Publications by authors named "Junfang Yan"
Background: The application of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in the treatment of esophageal cancer needs further exploration. This study aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of tislelizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, combined with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC).
Methods: In this phase II study, patients with clinical stages of II-IVA (T3-T4 and/or node positive) potentially resectable LA-ESCC were enrolled.
Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) represents a significant threat to the poultry industry, exhibiting a high degree of genetic diversity. Of these, the aMPV types A (aMPV-A), B (aMPV-B) and C (aMPV-C) are frequently detected in Chinese waterfowl and live poultry markets. Therefore, the rapid and accurate identification of these subtypes is of paramount importance in order to halt the spread of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The radiation sensitivity of tumor cells is a critical determinant of their therapeutic response to radiotherapy. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), beyond its known role in modulating tubulin acetylation and influencing cell motility, is also involved in the DNA damage response, potentially enhancing tumor cell radiosensitivity. Targeted HDAC6 inhibitors have shown substantial promise in preclinical studies aimed at increasing radiosensitivity and inhibiting cellular migration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPorcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a coronavirus that causes diarrhea in suckling piglets and has the potential for cross-species transmission. Monitoring PDCoV evolution and identifying potential vaccine candidates are crucial due to its high mutation rates in pig populations. In this study, a Chinese PDCoV strain named ZD2022 was successfully isolated from diarrhea piglets in Zhejiang province, followed by genetic evolutionary analysis, assessment of S proteins' biological functions, in vitro cellular adaptation analysis and pathogenicity evaluation.
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- This study investigates the use of hydrogel in cervical cancer patients to improve treatment outcomes and safety during brachytherapy.
- Eight patients received hydrogel injections after radiotherapy, and the effects on nearby organs were carefully monitored, showing a significant increase in the distance between the cervix and the rectum.
- Results indicated no severe adverse reactions, suggesting hydrogel is a safe option for enhancing brachytherapy by protecting critical organs from radiation.
Article Synopsis
- - This study assesses the effectiveness and side effects of combining image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for patients with inoperable endometrial cancer, also creating a risk classification system to gauge patient prognosis.
- - Out of 51 patients analyzed, most received the combination treatment; results showed a high clinical complete remission rate, with 92.2% of patients responding positively and notable outcomes in survival metrics over a median follow-up of 58 months.
- - The analysis revealed better prognosis for low-risk patients compared to high-risk patients, with significant differences in locoregional control, time to progression, and cancer-specific survival, and no severe treatment-related toxicities were reported
Background: Image guidance is recommended for patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for cervical cancer. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of a weekly image guidance pattern and analyzed the long-term outcomes in a large cohort of patients.
Methods: The study enrolled patients with Stage IB-IVA cervical cancer who received definitive radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
Article Synopsis
- Residual tumours that don't completely disappear after radiotherapy can develop resistance, making treatment difficult and increasing the chance of cancer returning or spreading.
- Researchers found that two proteins, FDX1 and LIAS, were more active in these resistant tumours, making them more sensitive to a form of cell death called cuproptosis.
- The study proposes a new treatment approach using copper-releasing nanocapsules that, when exposed to radiation, can effectively trigger cuproptosis and improve cure rates, even in challenging cases.
Background: Achieving a clinically acceptable dose distribution with commercial vaginal applicators for brachytherapy of recurrent parauterine tumors is challenging. However, the application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in brachytherapy has been widely acknowledged and can improve clinical treatment outcomes.
Purpose: This study aimed to introduce an individual curved-needle interstitial template (ICIT) created using 3D printing technology for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy with interstitial treatment to provide a clinically feasible approach to distal parauterine and vaginal cuff tumors.
Article Synopsis
- Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes high mortality in piglets, making it crucial to monitor its mutations for vaccine development.
- Two PEDV strains (ZJ2022 and ZQ2022) were identified, with ZQ2022 being a recombinant strain and showing more severe pathogenicity compared to ZJ2022.
- The study indicates ZJ2022's unique genetic modification may enhance its potential as a vaccine candidate due to its lower pathogenicity and stronger cellular adaptation.
Article Synopsis
- * The study investigated how glycine binding patterns influence GlyR activation and desensitization, focusing on conformational changes in the receptor and energy differences in ion conduction pathways.
- * The research successfully predicted the effects of mutations in key residues on receptor activation, with a strong correlation between energy barriers and experimental results, enhancing the understanding of GlyR functionality for potential applications in other similar proteins.
Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent malignant tumors in females. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is one of the treatment options for cervical cancer. The treatment time of conventional radiotherapy is long.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) is a critical metabolic enzyme and promising target for drug development. The structure determinations of ACLY have revealed its homotetramer states with various subunit symmetries, but catalytic mechanism of ACLY tetramer and the importance of subunit symmetry have not been clarified. Here, we constructed the free energy landscape of ACLY tetramer with arbitrary subunit symmetries and investigated energetic and conformational coupling of subunits during citryl-CoA synthesis process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: For patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer, there are limited studies on the effects of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Here we assessed the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of postoperative radiotherapy to the abdominal and pelvic lymphatic drainage area for stage III epithelial ovarian cancer patients, who had all received surgery and chemotherapy (CT).
Methods: We retrospectively collected patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and full-course adjuvant CT.
Rectal toxicity is a significant concern in cervical cancer radiotherapy. Despite advancements in image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT), rectal morbidity remains a challenge. Injectable hydrogel showed promise in creating a space between the vagina and rectum, reducing rectal radiation dose; however, the traditional ultrasound-guided injection revealed some problems, such as the inadequate separation of the upper edge of the cervix, which can be mitigated through adopting CT-guided injection.
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- * Seventeen patients were treated with a reduced safety margin, and evaluations showed minimal changes in rectal volume with an increase in bladder volume during the treatment process.
- * Results indicated significant improvements in radiation dosimetry, especially for vaginal coverage, with only mild acute side effects, suggesting that daily oART is a safe and effective option for postoperative cancer treatment.
Background: The brachytherapy is an indispensable treatment for gynecological tumors, but the quality and efficiency of brachytherapy training for residents is still unclear.
Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was designed to collect information on gynecological brachytherapy (GBT) training for radiation oncology residents from 28 training bases in China. The questionnaire content was designed based on the principle of competency based medical education (CBME).
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of rhSOD enemas in reducing radiation-induced acute rectal injury (RARI) among patients with locally advanced cervical cancer undergoing chemoradiation therapy.
- - Conducted in a phase 3 clinical trial across 14 medical centers in China, it found that patients using rhSOD enemas experienced significantly fewer days of diarrhea (both ≥G1 and ≥G2) compared to those who did not use the enema.
- - Overall, while some patients reported side effects, the use of rhSOD enemas led to a notable decrease in the severity and incidence of diarrhea and a trend towards lower RARI grades among patients.
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) yield highly determines radiotherapy efficacy. However, improving the inherent radiosensitivity of tumor DNA to promote radiation-induced DSBs remains a challenge. Using theoretical and experimental models, the underexplored impact of Z-DNA conformations on radiosensitivity, yielding higher DSBs than other DNA conformations, is discovered.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Tumor regression and organ movements indicate that a large margin is used to ensure target volume coverage during radiotherapy. This study aimed to quantify inter-fractional movements of the uterus and cervix in patients with cervical cancer undergoing radiotherapy and to evaluate the clinical target volume (CTV) coverage.
Methods: This study analyzed 303 iterative cone beam computed tomography (iCBCT) scans from 15 cervical cancer patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy.
Background: Training senior radiation therapists as "adapters" to manage influencers and target editing is critical in daily online adaptive radiotherapy (oART) for cervical cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and dosimetric outcomes of automatic contouring and identify the key areas for modification.
Methods: A total of 125 oART fractions from five postoperative cervical cancer patients and 140 oART fractions from five uterine cervical cancer patients treated with daily iCBCT-guided oART were enrolled in this prospective study.
Article Synopsis
- * A systematic analysis revealed that these mutations improve the spike protein's binding affinity to the ACE2 receptor, explaining omicron's heightened transmissibility, supported by structural and energy correlation studies.
- * The research categorized mutations, assessed their effects on neutralizing antibodies, and established a framework for analyzing future variants, combining theoretical insights with experimental findings for greater understanding.
Background: To determine the optimal planning target volume (PTV) margins for adequate coverage by daily iterative cone-beam computed tomography (iCBCT)-guided online adaptive radiotherapy (oART) in postoperative treatment of endometrial and cervical cancer and the benefit of reducing PTV margins.
Methods: Fifteen postoperative endometrial and cervical cancer patients treated with daily iCBCT-guided oART were enrolled in this prospective phase 2 study. Pre- and posttreatment iCBCT images of 125 fractions from 5 patients were obtained as a training cohort, and clinical target volumes (CTV) were contoured separately.
A better understanding of how tumor microenvironments shape immune responses after radiotherapy (RT) is required to improve patient outcomes. This study focuses on the observation that dendritic cells (DCs) infiltrating irradiated cervical tumors are retained in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-abundant regions. We report that TGF-β secretion from cervical cancer cells was increased by irradiation in a dose-dependent manner and that this significantly suppressed the expression of allostimulatory markers and Th1 cytokines in DCs.
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- Senecavirus A (SVA) is a picornavirus linked to vesicular disease that has developed mechanisms to avoid the host's immune system, though its infection process is not fully understood.
- The study highlights that SERPINB1 enhances SVA replication by regulating innate immunity and the autophagy pathway through the degradation of IκB kinase epsilon (IKBKE).
- Findings suggest SERPINB1 could serve as a potential therapeutic target for controlling SVA infections by modulating viral replication and immune responses.