Impact of postoperative depression and immune-inflammatory biomarkers on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer receiving minimally invasive esophagectomy: a retrospective cohort study based on a Chinese population.

Background: Patients with esophageal cancer (EC) frequently experience depression following neoadjuvant therapy and surgery, a condition that may trigger systemic inflammation, suppress antitumor immunity, and alter immune-inflammatory pathways in the tumor microenvironment (TME), potentially contributing to residual tumor progression and theoretically worsening patient prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the interrelationship between depression and prognosis in patients with EC, with a focus on immune-inflammatory biomarkers.

Methods: This single-center retrospective trial was conducted at the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Unraveling the triad of immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment, and skeletal muscle biomechanics in oncology.

The intricate interaction between skeletal muscle biomechanics, the tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapy constitutes a pivotal research focus oncology. This work provides a comprehensive review of methodologies for evaluating skeletal muscle biomechanics, including handheld dynamometry, advanced imaging techniques, electrical impedance myography, elastography, and single-fiber experiments to assess muscle quality and performance. Furthermore, it elucidates the mechanisms, applications, and limitations of various immunotherapy modalities, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and combined chemoimmunotherapy, while examining their effects on skeletal muscle function and systemic immune responses.

Differential absorption of cadmium and zinc by tobacco plants: Role of apoplastic pathway.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination presents a significant challenge in global agriculture. This study explores the efficacy of chemical induction, specifically using sodium chloride (NaCl), to limit Cd uptake in tobacco () and assesses its impact on essential divalent metal ions (DMIs). We conducted a comprehensive analysis encompassing ion absorption, root histology, and biochemistry to understand the influence of this method.

Transcriptome-based gene regulatory network analyses of differential cold tolerance of two tobacco cultivars.

Background: Cold is one of the main abiotic stresses that severely affect plant growth and development, and crop productivity as well. Transcriptional changes during cold stress have already been intensively studied in various plant species. However, the gene networks involved in the regulation of differential cold tolerance between tobacco varieties with contrasting cold resistance are quite limited.

Reduced cadmium accumulation in tobacco by sodium chloride priming.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution threatens agricultural security worldwide. This study tested the efficacy of priming chemicals to decrease Cd uptake by tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum). After initial screening from nine different chemicals (NaCl, Cd(CHCOO), Cd(NO), CdCl, KHNO, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), ß-aminobutyric acid (BABA), and glutathione (GSH)), NaCl and PEG-6000 were further investigated because of their low risks to plant growth and efficiency to Cd reduction.

A novel bHLH transcription factor, NtbHLH1, modulates iron homeostasis in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

Iron (Fe) is a major micronutrient which influences plant growth, development, quality and yield. Although basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) which respond to iron deficiency have been identified, the molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, a novel bHLH TF, NtbHLH1, was found to be induced by iron deficiency.

Soil Potassium Deficiency Reduces Cotton Fiber Strength by Accelerating and Shortening Fiber Development.

Low potassium (K)-induced premature senescence in cotton has been observed worldwide, but how it affects cotton fiber properties remain unclear. We hypothesized that K deficiency affects cotton fiber properties by causing disordered fiber development, which may in turn be caused by the induction of a carbohydrate acquisition difficulty. To investigate this issue, we employed a low-K-sensitive cotton cultivar Siza 3 and a low-K-tolerant cultivar Simian 3 and planted them in three regions of different K supply.