The role of neoantigens and tumor mutational burden in cancer immunotherapy: advances, mechanisms, and perspectives.

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized oncology by leveraging the immune system to combat tumors. Among various biomarkers, neoantigens and tumor mutational burden (TMB) have emerged as critical factors in tailoring personalized treatments. Neoantigens are tumor-specific peptides displayed on cancer cell surfaces, derived from somatic mutations.

Study on Strontium Isotope Characteristics in Plants: Providing Reference for Food Production Area Traceability.

Tracing agricultural products' origin via Sr/Sr is critical for food quality. This study identifies optimal proxy samples for baseline maps by analyzing Sr isotopes in three vegetation life-forms (perennial herbs, shrubs, trees) and their soils under diverse parent materials. The results indicate significant differences in Sr-isotopic composition between roots and soils, likely due to the heterogeneous geological origin of eolian soils.

Rectal cancer approach strategies after neoadjuvant treatment - a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: An increasing number of patients with rectal cancer who respond well to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) are being considered for organ preservation programs. However, due to the lack of high-level evidence, the survival outcomes of the organ preservation programs are still full of controversy and uncertainty.

Methods: To assess the effects of total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery, watch-and-wait (W&W), and local excision (LE) on long-term outcomes after nCRT, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for articles published between 1 January 2010, and 31 December 2023.

Unraveling the role of gut microbiome in predicting adverse events in neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.

Some patients may develop adverse events during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy, influencing response rates. The roles of intestinal microbiome and its metabolites in therapeutic adverse events remain unclear. We collected baseline fecal samples from 21 patients with adverse events (AE group) and 11 patients without adverse events (Non-AE group).

A new enhancer for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy: PCSK9 inhibition.

Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy has shown promising results in cancer treatment, improving clinical outcomes and prolonging patient survival. However, most patients exhibit low response rates to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, highlighting the urgent need for new enhancers. Increasing data now demonstrate that inhibiting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a serine proteinase, can enhance the antitumor efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.

Inhibition of PCSK9: A Promising Enhancer for Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Immunotherapy.

Immune checkpoint therapy, such as programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade, has achieved remarkable results in treating various tumors. However, most cancer patients show a low response rate to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, especially those with microsatellite stable/mismatch repair-proficient colorectal cancer subtypes, which indicates an urgent need for new approaches to augment the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Cholesterol metabolism, which involves generating multifunctional metabolites and essential membrane components, is also instrumental in tumor development.

Dual Oxygen-Supply Immunosuppression-Inhibiting Nanomedicine to Avoid the Intratumoral Recruitment of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are reported to be responsible for the negative prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients due to the mediated immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The selective and chronic circumvention of tumor-infiltrated MDSCs has potential clinical significance for CRC treatment, which unluckily remains a technical challenge. Because tumor hypoxia makes a significant contribution to the recruitment of MDSCs in tumor sites, a dual oxygen-supplied immunosuppression-inhibiting nanomedicine (DOIN) is demonstrated for overcoming tumor hypoxia, which achieves selective and long-term inhibition of intratumoral recruitment of MDSCs.

Gut microbiome model predicts response to neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer.

Background: Accurate evaluation of the response to preoperative treatment enables the provision of a more appropriate personalized therapeutic schedule for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), which remains an enormous challenge, especially neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemoradiotherapy (nICRT).

Methods: This prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled patients with LARC from 6 centers who received nICRT. The dynamic variation in the gut microbiome during nICRT was evaluated.

Site-selective core/shell deposition of tin on multi-segment nanowires for magnetic assembly and soldered interconnection.

The field of nanotechnology continues to grow with the ongoing discovery and characterization of novel nanomaterials with unconventional size-dependent properties; however, the ability to apply modern manufacturing strategies for practical device design of these nanoscale structures is significantly limited by their small size. Although interconnection has been previously demonstrated between nanoscale components, such approaches often require the use of expensive oxidation-resistant noble metal materials and time-consuming or untargeted strategies for welded interconnection such as laser ablation or plasmonic resonance across randomly oriented component networks. In this work, a three-segment gold-nickel-gold nanowire structure is synthesized using templated electrodeposition and modified via monolayer-directed aqueous chemical reduction of tin solder selectively on the gold segments.

Perfusion outcomes with near-infrared indocyanine green imaging system in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for mid-rectal or low-rectal cancer (POSTER): a study protocol.

Introduction: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is defined as the failure of complete healing or disruption of the anastomosis subsequent to rectal cancer surgery, resulting in the extravasation of intestinal contents into the intra-abdominal or pelvic cavity. It is a serious complication of rectal cancer surgery, accounting for a considerable increase in morbidity and mortality. The use of fluorescence imaging technology in surgery allows surgeons to better evaluate blood perfusion.

Disposal and utilization of dead animals during breeding in livestock and poultry farming by means of synthetic microbiota.

The disposal of animal remains resulting from breeding is a significant challenge that impacts the industry's growth. To address the issues with current treatment methods, such as the large space required for corpse storage, and the high energy consumption of pyrolysis. Three strains with high protease and lipase production and one strain with high keratinase production were screened.

The Role and Prospects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Skin Repair and Regeneration.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been recognized as a cell therapy with the potential to promote skin healing. MSCs, with their multipotent differentiation ability, can generate various cells related to wound healing, such as dermal fibroblasts (DFs), endothelial cells, and keratinocytes. In addition, MSCs promote neovascularization, cellular regeneration, and tissue healing through mechanisms including paracrine and autocrine signaling.

Exploring causal correlations between circulating levels of cytokines and colorectal cancer risk: A Mendelian randomization analysis.

Colorectal cancer has the highest mortality rate of all digestive system diseases. Considering the debate about cytokines and biases that exist in traditional observational study designs, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the association of circulating cytokines with CRC risk. In this study, we used cytokine genetic variants from a recently published genome-wide association study (GWAS) including 14,824 European-ancestry participants.

Enhanced CO Reactive Capture and Conversion Using Aminothiolate Ligand-Metal Interface.

Metallic catalyst modification by organic ligands is an emerging catalyst design in enhancing the activity and selectivity of electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO) reactive capture and reduction to value-added fuels. However, a lack of fundamental science on how these ligand-metal interfaces interact with CO and key intermediates under working conditions has resulted in a trial-and-error approach for experimental designs. With the aid of density functional theory calculations, we provided a comprehensive mechanism study of CO reduction to multicarbon products over aminothiolate-coated copper (Cu) catalysts.

The first chromosome-level genome assembly provides insights into stilbene biosynthesis.

(Thunb.) Harald, a vine belonging to the Polygonaceae family, is used in traditional medicine. The stilbenes contained in it have significant pharmacological activities in anti-oxidation and anti-aging.

Current Progress and Outlook of Nano-Based Hydrogel Dressings for Wound Healing.

Wound dressing is an important tool for wound management. Designing wound dressings by combining various novel materials and drugs to optimize the peri-wound environment and promote wound healing is a novel concept. Hydrogels feature good ductility, high water content, and favorable oxygen transport, which makes them become some of the most promising materials for wound dressings.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Surgical Complications and Anastomotic Leakage After Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision for Middle and Low Rectal Cancer.

Purpose: Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is a promising surgical procedure for middle and low rectal cancer; however, it is linked to significant morbidity. This study aimed to determine the incidence of postoperative surgical complications and anastomotic leakage following taTME and to identify their associated risk factors.

Methods: The prospective clinical data of 114 patients, who underwent taTME and primary anastomosis for mid-low rectal cancer between November 2016 and June 2022, were retrospectively analyzed.

Prognostic nutrition index predicts short-term surgical complications in patients with rectal cancer after laparoscopic surgery.

Purpose: Surgical complications following laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery remain a major clinical problem. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is reportedly associated with postoperative outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between PNI and short-term surgical complications in patients with rectal cancer after laparoscopic surgery.

Current progress and future perspectives of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy for colorectal cancer.

Immunotherapies, especially the programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors, have revolutionized the therapeutic strategies of various cancers. As for colorectal cancer (CRC), the current clinical application of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are mainly used according to the mutation pattern, which is categorized into deficient mismatch repair (dMMR)/high levels of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and proficient mismatch repair (pMMR), or non-high levels of microsatellite instability (non-MSI-H). PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have been proven to have favorable outcomes against dMMR/MSI-H CRC because of more T-cell infiltration into tumor tissues.

The taTME learning curve for mid-low rectal cancer: a single-center experience in China.

Purpose: As transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is performed worldwide, the optimization of existing training and guidance programs to enhance new taTME learners' competence in performing this procedure is warranted. This study aimed to evaluate the taTME learning curve in patients with mid-low rectal cancer.

Methods: Patients who underwent taTME for mid-low rectal cancer between October 2015 and August 2021 at a single center were included.

Abdomen anatomic characteristics on CT scans as predictive markers for short-term complications following radical resection of colorectal cancer.

Background: Prediction and management of short-term postoperative complications in patients with colorectal cancer are essential in postoperative rehabilitation. Through CT scan images, we can easily measure some parameters of abdomen anatomic characteristics. This study aimed to assess whether there is a relationship between the abdomen anatomic characteristics and short-term postoperative complications.