The aneurysm occlusion and recurrence of posterior communicating artery aneurysms following the treatment with the pipeline embolization device.

Despite advancements in treatment modalities such as flow diverters, the optimal management of posterior communicating artery (PComA) aneurysms remains uncertain. While PComA aneurysms treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) has been reported, the characteristics and progression of incomplete occluded aneurysms remain unclear. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the occlusion status and recurrence rates of PComA aneurysms treated with PED. A retrospective review of consecutive PComA aneurysm patients treated with PED was conducted between January 2015 and December 2020. Only patients with radiological follow-up were included. PComA aneurysms were categorized into incomplete occlusion and complete occlusion group. The primary outcomes included the characteristics of incomplete occlusion at the follow-up angiography. Among 121 PComA aneurysms treated with PED at our institution, 80 aneurysms were eligible in our study. During the follow-up period, 19 (23.8%) aneurysms demonstrated incomplete occlusion. Notably, there were no instances of recurrence among the 80 followed-up cases. Baseline characteristics of patients and aneurysms were comparable between the groups with complete and incomplete occlusion. However, the incomplete occlusion group showed a lower rate of assisted coils embolization (21.2% vs. 55.7%, P = 0.017) and shorter median operative time (91.0 vs. 145.5 min, P = 0.039). Differences in functional outcomes, complications, and PComA occlusion status between the groups were not significant. Multivariate analysis revealed the use of coils was associated with lower odds of incomplete PComA aneurysm occlusion (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.001-0.12; P = 0.001), while aneurysm size was associated with higher odds of incomplete occlusion (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.10-1.46; P = 0.002). The treatment of PED for PComA aneurysm demonstrated favorable outcomes, with an acceptable rate of incomplete occlusion and no instances of recurrence observed. However, further research is needed to explore the optimal procedural strategy for large-sized PComA aneurysms.

Advances in H2O2-supplying materials for tumor therapy: synthesis, classification, mechanisms, and applications.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a reactive oxygen species produced by cellular metabolism can be used in antitumor therapy. However, the concentration of intracellular H2O2 limits its application. Some materials could enhance the concentration of intracellular H2O2 to strengthen antitumor therapy. In this review, the recent advances in H2O2-supplying materials in terms of promoting intracellular H2O2 production and exogenous H2O2 supply are summarized. Then the mechanism of H2O2-supplying materials for tumor therapy is discussed from three aspects: reconstruction of the tumor hypoxia microenvironment, enhancement of oxidative stress, and the intrinsic anti-tumor ability of H2O2-supplying materials. In addition, the application of H2O2-supplying materials for tumor therapy is discussed. Finally, the future of H2O2-supplying materials is presented. This review aims to provide a novel idea for the application of H2O2-supplying materials in tumor therapy.

Dietary management of gestational diabetes: A review.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common condition in pregnant women that can affect the health of both the mother and the fetus. A healthy diet reduces the risk of GDM, while on the contrary, an unhealthy diet can increase the risk of developing GDM. Dietary interventions remain an important way to control GDM at this time. However, real-life diets are complex and varied, and the effect of these diets on gestational diabetes is unknown. This article summarizes research related to dietary control of GDM. Hopefully, this will help with dietary interventions for people with GDM.

Redesigned Electrodes for Improved Intraoperative Nerve Conduction Studies during the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injuries.

Traumatic peripheral nerve injuries (PNI), present with symptoms ranging from pain to loss of motor and sensory function. Difficulties in intraoperative visual assessment of nerve functional status necessitate intraoperative nerve conduction studies (INCSs) by neurosurgeons and neurologists to determine the presence of functioning axons in the zone of a PNI. This process, also referred to as nerve "inching", uses a set of stimulating and recording electrode hooks to lift the injured nerve from the surrounding surgical field and to determine whether an electrical stimulus can travel through the zone of injury. However, confounding electrical signal artifacts can arise from the current workflow and electrode design, particularly from the mandatory lifting of the nerve, complicating the definitive assessment of nerve function and neurosurgical treatment decision-making. The objective of this study is to describe the design process and verification testing of our group's newly designed stimulating and recording electrodes that do not require the lifting or displacement of the injured nerve during INCSs. Ergonomic in vivo analysis of the device within a porcine model demonstrated successful intraoperative manipulation of the device, while quantitative nerve action potential (NAP) signal analysis with an ex vivo simulated "inching" procedure on healthy non-human primate nerve tissue demonstrated excellent reproducible recorded NAP fidelity and the absence of NAP signal artifacts at all points of recording. Lastly, electrode pullout force testing determined maximum forces of 0.43 N, 1.57 N, and 3.61 N required to remove the device from 2 mm, 5 mm, and 1 cm nerve models, respectively, which are well within established thresholds for nerve safety. These results suggest that these new electrodes can safely and successfully perform accurate PNI assessment without the presence of artifacts, with the potential to improve the INCS standard of care while remaining compatible with currently used neurosurgical technology, infrastructure, and clinical workflows.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate protects vascular relaxation in ApoE-knockout mice by inhibiting the SYK-NLRP3 inflammasome-MMP2/9 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia damages vascular wall and serves as a foundation for diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and stiffness. The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is implicated in vascular dysfunction associated with hyperlipidemia-induced vascular injury. Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS), a well-established cardiovascular protective drug with recognized anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilatory properties, is yet to be thoroughly investigated for its impact on vascular relaxant imbalance induced by hyperlipidemia. METHODS: In this study, we treated ApoE-knockout (ApoE-/-) mouse with STS and assessed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, expression of MMP2/9, integrity of elastic fibers, and vascular constriction and relaxation. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that STS intervention effectively preserves elastic fibers, significantly restores aortic relaxation function in ApoE-/- mice, and reduces their excessive constriction. Furthermore, STS inhibits the phosphorylation of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces MMP2/9 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that STS protects vascular relaxation against hyperlipidemia-induced damage through modulation of the SYK-NLRP3 inflammasome-MMP2/9 pathway. This research provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying vascular relaxation impairment in a hyperlipidemic environment and uncovers a unique mechanism by which STS preserves vascular relaxation, offering valuable foundational research evidence for its clinical application in promoting vascular health.

IL-6 Released from Hepatic Stellate Cells Promotes Glycolysis and Migration of HCC Through the JAK1/vWF/TGFB1 Axis.

Purpose: The crosstalk between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is one of the important mechanisms of liver cancer metastasis. The relationship between liver cancer metastasis and glycolysis has been extensively studied recently. However, the role of von Willebrand factor (vWF) mediated glycolysis mechanism in liver cancer metastasis is currently unknown. Methods: Western blot was used to verify the expression of vWF in HCC cells. PAS staining, glycogen and L-lactate content assays were used to reflect cellular glycolysis levels. The ability of cell migration was explored by Wound-healing and Transwell assays. Besides, the effect of vWF on the progression of HCC in vivo was also studied using subcutaneous xenograft model. Results: vWF derived from HCC cells promoted tumor migration by mediating glycolysis. Besides, vWF participated in the crosstalk between HCC cells and HSCs. HCC cells activated HSCs through vWF-mediated TGFB1 expression and secretion, and activated HSCs upregulated vWF expression in HCC cells through IL-6 secretion feedback. Further, in vitro and in vivo experiments also confirmed the importance of the JAK1/vWF/TGFB1 axis in regulating HSCs-derived IL-6 mediated HCC migration and growth. Conclusion: In summary, this article demonstrated that IL-6 released from hepatic stellate cells enhanced glycolysis and migration ability of liver cancer cells by activating JAK1/vWF/TGFB1 axis which may also be a potential target for inhibiting liver cancer metastasis.

Dental pulp mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes inhibit neuroinflammation and microglial pyroptosis in subarachnoid hemorrhage via the miRNA-197-3p/FOXO3 axis.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe stroke subtype that lacks effective treatment. Exosomes derived from human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are a promising acellular therapeutic strategy for neurological diseases. However, the therapeutic effects of DPSC-derived exosomes (DPSC-Exos) on SAH remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of DPSC-Exos in SAH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SAH was established using 120 male Sprague-Dawley rats. One hour after SAH induction, DPSC-Exos were administered via tail vein injection. To investigate the effect of DPSC-Exos, SAH grading, short-term and long-term neurobehavioral assessments, brain water content, western blot (WB), immunofluorescence staining, Nissl staining, and HE staining were performed. The role of miR-197-3p/FOXO3 in regulating pyroptosis was demonstrated through miRNA sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, and rescue experiments. The SAH model in vitro was established by stimulating BV2 cells with hemoglobin (Hb) and the underlying mechanism of DPSC-Exos was investigated through WB and Hoechst/PI staining. RESULTS: The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) were increased after SAH. DPSC-Exos alleviated brain edema and neuroinflammation by inhibiting the expression of FOXO3 and reducing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, leading to improved neurobehavioral functions at 24 h after SAH. In vitro, the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3 and caspase1-p20), GSDMD-N, and IL-18 was inhibited in BV2 cells pretreated with DPSC-Exos. Importantly, DPSC-Exos overexpressing miR-197-3p had a more obvious protective effect than those from NC-transfected DPSCs, while those from DPSCs transfected with the miR-197-3p inhibitor had a weaker protective effect. Functional studies indicated that miR-197-3p bound to the 3'-untranslated region of FOXO3, inhibiting its transcription. Furthermore, the overexpression of FOXO3 reversed the protective effects of miR-197-3p. CONCLUSIONS: DPSC-Exos inhibited activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and related cytokine release via the miR-197-3p/FOXO3 pathway, alleviated neuroinflammation, and inhibited microglial pyroptosis. These findings suggest that using DPSC-Exos is a promising therapeutic strategy for SAH.

Cross-sectional study of hepatitis B virus infection in female breast cancer patients in China for the first time diagnosed.

BACKGROUND: The correlation between breast cancer and hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains inconclusive. This study aims to explore the serological status of HBV infection and past infection in different age groups of female breast cancer patients, patients with benign breast diseases, and individuals undergoing routine physical examinations. METHODS: Serum data on HBV serological markers were collected and analyzed from 6072 female breast cancer patients first diagnosed from September 2012 to July 2020 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, along with 4019 women with benign breast diseases and 54,740 healthy females undergoing routine physical examinations in the same period. The data were stratified by age for comparison between groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBV infection and past infection in the breast cancer group (7.9%, 55.1%) was higher than that in the benign breast disease group (6.5%, 39.1%) and the healthy females group(5.0%, 17.6%);the rate of only HBV surface antibody positivity (HBsAb ( +)) in the breast cancer group (10.3%) was lower than that in the benign breast disease group (26.9%) and the healthy females group (49.2%), with significant differences between the three groups (p < 0.05). Stratified by age, the prevalence of HBV infection in the breast cancer group (8%, 8.9%) and benign breast disease group (7.75%, 8.1%)was higher than that in the healthy females group (4.5%, 6.3%) in the 30-39 and 40-49 age group, respectively. The past infection rate of HBV in the breast cancer group (24.8%, 45.0%) was higher than that in the benign breast disease group (16.1%, 35.4%) in the ≤ 29 and 30-39 age group, respectively.. The past infection rate of HBV in the breast cancer group was higher than that in the healthy females group in all age groups, while the rate of only HBsAb ( +) in the breast cancer group was lower than that in the benign breast disease group and the routine physical examination group in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer women and women with benign breast diseases have higher rates of hepatitis B virus infection and previous infections, with more significant differences among middle-aged women. Breast cancer women and women with benign breast diseases have lower rates of only HBsAb ( +) for HBV.

[Applications of chromatography in glycomics].

Glycomics, an emerging "omics" technology that was developed after genomics and proteomics, is a discipline that studies the composition, structure, and functions of glycomes in cells, tissues, and organisms. Glycomics plays key roles in understanding the laws of major life activities, disease prevention and treatment, and drug quality control and development. At present, the structural analysis of glycans relies mainly on mass spectrometry. However, glycans have low abundance in biological samples. In addition, factors such as variable monosaccharide compositions, differences in glycosidic bond positions and modes, diverse branching structures, contribute to the complexity of the compositions and structures of glycans, posing great challenges to glycomics research. Liquid chromatography can effectively remove matrix interferences and enhance glycan separation to improve the mass spectrometric response of glycans. Thus, liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry are important technical tools that have been actively applied to solve these problems; these technologies play indispensable roles in glycomics research. Different studies have highlighted similarities and differences in the applications of various types of liquid chromatography, which also reflects the versatility and flexibility of this technology. In this review, we first discuss the enrichment methods for glycans and their applications in glycomics research from the perspective of chromatographic separation mechanisms. We then compare the advantages and disadvantages of these methods. Some glycan-enrichment modes include affinity, hydrophilic interactions, size exclusion, and porous graphitized carbon adsorption. A number of newly developed materials exhibit excellent glycan-enrichment ability. We enumerate the separation mechanisms of reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), high performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC), and porous graphitic carbon (PGC) chromatography in the separation and analysis of glycans, and describe the applications of these methods in the separation of glycans, glycoconjugates, and glyco-derivatives. Among these methods, HILIC and PGC chromatography are the most widely used, whereas HPAEC and RP-HPLC are less commonly used. The HILIC and RP-HPLC modes are often used for the separation of derived glycans. The ionization efficiency and detectability of glycans are significantly improved after derivatization. However, the derivatization process is relatively cumbersome, and byproducts inevitably affect the accuracy and completeness of the detection results. HPAEC and PGC chromatography exhibit good separation effects on nonderivative glycans, but issues related to the detection integrity of low-abundance glycans owing to their poor detection effect continue to persist. Therefore, the appropriate analytical method for a specific sample or target analyte or mutual verification must be selected. Finally, we highlight the research progress in various chromatographic methods coupled with mass spectrometry for glycomics analysis. Significant progress has been made in glycomics research in recent years owing to advancements in the development of chromatographic separation techniques. However, several significant challenges remain. As the development of novel separation materials and methods continues, chromatographic techniques may be expected to play a critical role in future glycomics research.

Efficacy and Safety of Fruquintinib-Based Treatment in Patients with Refractory Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma after Developing Resistance to Several TKIs: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been approved as second-line therapy in refractory sarcoma, prolonging progression-free survival (PFS) but with short-lived duration of disease control. Fruquintinib is a TKI that specifically inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1,2,3 with no metabolism by liver enzymes. In this retrospective study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of fruquintinib-based treatment in patients with refractory sarcoma after developing several lines of TKI resistance. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with refractory sarcoma after they had developed several lines of resistance to TKIs and who received fruquintinib-based treatment from November 2021 to August 2023. The primary endpoint was the progression-free survival rate at 4 months (4m-PFSR). Secondary endpoints were the median PFS, overall survival (OS), objective response rate, disease control rate, and adverse effects (AEs). PFS and OS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A log-rank test was used to compare survival curves between different clinical and pathological factors. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to identify PFS-related prognostic factors. RESULTS: We included 124 patients: 56 (45.2%) with osteosarcoma, 28 (22.6%) with Ewing sarcoma, seven (5.6%) with chondrosarcoma, and 33 (26.6%) with soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Only 18 (14.5%) patients received monotherapy with fruquintinib. With a median follow-up time of 6.8 (interquartile range [IQR], 4.6-9.4) months, 22 (17.7%) patients had partial response and 78 (62.9%) had stable disease. The 4m-PFSR was 58.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.6%-67.1%). The median PFS and OS were 4.4 (95% CI, 3.9-5.0) months and 11.4 (95% CI, 10.3-12.5) months. In multivariate analysis, a high hazard ratio for progression was associated with target lesions located outside the lung and bone with 1.79 (95% CI, 1.10-2.93; p = 0.020). Eighty-eight AEs were recorded in 47 (37.9%) patients; the most common were pneumothorax (18/124, 14.5%), diarrhea (8/124, 6.5%), oral mucositis (7/124, 5.6%), and thrombocytopenia (7/124, 5.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Fruquintinib may be a potential option for patients with refractory sarcoma after developing several lines of TKI resistance, with a satisfactory efficacy and safety profile in combination therapy. However, the degree of contribution of fruquintinib to results is unclear when combined with other effective substances. Additional prospective trials of fruquintinib should be conducted, especially involving different pathological types and combination regimens.

Discovery and mechanistic analysis of a novel source protein glutaminase PG5 and its potential application.

In this study, we successfully obtained a novel source protein glutaminase PG5 with specific activity of 10.4 U/mg, good tolerance and broad substrate profile through big data retrieval. Structural analysis and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the catalytic pocket of Mature-PG5 contained a large number of aromatic amino acids and hydrophobic amino acids, and that Ser72 greatly affects the properties of the catalytic pocket and the affinity of PG5 for the substrate. In addition, molecular dynamics analysis revealed that the opening and closing between amino acid residues Gly65 and Thr66 with Cys164 at the catalytic cleft could affect substrate binding and product release. In addition, PG5 effectively improved the solubility of fish myofibrillar proteins under low-salt conditions while enhancing their foaming and emulsification properties. This study offers valuable insights into the catalytic mechanism of PG5, which will contribute to its future directed evolution and application in the food industry.

Urease-producing bacteria with plant growth-promoting ability that may tolerate and remove cadmium from aqueous solution.

Urease-producing bacteria (UPB) are widely present in soil and play an important role in soil ecosystems. In this study, 65 UPB strains were isolated from cadmium (Cd)-polluted soil around a lead-zinc mine in Yunnan Province, China. The Cd tolerance, removal of Cd from aqueous solution, production of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and plant growth-promoting effects of these materials were investigated. The results indicate that among the 65 UPB strains, four strains with IAA-producing ability were screened and identified as Bacillus thuringiensis W6-11, B. cereus C7-4, Serratia marcescens W11-10, and S. marcescens C5-6. Among the four strains, B. cereus C7-4 had the highest Cd tolerance, median effect concentration (EC50) of 59.94 mg/L. Under Cd 5 mg/L, S. marcescens C5-6 had the highest Cd removal from aqueous solution, up to 69.83%. Under Cd 25 mg/kg, inoculation with B. cereus C7-4 significantly promoted maize growth in a sand pot by increasing the root volume, root surface area, and number of root branches by 22%, 29%, and 20%, respectively, and plant height and biomass by 16% and 36%, respectively, and significantly increasing Cd uptake in the maize roots. Therefore, UPB is a potential resource for enhancing plant adaptability to Cd stress in plants with Cd-polluted habitats.

This study utilized urease-producing bacteria screened from the soil of lead zinc mining areas in Yunnan, China as the research object, enriching the microbial resources in Yunnan. In addition, this article verified the IAA production ability and cadmium removal ability of urease-producing bacteria, and screened out bifunctional urease-producing bacteria that have potential in cadmium pollution control and plant growth promotion.

The mediatory role of water quality on the association between extreme precipitation events and infectious diarrhea in the Yangtze River Basin, China.

Extreme precipitation is exacerbating the burden of infectious diarrhea in the context of climate change, it is necessary to identify the critical and easy-to-intervene intermediate factors for public health strategies. Water quality may be the most important mediator, while relevant empirical evidence is limited. This study aimed to examine the role of water quality in the process of infectious diarrhea caused by extreme precipitation. Weekly infectious diarrhea cases, meteorological factors and water quality data in Yangtze River Basin in China between October 29, 2007 to February 19, 2017 were obtained. Two-stage statistical models were used to estimate city-specific extreme precipitation, water quality and infectious diarrhea relationships that were pooled to derive regional estimates. A causal mediation analysis was used to assess the mediation effect of water quality. In Yangtze River Basin, extreme precipitation events had a significant impact on infectious diarrhea (Incidence Rate Ratios [IRR]: 1.027, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.013∼1.041). After extreme precipitation events, the dissolved oxygen (DO) in surface water decreased (-0.123 mg/L, 95%CI: -0.159 mg/L∼-0.086 mg/L), while the un-ionized ammonia (NH(3)-N) increased (0.004 mg/L, 95%CI: 0.001 mg/L∼0.006 mg/L). The combined overall effect of DO and NH(3)-N on infectious diarrhea showed that both low and high concentrations were associated with an increased risk of infectious diarrhea. The causal mediation analysis showed that the mediation proportion of the two water quality indexes (DO and NH(3)-N) is 70.54% (P < 0.001). To reduce the health effects of extreme precipitation, in contrast to current population-oriented health strategies, those that take into account more direct and easy-to-intervene water quality indicators should be encouraged by future policies.

Baicalin Prevents Colon Cancer by Suppressing CDKN2A Protein Expression.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanism of baicalin against colon cancer. METHODS: The effects of baicalin on the proliferation and growth of colon cancer cells MC38 and CT26. WT were observed and predicted potential molecular targets of baicalin for colon cancer therapy were studied by network pharmacology. Furthermore, molecular docking and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) analysis were performed to confirm the interaction between potential targets and baicalin. Finally, the mechanisms predicted by in silico analyses were experimentally verified in-vitro and in-vivo. RESULTS: Baicalin significantly inhibited proliferation, invasion, migration, and induced apoptosis in MC38 and CT26 cells (all P<0.01). Additionally, baicalin caused cell cycle arrest at the S phase, while the G0/G1 phase was detected in the tiny portion of the cells. Subsequent network pharmacology analysis identified 6 therapeutic targets associated with baicalin, which potentially affect various pathways including 39 biological processes and 99 signaling pathways. In addition, molecular docking and DARTS predicted the potential binding of baicalin with cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), protein kinase B (AKT), caspase 3, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In vitro, the expressions of CDKN2A, MAPK, and p-AKT were suppressed by baicalin in MC38 and CT26 cells. In vivo, baicalin significantly reduced the tumor size and weight (all P<0.01) in the colon cancer mouse model via inactivating p-AKT, CDKN2A, cyclin dependent kinase 4, cyclin dependent kinase 2, interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor α, and activating caspase 3 and mouse double minute 2 homolog signaling (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Baicalin suppressed the CDKN2A protein level to prevent colon cancer and could be used as a therapeutic target for colon cancer.

[Retracted] Matrine inhibits ovarian cancer cell viability and promotes apoptosis by regulating the ERK/JNK signaling pathway via p38MAPK.

Following the publication of the above article, a concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that certain of the Transwell cell invasion assay data featured in Fig. 1B and C, the immunofluorescence assay data in Fig. 2E and F, the TUNEL assay data in Fig. 4C and the immunohistochemical data in Fig. 4B and E were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles written by different authors at different research institutes that had either already been published elsewhere prior to the submission of this paper to Oncology Reports, or which under consideration for publication at around the same time. In view of the fact that certain of these data had already apparently been published prior to the submission of this article for publication, the Editor of Oncology Reports has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 45: 82, 2021; DOI: 10.3892/or.2021.8033].

Black rice diet alleviates colorectal cancer development through modulating tryptophan metabolism and activating AHR pathway.

Consumption of dietary fiber and anthocyanin has been linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study scrutinizes the potential antitumorigenic attributes of a black rice diet (BRD), abundantly rich in dietary fiber and anthocyanin. Our results demonstrate notable antitumorigenic effects in mice on BRD, indicated by a reduction in both the size and number of intestinal tumors and a consequent extension in life span, compared to control diet-fed counterparts. Furthermore, fecal transplants from BRD-fed mice to germ-free mice led to a decrease in colonic cell proliferation, coupled with maintained integrity of the intestinal barrier. The BRD was associated with significant shifts in gut microbiota composition, specifically an augmentation in probiotic strains Bacteroides uniformis and Lactobacillus. Noteworthy changes in gut metabolites were also documented, including the upregulation of indole-3-lactic acid and indole. These metabolites have been identified to stimulate the intestinal aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway, inhibiting CRC cell proliferation and colorectal tumorigenesis. In summary, these findings propose that a BRD may modulate the progression of intestinal tumors by fostering protective gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. The study accentuates the potential health advantages of whole-grain foods, emphasizing the potential utility of black rice in promoting health.

Intraoperative urinary tract resection and construction in CRS + HIPEC procedures: a single center retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The safety and efficacy of CRS + HIPEC combined with urinary tract resection and reconstruction are controversial. This study aims to summarize the clinicopathological features and to evaluate the safety and survival prognosis of CRS + HIPEC combined with urinary tract resection and reconstruction. METHODS: The patients who underwent urinary tract resection and reconstruction as part of CRS surgery were retrospectively selected from our disease-specific database for analysis. The clinicopathological characteristics, treatment-related variables, perioperative adverse events (AEs), and survival outcomes were studied using a descriptive approach and the K-M analysis with log-rank comparison. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were enrolled. Perioperative serious AEs (SAEs) were observed in 11 patients (22.4%), with urinary SAEs occurring in 3 patients (6.1%). Additionally, there were 23 cases (46.8%) involving urinary adverse events (UAEs). The median overall survival (OS) in the entire cohort was 59.2 (95%CI: 42.1-76.4) months. The median OS of the UAE group and No-UAE group were 59.2 months (95%CI not reached), and 50.5 (95%CI: 11.5 to 89.6) months, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.475). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in OS based on the grade of UAEs or the number of UAEs (P = 0.562 and P = 0.622, respectively). CONCLUSION: The combination of CRS + HIPEC with urinary tract resection and reconstruction is associated with a high incidence of Grade I-II UAEs, which do not have an impact on OS. The safety profile of this combined technique is acceptable. However, this is a retrospective single-center single-arm analysis, with limitations of generalizability and potential selection bias. The findings need high-level validation.

Degassing 4-tert-Butylpyridine in the Spiro-MeOTAD Film Improves the Thermal Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells.

The organic molecular 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(4,4'-dimethoxy-3-methyldiphenylamino)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (Spiro-MeOTAD) is known as a typical hole transport material in the development of an all-solid-state perovskite solar cell (PSC). Spiro-MeOTAD requires additives of lithium bifurflimide (LiTFSI) and 4-tert-butylpyridine (tBP) to increase the conductivity and solubility for enhancing the photovoltaic performance of PSCs. However, those additives have an adverse effect on the thermal stability. We report on the origin of instability of additive-containing Spiro-MeOTAD at 85 °C and the methodology to solve the thermal instability. We have found that the interaction of LiTFSI with the underneath perovskite surface facilitated by diffusive tBP is responsible for thermal degradation. Degasification of tBP from the Spiro-MeOTAD film is found to be the key to achieving thermally stable PSCs, where the optimal degassing process achieves 90% of the initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) at 85 °C after 1000 h.

Urolithin A promotes atherosclerotic plaque stability by limiting inflammation and hypercholesteremia in Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Urolithin A (UroA), a dietary phytochemical, is produced by gut bacteria from fruits rich in natural polyphenols ellagitannins (ETs). The efficiency of ETs metabolism to UroA in humans depends on gut microbiota. UroA has shown a variety of pharmacological activities. In this study we investigated the effects of UroA on atherosclerotic lesion development and stability. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice were fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 3 months to establish atherosclerosis model. Meanwhile the mice were administered UroA (50 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.). We showed that UroA administration significantly decreased diet-induced atherosclerotic lesions in brachiocephalic arteries, macrophage content in plaques, expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, intraplaque hemorrhage and size of necrotic core, while increased the expression of smooth muscle actin and the thickness of fibrous cap, implying features of plaque stabilization. The underlying mechanisms were elucidated using TNF-α-stimulated human endothelial cells. Pretreatment with UroA (10, 25, 50 µM) dose-dependently inhibited TNF-α-induced endothelial cell activation and monocyte adhesion. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of UroA in TNF-α-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were independent of NF-κB p65 pathway. We conducted RNA-sequencing profiling analysis to identify the differential expression of genes (DEGs) associated with vascular function, inflammatory responses, cell adhesion and thrombosis in UroA-pretreated HUVECs. Human disease enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly correlated with cardiovascular diseases. We demonstrated that UroA pretreatment mitigated endothelial inflammation by promoting NO production and decreasing YAP/TAZ protein expression and TEAD transcriptional activity in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. On the other hand, we found that UroA administration modulated the transcription and cleavage of lipogenic transcription factors SREBP1/2 in the liver to ameliorate cholesterol metabolism in ApoE-/- mice. This study provides an experimental basis for new dietary therapeutic option to prevent atherosclerosis.

Modified frailty index effectively predicts adverse outcomes in sepsis patients in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Frailty and sepsis have a significant impact on patient prognosis. However, research into the relationship between frailty and sepsis in the general adult population remains inadequate. This paper aims to investigate the association between frailty and adverse outcomes in this population. METHOD: This retrospective analysis investigated sepsis patients who were initially admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The Modified Frailty Index (MFI) was derived by tracking patients' International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes during their hospitalization. Patients were classified into two groups based on their MFI scores: a frail group (MFI ≥ 3) and a non-frail group (MFI = 0-2). The key outcomes were mortality rates at 90 and 180 days, with secondary outcomes including the incidence of delirium and pressure injury. RESULT: Of the 21,338 patients who were recruited for this study (median age about 68 years, 41.8 % female), 5,507 were classified as frail and 15,831 were classified as non-frail. Frail patients were significantly more likely to have delirium (48.9 % vs. 36.1 %, p < 0.001) and pressure injury (60.5 % vs. 51.4 %, p < 0.001). After controlling for confounding variables, the multifactorial Cox proportional hazard regression analyses revealed a significantly elevated mortality rate at 90 days (adjusted HR: 1.58, 95 % CI: 1.24-2.02, p < 0.001) and 180 days (adjusted HR: 1.47, 95 % CI: 1.18, 1.83, p < 0.001) in the frail group compared to their non-frail counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty independently predisposes adult sepsis patients in the ICU to adverse outcomes. Future investigations should concentrate on evaluating frailty and developing targeted interventions to improve patient prognosis. IMPLICATION FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: The MFI provides a simple clinical assessment tool that can be integrated into electronic medical records for immediate calculation. This simplifies the assessment process and plays a key role in predicting patient outcomes.