Connexin43 and Its Regulation of Astrocyte Gap Junction Function: Influencing Depression Progression by Mediating Electrical and Chemical Signals.

Background: Depression is a common mental illness with a high relapse rate, which has a serious negative impact on national economic development and happiness. At present, the pathogenesis of depression is still unclear, and there are inevitable limitations in first-line clinical treatment. Therefore, it is very important to clarify the pathological mechanism of depression for the development of safe and effective antidepressants.

Clinical predictors of survival in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the head and neck: A cox regression and nomogram study.

Objectives: Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNST) are rapidly progressing Schwann cell neoplasms. This study aimed to develop a practical clinical nomogram that predicts prognosis in patients with Head and Neck MPNST (HN-MPNST) using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Methods: We extracted clinical data from patients with HN MPNST between 2000 and 2020 from the SEER database.

Non-uniform assignment method for skeletal materials based on slope difference distribution and experimental validation.

A modeling method of non-uniform material assignment based on Slope Difference Distribution (SDD) is proposed to establish a complete and effective finite element (FE) model of the lower limb tibia. The validity and accuracy of the model based on in vitro mechanical experiments are verified. An initial tibia model was established based on Computed Tomography (CT) images.

Effect of deubiquitinases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (Review).

HNSCC includes nasopharyngeal, laryngeal and oral cancers, and its pathogenesis is influenced by various factors. As an essential part of the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS), deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) maintain the homeostasis of Ub molecules and influence the physiological functions of cells and disease processes by removing ubiquitinated proteins. Accumulating evidence has confirmed that the aberrant expression of DUBs is involved in cell proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis during the development of HNSCC, with some acting as oncogenes and others as tumor-suppressor genes.

Case Report and Literature Review on Skin Toxicity Induced by PD-1 Inhibitor in a Penile Cancer with Massive Ulceration of Chemoradiotherapy-Resistant and Successful Treatment by Immunotherapy.

Penile cancer is a rare malignant tumor with a poor prognosis in advanced stages. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated promising efficacy in patients with advanced penile cancer, but it can also induce immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This article reports a patient who achieved almost a complete response to the PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab as third-line treatment for advanced penile squamous cell cancer with massive ulceration of chemoradiotherapy-resistant, and successful treatment by immunotherapy.

Topographic Anatomy and Step-Wised Harvest of Intermuscular Occipital Artery in Far Lateral Approach.

Background: The occipital artery (OA) is an important donor artery for intracranial and extracranial bypass surgery, but its path is tortuous, making it difficult to harvest. Part of the traditional intermuscular OA is not covered by muscle and is easily damaged during surgery. Currently, there are few reports on how to protect this segment of the OA.

Dihydromyricetin treats pulmonary hypertension by modulating CKLF1/CCR5 axis-induced pulmonary vascular cell pyroptosis.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive cardiopulmonary disease characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure and vascular remodeling, resulting in poor prognosis and increased mortality rates. Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) plays a significant role in inducing inflammation and cell proliferation, both of which are critical processes in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Dihydromyricetin (DMY) has garnered attention for its potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Progress of Exosomal MicroRNAs and Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomers in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Exosomes, extracellular vesicles secreted by various cells, actively participate in intercellular communication by facilitating the exchange of crucial molecular information such as DNA, RNA, and lipids. Within this intricate network, microRNAs, endogenous non-coding small RNAs, emerge as pivotal regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression, significantly influencing the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The historical prominence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in clinical practice in China underscores its enduring significance.

Finite element simulation of treatment with locking plate for distal fibula fractures.

An improved Finite Element Model(FEM) is applied to compare the biomechanical stability of plates with three different options in the treatment of distal fibula fractures in this study. The Computed Tomography(CT) scan of the knee to ankle segment of a volunteer was performed. A 3D fibula FEM was reconstructed based on the CT data.

Higenamine exerts antidepressant effect by improving the astrocytic gap junctions and inflammatory response.

Background: Depression is a refractory psychiatric disorder closely associated with dysfunction of the gap junctions (GJs) between astrocytes as well as neuroinflammation. Higenamine (Hig) is a potent cardiotonic ingredient in Fuzi (i.e.

Improved survival outcome with not-delayed radiotherapy and immediate PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor for non-small-cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of radiotherapy (RT) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) sequence on the survival outcome in NSCLC patients with brain metastasis, and decide the best time to initiate RT.

Methods: Patients were managed with delayed RT (ICI delivered over 2 weeks prior to RT), concurrent RT (ICI delivered within 2 weeks prior to or after RT), or upfront RT (RT delivered over 2 weeks prior to ICI). Overall survival (OS), intracranial local progression-free survival (iLPFS), and intracranial distant progression-free survival (iDPFS) were assessed.

Preoperative prediction of clinical and pathological stages for patients with esophageal cancer using PET/CT radiomics.

Background: Preoperative stratification is critical for the management of patients with esophageal cancer (EC). To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of PET-CT-based radiomics in preoperative prediction of clinical and pathological stages for patients with EC.

Methods: Histologically confirmed 100 EC patients with preoperative PET-CT images were enrolled retrospectively and randomly divided into training and validation cohorts at a ratio of 7:3.

Novel insights into the progression and prognosis of the calpain family members in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive integrated analysis.

The goal of our bioinformatics study was to comprehensively analyze the association between the whole calpain family members and the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The data were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The landscape of the gene expression, copy number variation (CNV), mutation, and DNA methylation of calpain members were analyzed.

The Formation and Phase Stability of A-Site High-Entropy Perovskite Oxides.

High entropy perovskite oxides (HEPOs) were a class of advanced ceramic materials, which had attracted much scientific attention in recent years. However, the effect of factors affecting the phase stability of high entropy perovskite oxides was still controversial. Herein, 17 kinds of A-site HEPOs were synthesized by solid-state methods, and several criteria for the formation of HEPOs and phase stability were investigated.

Implications of m6A-associated snRNAs in the prognosis and immunotherapeutic responses of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent pathological type of liver cancer worldwide with high mortality and poor prognosis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) can modify RNAs such as mRNA, lncRNA, miRNA, and tRNA, thereby playing a critical role in the pathogenesis of HCC. However, the role of m6A-associated small nuclear RNA (snRNA) in the prognostic value and immunotherapeutic response in HCC remains unclear.

Anisotropic Piezoelectric Properties of Porous (BaCa)(ZrTi)O Ceramics with Oriented Pores through TBA-Based Freeze-Casting Method.

Porous (BaCa)(ZrTi)O (BCZT) piezoelectric ceramics with an oriented directional hole structure were prepared by using the tertbutyl alcohol (TBA)-based freeze-casting method. The influences of sintering temperatures on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of porous BCZT ceramics were investigated both perpendicular and parallel to the freezing direction. With the increase in sintering temperatures and the porosities decreased from 58% to 42%, the compressive strength increased from 14.

Effect of Current Density on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 3YSZ/AlO Composites by Flash Sintering.

The 3YSZ/40 wt% AlO composites were prepared by flash sintering at a low furnace temperature (700 °C). The effects of the current density on the relative density and Vickers hardness of the composites were systematically investigated. The results showed that the relative densities and Vickers hardness of the samples increased gradually with the increasing of the current densities, and the relative density was as high as 94.

Icotinib With Concurrent Radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy Alone in Older Adults With Unresectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase II Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Palliative radiotherapy (RT) is generally recommended for older patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with poor prognosis. A new combination treatment is therefore needed.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and toxicity of RT plus icotinib vs RT alone in older patients with ESCC.

The Long Non-Coding RNA MALAT1 Enhances Ovarian Cancer Cell Stemness by Inhibiting YAP Translocation from Nucleus to Cytoplasm.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this work was to unearth the effects and underlying mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1 in ovarian cancer cell stemness. MATERIAL AND METHODS Western blot, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and sphere forming analysis were performed to evaluate the stem-like traits of cells and MALAT1-induced effects on ovarian cancer cell stemness. Cell viability was performed to evaluate MALAT1 role in the chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Polymorphisms and Cervical Cancer: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis.

Background: Some previous studies already explored associations between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) polymorphisms and cervical cancer, with conflicting findings.

Objectives: Here, we aimed to better analyze the relationship between TNF-α polymorphisms and cervical cancer in a larger combined population by performing a meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI for related articles.

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway affects the distribution of cytoskeletal proteins in Aβ treated PC12 cells.

Alzheimer's disease is pathologically characterized by the presence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the central nervous system. Amyloid β-protein is toxic to neurons and induces phosphorylation of Tau protein, which accumulates in paired helical filaments and leads to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. This study is focused on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway influence on Tau phosphorylation and the distribution of microtubules and neurofilaments in adrenal pheochromocytoma cells.