Traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and applications of Labisia pumila: A comprehensive review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Labisia pumila (Blume) Fern.-Vill, also known as Kacip Fatimah, is a traditional medicinal herb common throughout Southeast Asia. It is primarily used to facilitate childbirth and postpartum recovery in women. Additionally, it can also be used to treat dysentery, rheumatism, gonorrhea, and as an anti-flatulent. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the traditional uses, botany, cultivation, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, practical applications, and potential uses of L. pumila (LP). Furthermore, we also explore the safety of this plant and its potential prospects for application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The keywords "Labisia pumila," "Kacip Fatimah," and "Marantodes pumilum" were used to collect relevant information through electronic searches (including Elsevier, PubMed, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science). RESULTS: This review summarizes 102 chemical components from different parts of the plant, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, and other chemical components. In addition, we also address the associated cultivation conditions, traditional uses, pharmacological effects and toxicity. A large number of reports indicate that LP has various pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, phytoestrogenic, antiinflammtory, antimicrobial, anti-osteoporosis and anti-obesity properties. These results provide valuable references for future research on LP. In addition, LP is also a potential medicinal and edible plant, and is currently sold on the market as a dietary supplement. CONCLUSIONS: LP is a renowned traditional ethnic medicine with numerous pharmacological activities attributed to its bioactive components. Therefore, isolation and identification of the chemical components in LP can be a focus of our future research. Current studies have focused only on the effects of LP on estrogen deficiency-related diseases in women and bone diseases. There is no scientific evidence for other traditional uses. Therefore, it is important to further explore its pharmacological activities and fill the research gaps related to other traditional uses. Furthermore, research on its safety should be expanded to prepare clinical applications.

Precisely targeted drug delivery by mesenchymal stem cells-based biomimetic liposomes to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injured hemisphere.

The precise and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to the lesion sites remains a major challenge in treating brain diseases represented by ischemic stroke. Herein, we modified liposomes with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) membrane to construct biomimetic liposomes, termed MSCsome. MSCsome (115.99 ± 4.03 nm) exhibited concentrated accumulation in the cerebral infarcted hemisphere of mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, while showing uniform distribution in the two cerebral hemispheres of normal mice. Moreover, MSCsome exhibited high colocalization with damaged nerve cells in the infarcted hemisphere, highlighting its advantageous precise targeting capabilities over liposomes at both the tissue and cellular levels. Leveraging its superior targeting properties, MSCsome effectively delivered Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) to the injured hemisphere, making a single-dose (15 mg/kg) intravenous injection of NBP-encapsulated MSCsome facilitate the recovery of motor functions in model mice by improving the damaged microenvironment and suppressing neuroinflammation. This study underscores that the modification of the MSC membrane notably enhances the capacity of liposomes for precisely targeting the injured hemisphere, which is particularly crucial in treating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Furan-Tethered Benzocyclobutenes via Carbene-Mediated 1,4-Sulfinate Migration-Annulation.

A copper-catalyzed intramolecular cascade reaction of conjugated enynones has been achieved via a pivotal 1,4-sulfinate migration step. This process leverages a cost-effective and ecofriendly copper salt as catalyst, enabling the efficient construction of five- and four-membered rings in a rapid, sequential manner, producing furan-tethered benzocyclobutenes in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. The reaction is characterized by 100% atom economy, outstanding efficiency, and excellent diastereoselectivity in the cases studied. The robustness of this method is evidenced by its compatibility with air exposure and the use of undistilled, commercially available solvents, further enhancing its practicality.

[Effects and Mechanisms of Polystyrene Microplastics on Extracellular Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Wastewater].

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are typical co-existing emerging pollutants in wastewater treatment plants. MPs have been shown to alter the distribution pattern of ARGs in sludge, but their effects on free extracellular ARGs (feARGs) in wastewater remain unclear. In this study, we used fluorescence quantitative PCR to investigate the dynamics of feARGs (including tetC, tetO, sul1, and sul2) in wastewater and their transition mechanisms after 60 d of exposure to typical MPs (polystyrene, PS). The results showed that the absolute abundance of tetracycline feARGs decreased by 28.4 %-76.0 % and 35.2 %-96.2 %, respectively, under nm-level and mm-level PS exposure and changed by -55.4 %-122.4 % under µm-level PS exposure. The abundance of sul1 showed a trend of nm-level > µm-level > mm-level upon PS exposure, and the changes in sul1 abundance was greater with ρ(PS)=50 mg·L-1 exposure. The relative abundance of sul2 was reduced by 25.4 %-42.6 % and 46.1 %-90.3 % after µm-level and mm-level PS exposure, respectively, and increased by 1.9-3.9 times after nm-level PS exposure, and the sul2 showed a higher reduction at ρ (PS)=50 mg·L-1 exposure than that at ρ (PS)=0.5 mg·L-1. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that the relative abundance of feARGs during PS exposure was positively correlated with cell membrane permeability and typical mobile genetic elements (intI1) abundance and negatively correlated with reactive oxygen species level. Our findings elucidated the effects and corresponding mechanisms of PS on the growth and mobility of feARGs in wastewater, providing a scientific basis for the control of the combined MPs and ARGs pollution in wastewater.

Adaptation mechanism of three Impatiens species to different habitats based on stem morphology, lignin and MYB4 gene.

BACKGROUND: Impatiens is an important genus with rich species of garden plants, and its distribution is extremely extensive, which is reflected in its diverse ecological environment. However, the specific mechanisms of Impatiens' adaptation to various environments and the mechanism related to lignin remain unclear. RESULTS: Three representative Impatiens species,Impatiens chlorosepala (wet, low degree of lignification), Impatiens uliginosa (aquatic, moderate degree of lignification) and Impatiens rubrostriata (terrestrial, high degree of lignification), were selected and analyzed for their anatomical structures, lignin content and composition, and lignin-related gene expression. There are significant differences in anatomical parameters among the stems of three Impatiens species, and the anatomical structure is consistent with the determination results of lignin content. Furthermore, the thickness of the xylem and cell walls, as well as the ratio of cell wall thickness to stem diameter have a strong correlation with lignin content. The anatomical structure and degree of lignification in Impatiens can be attributed to the plant's growth environment, morphology, and growth rate. Our analysis of lignin-related genes revealed a negative correlation between the MYB4 gene and lignin content. The MYB4 gene may control the lignin synthesis in Impatiens by controlling the structural genes involved in the lignin synthesis pathway, such as HCT, C3H, and COMT. Nonetheless, the regulation pathway differs between species of Impatiens. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated consistency between the stem anatomy of Impatiens and the results obtained from lignin content and composition analyses. It is speculated that MYB4 negatively regulates the lignin synthesis in the stems of three Impatiens species by regulating the expression of structural genes, and its regulation mechanism appears to vary across different Impatiens species. This study analyses the variations among different Impatiens plants in diverse habitats, and can guide further molecular investigations of lignin biosynthesis in Impatiens.

Early cartilage lesion and 5-year incident joint surgery in knee osteoarthritis patients: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the association between cartilage lesion-related features observed in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients' first MRI examination and incident knee surgery within 5 years. Additionally, to assess the predictive value of these features for the incident knee surgery. METHODS: We identified patients diagnosed with knee OA and treated at our institution between January 2015 and January 2018, and retrieved their baseline clinical data and first MRI examination films from the information system. Next, we proceeded to determine joint space narrowing grade, cartilage lesion size grade, cartilage full-thickness loss grade and cartilage lesion sum score for the medial and lateral compartments, respectively. Generalized linear regression models examined the association of these features with 5-year incident knee surgery. Positive and negative predictive values (PPVs and NPVs) were determined referring to 5-year incident knee surgery. RESULTS: Totally, 878 participants (knees) were found eligible to form the study population. Within the 5 years, surgery was performed on 61 knees. None of the cartilage-related features had been found significantly associated with incident surgery. The results were similar for medial and lateral compartments. The PPVs were low for all the features. CONCLUSIONS: Among symptomatic clinically diagnosed OA knees, cartilage lesions observed in the first MRI examinations were not found to be associated with the occurrence of joint surgery within a 5-year period. All these cartilage-related features appear to have no additional value in predicting 5-year incident joint surgery.

Preoperative prognostic nutritional index predicts long-term outcomes of patients with ampullary adenocarcinoma after curative pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), a marker of immune-nutrition balance, has predictive value for the survival and prognosis of patients with various cancers. AIM: To explore the clinical significance of the preoperative PNI on the prognosis of ampullary adenocarcinoma (AC) patients who underwent curative pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: The data concerning 233 patients diagnosed with ACs were extracted and analyzed at our institution from January 1998 to December 2020. All patients were categorized into low and high PNI groups based on the cutoff value determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. We compared disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between these groups and assessed prognostic factors through univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The optimal cutoff value for the PNI was established at 45.3. Patients with a PNI ≥ 45.3 were categorized into the PNI-high group, while those with a PNI < 45.3 were assigned to the PNI-low group. Patients within the PNI-low group tended to be of advanced age and exhibited higher levels of aspartate transaminase and total bilirubin and a lower creatinine level than were those in the PNI-high group. The 5-year OS rates for patients with a PNI ≥ 45.3 and a PNI < 45.3 were 61.8% and 43.4%, respectively, while the 5-year DFS rates were 53.5% and 38.3%, respectively. Patients in the PNI- low group had shorter OS (P = 0.006) and DFS (P = 0.012). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that the PNI, pathological T stage and pathological N stage were found to be independent prognostic factors for both OS and DFS. CONCLUSION: The PNI is a straightforward and valuable marker for predicting long-term survival after pancreatoduodenectomy. The PNI should be incorporated into the standard assessment of patients with AC.

Fe-TiO2-x/TiO2 S-scheme homojunction for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

CO2-to-high value-added chemicals via a photocatalytic route is of interest but strangled by the low efficiency. Herein, a novel Fe-TiO2-x/TiO2 S-scheme homojunction was designed and constructed by using a facile surface modification approach whereby oxygen vacancy (OV) and Fe introducing on the TiO2 nanorod surface. The as-synthesized Fe-TiO2-x/TiO2 S-scheme homojunction exhibits positive properties on promoting photocatalytic CO2 reduction: i) the nanorod structure provides numerous active sites and a radical charge transfer path; ii) the doped Fe and OV not only synergistically enhance light utilization but also promote CO2 adsorption; iii) the Fe-TiO2-x/TiO2 S-scheme homojunction benefits photoexcited charge separation and retains stronger redox capacity. Thanks to those good characters, the Fe-TiO2-x/TiO2 homojunction exhibits superior CO2 reduction performances with optimized CO/CH4 generation rates of 122/22 µmol g-1h-1 which exceed those of pure TiO2 by more than 9.4/7.3 folds and most currently reported catalytic systems. This manuscript develops a facile and universal approach to synthesize well-defined homojunction and may inspire the construction of other more high-efficiency photocatalysts toward CO2 reduction and beyond.

Comprehensive analysis based on the disulfidptosis-related genes identifies hub genes and immune infiltration for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a prevalent and aggressive malignancy in the digestive tract, requiring accurate prediction and effective treatment strategies. Recently, the discovery of disulfidptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death characterized by abnormal disulfide accumulation, has sparked interest in its role in PAAD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in PAAD. Using publicly available databases, we conducted a comprehensive analysis exploring the complex relationships between DRGs and important aspects of PAAD, including gene expression, immune response, mutation, drug sensitivity, and functional enrichment. Notably, we observed significant heterogeneity among different disulfidptosis subclusters and identified specific differentially expressed genes in PAAD. Through machine learning techniques, we identified SLC7A11, S100A4, DIAPH3, PRDX1, and SLC7A7 as the most relevant hub genes. We further validated their significance in PAAD by considering their expression patterns, prognostic value, diagnostic potential, diagnostic model, and immune infiltration. This study presents exciting opportunities and challenges in unraveling the underlying mechanisms of PAAD prognosis. It also establishes a foundation for personalized cancer care and the development of innovative immunotherapeutic strategies. By shedding light on the role of DRGs, particularly hub genes, we enhance our understanding and management of PAAD.

Pigmentiphaga kullae CHJ604 improved the growth of tobacco by degrading allelochemicals and xenobiotics in continuous cropping obstacles.

Plant autotoxicity is considered to be one of the important causes of continuous cropping obstacles in modern agriculture, which accumulates a lot of allelochemicals and xenobiotics and is difficult to solve effectively. To overcome tobacco continuous obstacles, a strain Pigmentiphaga kullae CHJ604 isolated from the environment can effectively degrade these compounds in this study. CHJ604 strain can degrade 11 types of autotoxicity allelochemicals and xenobiotics (1646.22 µg/kg) accumulated in the soil of ten-years continuous cropping of tobacco. The 11 allelochemicals and xenobiotics significantly reduced Germination Percentage (GP), Germination Index (GI), and Mean Germination Time (MGT) of tobacco seeds, and inhibited the development of leaves, stems, and roots. These negative disturbances can be eliminated by CHJ604 strain. The degradation pathways of 11 allelochemicals and xenobiotics were obtained by whole genome sequence and annotation of CHJ604 strain. The heterologous expression of a terephthalate 1,2-dioxygenase can catalyze 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde, respectively. The phthalate 4,5-dioxygenase can catalyze phthalic acid, diisobutyl phthalate, and dibutyl phthalate. These two enzymes are conducive to the simultaneous degradation of multiple allelochemicals and xenobiotics by strain CHJ604. This study provides new insights into the biodegradation of autotoxicity allelochemicals and xenobiotics as it is the first to describe a degrading bacterium of 11 types of allelochemicals and xenobiotics and their great potential in improving tobacco continuous obstacles.

Adjuvant Therapy-Free Strategy for Stage IB to IIIA Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients After Radical Resection Based on Longitudinal Undetectable Molecular Residual Disease: Prospective, Multicenter, Single-Arm Study (CTONG 2201).

BACKGROUND: The utility of circulating tumor DNA to monitor molecular residual disease (MRD) has been clinically confirmed to predict disease recurrence in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after radical resection. Patients with longitudinal undetectable MRD show a favorable prognosis and might not benefit from adjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The CTONG 2201 trial is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT05457049), designed to evaluate the hypothesis that no adjuvant therapy is needed for patients with longitudinal undetectable MRD. Pathologically confirmed stage IB-IIIA NSCLC patients who have undergone radical resection will be screened. Only patients with 2 consecutive rounds of undetectable MRD will be enrolled (first at days 3-10, second at days 30 ± 7 after surgery), and admitted for imaging and MRD monitoring every 3 months without adjuvant therapy. The primary endpoint is the 2-year disease-free survival rate for those with longitudinal undetectable MRD. The recruitment phase began in August 2022 and 180 patients will be enrolled. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective trial will contribute data to confirm the negative predictive value of MRD on adjuvant therapy for NSCLC patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05457049 (CTONG 2201).

Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Rivaroxaban and Risk Factors for Bleeding in Elderly Patients with Venous Thromboembolism: A Real-World, Multicenter, Observational, Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) consists of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Rivaroxaban is a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) inhibiting activated coagulation factor X (FXa), and exerts several advantages in the treatment of VTE compared to conventional therapy. However, the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in elderly patients with VTE was still poorly understood. METHODS: The study was carried out using an observational and non-interventional approach. A total of 576 patients aged ≥ 60 years with newly diagnosed VTE were included in the study. All patients received rivaroxaban with recommended treatment duration of ≥ 3 months for secondary prevention. In addition, 535 elderly patients with various diseases except VTE were included in the study in a retrospective and randomized way. RESULTS: The total bleeding rate was 12.2% (70/576). Major bleeding and non-major clinically relevant (NMCR) bleeding occurred in 4 (0.69%) patients and 5 (0.87%) patients, respectively. The rate of recurrent VTE was 5.4%. The mean level of D-dimers was increased by 467.2% in the elderly patients with VTE compared with the elderly patients without VTE. The elderly patients with VTE receiving rivaroxaban at a dose of 10 mg once daily (n = 134) had lower risk for bleeding (3.7% vs 14.7%; P = 0.001) and a similar rate of recurrent VTE (4.5% vs 5.7%; P = 0.596) as compared to the elderly patients with VTE receiving rivaroxaban at higher doses including 15 mg once daily and 20 mg once daily (n = 442). In addition, age, concomitant aspirin, hemoglobin, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and rivaroxaban doses were independent predictive factors for bleeding events. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggested that a dose of 10 mg once daily should be the priority in elderly patients with VTE receiving long-term rivaroxaban anticoagulation therapy in view of reduced bleeding risk.

The relationship between attention networks and individual differences in visual mental imagery vividness - An EEG study.

Previous research has established a strong link between attention and visual mental imagery, but it's remained uncertain whether attention networks influence individual differences in the vividness of visual mental imagery. In our study, we examined 140 participants, assessing the vividness of imagery using the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire in both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. We employed the Attention Network Test, coupled with EEG recording, to characterize three attention sub-networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control. To pinpoint the specific attentional networks associated with the vividness of visual mental imagery, we utilized latent profile analysis to categorize participants into distinct subgroups. Additionally, we constructed a regression mixture model to explore how attention networks predict different latent categories of visual imagery vividness. Our findings revealed that the efficiency of the alerting network, as indicated by the N1 component, demonstrated a positive correlation with the vividness of visual imagery. This electrophysiological evidence underscores the role of the alerting network in shaping individual differences in the vividness of visual mental imagery.

Analysis of textbook outcomes for ampullary carcinoma patients following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Textbook outcomes (TOs) have been used to assess the quality of surgical treatment for many digestive tumours but not ampullary carcinoma (AC). AIM: To discuss the factors associated with achieving a TO and further explore the prognostic value of a TO for AC patients undergoing curative pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: Patients who underwent PD at the China National Cancer Center between 1998 and 2020 were identified. A TO was defined by R0 resection, examination of ≥ 12 Lymph nodes, no prolonged hospitalization, no intensive care unit treatment, no postoperative complications, and no 30-day readmission or mortality. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the prognostic value of a TO for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of a TO. The rate of a TO and of each indicator were compared in patients who underwent surgery before and after 2010. RESULTS: Ultimately, only 24.3% of 272 AC patients achieved a TO. A TO was independently associated with improved OS [hazard ratio (HR): 0.443, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.276-0.711, P = 0.001] and RFS (HR: 0.379, 95%CI: 0.228-0.629, P < 0.001) in the Cox regression analysis. Factors independently associated with a TO included a year of surgery between 2010 and 2020 (OR: 4.549, 95%CI: 2.064-10.028, P < 0.001) and N1 stage disease (OR: 2.251, 95%CI: 1.023-4.954, P = 0.044). In addition, the TO rate was significantly higher in patients who underwent surgery after 2010 (P < 0.001) than in those who underwent surgery before 2010. CONCLUSION: Only approximately a quarter (24.3%) of AC patients achieved a TO following PD. A TO was independently related to favourable oncological outcomes in AC and should be considered as an outcome measure for the quality of surgery. Further multicentre research is warranted to better elucidate its impact.

Novel prognostic score based on the preoperative total bilirubin-albumin ratio and fibrinogen-albumin ratio in ampullary adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The preoperative total bilirubin-albumin ratio (TBAR) and fibrinogen-albumin ratio (FAR) have been proven to be valuable prognostic factors in various cancers. AIM: To detect the prognostic value of TBAR and FAR in ampullary adenocarcinoma (AC) patients who underwent curative pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: AC patients who underwent curative pancreaticoduodenectomy in the National Cancer Center of China between 1998 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The prognostic cutoff values of TBAR and FAR were determined through the best survival separation model. Then, a novel prognostic score combining TBAR and FAR was calculated and validated through the logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 188 AC patients were enrolled in the current study. The best cutoff values of TBAR and FAR for predicting overall survival were 1.7943 and 0.1329, respectively. AC patients were divided into a TBAR-low group (score = 0) vs a TBAR-high group (score = 1) and a FAR-low group (score = 0) vs a FAR-high group (score = 1). The total score was calculated as a novel prognostic factor. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that a high score was an independent protective factor for recurrence [score = 1 vs score = 0: Odds ratio (OR) = 0.517, P = 0.046; score = 2 vs score = 0 OR = 0.236, P = 0.038]. In addition, multivariable survival analysis also demonstrated that a high score was an independent protective factor in AC patients (score = 2 vs score = 0: Hazard ratio = 0.230, P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: A novel prognostic score based on preoperative TBAR and FAR has been demonstrated to have good predictive power in AC patients who underwent curative pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, more studies with larger samples are needed to validate this conclusion.

Z-Selective access to α-trifluoromethyl arylenes through Pd-catalysed fluoroarylation of 1,1-difluoroallenes.

The synthesis of stereo-defined α-trifluoromethyl arylenes is of great importance in medical chemistry, organic chemistry, and materials science. However, despite the recent advances, the Z-selective formation of α-trifluoromethyl arylenes has remained underdeveloped. Here, we describe a facile approach towards Z-α-trifluoromethyl arylenes through Pd-catalysed stereoselective fluoroarylation of 1,1-difluoroallenes in the presence of a bulky monophosphine ligand.

DNA methylation-activated full-length EMX1 facilitates metastasis through EMX1-EGFR-ERK axis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Altered DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic event in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and progression. Through methylation-transcriptomic analysis, we identified a set of sixty potential DNA methylation-based epidriver genes. In this set of genes, we focused on the hypermethylation of EMX1, which is frequently observed in hepatobiliary tumors. Despite of its frequent occurrence, the function of EMX1 remains largely unknown. By utilizing bisulfite-next-generation sequencing, we have detected EMX1 DNA hypermethylation on the gene body, which is positively correlated with EMX1 mRNA expression. Further analysis revealed that EMX1 mRNA terminal exon splicing in HCC generated two protein isoforms: EMX1 full length (EMX1-FL) and alternative terminal exon splicing isoform (EMX1-X1). Cellular functional assays demonstrated that gain-of-function EMX1-FL, but not EMX1-X1, induced HCC cells migration and invasion while silencing EMX1-FL inhibited HCC cells motility. This result was further validated by in vivo tumor metastasis models. Mechanistically, EMX1-FL bound to EGFR promoter, promoting EGFR transcription and activating EGFR-ERK signaling to trigger tumor metastasis. Therefore, EGFR may be a potential therapeutic target for EMX1-high expression HCC. Our work illuminated the crucial role of gene body hypermethylation-activated EMX1-FL in promoting tumorigenesis and metastasis in HCC. These findings pave the way for targeting the EMX1-EGFR axis in HCC tumorigenicity and metastasis.

Identification of disulfidptosis-related genes and immune infiltration in lower-grade glioma.

Lower-grade glioma (LGG), a prevalent malignant tumor in the central nervous system, requires accurate prediction and treatment to prevent aggressive progression. We aimed to explore the role of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in LGG, a recently discovered form of programmed cell death characterized by abnormal disulfide accumulation. Leveraging public databases, we analyzed 532 LGG tumor tissues (The Cancer Genome Atlas), 1,157 normal samples (Genotype-Tissue Expression), and 21 LGG tumor samples with 8 paired normal samples (GSE16011). Our research uncovered intricate relationships between DRGs and crucial aspects of LGG, including gene expression, immune response, mutation, drug sensitivity, and functional enrichment. Notably, we identified significant heterogeneity among disulfidptosis sub-clusters and elucidated specific differential gene expression in LGG, with myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL1) as a key candidate. Machine learning techniques validated the relevance of MCL1, considering its expression patterns, prognostic value, diagnostic potential, and impact on immune infiltration. Our study offers opportunities and challenges to unravel potential mechanisms underlying LGG prognosis, paving the way for personalized cancer care and innovative immunotherapeutic strategies. By shedding light on DRGs, particularly MCL1, we enhance understanding and management of LGG.

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach with neuroendocrine differentiation: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Both hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS) and neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) are rare histological subtypes of gastric cancer with unique clinicopathological features and unfavorable outcomes. HAS with NED is even rarer. CASE SUMMARY: Here, we report a 61-year-old man with HAS with NED, as detected by gastric wall thickening by positron emission tomography/computed tomography for a pulmonary nodule. Distal gastrectomy was performed, and pathological examination led to the diagnosis of HAS with NED. However, liver metastases occurred 6 mo later despite adjuvant chemotherapy, and the patient died 27 mo postoperatively. CONCLUSION: We treated a patient with HAS with NED who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy after radical surgery and still developed liver metastases. We first report the detailed processes of the treatment and development of HAS with NED, providing an important reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this condition.