ctDNA detects residual disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and guides adjuvant therapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The diagnostic accuracy of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for detecting molecular residual disease (MRD) after multimodal treatment remains unclear. In a prospective cohort of 132 patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by clinical response evaluation and surgery, tumor-informed personalized-panel and fixed-panel ctDNA assays are applied to serial blood samples. Personalized ctDNA assay demonstrates a superior baseline detection rate (99.

Sweroside Inhibits Inflammation and Alleviates Endothelial Injury and Atherosclerosis in Mice.

The underlying mechanisms in atherosclerotic vascular diseases are not entirely clear, posing a challenging hurdle to treatment. Inflammation is a root cause of atherosclerosis (AS); therefore, anti-inflammatory agents have potential for its management. Sweroside, possessing anti-inflammatory properties, emerges as a potential agent to impede AS progression.

Unraveling ozone formation sensitivity to ambient VOCs and NOx at urban and mountain sites in a typical city of eastern China.

Ozone (O) is a primary pollutant affecting air quality in China, whose formation rate was non-linearly based on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). A comprehensive understanding of the key drivers governing O formation and its sensitivity to precursor variations presents a persistent research challenge, stemming from the complex interplay of underlying photochemistry, meteorology, and topography. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted synchronous measurements of O and its precursors at both an urban (JPU) and a mountain (LM) site in a typical city in eastern China, enabling concurrent evaluation of O formation sensitivity and diagnostic analysis of its underlying mechanisms.

A strategy to re-sensitise drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria to oxazolidinone-class antibiotics.

Background: Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections have high mortality rates and few treatment options. Synergistic combinations may improve clinical outcome but traditional strategies often damage healthy microbiome. Oxazolidinone-class antibiotics are typical last-resort drugs for treating drug-resistant bacterial infections but are becoming less effective due to resistance development.

Kinetic Mechanism and Structural Design of Thick Electrodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Challenges and Optimization Strategies.

Thick electrode is a critical strategy to increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries(LiBs) by maximizing the active material loading. However, their practical application is obstructed by kinetic limitations, including low charge transfer efficiency and poor mechanical stability, which severely decrease rate capability, cycling performance, and safety. This review focuses on an intensive analysis of the problems with thick electrodes in terms of ion transfer kinetics, electron transfer discontinuities, and poor mechanical stability.

Development and Validation of a Pathomics-Based Prognostic Model for Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma Undergoing First-Line EGFR-TKI Therapy.

Background: Accurate prognostic prediction is crucial for personalized treatment of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) receiving epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This study aims to develop and validate a pathomics-based prognostic model for EGFR-TKI-treated patients with LUAD.

Patients And Methods: Data from 122 patients with LUAD who underwent first-line EGFR-TKI therapy were retrospectively analyzed.

Role of monocytes in the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid syndrome and potential therapeutic targets (Review).

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized primarily by arterial and/or venous thrombosis, obstetric complications and persistent positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). It has been proposed that the pathogenesis of APS is closely associated with vascular endothelial cell activation, complement activation and platelet activation. Notably, APS may be key to understanding the relationship between innate immune cells, and thrombosis and obstetric complications.

Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of and .

Tree species adopt diverse drought resistance strategies, which are crucial for the ability of karst vegetation to adapt to drought stress. However, our understanding of how to differentiate these strategies remains limited, particularly with respect to identifying indicator traits that can accurately distinguish the drought resistance strategies used by different species. In this study, we use principal component analysis based on functional traits to distinguish the drought resistance strategies of and ; we identify key indicator traits reflecting differences in drought resistance strategies by analyzing the correlations of the same traits across different plant species.

Mapping Long COVID: Spatial and Social Inequities Across the United States.

Background Long COVID affects a substantial portion of the U.S. population, yet its spatiotemporal distribution remains poorly characterized.

Exercise interventions in cancer-related cognitive impairment: an umbrella review.

Purpose: The aim of this umbrella review is to assess the effectiveness of exercise interventions in preventing and managing cancer-related cognitive impairment among cancer survivors, providing an evidence-based foundation for clinical practice.

Methods: The umbrella review was pre-registered on PROSPERO. It included systematic reviews that assessed any exercise interventions aimed at improving cognition in cancer patients.

Shining light on liquid-liquid phase separation in chronic liver disease.

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a phenomenon characterized by a membrane-free structure formed by weak multivalent interactions of intracellular biological macromolecules, has attracted wide attention in the study of chronic liver diseases in recent years. LLPS has multiple roles in the occurrence and development of chronic liver disease, including regulating virus replication, affecting lipid metabolism, regulating immune response, and participating in the regulation of gene expression. This article reviews the specific mechanism of LLPS in chronic liver disease, and discusses its potential application in drug development, immunotherapy, and gene therapy, providing new ideas for the treatment of chronic liver disease.

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) O-serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles among the aging population in China: A longitudinal, multi-center study.

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a leading cause of community-acquired bacteremia and sepsis, which contributes to the substantial burden of invasive E. coli disease (IED) in older adults. This study aimed to estimate the O-serotype distribution of blood and sterile site ExPEC among older adults in China and the characteristics of antimicrobial resistance, O-serotypes, and O genotypes.

Bruceine A ameliorates ulcerative colitis via macrophage polarization: Targeting HSP90-mediated IL-17 signaling and NF-κB activation.

Background: Bruceine A (BA), a natural quassinoid compound derived from the fruit of Brucea javanica, has demonstrated diverse pharmacological activities. However, the treatment effectiveness of BA against ulcerative colitis (UC) and its underlying mechanisms of action are yet to be fully elucidated.

Purpose: To explore the effects of BA against UC and uncover its underlying mechanisms, with a particular focus on its influence on inhibiting macrophage M1 polarization via the IL-17/NF-κB pathway.

A water-soluble phenothiazine-based fluorescent probe for selective detection and bioimaging of hypochlorite.

A hydrophilic phenothiazine-based fluorescent probe (PTZMN) was developed for the selective and sensitive detection of hypochlorite (ClO) in pure water. Upon ClO stimulation, PTZMN exhibited a distinct colorimetric shift and a "turn-on" fluorescence response at 496 nm, with a low detection limit of 5.2 × 10 mol/L and excellent linearity (R = 0.

Protocol for evaluating protein intake-induced feeding inhibition in Drosophila using a pre-feeding approach.

Consumption of dietary protein has been shown to elicit the strongest satiety among macronutrients. Protein intake-induced feeding inhibition (PIFI) plays a critical role in the maintenance of nutrition homeostasis. Here, we present an optogenetic pre-feeding protocol for studying the neural mechanisms underlying PIFI in Drosophila.

Functional Spermatogenesis Across Testicular Developmental Stages in Neomale Large Yellow Croaker () Revealed by Histology and Gonadal Specific Cellular Markers.

Gonadal development and spermatogenesis critically influence fish reproductive performance. Neomales (genetically female but functionally male) are indispensable for generating all-female populations, yet their spermatogenesis remains understudied. In the present study, we systematically investigated gonadal maturation in neomales of the large yellow croaker (), an economically important marine species exhibiting sexually dimorphic growth.

Construction and application of a mortality risk prediction model for patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma: A competing risk analysis.

Background: Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is the dominant histological subtype of lung cancer, accounting for 30% of all cases. Most patients develop distant metastases by the time they are diagnosed with the disease, owing to a delay in the appearance of symptoms. Therefore, accurate prognostic prediction is essential for personalized treatment.

Asparaginase and Autophagy Inhibitors Effectively Remove Senescent Cells by Synergistically Limiting Asparagine Supply.

The accumulation of senescent cells (SNCs) contributes to tissue dysfunction and age-related diseases, creating an urgent need for effective senolytic strategies. We identified a metabolic vulnerability in SNCs characterized by marked downregulation of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), rendering them uniquely dependent on exogenous asparagine (Asn). This vulnerability was exploited through combined treatment with L-asparaginase (ASNase) and autophagy inhibitors, which synergistically deplete Asn via complementary mechanisms: ASNase degrades extracellular Asn pools, while autophagy inhibition blocks intracellular protein recycling as an alternative Asn source.

Mechanism of Microbiota-Gut-Brain in Perimenopausal Depression: An Inflammatory Perspective.

Background: Perimenopausal women often experience physiological and psychological decline due to the effects of oestrogen fluctuations and the decline of ovarian function, leading to significantly increased depression rates, decreases in the quality of life and mental health issues. Studies have shown that the gut microbiota exerts anti-perimenopausal depression (PMD) effects via the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, the mechanisms of which may be related to inflammation. In this review, we discuss the effects and mechanisms of gut microbiota in PMD and provide new insights for future PMD treatment.

Cordycepin: A Promising Anticancer Compound from Traditional Chinese Medicine.

As cancer continues to pose a significant threat to human health, the search for effective therapeutic agents has become a critical focus in medical research. Cordyceps is a fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) valued for its potential health benefits, which include boosting energy, supporting the immune system, and acting as an anti-oxidant. Cordycepin, also known as 3[Formula: see text]-deoxyadenosine, is a bioactive nucleoside derived from Cordyceps.

OCT-based quantitative predictors of coronary dissection during rotational atherectomy in severe calcified lesions.

Background: In the treatment of coronary calcification by rotational atherectomy (ROTA), guidewire bias is often considered to lead to procedure-associated coronary dissections or perforations. However, the actual meaning of guidewire bias is unclear, though it usually refers to the cross-sectional location of the intravascular imaging (IVI) catheter in the coronary artery. This study tentatively explores the quantitative criteria in optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of guidewire bias, which may cause ROTA-induced coronary dissection.

Targeted Reprogramming of Tumor Cells by Digoxin-Loaded Immunogenic Nanoparticles Enhances Immunity Against Disseminated Tumor Cells.

To potentiate the in situ vaccine effect of radiotherapy (RT), an "inflamed-cell-as-vaccine" strategy is proposed. Specifically, a biomimetic, tumor-targeting nanoparticle (rVAR2-M-NP) carrying a Digoxin-Ovalbumin (Dig-Ova) complex is engineered as its core payload. This nanoparticle-induced gentle immunogenic cell death (ICD) stress promotes self-inflammation in tumor cells without causing direct cytotoxicity.

Inhalable Nanovaccine Based on Bioengineered Bacteria-Derived Membrane Vesicles Against Lung Metastasis.

Lung metastases pose a challenge in cancer treatment due to the lung's vascular network and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Conventional subcutaneous vaccines typically fail to elicit localized immune responses at metastatic sites. To address this, an inhalable nanovaccine, BMVax (bacterial membrane-based vaccine), is developed using bacterial membrane vesicles from engineered E.

4D-MRI at 0.55T for internal target volume delineation in liver radiation therapy planning.

Background: Low-field MRI provides superior soft-tissue contrast compared to CT while costing significantly less than high-field MRI, which makes it a more accessible option for MRI-guided radiation therapy planning. Four-dimensional MRI (4D-MRI) is a technique that has been increasingly adopted clinically for internal target volume (ITV) delineation in free-breathing liver radiotherapy planning, and it requires high spatial resolution and accurate respiratory phase differentiation to enable precise dose planning. The feasibility of 4D-MRI at low-field strength, specifically at 0.