Impact of first-line chemoimmunotherapy with or without radiotherapy on the prognosis of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a multicenter, real-world, retrospective cohort study from China (NCT06478355).

Background: Chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy has already become the standard first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), whereas there are no satisfying overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). This research aims to evaluate whether first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy (RT) improves outcomes and safety in patients who suffer from locally advanced and metastatic ESCC.

Methods: A total of 664 patients who suffer from locally advanced or metastatic ESCC going through first-line chemoimmunotherapy with or without radiotherapy at China's 11 large cancer centers from Jan.

CALR regulates the proliferation and drug sensitivity of multiple myeloma cells through the BCL2 signaling pathway.

Background: Calreticulin (CALR) has been implicated in the genesis and progression of numerous tumors. Nevertheless, its impact on multiple myeloma (MM) remains ambiguous. This study aimed to explore the effect of CALR on the proliferation and drug sensitivity of MM cells and to delve into its underlying mechanism.

Preliminary study on changes in volume and functional connectivity of hippocampal subregions in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

The aim of this study is to investigate the disparities in volumes of hippocampal subfields and alterations in whole-brain functional connectivity among individuals diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study comprised a total of 32 diabetic patients with retinopathy (DR group, n = 32) and 38 healthy adults (HC group, n = 38), who underwent psychological cognitive testing along with structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. The FreeSurfer software was utilized for the extraction and computation of hippocampal subfield volumes, as well as the overall volumes of the left and right hippocampus.

To determine the role of TRIT1 in the diagnosis, prognosis and immunoinvasion of liver hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: TRIT1 is identified as a potential tumor suppressor gene that may be involved in tumor development. Existing research indicates that TRIT1 is significant in the development of certain cancers. However, its specific role in liver cancer remains elusive.

Altered Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy: A Resting-State Functional MRI Study.

Objective: Cognitive impairment is a prevalent complication among patients with diabetes mellitus. It tends to be more prominent in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) compared with patients with diabetes without DR (NDR). However, the functional connectivity (FC) between bilateral cerebral hemispheres in both remains poorly understood.

A study on the changes of white matter microstructure in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy based on DTI technology.

BackgroundBreast cancer is a prevalent cancer affecting women globally, with incidence rates rising rapidly.PurposeTo examine the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data of patients with breast cancer before and after chemotherapy through tract-based spatial statistical analysis (TBSS).Material and MethodsCognitive and neuropsychological tests and whole-brain DTI were administered to patients with breast cancer who did not receive postoperative chemotherapy (C-) or received postoperative chemotherapy (C+) and healthy controls (HCs).

Development of a PCR fluorescence sensor utilizing an upconversion FRET system for rapid and ultra-sensitive determination of Escherichia coli.

An upconversion-gold nanoparticle detection system that integrates PCR amplification and fluorescence resonance energy transfer was constructed to enable swift and highly sensitive identification of Escherichia coli. The forward primer used in the PCR amplification is modified with sulfhydryl groups, enabling its connection to gold nanoparticles via Au-S bonds. The complementary strand of the forward primer, which is attached to the upconversion nanomaterials, can hybridize with the free forward primer through base complementary pairing.

Effect of Supplementation of Quercetagetin on the Antioxidant Function, Liver Mitochondrial Function and Gut Microbiota of Broilers at High Stocking Density.

This study investigates the effects of quercetagetin (QG) supplementation on the antioxidant capacity, liver mitochondrial function, and cecal microbiota of broilers raised under high-density conditions. A 2 × 2 factorial design with 144 one-day-old WOD168 broilers, which were allocated to two stocking densities (LD: 4 birds per cage, equivalent to 11.1 birds per square meter; HD: eight birds per cage, equivalent to 22.

Clinical Utility of the Trajectory of Serum Bilirubin and International Normalized Ratio Values in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Background And Aim: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a rapidly progressive and highly fatal condition. Early identification of critically ill patients is crucial. Hepatitis B virus-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF), the main cause of ACLF in China, is characterized by liver failure and coagulation dysfunction.

An electron donor-acceptor complex-initiated C-H trifluoromethylation and perfluoroalkylation of enamides and quinoxalinones.

Facilitated by an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex, an efficient β-trifluoromethylation and perfluoroalkylation of enamides with Togni reagent or perfluoroalkyl iodides is presented under transition-metal-free, photocatalyst-free and mild reaction conditions. Notably, using this photocatalyst-free strategy, direct trifluoromethylation and perfluoroalkylation of quinoxalin-2(1)-one derivatives was also achieved a photoactive electron donor-acceptor complex.

Conventional versus rubber band traction-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection for rectal neuroendocrine tumors: a single-center retrospective study (with video).

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, including rectal neuroendocrine tumors (r-NETs). However, the relative advantages of traction-assisted ESD for the treatment of small rectal lesions are still debated.

Aims: We conducted a study to compare the efficacy and safety of rubber band traction-assisted ESD (RBT-ESD) to conventional ESD (C-ESD).

Brain structural changes in diabetic retinopathy patients: a combined voxel-based morphometry and surface-based morphometry study.

The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in gray matter structure among individuals diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study included a cohort of 32 diabetic patients with retinopathy (DR group, n = 32) and 38 healthy adults (HC group, n = 38). Both cohorts underwent comprehensive psychological and cognitive assessments alongside structural magnetic resonance imaging.

Ethylene controls three-dimensional growth involving reduced auxin levels in the moss Physcomitrium patens.

The conquest of land by plants was concomitant with, and possibly enabled by, the evolution of three-dimensional (3D) growth. The moss Physcomitrium patens provides a model system for elucidating molecular mechanisms in the initiation of 3D growth. Here, we investigate whether the phytohormone ethylene, which is believed to have been a signal before land plant emergence, plays a role in 3D growth regulation in P.

Photocatalytic Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Enabled Radical Cyclization for Isoquinoline-1,3-diones Synthesis.

Radical cyclization has been demonstrated to be an efficient method to access functionalized heterocycles from easily accessible raw materials. Described herein is the development of a photocatalytic proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) strategy for the synthesis of isoquinoline-1,3-diones using readily prepared naphthalimide (NI)-based organic photocatalysts. The process features free metal-complex photocatalysts, acids, and mild reaction conditions.

Analysis of changes in high-mobility group box 1, receptor for advanced glycation endproducts, and T helper 17/regulatory T balance in severe preeclampsia with acute heart failure.

We measured the levels of High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE), T Helper 17 cells (Th17), Regulatory T cells (Treg), and related cytokines in the peripheral blood of patients with severe preeclampsia (SPE) complicated with acute heart failure (AHF) to explore the expression changes in these indicators. In total, 96 patients with SPE admitted to Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital between June 2020 and June 2022 were included in the study. The patients were divided into SPE+AHF (40 patients) and SPE (56 patients) groups based on whether they suffered from AHF.

Developing a Prognostic Model for Primary Biliary Cholangitis Based on a Random Survival Forest Model.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare autoimmune liver disease with few effective treatments and a poor prognosis, and its incidence is on the rise. There is an urgent need for more targeted treatment strategies to accurately identify high-risk patients. The use of stochastic survival forest models in machine learning is an innovative approach to constructing a prognostic model for PBC that can improve the prognosis by identifying high-risk patients for targeted treatment.

Nitrite stimulates HONO and NO but not NO emissions in Chinese agricultural soils during nitrification.

The long-lived greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (NO) and short-lived reactive nitrogen (N) gases such as ammonia (NH), nitrous acid (HONO), and nitrogen oxides (NO) are produced and emitted from fertilized soils and play a critical role for climate warming and air quality. However, only few studies have quantified the production and emission potentials for long- and short-lived gaseous nitrogen (N) species simultaneously in agricultural soils. To link the gaseous N species to intermediate N compounds [ammonium (NH), hydroxylamine (NHOH), and nitrite (NO)] and estimate their temperature change potential, ex-situ dry-out experiments were conducted with three Chinese agricultural soils.

Plasma Thioredoxin Reductase as a Potential Biomarker for Gynecologic Cancer.

Background: According to previous literatures, plasma thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) level was significantly elevated in various malignant tumors and serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognostic prediction. However, there is little awareness of the clinical value of plasma TrxR in gynecologic malignancies. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of plasma TrxR in gynecologic cancer and explore its role in treatment surveillance.

Development and internal validation of a nomogram for predicting survival of nonoperative EGFR-positive locally advanced elderly esophageal cancers.

Purpose: This study aims to develop and validate a prediction model for non-operative, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive, locally advanced elderly esophageal cancer (LAEEC).

Methods: A total of 80 EGFR-positive LAEEC patients were included in the study. All patients underwent radiotherapy, while 41 cases received icotinib concurrent systemic therapy.

Development of a Dual Mode UCNPs-MB Biosensor in Combination with PCR for Sensitive Detection of .

In recent years, the high prevalence of has emerged as a serious threat to public safety, prompting attempts to utilize accurate, rapid, and direct methods to ensure food safety. In this study, a multifunctional platform featuring dual-mode detection channels (colorimetric-fluorescence) combined with polymer chain reaction (PCR) was proposed for the sensitive and rapid detection of . Additionally, the colorimetric measurements were achieved by color changes induced by methylene blue (MB) insertion into the double-stranded DNA, and the fluorescence measurements were performed by internal filter effect (IFE)-induced fluorescence quenching of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) by MB.

Direct observation of highly effective hydrogen isotope separation at active metal sites by DRIFT spectroscopy.

diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy was developed for the first time to observe the hydrogen isotope separation behavior at active Cu sites within Cu-MFU-4, and clear evidence of the preferential adsorption of D over H was directly captured. More importantly, our results show direct spectral proof to clarify the chemical affinity quantum sieving mechanism of hydrogen isotope separation within porous adsorbents.

Role of ferroptosis in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second deadliest cancer and the third-most common malignancy in the world. Surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy have been widely used to treat CRC, but some patients still develop resistance to these treatments. Ferroptosis is a novel non-apoptotic form of cell death.