In vitro digestion of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharide and fermentation of human intestinal flora as affected by bran frying.

Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (AM) is a medical-food homologous medicinal material with the polysaccharides as its main functional components. Bran stir-frying is a common processing method. Traditional Chinese medicine theory holds that bran stir-frying can enhance the therapeutic effect of AM, but the substantive role is not fully clear.

Inhibiting UPF1 methylation enhances tumor immunotherapy sensitivity by reducing nonsense-mediated mRNA decay.

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a conserved RNA surveillance mechanism. Inhibition of NMD leads to increased expression of tumor neoantigens encoded by genes with premature termination codons (PTCs), thereby enhancing tumor immunogenicity. In this study, we find that protein levels of up-frameshift protein 1 (UPF1), a key factor in the NMD pathway, show significant differences in clinical tumor samples of microsatellite-stable (MSS) and microsatellite-unstable (MSI) colorectal cancer (CRC).

Thoracic Paravertebral Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma Masquerading as Spinal Tuberculosis: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Primary poorly differentiated liposarcoma of the spine represents an exceptionally rare clinical entity. We present a 68-year-old patient with a poorly differentiated liposarcoma originating in the thoracic paraspinal region that was initially misdiagnosed as spinal tuberculosis. Although surgical decompression and subsequent biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of liposarcoma, the patient declined adjuvant chemotherapy and experienced disease recurrence within 2 months.

IL-15 Complex Enhances Agonistic Anti-CD40 + Anti-PDL1 by Correcting the T-bet to Tox Ratio in CD8+ T cells Infiltrating Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Agonistic anti-CD40 with anti-PD-1 can elicit objective responses in a small number of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Better understanding of their individual effects on the pancreatic tumor microenvironment will help inform new strategies to further improve outcomes. In this study, we map tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell differentiation following agonistic anti-CD40 and/or anti-PDL1 in PDA.

Comparison of the impact of rectal susceptibility artifacts in prostate magnetic resonance imaging on subjective evaluation and deep learning: a two-center retrospective study.

Background: To compare the influence of rectal susceptibility artifacts on the subjective evaluation and deep learning (DL) in prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective two-center study included 1052 patients who underwent MRI and biopsy due to clinically suspected PCa between November 2019 and November 2023. The extent of rectal artifacts in these patients' images was evaluated using the Likert four-level method.

Scalable and shapable nacre-like ceramic-metal composites based on deformable microspheres.

Natural nacre that consists of brittle minerals and weak organics exhibits a high fracture toughness while retaining a high strength. The exceptional mechanical performance of nacre is attributed to its hierarchical structure like a 'brick-and-mortar' structure, which has inspired the development of tough ceramic-based composites. However, the practical applications of biomimetic structural ceramics are hindered by limited material size, fabrication efficiency and flexibility of being molded into various shapes.

Electron-proton relaxation in hot-dense plasmas with a screened quantum statistical potential.

Modeling the nonequilibrium process between ions and electrons is of great importance in laboratory fusion ignition, laser-plasma interaction, and astrophysics. For hot and dense plasmas, theoretical descriptions of Coulomb collisions remain complicated due to quantum effect at short distances and screening effect at long distances. In this paper, we propose an analytical screened quantum statistical potential that takes into account both the short-range quantum diffraction effect and the long-range screening effect.

ETHE1 dampens colorectal cancer angiogenesis by promoting TC45 Dephosphorylation of STAT3 to inhibit VEGF-A expression.

Angiogenesis is critical for colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, but its mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we reveal that ethylmalonic encephalopathy protein 1 (ETHE1), an essential enzyme in hydrogen sulfide catabolism, inhibits VEGF-A expression and tumor angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we find that this biological function of ETHE1 depends on the STAT3/VEGF-A pathway.

Regulatory effect of rapamycin on recruitment and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in heart failure.

Background: Immune response and inflammation play important roles in the physiological and pathophysiological processes of heart failure (HF). In our previous study, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a heterogeneous group of immature myeloid cells with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions, were shown to exert cardioprotective effects in HF. The pharmacological targeting of MDSCs using rapamycin may emerge as a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of HF.

Location matters: altered interhemispheric homotopic connectivity in post-stroke dyskinesia.

Background: Motor impairment is the most prevalent consequence following a stroke. Interhemispheric homotopic connectivity, which varies regionally and hierarchically along the axis of the somatomotor-association cortex, plays a critical role in sustaining normal motor functions. However, the impact of strokes occurring in various locations on homotopic connectivity is not fully understood.

Arterial transit artifacts and carotid Plaque-RADS may predict symptoms in patients with carotid stenosis.

Aim: To analyze the correlation of carotid stenosis severity, the Plaque Reporting and Data System (RADS) score, arterial transit artifacts (ATAs), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) with clinical cerebral ischemic symptoms in patients with carotid artery stenosis (CAS).

Materials And Methods: Sixty-one patients with unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis or occlusion (≥50% stenosis) diagnosed by ultrasound, Computed Tomography(CT) angiography, or Magnetic Resonance(MR) angiography in Yichang City Central People's Hospital from January 2022 to February 2024 were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of symptoms. Both groups underwent MR plaque imaging and arterial spin labeling (ASL)-based 3.

Effects of the epiphytic patterns on endophytes and metabolites of Lindl.

Introduction: is an epiphytic herb plant with neuroprotective, gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. It is often found attached to tree trunks or rocks. With the development of the dendrobium industry, numerous epiphytic patterns exist, such as crushed stone, stump, and sawdust.

Development and Validation of a Deep Learning Model to Reduce the Interference of Rectal Artifacts in MRI-based Prostate Cancer Diagnosis.

Purpose To develop an MRI-based model for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) diagnosis that can resist rectal artifact interference. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 2203 male patients with prostate lesions who underwent biparametric MRI and biopsy between January 2019 and June 2023. Targeted adversarial training with proprietary adversarial samples (TPAS) strategy was proposed to enhance model resistance against rectal artifacts.

Characterizing the impacts of dataset imbalance on single-cell data integration.

Computational methods for integrating single-cell transcriptomic data from multiple samples and conditions do not generally account for imbalances in the cell types measured in different datasets. In this study, we examined how differences in the cell types present, the number of cells per cell type and the cell type proportions across samples affect downstream analyses after integration. The Iniquitate pipeline assesses the robustness of integration results after perturbing the degree of imbalance between datasets.

Prediction of the Nottingham prognostic index and molecular subtypes of breast cancer through multimodal magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: To explore the ability of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and background parenchyma enhancement (BPE) to predict the Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) and molecular subtypes of breast cancer (BC).

Materials And Methods: In this study, 93 patients with BC were included, and they all underwent DKI, IVIM and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) examinations. The corresponding mean kurtosis value (MK), pure diffusion (MD), perfusion fraction (f), pseudo diffusion coefficient (D*), true diffusion coefficient (D), and BPE were measured.

NSD2 methylates AROS to promote SIRT1 activation and regulates fatty acid metabolism-mediated cancer radiotherapy.

Fatty acid metabolism plays a critical role in both tumorigenesis and cancer radiotherapy. However, the regulatory mechanism of fatty acid metabolism has not been fully elucidated. NSD2, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes di-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 36, has been shown to play an essential role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression.

Nanograded artificial nacre with efficient energy dissipation.

The renowned mechanical performance of biological ceramics can be attributed to their hierarchical structures, wherein structural features at the nanoscale play a crucial role. However, nanoscale features, such as nanogradients, have rarely been incorporated in biomimetic ceramics because of the challenges in simultaneously controlling the material structure at multiple length scales. Here, we report the fabrication of artificial nacre with graphene oxide nanogradients in its aragonite platelets through a matrix-directed mineralization method.

SETDB1 Methylates MCT1 Promoting Tumor Progression by Enhancing the Lactate Shuttle.

MCT1 is a critical protein found in monocarboxylate transporters that plays a significant role in regulating the lactate shuttle. However, the post-transcriptional modifications that regulate MCT1 are not clearly identified. In this study, it is reported that SETDB1 interacts with MCT1, leading to its stabilization.

PRMT5 methylating SMAD4 activates TGF-β signaling and promotes colorectal cancer metastasis.

Perturbations in transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling can lead to a plethora of diseases, including cancer. Mutations and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of the partner of SMAD complexes contribute to the dysregulation of TGF-β signaling. Here, we reported a PTM of SMAD4, R361 methylation, that was critical for SMAD complexes formation and TGF-β signaling activation.

Higher magnetic susceptibility of globus pallidus in patients after macrocyclic GBCAs: assessment using quantitative susceptibility mapping.

Background: As previous studies reported, gadolinium deposits in globus pallidus (GP) and dentate nucleus (DN) after repeated administrations of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) and a signal intensity (SI) increase on T1-weighted images were related to linear GBCAs, not macrocyclic GBCAs.

Purpose: To identify whether quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) could measure a subtle increase in magnetic susceptibility in DN and GP in patients after repeated administrations of gadoteric acid meglumine (Gd-DOTA).

Material And Methods: In this study, 50 patients with cerebral tumors who had received at least three injections of Gd-DOTA (GBCA group) and 50 individuals without a history of GBCA injections (non-GBCA group) were included.

The Function and Therapeutic Implications of TNF Signaling in MDSCs.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a group of immature and heterogeneous myeloid cells with immunosuppressive functions. MDSCs play important roles in the pathogenesis of cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and many autoimmune disorders. The accumulation and activation of MDSCs can be regulated by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α).

Comparing the diagnostic accuracy of PET and CMR for the measurement of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction: a system review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been recognized as the gold standard for the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function. Cardiac gated PET allows the simultaneous assessment of LV function with the evaluation of myocardial perfusion and metabolism. But the correlations between PET and CMR remain controversial.

Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies of Viral Myocarditis Targeting Autophagy.

Viral myocarditis is caused by infection with viruses or bacteria, including coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), and is characterized by acute or chronic inflammatory responses in the heart. The mortality associated with severe viral myocarditis is considerable. In some patients, viral myocarditis may develop into dilated cardiomyopathy or heart failure.

The appearance of magnetic susceptibility objects in SWI phase depends on object size: Comparison with QSM and CT.

Purpose: Tissue magnetic susceptibility sign can potentially be detected on susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) phase (SW-P). This study aims to investigate its performance for depicting brain susceptibility structures.

Methods: A simulation was performed to depict magnetic susceptibility structures of various geometries on SW-P and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).

Prognostic value of initial chest CT findings for clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

To identify whether the initial chest computed tomography (CT) findings of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are helpful for predicting the clinical outcome. A total of 224 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who underwent chest CT examination within the first day of admission were enrolled. CT findings, including the pattern and distribution of opacities, the number of lung lobes involved and the chest CT scores of lung involvement, were assessed.