Imaging melanin-associated organelles in the retinal pigment epithelium via visible light OCT redshift.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) performs a number of functions essential for retinal health. RPE dysregulation and degeneration can occur in diseases. Methods to image the human RPE directly are limited, as it is only about 10 µm thick and situated between the photoreceptor outer segments and Bruch's membrane (BM).

SMARCA4 Deficiency in Lung Cancer: From Signaling Pathway to Potential Therapeutic Targets.

SMARCA4-deficient lung cancer, including thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumors and SMARCA4-deficient nonsmall-cell lung carcinomas, is a rare and aggressive disease characterized by rapid progression and poor prognosis. This cancer was identified as a distinct entity with specific morphologic and molecular features in the 2021 WHO Classification of Thoracic Tumors. Molecular alterations in SMARCA4 are specific to this type of lung cancer.

Tailoring selenization dynamics: How heating rate manipulates nucleation and growth boosts efficiency in kesterite solar cells.

Kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) has emerged as a promising photovoltaic material due to its low cost and high stability. The CZTSSe film for high-performance solar cells can be obtained by annealing the deposited CZTS precursor films with selenium (a process known as selenization). The design of the selenization process significantly affects the quality of the absorber layer.

Chimeric antigen receptor with novel intracellular modules improves antitumor performance of T cells.

The excessive cytokine release and limited persistence represent major challenges for chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy in diverse tumors. Conventional CARs employ an intracellular domain (ICD) from the ζ subunit of CD3 as a signaling module, and it is largely unknown how alternative CD3 chains potentially contribute to CAR design. Here, we obtained a series of CAR-T cells against HER2 and mesothelin using a domain comprising a single immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif from different CD3 subunits as the ICD of CARs.

Assessing cross-country inequalities in global burden of gastrointestinal cancers: slope and concentration index approach.

Purpose: New cases and deaths of gastrointestinal cancers are predicted to increase significantly by 2040. This study aims to explore cross-country inequalities and trends in global burdens of colon and rectum cancer (CRC), esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 were analyzed to examine trends in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for three gastrointestinal cancers with estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and Joinpoint analysis.