Integrating transcriptomics and scPagwas analysis predicts naïve CD4 T cell-related gene DRAM2 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

Objective: The interaction between T cells, particularly naïve CD4 T cells (CD4Tn), and colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly complex. CD4Tn play a crucial role in modulating immune responses within the tumor microenvironment, yet the precise mechanisms by which they influence tumor progression remain elusive. This study aims to explore the relationship between CRC and CD4Tn, identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and focus on the role of CD4Tn in shaping the immune environment of CRC.

Identification and multi-dimensional validation of mitochondrial permeability transition-driven necrosis-related model to assess the prognosis and immunotherapy value in breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is a highly prevalent tumor worldwide. Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis is a novel type of cell death induced by mitochondrial membrane disruption. The roles of MPT-driven necrosis in breast cancer remain unclear.

An endoplasmic reticulum-targeting hydroxyl radical fluorescent probe for imaging of ferroptosis and screening of natural protectants.

The real-time and detection of hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is helpful to understand ferroptosis at its very early stage due to the crucial role of ˙OH in the ER in ferroptosis initiation. Herein, an ER-targeting ˙OH fluorescent probe (ER-OH) has been developed, which showed a large fluorescence increase at 645 nm in response to ˙OH. ER-OH was applied to monitor ferroptosis by fluorescence imaging, revealing a significant increase of the ˙OH level in the ER during this process.

FlbB forms a distinctive ring essential for periplasmic flagellar assembly and motility in Borrelia burgdorferi.

Spirochetes are a widespread group of bacteria with a distinct morphology. Some spirochetes are important human pathogens that utilize periplasmic flagella to achieve motility and host infection. The motors that drive the rotation of periplasmic flagella have a unique spirochete-specific feature, termed the collar, crucial for the flat-wave morphology and motility of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.

Combined pyrotinib and fulvestrant for hormone receptor-positive and HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: A multicenter, single-arm, phase II trial.

This multicenter, single-arm, phase II clinical trial (NCT04034589) evaluated the efficacy and safety of pyrotinib combined with fulvestrant in patients with HR-positive/HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who had experienced trastuzumab treatment failure. A total of 46 patients were enrolled, receiving pyrotinib orally once daily and fulvestrant intramuscularly on days 1 and 15 of cycle 1, followed by monthly doses on day 1. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety.

Real-world comparison of palbociclib, abemaciclib, and dalpiciclib as first-line treatments for Chinese HR+/HER2-metastatic breast cancer patients: a multicenter study (YOUNGBC-28).

Background: In recent years, the combination of CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) and endocrine therapy (ET) has emerged as the standard first-line treatment for hormone receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. However, the comparison between the efficacy of CDK4/6i has been poorly explored before. Moreover, it remains unclear about the optimal choice of CDK4/6i in the first-line treatment for HR+/HER2- MBC patients in Asian, especially Chinese populations.

Estimation of Sow Backfat Thickness Based on Machine Vision.

Controlling the backfat thickness of sows within an appropriate range during different production stages helps to increase the number of pigs weaned per sow per year and ultimately enhances the economic benefit to the pig farm. To obtain the backfat thickness of sows automatically, a backfat thickness estimation method based on machine vision is proposed. First, the backfat thickness values and 3D images of the buttocks of 154 Landrace-Yorkshire crossbred sows were obtained using a veterinary ultrasound backfat meter and Azure Kinect DK camera.

The N6-methyladenosine writer METTL3 promotes breast cancer progression through YTHDF2-dependent posttranscriptional silencing of GSDMD.

Cell pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death, with Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) acting as its key executor. While activating pyroptosis represents a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer, the regulatory mechanisms governing GSDMD expression during cell death remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified METTL3 as a negative regulator of GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, with high expression in breast cancer (BC) cells.

Features of hyperinflammation link the biology of Epstein-Barr virus infection and cytokine storm syndromes.

Background: Overt immune activation by viral infections can lead to cytokine storm syndromes, such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).

Objective: We aimed to compare the immune response to different viral pathogens to understand the connection between infections and cytokine storm syndromes.

Methods: We recruited children who sought care at the emergency department with fever for ≥3 days.

A targeted proteomics screen reveals serum and synovial fluid proteomic signature in patients with gout.

Objective: To characterize the inflammatory proteome in both serum and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with gout, in comparison to healthy controls and individuals with osteoarthritis (OA), by utilizing a high-quality, high-throughput proteomic analysis technique.

Methods: Using the Olink Target 48 Inflammation panel, we measured serum concentrations of 45 inflammatory proteins in gout, OA, and healthy controls. We analyzed protein levels in SF samples from gout and OA, performed ROC curve analyses to identify diagnostic biomarkers, evaluate efficacy, and set cut-off values.

Causal effects and metabolites mediators between immune cell and risk of colorectal cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: The involvement of immune cells in colorectal cancer (CRC) and their interplay with metabolic disorders are yet to be fully elucidated. This study examines how peripheral immune cells, inferred genetically, affect CRC and investigates the intermediary roles of metabolites.

Methods: We employed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to assess the causal influence of immune cells on CRC.

A prognostic nomogram for patients with HR+ mucinous breast carcinoma based on the SEER database and a Chinese cohort study.

Purpose: The study aimed to develop a nomogram model for individual prognosis prediction in patients with hormone receptors positive (HR+) mucinous breast carcinoma (MBC) and assess the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in this context.

Methods: A total of 6,850 HR+ MBC patients from the SEER database were identified and randomly (in a 7:3 ratio) divided into training cohorts and internal validation cohorts. 77 patients were enrolled from the Chongqing University Cancer Hospital as the external validation cohort.

Development of a Plate Linear Ultrasonic Motor Using the Power Flow Method.

Linear ultrasonic motors can output large thrust stably in a narrow space. In this paper, a plate linear ultrasonic motor is studied. Firstly, the configuration and operating principle of the Π-type linear ultrasonic motor is illustrated.

A Bioinformatics-Based Study on Methylation Alterations of the FBLN1 Gene in Hippocampal Tissue of Alzheimer's Disease Model DKO and DTG Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and late-stage neurobehavioral issues marked by amyloid-beta plaques and Tau protein tangles. This study aims to investigate Fibulin-1(FBLN1) gene expression in the hippocampal tissue of conditional double-knockout (DKO) and double-transgenic (DTG) mice, using single-cell sequencing and experimental methods to verify abnormal methylation status and correlation with AD. Genomic DNA from DKO and DTG mice was used for genotyping.

Causal role of blood metabolites in HER-positive and HER-negative breast cancer: a Mendelian randomization (MR) study.

Background: Previous studies provide evidence that metabolites are associated with breast cancer (BC). However, the causal relationship between blood metabolites and BC remains unclear.

Method: Comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to determine the causal association between 1400 publicly available genetic data on metabolic factors and human epidermal growth factor receptor positive (HER+) BC or HER- BC in this study.

An Experimental Study of a Composite Wick Structure for Ultra-Thin Flattened Heat Pipes.

As the thickness of an ultra-thin flattened heat pipe (UTHP) decreases, the fabrication difficulty increases exponentially, and the thermal performance deteriorates rapidly. In this study, three types of composite wicks were developed for UTHPs with a 0.6 mm thickness: copper foam and mesh wick (CFMW), two layers of different mesh wick (TDMW), and three layers of the same mesh wick (TSMW).

Palliative surgery versus non-surgery of the solitary metastatic lesion in De novo metastatic breast cancer: A SEER based study.

This study aimed to evaluate whether palliative surgery for metastatic lesion could provide a survival benefit in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with solitary metastasis. De novo MBC patients with solitary distant lesions were enrolled utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to form matched pairs of the surgery group and the non-surgery group.

Integrating machine learning algorithms and single-cell analysis to identify gut microbiota-related macrophage biomarkers in atherosclerotic plaques.

Objective: The relationship between macrophages and the gut microbiota in patients with atherosclerosis remains poorly defined, and effective biological markers are lacking. This study aims to elucidate the interplay between gut microbial communities and macrophages, and to identify biomarkers associated with the destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. The goal is to enhance our understanding of the underlying molecular pathways and to pave new avenues for diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies in the disease.

Suppressing Deep-Level Trap Toward Over 13% Efficient Solution-Processed Kesterite Solar Cell.

CuZnSn (S,Se) (CZTSSe), a promising absorption material for thin-film solar cells, still falls short of reaching the balance limit efficiency due to the presence of various defects and high defect concentration in the thin film. During the high-temperature selenization process of CZTSSe, the diffusion of various elements and chemical reactions significantly influence defect formation. In this study, a NaOH-Se intermediate layer introduced at the back interface can optimize CuZnSnS (CZTS)precursor films and subsequently adjust the Se and alkali metal content to favor grain growth during selenization.

The role of Neutrophil counts, infections and Smoking in mediating the Effect of Bronchiectasis on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a mendelian randomization study.

Background: The causality of the relationship between bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the potential causal relationship between them, with a specific focus on the role of airway inflammation, infections, smoking as the mediators in the development of COPD.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess: (1) the causal impact of bronchiectasis on COPD, sex, smoking status, infections, eosinophil and neutrophil counts, as well as the causal impact of COPD on bronchiectasis; (2) the causal effect of smoking status, infections and neutrophil counts on COPD; and (3) the extent to which the smoking status, infections and neutrophil counts might mediate any influence of bronchiectasis on the development of COPD.

Water saving irrigation mediates bioactive pigments metabolism and storage capacity in tomato fruit.

Tomato fruit consumption is influenced by flavor and nutrient quality. In the present study, we investigate the impact of water saving irrigation (WSI) as a pre-harvest management on flavor and nutrient quality of tomato fruit. Our results demonstrate that WSI-treated tomato fruit exhibited improved sensory scores as assessed by a taste panel, accompanied by elevated levels of SlGLK2 expression, sugars, acids, and carotenoid contents compared to non-treated fruit.

Prognostic value and relapse pattern of HER2-low in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Background: A new concept of HER2-low has emerged in recent years. However, the prognostic value and the relapse pattern of HER2-low is unclear.

Methods: Our study included patients diagnosed with HER2-negative/hormone receptor-positive breast cancer to explore the differences in survival outcomes between the HER2-low group and the HER2-zero group.