Optical enhancement mode 2 improves the detection rate of gastric neoplastic lesion in high-risk populations: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical study.

OBJECTIVES: Detection of early neoplastic lesions is crucial for improving the survival rates of patients with gastric cancer. Optical enhancement mode 2 is a new image-enhanced endoscopic technique that offers bright images and can improve the visibility of neoplastic lesions. This study aimed to compare the detection of neoplastic lesions with optical enhancement mode 2 and white-light imaging (WLI) in a high-risk population. METHODS: In this prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients were randomly assigned to optical enhancement mode 2 or WLI groups. Detection of suspicious neoplastic lesions during the examinations was recorded, and pathological diagnoses served as the gold standard. RESULTS: A total of 1211 and 1219 individuals were included in the optical enhancement mode 2 and WLI groups, respectively. The detection rate of neoplastic lesions was significantly higher in the optical enhancement mode 2 group (5.1% vs. 1.9%; risk ratio, 2.656 [95% confidence interval, 1.630-4.330]; p < 0.001). The detection rate of neoplastic lesions with an atrophic gastritis background was significantly higher in the optical enhancement mode 2 group (8.6% vs. 2.6%, p < 0.001). The optical enhancement mode 2 group also had a higher detection rate among endoscopists with different experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Optical enhancement mode 2 was more effective than WLI for detecting neoplastic lesions in the stomach, and can serve as a new method for screening early gastric cancer in clinical practice. CLINICAL REGISTRY: United States National Library of Medicine (https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov), ID: NCT040720521.

The metabolic mechanisms of Cd-induced hormesis in photosynthetic microalgae, Chromochloris zofingiensis.

Cadmium, an environmental pollutant, is highly toxic and resistant to degradation. It exhibits toxicity at elevated doses but triggers excitatory effects at low doses, a phenomenon referred to as hormesis. Microalgae, as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, demonstrate hormesis induced by cadmium, though the specific mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Consequently, we examined the hormesis of cadmium in Chromochloris zofingiensis. A minimal Cd2+ concentration (0.05 mg L-1) prompted cell proliferation, whereas higher concentrations (2.50 mg L-1) inhibited growth. The group exposed to higher doses exhibited increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Contrastingly, the group exposed to low doses exhibited a moderate antioxidant response without significantly increasing ROS. This implies that increased levels of antioxidative components counteract excessive ROS, maintaining cellular redox balance and promoting growth under conditions of low Cd2+. Validation experiments have established that NADPH oxidase-derived ROS primarily coordinates the hormesis effect in microalgae. Comparative transcriptome analysis has proved the involvement of antioxidant systems and photosynthesis in regulating hormesis. Notably, Aurora A kinases consistently displayed varying expression levels across all Cd2+ treatments, and their role in microalgal hormesis was confirmed through validation with SNS-314 mesylate. This study unveils the intricate regulatory mechanisms of Cd-induced hormesis in C. zofingiensis, with implications for environmental remediation and industrial microalgae applications.

Kilogram-Scale Fabrication of a Robust Olefin-Linked Covalent Organic Framework for Separating Ethylene from a Ternary C2 Hydrocarbon Mixture.

One-step adsorptive purification of ethylene (C2H4) from a ternary mixture of acetylene (C2H2), C2H4, and ethane (C2H6) by a single material is of great importance but challenging in the petrochemical industry. Herein, a chemically robust olefin-linked covalent organic framework (COF), NKCOF-62, is designed and synthesized by a melt polymerization method employing tetramethylpyrazine and terephthalaldehyde as cheap monomers. This method avoids most of the disadvantages of classical solvothermal methods, which enable the cost-effective kilogram fabrication of olefin-linked COFs in one pot. Furthermore, NKCOF-62 shows remarkably selective adsorption of C2H2 and C2H6 over C2H4 thanks to its unique pore environments and suitable pore size. Breakthrough experiments demonstrate that polymer-grade C2H4 can be directly obtained from C2H2/C2H6/C2H4 (1/1/1) ternary mixtures through a single separation process. Notably, NKCOF-62 is the first demonstration of the potential to use COFs for C2H2/C2H6/C2H4 separation, which provides a blueprint for the design and construction of robust COFs for industrial gas separations.

Characterization and anticancer effects of extracellular polysaccharide from DHA-producing microalga Crypthecodinium sp. SUN.

The Characterization and anticancer effects of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) from DHA-producing microalga Crypthecodinium sp. SUN were studied in the present research. Results showed that EPS from C. sp. SUN have a molecular weight of 1.118 × 106 g/mol. EPS significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of LA795 lung adenocarcinoma cells, and the apoptosis rate decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, reached 52 % at 15 mg/mL. C. sp. SUN EPS also significantly decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by over 50 %, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by 76 %, and catalase (CAT) activity by 34 % at 10 mg/mL, indicating that EPS may inhibit tumor cell growth instead of killing tumor cells. Additionally, C. sp. SUN EPS suppressed cell proliferation by downregulating the expression of adhesion proteins and cyclin D1 in LA795 cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that C. sp. SUN EPS inhibited the growth of lung adenocarcinoma tumors without affecting the normal body weight of nude mice. Collectively, the present study showed that C. sp. SUN EPS could be a potential substance for cancer treatment, which provided a research basis for future study on EPS and expanded the application of Crypthecodinium.

Preparation of Butadiene-Bridged Polymethylsiloxane/Ethylcellulose/1-Carboxymethyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride Ternary Composite Membranes for Gas Separation.

Excessive CO2 emissions have resulted in global warming and are a serious threat to the life of people, various strategies have been implemented to cut carbon emissions, and one of them is the use of a gas separation membrane to capture CO2 effectively. In this experiment, the butadiene-bridged polymethylsiloxane (BBPMS)/ethyl cellulose (EC)/ionic liquid (IL) ternary composite membranes were prepared by EC as a substrate, BBPMS, and IL as additives in tetrahydrofuran under high-speed stirring and coated on the membrane. The membrane structure was characterized by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and scanning electron microscope, and the membrane properties were tested by a membrane tensile strength tester, thermal weight loss analyzer, and gas permeability meter. The results show that the surface of the ternary composite membrane is dense and flat with a uniform distribution, and the membrane formation, heat resistance, and mechanical properties are good. The permeability coefficient of the ternary composite membrane for CO2 reached 1806.03 Barrer, which is 20.00 times higher than that of the EC/IL hybrid matrix membrane. The permeability coefficient of O2 reached 321.01 Barrer, which is 19.21 times higher than that of the EC/IL membrane. When the doping amount of BBPMS is 70-80%, the O2/N2 gas permeation separation of the BBPMS/EC/IL ternary composite membrane is close to the Robertson 2008 curve. It is always known that in the gas separation process the membrane material is the most crucial factor. The success of this experiment points to a new direction for the preparation of new membrane materials.

Efficacy and safety of alectinib in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer and blood markers for prognosis and efficacy: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Alectinib is a second generation of ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs), which has attracted much attention in the treatment of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At present, there are few reports on the efficacy and safety of alectinib in Chinese population. Moreover, biomarkers reflecting prognosis and efficacy are exceedingly needed. This study assessed the efficacy of alectinib in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC and analyzed the prognostic factors. Methods: Patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who were confirmed by histopathology or cytology at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between October 2018 and October 2021 were enrolled. All patients were treated with alectinib. The clinical characteristics and circulating tumor biomarkers before and after treatment were collected. Kaplan-Meier test was used to calculate the progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to explore the influencing factors on PFS. Incidence of adverse events was observed. Results: Twenty patients progressed after first-line treatment (n=59) with alectinib, and 21 patients progressed following second-line treatment (n=36) with alectinib. The median PFS of first-line treatment patients was not achieved, and the median PFS of patients undergoing second-line treatment was 15.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.00-32.23]. The most common adverse reactions were liver dysfunction (37.50%), anemia (37.50%), and constipation (20.83%). The incidence of grade III and above adverse reactions was 6.25%. Univariate analysis showed that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR; hazard ratio (HR) =0.424, P=0.005] carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; HR =0.482, P=0.029), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; HR =0.327, P<0.001), carbohydrate antigen (CA)199 (HR =0.313, P=0.002), and circulating cell free DNA (cfDNA; HR =0.229, P=0.008) concentration levels were associated with PFS, and multivariate analysis showed that NLR (HR =3.058, P=0.034) was independent prognostic factor. After three months of treatment, CEA, CA199, NLR, and LDH, could further predict the prognosis of alectinib treatment. Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of alectinib as a first-line or second-line treatment for ALK-positive NSCLC in keeping with published prospective studies. CEA, CA199, NLR, and LDH within the normal range after three months of treatment were associated with good prognosis. Detection of serum tumor markers can indicate therapeutic success in patients treated with alectinib.

A retrospective study of the antibiotic-resistant phenotypes and genotypes of Helicobacter pylori strains in China.

Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance is a serious concern in China, where it severely influences treatment for H. pylori infection. To overcome this, it is essential to apply personalized therapies based on local or individual data on antibiotic-resistant phenotypes or genotypes. We conducted a large-scale multi-center study with a retrospective cross-sectional observational design to investigate the antibiotic-resistant phenotypes and genotypes of H. pylori in China. Strains were isolated from the gastric biopsy samples of H. pylori-infected patients from five different regions in China. The strains were tested for antibiotic-resistant phenotypes and genotypes, and the agreement between the two was assessed. In total, 4242 H. pylori strains were isolated and cultured, with an 84.43% success rate. The primary and secondary antibiotic resistance rates of H. pylori were 37.00% and 76.93% for clarithromycin, 34.21% and 61.58% for levofloxacin, 2.20% and 6.12% for amoxicillin, 1.61% and 3.11% for furazolidone, 1.18% and 3.31% for tetracycline, and 87.87% and 93.48% for metronidazole, respectively. The dual-resistance patterns for metronidazole/clarithromycin, metronidazole/levofloxacin, and clarithromycin/levofloxacin were 43.6%, 38.4%, and 26.1%, respectively. Clarithromycin- and levofloxacin-resistant H. pylori phenotypes and genotypes showed satisfactory agreement. Based on these findings, clarithromycin- and levofloxacin-resistant genotype testing could partially replace traditional antibiotic susceptibility testing in China. Continuous monitoring and personalized treatments based on individual and local H. pylori antibiotic-resistance data remain necessary.

Optimization of a MOF Blended with Modified Polyimide Membrane for High-Performance Gas Separation.

The preparation, characterization and gas separation properties of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were obtained from polyimide capped with ionic liquid and blended with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The synthesized MOF was amine functionalized to produce UiO-66-NH2, and its amino group has a higher affinity for CO2. Mixed matrix membranes exhibited good membrane forming ability, heat resistance and mechanical properties. The polyimide membrane exclusively capped by ionic liquid exhibited good permselectivity of 74.1 for CO2/CH4, which was 6.2 times that of the pure polyimide membrane. It is worth noting that MMM blended with UiO-66-NH2 demonstrated the highest ideal selectivity for CO2/CH4 (95.1) with a CO2 permeability of 7.61 Barrer, which is close to the 2008 Robeson upper bound. The addition of UiO-66-NH2 and ionic liquid enhanced the permselectivity of MMMs, which may be one of the promising technologies for high performance CO2/CH4 gas separation.

Methane and Nitrous Oxide Flux after Biochar Application in Subtropical Acidic Paddy Soils under Tobacco-Rice Rotation.

Biochar amendment is a good means of mitigating methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. However, the effects of biochar amendment on N2O and CH4 reduction in soil under rotation with different soil moisture contents is not well understood. To understand CH4 and N2O flux from soil with biochar amendment under water-unsaturated and water-saturated conditions, a field experiment was conducted in a tobacco-rice rotation field in subtropical China to investigate N2O and CH4 emissions following soil amendment with tobacco straw biochar at rates of 0, 10, 40 and 80 t·ha-1 (B0, B10, B40 and B80, respectively). N2O and CH4 emissions were monitored by a closed-chamber method in the water-unsaturated tobacco (UT) and water-saturated rice (SR) seasons during the 2015 planting season. The soil pH increased from 5.4 in the control to 6.1 in the soil amended with biochar at 80 t·ha-1 in the UT season. During both the UT and SR seasons, with biochar amendment at 40 and 80 t·ha-1, the soil bulk density (BD) decreased, while the soil organic matter (SOM) and available potassium (Av. K) contents increased. N2O flux was significantly greater in UT than in SR in the controls but decreased with the application of biochar during both the UT and SR seasons. The cumulative CH4 emission decreased with the rate of biochar application and the methanotroph pmoA gene copy number in soils and increased with the methanogenic archaea 16Sr DNA gene copy number in soils during the rice-cropping season. These results indicated that biochar amendment could decrease methanogenic archaea and increase of methanotroph pmoA gene, which are the mechanistic origin for CH4 reduction.

Biologically synthesized titanium oxide nanostructures combined with morphogenetic protein as wound healing agent in the femoral fracture after surgery.

The aim of the present study is to develop novel approach for the green synthesis of titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) using Eichhornia crassipes extract and calcined at different temperatures for evaluate the wound healing activity in the femoral fracture. The synthesized TiO2 are formed different (plate and rod-like) nanostructures at various calcination temperatures. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Microscopic studies of TiO2 NPs revealed that the synthesized TiO2 NPs are formed well-defined rod-like structures at 400 °C with size ranged from 200 nm to 500 nm. The characterized plate and rod-like TiO2 NPs are combined with human morphogenetic protein (HbMP) to improving its wound healing activity and osteoblast properties on femoral fractures. The biocompatibility was tested by using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) cells and antibacterial efficacy analyzed using human pathogenica bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli through agar well diffusion assay. The green synthesized rod-like TiO2 NPs combined with HbMP has been exhibited effective bone fusion behaviors with biomechanical properties and also improved antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. From this study results, it is suggested that green synthesized TiO2NPs could be used effectively in biomedical application.

PacCYP707A2 negatively regulates cherry fruit ripening while PacCYP707A1 mediates drought tolerance.

Sweet cherry is a non-climacteric fruit and its ripening is regulated by abscisic acid (ABA) during fruit development. In this study, four cDNAs (PacCYP707A1-4) encoding 8'-hydroxylase, a key enzyme in the oxidative catabolism of ABA, were identified in sweet cherry fruits using tobacco rattle virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and particle bombardment approaches. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed significant down-regulation of target gene transcripts in VIGS-treated cherry fruits. In PacCYP707A2-RNAi-treated fruits, ripening and fruit colouring were promoted relative to control fruits, and both ABA accumulation and PacNCED1 transcript levels were up-regulated by 140%. Silencing of PacCYP707A2 by VIGS significantly altered the transcripts of both ABA-responsive and ripening-related genes, including the ABA metabolism-associated genes NCED and CYP707A, the anthocyanin synthesis genes PacCHS, PacCHI, PacF3H, PacDFR, PacANS, and PacUFGT, the ethylene biosynthesis gene PacACO1, and the transcription factor PacMYBA. The promoter of PacMYBA responded more strongly to PacCYP707A2-RNAi-treated fruits than to PacCYP707A1-RNAi-treated fruits. By contrast, silencing of PacCYP707A1 stimulated a slight increase in fruit colouring and enhanced resistance to dehydration stress compared with control fruits. These results suggest that PacCYP707A2 is a key regulator of ABA catabolism that functions as a negative regulator of fruit ripening, while PacCYP707A1 regulates ABA content in response to dehydration during fruit development.

Analysis of long non-coding RNA expression profiles in gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the expression patterns of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gastric cancer. METHODS: Two publicly available human exon arrays for gastric cancer and data for the corresponding normal tissue were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). We re-annotated the probes of the human exon arrays and retained the probes uniquely mapping to lncRNAs at the gene level. LncRNA expression profiles were generated by using robust multi-array average method in affymetrix power tools. The normalized data were then analyzed with a Bioconductor package linear models for microarray data and genes with adjusted P-values below 0.01 were considered differentially expressed. An independent data set was used to validate the results. RESULTS: With the computational pipeline established to re-annotate over 6.5 million probes of the Affymetrix Human Exon 1.0 ST array, we identified 136053 probes uniquely mapping to lncRNAs at the gene level. These probes correspond to 9294 lncRNAs, covering nearly 76% of the GENCODE lncRNA data set. By analyzing GSE27342 consisting of 80 paired gastric cancer and normal adjacent tissue samples, we identified 88 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed in gastric cancer, some of which have been reported to play a role in cancer, such as LINC00152, taurine upregulated 1, urothelial cancer associated 1, Pvt1 oncogene, small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 and LINC00261. In the validation data set GSE33335, 59% of these differentially expressed lncRNAs showed significant expression changes (adjusted P-value < 0.01) with the same direction. CONCLUSION: We identified a set of lncRNAs differentially expressed in gastric cancer, providing useful information for discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer.