Overexpression of zinc finger DHHC-type containing 1 is associated with poor prognosis and cancer cell growth and metastasis in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma.

The zinc finger DHHC-type containing 1 (ZDHHC1) gene is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of various malignant tumors, but its precise involvement in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remains unknown. Thus, this study investigated ZDHHC1 expression in UCEC using publicly available TCGA and Xena databases and elucidated the functions and mechanisms of the ZDHHC1 gene in UCEC progression using bioinformatics and in vitro experiments. The correlation between ZDHHC1 expression and prognosis, clinical features, immune cells, and RNA modifications of UCEC was evaluated using nomograms, correlation, ROC, and survival analyses. The impacts of ZDHHC1 overexpression on UCEC progression and mechanisms were explored with bioinformatics and in vitro experiments. Our study revealed that ZDHHC1 expression was significantly downregulated in UCEC and correlated with poor prognosis, cancer diagnosis, clinical stage, age, weight, body mass index, histological subtypes, residual tumor, tumor grade, and tumor invasion. Notably, Cox regression analysis and constructed nomograms showed that downregulated ZDHHC1 expression was a prognostic factor associated with poor prognosis in patients with UCEC. Conversely, above-normal ZDHHC1 expression inhibited the cell growth, cell cycle transition, migration, and invasion of UCEC cells, which may be related to the cell cycle, DNA replication, PI3K-AKT, and other pathways that promote tumor progression. Altered ZDHHC1 expression in UCEC was significantly associated with RNA modifications and the changes in cancer immune cell populations, such as CD56 bright NK cells, eosinophils, Th2 cells, and cell markers. In conclusion, considerably reduced ZDHHC1 expression in UCEC is associated with cancer cell growth, metastasis, poor prognosis, immune infiltration, and RNA modifications, revealing the promising potential of ZDHHC1 as a prognostic marker for UCEC.

Modern phenomics to empower holistic crop science, agronomy, and breeding research.

Crop phenomics enables collection of diverse plant traits for a large number of samples along different time scales, representing a greater data collection throughput compared to the traditional measurements. Most of modern crop phenomics use different sensors to collect reflective, emitted and fluorescence signals etc., from plant organs at different spatial and temporal resolutions. Such multi-modal, high dimensional data not only accelerates basic research on crop physiology, genetics, and whole plant systems modeling, but also supports the optimization of field agronomic practices, internal environments of plant factories, and ultimately crop breeding. Major challenges and opportunities facing the current crop phenomics research community include developing community consensus or standards for data collection, management, sharing, and processing, developing capabilities to measure physiological parameters, and enabling farmers and breeders to effectively use phenomics in the field to directly support agricultural production.

Jolkinolide B synergistically potentiates the antitumor activity of GPX4 inhibitors via inhibiting TrxR1 in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells.

Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is a promising anticancer therapeutic target; however, the application of GPX4 inhibitors (GPX4i) is limited owing to intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Hence, understanding the mechanisms underlying drug resistance and discovering molecules that can overcome drug resistance are crucial. Herein, we demonstrated that GPX4i killed bladder cancer cells by inducing lipid reactive oxygen species-mediated ferroptosis and apoptosis, and cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells were also resistant to GPX4i, representing a higher half-maximal inhibitory concentration value than that of parent bladder cancer cells. In addition, thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) overexpression was responsible for GPX4i resistance in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells, and inhibiting TrxR1 restored the sensitivity of these cells to GPX4i. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that Jolkinolide B (JB), a natural diterpenoid and previously identified as a TrxR1 inhibitor, potentiated the antiproliferative efficacy of GPX4i (RSL3 and ML162) against cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells. Furthermore, GPX4 knockdown and inhibition could augment JB-induced paraptosis and apoptosis. Our results suggest that inhibiting TrxR1 can effectively improve GPX4 inhibition-based anticancer therapy. A combination of JB and GPX4i, which is well-tolerated and has several anticancer mechanisms, may serve as a promising therapy for treating bladder cancer.

STING Membrane Prevents Post-Surgery Tissue Adhesion and Tumor Recurrence of Colorectal Cancer.

Surgery is the standard treatment regimen for resectable colorectal cancer (CRC). However, it is very hard to completely remove all cancer cells in clinical practice, leading to the high recurrence rates of the disease. Moreover, the post-surgery tissue adhesion greatly prevents the possibility of reoperation, significantly limiting the long-term surviving of CRC patients. To overcome CRC recurrence and avoid the post-surgery tissue adhesion, this work develops a novel stimulator of interferon genes "STING" membrane based on the coaxial electrospinning technology and hyaluronic acid modification. A reactive oxygen species responsive prodrug of gambogic acid (GB) and a potent STING agonist (CDN) are coloaded in the core-shell structure of the membrane, which endows the loaded drug with sustained and sequential release patterns. The localized delivery of GB and CDN can selectively induce efficient immunogenic cell death of cancer cells and then evoke the systemic anticancer immunity by activating the Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase/STING pathway. As-designed "STING" membrane not only safely prevents tumor recurrence through the synergistic chemoimmunotherapy but also efficiently avoids the post-surgery tissue adhesion, facilitating the clinical intervention of CRC.

Novel Heterogeneous Hydrogel with Dual-Responsive Shape Programmability and Good Biocompatibility.

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) responsive to various external stimuli can realize a complex shape transformation process and have attracted extensive attention. However, integrating multiple stimulus-responsive mechanisms in one material often requires a complex molecular design and synthesis procedure. In this work, we designed a novel dual-responsive heterogeneous hydrogel (PU-PAM/Alg/PDA), which was manufactured through in situ free radical polymerization of acrylamide (AM) in the presence of alginate (Alg) and polydopamine (PDA) in a porous polycaprolactone-based polyurethane foam (PU-foam). The PU-PAM/Alg/PDA hydrogel could achieve thermal responsiveness through melting-crystallization transformation of polycaprolactone (PCL), while the metallo-supramolecular interactions between Alg and Fe3+ could provide ion responsiveness for this hydrogel. This dual-programmable feature endowed the heterogeneous hydrogel with a complex shape-morphing behavior and also a reconfiguration ability for the permanent shape. Meanwhile, the strong hydrogen bondings between PDA and polyurethane chains enhanced the interfacial adhesions, resulting in the structural integrity and excellent mechanical property of PU-PAM/Alg/PDA. The in vitro and in vivo tests revealed the good biocompatibility of the heterogeneous hydrogel, and the potential of the heterogeneous hydrogel as an esophageal stent was evaluated in vitro as conceptual proof.

Protein-guided biomimetic nanomaterials: a versatile theranostic nanoplatform for biomedical applications.

Over the years, bioinspired mineralization-based approaches have been applied to synthesize multifunctional organic-inorganic nanocomposites. These nanocomposites can address the growing demands of modern biomedical applications. Proteins, serving as vital biological templates, play a pivotal role in the nucleation and growth processes of various organic-inorganic nanocomposites. Protein-mineralized nanomaterials (PMNMs) have attracted significant interest from researchers due to their facile and convenient preparation, strong physiological activity, stability, impressive biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Nevertheless, few comprehensive reviews have expounded on the progress of these nanomaterials in biomedicine. This article systematically reviews the principles and strategies for constructing nanomaterials using protein-directed biomineralization and biomimetic mineralization techniques. Subsequently, we focus on their recent applications in the biomedical field, encompassing areas such as bioimaging, as well as anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory therapies. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges encountered in practical applications of these materials and explore their potential in future applications. This review aspired to catalyze the continued development of these bioinspired nanomaterials in drug development and clinical diagnosis, ultimately contributing to the fields of precision medicine and translational medicine.

The role of bacteria in gallstone formation.

Gallstones are a prevalent biliary system disorder that is particularly common in women. They can lead to various complications, such as biliary colic, infection, cholecystitis, and even gallbladder cancer. However, the etiology of gallstones remains incompletely understood. The significant role of bacteria in gallstone formation has been demonstrated in recent studies. Certain bacteria not only influence bile composition and the gallbladder environment but also actively participate in stone formation by producing enzymes such as ß-glucuronidase and mucus. Therefore, this review aimed to analyze the mechanisms involving the types and quantities of bacteria involved in gallstone formation, providing valuable references for understanding the etiology and clinical treatment of gallstones.

Safety of dendritic cell and cytokine-induced killer (DC-CIK) cell-based immunotherapy in patients with solid tumor: a retrospective study in China.

Systematic assessment of adverse side effects of Adoptive T cell therapy, especially cytokine-induced killer cell and dendric cell treatment Dendritic cells-Cytokine-induced killer (DC-CIK) therapy, especially when combined with chemotherapy, has not been reported. Totally 1100 consecutive patients (2504 trail cycles) enrolled in DC-CIK treatment trials at Beijing Shijitian Hospital between August 2012 and August 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The 370 patients (34%)/815 cycles enrolled in our trial combined with chemotherapy. In total, 548 (cases)/870 (cycles) patients experienced AEs. The AE class was mainly composed of Neurological 34 cycles (4%), Musculoskeletal 28 cycles (3%), Immunopathies 5 cycles (1%), Hematological 521 cycles (60%), 224 general disorders and administration site conditions cycles (26%), Gastrointestinal 209 cycles (24%), Skin 15 cycles (2%), and 119 Metabolism and Nutrition disorders cycles (14%). The AE class of gastrointestinal (vomiting, P=0.025), nutritional (anorexia, P=0.016), and hematological disorders (anemia P<0.0001, leukopenia P<0.0001) appeared in the DC-CIK treatment and were mainly correlated with chemotherapy. Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that regardless of whether DC-CIK was combined with chemotherapy, multi-line treatment was more prone to nausea, anorexia, fatigue, anemia, and leukopenia than first-line treatment. However, correlation analysis verified that increasing the number of cycles of DC-CIK treatment alone could reduce the incidence rate of fatigue (P=0.001), anorexia (P<0.0001), and anxiety (P=0.01). Most of the adverse side effects that occurred during autologous DC-CIK treatment were associated with combined or previously applied chemotherapeutic treatment, which also indicated that autologous DC-CIK anti-tumor therapy was safe.

Exploring the neural mechanisms underlying achalasia: A study of functional connectivity and regional brain activity.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The pathophysiology of achalasia, which involves central nuclei abnormalities, remains unknown. We investigated the resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) features of patients with achalasia. METHODS: We applied resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to investigate the brain features in patients with achalasia (n = 27), compared to healthy controls (n = 29). Focusing on three regions of interest (ROIs): the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV), the nucleus ambiguus (NA), and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), we analyzed variations in resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), and regional homogeneity (ReHo). RESULTS: Achalasia patients demonstrated stronger functional connectivity between the NA and the right precentral gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, and left insula. No significant changes were found in the DMV or NTS. The fMRI analysis showed higher rs-FC values for NA-DMV and NA-NTS connections in achalasia patients. Achalasia patients exhibited decreased fALFF values in the NA, DMV, and NTS regions, as well as increased ReHo values in the NA and DMV regions. A positive correlation was observed between fALFF values in all six ROIs and the width of the barium meal. The NTS fALFF value and NA ReHo value displayed a positive correlation with integrated relaxation pressure (IRP), while the ReHo value in the right precentral gyrus showed an inverse correlation with the height of the barium meal. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal rs-FC and regional brain activity was found in patients with achalasia. Our study provides new insights into the pathophysiology of achalasia and highlights the potential of rs-fMRI in improving the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Inhibition of UFM1 expression suppresses cancer progression and is linked to the dismal prognosis and immune infiltration in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Ubiquitin fold modifier 1 (UFM1) overexpression is associated with cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. However, the roles and pathways of UFM1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has remained undefined. METHODS: The expression of UFM1 and the relationship between UFM1 expression and prognosis were investigated using data of OSCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The UFM1 co-expressed genes, and the association between the UFM1 expression and immune cells and ubiquitination were explored. The effects of UFM1 expression on the growth and migration of OSCC cells were investigated by siRNA interference, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell, Western blotting, and wound healing experiments. RESULTS: UFM1 was highly expressed in OSCC. UFM1 overexpression was associated with short overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free interval, and was an adverse factor for prognosis in OSCC. UFM1-related nomograms were significantly associated with poor prognosis in OSCC patients. Decreased UFM1 expression could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells. UFM1 was associated with the immune cells (such as the Th17 cells, T helper cells, and cytotoxic cells) and ubiquitination. CONCLUSION: Elevated UFM1 expression was associated with poor prognosis, ubiquitination and immune infiltration in OSCC, and inhibition of UFM1 expression delayed OSCC progression, showing that UFM1 could be a biomarker for prognosis and treating OSCC patients.

Overexpression of SH2D1A promotes cancer progression and is associated with immune cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma via bioinformatics and in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: SH2 domain containing 1A (SH2D1A) expression has been linked to cancer progression. However, the functions of SH2D1A in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been reported. METHODS: The effects of SH2D1A on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells and the related pathways were re-explored in cell models with SH2D1A overexpression using the CCK-8, migration and invasion assays and western blotting. The functions and mechanisms of genes co-expressed with SH2D1A were analyzed using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. The relationship between SH2D1A expression and immune microenvironment features in HCC was explored. RESULTS: Elevated SH2D1A expression promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was related to the overexpression of p-Nf-κB and BCL2A1 protein levels in HCC. SH2D1A expression was related to the immune, stromal, and ESTIMATE scores, and the abundance of immune cells, such as B cells, CD8+ T cells, and T cells. SH2D1A expression was significantly related to the expression of immune cell markers, such as PDCD1, CD8A, and CTLA4 in HCC. CONCLUSION: SH2D1A overexpression was found to promote cell growth and metastasis via the Nf-κB signaling pathway and may be related to the immune microenvironment in HCC. The findings indicate that SH2D1A can function as a biomarker in HCC.

Integrated transcriptome and proteome analyses unravel a series of early defence responses in Sarcandra glabra against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides critically threatens the growth and commercial cultivation of Sarcandra glabra . However, the defence responses and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the molecular reprogramming in S. glabra leaves infected with C. gloeosporioides . Leaf tissues at 0, 24 and 48h post-inoculation (hpi) were analysed by combining RNA sequencing and Tandem Mass Tag-based liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. In total, 18 441 and 25 691 differentially expressed genes were identified at 24 and 48hpi compared to 0hpi (uninoculated control), respectively. In addition, 1240 and 1570 differentially abundant proteins were discovered at 24 and 48hpi compared to 0hpi, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that transcription and translation levels were highly consistent regarding repeatability and expression. Analyses using databases KEGG and iPATH revealed tricitric acid cycle, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were induced, whereas photosynthesis and tryptophan were suppressed. Enzymatic activity assay results were consistent with the upregulation of defence-related enzymes including superoxide dismutases, catalases, peroxidases and chitinases. The transcriptome expression results were additionally validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. This study provides insights into the molecular reprogramming in S. glabra leaves during infection, which lay a foundation for investigating the mechanisms of host-Colletotrichum interactions and breeding disease-resistant plants.

A novel risk model of three gefitinib-related genes FBP1, SBK1 and AURKA is related to the immune microenvironment and is predicting prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients.

PURPOSE: Gefitinib, an anticancer drug, has been reported to potentially improve the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). This study aims to investigate the roles and mechanisms of Gefitinib. METHODS: The effects of Gefitinib on the growth and migration of LUAD cells were assessed using various methods, including CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound healing, and Transwell assays. To analyze the function and mechanisms of the differentially expressed Gefitinib target genes (GTGs), data from the TCGA database were utilized. Kaplan-Meier survival and ROC analysis identified prognostic-related GTGs and constructed a prognostic nomogram in LUAD. Consensus clustering, COX analysis and survival analysis evaluated the relationship between GTGs and the prognosis of LUAD patients. The mechanisms of the risk model involved LUAD progression, and the relationship between the risk model and immune microenvironment were investigated. RESULTS: Gefitinib could inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion and promote cell apoptosis. 84 DEGTGs were involved in RAS, MAPK, ERBB pathways. The DEGTGs (FBP1, SBK1, and AURKA) were the independent risk factors for dismal prognosis of LUAD patients and were used to establish risk model and nomogram. Gefitinib could promote the expression of FBP1 and inhibit the expression of SBK1 and AURKA. High-risk LUAD patients had the dismal prognosis, and the high-risk score group was significantly associated with the immune microenvironment. CONCLUSION: FBP1, SBK1, and AURKA are prognostic risk factors, and the risk model and nomogram of FBP1, SBK1 and AURKA are associated with dismal prognosis and immune cell infiltration, and have huge prospects for application in evaluating the prognosis in LUAD.

Association between maternal postpartum depression and children's physical growth in early childhood: a birth cohort study.

Background: Untreated maternal postpartum depression (PPD) has consequences for children's physical growth, but no published study has evaluated changes in this effect over time. Here we therefore aimed to evaluate the dynamic effects of PPD on the physical growth of children in a prospective birth cohort. Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, 960 mother-child pairs in Changsha, China were followed up when the child was aged 1-48 months. Data were obtained through household surveys. The mothers' depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) at 1 month postpartum. Linear mixed models were used to examine the changes in the association of PPD and EPDS scores with physical growth in six different age groups of children between 1 and 48 months. Results: A total of 604 mother-child pairs completed the follow-up, and 3.3% of mothers reported PPD. No associations were found between PPD and weight or height growth at any age. While EPDS scores were associated with weight gain (ß = -0.014, 95% CI (-0.025, -0.002), P = 0.024) and height growth (ß = -0.044, 95% CI (-0.084, -0.004), P = 0.030) rates at 1-3 months, no associations were found in older children. Limitations: The number of mothers who reported PPD was relatively small, and the measurement of PPD was not continuously taken. Conclusions: After adjustments for confounders, no dynamic association was found between PPD and children's weight and height growth. EPDS scores, in contrast, did negatively affect children's weight and height growth at age 1-3 months, but this effect was not long-lasting.

Interaction mechanisms between autophagy and ferroptosis: Potential role in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy that has the second highest incidence and mortality rate. Although there are many personalized treatment options for CRC, the therapeutic effects are ultimately limited by drug resistance. Studies have aimed to block the initiation and progression of CRC by inducing cell death to overcome this obstacle. Substantial evidence has indicated that both autophagy and ferroptosis play important regulatory roles in CRC. Autophagy, a lysosome-dependent process by which cellular proteins and organelles are degraded, is the basic mechanism for maintaining cell homeostasis. The duality and complexity of autophagy in cancer therapy is a hot topic of discussion. Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death pathway, is associated with iron accumulation-induced lipid peroxidation. The activation of ferroptosis can suppress CRC proliferation, invasion and drug resistance. Furthermore, recent studies have suggested an interaction between autophagy and ferroptosis. Autophagy can selectively degrade certain cellular contents to provide raw materials for ferroptosis, ultimately achieving antitumor and anti-drug resistance. Therefore, exploring the interaction between autophagy and ferroptosis could reveal novel ideas for the treatment of CRC. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of autophagy and ferroptosis, focusing on their roles in CRC and the crosstalk between them.

TMEM41A overexpression correlates with poor prognosis and immune alterations in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Expression levels of transmembrane protein 41A (TMEM41A) are related to the progression of malignant tumors. However, the association between TMEM41A expression and endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains unclear. This study aims to identify the roles of TMEM41A expression in the prognosis of patients with EC and its correlation with EC progression. METHODS: The TMEM41A expression and its correlation with the survival of patients with EC were assessed. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the prognostic factors, while nomograms were used to examine the association between the prognostic factors and the survival of patients with EC. Finally, the link between TMEM41A level and immune microenvironment and RNA modifications was investigated in EC. RESULTS: TMEM41A was overexpressed in EC. TMEM41A overexpression could diagnose the EC and evaluate the poor prognosis of patients. Overexpression of TMEM41A was associated with clinical stage, age, weight, histological subtype, tumor grade, and survival status of patients with EC. Clinical stage, age, tumor grade, radiotherapy, and TMEM41A overexpression were factors of poor prognosis in patients with EC. The nomograms revealed the correlation between the TMEM41A level and survival time of patients with EC at 1, 3, and 5 years. Furthermore, TMEM41A overexpression was significantly correlated with the level of the stromal score, immune score, estimate score, NK CD56 bright cells, iDC, NK cells, eosinophils, pDC, T cells, TReg, cytotoxic cells, mast cells, Th17 cells, neutrophils, aDC, NK CD56 dim cells, TFH, Th2 cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, immune cell markers, and RNA modifications. CONCLUSIONS: TMEM41A is overexpressed in EC tissues and is associated with the prognosis, immune microenvironment, and RNA modification. Our preliminary studies indicate that overexpression of TMEM41A can potentially serve as a biomarker for EC treatment.

MicroRNA-21 in gynecological cancers: From molecular pathogenesis to clinical significance.

Ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers are the three most common gynecological cancer types (GCs). They hold a significant position as the leading causes of mortality among women with cancer-related death. However, GCs are often diagnosed late, severely limiting the efficacy of current treatment options. Thus, there is an urgent, unmet need for innovative experimentation to enhance the clinical treatment of GC patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large and varied class of short noncoding RNAs (22 nucleotides in length) that have been shown to play essential roles in various biological processes involved in development. Recent research has shown that miR-211 influences tumorigenesis and cancer formation, adding to our knowledge of the miR-21 dysregulation in GCs. Furthermore, current research that sheds light on the crucial functions of miR-21 may provide supporting evidence for its potential prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications in the context of GCs. This review will thus focus on the most recent findings concerning miR-21 expression, miR-21 target genes, and the processes behind GCs. In addition, the latest findings that support miR-21's potential use as a non-invasive biomarker and therapeutic agent for detecting and treating cancer will be elucidated in this review. The roles played by various lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in GCs are also comprehensively summarized and described in this study, along with any possible implications for how these regulatory networks may contribute to the pathogenesis of GCs. Also, it is crucial to recognize the complexity of the processes involved in tumour therapeutic resistance as a significant obstacle in treating GCs. Furthermore, this review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the functional significance miR-21 in therapeutic resistance within the context of GCs.

Overexpression of TWF1 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression and is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients through the MMP1 signaling pathway.

Background: It has been reported that twinfilin actin binding protein 1 (TWF1) is associated with the progression of breast and pancreatic cancers. However, the roles and mechanisms of TWF1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have not been reported. Methods: The expression levels of TWF1 in LUAD and normal tissues were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and validation was carried out with 12 clinical samples. The relationship between TWF1 expression and LUAD patients' clinical indices and immunity was investigated. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and migration and invasion assays were employed to explore the effects of downregulated TWF1 on LUAD cell proliferation and metastasis. Results: TWF1 was upregulated in LUAD tissues, and upregulated TWF1 was correlated with the tumor (T) stage, node (N) stage, clinical classification, overall survival (OS), and progression-free interval (PFI) of LUAD patients. Moreover, the Cox regression analysis showed that TWF1 overexpression was an independent risk factor for the poor prognosis of LUAD patients. TWF1 expression was associated with tumor immune infiltration (such as dendritic cells resting, eosinophils, macrophages M0, and others), drug sensitivity (such as A-770041, Bleomycin, and BEZ235), tumor mutation burden (TMB), and sensitivity to immunotherapy. In the cell model, TWF1 expression interference significantly prohibited LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which might be relevant to aberrant MMP1 protein downregulation. Conclusions: TWF1 overexpression was correlated with poor prognoses and immune status of LUAD patients. Inhibited TWF1 expression delayed the growth and migration of cancer cells by downregulating MMP protein, implying that TWF1 is a promising biomarker for the prognoses of LUAD patients.

A new prognostic model for RHOV, ABCC2, and CYP4B1 to predict the prognosis and association with immune infiltration of lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Lymph node metastasis is one of the important factors affecting the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. The key molecules in lymph node metastasis have not yet been fully revealed. Therefore, we aimed to construct a prognostic model based on lymph node metastasis-related genes to evaluate the prognosis of LUAD patients. Methods: The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the process of LUAD metastasis were identified in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the biological roles of the DEGs were depicted using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to identify the genes related to the prognosis of patients with LUAD, and a nomogram and a prognostic model were constructed. The potential prognostic value, immune escape, and regulatory mechanisms of the prognostic model in LUAD progression were explored through survival analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results: A total of 75 genes were upregulated, and 138 genes were downregulated in tissues of lymph node metastasis. The expression levels of STC1, CYP17A1, RHOV, GUCA2B, TM4SF20, DEFB1, CRHR2, ABCC2, CYP4B1, KRT16, and NTS were revealed as risk factors for a poor prognosis in LUAD patients. High-risk LUAD patients had a poor prognosis in the prognostic model based on RHOV, ABCC2, and CYP4B1. The clinical stage and the risk score were found to be independent risk factors for a poor prognosis in LUAD patients, and the risk score was associated with the tumor purity, T cell, natural killer (NK) cell, and other immune cells. The prognostic model might affect the progression of LUAD using DNA replication, the cell cycle, P53, and other signaling pathways. Conclusions: Lymph node metastasis-related genes RHOV, ABCC2, and CYP4B1 are associated with a poor prognosis in LUAD. A prognostic model based on RHOV, ABCC2, and CYP4B1 might predict the prognosis of LUAD patients and be associated with immune infiltration.

A comprehensive analysis of partial peristalsis recovery after peroral endoscopic myotomy in patients with achalasia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) improves esophageal peristalsis and to investigate the association between recovery of esophageal peristalsis after POEM and clinical features of the patients. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, data were collected from medical records of the patients with achalasia who underwent POEM between January 2014 and May 2016. Demographics data, high-resolution esophageal manometry parameters, Eckardt score, and gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERD-Q) score were collected. Weak and fragmented contraction was defined as partial recovery of esophageal peristalsis based on the Chicago classification version 3.0. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with the partial recovery of peristalsis after POEM. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were enrolled. Esophageal contractile activity was observed in the distal two-thirds of the esophagus in 24 patients. The Eckardt score, integrated relaxation pressure, and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resting pressure were significantly decreased after POEM. Multivariate analysis revealed that preprocedural LES resting pressure (P = 0.013) and preprocedural Eckardt score (P = 0.002) were related to the partial recovery of peristalsis after POEM. Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and reflux esophagitis after POEM were less frequent in those with partial recovery of peristalsis (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Normalization of esophagogastric junction relaxation pressure achieved by POEM is associated with the partial recovery of esophageal peristalsis in patients with achalasia. Preprocedural LES resting pressure and the Eckardt score are predictive of the recovery of esophageal peristalsis.