Enhancing precision in lacrimal sac tumor management through integration of multimodal imaging and intensity modulated proton therapy.

This study presents a patient with a PET-CT detected residual lacrimal sac tumor who was treated with intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and concurrent chemotherapy. The patient a 49-year-old male diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the left lacrimal sac had under-went endoscopic surgery. Postoperative PET-CT implied tumor residual in the left lacrimal sac.

Extracellular electron transfer-dependent bioremediation of uranium-contaminated groundwater: Advancements and challenges.

Efficient and sustainable remediation of uranium-contaminated groundwater is critical for groundwater safety and the sustainable development of nuclear energy, particularly in the context of global carbon neutrality goals. This review explores the potential of microbial reduction processes that utilize extracellular electron transfer (EET) to convert soluble uranium (U(VI)) into its insoluble form (U(IV)), presenting a promising approach to groundwater remediation. The review first outlines the key processes and factors influencing the effectiveness of dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria (DMRB), such as Geobacter and Shewanella, during uranium bioremediation and recovery.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with synchronous and metachronous hepatic metastasis predicted by contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has proven valuable in diagnosing benign and malignant pancreatic diseases, but its value in evaluating hepatic metastasis remains to be further explored. This study investigated the relationship between CEUS features of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and concomitant or recurrent liver metastases after treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study included 133 participants with PDAC who were diagnosed with pancreatic lesions with CEUS at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2017 to November 2020.

CYP24A1 Involvement in Inflammatory Factor Regulation Occurs via the Wnt Signaling Pathway.

Objective: While the upregulation of cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1 (CYP24A1) gene expression has been reported in colon cancer, its role in tumorigenesis remains largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of CYP24A1 in Wnt pathway regulation via the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway.

Methods: The human colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 and Caco-2 were subjected to stimulation with interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), with subsequent treatment using the NF-κB pathway-specific inhibitor ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC).

Microplastics contamination in groundwater of a drinking-water source area, northern China.

Although the contamination of microplastics (MPs) in groundwater has been anticipated, their occurrence, distribution, and composition require further understanding. In this study, the occurrence and distributions of MPs were investigated in shallow groundwater from an important water source district in Tianjin city of northern China. The abundance, the physical morphology, the chemical composition, and the potential correlations of the determined MPs with human activities were thoroughly characterized.

Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of the EFSUMB CEUS Pancreatic Applications guidelines (2017 version): a retrospective single-center analysis of 455 solid pancreatic masses.

Objectives: To explore the diagnostic performance of EFSUMB CEUS Pancreatic Applications guidelines (version 2017) before and after the addition of iso-enhancement and very fast/fast washout as supplementary diagnostic criteria for PDAC.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients diagnosed with solid pancreatic lesions from January 2017 to December 2020 were evaluated. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is reported to show hypo-enhancement in all phases according to the EFSUMB guidelines.

Prognostic significance of pretreatment 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with primary T cell lymphomas.

Objective: T cell lymphomas are associated with an aggressive worse prognosis. This study is designed to assess T cell lymphomas using 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Methods: Sixty-four patients with newly diagnosed T cell lymphomas underwent PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans, 47 cases who were fully followed up were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 for the Differentiation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma from Cirrhosis.

Background: Overexpression and constitutive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 have been suggested in the tumorigenesis of many human cancers, including multiple carcinomas, melanoma, and lymphoma. The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in lobectomy specimens is usually straightforward, but distinguishing cirrhosis from well-differentiated HCC can be challenging in core biopsies. Our aims were to investigate the expression level of STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) in HCC and cirrhosis, and the application of STAT3 in the differential diagnosis of HCC and cirrhosis.

Association between polymorphisms and the risk of colonic polyps and colon cancer in a Chinese population.

Aim: To determine the pathogenesis and potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as screening sites for colonic polyps, colon cancer and ulcerative colitis, and to analyze the possible association between these genetic polymorphisms and the three diseases.

Methods: We evaluated genetic polymorphisms in 144 newly diagnosed colonic polyp patients, 96 colon cancer patients and 44 ulcerative colitis patients. The four SNPs genotyped were rs4809957, rs6068816, rs6091822 and rs8124792.

Noninvasive imaging of c(RGD) -9R as a potential delivery carrier for transfection of siRNA in malignant tumors.

The purpose of our study was to develop and evaluate a novel integrin α β -specific delivery carrier for transfection of siRNA in malignant tumors. We adopted arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) motif as a tissue target for specific recognition of integrin α β . A chimaeric peptide was synthesized by adding nonamer arginine residues (9-arginine [9R]) at the carboxy terminus of cyclic-RGD dimer, designated as c(RGD) -9R, to enable small interfering RNA (siRNA) binding.

An experimental study on (131)I-CHIBA-1001: a radioligand for α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Objective: The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a vital role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and depression. However, there is currently no suitable positron emission tomography (PET) or Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) radioligands for imaging α7 nAChRs in brain. Here our aim is to radiosynthesize a novel SPECT radioligand (131)I-CHIBA-1001 for whole body biodistribution study and in vivo imaging of α7 nAChRs in brain.

[The pharmacodynamic research on fuxiye, a Chinese herbal lotion for external wash].

Objective: To observe antisepsis, anti-swelling, and therapeutic effects of Fuxiye (FXY), a Chinese medical lotion for external wash in treating vaginitis model rats.

Methods: The cervicitis rat model was induced by agar plate diffusion, ear auricle swelling induced by dimethylbenzene, and chemical stimulus. The in vitro antibiotic actions of FXY were observed.

Validation study of ¹³¹I-RRL: assessment of biodistribution, SPECT imaging and radiation dosimetry in mice.

Tumor angiogenesis is important in the growth and metastasis of malignant tumors. In our previous study, we demonstrated that an arginine-arginine-leucine (RRL) peptide is a tumor endothelial cell-specific binding sequence that may be used as a molecular probe for the imaging of malignant tumors in vivo. The aim of the present study was to further explore the characteristics of 131I‑RRL by biodistribution tests, and to estimate the radiation dosimetry of 131I‑RRL for humans using mice data.