Percutaneous nephroscopy versus flexible ureteroscopy in the treatment of calyceal diverticulum calculi: a meta-analysis.

Background: There is still controversy about the best minimally invasive surgical method for the treatment of calyceal diverticulum calculi. We conducted meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PCNL and FURL in the treatment of calyceal diverticulum calculi.

Methods: We searched Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, Clinical trial platform, CNKI, VIP until April 2024.

Causal relationship between immune cells, inflammatory cytokines, metabolites, and erectile dysfunction: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous studies have investigated the association between immune inflammation, metabolism and erectile dysfunction (ED). However, these studies are limited by biases, confounding factors, and reverse causality, failing to establish causality. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to elucidate the causal relationships between immune cells, inflammatory cytokines, plasma metabolites, and the risk of ED.

Immune senescence: A key player in cancer biology.

With the rapid development of immunological techniques in recent years, our understanding of immune senescence has gradually deepened, but the role of immune senescence in cancer biology remains incompletely elucidated. Understanding these mechanisms and interactions is crucial for the development of tumor biology. This review examines five key areas: the classification and main features of immune senescence, factors influencing immune cell senescence in cancer, the reciprocal causal cycle between immune senescence and malignancy, and the potential of immune senescence as a target for cancer immunotherapy.

Targeting autophagy in HCC treatment: exploiting the CD147 internalization pathway.

Background/aims: Chemotherapy resistance in liver cancer is a major clinical issue, with CD147 playing a vital role in this process. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these processes remain largely unknown. This study investigates how CD147 internalization leads to cytoprotective autophagy, contributing to chemotherapy resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Identifying therapeutic targets for kidney stone disease through proteome-wide Mendelian randomization and colocalization analysis.

Kidney stone disease (KSD) is facing rising global prevalence and recurrence rates. Mendelian randomization aids in drug repurposing and the discovery of therapeutic targets. This study utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) to identify protein targets for KSD treatment and assess potential adverse drug reactions.

Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis/idiopathic portal hypertension: APASL recommendations for diagnosis and management.

Since the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) published guidelines on non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis/idiopathic portal hypertension in 2007, there has been a surge in new information, especially with the introduction of the term porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD). Non-cirrhotic intra-hepatic causes of portal hypertension include disorders with a clearly identifiable etiology, such as schistosomiasis, as well as disorders with an unclear etiology such as non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF), also termed idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH). This entity is being increasingly recognized as being associated with systemic disease and drug therapy, especially cancer therapy.

Effectiveness and possible brain mechanisms of cervical invasive vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) intervention for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: a case report.

Background: We reported a case of cervical invasive vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) treatment for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in a patient with severe anxiety and depression. This patient was even given a critical illness notice during his hospitalization and all treatment efforts were failed.

Objective: We aimed to verfiy the effectiveness of iVNS in a patient with ARFID.

Optimal threshold of portal pressure gradient for patients with ascites after covered TIPS: a multicentre cohort study.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is recommended for treating recurrent and refractory ascites. However, determining the target portal pressure gradient (PPG) has been inconclusive. This multicentre cohort study explored the post-TIPS PPG potential range associated with improving survival.

Ultrasound Guided Local Delivery of Bioorthogonal PDL1 Degrader for Enhanced Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy involving PDL1 degradation holds great potential in anti-tumor treatment. Optimal design of PDL1 degraders and subsequent efficient delivery into tumors are essential for expected efficacy, especially when abnormal tumor vasculature is considered. Herein, a nanodroplet-based novel drug delivery platform termed as NDs (nanodroplet-based therapeutics) for ultrasound targeted delivery of PDL1 degrader is designed.

YTHDC1 is a therapeutic target for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by attenuating DNA damage response through the KMT2C-H3K4me1/me3 epigenetic axis.

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by the aberrant accumulation of immature and dysfunctional B cells in bone marrow (BM). Although chemotherapy and other therapies have been widely applied, some patients such as relapsed or drug-refractory (R/R) B-ALL patients exhibit limited response. YT521-B homologous domain-containing protein 1 (YTHDC1) is a nuclear reader of N-methyladenosine (mA) RNA modification, which has been implicated in different malignancies including leukemia.

PD-1CD8 T Cell-Mediated Hepatocyte Pyroptosis Promotes Progression of Murine Autoimmune Liver Disease.

The specific mechanisms underlying effector pathways in autoimmune liver disease remain enigmatic and therefore constructing appropriate murine models to investigate disease pathogenesis becomes critical. A spontaneous severe murine model of autoimmune liver disease has been previously established in dnTGFβRII Aire mice, exhibiting disease phenotypes that resemble both human primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The data suggests that auto-reactive liver-specific CD8 T cells are the primary pathogenic cells in liver injury.

Long-term results of induction chemotherapy for non-operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a single-centre experience.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes and toxicities of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) . CCRT alone in patients with non-operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Patients And Methods: Between 2008 and 2022, 271 ESCC patients who received definitive CCRT based on intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)/volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) were enrolled.

Surveillance and management of hepatocellular carcinoma after treatment of hepatitis C with direct-acting antiviral drugs.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) belongs to the Flaviviridae family, and is a single-stranded RNA virus with positive polarity. It is the primary cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The treatment of HCV has entered a new era with the advent of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) and is associated with cure rates of more than 95 %, making HCV the only curable viral disease.

SMU1 Knockdown Suppresses Gastric Carcinoma Growth, Migration, and Invasion and Modulates the Cell Cycle.

Introduction: The role of SMU1 in DNA replication and RNA splicing is well-established, yet its specific function and dysregulated mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC) remain inadequately elucidated. This study seeks to investigate the potential oncogenic and progression-promoting effects of SMU1 in GC, with the ultimate goal of informing novel approaches for treatment and diagnosis.

Methods: The study investigated the expression levels of SMU1 in GC and adjacent normal tissues by analyzing data from the TCGA (27 tissue pairs) and GEO (47 tissue pairs) databases.

[Lumican enhanced the therapeutic effect of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer by inhibiting the differentiation of Th1 cells].

Objective To investigate the mechanism of the basement membrane proteoglycan lumican (LUM) in cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer and to preliminarily explore its effect on type 1 T helper (Th1) cell differentiation. Methods Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between cisplatin-resistant and cisplatin-sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines were screened using the public gene expression database (GEO). The expression levels of these genes were detected by RT-qPCR.

Efficacy and safety of variceal embolization for primary prophylaxis in cirrhosis patients with challenges in standard treatments: preliminary results.

Objectives: Nonselective beta blockers (NSBBs) or endoscopic therapies are currently recommended by guidelines for preventing the first variceal bleed in patients with high-risk varices. However, there is a lack of detailed treatment strategies for patients who are intolerant to both NSBBs and endoscopic approaches. Our study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of variceal embolization as a primary prophylaxis method in cirrhosis patients who are not suitable candidates for NSBBs or endoscopic treatments.

Risankizumab for Ulcerative Colitis: Two Randomized Clinical Trials.

Importance: The clinical effects of risankizumab (a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the p19 subunit of IL-23) for the treatment of ulcerative colitis are unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of risankizumab when administered as an induction and a maintenance therapy for patients with ulcerative colitis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Two phase 3 randomized clinical trials were conducted.

Lysosome-Targeting Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles for Tumor Specific Degradation of PD-L1.

Increased expression of immune check point genes, such as PD-L1, is one of the main reasons for immunosuppression, especially for colon cancer. Development of novel therapeutic strategies is of great importance to improve the prognosis. In this study, outer membrane vesicles (OMV) derived from Gram-negative bacteria are engineered to immune checkpoint blockade nanosystem for efficient elicitation of anti-tumor immunity.

Targeted Clearance of Senescent Cells Via Engineered Extracellular Vesicles Reprograms Tumor Immunosuppressive Microenvironment.

Unravelling the mechanisms for the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and developing corresponding therapeutic strategies are of great importance to improve the cancer immunotherapy. This study has revealed that there are abundant senescent cells accumulated in the colon cancer tissue, which contributes greatly to the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Oral delivery of Dasatinib and Quercetin (D+Q) eliminates the senescent cells with compromised efficiency due to the poor tumor penetration and short half-life.