mesons. This indicates that the propagating entity interacts very strongly with the nuclear medium, which suggests that propagation of diquark configurations in the nuclear medium takes place at least part of the time, even at high z. The trends of these results are qualitatively described by the Giessen Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck transport model, particularly for the multiplicity ratios. These observations will potentially open a new era of studies of the structure of the nucleon as well as of strange baryons.

[Research progress in the pathogenesis mechanism of dental fluorosis]

Dental fluorosis is a developmental disturbance of dental enamel caused by excessive fluoride intake during tooth development, leading to the changes in morphology, structure and function of tooth enamel, which can affect the aesthetics and function of teeth. There are many factors which may account for the occurrence of dental fluorosis. However, the pathogenesis mechanism underlying dental fluorosis has not been fully clarified.In recent years, researches in the fields of fluoride-induced stress response pathways, signaling pathways and apoptosis at the molecular and genetic level had provided extensive knowledge of dental fluorosis. This article focuses on the latest research progress in the mechanism of dental fluorosis, which include the effects of fluoride on ameloblasts and enamel matrix proteins, genetic polymorphism and dietary nutrients, in order to provide new references for the targeted prevention and treatment of dental fluorosis.

LncRNA RP11-1100L3.8 Involves in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Myeloma by Regulating NR4A1

PURPOSE

Although numerous studies have revealed that various long-non coding RNA (lncRNA) are implicated in multiple myeloma (MM) regulation, MM lncRNA profile and novel functional lncRNAs in MM need to be elucidated.

METHODS

Herein, lncRNAs and mRNAs (messenger ribonucleic acids) patterns in MM were evaluated using RNA-sequencing (RNAseq). Differentially expressed (DE) genes were defined and a complex regulatory network based on validation and predication was shaped.

RESULTS

LncRNA-seq data analysis identified 539 DE lncRNAs and RP11-1100L3.8 was the most up-regulated known lncRNA. Subsequently, the upregulation and clinical RP11-1100L3.8 utilization value was verified in an expanded cohort. Based on the results of Cis nearby-targets and co-expression analysis, 1 correlation pair RP11-1100L3.8-nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1) was defined. It is worth noting that NR4A1 is one of the top 5 significantly up-regulated DE mRNAs in MM patients. Moreover, it was found that NR4A1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in MM patients, making it suitable as biomarker. Additionally, spearman correlation analysis revealed the positive association between RP11-1100L3.8 and NR4A1 in MM patients. Furthermore, the dominant NR4A1 interacted genes were predicated and it was found that the genes containing NR4A1 were remarkably enriched in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT (protein kinase B) signaling pathway. In addition, in vitro experiment suggested that RP11-1100L3.8 downregulation decreased NR4A1 expression in U266 and RPMI 8226 MM cells. RP11-1100L3.8 inhibition declined proliferation and promoted apoptosis in MM cells, which were rescued by NR4A1 overexpression. Moreover, it was found that RP11-1100L3.8 inhibition impeded PI3K and AKT phosphorylation and rapamycin mammalian target in MM cells, which was rescued by NR4A1 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies RP11-1100L3.8 as a potential MM biomarker, and it may be involved in MM pathophysiology by regulating NR4A1-mediated PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. This study provides a novel biomarker candidate for MM therapy.

Observation of Correlations between Spin and Transverse Momenta in Back-to-Back Dihadron Production at CLAS12

We report the first measurements of deep inelastic scattering spin-dependent azimuthal asymmetries in back-to-back dihadron electroproduction in the deep inelastic scattering process. In this reaction, two hadrons are produced in opposite hemispheres along the z axis in the virtual photon-target nucleon center-of-mass frame, with the first hadron produced in the current-fragmentation region and the second in the target-fragmentation region. The data were taken with longitudinally polarized electron beams of 10.2 and 10.6 GeV incident on an unpolarized liquid-hydrogen target using the CLAS12 spectrometer at Jefferson Lab. Observed nonzero sinΔϕ modulations in ep→e^{'}pπ^{+}X events, where Δϕ is the difference of the azimuthal angles of the proton and pion in the virtual photon and target nucleon center-of-mass frame, indicate that correlations between the spin and transverse momenta of hadrons produced in the target- and current-fragmentation regions may be significant. The measured beam-spin asymmetries provide a first access in dihadron production to a previously unexplored leading-twist spin- and transverse-momentum-dependent fracture function. The fracture functions describe the hadronization of the target remnant after the hard scattering of a virtual photon off a quark in the target particle and provide a new avenue for studying nucleonic structure and hadronization.

[A preliminary study on the construction and application of the smart classroom teaching mode in endodontics]

Objective: To evaluate the application effect of smart classroom teaching mode in undergraduate teaching of endodontics. Methods: Through micro-lecture and massive open online course which were closely integrated with clinical practice and frontier advances, we build a new smart classroom teaching mode of endodontics relying on information technology such as the medical education cloud APP platform. The mode was applied to the undergraduate teaching of grade 2017 (110 students) and grade 2018 (107 students) in 2020 and 2021 respectively (experimental group). The theoretical examination was conducted for the grade 2016 (control group, 111 students applied traditional teaching methods) in 2019, and for two experimental grades in 2020 and 2021 respectively. A questionnaire survey was conducted for the 2018 undergraduates to investigate the experience of the smart classroom teaching mode, and the application effect of the smart classroom teaching mode was evaluated by comparing the offline theoretical test scores of grades 2016, 2017 and 2018. Results: The results of the questionnaire showed that students in grade 2018 recognized the overall form of smart classroom teaching mode, and 75.2% (79/105) of the students satisfied with the teaching process, considering that it could enhance learning interest and enthusiasm, improve self-learning ability, facilitate the understanding and memory of knowledge points, as well as increase the extension and expansion of professional knowledge. Thirty-seven point one percent (39/105) of the students thought that smart classroom teaching mode was not conducive to the interaction between teachers and students and couldn't improve learning efficiency. Comparing the final theoretical examination scores of students in three years, it was found that the average scores of 2021 (78.79±9.88) and 2020 (76.45±8.33) were significantly higher than that of 2019 (67.67±10.58) (t=6.77, P<0.001; t=8.51, P<0.001). The average score in 2021 was higher than that in 2020, although the difference was not significant (t=1.79, P=0.223). Conclusions: The application of smart classroom mode improved the teaching effect of endodontics, which is worthy of further promotion to provide a positive reference in improving the educating effects of oral medicine.

Observation of Azimuth-Dependent Suppression of Hadron Pairs in Electron Scattering off Nuclei

We present the first measurement of dihadron angular correlations in electron-nucleus scattering. The data were taken with the CLAS detector and a 5.0 GeV electron beam incident on deuterium, carbon, iron, and lead targets. Relative to deuterium, the nuclear yields of charged-pion pairs show a strong suppression for azimuthally opposite pairs, no suppression for azimuthally nearby pairs, and an enhancement of pairs with large invariant mass. These effects grow with increased nuclear size. The data are qualitatively described by the gibuu model, which suggests that hadrons form near the nuclear surface and undergo multiple scattering in nuclei.These results show that angular correlation studies can open a new way to elucidate how hadrons form and interact inside nuclei.

In Vitro Study of the Effect of Inhibition of Quorum Sensing by Brominated Furanone on Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis Associated with Escherichia Coli Infection

In recent years, the occurrence of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis (PDAP) with Escherichia coli infection has gradually increased. The presence of quorum sensing (QS) among bacteria facilitates the expansion of antibiotic resistance. Brominated furanone (BMF), a halogenated furanone compound isolated from macroalgae, is a new type of quorum-sensing inhibitor that can inhibit bacterial quorum sensing and reduce bacterial resistance. In this study, we established an in vitro peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis biofilm model. After intervention with BMF, the biofilm was destroyed, as shown by scanning electron microscopy, and the number of viable bacteria was reduced. Crystal violet semiquantitative determination showed that biofilm absorption significantly decreased, and RT-PCR showed that luxS expression was downregulated after drug intervention. Therefore, we propose that BMF can effectively inhibit E. coli QS by disrupting the bacterial biofilm and downregulating QS gene expression to reduce the bacterial resistance, providing a direction for the development of novel antibacterial drugs.

Self-compression of stimulated Raman backscattering by a flying focus

The regime of self-compression has been proposed for plasma-based backward Raman amplification upon a flying focus. By using a pumping focus moving with a speed equal to the group velocity of stimulated Raman backscattering (SRBS), only a short part of SRBS which always synchronizes with the flying focus can be amplified. Therefore, instead of a short pulse, plasma noise or a long pulse can seed the BRA amplifiers. Here we demonstrate the regime by 2D particle-in-cell simulations, showing that the pump pulse is compressed from 26 ps to 116 fs, with an output amplitude comparable with the case of a well-synchronized short seed. As only one laser pulse is used in the simulation, the results present a significant path to simplify the Raman amplifiers.