Worldwide Innovative Network (WIN) Consortium in Personalized Cancer Medicine: Bringing next-generation precision oncology to patients.

The human genome project ushered in a genomic medicine era that was largely unimaginable three decades ago. Discoveries of druggable cancer drivers enabled biomarker-driven gene- and immune-targeted therapy and transformed cancer treatment. Minimizing treatment not expected to benefit, and toxicity-including financial and time-are important goals of modern oncology.

Microenvironment Tailoring for Electrocatalytic CO Reduction: Effects of Interfacial Structure on Controlling Activity and Selectivity.

The performance of the electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CORR) is highly dependent on the microenvironment around the cathode. Despite efforts to optimize the microenvironment by modifying nanostructured catalysts or microporous gas diffusion electrodes, their inherent disorder presents a significant challenge to understanding how interfacial structure arrangement within the electrode governs the microenvironment for CORR. This knowledge gap limits fundamental understanding of CORR while also hindering efforts to enhance CORR selectivity and activity.

Shaping early neural development by timed elevated tissue oxygen tension: Insights from multiomic analysis on human cerebral organoids.

Oxygen plays a critical role in early neural development in brains, particularly before establishment of complete vasculature; however, it has seldom been investigated due to technical limitations. This study uses an in vitro human cerebral organoid model with multiomic analysis, integrating advanced microscopies and single-cell RNA sequencing, to monitor tissue oxygen tension during neural development. Results reveal a key period between weeks 4 and 6 with elevated intra-organoid oxygen tension, altered energy homeostasis, and rapid neurogenesis within the organoids.

Frequent Hand Hygiene-Induced Skin Symptoms and Alterations in Hand Microbiota: A Neglected Form of Chronic Occupational Exposure Among Health Care Workers.

Background: Frequent hand hygiene is essential for infection control among health care workers (HCWs) but may cause adverse skin effects.

Purpose: To assess the relationships between frequent hand hygiene practices, skin symptoms, and microbiota alterations in HCWs.

Methods: A comprehensive search of 7 databases was conducted to identify articles published between January 2014 and July 2024 in English and Chinese.

Assisted Reproductive Technology and Risk of Childhood Cancer Among the Offspring of Parents With Infertility: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The relationship between assisted reproductive technology (ART) and childhood cancer risk has been widely debated. Previous meta-analyses did not adequately account for the impact of infertility, and this study addresses this gap.

Objective: Our primary objective was to assess the relative risk (RR) of childhood cancer in infertile populations using ART versus non-ART offspring, with a secondary focus on comparing frozen embryo transfer (FET) and fresh embryo transfer (fresh-ET).

The relationship between cardiometabolic abnormalities and mortality in the Women's Health Initiative: A comparison of associations among women with cancer to women without cancer.

Background: Prior studies of participants with breast and other obesity-associated cancers in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) showed worse mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes for individuals with a higher number of cardiometabolic risk factors at study entry. The purpose of this analysis is to compare the relationship between cardiometabolic abnormalities and mortality among women with and without cancer in the WHI.

Methods: Women with one of five early-stage obesity-associated cancers (breast, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and controls without any new or prior history of cancer were selected from the WHI-Life and Longevity after Cancer ancillary study.

Integrated analysis of genome-wide copy number variation and exome-wide rare variation identified novel loci for rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The genetic underpinnings of RA remain partially elucidated, motivating our exploration of copy number variations (CNV) and rare variations in the pathogenesis of RA.

Methods: We conducted an integrated analysis of the genome-wide landscape of CNV and exome-wide rare variation associations with RA in the UK Biobank. To strengthen our findings, we corroborated the results by the differentially expressed genes identified from gene expression profiles of synovial tissue of RA patients and health controls.

Fast and Stable Neonatal Brain MR Imaging Using Integrated Learned Subspace Model and Deep Learning.

Objective: To enable fast and stable neonatal brain MR imaging by integrating learned neonate-specific subspace model and model-driven deep learning.

Methods: Fast data acquisition is critical for neonatal brain MRI, and deep learning has emerged as an effective tool to accelerate existing fast MRI methods by leveraging prior image information. However, deep learning often requires large amounts of training data to ensure stable image reconstruction, which is not currently available for neonatal MRI applications.

PKM2 knockout facilitates the activation of the AMPK/KLF4/ACADVL pathway, leading to increased oxidative degradation of fatty acids in TNBC.

This study unveils PKM2 as a master metabolic coordinator in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), governing the glycolysis-lipolysis balance through the AMPK/KLF4/ACADVL axis. We demonstrate stage-specific PKM2 upregulation in TNBC, with CRISPR/Cas9 knockout inducing dual metabolic reprogramming-suppressed glycolysis and activated lipid catabolism. Mechanistically, PKM2 ablation triggers AMPK-dependent nuclear translocation of KLF4, which directly activates ACADVL (mitochondrial β-oxidation rate-limiting enzyme), explaining lipid droplet depletion.

Two-Year Hypertension Incidence Risk Prediction in Populations in the Desert Regions of Northwest China: Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Hypertension is a major global health issue and a significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, contributing to a substantial socioeconomic burden due to its high prevalence. In China, particularly among populations living near desert regions, hypertension is even more prevalent due to unique environmental and lifestyle conditions, exacerbating the disease burden in these areas, underscoring the urgent need for effective early detection and intervention strategies.

Objective: This study aims to develop, calibrate, and prospectively validate a 2-year hypertension risk prediction model by using large-scale health examination data collected from populations residing in 4 regions surrounding the Taklamakan Desert of northwest China.

Optimized Porous KTi(PO)@N-Doped Carbon Electrode for Enhanced Sodium/Potassium-Storage and Accelerated Activation Process.

Porous KTi(PO) nanoparticles are synthesized via a solvothermal method and subsequently modified with nitrogen-doped carbon layers by using polydopamine as the carbon source. The resultant KTi(PO)@N-doped carbon composite (KTP@NC) exhibits a preserved porous structure with abundant pores, facilitating ion diffusion and electrolyte infiltration. Various characterizations, including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, reveal the successful formation of an interconnected nitrogen-doped carbon network.

New Insight into the Mechanism of Neurochemical Imbalance in Multiple Sclerosis: Abnormal Transportation of Brain Extracellular Space.

Neurochemical imbalance is a contributing factor to neurological symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). The matured myelin sheath is crucial for substance transportation within the extracellular space (ECS) and for maintaining local homeostasis. Therefore, we hypothesize that disturbed ECS transportation following demyelinating lesions might lead to neurochemical imbalance in MS.

Effect of chewing gum on clinical outcomes and postoperative recovery in adult patients after gastrointestinal surgery: an umbrella review.

Background: Gastrointestinal surgery is crucial for many medical conditions but can lead to difficult recoveries. Chewing gum is proposed as a remedy, yet existing reviews offer conflicting results. This umbrella review aims to synthesize the effectiveness of chewing gum on time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, length of stay and complication rates in adult patients.

A Novel Coating-Extrusion Method Enabled, High Energy, Power Density, and Scalable Production in Monolithically Integrated Energy Storage Fibers.

The rise of wearable electronics demands flexible energy storage solutions like flexible fiber energy storage devices (FESDs), known for their flexibility and portability. However, it remains difficult for existing fabrication methods (typically, finite-coating, thermal-drawing, and solution-extrusion) to simultaneously achieve desirable electrochemical performances and fast production of FESDs. Here, a new scalable coating-extrusion method is developed, utilizing a novel extruded spinneret with tapered apertures to create dual pressure zones.

Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom Metasurfaces.

Metasurface-based longitudinal modulation introduces the propagation distance as a new degree of freedom, extending the light modulation with metasurfaces from 2D to 3D space. However, relevant longitudinal studies have been constrained to designing the metasurface of half-wave plate (HWP) meta-atoms and generating either non-focused or two-channel vortex and vector beams. In this study, we propose a metasurface composed of quarter-wave plate (QWP) meta-atoms to generate the longitudinal multi-channel focused vortex and vector beams.

The use of nitrogen isotopic fractionation as a biomarker for feed conversion efficiency in pigs using blood and hair samples.

This study aimed to 1) Establish relationships between feed conversion efficiency (FCE; live weight gain/intake) and several biomarkers in pigs using blood and hair samples, and 2) Investigate the relative FCE performance of pigs from maternal vs. terminal genetic lines fed high vs. low energy diets.

The Final Rule in a Bind: What We Are Learning From Suboptimal Simultaneous Heart-Kidney Outcomes and Potential Solutions to the Problem.

Background: The 2018 revision of the adult Heart Allocation Policy (aHAP) led to a notable increase in the rate of simultaneous heart-kidney transplants (SHKT) in the United States. However, this policy has faced criticism for its inability to enhance post-transplant survival rates or decrease mortality among SHKT recipients on the waitlist, although high-quality kidneys are used.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, covering 1549 SHKT cases from 2015 to 2021.

LncRNA-DANCR Promotes ESCC Progression and Function as ceRNA to Regulate DDIT3 Expression by Sponging microRNA-3193.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as crucial regulators of cancer development and progression. Among them, Differentiation Antagonizing Non-Protein Coding RNA (DANCR) has been implicated in various malignancies, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study explores the clinical characteristics, prognostic implications, functional roles, and molecular mechanisms of DANCR in ESCC.

Endocrine therapy and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.

Background: There are increasing concerns of cardiovascular safety related to endocrine therapy use in women with breast cancer (BC). We examined risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality associated with endocrine therapy use in postmenopausal women with early-stage BC.

Methods: Postmenopausal women diagnosed with stage I-III hormone receptor-positive BC from 2005 to 2013 were included (n = 8,495).

The impact of COPD-bronchiectasis association on clinical outcomes: insights from East Asian cohorts validating the ROSE criteria.

Background: The radiology, obstruction, symptoms and exposure (ROSE) criteria provide a standardised approach for identifying the "COPD-bronchiectasis (BE) association." However, the clinical implications and outcomes of the COPD-BE association in East Asian populations remain unclear. Our study applied the ROSE criteria to assess the prevalence, clinical impact and outcomes of the COPD-BE association in an East Asian cohort, and compared that cohort with nonsmoking BE patients with fixed airflow obstruction (FAO) and those without FAO.

PKR modulates sterile systemic inflammation-triggered neuroinflammation and brain glucose metabolism disturbances.

Sterile systemic inflammation may contribute to neuroinflammation and accelerate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is a key signaling molecule that regulates immune responses by regulating macrophage activation, various inflammatory pathways, and inflammasome formation. This study aims to study the role of PKR in regulating sterile systemic inflammation-triggered neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunctions.

Expression of SIRPα-Fc by oncolytic virus enhances antitumor efficacy through tumor microenvironment reprogramming.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) selectively replicate within tumors, directly killing cancer cells and promoting a systemic immune response by releasing tumor antigens. These features make OVs a promising approach in tumor immunotherapy, offering targeted treatment with fewer side effects. Despite these advantages, OVs are primarily administered via intratumoral injection, limiting their effectiveness for advanced, systemic cancers.

Severe thyroiditis induced by sintilimab monotherapy in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer: a case report and literature review.

Thyroid dysfunction is a common immune-related adverse event (irAE) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that target PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4. Nevertheless, the incidence of severe cases, defined as grade 3 or higher, remains rare. This report presents a detailed case study of severe thyroiditis in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who developed grade 3 thyroiditis following a single cycle of sintilimab monotherapy.

Nab-paclitaxel combined with cadonilimab (AK104) as second-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer: protocol for a phase II prospective, multicenter, single-arm clinical trial.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide, often diagnosed at an advanced stage with a poor prognosis. Paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, and irinotecan, either as monotherapies or in combination with ramucirumab, are currently standard second-line treatments for GC. However, the efficacy of these therapies is limited, necessitating the development of new combination strategies to improve response rates.