High-gradient microstructured hybrid microfluidic chip for rare tumor cell capture.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and early detection can significantly reduce patient mortality. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are tumor cells shed from the primary tumor and transported to distant sites through the bloodstream, are key biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and contain critical information reflecting the primary tumor, making them important for monitoring cancer progression. Microfluidic chips utilizing a purely physical capture technique based on the size and deformability differences between CTCs and other blood cells have proven to be effective in capturing CTCs.

Insight into the molecular initiating event of mutagenic N-nitrosamines: a computational study on DNA alkylation by their diazonium ions.

N-Nitrosamines are a class of compounds that includes the potent mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of many of its members and is distributed widely throughout the human environment. DNA alkylation by their diazonium ions formed metabolically acts as a molecular initiating event (MIE) that links molecular chemistry to mutagenicity. However, the regiochemistry for diazonium ions reacting with DNA bases is still under debate.

Periostin-mediated NOTCH1 activation between tumor cells and HSCs crosstalk promotes liver metastasis of small cell lung cancer.

Background: Metastasis is the primary cause of mortality in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), with the liver being a predominant site for distal metastasis. Despite this clinical significance, mechanisms underlying the interaction between SCLC and liver microenvironment, fostering metastasis, remain unclear.

Methods: SCLC patient tissue array, bioinformatics analysis were performed to demonstrate the role of periostin (POSTN) in SCLC progression, metastasis, and prognosis.

Enhanced Analysis of Carcinogens and Nutritional Profile of by Employing Pulsed Electric Field.

Solid Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (SPME-GC-TQ/MS) was optimized and validated to specifically analyze aldehydes and furans after drying by conventional as well as modern pre-drying technique i.e. pulsed electric field (PEF).

Exploring the Relationship Between Drivers' Stationary Gaze Entropy and Situation Awareness in a Level-3 Automation Driving Simulation.

The transition period from automation to manual, known as the takeover process, presents challenges for drivers due to the deficiency in collecting requisite contextual information. The current study collected drivers' eye movement in a simulated takeover experiment, and their Situation Awareness (SA) was assessed using the Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique (SAGAT) method. The drivers' Stationary Gaze Entropy (SGE) was calculated based on the percentages of time they spent on six pre-defined Areas of Interests (AOIs).

Combination treatment with photodynamic therapy and antibiotic in refractory cutaneous nocardiosis: A case report.

Background: Effective management of cutaneous nocardiosis is hampered by the lack of defined treatment recommendations and frequently requires prolonged antibiotic therapy.

Case Presentation: This report describes a case of cutaneous nocardiosis who was effectively treated in a brief amount of time with three sessions of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) in conjunction with antibiotics.

Conclusion: ALA-PDT combined with antibiotics may effectively treat refractory cutaneous nocardiosis.

Multivalent acetylated-sialic acid as recognition elements for the electrochemical sensing of viral antigens.

Electrochemical biosensors hold great promise for the rapid screening of viral infectious diseases. However, the recognition elements of these biosensors are typically limited to antibodies, aptamers, and molecularly imprinted polymers. In this study, acetylated sialic acids were explored as recognition elements because they serve as natural viral receptors expressed on host cells.

The application of photodynamic therapy in recurrent genital herpes.

Background: Frequently, recurrence of genital herpes imposes significant physical and psychological burdens on patients, and existing treatments are often ineffective in preventing recurrence. Previous studies have indicated that photodynamic therapy (PDT) showed promising outcomes in the treatment of labial herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections; however, its efficacy for genital herpes remained unclear.

Method: The study screened patients with genital herpes at Daping Hospital from July 2020 to May 2024.

Zn/Pt dual-site single-atom driven difunctional superimposition-augmented sonosensitizer for sonodynamic therapy boosted ferroptosis of cancer.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) as a non-invasive antitumor strategy has been widely concerned. However, the rapid electron (e) and hole (h) recombination of traditional inorganic semiconductor sonosensitizers under ultrasonic (US) stimulation greatly limits the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, we report a unique Zn/Pt dual-site single-atom driven difunctional superimposition-augmented TiO-based sonosensitizer (Zn/Pt SATs).

A comparative study of the effects of urban morphology on land surface temperature in Chengdu and Chongqing, China.

Urbanization combined with global climate change, exacerbates the urban thermal environment and hinders sustainable urban development. However, the complex relationships between land surface temperature (LST) and urban morphology are being further understood, particularly in relation to different urban development patterns, distinct topography, and 3D building morphology. Thus, this study conducted a comparative study in Chengdu and Chongqing, Southwest China.

Neuropeptide Precursor VGF Promotes Liver Metastatic Colonization of Gαq Mutant Uveal Melanoma by Facilitating Tumor Microenvironment via Paracrine Loops.

Uveal melanoma (UM), the predominant primary ocular malignancy, often progresses to liver metastasis with limited therapeutic options. The interplay of the tumor microenvironment, encompassing secreted soluble factors, plays a crucial role in facilitating liver metastasis. In this study, the role is elucidated of the neural growth factor-inducible gene (VGF), a secreted neuropeptide precursor, in Gαq mutant UM.

Phase I Clinical Trial of CD19 CAR-T Cells Expressing CXCR5 Protein for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Lymphoma.

Background: It is difficult for CD19 CAR-T cells to enter solid tumors, which is one reason for their poor efficacy in lymphoma treatment. The chemokine CXCL13 secreted by stro-mal cells of the lymph nodes induces the homing of B and T lymphocytes, which express its receptor CXCR5. Preclinical trials have shown that the expression of CXCR5 on CD19 CAR-T cells can increase their migration to the tumor microenvironment and enhance their antitumor function.

Interleukin-12p40 deficiency attenuates myocardial ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting Th17 differentiation and interleukin-17A production.

Aims: Interleukin (IL)-12p40 is a common subunit of the bioactive cytokines IL-12 and IL-23, and it also has its own intrinsic functional activity. However, its role in doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiomyopathy (DICCM) as well as the underlying mechanisms are still unknown.

Methods And Results: In this study, we used IL-12p40-knockout mice, IL-23p19-knockout mice, Rag1-knockout mice, a ferroptosis inhibitor, recombinant IL-12 (rIL-12), rIL-23, rIL-12p40, rIL-12p80, and anti-IL17A to investigate the effects of IL-12p40 on DICCM and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Blocking ACSL6 Compromises Autophagy via FLI1-Mediated Downregulation of COLs to Radiosensitize Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Radiotherapy is the main component of LC treatment; however, its efficacy is often limited by radioresistance development, resulting in unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Here, we found that LC radiosensitivity is up-regulated by decreased expression of long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 6 (ACSL6) after irradiation.

Resolution of inflammation, an active process to restore the immune microenvironment balance: A novel drug target for treating arterial hypertension.

The resolution of inflammation, the other side of the inflammatory response, is defined as an active and highly coordinated process that promotes the restoration of immune microenvironment balance and tissue repair. Inflammation resolution involves several key processes, including dampening proinflammatory signaling, specialized proresolving lipid mediator (SPM) production, nonlipid proresolving mediator production, efferocytosis and regulatory T-cell (Treg) induction. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the effects of inflammation resolution on hypertension.

Multitask Learning Deep Neural Networks Enable Embedded Design of Active Metamaterials.

In this study, we propose and implement a deep neural network framework based on multitask learning aimed at simplifying the forward modeling and inverse design process of photonic devices integrating active metasurfaces. We demonstrate and validate our approach by constructing a continuously tunable bandpass filter that is effective in the midwave infrared region. The key to this filter is the combination of a metasurface and Fabry-Perot (F-P) cavity structure of the tunable phase-change material Ge2Sb2Se4Te (GSST) and the precise control of the crystallinity of the GSST by a silicon-based heater.

Systems genetics analysis of human body fat distribution genes identifies adipocyte processes.

Excess abdominal fat is a sexually dimorphic risk factor for cardio-metabolic disease and is approximated by the waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (WHR). Whereas this trait is highly heritable, few causal genes are known. We aimed to identify novel drivers of WHR using systems genetics.

Novel artemisinin derivative P31 inhibits VEGF-induced corneal neovascularization through AKT and ERK1/2 pathways.

Corneal neovascularization (CoNV)is a major cause of blindness in many ocular diseases. Substantial evidence indicates that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of corneal neovascularization. Previous evidence showed that artemisinin may inhibit angiogenesis through down regulation of the VEGF receptors.

Novel STAT3 oligonucleotide compounds suppress tumor growth and overcome the acquired resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of tumors, leading to resistance and poor prognosis. Activation of STAT3 signaling is frequently detected in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but potent and less toxic STAT3 inhibitors have not been discovered. Here, based on antisense technology, we designed a series of stabilized modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting STAT3 mRNA (STAT3 ASOs).

Insight into chemically reactive metabolites of aliphatic amine pollutants: A de novo prediction strategy and case study of sertraline.

The uncommon metabolic pathways of organic pollutants are easily overlooked, potentially leading to idiosyncratic toxicity. Prediction of their biotransformation associated with the toxic effects is the very purpose that this work focuses, to develop a de novo method to mechanistically predict the reactive toxicity pathways of uncommon metabolites from start aliphatic amine molecules, which employed sertraline triggered by CYP450 enzymes as a model system, as there are growing concerns about the effects on human health posed by antidepressants in the aquatic environment. This de novo prediction strategy combines computational and experimental methods, involving DFT calculations upon sequential growth, in vitro and in vivo assays, dissecting chemically reactive mechanism relevant to toxicity, and rationalizing the fundamental factors.

Structural Insights and Influence of Terahertz Waves in Midinfrared Region on Kv1.2 Channel Selectivity Filter.

Potassium ion channels are the structural basis for excitation transmission, heartbeat, and other biological processes. The selectivity filter is a critical structural component of potassium ion channels, whose structure is crucial to realizing their function. As biomolecules vibrate and rotate at frequencies in the terahertz band, potassium ion channels are sensitive to terahertz waves.

Effect of THz Waves of Different Orientations on K Permeation Efficiency in the KcsA Channel.

Potassium (K) channels show the highest variability and most frequent alterations in expression in many tumor types, and modulation of K channels may represent a new window for cancer therapy. In previous work, we found that a terahertz (THz) field incident along the -axis with a frequency of 51.87 THz increased the ion flux through K channels.

Suppression of angiopoietin-like 4 reprograms endothelial cell metabolism and inhibits angiogenesis.

Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is known to regulate various cellular and systemic functions. However, its cell-specific role in endothelial cells (ECs) function and metabolic homeostasis remains to be elucidated. Here, using endothelial-specific Angptl4 knock-out mice (Angptl4), and transcriptomics and metabolic flux analysis, we demonstrate that ANGPTL4 is required for maintaining EC metabolic function vital for vascular permeability and angiogenesis.