Publications by authors named "Cun Liu"

Epidemiological studies have confirmed the potential role of estrogen effects in influencing the development and outcome of leukemia. Estrogen effects are increasingly attracting research interest for their potential antitumor effects beyond gynecological tumors. However, their causal relationship remains unclear.

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The Chinese Guidelines for Ultrasound-guided Thermal Ablation of Thyroid Nodules (2024 edition) were jointly initiated by the Ultrasound Committee of Chinese Medical Association, the Interventional Ultrasound Committee of Chinese Association of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, the Ultrasonic Intervention Committee of Chinese Colleges of Interventionalists, the Oncological Intervention Committee of Chinese Research Hospital Association, 37 multidisciplinary experts in interventional ultrasound, ultrasound medicine, endocrinology and thyroid surgery participated in the compilation of this guide, which expanded the depth and breadth of the perspective and enhanced the authority of the guide. Based on the systematic review of literatures related to ultrasound-guided thermal ablation of thyroid nodules and the professional opinions of experts, the guidelines define the indications and contraindications of thermal ablation, including pre-ablation evaluation and preparation, thermal ablation techniques and operational procedures, post-ablation follow-up, therapeutic effect evaluation, complications prevention and treatment, and the writing of medical documents for ablation. According to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), a total of 17 objective and comprehensive recommendations were given.

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  • - Tandem catalysis is an effective method that enhances energy efficiency by allowing intermediates to move easily between different reaction sites within a single reactor, but it’s important to distinguish it from concepts like synergy and domino catalysis.
  • - For tandem catalysis to work, it requires multiple independent catalytic cycles where the output from one cycle feeds directly into another, and these cycles must operate through different mechanisms.
  • - Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer high selectivity for specific reactions but aren't ideal for all processes, particularly those needing multiple active sites; combining SACs in tandem catalysis with other catalysts can expand their applications, although challenges remain in understanding and comparing their performance.
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The pH of environmental systems plays a crucial role in determining pollutant behavior, necessitating the development of effective tools for real-time monitoring. This study introduces a novel series of lipophilic HPTS derivatives, developed through a two-step synthesis route, designed as pH-sensitive dyes, characterized by high fluorescence intensity, photostability, dual excitation/single emission, and significant Stokes shifts. We engineered self-ratiometric pH-sensing planar optode foils and investigated the impact of carbon chain length on foil durability.

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Influenza poses a significant threat to the global economy and health. Inactivated virus vaccines were introduced in China for prevention in 2018. In this study, three pairs of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) gene sequences were obtained from three Swine influenza virus (IAV-S) inactivated vaccine strains that were marketed in China in 2018.

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As the possibility of implementing population genomic screening programs for the risk of developing hereditary cancers in health systems increases, understanding how to support individuals who wish to have genomic screening is essential. This qualitative study aimed to link public perceived barriers to a) taking up the offer of population genomic screening for breast or prostate cancer risk and b) taking up risk-management options following their result, with possible theory-informed behaviour-change approaches that may support implementation. Ten focus groups were conducted with a total of 25 members of the Australian public to identify and then categorise barriers within the behaviour-change Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour (COM-B) model.

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Ammonia is a chemical compound in considerable global demand and plays a crucial role as an environmentally friendly energy carrier for hydrogen energy storage. The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) using copper sulfide catalysts is being extensively studied as an environmentally sustainable approach to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process for ammonia production. In this study, we aimed to prepare CuS hollow spheres modified with Au nanoparticles using an antisolvent crystallization-based method to be used as the catalysts for eNRR.

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Ultrasound examination is becoming the most popular medical imaging modality because of its low cost and high safety profile. Ultrasound contrast agents enhance the scattering of sound waves, which can improve the clarity and resolution of images. Nanoparticle Ultrasound contrast agents have the characteristics of a large specific surface area and a modifiable surface, which can increase drug loading capacity, prolong circulation time, and enable drug enrichment in specific organs or tissues.

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The development of electrocatalysts that can maintain high reactivity and stability over a wide pH range during electrolysis reactions is essential for the realization of a clean hydrogen energy society. Herein, we report the synthesis of AuIr alloy nanoparticles (NPs) with an excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance over a wide pH range. The NPs were synthesized an antisolvent crystallization-based method and maintained their small sizes regardless of adjustments in the ratio of the Au/Ir precursor.

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  • - The study investigates the connection between regulatory T cell (Treg) immune traits and autoimmune diseases (ADs) complicated by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), using extensive GWAS data to explore potential causal relationships.
  • - Through various statistical methods, the research found genetic predispositions linking certain Treg traits, specifically CD39+ CD8br immune traits, to an increased risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL).
  • - Additional findings suggested correlations between Treg subsets and diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Crohn's disease (CD), while confirming that sensitivity analyses reinforced the reliability of these causal associations.
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  • The study focuses on establishing ecological risk thresholds for arsenic (As) to improve soil conservation strategies, addressing the lack of specific thresholds related to various soil properties.
  • By compiling existing data and conducting experimental studies on barley-root elongation, the research identifies key factors affecting As toxicity in different soil types, finding that manganese/iron oxides and clay content are significant predictors.
  • Using a machine-learning approach, the study calculates hazardous concentrations for arsenic across different soil types, providing evidence-based guidelines for managing soil contamination by As.
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Individual application of sulfide modification and electromagnetic field (EMF) can enhance the reactivity of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), yet the potential of both in combination is not clear. This work found that the reactivity of nZVI towards decabromodiphenyl ether was significantly enhanced by the combined effect of sulfidation and EMF. The specific reaction rate constant of nZVI increased by 7 to 10 times.

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The accumulation of antimony (Sb) in plants and its potential effects on human health are of increasing concern. Nevertheless, only a few countries or regions have established soil Sb thresholds for agricultural purposes, and soil properties have not been taken into account. This study investigated the accumulation of Sb in the edible parts of pakchoi and wheat grain by adding exogenous Sb to 21 soils with varying properties.

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  • Metastatic sites are more resistant to treatments compared to primary tumors, likely due to differences in their microenvironments.
  • Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are crucial components of these environments, with primary tumor CAFs (pCAFs) and metastatic CAFs (mCAFs) differing in sources, activation mechanisms, and functions.
  • Understanding these differences may reveal insights into treatment responses and lead to improved strategies for managing metastasis in cancer patients.
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Due to the unique characteristics of breast cancer initiation sites and significant alterations in tumor metabolism, breast cancer cells rely on lipid metabolic reprogramming to effectively regulate metabolic programs during the disease progression cascade. This adaptation enables them to meet the energy demands required for proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and responses to signaling molecules in the breast cancer microenvironment. In this review, we comprehensively examined the distinctive features of lipid metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer and elucidated the underlying mechanisms driving aberrant behavior of tumor cells.

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T cell senescence is an indication of T cell dysfunction. The ability of senescent T cells to respond to cognate antigens is reduced and they are in the late stage of differentiation and proliferation; therefore, they cannot recognize and eliminate tumor cells in a timely and effective manner, leading to the formation of the suppressive tumor microenvironment. Establishing methods to reverse T cell senescence is particularly important for immunotherapy.

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Background: There is currently a lack of convincing evidence for microwave ablation (MWA) and laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for patients ≥60 years old with 3-5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Patients were divided into three cohorts based on restricted cubic spline analysis: 60-64, 65-72, and ≥73 years. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the baseline variables in a 1:1 ratio.

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Tandem nitrate electroreduction reaction (NO RR) is a promising method for green ammonia (NH) synthesis. However, the mismatched kinetics processes between NO -to-NO and NO -to-NH results in poor selectivity for NH and excess NO evolution in electrolyte solution. Herein, a Ni substitution strategy for developing oxide heterostructure in Co/Fe layered double oxides (LDOs) was designed and employed as tandem electrocataltysts for NO RR.

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Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is a vital member of the galectin family, functioning as a multi-subtype galactose lectin with diverse biological roles. Recent research has revealed that Gal-9's interaction with tumors is an independent factor that influences tumor progression. Furthermore, Gal-9 in the immune microenvironment cross-talks with tumor-associated immune cells, informing the clarification of Gal-9's identity as an immune checkpoint.

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Background: Real-time shear wave elastography (SWE) has emerged as a useful imaging modality for detecting the lesion location of various diseases, including cervical diseases.

Objectives: In this paper, the SWE was used to quantitatively determine the tissue hardness of the internal and external orifice of the cervix (IOC & EOC) and to relatively objectively analyze the impact of different production methods on the hardness of the cervical tissue.

Methods: A total of 48 patients were selected, and they were divided into three groups according to different production methods: control group (16 cases), cesarean section group (16 cases), and spontaneous delivery group (16 cases).

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  • Dietary exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) is harmful to human cognition, particularly through rice consumption, which is a key source of MeHg.
  • Researchers found a unique pathway in rice plants that converts MeHg to inorganic mercury and then releases it as gaseous mercury without needing light or microorganisms.
  • This pathway prevents significant increases in MeHg levels in rice grains, which could otherwise lead to minor IQ drops in newborns and substantial economic losses globally.
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Objective: To evaluate potential improvements in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules when conventional ultrasound (US) is combined with contrast-enhanced US (CEUS).

Methods: We recruited 515 participants with 323 malignant and 192 benign nodules, who underwent both US and CEUS examinations at 8 different medical centers in China between October 2020 and October 2021. We assessed the malignancy of thyroid nodules in US using the American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS).

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Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant stromal cell population in breast tumors. A functionally diverse population of CAFs increases the dynamic complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The intertwined network of the TME facilitates the interaction between activated CAFs and breast cancer cells, which can lead to the proliferation and invasion of breast cells.

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  • The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is often overactive in lung cancer, promoting tumor growth and resistance to treatment, which contributes to higher disease rates and severe outcomes.
  • Despite its potential as a target for therapy, challenges like tumor diversity and pathway complexity complicate effective treatment development.
  • This study reviews various natural products and compounds that inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, highlighting their promising anticancer effects and lower toxicity, suggesting their potential for safer, more efficient lung cancer therapies.
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Soil urease is highly sensitive to soil heavy metal pollution, and thus its activity can be used as bio-indicator of soil health. However, little is known about the inhibition mechanisms of heavy metals on urease. The effects of dimetallic substitution (i.

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