cGAS-STING, an important signaling pathway in diseases and their therapy.

Since cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway was discovered in 2013, great progress has been made to elucidate the origin, function, and regulating mechanism of cGAS-STING signaling pathway in the past decade. Meanwhile, the triggering and transduction mechanisms have been continuously illuminated. cGAS-STING plays a key role in human diseases, particularly DNA-triggered inflammatory diseases, making it a potentially effective therapeutic target for inflammation-related diseases. Here, we aim to summarize the ancient origin of the cGAS-STING defense mechanism, as well as the triggers, transduction, and regulating mechanisms of the cGAS-STING. We will also focus on the important roles of cGAS-STING signal under pathological conditions, such as infections, cancers, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, and visceral inflammations, and review the progress in drug development targeting cGAS-STING signaling pathway. The main directions and potential obstacles in the regulating mechanism research and therapeutic drug development of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway for inflammatory diseases and cancers will be discussed. These research advancements expand our understanding of cGAS-STING, provide a theoretical basis for further exploration of the roles of cGAS-STING in diseases, and open up new strategies for targeting cGAS-STING as a promising therapeutic intervention in multiple diseases.

Robot-assisted Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Osteoid Osteomas.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous CT-guided radiofrequency ablation (CT-RFA) is a widely accepted procedure for treatment of osteoid osteomas. However, the application of CT-RFA was restricted as a result of some drawbacks, such as radiation exposure, and inconvenience in general anesthesia. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intra-operative TiRobot-assisted percutaneous RFA of osteoid osteomas. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 21 medical files of patients who were treated with percutaneous RFA of osteoid osteomas guided by the TiRobot system in our institution between March 2021 and April 2022. The three-dimensional images obtained by a 3D C-arm intra-operatively were sent to the TiRobot system. The puncture point and trajectory were designed. Then the guide pin was positioned to the lesion with the assistance of TiRobot and the biopsy sheath was inserted into the lesion through the guide pin. The tumor was biopsied for pathological examination. Then the RFA needle was inserted into the nidus through the biopsy sheath for thermal ablation. Data were extracted on the associated complications, the reduction in pain at 1 month and 1 year postoperatively assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS). A paired t-test was used to compare the pre-operative and post-operative VAS scores. RESULTS: The patients included 17 males and four females with a mean age of 19.5 ± 10.4 years (range 3-45 years). Lesions were located on the femur in nine cases, on the tibia in nine cases, on the humerus in one case, on the calcaneus in one case, and on the acetabulum in one case. TiRobot-assisted percutaneous RFA was successfully performed on all 21 patients. There was no intra-operative or post-operative complications observed. Pathological diagnosis of osteoid osteoma was obtained in 11 patients, but the other 10 cases were not pathologically diagnosed. The mean follow-up time was 18.8 months (range: 12-26 months).Post-operative VAS scores were reduced significantly in all cases. The mean VAS score decreased from 6.5 pre-operatively to 0.5 at 1 month post-operatively and to 0.1 at 1 year post-operatively. CONCLUSION: As a reliable technique for localizing and resection of nidus, TiRobot-assisted percutaneous RFA is a safe and effective option for the treatment of osteoid osteomas.

Oxygen-supplying ROS-responsive prodrug for synergistic chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy of colon cancer.

Introduction: The synergistic treatment of chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has remarkable potential in cancer therapy. However, challenges remain, such as unstable chemotherapeutic drug release, suboptimal targeting, and reduced efficacy of PDT under hypoxic conditions commonly found in solid tumors. Methods: To address these issues, we use camptothecin (CPT) and pheophorbide a (Pa) incorporated through the functional thioketal, which serves as the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive trigger, to construct a ROS-responsive prodrug (CPT-TK-Pa). Subsequently, we co-loaded it with a platinum nanozyme (PtNP) in distearylphosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG) to obtain the ROS-responsive prodrug nanoparticle (CPT-TK-Pa/Pt NP). Results and Discussion: Specifically, the incorporated PtNP within CPT-TK-Pa/Pt NP positively catalyzes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to oxygen, thereby ameliorating the hypoxic state of the tumor. This enhanced oxygen generation could replenish the oxygen that is consumed by Pa during 660 nm exposure, enabling controlled CPT release and amplifying the photodynamic response. In vitro investigations reveal the potency of CPT-TK-Pa/Pt NPs in inhibiting colon tumor cells. Given its ROS-responsive release mechanism and enhanced PDT efficacy, CPT-TK-Pa/Pt NP has the potential to be a promising candidate for cancer therapy.

Low-dose GBCA administration for brain tumour dynamic contrast enhanced MRI: a feasibility study.

A key limitation of current dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI techniques is the requirement for full-dose gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) administration. The purpose of this feasibility study was to develop and assess a new low GBCA dose protocol for deriving high-spatial resolution kinetic parameters from brain DCE-MRI. Nineteen patients with intracranial skull base tumours were prospectively imaged at 1.5 T using a single-injection, fixed-volume low GBCA dose, dual temporal resolution interleaved DCE-MRI acquisition. The accuracy of kinetic parameters (ve, Ktrans, vp) derived using this new low GBCA dose technique was evaluated through both Monte-Carlo simulations (mean percent deviation, PD, of measured from true values) and an in vivo study incorporating comparison with a conventional full-dose GBCA protocol and correlation with histopathological data. The mean PD of data from the interleaved high-temporal-high-spatial resolution approach outperformed use of high-spatial, low temporal resolution datasets alone (p < 0.0001, t-test). Kinetic parameters derived using the low-dose interleaved protocol correlated significantly with parameters derived from a full-dose acquisition (p < 0.001) and demonstrated a significant association with tissue markers of microvessel density (p < 0.05). Our results suggest accurate high-spatial resolution kinetic parameter mapping is feasible with significantly reduced GBCA dose.

A controlled light-induced gas-foaming porous hydrogel with adhesion property for infected wound healing.

Porous hydrogels as scaffolds have great potential in tissue engineering. However, there are still challenges in preparing porous hydrogels with tunable pore size and controlled porosity. Here, we successfully established a photoinduced gas-foaming method of porous hydrogels with controlled macro-micro-nano multiscale. A diazirine (DZ)-modified gelatin (GelDZ) biomaterial was prepared by introducing photocrosslinked DZ group into gelatin. Upon exposure to 365 nm UV light, DZ could be converted to the active group carbene, which could randomly insert into OH, NH, or CH bonds to form covalent crosslinks. GelDZ generated N2 by photodegradation and formed gas-induced porous hydrogels by intermolecular crosslinking without initiator. The loose porous structure of the hydrogel can promote the infiltration of host cells and blood vessels, which was conducive to tissue repair. The interfacial crosslinking of photoactivated GelDZ with tissue proteins imparted adhesion properties to the hydrogel. GelDZ also possessed photoreduction ability, which can reduce silver ions from metal precursors to silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in situ, and showed great antibacterial activity due to the sustained release of Ag NPs. GelDZ-Ag NPs prepared by in situ photoreaction can effectively inhibit wound infection and promote skin wound healing, providing a new strategy for designing porous hydrogel in tissue engineering.

The GSH responsive indocyanine green loaded PD-1 inhibitory polypeptide AUNP12 modified MOF nanoparticles for photothermal and immunotherapy of melanoma.

Introduction: Photothermal therapy (PTT) holds significant potential for the treatment of malignant tumors. However, conventional single PTT often struggles to effectively inhibit tumor metastasis and recurrence. In this study, we constructed a MOF nanoparticle with a synergistic therapeutic effect combining photothermal and immunotherapy, enabling selective blocking of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway within the tumor microenvironment. Methods: Firstly, MOF nanoparticles were synthesized using NH2-TPDC as ligands and Zr+4 as metal ions. Subsequently, NH2 was modified to N3 via azide transfer reagents. Through a copper free catalytic click chemical reaction, the PD-1/PD-L1 blocking agent AUNP-12 functionalized with disulfide bonds of DBCO was covalently introduced into MOF nanoparticles which were then loaded with the photothermal agent indocyanine green (ICG) to successfully obtain uniformly sized and stable ICG-MOF-SS-AUNP12 nanoparticles. Results and discussion: ICG-MOF-SS-AUNP12 exhibited GSH-triggered release of PD-1/PD-L1 blockers while demonstrating potent photothermal effects capable of efficiently killing tumor cells. Under 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, ICG-MOF-SS-AUNP12 effectively promoted the maturation of DC cells and activated immune responses. This study presents a novel method for constructing MOF-based nanodrugs and offers new possibilities for the synergistic treatment of tumors involving photothermal combined with immunotherapy.

Eicosapentaenoic acid enhances the sensitivity of osteosarcoma to cisplatin by inducing ferroptosis through the DNA-PKcs/AKT/NRF2 pathway and reducing PD-L1 expression to attenuate immune evasion.

Acquired drug resistance poses a significant challenge in osteosarcoma therapy. Therefore, it is necessary for us to discover and develop an alternative anti-cancer strategy. Previous studies have shown that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) significantly increases chemosensitivity in cancer cells. In this study, we discovered that EPA enhances the sensitivity of osteosarcoma to cisplatin (DDP). Interestingly, in addition to inhibiting growth and inducing apoptosis, EPA also enhances DDP-induced ferroptosis. Western blot analysis confirmed that EPA treatment significantly decreases the expression of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), p-AKT, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in cells. Knockdown of DNA-PKcs by siRNA further enhances the level of ferroptosis induced by EPA. Importantly, EPA can reverse the high expression level of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) induced by DDP. ELISA and western blotting analysis revealed that EPA treatment decreases the levels of IL-6 and p-STAT3, which are increased by DDP treatment. Furthermore, a co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assay confirmed the interaction between DNA-PKcs and PD-L1, and knockdown of DNA-PKcs further reduces the expression of PD-L1. This data provides the first evidence that EPA suppresses the DNA-PKcs/AKT/NRF2/GPX4 pathway to enhance ferroptosis, and inhibits IL-6/STAT3 and DNA-PKcs to decrease PD-L1 expression, thereby sensitizing osteosarcoma to DDP. The combination of EPA and DDP presents an encouraging and promising anti-tumor strategy.

Virtual Reality in Clinical Nursing Practice Over the Past 10 Years: Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) has shown promising levels of effectiveness in nursing education, pain management, and rehabilitation. However, meta-analyses have discussed the effects of VR usage in nursing unilaterally and inconsistently, and the evidence base is diffuse and varied. Objective: We aimed to synthesize the combined evidence from meta-analyses that assessed the effects of nurses using VR technology on nursing education or patient health outcomes. Methods: We conducted an umbrella review by searching for meta-analyses about VR intervention in clinical nursing practice on Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed, and in reference lists. Eligible studies were published in English between December 1, 2012, and September 20, 2023. Meta-analyses of ≤2 intervention studies and meta-analyses without 95% CI or heterogeneity data were excluded. Characteristic indicators, population information, VR intervention information, and 95% CIs were extracted. A descriptive analysis of research results was conducted to discern relationships between VR interventions and outcomes. I2 and P values were used to evaluate publication bias. AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) 2 and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) checklist were used to appraise literature quality. Results: In total, 768 records were identified; 74 meta-analyses were included for review. The most reported VR study conditions were neuronursing (25/74, 34%), pediatric nursing (13/74, 18%), surgical and wound care (11/74, 15%), oncological nursing (11/74, 15%), and older adult nursing (10/74, 14%). Further, 30% (22/74) of meta-analyses reported publication bias, and 15% (11/74) and 8% (6/74) were rated as "high" based on AMSTAR 2 and the GRADE checklist, respectively. The main outcome indicators among all included meta-analyses were pain (37/214, 17.3%), anxiety (36/214, 16.8%), cognitive function (17/214, 7.9%), balance (16/214, 7.5%), depression (16/214, 7.5%), motor function (12/214, 5.6%), and participation in life (12/214, 5.6%). VR treatment for cognition, pain, anxiety, and depression was effective (all P values were <.05), while the utility of VR for improving motor function, balance, memory, and attention was controversial. Adverse effects included nausea, vomiting, and dizziness (incidence: range 4.76%-50%). The most common VR platforms were Pico VR glasses, head-mounted displays, the Nintendo Wii, and the Xbox Kinect. VR intervention duration ranged from 2 weeks to 12 months (typically ≥4 wk). VR session length and frequency ranged from 5 to 100 minutes and from 1 to 10 times per week, respectively. Conclusions: VR in nursing has positive effects-relieving patients' pain, anxiety, and depression and improving cognitive function-despite the included studies' limited quality. However, applying VR in nursing to improve patients' motor function, balance, memory, and attention remains controversial. Nursing researchers need to further explore the effects and standard operation protocols of VR in clinical practice, and more high-quality research on VR in nursing is needed.

Does postoperative pulmonary infection correlate with intestinal flora following gastric cancer surgery? - a nested case-control study.

Introduction: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the potential correlation between gut microbes and postoperative pulmonary infection in gastric cancer patients. Additionally, we aimed to deduce the mechanism of differential functional genes in disease progression to gain a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Methods: A nested case-control study design was utilized to enroll patients with gastric cancer scheduled for surgery at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Patients were categorized into two groups, namely, the pulmonary infection group and the control group, based on the development of postoperative pulmonary infection. Both groups were subjected to identical perioperative management protocols. Fecal samples were collected 24 h postoperatively and upon pulmonary infection diagnosis, along with matched controls. The collected samples were subjected to 16S rDNA and metagenomic analyses, and clinical data and blood samples were obtained for further analysis. Results: A total of 180 fecal specimens were collected from 30 patients in both the pulmonary infection and control groups for 16S rDNA analysis, and 3 fecal samples from each group were selected for metagenomic analysis. The study revealed significant alterations in the functional genes of the intestinal microbiome in patients with postoperative pulmonary infection in gastric cancer, primarily involving Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Ruminococcus, and Collinsella. During postoperative pulmonary infection, gut flora and inflammatory factors were found to be associated with the lipopolysaccharide synthesis pathway and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) synthesis pathway. Discussion: The study identified enriched populations of Klebsiella, Escherella, and intestinal bacteria during pulmonary infection following gastric cancer surgery. These bacteria were found to regulate the lipopolysaccharide synthesis pathway, contributing to the initiation and progression of pulmonary infections. Inflammation modulation in patients with postoperative pulmonary infection may be mediated by short-chain fatty acids. The study also revealed that SCFA synthesis pathways were disrupted, affecting inflammation-related immunosuppression pathways. By controlling and maintaining intestinal barrier function, SCFAs may potentially reduce the occurrence of pulmonary infections after gastric cancer surgery. These findings suggest that targeting the gut microbiome and SCFA synthesis pathways may be a promising approach for preventing postoperative pulmonary infections in gastric cancer patients.

A Novel Multi-Model High Spatial Resolution Method for Analysis of DCE MRI Data: Insights from Vestibular Schwannoma Responses to Antiangiogenic Therapy in Type II Neurofibromatosis.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a new DCE-MRI processing technique that combines LEGATOS, a dual-temporal resolution DCE-MRI technique, with multi-kinetic models. This technique enables high spatial resolution interrogation of flow and permeability effects, which is currently challenging to achieve. Twelve patients with neurofibromatosis type II-related vestibular schwannoma (20 tumours) undergoing bevacizumab therapy were imaged at 1.5 T both before and at 90 days following treatment. Using the new technique, whole-brain, high spatial resolution images of the contrast transfer coefficient (Ktrans), vascular fraction (vp), extravascular extracellular fraction (ve), capillary plasma flow (Fp), and the capillary permeability-surface area product (PS) could be obtained, and their predictive value was examined. Of the five microvascular parameters derived using the new method, baseline PS exhibited the strongest correlation with the baseline tumour volume (p = 0.03). Baseline ve showed the strongest correlation with the change in tumour volume, particularly the percentage tumour volume change at 90 days after treatment (p < 0.001), and PS demonstrated a larger reduction at 90 days after treatment (p = 0.0001) when compared to Ktrans or Fp alone. Both the capillary permeability-surface area product (PS) and the extravascular extracellular fraction (ve) significantly differentiated the 'responder' and 'non-responder' tumour groups at 90 days (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). These results highlight that this novel DCE-MRI analysis approach can be used to evaluate tumour microvascular changes during treatment and the need for future larger clinical studies investigating its role in predicting antiangiogenic therapy response.

The role of telemedicine in joint replacement surgery? An updated review.

The usage of telemedicine and telehealth services has grown tremendously and has become increasingly relevant and essential. Technological advancements in current telehealth services have supported its use as a viable alternative tool to conduct visits for consultations, follow-up, and rehabilitation in total joint arthroplasty. Such technology has been widely implemented, particularly during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, to deliver postoperative rehabilitation among patients receiving total joint arthroplasty (TJA), further demonstrating its feasibility with a lower cost yet comparable clinical outcomes when compared with traditional care. There remains ample potential to utilize telemedicine for prehabilitation to optimize the preoperative status and postoperative outcomes of patients with osteoarthritis. In this review, various implementations of telemedicine within total joint arthroplasty and future application of telemedicine to deliver tele-prehabilitation in TJA are discussed.

[Status Quo and Prospects of Research on Precision Nursing of Life-Cycle Health and Disease].

With the changing lifestyle and spectrum of diseases among Chinese people, the life-cycle approach to health has been given national strategic importance. Over the past decade, global nursing researchers have gradually started to pay more attention to the research related to precision nursing at different stages of the life cycle. Researchers have applied multi-omics to explore the pathogenesis and novel biomarkers of relevant symptoms in tumor patients or patients with chronic diseases in order to manage symptoms with better precision. However, systematic theories of precision nursing of life-cycle health and disease have not yet been developed, and the research field and its implications still need to be continuously expanded and innovated. In the nursing discipline, the advantages of interdisciplinary integration should be given full play and the precise and effective resolution of life-cycle health problems should be taken as its goal. Through accurately defining key quantitative objective indicators of nursing care, the nursing discipline will be able to achieve early identification of life-cycle health problems, clarify the occurrence and patterns of change in life-cycle health problems, and gain a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms. Precise and effective nursing-related technologies and products of non-medication and non-surgery nature should be developed to achieve better precision in nursing interventions, thereby effectively promoting recovery from diseases and improving the overall health of the people.

[Investigation and Analysis of the Implementation Status of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in the Context of Precision Nursing in Xinjiang].

Objective: To investigate the current status of surgical nurses' implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concepts in the context of precision nursing in Xinjiang and to provide a basis for the development of precision nursing of ERAS. Methods: By way of convenience sampling, surgical nurses from 8 tertiary-care hospitals were involved in a survey on their ERAS implementation status in March and April 2023 and the results were collected by online questionnaire. Results: A total of 985 valid questionnaires were collected. Out of the 8 hospitals covered in the survey, the orthopedics departments of 7 hospitals have implemented ERAS concepts, accounting for 87.50%. The average score for the ERAS Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Questionnaire among the surgical nurses was (182.98±17.69), of which, the average score for ERAS knowledge was (13.08±1.51), the average score for ERAS attitude was (88.75±8.30), and the average score for ERAS practice was (81.15±11.96). A total of 61.02% of the surgical nurses implemented ERAS pathways that concentrated on 4-6 pathways, with the prevention of postoperative ileus after surgery being the most commonly implemented pathway, accounting for 498 (50.56%) surgical nurses. A total of 78.48% of the nurses considered work overload to be the most important obstacle to implementing ERAS in the context of precision nursing. Poor multidisciplinary team collaboration and poor awareness of implementation among the nurses ranked the second and the third, accounting for 74.92% and 71.57%, respectively, of the surgical nurses. Conclusion: ERAS has won the approval of surgical nurses in Xinjiang, but it is still not widely implemented in all surgical fields. In addition, the quantity and quality of ERAS pathways implemented still need to be further improved. The development of ERAS in the context of precision nursing remains a long-term challenge.

[Using Liver Function Indicators to Predict Massive Blood Transfusion in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation].

Objective: To explore the predictive effect of preoperative liver function indicators for intraoperative massive blood transfusion in orthotopic liver transplantation and to establish a prediction model. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the relevant data of 607 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation in the Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2021. According to the intraoperative transfusion volume of leukocyte-reduced red blood cells in additive solution, the patients were divided into a massive blood transfusion (MBT) group and a non-massive blood transfusion (NMBT) group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to analyze the risk factors of intraoperative MBT in orthotopic liver transplantation, the calibration of the predictive model was assessed by Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and the discrimination power of the predictive model was measured by area under the curve ( AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: According to the results of logistic regression, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), albumin (ALB), and Child-Pugh score showed no correlation with the risk of MBT in orthotopic liver transplantation operation. Platelet count (PLT) (odds ratio [ OR]=0.90, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.09-0.19, P=0.02), international normalized ratio (INR) ( OR=19.43, 95% CI: 7.64-19.44, P<0.01), prothrombin time (PT) ( OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.25-1.63, P<0.01), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) ( OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.90-0.95, P<0.01) were identified as the risk factors of intraoperative MBT in orthotopic liver transplantation. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the predictive model had good calibration ( χ 2=9.06, P=0.48) and discrimination power ( AUC=0.80, 95% CI 0.766-0.834, P<0.01). Conclusion: A predictive model based on the preoperative PLT, INR, PT, and APTT of patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation was established and can be used to predict the risk of intraoperative MBT in liver transplantation patients.

[An Integrated Audio-Visual-Olfactory Virtual Reality False Feeding Device: Research, Development, and Design].

Objective: To resolve the problem of the lack of sensory stimulation from the colors and aromas of food when patients are given enteral nutrition support by tube feeding or simple oral administration, an immersive virtual reality (VR) sham feeding device integrating audio, visual, and olfactory sense perceptions was developed independently and the usability of the device was tested. Methods: Relying on the multidisciplinary cooperation of nursing, mechanical engineering, and computer science and using as a reference the characteristics of gastric tube and oxygen tube placement in clinical patients, we carried out 3D modeling and printing of the exterior framework of the odor box. Unity 3d.5.x, a mainstream virtual engine tool, was used to create scenarios. The device could create visual stimulation through 3 VR dining scenarios, 23 kinds of food, and comfortable dining environment. The sound of chewing was played to simulate the dining process and provide auditory stimulation. Through the independently researched and developed olfactory odor box, corresponding food aromas were sprayed out for olfactory stimulation. After the equipment prototype was created, 10 patients were recruited to perform users' subjective evaluation of the usability of the equipment. Results: A VR sham feeding device integrating audio-visual-olfactory stimulation was successfully developed. In the visual effect evaluation, all users commented that the vision was clear and unimpeded, and that the menu program could follow their rotation movement. Eight people considered the scenes to be rather realistic. In the auditory effect evaluation, all users stated that the volume of the sound was appropriate, and that they would hear a chewing sound being played when the food was approaching. In the olfactory effect evaluation, 9 people stated that they smelled the food aromas when the food was approaching, and that they thought the odor was real or partially real. On the whole, the equipment was convenient to use and all users thought that the equipment had clear presentation and could run stably and smoothly. No adverse reactions, such as dizziness, occurred in any users. Conclusion: Successfully presenting visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli, the prototype device passed the subjective usability test. The prototype device effectively expands the application prospects of VR in the medical field. In the future, it will be applied to patient populations, including surgical patients, patients with eating disorders, obesity, and loss of appetite, and other patients who cannot take in food through their mouths. The prototype device provides new ideas for promoting enhanced recovery after surgery and improving patient experience.

Dynamic interplay between sortilin and syndecan-1 contributes to prostate cancer progression.

Prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression relies on the programming of glucose and lipid metabolism, and this involves alterations in androgen receptor expression and signalling. Defining the molecular mechanism that underpins this metabolic programming will have direct significance for patients with PCa who have a poor prognosis. Here we show that there is a dynamic balance between sortilin and syndecan-1, that reports on different metabolic phenotypes. Using tissue microarrays, we demonstrated by immunohistochemistry that sortilin was highly expressed in low-grade cancer, while syndecan-1 was upregulated in high-grade disease. Mechanistic studies in prostate cell lines revealed that in androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells, sortilin enhanced glucose metabolism by regulating GLUT1 and GLUT4, while binding progranulin and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to limit lipid metabolism. In contrast, in androgen-insensitive PC3 cells, syndecan-1 was upregulated, interacted with LPL and colocalised with ß3 integrin to promote lipid metabolism. In addition, androgen-deprived LNCaP cells had decreased expression of sortilin and reduced glucose-metabolism, but increased syndecan-1 expression, facilitating interactions with LPL and possibly ß3 integrin. We report a hitherto unappreciated molecular mechanism for PCa, which may have significance for disease progression and how androgen-deprivation therapy might promote castration-resistant PCa.

Standard: Human intestinal cancer organoids.

Intestinal cancer is one of the most frequent and lethal types of cancer. Modeling intestinal cancer using organoids has emerged in the last decade. Human intestinal cancer organoids are physiologically relevant in vitro models, which provides an unprecedented opportunity for fundamental and applied research in colorectal cancer. "Human intestinal cancer organoids" is the first set of guidelines on human intestinal organoids in China, jointly drafted and agreed by the experts from the Chinese Society for Cell Biology and its branch society: the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research. This standard specifies terms and definitions, technical requirements, test methods for human intestinal cancer organoids, which apply to the production and quality control during the process of manufacturing and testing of human intestinal cancer organoids. It was released by the Chinese Society for Cell Biology on 24 September 2022. We hope that the publication of this standard will guide institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper practocal protocols, and accelerate the international standardization of human intestinal cancer organoids for clinical development and therapeutic applications.

Comparative Effects of Different Nutritional Supplements on Inflammation, Nutritional Status, and Clinical Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Nutritional supplements have been widely used in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to compare the effects of different nutritional supplements on inflammation, nutritional status, and clinical outcomes in CRC patients. Four electronic databases were searched until December 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing nutritional supplements of omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3), arginine, vitamin D, glutamine, probiotics, or their combinations with placebo or standard treatment were selected. The outcomes were inflammatory indicators, nutritional indicators, and clinical outcomes. A random-effects Bayesian NMA was performed to rank the effect of each supplement. In total, 34 studies involving 2841 participants were included. Glutamine was superior in decreasing tumor necrosis factor-α (MD -25.2; 95% CrI [-32.62, -17.95]), whereas combined omega-3 and arginine supplementation was more effective in decreasing interleukin-6 (MD -61.41; 95% CrI [-97.85, -24.85]). No nutritional supplements significantly maintained nutritional indicators in CRC patients. Regarding clinical outcomes, glutamine ranked highest in reducing the length of hospital stay (MD -3.71; 95% CrI [-5.89, -1.72]) and the incidence of wound infections (RR 0.12; 95% CrI [0, 0.85]), and probiotics were rated as best in reducing the incidence of pneumonia (RR 0.38; 95% CrI [0.15, 0.81]). Future well-designed RCTs are needed to further confirm these findings.