Short-course-based TNT with or without PD-1 inhibitor for pMMR locally advanced rectal cancer: Phase 2 results of a randomized trial (STELLAR II).

Background: The therapeutic efficacy and mode of combining immunotherapy with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)/microsatellite stable (MSS) locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) remain uncertain.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, seamless phase 2/3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05484024), eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) (5 Gy × 5), followed by 4 cycles of capecitabine and oxaliplatin or 6 cycles of leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and fluorouracil, with (iTNT group) or without (total neoadjuvant therapy [TNT] group) 4 cycles of sintilimab.

[Construction and Validation of a Prognostic Nomogram Model for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients].

Objective: To screen factors affecting the prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients, and construct a nomogram model for event-free survival (EFS).

Methods: To screen out meaningful variables by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis in CML patients, and construct a nomogram model using R software. The nomogram was validated using consistency index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve (AUC), calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and risk stratification analysis.

Selection, identification, and ecological application potential of key bacteria in biological soil crusts of deserts.

To address the challenges of nutrient deficiency and plant growth in desertified areas, we screened and identified key strains with extracellular hydrolase production and phosphorus and potassium solubilizing functions from biological soil crusts (BSC), and evaluated their survival capabilities under stressed conditions. Among the 13 strains screened from BSC, YD-7 exhibited the highest activity for amylase and cellulase, with hydrolysis zone diameters of 2.27 and 1.

Characteristics of soil and root microbial communities of plantation of different ages in the margin of a desert oasis.

is one of the widely planted species for sand stabilization in the arid regions of Northwest China. After long-term plantation, it has degraded due to soil environmental imbalances and severe root diseases. In this study, we investigated the structure and diversity characteristics of soil and root microbial communities of plantation with different ages (0, 10, 30 and 50 years) in the margin of a desert oasis in the Hexi Corridor.

Longitudinal Analyses and Predictive Factors of Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia After Postmastectomy Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Pooled Cohort Study of 2 Prospective Trials.

Purpose: Radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) correlates with poor prognoses in solid tumors. This study aimed to investigate the post-radiation therapy (RT) longitudinal lymphocyte changes and the impact of different RT techniques on RIL in breast cancer patients.

Methods And Materials: We prospectively assessed 607 breast cancer patients who received hypofractionated postmastectomy RT in 8 hospitals.

Dual-Mode Radiosensitization of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma via SOCS6-Loaded Virus-Inspired Manganese-Bismuth Bimetallic Oxide Nanoparticles.

Radioresistance poses a significant obstacle to controlling the recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) during radiotherapy. It is urgent to develop innovative radiosensitization strategies to improve the prognosis of patients with ESCC. Here, a novel dual-mode radiosensitizer: a virus-inspired hollow mesoporous manganese-bismuth bimetallic oxide nanoparticles (vHMMn-Bi) encapsulating the radiosensitizing plasmids (suppressor of cytokine signaling 6, SOCS6) is developed, designed to significantly amplify ESCC radiotherapy under hypoxic conditions.

Impact of Short-Term Lipid Overload on Whole-Body Physiology.

Complex metabolic diseases due to overnutrition such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease are a major burden on the healthcare system worldwide. Current research primarily focuses on disease endpoints and trying to understand underlying mechanisms at relatively late stages of the diseases, when irreversible damage is already done. However, complex interactions between physiological systems during disease development create a problem regarding how to build cause-and-effect relationships.

The evolutionary dynamics of genome sizes and repetitive elements in Ensifera (Insecta: Orthoptera).

Background: In evolutionary biology, identifying and quantifying inter-lineage genome size variation and elucidating the underlying causes of that variation have long been goals. Repetitive elements (REs) have been proposed and confirmed as being among the most important contributors to genome size variation. However, the evolutionary implications of genome size variation and RE dynamics are not well understood.

Multiple Stimulus Response Material Based on Sr-tcbpe MOF for Mechanochromism, Visualization Labeling, and Etching Toward TNP.

The abuse and excessive discharge of organic pollutants such as nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) have become a hot topic of concern for all humanity and society, and the development of fast, effective, and targeted technical means for detecting NACs also faces many challenges. Here, we reported a strontium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) {[Sr(tcbpe)(HO)]} (), in which tcbpe represents deprotonated 4',4‴,4″‴,4‴‴-(ethene-1,1,2,2-tetrayl)tetrakis(([1,1'biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid)). In , Sr-O polyhedron and deprotonated tcbpe ligand have a staggered connection to form a self-assembled three-dimensional network structure.

Differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by ultrasonography combined with multiphase enhanced computed tomography.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) are primary liver cancers with different therapeutic methods and prognoses. This study aims to investigate the ultrasonography and enhanced computed tomography (CT) features of these cancers and improve the early diagnosis rate. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and imaging data of 319 patients diagnosed with HCC and 124 patients diagnosed with ICC, confirmed by pathology.

Associations between whole grains intake and new-onset hypertension: a prospective cohort study.

Importance: Epidemiological evidences regarding the association between whole grain intake and the risk of new-onset hypertension are still controversial.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between whole grain intake and new-onset hypertension and examine possible effect modifiers in the general population.

Methods: A total of 10,973 participants without hypertension from the China Health and Nutrition Survey were enrolled, with follow-up beginning in 1997 and ending in 2015.

Bevacizumab induces ferroptosis and enhances CD8 T cell immune activity in liver cancer via modulating HAT1 and increasing IL-9.

Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 antibody of VEGF, and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ferroptosis, a new form of regulated cell death function independently of the apoptotic machinery, has been accepted as an attractive target for pharmacological intervention; the ferroptosis pathway can enhance cell immune activity of anti-PD1 immunotherapy in HCC. In this study we investigated whether and how bevacizumab regulated ferroptosis and immune activity in liver cancer.

Positive effect of peptide-calcium chelates from Grifola frondosa on a mouse model of senile osteoporosis.

Calcium supplementation has been shown to be efficacious in mitigating the progression of senile osteoporosis (SOP) and reducing the incidence of osteoporotic fractures resulting from prolonged calcium shortage. In this study, Grifola frondosa (GF) peptides-calcium chelate were synthesized through the interaction between peptide from GF and CaCl. The chelation reaction was shown to involve the participation of the amino and carboxyl groups in the peptide, as revealed by scanning electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry.

Inhibition of USP7 enhances CD8 T cell activity in liver cancer by suppressing PRDM1-mediated FGL1 upregulation.

Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3), an immune checkpoint molecule expressed on activated T cells, functions as a negative regulator of immune responses. Persistent antigen exposure in the tumor microenvironment results in sustained LAG3 expression on T cells, contributing to T cell dysfunction. Fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1) has been identified as a major ligand of LAG3, and FGL1/LAG3 interaction forms a novel immune checkpoint pathway that results in tumor immune evasion.

Molecular basis of the reaction mechanism of the methyltransferase HENMT1.

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are important for ensuring the integrity of the germline. 3'-terminal 2'-O-methylation is essential for piRNA maturation and to protect them from degradation. HENMT1 (HEN Methyltransferase 1) carries out the 2'-O-methylation, which is of key importance for piRNA stability and functionality.

Quality assurance in a phase III, multicenter, randomized trial of POstmastectomy radioThErapy in Node posiTive breast cancer with or without Internal mAmmary nodaL irradiation (POTENTIAL): a planning benchmark case.

Purpose: To report the planning benchmark case results of the POTENTIAL trial-a multicenter, randomized, phase 3 trial-to evaluate the value of internal mammary nodal (IMN) irradiation for patients with high-risk breast cancer.

Methods: All participating institutions were provided the outlines of one benchmark case, and they generated radiation therapy plans per protocol. The plans were evaluated by a quality assurance team, after which the institutions resubmitted their revised plans.

Salt solution etching to construct micro-gullies on the surface of Zn anodes enhances anodes performance in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have caused significant research attention due to their low redox potential of 0.76 V, high theoretical capacity of 820 mAh g. However, the dendrite growth of zinc anode and the side reactions caused by water seriously affect the cycle life of AZIBs.

Heat shock protein family A member 8 serving as a co-activator of transcriptional factor ETV4 up-regulates PHLDA2 to promote the growth of liver cancer.

Heat shock protein family A member 8 (HSPA8) participates in the folding or degradation of misfolded proteins under stress and plays critical roles in cancer. In this study, we investigated the function of HSPA8 in the development of liver cancer. By analyzing the TCGA transcriptome dataset, we found that HSPA8 was upregulated in 134 clinical liver cancer tissue samples, and positively correlated with poor prognosis.

Printing 3D mesh-like grooves on zinc surface to enhance the stability of aqueous zinc ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are receiving broad attention owing to their high safety and low cost. However, the high mechanical strength and irreversible growth of zinc dendrites limit the practical application of AZIBs. Herein, regular mesh-like gullies are built on the surface of zinc foil (M150 Zn) by using simple model pressing method and stainless steel mesh as a mold.

Aspirin triggers ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through restricting NF-κB p65-activated SLC7A11 transcription.

A number of studies have shown that aspirin, as commonly prescribed drug, prevents the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ferroptosis as a dynamic tumor suppressor plays a vital role in hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study we investigated whether aspirin affected ferroptosis in liver cancer cells.

 (Inocybaceae), a new poisonous species from Eurasia, based on morphological, ecological, molecular and biochemical evidence.

In this study, is proposed as a new species, based on morphological, ecological, molecular and biochemical evidence. The new species grows on sandy ground under and in north-western China and northern Europe, respectively. It is characterised by the combination of the robust habit, nearly glabrous pileus, large cylindrical basidiospores, thin-walled cheilocystidia and ecological associations with × and and unique phylogenetic placement.

Proof-of-Concept Method to Study Uncharacterized Methyltransferases Using PRDM15.

The PRDM family of methyltransferases has been implicated in cellular proliferation and differentiation and is deregulated in human diseases, most notably in cancer. PRDMs are related to the SET domain family of methyltransferases; however, from the 19 PRDMs only a few PRDMs with defined enzymatic activities are known. PRDM15 is an uncharacterized transcriptional regulator, with significant structural disorder and lack of defined small-molecule binding pockets.