Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy without locoregional radiotherapy in metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: two case reports and a literature review.

Background: There is no consensus regarding the optimal regimen for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (dmNPC). Locoregional intensity modulated radiotherapy (LRRT) following palliative chemotherapy (PCT) has been shown to prolong the overall survival (OS) and improve the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with dmNPC, compared with PCT alone. However, patients with a high tumor burden do not benefit from additional LRRT, which inevitably results in toxicity.

TERT de novo mutation-associated dyskeratosis congenita and porto-sinusoidal vascular disease: a case report.

Background: Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare genetic disease due to telomere biology disorder and characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations and severe complications. "Porto-sinusoidal vascular disease" has been recently proposed, according to new diagnostic criteria, to replace the term "idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension." TERT plays an important role in telomeric DNA repair and replication.

Water-Deficient Interface Induced via Hydrated Eutectic Electrolyte with Restrictive Water to Achieve High-Performance Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries.

The development of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) is hampered by dendrites and side reactions induced by reactive HO. In this study, a hydrated eutectic electrolyte with restrictive water consisting of zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (Zn(OTf)), 1,3-propanediol (PDO), and water is developed to improve the stability of the anode/electrolyte interface in AZMBs via the formation of a water-deficient interface. Additionally, PDO participates in the Zn solvation structure and inhibits the movement of water molecules.

Association between alkaline phosphatase levels and mortality in Chinese patients with colorectal cancer with liver metastases: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a potential cancer biomarker. However, its prognostic value in patients with colorectal liver metastasis remains unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between ALP levels and mortality risk in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), providing insights for enhancing prognostic assessments.

Gradient Design with Low-tortuosity Overcoming Kinetic Limitations in High-Loading Solid-State Cathodes.

The extensive commercialization of practical solid-state batteries (SSBs) necessitates the development of high-loading solid-state cathodes with fast charging capability. However, electrochemical kinetics are severely delayed in thick cathodes due to tortuous ion transport pathways and slow solid-solid ion diffusion, which limit the achievable capacity of SSBs at high current densities. In this work, we propose a conductivity gradient cathode with low-tortuosity to enable facile ion transport and counterbalance ion concentration gradient, thereby overcoming the kinetic limitations and achieving fast charging capabilities in thick cathodes.