The impact of neoadjuvant therapy on the prognostic value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for colorectal liver metastases: a multi-center cohort study.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a promising prognostic marker for patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). However, its prognostic value in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has not been sufficiently addressed.

Methods: From 2013 to 2023, a cohort of 692 patients with CRLM receiving hepatectomy were enrolled in five centers.

Delivery of IL-12 by neoantigen-reactive T cells promotes antitumor immunity in murine osteosarcoma mode.

Purpose: Despite the proven clinical benefits of cytokine therapy in cancer treatment, systemic administration of cytokines such as IL-12 is constrained by dose-limiting toxicities and short half-lives. To address these challenges, we explored a localized cytokine delivery strategy using engineered neoantigen-reactive T (NRT) cells as carriers in a murine model of osteosarcoma.

Materials And Methods: We used a neoantigen from K7M2 osteosarcoma cells to retrovirally transduce NRT cells to express an inducible form of IL-12.

The efficacy and safety of anlotinib plus PD-1 inhibitor in locally advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients who progressed on prior immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs): a retrospective real-world study (NCT 04984096).

Background: Several studies have shown that combining immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors is effective for solid tumors, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, most of these studies were focused on immunotherapy-naive patients. This retrospective real-world study offers insights into the efficacy and safety of combining anlotinib with ICIs in locally advanced/metastatic ESCC patients who progressed on prior ICI.

Tanshinone I improves renal fibrosis by promoting gluconeogenesis through upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α.

Background: Renal fibrosis, a hallmark of chronic kidney disease, is closely associated with dysregulated gluconeogenesis. Tanshinone I (Tan I), a bioactive compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Danshen, exhibits antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effects on gluconeogenesis and the mechanisms through which it alleviates renal fibrosis remain unclear.

IMP2 drives chemoresistance by repressing cisplatin-induced apoptosis and ferroptosis via activation of IPO4 and SLC7A11 under hypoxia in bladder cancer.

Background: Cisplatin resistance is the leading cause of mortality in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) cases. Previous evidence suggests that abnormal epitranscriptome modifications are associated with reduced chemotherapy responses. However, the exact underlying mechanism remains largely unknown.

Dietary protein intake interacts with weak handgrip strength and cognitive impairment.

Background: Handgrip strength correlates with cognitive function, but how gender and dietary protein interact with it is unclear.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between handgrip strength and cognitive function among non-stroke elders, and potential interaction effects of gender and dietary protein.

Methods: Non-stroke older adults with handgrip strength and cognitive tests available were included from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database.

HBcrAg is associated with prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in patients after hepatectomy undergoing antiviral therapy.

Serum hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is considered a surrogate marker of the amount and activity of intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of HBcrAg on patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative hepatectomy undergoing antiviral therapy (AVT). Data of 949 consecutive patients with HBV-related HCC undergoing curative resection between 2010 and 2013 were reviewed.

Diagnosis and Biomarker Screening of Endometrial Cancer Enabled by a Versatile Exosome Metabolic Fingerprint Platform.

Exosomes have emerged as a revolutionary tool for liquid biopsy (LB), as they carry specific cargo from cells. Profiling the metabolites of exosomes is crucial for cancer diagnosis and biomarker discovery. Herein, we propose a versatile platform for exosomal metabolite assay of endometrial cancer (EC).

A Single Pelvic Fibrous Tumor Associated With Doege-Potter Syndrome: A Case Study.

Doege-Potter syndrome (DPS) is a very rare paraneoplastic condition that is marked by hypoglycemia brought on by a solitary fibrous tumor rather than an islet cell tumor. Soft tissue neoplasms termed as solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare and these tumors vary in the site of origin, from the pleural cavity, mediastinum, pericardium, retroperitoneal spaces, liver, thyroid, orbit, bladder, intestines, and soft tissues, while pelvic-derived fibrous tumors are incredibly unusual. There are currently extremely few documented cases and literature reviews both domestically and internationally.

Intense simplified strategy for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in patients with severe hyperglycaemia: multicentre, open label, randomised trial.

Objective: To evaluate whether the intense simplified strategy, which comprises short term intensive insulin therapy (SIIT) followed by subsequent oral antihyperglycaemic regimens, could improve long term glycaemic outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe hyperglycaemia.

Design: Multicentre, open label, randomised trial.

Setting: 15 hospitals in China between December 2017 and December 2020.

Fecal microbiota and metabolites in the pathogenesis and precision medicine for inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, and its pathogenesis is believed to be associated with an imbalance between commensal organisms and the intestinal immune system. This imbalance is significantly influenced by the intestinal microbiota and metabolites and plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal mucosal homeostasis. However, disturbances in the intestinal microbiota cause dysregulated immune responses and consequently induce intestinal inflammation.

F-53B stimulated vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch and vascular remodeling via ferroptosis-related pathway.

The compound 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F53B), an alternative to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), has been widely utilized in China. Although the connection between the exposure and toxicity of F53B is established, the role and mechanisms of the compound in promoting vascular remodeling are yet to be elucidated. Thus, the present study investigated the impact of F53B on the function of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and vascular remodeling.

Effectiveness and safety of Shenfu injection in septic patients with hypoperfusion: A multi-center, open-label, randomized, controlled trial.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Shenfu injection (SFI) combined with standard bundle treatment in septic patients with hypoperfusion.

Method: This study was a multi-center, randomized, open-label, controlled trial conducted in four teaching hospitals in China. The septic patients with hypoperfusion and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome with Yang-Qi deficiency were enrolled from January 2019, through September 2020.

Recent advances in DNAzymes for bioimaging, biosensing and cancer therapy.

DNAzymes, a class of single-stranded catalytic DNA with good stability, high catalytic activity, and easy synthesis, functionalization and modification properties, have garnered significant interest in the realm of biosensing and bioimaging. Their integration with fluorescent dyes or chemiluminescent moieties has led to remarkable bioimaging outcomes, while DNAzyme-based biosensors have demonstrated robust sensitivity and selectivity in detecting metal ions, nucleic acids, proteins, enzyme activities, exosomes, bacteria and microorganisms. In addition, by delivering DNAzymes into tumor cells, the mRNA therein can be cleaved to regulate the expression of corresponding proteins, which has further propelled the application of DNAzymes in cancer gene therapy and synergistic therapy.

The Brain-Gut-Bone Axis in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Insights, Challenges, and Future Prospects.

Neurodegenerative diseases are global health challenges characterized by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells, leading to cognitive and motor impairments. The brain-gut-bone axis, a complex network that modulates multiple physiological systems, has gained increasing attention owing to its profound effects on the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases. No comprehensive review has been conducted to clarify the triangular relationship involving the brain-gut-bone axis and its potential for innovative therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.

Circadian clock component PER2 negatively regulates CD4 T cell IFN-γ production in ulcerative colitis.

Period circadian clock 2 (PER2) is involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, there are gaps in our understanding of the role of PER2 in regulating CD4 T cells beyond its time-keeping function in ulcerative colitis (UC) pathogenesis. Our findings revealed PER2 was predominantly expressed in CD4 T cells, while it was significantly decreased in the inflamed mucosa and peripheral blood CD4 T cells of UC patients compared with that in Crohn's disease (CD) patients and healthy controls (HC).

Monocyte-macrophages modulate intestinal homeostasis in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Monocytes and macrophages play an indispensable role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and modulating mucosal immune responses in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although numerous studies have described macrophage properties in IBD, the underlying mechanisms whereby the monocyte-macrophage lineage modulates intestinal homeostasis during gut inflammation remain elusive.

Main Body: In this review, we decipher the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the generation of intestinal mucosal macrophages and fill the knowledge gap in understanding the origin, maturation, classification, and functions of mucosal macrophages in intestinal niches, particularly the phagocytosis and bactericidal effects involved in the elimination of cell debris and pathogens.