Validated enhancement and temperature modulated absorbance of a WS2 monolayer based on a planar structure.

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), as emerging optoelectronic materials, necessitate the establishment of an experimentally viable system to study their interaction with light. In this study, we propose and analyze a WS2/PMMA/Ag planar Fabry-Perot (F-P) cavity, enabling the direct experimental measurement of WS2 absorbance. By optimizing the structure, the absorbance of A exciton of WS2 up to 0.546 can be experimentally achieved, which matches well with the theoretical calculations. Through temperature and thermal expansion strain induced by temperature, the absorbance of the A exciton can be tuned in situ. Furthermore, temperature-dependent photocurrent measurements confirmed the consistent absorbance of the A exciton under varying temperatures. This WS2/PMMA/Ag planar structure provides a straightforward and practical platform for investigating light interaction in TMDCs, laying a solid foundation for future developments of TMDC-based optoelectronic devices.

Effect of Extended Care on Functional Rehabilitation of Stroke-Induced Hemiplegic Patients.

Background: We aimed to observe the effect of extended care on improving motor function and activities of daily living of stroke-induced hemiplegic patients. Methods: Patients clinically diagnosed as stroke with hemiplegia and hospitalized in the Neurology Department at Tianjin Haibin People's Hospital, China from 2019 to 2020 were selected. One hundred twenty patients were enrolled and randomly divided into the intervention group (60 patients) and the control group (60 patients). The control group was given routine rehabilitation treatment and care. Based on routine rehabilitation treatment and care, the intervention group was given transitional care. After discharge, the patients were followed up. Barthel indexes (BIs) were collected to evaluate the activities of daily living of patients. The Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Assessment (FMA) was adopted to evaluate the patients' motor function. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the total BI scores between the two groups of patients at the two time points before intervention and at discharge. The total scores of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group after 1 month and 3 months of discharge, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in total FMA scores between the two groups of patients before intervention, indicating comparability. After 3 months of discharge, the total FMA score of the intervention group patients was higher than that of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Continuous care can effectively improve motor function and daily living ability of stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Puerarin mitigated LPS-ATP or HG-primed endothelial cells damage and diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease via ROS-NLRP3 signalling.

The occurrence and development of diabetic vascular diseases are closely linked to inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction. Puerarin (Pue), the primary component of Pueraria lobata, possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties. However, its vasoprotective role remains elusive. Therefore, we investigated whether Pue can effectively protect against vascular damage induced by diabetes. In the study, Pue ameliorated lipopolysaccharide-adenosine triphosphate (LPS-ATP) or HG-primed cytotoxicity and apoptosis, while inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in HUVECs, as evidenced by significantly decreased ROS level, NOX4, Caspase-1 activity and expression of NLRP3, GSDMD, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1ß and IL-18. Meanwhile, ROS inducer CoCI2 efficiently weakened the effects of Pue against LPS-ATP-primed pyroptosis. In addition, NLRP3 knockdown notably enhanced Pue's ability to suppress pyroptosis in LPS-ATP-primed HUVECs, whereas overexpression of NLRP3 reversed the inhibitory effects of Pue. Furthermore, Pue inhibited the expression of ROS and NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins on the aorta in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats. Our findings indicated that Pue might ameliorate LPS-ATP or HG-primed damage in HUVECs by inactivating the ROS-NLRP3 signalling pathway.

High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) in major depressive disorder with anxious distress-a study protocol for a double-blinded randomized sham-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Comorbid anxiety disorders and anxious distress are highly prevalent among individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). The presence of the DSM-5 anxious distress specifier (ADS) has been associated with worse treatment outcomes and chronic disease course. Few studies have evaluated the therapeutic effects of High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on depressive and anxiety symptoms among MDD patients with ADS. The current randomized controlled trial aims to assess the efficacy of HD-tDCS as an augmentation therapy with antidepressants compared to sham-control in subjects of MDD with ADS. METHODS: MDD patients with ADS will be recruited and randomly assigned to the active HD-tDCS or sham HD-tDCS group. In both groups, patients will receive the active or sham intervention in addition to their pre-existing antidepressant therapy, for 2 weeks with 5 sessions per week, each lasting 30 min. The primary outcome measures will be the change of depressive symptoms, clinical response, and the remission rate as measured with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) before and after the intervention and at the 2nd and 6th week after the completed intervention. Secondary outcome measures include anxiety symptoms, cognitive symptoms, disability assessment, and adverse effects. DISCUSSION: The HD-tDCS applied in this trial may have treatment effects on MDD with ADS and have minimal side effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial protocol is registered with www.chictr.org.cn under protocol registration number ChiCTR2300071726. Registered 23 May 2023.

[Corrigendum] miR­27a promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer by targeting FAM172A and acts as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.

Following the publication of this article, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that the western blots in Fig. 4B on p. 3560 and Fig. 6B on p. 3562 shared remarkably similar data (including both the GAPDH and the FAM172A blots in Fig. 4B), such that these data were likely to have been derived from the same original source. Upon asking the authors to provide an explanation, the authors realized that these errors inadvertently arose during the process of assembling these figures. Due to a mislabelling of the files, representative blots for FAM172A and GAPDH were chosen incorrectly for Fig. 4B. The authors had retained their original data, however, and were also able to present to the Editorial Office for our perusal the uncropped versions of their western blots, which resolved any other potential issues of anomalies associated with the data. The revised version of Fig. 4, now showing alternative data for Fig. 4B, is shown on the next page (note that, in the repeated experiment, relative to the original version of this figure the miR­27a, miR27a­inhibitor and negative control experiments were run on different lanes of the gel). Also note that the errors made in terms of assembling the data in Fig. 4 did not greatly affect either the results or the conclusions reported in this paper, and all the authors agree to the publication of this corrigendum. The authors regret that these errors went unnoticed prior to the publication of their article, are grateful to the Editor of Oncology Reports for granting them this opportunity to publish a corrigendum, and apologize to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 37: 3554­3564, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5592].

Long non-coding RNA RAD51-AS1 promotes the tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer by elevating EIF5A2 expression.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to determine the molecular mechanism mediated by RAD51 antisense RNA 1 (RAD51-AS1) in ovarian cancer (OvCA). METHODS: The data associated with RAD51-AS1 in OvCA were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Relative expression of RAD51-AS1 was detected. Determination of cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion was performed by cell counting, colony formation, would-healing, and transwell invasion assays. Protein levels were detected by western blotting. The molecular mechanism mediated by RAD51-AS1 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assays. Subcutaneous tumorigenesis models were used to confirm the function of RAD51-AS1 in vivo. RESULTS: Data from TCGA and GEO showed that RAD51-AS1 was associated with poor prognosis in OvCA patients and DNA repair, cell cycle, focal adhesion, and apoptosis in SKOV3.ip cells. High levels of RAD51-AS1 were detected in OvCA cells. Overexpressing RAD51-AS1 enhanced the proliferative, invading, and migratory capabilities of OvCA cells in vitro while silencing RAD51-AS1 exhibited the opposite effects. Mechanically, RAD51-AS1 elevated eukaryotic initiation factor 5A2 (EIF5A2) expression as a sponge for microRNA (miR)-140-3p. Finally, the role of RAD51-AS1 was verified by subcutaneous tumorigenesis models. CONCLUSION: RAD51-AS1 promoted OvCA progression by the regulation of the miR-140-3p/EIF5A2 axis, which illustrated the potential therapeutic target for OvCA.

Nanofiber Hydrogel Drug Delivery System for Prevention of Postsurgical Intestinal Adhesion.

Intestinal adhesion is one of the complications that occurs more frequently after abdominal surgery. Postsurgical intestinal adhesion (PIA) can lead to a series of health problems, including abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and female infertility. Currently, hydrogels and nanofibrous films as barriers are often used for preventing PIA formation; however, these kinds of materials have their intrinsic disadvantages. Herein, we developed a dual-structure drug delivery patch consisting of poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanofibers and a chitosan hydrogel (NHP). PLGA nanofibers loaded with deferoxamine mesylate (DFO) were incorporated into the hydrogel; meanwhile, the hydrogel was loaded with anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone (DXMS). The rapid degradation of the hydrogel facilitated the release of DXMS at the acute inflammatory stage of the early injury and provided effective anti-inflammatory effects for wound sites. Moreover, PLGA composite nanofibers could provide sustained and stable release of DFO for promoting the peritoneal repair by the angiogenesis effects of DFO. The in vivo results indicated that NHP can effectively prevent PIA formation by restraining inflammation and vascularization, promoting peritoneal repair. Therefore, we believe that our NHP has a great potential application in inhibition of PIA.

A Carbon-Caged Rhodamine Generating Nitrosoperoxycarbonate for Photoimmunotherapy.

Photoimmunotherapy is a promising cancer treatment modality. While potent 1-e- oxidative species are known to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), they are also associated with unspecific oxidation and collateral tissue damage. This difficulty may be addressed by post-generation radical reinforcement. Namely, non-oxidative radicals are first generated and subsequently activated into powerful oxidative radicals to induce ICD. Here, we developed a photo-triggered molecular donor (NPCD565) of nitrosoperoxycarbonate (ONOOCO2 -), the first of its class to our knowledge, and further evaluated its feasibility for immunotherapy. Upon irradiation of NPCD565 by light within a broad spectral region from ultraviolet to red, ONOOCO2 - is released along with a bright rhodamine dye (RD565), whose fluorescence is a reliable and convenient build-in reporter for the localization, kinetics, and dose of ONOOCO2 - generation. Upon photolysis of NPCD565 in 4T1 cells, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) indicative of ICD were observed and confirmed to exhibit immunogenicity by induced maturation of dendritic cells. In vivo studies with a bilateral tumor-bearing mouse model showcased the potent tumor-killing capability of NPCD565 of the primary tumors and growth suppression of the distant tumors. This work unveils the potent immunogenicity of ONOOCO2 -, and its donor (NPCD565) has broad potential for photo-immunotherapy of cancer.

Efficacy, Safety, and Population Pharmacokinetics of Eltrombopag in Children with Different Severities of Aplastic Anemia.

Eltrombopag was approved as a first-line treatment for patients older than 2 years old with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). However, data on eltrombopag in children with different types of aplastic anemia (AA), especially non-severe AA (NSAA), are limited. We performed a prospective, single-arm, and observational study to investigate eltrombopag's efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics in children with NSAA, SAA, and very severe AA (VSAA). The efficacy and safety were assessed every 3 months. The population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model was used to depict the pharmacokinetic profile of eltrombopag. Twenty-three AA children with an average age of 7.9 (range of 3.0-14.0) years were enrolled. The response (complete and partial response) rate was 12.5%, 50.0%, and 100.0% after 3, 6, and 12 months in patients with NSAA. For patients with SAA and VSAA, these response rates were 46.7%, 61.5%, and 87.5%. Hepatotoxicity occurred in one patient. Fifty-three blood samples were used to build the PPK model. Body weight was the only covariate for apparent clearance (CL/F) and volume of distribution. The allele-T carrier of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter G2 was found to increase eltrombopag's clearance. However, when normalized by weight, the clearance between the wild-type and variant showed no statistical difference. In patients with response, children with NSAA exhibited lower area under the curve from time zero to infinity, higher CL/F, and higher weight-adjusted CL/F than those with SAA or VSAA. However, the differences were not statistically significant. The results may support further individualized treatment of eltrombopag in children with AA.

Epidemiological Survey of Congenital Heart Disease Among Children Aged from 2 to 18 in Suo County, Nagqu, Tibet.

Lin, Tian, Huaping Jia, Yunming Li, Yongxing Xu, Bei Zhao, Dong Zheng, Hongfeng Yan, Meihui Zhao, Yanlei Li, Liping Xia, Fengxia Zhou, Cuiping Liu, Ke Ma, Ma Mi, and Jianwen Gu. Epidemiological survey of congenital heart disease among children aged from 2 to 18 in Suo County, Nagqu, Tibet. High Alt Med Biol. 00:000-000, 2024. Background: Studies have reported the prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in parts of Tibet, but relative epidemiological surveys are rare. We aimed to explore the prevalence of CHD in children and its relationship with family history in Suo County, Nagqu, Tibet, an altitude of 3,980 meters. Methods: We recruited 4,002 children aged 2-18 years. Subjects underwent a family history investigation, cardiac auscultation, and clinical manifestation examination and then received echocardiographic screening. Results: The prevalence of CHD among children in Suo County was 0.97% (39 cases), much higher than the prevalence at sea level. The most common subtype was atrial septal defect, accounting for 53.9% of CHD, followed by patent ductus arteriosus (33.3%) and ventricular septal defect (12.8%). We also found that children whose mothers had previously borne children with CHD had a higher risk of CHD than those without (p = 0.002); other factors related to CHD during pregnancy, such as smoking, drinking, drug use, and viral infection, showed no statistical differences between children with and without CHD. Conclusions: The prevalence of CHD in children in Suo County is much higher than at low altitude, consisting mostly of simple forms with left-to-right shunt, with rare complex CHD. These results support implementing diagnostic and treatment plans to prevent CHD in Suo County.

Phase-engineered synthesis of atomically thin te single crystals with high on-state currents.

Multiple structural phases of tellurium (Te) have opened up various opportunities for the development of two-dimensional (2D) electronics and optoelectronics. However, the phase-engineered synthesis of 2D Te at the atomic level remains a substantial challenge. Herein, we design an atomic cluster density and interface-guided multiple control strategy for phase- and thickness-controlled synthesis of α-Te nanosheets and ß-Te nanoribbons (from monolayer to tens of µm) on WS2 substrates. As the thickness decreases, the α-Te nanosheets exhibit a transition from metallic to n-type semiconducting properties. On the other hand, the ß-Te nanoribbons remain p-type semiconductors with an ON-state current density (ION) up to ~ 1527 µA µm-1 and a mobility as high as ~ 690.7 cm2 V-1 s-1 at room temperature. Both Te phases exhibit good air stability after several months. Furthermore, short-channel (down to 46 nm) ß-Te nanoribbon transistors exhibit remarkable electrical properties (ION = ~ 1270 µA µm-1 and ON-state resistance down to 0.63 kΩ µm) at Vds = 1 V.

Changes of putative pathogenic species within the water bacterial community in large-scale drinking water treatment and distribution systems.

Although the management of microbes in drinking water is of paramount importance for public health, there remain challenges in comprehensively examining pathogenic bacteria in the water supply system at the species level. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of nearly full-length 16S rRNA genes was performed to investigate the changes of the water bacterial community in three large-scale drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and their corresponding distribution systems during winter and summer. Our findings revealed significant differences in the bacterial community structure between winter and summer water samples for each DWTP and its distribution management area (DMA). In the groundwater-fed DWTP, selective enrichment of mycobacterial species was observed in both seasons, and the subsequent DMA also exhibited strong selection for specific mycobacterial species. In one of the surface water-fed DWTPs, certain Legionella species present in the source water in winter were selectively enriched in the bacterial community after pre-oxidation, although they were susceptible to the subsequent purification steps. A variety of putative pathogenic species (n = 83) were identified based on our pathogen identification pipeline, with the dominant species representing opportunistic pathogens commonly found in water supply systems. While pathogen removal primarily occurred during the purification processes of DWTPs, especially for surface water-fed plants, the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria in the DMA water flora was lower than that in the DWTP effluent flora, indicating a diminished competitiveness of pathogens within the DMA ecosystem.

Individualized Use of 6-Mercaptopurine in Chinese Children with ALL: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Continuous 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) dose titration is necessary because of its narrow therapeutic index and frequently encountered dose-limiting hematopoietic toxicity. However, evidence-based guidelines for gene-based 6-MP dosing have not been established for Chinese children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled clinical trial randomly assigned Chinese children with low- or intermediate-risk ALL in a 1:1 ratio to receive TPMT-NUDT15 gene-based dosing of 6-MP (N = 44, 10 to 50 mg/m2 /day) or standard dosing (N = 44, 50 mg/m2 /day) during maintenance therapy. The primary end point was the incidence of 6-MP myelosuppression in both groups. Secondary end points included frequencies of 6-MP hepatotoxicity, duration of myelosuppression and leukopenia, event-free survival, and steady-state concentrations of active metabolites (6-thioguaninenucleotides and 6-methylmercaptopurine nucleotides) in erythrocytes. A 2.2-fold decrease in myelosuppression, the primary end point, was observed in the gene-based-dose group using ~ 50% of the standard initial 6-MP dose (odds ratio, 0.26, 95% confidence interval, 0.11 to 0.64, P = 0.003). Patients in the gene-based-dose group had a significantly lower risk of developing thiopurine-induced myelosuppression and leukopenia (P = 0.015 and P = 0.022, respectively). No significant differences were observed in the secondary end points of the incidence of hepatotoxicity and steady-state concentrations of active metabolites in erythrocytes between the two groups. TPMT- and NUDT15-based dosing of 6-MP will significantly contribute toward further reducing the incidence of leukopenia in Chinese children with ALL. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrial.gov as #NCT04228393.

Qilian Formula Inhibits Tumor Cell Growth in a Bone Metastasis Model of Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Bone metastasis is frequently common in advanced lung cancer with the major issue of a pathological fracture. Previous studies suggested that Astragalus membranaceus (Qi) and Ampelopsis japonica (Lian), which are used as folk medicine in China, have potential effects on inhibiting tumor growth and protecting bones, respectively. In this study, an experiment on the inhibitory effect of the Qilian formula (AAF) in vivo was designed to examine tumor growth in bone and osteoclast formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bone metastasis xenograft models were established by implanting NCI-H460-luc2 lung cancer cells into the right tibiae bones of mice. After confirming the model's viability through optical imaging 7 days post-implantation, 2 groups, namely the AAF group and the control group, were administered 0.3 mL of AAF extract (9 g/kg/day) or normal saline via intragastric delivery for a duration of 4 weeks. Throughout the study, we longitudinally assessed tumor burden, bone destruction, and weight-bearing capacity in vivo using reporter gene bioluminescence imaging (BLI), micro-CT, and dynamic weight-bearing (DWB) tests. Mechanistic insights were gained through Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, western blotting, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Qilian formula produced significant inhibition to the progress of bone destruction and tumor burden in the right tibiae bone in the treatment group. It was further evidenced by molecular imaging in vivo via small animal micro-CT and BLI with parametric quantification, characterizing significantly lower uptake of BLI signal in the treated tumor lesions and improving the pathological changes in the microstructure of bone. Furthermore, DWB tests revealed that Qilian formula treatment significantly maintained the weight-bearing capacity. According to immunohistochemical analysis, the effect of the Qilian formula appeared to involve the suppression of osteoclast formation by lower expression of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. Cell apoptosis and death induction were evidenced by a higher percentage of Bal2、BAX and caspase 3 expressions of Qilian formula-treated tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect of the Qilian formula on the progression of osteolytic invasion in vivo by suppressing osteoclastogenesis and promoting apoptotic cell death.

CeO2 Nanoparticle Bioactive Materials Promote MG-63 Osteogenic Differentiation and Antioxidant Activity Through NRF2 Signaling.

The incidence of bone-related diseases is higher in the elderly population, which greatly affects the patients' quality of life. Throughout this research, we synthesized a biocomposite nanomaterial of CeO2. The unique structural characteristics of CeO2 nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) were studied by means of XRD, TEM, and SEM. Nanoparticles of an osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63) were assayed for ALP enzyme levels, key proteins in osteoblasts, and stained with Alizarin Red S to assess the physical properties, bioactivity, and calcium deposition of the osteosarcoma cell line. Moreover, we used H2O2 to construct an oxidative stress model to evaluate the antioxidant activity of CeO2 NPs. Experimental data showed that the CeO2 NPs increased the antioxidant capacity of MG-63 cells and significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition, and bone growth as manifested by increased expression of bone differentiation proteins BMP2, OCN, OPN, and type I collagen. Interestingly, RNA interference and functional recovery experiments confirmed that CeO2 NPs enhanced the antioxidant activity of MG-63 cells related to NRF2 signaling. In conclusion, the material is expected to be a potential treatment for bone-related diseases.

Deoxygenative Hydroboration of Aromatic Nitro Compounds Catalyzed by Tetra(diisopropylamido) Rare-Earth Metal-Lithium Bimetallic Complexes.

The first example of the reduction of a nitro compound with HBPin catalyzed by tetra(diisopropylamido) rare-earth metal-lithium bimetallic complexes LiRE(NiPr2)4(THF) (RE = La, Nd, Sm, Gd, and Y) was disclosed. A series of aromatic nitro compounds were reduced to N-borylamines in high yields (up to 99%). The derivatives of N-borylamines─amides and carbamates─were obtained in a sequential one-pot manner. Furthermore, kinetic studies of the deoxygenative hydroboration of nitro compounds were carried out.

Monoallelic deleterious MUTYH mutations generate colorectal cancer: A case report.

Here we reported a particular case of MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) that had only one rare heterozygous variant, but some particular clinical manifestations contributed to occur in this male patient by only one defective MUTYH allele were worth of further investigation. We reported a case of MAP. It is about a 33-year-old man with chief complaints of hematochezia who had multiple polyps that were found in his colon via colonoscopy. He followed his doctor's advice and performed a genetic analysis examination. Germline test was positive for a major heterozygous variant: chr1:45800165 on the MUTYH gene. MUTYH gene sequence analysis confirmed the following heterozygous variant: c.55CT (p.R19X) in exon 2 (ClinVar NM_001128425). Unfortunately, his mother and daughter have the ILK variant according to genetic analysis. However, this variant at the site was not detected in his father. Various types of polyps were found on repeated colonoscopy, which tended to become latent cancerous in the future. This case indicated that awareness of the risk of carcinogenesis of polyps in carriers of monoallelic variants might accordingly increase, and our understanding of the type of genetically related disease will be enhanced by us.

Liquid biopsy techniques and pancreatic cancer: diagnosis, monitoring, and evaluation.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignancies. Surgical resection is a potential curative approach for PC, but most patients are unsuitable for operations when at the time of diagnosis. Even with surgery, some patients may still experience tumour metastasis during the operation or shortly after surgery, as precise prognosis evaluation is not always possible. If patients miss the opportunity for surgery and resort to chemotherapy, they may face the challenging issue of chemotherapy resistance. In recent years, liquid biopsy has shown promising prospects in disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and prognosis assessment. As a noninvasive detection method, liquid biopsy offers advantages over traditional diagnostic procedures, such as tissue biopsy, in terms of both cost-effectiveness and convenience. The information provided by liquid biopsy helps clinical practitioners understand the molecular mechanisms underlying tumour occurrence and development, enabling the formulation of more precise and personalized treatment decisions for each patient. This review introduces molecular biomarkers and detection methods in liquid biopsy for PC, including circulating tumour cells (CTCs), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), and extracellular vesicles (EVs) or exosomes. Additionally, we summarize the applications of liquid biopsy in the early diagnosis, treatment response, resistance assessment, and prognostic evaluation of PC.

Biomineralization of uranium by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans A3-21ZLL under various hydrochemical conditions.

Uranium pollution in groundwater environment has become an important issue of global concern. In this study, a strain of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was isolated from the tailings of acid heap leaching, and was shown to be able to remove uranium from water via biosorption, bio-reduction, passive biomineralization under uranium stress, and active metabolically dependent bioaccumulation. This research explored the effects of nutrients, pH, initial uranium and sulfate concentration on the functional groups, uranium valence, and crystal size and morphology of uranium immobilization products. Results showed that tetravalent and hexavalent phosphorus-containing uranium minerals was both formed. In sulfate-containing water where Desulfovibrio desulfuricans A3-21ZLL can grow, the sequestration of uranium by bio-reduction was significantly enhanced compared to that with no sulfate loading or no growth. Ungrown Desulfovibrio desulfuricans A3-21ZLL or dead ones released inorganic phosphate group in response to the stress of uranium, which associated with soluble uranyl ion to form insoluble uranium-containing precipitates. This study revealed the influence of hydrochemical conditions on the mineralogy characteristics and spatial distribution of microbial uranium immobilization products. This study is conducive to the long-term and stable bioremediation of groundwater in decommissioned uranium mining area.