GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Risk for Cirrhosis and Related Complications in Patients With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Importance: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is an increasing cause of cirrhosis. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are effective in improving liver inflammation in patients with MASLD. Objective: To determine whether use of GLP-1 RAs is associated with lower risk of developing cirrhosis and its complications, including decompensation and hepatocellular cancer (HCC), among patients with MASLD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study with an active comparator, new-user design used data from the national Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse and Central Cancer Registry. Patients with MASLD and diabetes who were seen at 130 Veterans Health Administration hospitals and associated ambulatory clinics and who initiated either a GLP-1 RA or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) between January 1, 2006, and June 30, 2022, were included. Patients were followed up from baseline until one of the study outcomes or the end of the study period (December 31, 2022), whichever came first. Exposures: Each GLP-1 RA new user was propensity score matched in 1:1 ratio to a patient who initiated a DPP-4i during the same month. Separate analyses were conducted among patients without and with cirrhosis at baseline. Main Outcomes and Measures: For patients without cirrhosis, the primary outcome was progression to cirrhosis defined by validated diagnoses codes or a noninvasive marker of liver fibrosis, and secondary outcomes were cirrhosis complications defined both as a composite and individual complications, including decompensation, HCC, or liver transplant, and all-cause mortality. For patients with cirrhosis, the primary outcome was a composite outcome of cirrhosis complications, and secondary outcomes were decompensation, HCC, and all-cause mortality. Results: Of 16 058 patients who initiated GLP-1 RAs, 14 606 did not have cirrhosis (mean [SD] age, 60.56 [10.31] years; 13 015 [89.1%] male), and 1452 had cirrhosis (mean [SD] age, 66.99 [7.09] years; 1360 [93.7%] male) at baseline. These patients were matched to an equal number of patients who initiated a DPP-4i. In patients without cirrhosis, GLP-1 RA use, compared with DPP-4i use, was associated with a lower risk of cirrhosis (9.98 vs 11.10 events per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.75-0.98). Similar results were seen for the secondary outcomes. GLP-1 RA use, compared with DPP-4i use, was associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome of cirrhosis complications (1.89 vs 2.55 events per 1000 person-years; HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.59-1.04) and mortality (21.77 vs 24.43 events per 1000 person-years; HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.98). There were no associations between GLP-1 RA use and outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a lower risk of progression to cirrhosis and mortality among patients with MASLD and diabetes. The protective association was not seen in patients with existing cirrhosis, underscoring the importance of treatment earlier in the disease course.

Microfluidics, an effective tool for supporting phage display-A review.

Phage display is a vital tool for the discovery and development of affinity reagents such as antibodies and peptides, which have great potential in imaging, molecular recognition, biosensors, targeted delivery and other clinical applications. However, affinity reagents obtained by phage display are often subjected to a process called biopanning, which is considered time-consuming, labor-intensive and lacks accurate control, limiting the acquisition of high-quality affinity reagents. Over the last two decades, several microfluidic approaches have been designed to simplify the conventional biopanning process and to realize precise control. To better understand the advantages of microfluidics over traditional biopanning and the potential of microfluidics for other molecular screening strategies, we provided an overview of recent applications of microfluidics in phage display. Additionally, the next challenges and outlooks are discussed.

Genetic evolutionary analysis of a strain of Senecavirus A in Anhui and the establishment of its detection method.

BACKGROUND: Senecavirus A (SVA) is the only member of the genus Senecavirus in the family Picornaviridae, and is one of the pathogens of porcine blistering disease. SVA has been reported in the United States, Canada, China, Thailand, and Colombia. METHODS: In this study, positive SVA infection was detected by RT-PCR in sick materials collected from pig farms of different sizes in Anhui Province. RESULTS: In this study, a virulent strain of SVA was successfully obtained by viral isolation on BHK21 cells and named SVA-CH-AHAU-1. Meanwhile, a simple, rapid and accurate nano-PCR method for the detection of SVA infection was established in this study, using the recombinant plasmid pClone-SVA-3D as a template. CONCLUSIONS: The complete genome of SVA-CH-AHAU-1 is 7286 bp, including a 5' non-coding region (UTR), an open reading frame (ORF) of 6546 nucleotides, encoding 2182 amino acids (aa), and a 3' UTR with Poly(A) features, and phylogenetic analysis showed that this isolate had the highest nucleotide homology (97.9 %) with the US isolate US-15-41901SD. In this study, the virulent strain SVA-CH-AHAU-1 was found to recombine in the ORF region with isolates SVA-CH-SDGT-2017 and SVA/Canada/ON/FMA-2015-0024 T2/2015. The complete genome has been submitted to GeneBank with the accession number OM654411. In addition, our results suggest that the established nano-PCR assay can be used as an economical, reliable and sensitive method for the field diagnosis of SVA method, especially in resource-limited areas.

Effect of different exercise types on quality of life in patients with breast cancer: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Exercise is a rehabilitation strategy for patients with breast cancer; however, the optimal type of exercise remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare the effects of five exercise types on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer and provide a basis for their exercise rehabilitation. METHODS: As of May 2024, we searched four databases: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, and included randomized controlled trials that analyzed the effect of exercise on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer. A network meta-analysis was performed using a frequency-based framework. RESULTS: Forty-five papers involving 4092 participants were included. The five types of exercises included were all significant in the direct comparison with the control group, except yoga and mind-body exercises. Aerobic, resistance, and combination exercises were associated with quality of life. However, in indirect comparisons, only mind-body exercise versus resistance exercise had a significant effect. The effect of exercise on the quality of life(total health status) of patients with breast cancer was ranked based on surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values combined with effect sizes as follows: aerobic exercise (SUCRA = 84.1) > combined exercise (SUCRA = 78.8) > resistance exercise (SUCRA = 66.4) > yoga (SUCRA = 39.3) > mind-body exercise (SUCRA = 27.2) > usual care (SUCRA = 4.1). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise can rehabilitate the quality of life of patients with breast cancer, and aerobic exercise may be the best type of exercise to improve their quality of life(total health status).

Effects of silicate stabilizers on cadmium reduction and the quality of rice grains in acidic paddy soil.

Silicate has been proven to be highly-effective at immobilizing soil heavy metals, but the effects of silicate stabilizers on rice grain cadmium (Cd) reduction and rice quality under field conditions are not clear. In this study, a field experiment was conducted over three consecutive years was conducted to examine the Cd reduction in rice grains and to reveal the potential effects of silicate stabilizers on rice grain nutrients, by setting different amounts of bentonite (B), silica‒calcium fertilizer (SC) and zeolite powder (ZP). The results revealed that the application of the B, SC and ZP significantly decreased the soil CaCl2‒Cd concentration (> 39%) and significantly reduced the grain Cd concentration in both early rice (> 70%) and late rice (> 18%) under field conditions; the silicate stabilizers reduced the soil available iron (Fe) but did not limit rice grain Fe nutrition. Additionally, the three silicates promoted rice yield and improved the rice grain Ca and Mg contents; and the application of B increased the amylose concentration of the late rice grains. In conclusion, high amounts of silicate stabilizers did not adversely influence the soil conventional nutrient indices, rice minerals or rice taste, but changes in rice selenium content need attention. Overall, in comparison with lime, silicate stabilizers can improve not only the safety of rice but also the nutritional and taste qualities of rice and are more eco-friendly for long-term use in soil.

Effect of opioid receptor antagonist on mitigating tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)-induced apoptolysis in pemphigus pathogenesis.

Pemphigus is a severe autoimmune blistering disease characterized by acantholysis triggered by autoantibodies against desmoglein 1 and 3 (DSG1/3). Apoptosis plays a pivotal role in facilitating acantholysis, yet the precise underlying mechanism remains obscure. Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is known to promote apoptosis and disrupt cell junctions, although its involvement in pemphigus pathogenesis remains ambiguous. Our study observed decreased DSG1/3 expression alongside increased TWEAK/fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) expression and keratinocyte apoptosis in both lesional and perilesional skin. In vitro experiments revealed that TWEAK-stimulated keratinocytes exhibited enhanced apoptosis, STAT1 phosphorylation, and reduced intercellular DSG1/3 expression. Notably, bulk-RNA sequencing unveiled that CASPASE-3 was responsible for mediating the DSG1/3 depletion, as confirmed by direct interaction with DSG1/3 in a co-immunoprecipitation assay. Naloxone, known for preserving cellular adhesion and preventing cell death, effectively reduced apoptosis and restored DSG1/3 levels in TWEAK-stimulated keratinocytes. The anti-apoptotic properties of naloxone were further validated in a murine pemphigus model. Our findings elucidate that TWEAK facilitates keratinocyte apoptosis by augmenting caspase-3 activity, leading to DSG1/3 depletion and apoptosis in pemphigus. Importantly, naloxone can counter TWEAK-induced apoptosis in pemphigus pathogenesis, offering a potential therapeutic intervention.

Integration of texture analysis based on DCE-MRI Ktrans map and metabolomics of early bone marrow microvascular changes in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early bone marrow microvascular changes in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits using IDEAL-IQ fat quantification, texture analysis based on DCE-MRI Ktrans map, and metabolomics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 24 male Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into diabetic (n = 12) and control (n = 12) groups. All rabbits underwent sagittal MRI of the lumbar vertebrae at the 0th,4th, 8th, 12th, and 16th week, respectively. The fat fraction (FF) ratio and quantitative permeability of the lumbar bone marrow was measured. Texture parameters were extracted from DCE-MRI Ktrans map. At 16th week, lumbar vertebrae 5 and 6 were used for histological analysis. Lumbar vertebra 7 was crushed to obtain bone marrow for metabolomics research. RESULTS: The FF ratio and Ktrans of the lumbar bone marrow in diabetic group were increased significantly at 16th week (t = 2.226, P = 0.02; Z = -2.721, P < 0.01). Nine texture feature parameters based on DCE-MRI Ktrans map were significantly different between the groups at the 16th week (all P < 0.05). Pathway analysis showed that diabetic bone marrow microvascular changes were mainly related to linoleic acid metabolism. Differential metabolites were correlated with the number of adipocytes, FF ratio, and permeability parameters. CONCLUSION: The integration of metabolomics with texture analysis based on DCE-MRI Ktrans map may be used to evaluate diabetic bone marrow microvascular changes at an early stage. It remains to be validated in clinical studies whether the integration of metabolomics with texture analysis based on the DCE-MRI Ktrans map can effectively evaluate diabetic bone marrow.

Revealing and Inhibiting the Facet-related Ion Migration for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Ion migration is a major issue hindering the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). As an intrinsic characteristic of metal halide perovskite materials, ion migration is closely related to the atomic arrangement and coordination, which are the basic characteristic differences among various facets. Herein, we report the facet-related ion migration, and then achieve the inhibition of ion migration in perovskite through finely modulating the facet orientation. We show that the (100) facet is substantially more vulnerable to cationic migration than the (111) facet. The main reason for this difference in migration is that the cationic migration route in the (111) facet deviates from that in the (100) facet, which increases the active migration energy and weakens the contribution from the electric field during operation. We prepare a (111)-dominated perovskite film by incorporating a facile and green addition of water (H2O) into the antisolvent, further achieving a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.0% (25.4% certification) on regular planar PSCs and 25.8% on inverted PSCs. Moreover, the unencapsulated PSCs can maintain 95% of their initial PCE after 3500-hours operation under simulated AM1.5 illumination at the maximum power point.

Association of Serum Endocannabinoid Levels with Pancreatitis and Pancreatitis-Related Pain.

Background and Aims: This investigation examined the association of pancreatitis and pancreatitis-related pain with serum levels of two endocannabinoid molecules such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and two paracannabinoid molecules such as oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). Methods: A case-control study was conducted within the Prospective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for Epidemiological and Translational Studies, including participants with no pancreas disease (N = 56), chronic abdominal pain of suspected pancreatic origin or indeterminate chronic pancreatitis (CP) (N = 22), acute pancreatitis (N = 33), recurrent acute pancreatitis (N = 57), and definite CP (N = 63). Results: Circulating AEA concentrations were higher in women than in men (p = 0.0499), and PEA concentrations were higher in obese participants than those who were underweight/normal or overweight (p = 0.003). Asymptomatic controls with no pancreatic disease had significantly (p = 0.03) lower concentrations of AEA compared with all disease groups combined. The highest concentrations of AEA were observed in participants with acute pancreatitis, followed by those with recurrent acute pancreatitis, chronic abdominal pain/indeterminant CP, and definite CP. Participants with pancreatitis reporting abdominal pain in the past year had significantly (p = 0.04) higher concentrations of AEA compared with asymptomatic controls. Levels of 2-AG were significantly lower (p = 0.02) among participants reporting abdominal pain in the past week, and pain intensity was inversely associated with concentrations of 2-AG and OEA. Conclusions: Endocannabinoid levels may be associated with stage of pancreatitis, perhaps through activation of the CB1 receptor. Validation of our findings would support the investigation of novel therapeutics, including cannabinoid receptor-1 antagonists, in this patient population.

Low-Temperature Flexibility of Chiral Organic Crystals with Highly Efficient Second-Harmonic Generation.

Flexible crystals with unique mechanical properties have presented enormous applications in optoelectronics, soft robotics and sensors. However, there have been no reports of low-temperature-resistant flexible crystals with second-order nonlinear optical properties (NLO). Here, we report the flexible chiral Schiff-base crystals capable of efficient second harmonic generation (SHG). Both enantiomers and racemic modifications of these crystals are mechanically flexible in two directions at both room temperature and at -196 °C, although their mechanical responses differ. The enantiomers display SHG with an intensity of up to 12 times that of potassium dihydrogenphosphate (KDP) when pumped at 980 nm, and they also have high laser-induced damage thresholds (LDT). Even when bent, the crystals retain strong second harmonic generation, although with a different intensity distribution depending on the polarization, compared to when they are straight. This work describes the first instance of flexible organic crystal with NLO properties and lays the foundation for the development of mechanically flexible organic NLO materials.

PoweREST: Statistical Power Estimation for Spatial Transcriptomics Experiments to Detect Differentially Expressed Genes Between Two Conditions.

Recent advancements in Spatial Transcriptomics (ST) have significantly enhanced biological research in various domains. However, the high cost of current ST data generation techniques restricts its application in large-scale population studies. Consequently, there is a pressing need to maximize the use of available resources to achieve robust statistical power. One fundamental question in ST analysis is to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among different conditions using ST data. Such DEG analysis is often performed but the associated power calculation is rarely discussed in the literature. To address this gap, we introduce, PoweREST (https://github.com/lanshui98/PoweREST), a power estimation tool designed to support power calculation of DEG detection with 10X Genomics Visium data. PoweREST enables power estimation both before any ST experiments or after preliminary data are collected, making it suitable for a wide variety of power analyses in ST studies. We also provide a user-friendly, program-free web application (https://lanshui.shinyapps.io/PoweREST/), allowing users to interactively calculate and visualize the study power along with relevant the parameters.

Ferroelastic ionic organic crystals that self-heal to 95.

The realm of self-healing materials integrates chemical and physical mechanisms that prevent wear and fracturing and extend the operational lifetime. Unlike the favorable rheology of amorphous soft materials that facilitates efficient contact between fragments, the efficiency of recovery of atomistically ordered materials is restricted by slower interfacial mass transport and the need for ideal physical alignment, which limits their real-world application. We report drastic enhancements in efficiency and recovery time in the self-healing of anilinium bromide, challenging these limitations. Crystals of this material recovered up to 49% within seconds and up to 95% after 100 min via ferroelastic detwinning. The spatial evolution of strain during cracking and healing was measured in real time using digital image correlation. Favorable alignment and strong ionic bonding across the interface of partially fractured crystals facilitate self-healing. This study elevates organic crystals close to the best-in-class self-healing polymers and sets an approach for durable crystal-based optoelectronics.

Research Note: Integrative analysis of transcriptome and gut microbiome reveals foie gras capacity difference between cage and floor rearing systems.

To explore the differences in foie gras performance between geese raised in cages and on the ground, we conducted an integrative analysis of liver transcriptome and gut microbial metagenomes. The results showed extremely significant differences in the liver weight (P < 0.01) and liver lipid accumulation of FRS and CRS groups. The levels of triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of CRS were significantly higher than those of FRS (P < 0.05). Transcriptome analysis showed that 3,917 upregulated and 1,395 downregulated genes were identified, and lipid metabolism pathway and fatty acid metabolism were significantly enriched. Analysis of cecum microbiota revealed that several inflammation-related bacteria (including Gallibacterium, Escherichia-Shigella, Desulfovibrio, Alistipes, and Fournierella) were enriched in CRS, while beneficial bacteria (including Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, and Ligilactobacillus) were significantly enriched in FRS. In conclusion, CRS was better than FRS in foie gras production, which was more conducive to lipid deposition in the goose liver.

Berbamine inhibits porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in vitro and in vivo.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a significant contributor to high mortality rates in piglets, posing a serious threat to the global pig industry. The absence of effective control measures and vaccines against circulating PEDV variants underscores the urgent need for new treatment strategies. In this study, we screened a compound library and identified Berbamine as a potential anti-PEDV drug through molecular docking techniques. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Berbamine significantly inhibits PEDV proliferation in Vero and IPEC-J2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, primarily targeting the replication phase of the PEDV life cycle. Furthermore, in vivo experiments revealed that Berbamine effectively alleviates intestinal damage caused by PEDV infection in piglets, leading to a reduction in viral load and cytokine levels, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-1ß, and TNF-α. Additionally, autodock predictions indicate that viral non-structural proteins 3 and 16 (Nsp3 and Nsp16) are potential targets for Berbamine. Consequently, Berbamine holds significant promise for application and development as an antiviral treatment against PEDV.

Multi-omics profiling reveals peripheral blood biomarkers of multiple sclerosis: implications for diagnosis and stratification.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disorder marked by demyelination in the central nervous system, is exceptionally uncommon in China, and remains poorly understood in terms of its peripheral blood manifestations. Methods: We conducted a cohort study comprising 39 MS patients and 40 normal controls (NC). High-dimensional mass cytometry, protein arrays, and targeted metabolomics were utilized to profile immune subsets, proteins, and metabolites in blood. Differences in multi-omics signatures were scrutinized across varying MS subtypes. Results: Immune profiling demonstrated an elevation in various B cell subsets and monocytes, alongside a reduction in dendritic cells among MS patients. Proteomic data revealed a downregulation in neurotrophic and tissue repair proteins. Metabolomic assessment showed a noted decrease in anti-inflammatory molecules and sphingolipids. Integrated analysis identified distinct molecular patterns distinguishing MS from controls. Additionally, multi-omics differences among different MS subtypes were uncovered. Notably, hippuric acid levels was consistently lower in MS subgroups with greater disease severity. Conclusion: This study represents the pioneering exploration of multi-omics in Chinese MS patients, presenting a comprehensive view of the peripheral blood changes in MS. Our study underscores the robust capability of multi-omics assessments in identifying peripheral blood biomarkers that delineate the varied clinical presentation, and facilitates future development of biomarkers and targeted therapeutic interventions in MS.

Risk factors for low back pain following percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence and risk factors for low back pain post-percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 148 OVCF patients treated from March 2020 to 2023. The incidence of low back pain post-PVP was recorded, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated risk factors. RESULTS: Low back pain occurred in 34 out of 148 patients (22.97%). Logistic regression identified age (>75) (P=0.039), number of fractured vertebrae (≥2) (P=0.004), presence of lumbar spine comorbidity (P=0.019), emotional status (P=0.006), site of fracture (P=0.006), and preoperative fascial injury (P=0.039) as independent risk factors influencing the development of low back pain after PVP in OVCF patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that age (>75), number of fractured vertebrae (≥2), lumbar spine comorbidities, and site of fracture had area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.626, 0.614, 0.623, and 0.667, respectively, in predicting low back pain post-PVP. CONCLUSION: Age, number of fractured vertebrae, presence of lumbar spine comorbidities, emotional status, site of fracture, and preoperative fascial injury are significant independent risk factors for the occurrence of low back pain after PVP in patients with OVCF. These findings are crucial for alleviating postoperative low back pain and provide valuable insight for postoperative pain management.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on renal function, inflammatory markers, and cognitive functioning in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on renal function, inflammatory markers, and cognitive outcome, and to identify factors influencing early postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 162 elderly patients who underwent hip replacement surgery at Cangzhou Central Hospital from March 2022 to May 2023. Patients were divided into a control group (without dexmedetomidine) and an experimental group (with dexmedetomidine). Measurements included creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, and the incidence of POCD seven days postoperatively. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the predictors of early POCD. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of renal function, inflammatory markers, and cognitive outcome (Cr, BUN, IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6 and MoCA scores) (all P<0.05). The experimental group showed a significantly lower incidence of POCD at seven days post-surgery (P<0.05). Logistic regression identified having a neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level seven days post-surgery ≥7.0 pg/ml as a risk factor for early POCD (P=0.001, OR=3.987, 95% CI: 1.789-8.886), whereas intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine was a protective factor (P=0.041, OR=0.424, 95% CI: 0.187-0.964). CONCLUSION: The use of dexmedetomidine in hip replacement surgery can mitigate postoperative renal injury and inflammatory response, enhance cognitive outcome, and significantly reduce the incidence and risk of early POCD in elderly patients.

Recent Advances in Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Review.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women in the world, and its incidence is increasing year by year, which seriously threatens the physical and mental health of women. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a special molecular type of breast cancer in which estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 are negative. Compared with other molecular types of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has high aggressiveness and metastasis, high recurrence rate, lack of effective therapeutic targets, and usually poor clinical treatment effect. Chemotherapy was the main therapeutic means used in the past. With the advent of the immune era, immunotherapy has made a lot of progress in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), bringing new therapeutic hope for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. This review combines the results of cutting-edge medical research, mainly summarizes the research progress of immunotherapy, and summarizes the main treatment methods of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, adoptive immunotherapy and the application of traditional Chinese and western medicine. It provides a new idea for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Ferritin Hinders Ferroptosis in Non-Tumorous Diseases: Regulatory Mechanisms and Potential Consequences.

Ferritin, as an iron storage protein, has the potential to inhibit ferroptosis by reducing excess intracellular free iron concentrations and lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS). An insufficient amount of ferritin is one of the conditions that can lead to ferroptosis through the Fenton reaction mediated by ferrous iron. Consequently, upregulation of ferritin at the transcriptional or posttranscriptional level may inhibit ferroptosis. In this review, we have discussed the essential role of ferritin in ferroptosis and the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis in ferritin-deficient individuals. The description of the regulatory factors governing ferritin and its properties in regulating ferroptosis as underlying mechanisms for the pathologies of diseases will allow potential therapeutic approaches to be developed.

Multiparametric MRI Scoring System of the Pancreas for the Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Ductal features alone may not offer high diagnostic sensitivity or most accurate disease severity of chronic pancreatitis (CP). PURPOSE: Diagnose CP based on multiparametric MRI and MRCP features. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: Between February 2019 and May 2021, 46 control (23 males, 49.3 ± 14.1 years), 45 suspected (20 males, 48.7 ± 12.5 years), and 46 definite (20 males, 53.7 ± 14.6 years) CP patients were enrolled at seven hospitals enrolled in the MINIMAP study. CP classification was based on imaging findings and clinical presentation. FIELD STRENGTH AND SEQUENCES: 1.5 T. T1-weighted (T1W) spoiled gradient echo, T1 map with variable flip angle, dual-echo Dixon, secretin-enhanced MRCP before and after secretin infusion. ASSESSMENT: Dual-echo fat fraction (FF), T1 relaxation time, extracellular volume (ECV), T1 signal intensity ratio of the pancreas to the spleen (T1 score), arterial-to-venous enhancement ratio (AVR), pancreatic tail diameter (PTD), pancreas volume, late gadolinium enhancement, pancreatic ductal elasticity (PDE), and duodenal filling grade of secretin-enhanced MRCP were measured. STATISTICAL TESTS: Logistic regression analysis generated CP-MRI and secretin-enhanced CP-SMRI scores. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to differentiate definite CP from control. Interobserver agreement was assessed using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Compared to control, definite CP cohort showed significantly higher dual-echo FF (7% vs. 11%), lower AVR (1.35 vs. 0.85), smaller PTD (2.5 cm vs. 1.95 cm), higher ECV (28% vs. 38%), and higher incidence of PDE loss (6.5% vs. 50%). With the cut-off of >2.5 CP-MRI score (dual-echo FF, AVR, and PTD) and CP-SMRI score (dual-echo FF, AVR, PTD, and PDE) had cross-validated area under the curves of 0.84 (sensitivity 87%, specificity 68%) and 0.86 (sensitivity 89%, specificity 67%), respectively. Interobserver agreement for both CP-MRI and CP-SMRI scores was 0.74. CONCLUSION: The CP-MRI and CP-SMRI scores yielded acceptable performance and interobserver agreement for the diagnosis of CP. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.