CD137 agonism enhances anti-PD1 induced activation of expanded CD8 T cell clones in a neoadjuvant pancreatic cancer clinical trial.

Successful pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) immunotherapy requires therapeutic combinations that induce quality T cells. Tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis following therapeutic interventions can identify response mechanisms, informing design of effective combinations. We provide a reference single-cell dataset from tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) from a human neoadjuvant clinical trial comparing the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-secreting allogeneic PDAC vaccine GVAX alone, in combination with anti-PD1 or with both anti-PD1 and CD137 agonist.

Bowel preparation before colonoscopy: Consequences, mechanisms, and treatment of intestinal dysbiosis.

The term "gut microbiota" primarily refers to the ecological community of various microorganisms in the gut, which constitutes the largest microbial community in the human body. Although adequate bowel preparation can improve the results of colonoscopy, it may interfere with the gut microbiota. Bowel preparation for colonoscopy can lead to transient changes in the gut microbiota, potentially affecting an individual's health, especially in vulnerable populations, such as patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Acupuncture Dosage and Its Correlation with Effectiveness in Patients with Chronic Stable Angina: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to compare the efficacy of various acupuncture dosages for Chronic Stable Angina (CSA) using randomized controlled trials (RCTs), addressing the unclear relationship between dosage and effectiveness despite acupuncture's potential.

Methods: We searched eight bibliographic databases from inception to October 31, 2024, evaluating RCTs comparing acupuncture to placebo or standard care for CSA patients, focusing on angina attack frequency as the primary outcome. Studies were categorized into high (HDG), moderate (MDG), and low (LDG) dosage groups based on acupuncture characteristics: the number of acupoints, total sessions, frequency per week, and the need for "Deqi".

Comparing heart PET scans: an adjustment of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test under spatial autocorrelation.

The principle of independence is a fundamental yet often disregarded assumption in statistical inference. It is observed that the implications of correlations, if not considered, can lead to a conservative estimation of Type I error in the presence of positive linear correlations when utilizing the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test. Conversely, negative linear correlations may engender a liberal estimation of Type I error.

Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Radiofrequency Ablation and Iodine-125 Seed Implantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in High-Risk Locations: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Background & Aims: The effect of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (TACE-RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk locations is not satisfactory. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of TACE-RFA plus iodine-125 (I) seed implantation (TACE-RFA-I) therapy with those of TACE-RFA for unresectable HCC (≤5 cm) in high-risk locations.

Methods: From January 2010 to June 2023, the clinical data of 126 patients with unresectable HCC (≤5 cm) in high-risk locations who received TACE-RFA-I or TACE-RFA treatment were retrospectively analyzed.

The Relationship Between Insufficient Sleep and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Adolescents: A National Survey of Contributing Factors.

Purpose: There is a lack of national studies examining the relationship between insufficient sleep and depression among Chinese adolescents, and previous research has not comprehensively considered related factors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents with insufficient sleep and explore the role of associated factors using a nationally representative sample in China.

Patients And Methods: A pen-and-paper survey was conducted among 24147 Chinese adolescents from November 2019 to January 2020.

A Graph Neural Network-Based Approach to XANES Data Analysis.

The determination of three-dimensional structures (3D structures) is crucial for understanding the correlation between the structural attributes of materials and their functional performance. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) is an indispensable tool to characterize the atomic-scale local 3D structure of the system. Here, we present an approach to simulate XANES based on a customized 3D graph neural network (3DGNN) model, XAS3Dabs, which takes directly the 3D structure of the system as input, and the inherent relation between the fine structure of spectrum and local geometry is considered during the model construction.

Gut microbiota and endometrial cancer: research progress on the pathogenesis and application.

As one of the three major malignant tumors in women, the morbidity of endometrial cancer is second only to that of cervical cancer and is increasing yearly. Its etiological mechanism is not clear, and the risk factors are numerous and common and are closely related to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, etc. The gut microbiota has many strains, which play a considerable part in normal digestion and absorption in the human body and the regulation of the immune response.

Retrieving the Stability and Practical Performance of Activation-Unstable Mesoporous Zr(IV)-MOF for Highly Efficient Self-Calibrating Acidity Sensing.

The practical applications of activation-unstable mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are often constrained by their structural instability. However, enhancing their stability could unlock valuable functionalities. Herein, we stabilized the otherwise unstable, post-activated structure of a novel mesoporous Zr(IV)-MOF, NKM-809, which constructed from a pyridine-containing amphiprotic linker (PPTB).

Te@Se Core-Shell Heterostructures with Tunable Shell Thickness for Ultra-Stable NO Detection.

An effective long-term nitrogen dioxide (NO) monitoring at trace concentration is critical for protecting the ecological environment and public health. Tellurium (Te), as a recently discovered 2D elemental material, is promising for NO detection because of its suitable band structure for gas adsorption and charge mobility. However, the high activity of Te leads to poor stability in ambient and harsh conditions, limiting its application as a gas-sensitive material.

Enhanced ALD Nucleation on Polymeric Separator for Improved Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, with their superior energy densities, are emerging as promising successors to conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by challenges such as the shuttle effect of polysulfides, which affects discharge capacity and cycling stability. This study explores the transformative potential of atomic layer deposition (ALD) of AlO on commercial PP/PE/PP separators (Celgard), combined with the use of UV ozone exposure to enhance ALD nucleation on the separator surface, to address these challenges.

Awareness of Sexual Partner's HIV Status Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in China: Cross-Sec. tional Survey Study.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) constitute a significant proportion of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus. Over the past few years, China has implemented various strategies aimed at increasing the rate of HIV testing and reducing HIV transmission among MSM. Among these, the disclosure of HIV serostatus is an effective prevention strategy.

Combination of Tetrazole and 4-Azido-pyrazolotriazine Oxide: Balance of High Nitrogen, Energy, and Safety.

Energetic materials containing a pyrazolotriazine oxide skeleton have the potential for high performance. However, research on the pyrazolotriazine oxide skeleton is very limited due to the inherent ring system instability and limited synthetic approaches. In this paper, APTO and OPTO with a combination of high-nitrogen tetrazole and a promising azido-pyrazolotriazine oxide skeleton have been synthesized.

Elevated BACE1 and IFNγ+ T Cells in Patients with Cognitive Impairment and the 5xFAD Mouse Model.

The dysregulation of T cell differentiation was associated with cognitive impairment. Recently, the peripheric β-secretase (BACE1) has been suggested as a regulator of T cell differentiation, which was increased in both cognitive impairment (CI) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in CI patients. However, the relationship between T cell dysfunction and CI remains unclear.

Overexpression of CYP6CY1 is Involved in Imidacloprid Resistance in Sitobion miscanthi (Takahashi) (Homoptera: Aphidae).

Sitobion miscanthi is a wheat aphid species that can damage seriously agricultural production. The effective management of wheat aphids has depended on chemical insecticides. However, their wide application led to severe resistance of wheat aphids to some insecticides, and cytochrome P450 as a detoxifying enzyme plays a crucial role in the insecticide resistance.

Catalytic-independent functions of the Integrator-PP2A complex (INTAC) confer sensitivity to BET inhibition.

Chromatin and transcription regulators are critical to defining cell identity through shaping epigenetic and transcriptional landscapes, with their misregulation being closely linked to oncogenesis. Pharmacologically targeting these regulators, particularly the transcription-activating BET proteins, has emerged as a promising approach in cancer therapy, yet intrinsic or acquired resistance frequently occurs, with poorly understood mechanisms. Here, using genome-wide CRISPR screens, we find that BET inhibitor efficacy in mediating transcriptional silencing and growth inhibition depends on the auxiliary/arm/tail module of the Integrator-PP2A complex (INTAC), a global regulator of RNA polymerase II pause-release dynamics.

An effective feature selection approach based on hybrid Grey Wolf Optimizer and Genetic Algorithm for hyperspectral image.

Feature selection (FS) is a critical step in hyperspectral image (HSI) classification, essential for reducing data dimensionality while preserving classification accuracy. However, FS for HSIs remains an NP-hard challenge, as existing swarm intelligence and evolutionary algorithms (SIEAs) often suffer from limited exploration capabilities or susceptibility to local optima, particularly in high-dimensional scenarios. To address these challenges, we propose GWOGA, a novel hybrid algorithm that combines Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA), aiming to achieve an effective balance between exploration and exploitation.

CT Multidimensional Radiomics Combined with Inflammatory Immune Score For Preoperative Prediction of Pathological Grade in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Rationale And Objectives: Inflammation and immune biomarkers can promote angiogenesis and proliferation and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The degree of pathological grade reflects the tumor heterogeneity of ESCC. The purpose is to develop and validate a nomogram based on enhanced CT multidimensional radiomics combined with inflammatory immune score (IIS) for predicting poorly differentiated ESCC.

Outcomes of peripherally inserted central catheter vs conventional central venous catheters in hematological cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This review aimed to examine if there is any difference in the risk of thrombosis and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) with the use of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and conventional central venous catheters (CVC) in hematological cancer patients.

Methods: We searched the online databases of PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for all types of studies comparing the risk of thrombosis and CLABSI between PICC and CVC. The search ended on 23rd September 2024.

CDK8 mediated inflammatory microenvironment aggravates osteoarthritis progression.

Introduction: Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8 (CDK8), a CDK family member, regulates the development of inflammatory processes through transcriptional activation. The involvement of CDK8 in osteoarthritis (OA) progression is not yet understood.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether CDK8, through its transcriptional regulatory functions, collaborates with NF-κB in chondrocytes to regulate the transcription of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) genes, thereby exacerbating the inflammatory microenvironment in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA), and to explore the specific mechanisms involved.

Identification of mutation of MYOC (c.1099G>A), a pedigree pathogenic gene of juvenile open angle glaucoma (JOAG): A case report.

Rationale: The MYOC gene is associated with juvenile open-angle glaucoma (JOAG). This study aims to provide genetic counseling for a Chinese JOAG family by detecting MYOC mutations to identify high-risk individuals for early JOAG intervention. It also supplements the clinical characteristics of glaucoma patients with MYOC gene mutations.

The impact of exercise during radiotherapy on treatment-related side effects in breast cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Radiation therapy for breast cancer often causes side effects like cancer-related fatigue, depression, and sleep disorders, impacting health-related quality of life, psychosocial aspects, and physical function. Exercise therapy is commonly used to manage cancer-related fatigue, but its effectiveness remains uncertain due to varying patient conditions and adherence. This systematic review aims to assess exercise interventions during radiotherapy for their effects on physiological and psychological side effects in breast cancer patients, clarifying efficacy and exploring different intervention types.

Cell viability assessment by using GelRed/SYTO 9-based double staining.

Cell viability assessment plays a crucial role in biological research, pharmaceutical development, and toxicological identification. Here, we used GelRed, a sensitive and safer nucleic acid dye, to selectively label dead cells with red fluorescence (FL) thus distinguishing dead cells from live ones. Further more, the combined use of GelRed and SYTO 9 (another nucleic acid dye) enabled the clear differentiation in FL spectra between the two physiological statuses.

A practical distribution pattern of α-SMA-positive carcinoma associated fibroblasts indicates poor prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Purpose The present study aimed to clarify the distribution pattern of carcinoma associated fibroblasts (CAFs) across pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its prognostic prediction value. Methods Data of two cohorts were retrospectively collected from consecutive patients who underwent primary pancreatic resection from January 2015 to December 2017. We used tumor specimens to screen out the most suitable markers for the spatial distribution analysis for CAFs subpopulations.

Recruiting Young People for Digital Mental Health Research: Lessons From an AI-Driven Adaptive Trial.

Background: With increasing adoption of remote clinical trials in digital mental health, identifying cost-effective and time-efficient recruitment methodologies is crucial for the success of such trials. Evidence on whether web-based recruitment methods are more effective than traditional methods such as newspapers, media, or flyers is inconsistent. Here we present insights from our experience recruiting tertiary education students for a digital mental health artificial intelligence-driven adaptive trial-Vibe Up.