Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of chondrocytes in cartilage and pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Chondrocyte is considered the only cell type in cartilage. However, the cell heterogeneity of chondrocytes in human articular cartilage is still not well defined, which hinders our understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we constructed a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of chondrocytes in healthy cartilage and identified nine chondrocyte subsets including homeostatic chondrocytes, proliferate fibrochondrocytes, and hypertrophic chondrocytes (HTC).

A pan-cancer single-cell panorama of human natural killer cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells play indispensable roles in innate immune responses against tumor progression. To depict their phenotypic and functional diversities in the tumor microenvironment, we perform integrative single-cell RNA sequencing analyses on NK cells from 716 patients with cancer, covering 24 cancer types. We observed heterogeneity in NK cell composition in a tumor-type-specific manner.

Model integrating CT-based radiomics and genomics for survival prediction in esophageal cancer patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is a standard treatment option for locally advanced stage inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Evaluating clinical outcome prior to dCRT remains challenging. This study aimed to investigate the predictive power of computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics combined with genomics for the treatment efficacy of dCRT in ESCC patients.

Gingipains are the important virulence factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis downregulating B10 cells.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen in periodontitis. Our previous study indicated that periodontitis induced by P. gingivalis increased the percentage of CD19 B cells but decreased the ratio of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (B10) in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice.

Comprehensive mapping of alternative polyadenylation site usage and its dynamics at single-cell resolution.

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) plays an important role in posttranscriptional gene regulation such as transcript stability and translation efficiency. However, our knowledge about APA dynamics at the single-cell level is largely unexplored. Here, we developed single-cell polyadenylation sequencing, a strand-specific approach for sequencing the 3' end of transcripts, to investigate the landscape of APA at the single-cell level.

Effects of enhanced hygiene measures on severe diarrhea and anastomotic leak after colorectal cancer surgery: the experience of a tertiary referral hospital in China.

Background: The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has greatly changed the mode of hospital admissions. This study summarized and analyzed the incidence of severe diarrhea and anastomotic leakage during different periods for colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods: From January 2017 to September 2020, 2,619 colorectal operations were performed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Cross-Tissue Characterization of Heterogeneities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Differentiation Potentials.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are promising cell sources for regenerative medicine and the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Comparing MSCs from different tissues at the single-cell level is fundamental for optimizing clinical applications. Here we analyzed single-cell RNA-seq data of MSCs from four tissues, namely umbilical cord, bone marrow, synovial tissue, and adipose tissue.

COVID-19 immune features revealed by a large-scale single-cell transcriptome atlas.

A dysfunctional immune response in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is a recurrent theme impacting symptoms and mortality, yet a detailed understanding of pertinent immune cells is not complete. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing to 284 samples from 196 COVID-19 patients and controls and created a comprehensive immune landscape with 1.46 million cells.

Integrated decoding hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis using single-cell sequencing and its medical implication.

Single-cell RNA sequencing provides exciting opportunities to unbiasedly study hematopoiesis. However, our understanding of leukemogenesis was limited due to the high individual differences. Integrated analyses of hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis potentially provides new insights.

Pretreatment PET/CT imaging of angiogenesis based on F-RGD tracer uptake may predict antiangiogenic response.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between metabolic uptake of the F-ALF-NOTA-PRGD (F-RGD) tracer on positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) and the antiangiogenic effect of apatinib in patients with solid malignancies.

Materials And Patients: Patients with measurable lesions scheduled for second- or third-line single-agent therapy with apatinib were eligible for this prospective clinical trial. All patients underwent F-RGD PET/CT examination before the start of treatment.

Mastl overexpression is associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition and predicts a poor clinical outcome in gastric cancer.

Microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase like (Mastl) is deregulated in a number of types of human malignancy and may be a kinase target for cancer treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine the Mastl expression in gastric cancer and to clarify its clinical and prognostic significance. Immunohistochemistry was performed on a cohort of 126 postoperative gastric cancer samples to detect the expression of Mastl and two epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, epithelial-cadherin and Vimentin.

Stereotactic Comparison Study of (18)F-Alfatide and (18)F-FDG PET Imaging in an LLC Tumor-Bearing C57BL/6 Mouse Model.

This study aimed to stereotactically compare the PET imaging performance of (18)F-Alfatide ((18)F-ALF-NOTA-PRGD2, denoted as (18)F-Alfatide) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mouse model. (18)F-FDG standard uptake values (SUVs) were higher than (18)F-Alfatide SUVs in tumors, most of the normal tissues and organs except for the bladder. Tumor-to-brain, tumor-to-lung, and tumor-to-heart ratios of (18)F-Alfatide PET were significantly higher than those of (18)F-FDG PET (P < 0.

[Expression of osteopontin splice variant and its clinical significance in gastric cancer].

Objective: To investigate the expression of osteopontin (OPN) splice variant mRNA, including the three isoforms OPN-A, OPN-B, and OPN-C, to explore its correlation with clinicopathologic features in gastric cancer, and to elucidate their role in tumor invasion and distant metastasis of gastric cancer.

Methods: The expression of OPN-A, OPN-B and OPN-C mRNA were detected by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in 66 gastric cancer tissues. The relationship between the expression of OPN-A, OPN-B and OPN-C mRNA and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer was analyzed.

Gastric metastasis from small cell lung cancer: a case report.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents a group of highly malignant tumors that give rise to early and widespread metastases at the time of diagnosis. The preferential metastatic sites are the brain, liver, adrenal glands, bone, and bone marrow. However, metastases of the gastrointestinal system, especially the stomach, are rare; most cases of stomach metastasis are asymptomatic and, as a result, are usually only discovered at autopsy.

Modelling epidermis homoeostasis and psoriasis pathogenesis.

We present a computational model to study the spatio-temporal dynamics of epidermis homoeostasis under normal and pathological conditions. The model consists of a population kinetics model of the central transition pathway of keratinocyte proliferation, differentiation and loss and an agent-based model that propagates cell movements and generates the stratified epidermis. The model recapitulates observed homoeostatic cell density distribution, the epidermal turnover time and the multilayered tissue structure.

[Expression of osteopontin mRNA and its clinical significance in gastric cancer].

Objective: To investigate the expression of osteopontin mRNA and its correlation with clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer and elucidate its role in tumor invasion and distant metastasis.

Methods: The expression of OPN mRNA was detected by semi-quantitive RT-PCR. The relationship between the relative content of OPN mRNA and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer was analyzed.