[Effects of personalized oral stents in intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment].

Purpose: To explore the effects of personalized oral stents in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment.

Methods: Totally 108 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with IMRT at Nanjing Gaochun People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected. Using a random number table method, the patients were divided into experimental group (n=54) using personalized oral stents and control group (n=54) using simple mouthpieces.

Socioeconomic Status, Diet, and Behavioral Factors and Cardiometabolic Diseases and Mortality.

Importance: It remains unclear how socioeconomic status (SES) is related to the association between diet and health, as well as the role of behavioral factors, in explaining socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the associations of neighborhood and individual SES factors, as well as behavioral factors, particularly dietary pattern, with health outcomes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective cohort study included US health professionals without chronic diseases at baseline who were enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (calendar years 1988-2018), the Nurses' Health Study (calendar years 1992-2018), and the Nurses' Health Study II (calendar years 2001-2019).

Test for comparing the associations of multiple exposures with a common outcome.

Introduction: With advancement of medicine, alternative exposures or interventions are emerging with respect to a common outcome, and there are needs to formally test the difference in the associations of multiple exposures.

Methods: The paper proposes a duplication method-based multivariate Wald test in the Cox proportional hazard regression model to test the difference in the associations of multiple exposures with a same outcome. This method applies to continuous or categorical exposures.

Gut microbial features and circulating metabolomic signatures of frailty in older adults.

Frailty, a multidimensional indicator of suboptimal aging, reflects cumulative declines across multiple physiological systems. Although age-related changes have been reported in gut microbiota, their role in healthy aging remains unclear. In this study, we calculated frailty index (FI) from 33 health-related items to reflect the overall health status of 1,821 older adults (62-96 years, 55% female) and conducted multi-omics analysis using gut metagenomic sequencing data and plasma metabolomic data.

Longitudinal associations of skipping breakfast and night eating with 4-year changes in weight and waist circumference among Chinese adults.

Background: The longitudinal association between specific eating behaviors, such as skipping breakfast and night eating, and changes in weight and waist circumference (WC) has been understudied.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate whether skipping breakfast and night eating were individually or jointly associated with the annual changes in weight and WC.

Methods: In the current longitudinal study, included were 48,150 Chinese adults (mean age: 50.

Identifying modifiable risk factors to prevent aggressive colorectal cancer.

It remains unclear if pre-diagnostic factors influence the developmental pathways of colorectal cancer (CRC) that could enhance tumor aggressiveness. This study used prospective data from 205,489 cancer-free US health professionals to investigate the associations of 31 known or putative risk factors with the risk of aggressive CRC. Tumor aggressiveness was characterized by three endpoints: aggressive CRC (cancer that causes death within 5 years of diagnosis), fatal CRC, and tumor stage at diagnosis.

Alcohol and colorectal cancer risk, subclassified by mutational signatures of DNA mismatch repair deficiency.

Background: We examined whether the association between alcohol consumption and colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence was stronger for tumors with higher contributions of defective mismatch repair (dMMR)-related tumor mutational signatures.

Methods: We used data from 227 916 men and women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study (1980-2016), the Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2017), and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986-2016). Dietary data were collected every 4 years through validated food frequency questionnaires.

Association of Cancer History with Lifetime Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: The literature presents conflicting results regarding the potential protective effect of prevalent cancer on the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: Association between cancer and subsequent risk of dementia and/or AD was reported previously, but survival bias has been of concern. Here, we aimed to calculate the lifetime risk of dementia and AD and evaluate the association of cancer history with these two conditions.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Based Metabolomics and Risk of CKD.

Rationale & Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to lipid and metabolic abnormalities, but a comprehensive investigation of lipids, lipoprotein particles, and circulating metabolites associated with the risk of CKD has been lacking. We examined the associations of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics data with CKD risk in the UK Biobank study.

Study Design: Observational cohort study.

Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer prevention recommendations throughout the life course and risk of colorectal cancer precursors.

Background: Despite the increasing incidence in colorectal cancer (CRC) among the young population, the involvement of modifiable early-life exposures is understudied.

Methods: We prospectively investigated the association of lifestyle score, which measures adherence to the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) cancer prevention recommendations, in adolescence and adulthood with risk of CRC precursors in 34,509 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study II. Participants reported adolescent diet in 1998 and subsequently underwent at least one lower gastrointestinal endoscopy between 1999 and 2015.

Optimal dietary patterns for prevention of chronic disease.

Multiple dietary patterns have been associated with different diseases; however, their comparability to improve overall health has yet to be determined. Here, in 205,852 healthcare professionals from three US cohorts followed for up to 32 years, we prospectively assessed two mechanism-based diets and six diets based on dietary recommendations in relation to major chronic disease, defined as a composite outcome of incident major cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes and cancer. We demonstrated that adherence to a healthy diet was generally associated with a lower risk of major chronic disease (hazard ratio (HR) comparing the 90th with the 10th percentile of dietary pattern scores = 0.

Dietary patterns and risk of colorectal cancer: a comparative analysis.

Background: Although several dietary patterns have been associated with incident colorectal cancer (CRC), it is unclear which diet is optimal.

Methods: Participants included 48 409 men and 169 772 women from three USA-based prospective cohort studies. We compared the associations of 18 dietary patterns with CRC risk, including two reference scores.

Are exposure-disease relationships assessed in cohorts of health professionals generalizable?: a comparative analysis based on WCRF/AICR systematic literature reviews.

Purpose: Although cohorts of health professionals are not representative of the general US population, the generalizability of exposure-disease relationships identified in these cohorts has not been extensively evaluated. Our objective was to compare the associations of risk factors with cancer risk obtained in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII), and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS) with those from meta-analyses of cohort studies.

Methods: Data were extracted from the most recent systematic literature reviews conducted by the World Cancer Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR).

Needs and rights awareness of stroke survivors and caregivers in urban and rural China: a cross-sectional, multiple-centre questionnaire survey.

Objectives: Stroke survivors require assistance and support in their daily lives. This survey aims to investigate the needs and rights awareness in Chinese stroke survivors and caregivers in rural and urban settings.

Setting: This survey was adapted from the one created by the World Stroke Organization.

Effects of atorvastatin and/or probucol on recovery of atherosclerosis in high-fat-diet-fed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Introduction: We have investigated the possible effects and mechanism of atorvastatin, a statin, and/or probucol, a powerful antioxidant used to lower cholesterol before 1995, on the atherosclerosis development.

Methods: Apolipoprotein-E-deficient (ApoE) mice fed with the high fat diet were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10/each group): Placebo, Atorvastatin (10 mg/ kg/d), and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/d) plus probucol (10 mg/kg/d) groups. C57BL/6 J mice were fed with normal diet as the control group (n = 10).

Fabrication of a three-dimensional porous Z-scheme silver/silver bromide/graphitic carbon nitride@nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic and antibacterial activities.

A novel three-dimensional (3D) porous Z-scheme silver/silver bromide/graphitic carbon nitride@nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel (Ag/AgBr/g-CN@NGA) photocatalyst was successfully fabricated by a facile hydrothermal and freeze-drying method, and its photocatalytic degradation performance and inactivation effects were also evaluated. The series of characterization results certified that the obtained Ag/AgBr/g-CN@NGA synergistically integrates the structural and functional advantages of the Ag/AgBr species and g-CN into the 3D macroscopic porous nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel (NGA) with high conductivity. Benefiting from a unique composition and structure, the obtained Ag/AgBr/g-CN@NGA exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency for methyl orange (MO), approximately 96% after 30 min of visible-light illumination, which was approximately 1.

Clinically Observed Estrogen Receptor Alpha Mutations within the Ligand-Binding Domain Confer Distinguishable Phenotypes.

Objective: Twenty to fifty percent of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) metastatic breast cancers express mutations within the ER ligand-binding domain. While most studies focused on the constitutive ER signaling activity commonly engendered by these mutations selected during estrogen deprivation therapy, our study was aimed at investigating distinctive phenotypes conferred by different mutations within this class.

Methods: We examined the two most prevalent mutations, D538G and Y537S, employing corroborative genome-edited and lentiviral-transduced ER+ T47D cell models.

Upregulation of IRS1 Enhances IGF1 Response in Y537S and D538G ESR1 Mutant Breast Cancer Cells.

Increased evidence suggests that somatic mutations in the ligand-binding domain of estrogen receptor [ER (ERα/ESR1)] are critical mediators of endocrine-resistant breast cancer progression. Insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF1) is an essential regulator of breast development and tumorigenesis and also has a role in endocrine resistance. A recent study showed enhanced crosstalk between IGF1 and ERα in ESR1 mutant cells, but detailed mechanisms are incompletely understood.

Needs and rights awareness of stroke survivors and caregivers: a cross-sectional, single-centre questionnaire survey.

Objectives: The needs and rights awareness of stroke survivors have not been reported in China. This study investigated the needs and rights awareness of stroke survivors and caregivers in Tianjin, China.

Setting: A survey launched by the World Stroke Organization was conducted in Tianjin, China.

Mutation site and context dependent effects of ESR1 mutation in genome-edited breast cancer cell models.

Background: Mutations in the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) 1 gene (ESR1) are frequently detected in ER+ metastatic breast cancer, and there is increasing evidence that these mutations confer endocrine resistance in breast cancer patients with advanced disease. However, their functional role is not well-understood, at least in part due to a lack of ESR1 mutant models. Here, we describe the generation and characterization of genome-edited T47D and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines with the two most common ESR1 mutations, Y537S and D538G.

Non-coding single nucleotide variants affecting estrogen receptor binding and activity.

Background: Estrogen receptor (ER) activity is critical for the development and progression of the majority of breast cancers. It is known that ER is differentially bound to DNA leading to transcriptomic and phenotypic changes in different breast cancer models. We investigated whether single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in ER binding sites (regSNVs) contribute to ER action through changes in the ER cistrome, thereby affecting disease progression.

Facile synthesis of hydroxyapatite/yeast biomass composites and their adsorption behaviors for lead (II).

For the first time, the hydroxyapatite (HAp)/yeast biomass composites were successfully synthesized through a facile alkaline ultrasound cavitation method, and used as a novel sorbent for removal of Pb(2+) from aqueous solution. The obtained HAp/yeast biomass composites were characterized by various techniques, including SEM, EDX, XRD, TGA, FTIR, XPS and fluorescence detection, respectively. It was found that the yeast cells were wrapped by the well-dispersed HAp, and more functional groups (such as carboxyl, hydroxyl and amino) on yeast surface were exposed.

Sensitive Detection of Mono- and Polyclonal ESR1 Mutations in Primary Tumors, Metastatic Lesions, and Cell-Free DNA of Breast Cancer Patients.

Purpose: Given the clinical relevance of ESR1 mutations as potential drivers of resistance to endocrine therapy, this study used sensitive detection methods to determine the frequency of ESR1 mutations in primary and metastatic breast cancer, and in cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

Experimental Design: Six ESR1 mutations (K303R, S463P, Y537C, Y537N, Y537S, D538G) were assessed by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), with lower limits of detection of 0.05% to 0.