Bone Metastases Lesion Segmentation on Breast Cancer Bone Scan Images with Negative Sample Training.

The use of deep learning methods for the automatic detection and quantification of bone metastases in bone scan images holds significant clinical value. A fast and accurate automated system for segmenting bone metastatic lesions can assist clinical physicians in diagnosis. In this study, a small internal dataset comprising 100 breast cancer patients (90 cases of bone metastasis and 10 cases of non-metastasis) and 100 prostate cancer patients (50 cases of bone metastasis and 50 cases of non-metastasis) was used for model training.

Clinical evaluation of a multitarget fecal immunochemical test-sDNA test for colorectal cancer screening in a high-risk population: a prospective, multicenter clinical study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major malignancy threatening the health of people in China and screening could be effective for preventing the occurrence and reducing the mortality of CRC. We conducted a multicenter, prospective clinical study which recruited 4,245 high-risk CRC individuals defined as having positive risk-adapted scores or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results, to evaluate the clinical performance of the multitarget fecal immunochemical and stool DNA (FIT-sDNA) test for CRC screening. Each participant was asked to provide a stool sample prior to bowel preparation, and FIT-sDNA test and FIT were performed independently of colonoscopy.

YM155 inhibits neuroblastoma growth through degradation of MYCN: A new role as a USP7 inhibitor.

Amplification of the MYCN gene (MNA) is observed in approximately 25 to 35% of neuroblastoma patients, and is a well-recognized marker of tumor aggressiveness and poor outcome. Targeting MYCN is a novel therapy strategy to induce tumor regression. Here, we discovered that a BIRC5/Survivin inhibitor, YM155, specifically inhibits MNA neuroblastoma cell growth in vitro.

Combined Proteomic and Metabolomic Analysis of the Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Response to Salt Stress during Seed Germination in Barley.

Salt stress is a major abiotic stress factor affecting crop production, and understanding of the response mechanisms of seed germination to salt stress can help to improve crop tolerance and yield. The differences in regulatory pathways during germination in different salt-tolerant barley seeds are not clear. Therefore, this study investigated the responses of different salt-tolerant barley seeds during germination to salt stress at the proteomic and metabolic levels.

Fibroblast Activation Protein-α as a Target in the Bench-to-Bedside Diagnosis and Treatment of Tumors: A Narrative Review.

Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) is a type II integral serine protease that is specifically expressed by activated fibroblasts. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor stroma have an abundant and stable expression of FAP, which plays an important role in promoting tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression. For example, in females with a high incidence of breast cancer, CAFs account for 50-70% of the cells in the tumor's microenvironment.

Rapid screening for individualized chemotherapy optimization of colorectal cancer: A novel conditional reprogramming technology-based functional diagnostic assay.

Background: In vitro patient tumor models such as patient-derived organoids (PDO) and conditionally reprogrammed (CR) cell culture are important for translational research and pre-clinical drug testing. In this study we present a personalized drug sensitivity test for late stage, potentially operable colorectal cancer (CRC) using patient-derived primary tumor cells isolated with i-CR technology, an optimized CR method. We explored the clinical feasibility of using i-CR platform to guide CRC chemotherapy, and established the correlation between in vitro drug sensitivity and patient clinical response.

Conditionally reprogrammed colorectal cancer cells combined with mouse avatars identify synergy between EGFR and MEK or CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Preclinical models, including patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and organoid and primary cell culture, are essential for studies of cancer cell biology and facilitate translational research and individualization of therapy. We explored the optimum preclinical model by modifying the conventional conditional reprogramming (CR) system followed by screening effective targeted drug combinations against colorectal cancer (CRC). By modifying the ingredients of the culture medium used in a conventional CR system, a novel individualized CR system (termed i-CR) was established.

Distinct subpopulations of hepatitis C virus infectious cells with different levels of intracellular hepatitis C virus core protein.

Chronic infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the clear clinical importance of virus-associated HCC, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unclarified. Oxidative stress, in particular, DNA lesions associated with oxidative damage, plays a major role in carcinogenesis, and is strongly linked to the development of many cancers, including HCC.

Overcoming erlotinib resistance with tailored treatment regimen in patient-derived xenografts from naïve Asian NSCLC patients.

Overall benefits of EGFR-TKIs are limited because these treatments are largely only for adenocarcinoma (ADC) with EGFR activating mutation. The treatments also usually lead to development of resistances. We have established a panel of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from treatment naïve Asian NSCLC patients, including those containing "classic" EGFR activating mutations.

Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assays for coagulation-related proteins and their inhibition reactions.

In this paper, we describe two simple, label-free, homogenous assays using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs)-one to detect coagulation-related proteins and the other to screen inhibition reactions. The first nanosensor functions on the basis of the fact that thrombin catalyzes fibrinogen to form long-chain fibrins, which then induce aggregation of Au NPs. We applied this sensor to study the interactions of thrombin, inhibitors, cofactors, and antidotes.

A label-free colorimetric detection of lead ions by controlling the ligand shells of gold nanoparticles.

We have developed a simple, colorimetric and label-free gold nanoparticle (Au NP)-based probe for the detection of Pb(2+) ions in aqueous solution, operating on the principle that Pb(2+) ions change the ligand shell of thiosulfate (S(2)O(3)(2-))-passivated Au NPs. Au NPs reacted with S(2)O(3)(2-) ions in solution to form Au(+).S(2)O(3)(2-) ligand shells on the Au NP surfaces, thereby inhibiting the access of 4-mercaptobutanol (4-MB).

Colorimetric assay for lead ions based on the leaching of gold nanoparticles.

A colorimetric, label-free, and nonaggregation-based gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) probe has been developed for the detection of Pb(2+) in aqueous solution, based on the fact that Pb(2+) ions accelerate the leaching rate of Au NPs by thiosulfate (S(2)O(3)(2-)) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). Au NPs reacted with S(2)O(3)(2-) ions in solution to form Au(S(2)O(3))(2)(3-) complexes on the Au NP surfaces, leading to slight decreases in their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption. Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-TOF MS) data reveals the formation of Pb-Au alloys on the surfaces of the Au NPs in the presence of Pb(2+) ions and 2-ME.