AFF4 regulates cellular adipogenic differentiation via targeting autophagy.

Transcriptional elongation is a universal and critical step during gene expression. The super elongation complex (SEC) regulates the rapid transcriptional induction by mobilizing paused RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Dysregulation of SEC is closely associated with human diseases. However, the physiological role of SEC during development and homeostasis remains largely unexplored. Here we studied the function of SEC in adipogenesis by manipulating an essential scaffold protein AF4/FMR2 family member 4 (AFF4), which assembles and stabilizes SEC. Knockdown of AFF4 in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes inhibits cellular adipogenic differentiation. Overexpression of AFF4 enhances adipogenesis and ectopic adipose tissue formation. We further generate Fabp4-cre driven adipose-specific Aff4 knockout mice and find that AFF4 deficiency impedes adipocyte development and white fat depot formation. Mechanistically, we discover AFF4 regulates autophagy during adipogenesis. AFF4 directly binds to autophagy-related protein ATG5 and ATG16L1, and promotes their transcription. Depleting ATG5 or ATG16L1 abrogates adipogenesis in AFF4-overepressing cells, while overexpression of ATG5 and ATG16L1 rescues the impaired adipogenesis in Aff4-knockout cells. Collectively, our results unveil the functional importance of AFF4 in regulating autophagy and adipogenic differentiation, which broaden our understanding of the transcriptional regulation of adipogenesis.

DNA demethylase ALKBH1 promotes adipogenic differentiation via regulation of HIF-1 signaling.

DNA N6-adenine methylation (6mA), as a novel adenine modification existing in eukaryotes, shows essential functions in embryogenesis and mitochondrial transcriptions. ALKBH1 is a demethylase of 6mA and plays critical roles in osteogenesis, tumorigenesis, and adaptation to stress. However, the integrated biological functions of ALKBH1 still require further exploration. Here, we demonstrate that knockdown of ALKBH1 inhibits adipogenic differentiation in both human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, while overexpression of ALKBH1 leads to increased adipogenesis. Using a combination of RNA-seq and N6-mA-DNA-IP-seq analyses, we identify hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling as a crucial downstream target of ALKBH1 activity. Depletion of ALKBH1 leads to hypermethylation of both HIF-1α and its downstream target GYS1. Simultaneous overexpression of HIF-1α and GYS1 restores the adipogenic commitment of ALKBH1-deficient cells. Taken together, our data indicate that ALKBH1 is indispensable for adipogenic differentiation, revealing a novel epigenetic mechanism that regulates adipogenesis.

[Genetic diagnosis of a Chinese pedigree affected with Alazami syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology for a Chinese pedigree affected with Alazami syndrome. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted for 2 patients and 2 unaffected members from the pedigree. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect potential variant in the proband, and the result was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The proband and her sister were both found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of LARP7 gene, namely c.94A>T (p.Lys32*) and c.1141A>G (p.Lys381Glu), which were inherited from their father and mother, respectively. Both variants were predicted to be pathogenic based on bioinformatic analysis. CONCLUSION: The two variants of the LARP7 gene, both were unreported previously, probably underlay the Alazami syndrome in this pedigree. Above finding has expanded the mutational spectrum of the LARP7 gene.

Activation of WNT7b autocrine eases metastasis of colorectal cancer via epithelial to mesenchymal transition and predicts poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway is one of the most frequent abnormalities in human cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Previous studies revealed pivotal functions of WNT family members in colorectal cancer, as well as their prognostic values. Nevertheless, the prognostic role and mechanisms underlying WNT7b in colorectal cancer development remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, WNT7b expression was measured by immunohistochemical staining of 100 cases of surgically resected human colorectal cancerous tissues as well as matched adjacent normal tissues constructed as tissue microarrays. In vitro studies, we attempted to substantiate the WNT7b expressional pattern previously found in immunohistochemistry staining. We used the colorectal cancer cell-line HCT116 and normal colorectal cell-line FHC for immunofluorescence staining and nuclear/cytoplasmic separated western blotting. We measured epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and migration capacity of HCT116 in the context of WNT7b knocked-down using short interfering RNA. Finally, clinical and prognostic values of WNT7b activation levels were examined. RESULTS: WNT7b was expressed in the nucleus in adjacent normal tissues. In CRC tissues, nuclear expression of WNT7b was similar; however, membrane and cytoplasmic expression was strikingly enhanced. Consistently, in vitro analysis confirmed the same expression pattern of WNT7b. Compared with FHC cells, HCT116 cells displayed higher levels of WNT7b membrane and cytoplasmic enrichment, as well as higher migration capacity with a sensitized EMT process. Either partial knockdown of WNT7b or blockade of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway reversed EMT process and inhibited the migration of HCT116 cells. Finally, elevated secretion levels of WNT7b were significantly associated with lymphatic and remote metastasis and predicted worse prognosis in the CRC cohort. CONCLUSION: In summary, we demonstrated that the activation of WNT7b autocrine probably contributes to CRC metastasis by triggering EMT process through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. High levels of WNT7b autocrine secretion predicts poor outcome in patients with CRC. This molecule is a promising candidate for clinical CRC treatments.

Comparison of combinations of irradiation techniques and jaw conditions in intensity-modulated radiotherapy for lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To assist in the selection of a suitable combination of an irradiation technique and jaw condition in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) for lung cancer treatment plans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with lung cancer who underwent radiotherapy were enrolled retrospectively. They were categorized as having central lung cancer, peripheral lung cancer with mediastinal lymph node metastasis (peripheral E lung cancer), and peripheral lung cancer without mediastinal lymph node metastasis (peripheral N lung cancer). Four treatment plans were designed for each patient: fixed jaw and adaptive jaw IMRT technique (FJ-IMRT and JA-IMRT), and fixed jaw and jaw tracking VMAT technique (FJ-VMAT and JT-VMAT). The dose parameters of the four group plans were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to FJ-IMRT, JA-IMRT significantly reduced the mean dose (Dmean ) and volume percentage of 5 Gy (V5Gy ) of the total lung in central and peripheral N lung cancer. Similarly, compared to FJ-VMAT, JT-VMAT provided better protection to most organs at risk (OARs), particularly for total lung and heart. In comparison with IMRT, VMAT significantly improved the conformity index (CI) of the planning target volume for the three lung cancer classifications, and it reduced the dose of almost all OARs except V5Gy and Dmean of the total lung. Moreover, the mean monitor units of the VMAT groups were far lower than the IMRT groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the dosimetric findings and considering clinical data published on lung and heart side effects, we propose recommendations on the preferred treatment technique based on tumor location and pulmonary function. For central lung cancer with normal pulmonary function, we advise JT-VMAT techniques. Conversely, for central lung cancer with poor pulmonary function, we recommend JA-IMRT techniques. We advocate JA-IMRT for peripheral E lung cancer. For peripheral N lung cancer, JT-VMAT techniques are strongly recommended.

[Role of m 6A Reader YTHDC2 in Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the regulatory effect of YTH domain-containing protein 2 (YTHDC2), a member of N 6-methyladenosine (m 6A) readers, on the osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). METHODS: YTHDC2 expression was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in vitro. Osteogenic differentiation and adipogenic differentiation of hBMSCs were induced after YTHDC2 knockdown in order to study the changes in the differentiation phenotype of hBMSCs. Alkaline phosphatase staining (ALP staining) and alizarin red S staining were performed to examine osteogenic activity and calcium-nodular formation. Nile red staining was performed to examine lipid-droplet formation. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to assess the expression of osteogenesis and adipogenesis-related genes. RNA-sequencing was performed to identify the transcriptome changes after YTHDC2 knockdown and to explore the potential regulatory mechanism by which YTHDC2 regulated the diferentiation of hBMSCs. RESULTS: In this study, we found that siRNA-induced YTHDC2 knockdown resulted in increased ALP activity and calcium-nodular formation of hBMSCs during osteogenic differentiation, and significantly upregulated the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. In addition, the lipid-droplet formation capacity of hBMSCs was decreased during adipogenic differentiation. The expression of adipogenesis-related genes was significantly down-regulated. Gene-set enrichmen analysis of RNA-seq data showed that YTHDC2 was significantly correlated with ribosome function and mRNA-translation-related signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that YTHDC2 knockdown can promote the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs and inhibit the adipogenic differentiation. YTHDC2 knockdown may cause changes in ribosome function.

Weekly Chemotherapy of 5-Fluorouracil plus Cisplatin Concurrent with Radiotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients with Postoperative Locoregional Recurrence: Results from a Phase II Study.

LESSONS LEARNED: Weekly treatment with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, concurrent with radiotherapy, achieved promising response rates in patients with postoperative recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Superior toxicity results were also found. BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is one of the treatment strategies for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with postoperative locoregional recurrence. However, the once every 3 weeks chemotherapy regimen causes a high incidence of toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of weekly 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin concurrent with radiotherapy in postoperative locoregional recurrent ESCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients received four weekly chemotherapy cycles of cisplatin (25 mg/m2 , day 1) plus 5-FU (1,176 mg/m2 , day 1-3), and concurrent with radiotherapy (50.4-60 Gy). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary objectives were toxicity, disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Between January 2013 and December 2015, 48 patients were enrolled. The ORR was 68.8% (12 patients with complete response, 21 patients with partial response), with DCR 68.8%. No treatment-related grade 4 adverse events occurred. Grade 3 hematologic toxicities were observed in eight (17%) patients. Grade 3 vomiting or esophagitis occurred in four (8%) patients each. The median PFS and OS were 13.94 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-51.05) and 27.43 months (95% CI, 5.278-49.58; Fig. 1). CONCLUSION: Weekly 5-FU and cisplatin concurrent with radiotherapy achieved a promising response rate and improved toxicity in patients with postoperative locoregional recurrent ESCC.

Management of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with MET Exon 14 Skipping Mutations.

OPINION STATEMENT: The MET exon 14 skipping mutation is found in approximately 3% of lung adenocarcinomas and slightly more than 2% of lung squamous cell carcinomas. In recent years, more and more evidence has shown that MET inhibitors have achieved good anti-tumor effect in patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutation, suggesting that MET exon 14 skipping mutation may be a new target for NSCLC patients. Patients with positive MET exon 14 skipping mutation are recommended to be administered MET inhibitors, and crizotinib is recommended by the NCCN guideline. Due to the presence of gene amplification, second site mutation, bypass activation, and pathological type transformation, one of the inevitable problems of targeted therapy is drug resistance. If type I MET inhibitors (crizotinib, capmatinib, tepotinib, savolitinib) drug resistance is developed, type II MET inhibitors (cabozantinib, glesatinib, merestinib) can be considered.

Illness prevalence rate in Tibet, China: data from the 2018 National Health Service Survey.

BACKGROUND: Tibet is located in the high-altitude area of Southwest China, where the health level is influenced by specific factors such as the natural environment and living habits. However, there has been little research that has focused on Tibetan health conditions. The two-week prevalence rate is an important indicator of the health level of residents. The purpose of this study was to understand the health status of the residents and the health service needs in Tibet. METHODS: The two-week prevalence rate was calculated using data from a population of 10,493 individuals aged 15 and above that was obtained from the 2018 Sixth National Health Service Survey of Tibet. We initially analysed the types and associated factors of two-week illnesses in Tibetan. The influencing factors for the two-week prevalence rate in Tibet were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Subsequently, we assessed the severity of two-week illnesses by calculating the average days of the duration of the disease, the days of being bedridden and the days of being off work. RESULTS: The two-week illness prevalence rate was 20.1% in Tibet. Digestive system diseases were frequent, and hypertension was the most common disease. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the two-week prevalence rate was associated with gender, age, residence, marital status, and employment status. In addition, the severity of two-week illnesses differed among the residents. CONCLUSION: This study identified that health service needs have increased in Tibet and that the health status of the local residents needs to be improved. Moreover, hypertension has become a major health hazard for the residents and should be considered in the utilization of health services.

Biochar-driven reduction of As(V) and Cr(VI): Effects of pyrolysis temperature and low-molecular-weight organic acids.

Batch experiments were conducted to examine the differential effects of biochar pyrolysis temperature and low-molecular-weight organic acids on the reduction of As(V) and Cr(VI) driven by Pennisetum hydridum biochar. The results showed that pyrolysis temperature significantly affected the reducing strength of the biochar. Biochar produced at 500 °C had a stronger electron-donating capacity than did the biochars produced at 300 and 700 °C. In the co-presence of the biochar and a low-molecular-weight organic acid, arsenic and chromium behaved differently. Oxalic acid and malic acid tended to have better effects on enhancing biochar-driven Cr(VI) reduction, as compared to citric acid while the opposite was observed for biochar-driven As(V) reduction. Biochar produced at 300 °C was more favourable for Cr(VI) reduction, as compared to the higher-temperature biochars while the opposite was observed for As(V) reduction in the presence of low-molecular-weight organic acids. This may make the lower-temperature biochar ideal for remediating contaminated soils containing both As(V) and Cr(VI) since it could maximize Cr(VI) reduction while minimizing As(V) reduction.

Effect of soluble calcium on enhancing nitrate retention by biochar.

Batch experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that nitrate (NO3-) could be immobilized by biochar via adsorption of CaNO3+ to the negatively charged biochar surfaces. The results show that addition of soluble Ca in both aqueous and soil systems enabled NO3- retention by the biochar material. Increase in the added Ca enhanced the retention rate and the optimal NO3- retention was gained at a Ca/NO3 molar ratio of 2 for the aqueous system. For the soil system, the Ca/NO3 molar ratio required to attain the optimal NO3- retention was much greater due to competition of other soil-borne ligands and soil colloids for the available Ca. At the same level of added Ca, the amount of NO3- being retained tended to increase with increasing dose of the biochar. More NO3- was retained in the soil system than in the aqueous system at the same dosage level of biochar due to additional adsorption of CaNO3+ by negatively changed soil organic and inorganic colloids. The findings obtained from this study have implications for developing effective methods for reducing NO3- leaching from soils.

Differential expression profiles of long noncoding RNAs in synchronous multiple and solitary primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas: A microarray analysis.

As a unique subtype of esophageal cancer, synchronous multiple primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) mostly occur in Asian patients with alcohol and/or tobacco abuse, or with a family history of cancer. Multiple ESCCs are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Growing evidence has addressed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the carcinogenesis of various malignancies. We compared the lncRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) profiles between solitary and multiple ESCC tissues through microarray analysis, aiming at studying their different mechanisms in tumor development. As a result, in multiple ESCCs, a total of 5257 lncRNAs and 3371 mRNAs were consistently differentially expressed compared with solitary ESCC, including 2986 upregulated and 2271 downregulated lncRNAs, and 2313 upregulated, and 1058 downregulated mRNAs. We validated the results in four differentially expressed lncRNAs using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. There were 38 and 20 pathways significantly related to up- and downregulated transcripts. The pathways associated with mostly enriched up- and downregulated mRNAs were hsa01200 (carbon metabolism) and hsa05221 (acute myeloid leukemia- homo sapiens [human]). Gene ontology analysis suggested that upregulated and downregulated mRNAs were mainly enriched in bounding membrane of organelle involved in the cellular component and positive regulation of transport involved in the biological process. Further analysis identified 189 differentially expressed paired antisense lncRNAs and relative sense mRNA, as well as 2134 differentially expressed long intergenic noncoding RNAs and their adjacent mRNA pairs. In conclusion, the aberrantly expressed lncRNAs might play a role in the carcinogenesis of multiple ESCCs and could be candidates as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Proteomic analysis of human periodontal ligament cells under hypoxia.

BACKGROUND: The periodontal ligament is essential for homeostasis of periodontal tissue. A hypoxic milieu of the periodontal tissue is generated under periodontitis or during orthodontic treatment, which affects the periodontal and bone remodelling process. Here, we provide a comprehensive proteomic characterization of periodontal ligament cells under hypoxic conditions, aiming to reveal previously unappreciated biological changes and to help advance hypoxia-based therapeutic strategies for periodontal diseases. METHODS: Human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) were characterized using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry (FACS). Successful hypoxia treatment of hPDLCs with 1% O2 was confirmed by qRT-PCR. Proliferation was evaluated using an MTT assay. The proteomic expression profile under hypoxia was studied with the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) approach followed by protein identification and bioinformatic analysis, and western blot verification was performed. RESULTS: The hPDLCs were positive for vimentin, CD73 and CD105 and negative for keratin, CD34 and CD45. After hypoxia treatment, the mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1a (HIF1a) was upregulated. The proliferation rate was elevated during the first 6 h but decreased from 6 h to 72 h. A total of 220 differentially expressed proteins were quantified in hPDLCs under hypoxia (1% O2, 24 h), including 153 upregulated and 67 downregulated proteins, five of which were verified by western blot analysis. The Gene Ontology enriched terms included the energy metabolic process, membrane-bound organelle and vesicle, and protein binding terms. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated several involved pathways, including glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, biosynthesis of amino acids, the HIF-1 signalling pathway, and focal adhesion. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network demonstrated the dominant role of autophagy over apoptosis under hypoxia. CONCLUSION: The proteomic profile of hPDLCs under hypoxia was mainly related to energy metabolism, autophagy, and responses to stimuli such as adhesion and inflammation. Previously unrecognized proteins including solute carrier family proteins, heat shock proteins, ubiquitination-related enzymes, collagen and S100 family proteins are involved in adaptive response to hypoxia in hPDLCs and are thus of great research interest in future work.

Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Biomarker Golgi Protein 73 Based on Magnetic Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay.

The magnetic enzyme-linked immunoassay (MEIA) based on magnetic nanoparticles as the solid phase was reported in this work. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have represented perfectly suitable materials for a variety of biomedical and biotechnological applications. Therefore, we used MEIA based on magnetic nanoparticles to provide a screening method for fast analysis of serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and healthy subjects and comparison was made with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Several relevant conditions, including the concentration of anti-GP73 monoclonal antibody and HRP-anti-human GP73 monoclonal antibody, amount of immunomagnetic beads, and the incubation time, were determined and optimized. Finally, the MEIA was successfully established and validated by 79 HCC and 64 healthy subjects. The results showed this method achieved a detection limit of 0.78 ng/mL, which was more sensitive than ELISA. Furthermore, the sensitivity and specificity of the MEIA were 78.43% and 91.47%, respectively, which were higher than ELISA. The MEIA based on MNPs proved to be simple, sensitive, specific and time-saving, therefore holds great potential for development of a commercial kit in the future.

Management of extramedullary plasmacytoma: Role of radiotherapy and prognostic factor analysis in 55 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential prognostic factors affecting patient outcomes and to evaluate the optimal methods and effects of radiotherapy (RT) in the management of extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP). METHODS: Data from 55 patients with EMP between November 1999 and August 2015 were collected. The median age was 51 (range, 22-77) years. The median tumor size was 3.5 (range, 1.0-15.0) cm. The median applied dose was 50.0 (range, 30.0-70.0) Gy. Thirty-nine patients (70.9%) presented with disease in the head or neck region. Twelve patients received RT alone, 9 received surgery (S) alone, 3 received chemotherapy (CT) alone, and 3 patients did not receive any treatment. Combination therapies were applied in 28 patients. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 56 months. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), multiple myeloma-free survival (MMFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 79.8%, 78.6%, 65.2% and 76.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that RT was a favourable factor for all examined endpoints. Furthermore, head and neck EMPs were associated with superior LRFS, MMFS and PFS. Tumor size <4 cm was associated with superior MMFS, PFS and OS; serum M protein negativity was associated with superior MMFS and PFS; age ≥50 years and local recurrence were associated with poor MMFS. The dose ≥45 Gy group exhibited superior 5-year LRFS, MMFS and PFS rates (94.7%, 94.4%, 90.0%, respectively), while the corresponding values for the dose <45 Gy group were 62.5% (P=0.008), 53.3% (P=0.036) and 41.7% (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Involved-site RT of at least 45 Gy should be considered for EMP. Furthermore, patients with head and neck EMP, tumor size <4 cm, age <50 years and serum M protein negativity had better outcomes.

NBS1 Glu185Gln polymorphism and susceptibility to urinary system cancer: a meta-analysis.

A number of studies have investigated the association between the NBS1 Glu185Gln (rs1805794, 8360 G>C) polymorphism and risk for urinary system cancer including bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and renal cell cancer; however, the findings are conflicting. We conducted a meta-analysis focusing on eight published studies with 3,542 cases and 4,210 controls to derive a more precise evaluation of the relationship between the NBS1 Glu185Gln polymorphism and urinary system cancer susceptibility. Overall, the NBS1 Glu185Gln polymorphism was significantly related to increased risk for urinary system cancer (homozygous model: odds ratio (OR)=1.23, 95 % confidence interval (95% CI)= 1.05­1.44, p=0.011; heterozygous model: OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.04­1.26, p=0.008; dominant model: OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.05­1.27, p=0.002; and Gln vs. Glu: OR=1.12, 9% CI=1.04­1.20, p=0.002) and further stratification analysis indicated an increased risk for bladder cancer (heterozygous model: OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.02­1.26, p=0.022; dominant model: OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.03­1.26, p=0.014; and Gln vs. Glu: OR=1.09, 95%CI=1.01­1.18, p=0.023) and Caucasian populations (homozygous model: OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.11­1.59, p=0.002; heterozygous model: OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.04­1.30, p=0.009; dominant model: OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.07­1.32, p=0.001; and Gln vs. Glu: OR=1.15, 95% CI=1.06­1.25, p<0.001). Despite some limitations, this meta-analysis established some solid statistical evidence for the association between NBS1 Glu185Gln polymorphism and increased risk for urinary system cancer, especially for bladder cancer, but more well-designed prospective studies are needed to further verify our findings.

Early infiltrating NKT lymphocytes attenuate bone regeneration through secretion of CXCL2.

Trauma rapidly mobilizes the immune response of surrounding tissues and activates regeneration program. Manipulating immune response to promote tissue regeneration shows a broad application prospect. However, the understanding of bone healing dynamics at cellular level remains limited. Here, we characterize the landscape of immune cells after alveolar bone injury and reveal a pivotal role of infiltrating natural killer T (NKT) cells. We observe a rapid increase in NKT cells after injury, which inhibit osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and impair alveolar bone healing. Cxcl2 is up-regulated in NKT cells after injury. Systemic administration of CXCL2-neutralizing antibody or genetic deletion of Cxcl2 improves the bone healing process. In addition, we fabricate a gelatin-based porous hydrogel to deliver NK1.1 depletion antibody, which successfully promotes alveolar bone healing. In summary, our study highlights the importance of NKT cells in the early stage of bone healing and provides a potential therapeutic strategy for accelerating bone regeneration.

CD97 inhibits osteoclast differentiation via Rap1a/ERK pathway under compression.

Acceleration of tooth movement during orthodontic treatment is challenging, with osteoclast-mediated bone resorption on the compressive side being the rate-limiting step. Recent studies have demonstrated that mechanoreceptors on the surface of monocytes/macrophages, especially adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs), play important roles in force sensing. However, its role in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation remains unclear. Herein, through single-cell analysis, we revealed that CD97, a novel mechanosensitive aGPCR, was expressed in macrophages. Compression upregulated CD97 expression and inhibited osteoclast differentiation; while knockdown of CD97 partially rescued osteoclast differentiation. It suggests that CD97 may be an important mechanosensitive receptor during osteoclast differentiation. RNA sequencing analysis showed that the Rap1a/ERK signalling pathway mediates the effects of CD97 on osteoclast differentiation under compression. Consistently, we clarified that administration of the Rap1a inhibitor GGTI298 increased osteoclast activity, thereby accelerating tooth movement. In conclusion, our results indicate that CD97 suppresses osteoclast differentiation through the Rap1a/ERK signalling pathway under orthodontic compressive force.

A novel evaluation model of image registration for cone-beam computed tomography guided lung cancer radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to establish a weighted comprehensive evaluation model (WCEM) of image registration for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) guided lung cancer radiotherapy that considers the geometric accuracy of gross target volume (GTV) and organs at risk (OARs), and assess the registration accuracy of different image registration methods to provide clinical references. METHODS: The planning CT and CBCT images of 20 lung cancer patients were registered using diverse algorithms (bony and grayscale) and regions of interest (target, ipsilateral, and body). We compared the coverage ratio (CR) of the planning target volume (PTVCT) to GTVCBCT, as well as the dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of the GTV and OARs, considering the treatment position across various registration methods. Furthermore, we developed a mathematical model to assess registration results comprehensively. This model was evaluated and validated using CRFs across four automatic registration methods. RESULTS: The grayscale registration method, coupled with the registration of the ipsilateral structure, exhibited the highest level of automatic registration accuracy, the DSC were 0.87 ± 0.09 (GTV), 0.71 ± 0.09 (esophagus), 0.74 ± 0.09 (spinal cord), and 0.91 ± 0.05 (heart), respectively. Our proposed WCEM proved to be both practical and effective. The results clearly indicated that the grayscale registration method, when applied to the ipsilateral structure, achieved the highest CRF score. The average CRF scores, excellent rates, good rate and qualification rates were 58 ± 26, 40%, 75%, and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study successfully developed a clinically relevant weighted evaluation model for CBCT-guided lung cancer radiotherapy. Validation confirmed the grayscale method's optimal performance in ipsilateral structure registration.

Efficacy and Toxicity of Moderately Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy with Helical TomoTherapy Versus Conventional Radiation Therapy in Patients with Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Concurrent Chemotherapy: A Multicenter, Randomized Phase 3 Trial.

PURPOSE: The standard treatment schedule for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is chemotherapy with concurrent radiation therapy (60 Gy delivered in 30 fractions), although moderately hypofractionated radiation therapy (Hypo-RT) has also been considered as an alternative strategy. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and toxicity of moderately Hypo-RT with helical TomoTherapy versus conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (Con-RT) in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC receiving concurrent chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this randomized, multicenter, nonblinded phase 3 clinical trial, eligible patients were randomised at a 1:1 ratio to either the Hypo-RT group (60 Gy in 20 fractions) or Con-RT group (60 Gy in 30 fractions). All patients received 2 cycles of concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy plus 2 cycles of consolidation therapy. The primary endpoint was 3-year overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat population. The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival and treatment-related adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 146 patients were enrolled from July 27, 2018, to November 1, 2021. The median follow-up was 46 months. The 3-year OS rates in the Hypo-RT and Con-RT groups were 58.4% and 38.4%, respectively (P = .02). The median OS from randomisation was 41 months in the Hypo-RT group and 30 months in the Con-RT group (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.94; P = .02). There was no significant difference in the rates of grade ≥2 treatment-related adverse events between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Moderately Hypo-RT using helical TomoTherapy may improve OS in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC, while maintaining toxicity rates.