Environmentally Relevant Levels of Ozone Enhance Pulmonary Colonization and Cross-Organ Translocation.

Ozone (O) is a major global air pollutant. Recent epidemiological studies have suggested links between O exposure and outbreaks of infectious diseases. However, whether environmentally relevant levels of O exacerbate the colonization and infection of airborne pathogens remains unclear.

A novel smartphone augmented reality-based solution for small intracranial lesion localization with refined reference markers.

Objectives: Neuronavigation is crucial for locating intracranial lesions in neurosurgery. However, it is unaffordable in numerous resource-limited areas. The emerging mobile augmented reality (AR) provides a low-cost alternative to locate lesions, but its accuracy still require improvement before widespread use.

Microfluidic Biochip-Based Multiplexed Profiling of Small Extracellular Vesicles Proteins Integrated with Machine Learning for Early Disease Diagnosis.

Accurate early diagnosis is essential for preventing diseases and improving cure and survival rates. There are no reliable early-diagnosis biomarkers for most major diseases. Here, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is used as a disease model to develop a platform for detecting a panel of proteomic biomarkers for accurate early diagnosis by integrating a barcode immunoassay biochip with machine learning.

Perioperative outcomes and hospitalization costs of radical vs. conservative surgery for hepatic cystic echinococcosis: A retrospective study.

Background: Surgical intervention is a crucial treatment for hepatic cystic echinococcosis. However, the choice between radical and conservative surgery remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes and hospitalization costs between radical and conservative surgery for hepatic cystic echinococcosis.

The efficacy and safety of Apatinib in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A retrospective trial.

Background: As a potent inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway, Apatinib has been used in antitumor treatment for some time. The study aimed to research the therapeutic effects and toxicity of Apatinib in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 128 NSCLC patients treated with Apatinib in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University.

Development and validation of an eight-gene signature based predictive model to evaluate the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a bioinformatic study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with a poor prognosis, however, biomarkers for the prognostic assessment of HCC remain suboptimal. Consequently, we aimed to develop a reliable tool for prognostic estimation of HCC.

Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HCC and adjacent normal tissues in 3 Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were identified, followed by hub gene selection and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression to develop a prognostic gene signature.

Downregulation of microRNA-124-3p promotes subventricular zone neural stem cell activation by enhancing the function of BDNF downstream pathways after traumatic brain injury in adult rats.

Aims: In this study, the effect of intracerebral ventricle injection with a miR-124-3p agomir or antagomir on prognosis and on subventricular zone (SVZ) neural stem cells (NSCs) in adult rats with moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) was investigated.

Methods: Model rats with moderate controlled cortical impact (CCI) were established and verified as described previously. The dynamic changes in miR-124-3p and the status of NSCs in the SVZ were analyzed.

[Bioinformatic analysis of immune correlation and prognostic value of SERPINs in glioma].

Objective To investigate the expression of serine protease inhibitors (SERPINs) and immune infiltration in gliomas and identify their relationship with the prognosis. Methods By using R and several bioinformatics analysis databases, the expression of 35 genes of Serpins in glioma tissues from TCGA were collected and analyzed; In GEPIA, genes with significant differences were selected for survival analysis and genes with the most prognostic value were chosen for further analysis. To probe the correlation between SERPIN and tumor immunity, gene expression in pan-cancer, cells cluster enrichment in tumor tissue, and the correlation between macrophage infiltration and SERPIN expression were analyzed, via TIMER and TISCH.

Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Intracranial Tumors in Children and Identification of Diagnostic Biomarkers for the Most Common Tumor Subtype and Their Relationship with the Immune Microenvironment Through Bioinformatics Analysis.

Brain tumors are the second most common pediatric malignancy and have poor prognosis. Understanding the pathogenesis of tumors at the molecular level is essential for clinical treatment. We conducted a retrospective study on the epidemiology of brain tumors in children based on clinical data obtained from a neurosurgical center.

Identification of key methylation differentially expressed genes in posterior fossa ependymoma based on epigenomic and transcriptome analysis.

Background: Posterior fossa ependymoma (EPN-PF) can be classified into Group A posterior fossa ependymoma (EPN-PFA) and Group B posterior fossa ependymoma (EPN-PFB) according to DNA CpG island methylation profile status and gene expression. EPN-PFA usually occurs in children younger than 5 years and has a poor prognosis.

Methods: Using epigenome and transcriptome microarray data, a multi-component weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to systematically identify the hub genes of EPN-PF.

Niche Cells Crosstalk In Neuroinflammation After Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is recognized as the disease with high morbidity and disability around world in spite of the work ongoing in neural protection. Due to heterogeneity among the patients, it's still hard to acquire satisfying achievements in clinic. Neuroinflammation, which exists since primary injury occurs, with elusive duality, appear to be of significance from recovery of injury to neurogenesis.

Chemoradiotherapy vs radiotherapy for nonoperative early stage esophageal cancer: A seer data analysis.

Background: The benefit of endoscopic treatment (ET) and esophagectomy for early esophageal cancer (EC) has been sufficiently recognized. Radiotherapy (RT) is the main treatment modality for patients who do not undergo surgery. The effectiveness of adding chemotherapy (CT) to RT remains unclear.

Novel mono-PEGylated dimeric GLP-1 conjugate with enhanced receptor activation and prolonged anti-diabetes efficacies.

Aims: To design and evaluate novel mono-PEGylated dimeric GLP-1 conjugate with enhanced GLP-1 receptor activation and prolonged anti-diabetes efficacies.

Main Methods: All these novel GLP-1 conjugates were produced by using solid-phase synthesis method and further specific cysteine-maleimide modification. In vitro GLP-1R activation assay was performed in CHO cells stably expressing human GLP-1 receptor.

Prognostic value of immune-related genes in the tumor microenvironment of lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which consists mainly of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), are the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the tumor microenvironmental and genetic factors to identify prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC. We evaluated the immune and stromal scores of patients with LUAD and LUSC using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database with the ESTIMATE algorithm.

Yes-associated protein (YAP) predicts poor prognosis and regulates progression of esophageal squamous cell cancer through epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

The impact of yes-associated protein (YAP) on the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) and its mechanism of action has seldom been reported. In the present study, the role of YAP on the prognosis of patients with ESCC and the mechanism of action of YAP in promoting the progression of ESCC was investigated. Tumor tissue samples from patients with ESCC were collected and the level of YAP expression was detected using immunohistochemical staining.

12-lipoxygenase promotes tumor progress by TGF-β1-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition and predicts poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To clarify the effect of 12-lipoxygenase/12-hydroxyeicosatetraeonic acid (12-LOX/12-HETE) on progress of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the possible mechanism.

Patients And Methods: We performed cell experiments including chemical treatment, transfection, Western blotting and transwell assay to investigate the function of 12-LOX/12-HETE. Slices of tumor tissues were obtained from ESCC patients treated in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University.

Prognostic significance of preoperative IKBKE expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: IκB kinase epsilon (IKBKE; IKKε), a member of the nuclear factor-κB kinase inhibitor family, is upregulated in several human cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common and most aggressively malignant cancers with dismal prognosis. However, the state of IKBKE expression in ESCC is still unknown and its potential value remains unexplored.

The effects of air pollution on mortality and clinicopathological features of esophageal cancer.

This study aimed to estimate the associations between air pollution and esophageal cancer. In the ecologic cross-sectional study, correlation analyses were made between city-level mean concentrations of particulate matter less than 10μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM), SO, NO and city-level age-standardized mortality rates of esophageal cancer in Shandong Province, China. PM (=0.

Plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin levels (FA score) act as a promising prognostic indicator in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Evidence implies that preoperative plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin are associated with cancer prognosis. We aimed to explore the prognostic values of the score based on plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin levels (FA score) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to compare that with prognostic nutritional index (PNI).

Patients And Methods: In all, 182 patients pathologically diagnosed with NSCLC were included in this study.

Prognostic value of PAX9 in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its prediction value to radiation sensitivity.

Abnormal paired box 9 (PAX9) expression is associated with tumorigenesis, cancer development, invasion and metastasis. The present study investigated the prognostic significance of PAX9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its role in predicting radiation sensitivity. A total of 52.

Preoperative serum lipids as prognostic predictors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with esophagectomy.

This study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of serum lipids in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent esophagectomy. Preoperative serum lipids were collected from 214 patients who were diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. All of the patients received esophagectomy in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2007 to December 2008.

Prognostic and diagnostic potential of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We aimed to investigate the pattern of expression and clinical significance of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1(IDH1) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The IDH1 expression was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis using 38 pairs of frozen tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure 67 pairs of serum samples from patients and their controls to evaluate its diagnostic value.

Notch2 as a promising prognostic biomarker for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We aimed to examine Notch2 expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients and to evaluate its prognostic potential. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis were utilized to investigate the Notch2 expression status and prognostic value. Furtherly, CCK8 and clonogenic assays were conducted to determine if Notch2 inhibition by shRNA could lead to a decrease in the proliferation and survival of ESCC cells.

Comparison of Definitive Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: This retrospective study was designed to estimate the efficacy and toxicity of definitive radiotherapy with concurrent or sequential docetaxel/S-1 for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: Of the 62 eligible patients enrolled in this study during January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014 from Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Shandong Province, 39 patients received 3 cycles of docetaxel/S-1 during and after radiotherapy (concurrent chemoradiotherapy, CCRT), and 23 patients had radiotherapy followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel and S-1 (sequential chemoradiotherapy, SCRT).

Results: The CR of CCRT and SCRT groups were 48.