Conformational Selection of Polymer Chains upon π-π Interactions with Small Molecules.

Conformational selection, pivotal in biological molecular recognition, remains underexplored in synthetic polymers, especially in the bulk states of polymers. This study reveals distinct conformational selection behavior in atactic polystyrene melts interacting with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for the first time. Remarkably, despite structural similarities, anthracene and pyrene induce distinctly different conformations-trans and gauche, respectively.

Clinical Application of Self-Expanding Metal Stents in the Treatment of Obstructive Colorectal Cancer.

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of self-expanding metal stent placement in treating obstructive colorectal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 33 patients with self-expanding metal stents. The technical success rate, clinical success rate, and stent-related complications were observed.

Sarcoma protein kinase inhibition alleviates liver fibrosis by promoting hepatic stellate cells ferroptosis.

Liver fibrosis is a type of chronic pathological liver damage involving liver tissue hypoxia and abnormal extracellular matrix deposits. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is critical for liver fibrosis. Currently, inhibiting HSCs activation or inducing HSCs ferroptosis is considered an effective strategy for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

LncRNA KLK8 modulates stem cell characteristics in colon cancer.

Background: Colon cancer, one of the most common and aggressive human malignancies, is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite advances in systemic therapy, the 5-year survival rate of colon cancer patients remains at 30 % due to recurrence and metastasis. The poor prognosis is related to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a significant role in CSCs.

Modified prophylactic 5-fr pancreatic duct stent enhances the rate of spontaneous dislodgement: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objectives: Prophylactic pancreatic duct stent placement effectively reduces post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis in high-risk patients, but the optimal stent remains unclear. We modified a 5-Fr, 3 cm pancreatic stent by removing the flange on the pancreatic side and compared the rate of spontaneous dislodgement and complications with the ordinary stent.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial at six tertiary endoscopic centers.

Establishing a rabbit model of malignant esophagostenosis using the endoscopic implantation technique for studies on stent innovation.

Background: Stents are recommended in patients with dysphagia caused by esophageal stricture, but an ideal stent does not currently exist. Thus, studies on new esophageal stents are necessary, and suitable animal models are desperately needed for these studies. The aim of this study was to establish a model of malignant esophageal stricture in rabbit for studies on stent innovation.

Comparison of endoscopic submucosal implantation vs. surgical intramuscular implantation of VX2 fragments for establishing a rabbit esophageal tumor model for mimicking human esophageal squamous carcinoma.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to establish a rabbit esophageal tumor model for mimicking human esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESC) by endoscopic and surgical implantation of VX2 tumors.

Methods: Fragments of a VX2 tumour were endoscopically implanted in the submucosal layer of the thoracic esophagus of 32 New Zealand white rabbits, while 34 animals received surgical implantation into the muscular layer. Then, the animals were studied endoscopically and pathologically.