Deep learning-based synthetic CT for dosimetric monitoring of combined conventional radiotherapy and lattice boost in large lung tumors.

Purpose: Conventional radiotherapy (CRT) has limited local control and poses a high risk of severe toxicity in large lung tumors. This study aimed to develop an integrated treatment plan that combines CRT with lattice boost radiotherapy (LRT) and monitors its dosimetric characteristics.

Methods: This study employed cone-beam computed tomography from 115 lung cancer patients to develop a U-Net +  + deep learning model for generating synthetic CT (sCT).

Clinical analysis of pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma coexisting with lung cancer.

Background: Primary pulmonary Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a sporadic disease with a favorable prognosis. Particularly, pulmonary MALT lymphoma coexisting with lung cancer is not only rare but also prone to misdiagnosis. The clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of this co-occurrence, however, remain poorly understood.

Discovery and configurations assignment of Ile/Leu-containing cyclic peptides with cytotoxic activity, Reniochpeptins A-D, from the marine sponge Reniochalina sp.

Four previously undescribed cyclic peptides, reniochpeptins A-D (1-4), were isolated from the marine sponge Reniochalina sp. Their structures were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and a modified advanced Marfey's method. This method utilized ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry, employing a CORTECS T column to achieve simultaneous separation of derivatized -Leu, -Ile, -allo-Ile, -Leu, -Ile, and -allo-Ile within 25 min in a single analytical run.

N-acetylcysteine and chitosan conjugate modified dexamethasone nanostructured lipid carriers: Enhanced permeability, precorneal retention and lower inflammation for the treatment of dry eye syndrome.

Dexamethasone (Dex) is a primary medication for treating dry eye syndrome, and tobramycin-dexamethasone eye drops are commercially available. However, the eye's complex physiological environment reduces its bioavailability, and repeated use can lead to significant systemic toxicity and side effects. This study introduces a novel conjugate of chitosan (CS) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a bioadhesive material, which was grafted onto the surface of a Dex-supported nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) to develop an innovative nanoparticle lipid ocular drug delivery system (CS-NAC@Dex-NLC).

Potential of Glycyrrhiza in the prevention of colitis-associated colon cancer.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Glycyrrhiza, a legume native to the Mediterranean region, has a long history of ethnomedicinal use in China. Due to its antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-ulcer, and hepatoprotective properties, Glycyrrhiza is widely utilized in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

The Aim Of The Review: The specific mechanisms of the main active constituents of glycyrrhiza in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, precancerous lesions and colorectal cancer at all stages of the colitis-associated colon cancer "Inflammation-Dysplasia-Cancer" sequence, as well as its pharmacokinetics, toxicology, formulation improvements, and application studies, are reviewed to provide new insights and perspectives on glycyrrhiza as a dietary supplement to treat and prevent colitis-associated colon cancer.

LCAT deficiency promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and lenvatinib resistance by promoting triglyceride catabolism and fatty acid oxidation.

Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), a crucial enzyme in lipid metabolism, plays important yet poorly understood roles in tumours, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, our investigation revealed that LCAT is a key downregulated metabolic gene and an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Functional experiments showed that LCAT inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

Regulation of inflammatory responses: Harnessing the Ruan Mai Jian targeting of EphA2/ephrinA1 pathway to enhance atherosclerosis amelioration.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, driven by the chronic inflammatory proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which destabilizes atherosclerotic plaques. The EphA2/ephrinA1 signaling pathway plays a critical role in modulating VSMC inflammatory responses, making it an attractive therapeutic target. However, the clinical application of EphA2 inhibitors remains limited due to safety concerns.

Enhanced accuracy and stability in automated intra-pancreatic fat deposition monitoring of type 2 diabetes mellitus using Dixon MRI and deep learning.

Purpose: Intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) is closely associated with the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to develop an accurate and automated method for assessing IPFD on multi-echo Dixon MRI.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, 534 patients from two centers who underwent upper abdomen MRI and completed multi-echo and double-echo Dixon MRI were included.

Electroacupuncture effects on trigeminal neuralgia with comorbid anxiety and depression: The role of frequency and acupoint specificity.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at specific acupoints (DU20 and ST36) and different frequencies (2 and 100 Hz) on brain regions associated with trigeminal neuralgia, anxiety, and depression. Chronic trigeminal neuralgia was induced by the chronic constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CION). Anxiety and depression were assessed through behavioral tests.

Targeting MAPK14 by Lobeline Upregulates Slurp1-Mediated Inhibition of Alternative Activation of TAM and Retards Colorectal Cancer Growth.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) usually creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment, thereby hindering immunotherapy response. Effective treatment options remain elusive. Using scRNA-seq analysis in a tumor-bearing murine model, it is found that lobeline, an alkaloid from the herbal medicine lobelia, promotes polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) toward M1-like TAMs while inhibiting their polarization toward M2-like TAMs.

Genetically-modified activation strategy facilitates the discovery of sesquiterpene-derived metabolites from .

Genome mining has revealed that spp. possess numerous down-regulated or cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). This finding hinted that our investigation of fungal secondary metabolomes is limited.

Huoxiang Zhengqi dropping pills alleviate exertional heat stroke-induced multiple organ injury through sustaining intestinal homeostasis via regulating MAPK/NF-κB pathway and gut microbiota in rats.

Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by hyperthermia and multi-organ dysfunction, often associated with intestinal barrier disruption. This study evaluated the protective effects of Huoxiang Zhengqi Dropping Pills (HXZQD) against EHS in a rat model. HXZQD was administered via oral gavage at low, medium, and high doses, followed by EHS induction through exercise under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions.

Single-cell RNA sequencing and immune microenvironment analysis reveal PLOD2-driven malignant transformation in cervical cancer.

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, and the main cause of the disease has been found to be ongoing HPV infection. Cervical cancer remains the primary cause of cancer-related death despite major improvements in screening and treatment approaches, especially in low- and middle-income nations. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the tumor microenvironment in advanced cervical cancer in order to identify possible treatment targets.

Removal of an incarcerated intrauterine device reaching the serosal surface of the uterus by hysteroscopy alone: a case report.

Background: An intrauterine device (IUD) is a widely used long-term contraceptive device for family planning. However, the IUD can lead to various complications. Severe complications and remedial measures caused by IUDs have been reported in the literature; however, detailed surgical approaches for safely removing the IUD within the minimum surgical range have rarely been described especially in postmenopausal women.

Modulating Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Neuropathic Pain: Role of Anterior Cingulate Cortex Astrocytes Activation.

Aims: The comorbidity of anxiety-like symptoms in neuropathic pain (NP) is a significant yet often overlooked health concern. Anxiety sufferers may have a lower tolerance for pain, but which is difficult to treat. Accumulating evidence suggests a strong link between astrocytes and the manifestation of NP with concurrent anxiety-like behaviors.

Double-Negative CD4 CD8 Absolute Count Plays a Mediating Role in the Causal Relationship Between Plasma Lipids and Parkinson's Disease: A Mendel Randomized Study.

According to certain research, there might be a connection between Parkinson's disease and plasma lipidome. However, the causal effects between plasma lipidome and Parkinson's disease and whether immune cells act as a mediator remain unclear. According to some research, plasma lipids are an important risk factor for Parkinson's disease, however, whether there is a causative connection between the two is unclear.

Dedicator of Cytokinesis 2 regulates cytoskeletal actin dynamics and is essential for platelet biogenesis and functions.

Aims: Dedicator of Cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2), a member of the DOCK family of Guanine nucleotide exchange factors that specifically act on the Rho GTPases including Rac and Cdc42, plays pivotal roles in the regulation of leukocyte homeostasis. However, its functions in platelets remain unknown.

Methods And Results: Using mice with genetic deficiency of DOCK2 (Dock2-/-), we showed that Dock2-/-mice exhibited a macrothrombocytopenic phenotype characterized as decreased platelet count and enlarged platelet size by transmission electron microscopy.

Comparative Analysis of CXCR5 Circulating DNA Methylation Levels in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: To assess CXC chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5) circulating DNA methylation differences in autoimmune rheumatic diseases and their relation with clinical features.

Methods: Targeted methylation sequencing was performed using peripheral blood from 164 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 30 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 30 ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 30 psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 24 Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients, and 30 healthy controls (HC).

Results: Significant differences in CXCR5 cg19599951 methylation were found between RA and HC, as well as AS and SLE.

Human milk oligosaccharides: bridging the gap in intestinal microbiota between mothers and infants.

Breast milk is an essential source of infant nutrition. It is also a vital determinant of the structure and function of the infant intestinal microbial community, and it connects the mother and infant intestinal microbiota. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a critical component in breast milk.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postoperative gastroparesis syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative gastroparesis syndrome (PGS) is a common postoperative complication characterized by epigastralgia, nausea, and vomiting. Acupuncture is widely used to aid recovery, but its efficacy and safety have not been systematically evaluated.

Method: We retrieved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using acupuncture as the primary intervention from six databases.

High perioperative lactate levels as a potential predictor for severe acute kidney injury following aortic arch surgery.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening condition that often requires total aortic arch replacement (TAR) combined with frozen elephant trunk (FET) implantation. Despite advancements in surgical techniques and preoperative management, postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a prevalent complication that significantly affects patient prognosis, particularly severe AKI. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of perioperative lactate levels in severe postoperative AKI after TAR.

Role of metabolic characteristics in the co-occurrence of insomnia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease: a Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: There reportedly exists a significant comorbidity between insomnia and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), indicative of a potential link to serum metabolic dysregulation.

Method: To elucidate shared pathophysiological mechanisms between insomnia and AD/PD, we performed comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, investigating 1,400 serum metabolic characteristics for their causal relationships with the risks of insomnia, AD, widely defined AD (WDAD), and PD. We employed publicly available genetic data; the primary estimate was determined using inverse-variance weighting, supplemented by weighted median, simple mode, weighted mode, and the MR-PRESSO and MR-Egger methods to evaluate heterogeneity and pleiotropy.