Treatment patterns, clinical outcomes and gene mutation characteristics of hepatitis B virus-associated mantle cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an uncommon and incurable B-cell lymphoma subtype that has an aggressive course. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been associated with an increased risk for B-cell lymphomas, and is characterized by distinct clinical and genetic features. Here, we showed that 9.5% of MCL Chinese patients were hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HBsAg+). Compared to HBsAg-negative (HBsAg-) patients, HBsAg+ MCL patients had a greater incidence of elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), but no difference was observed in the other clinical characteristics, including sex, age, ECOG ps, Ann Arbor stage, MIPI, extranodal involvement and Ki-67. The HD-AraC (high-dose cytarabine) regimen was the main first-line induction regimen for younger HBsAg+ patients, and cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) were used for elderly patients. HBsAg seropositivity was associated with a significantly shorter PFS than HBsAg seronegativity when patients were treated with rituximab or CHOP-based regimens. Compared with CHOP, the HD-AraC regimen was associated with longer PFS in HBsAg+ patients. Treatment with a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) alone can also cause HBV reactivation. Among the 74 patients who underwent targeted deep sequencing (TDS), the nonsynonymous mutation load of HBsAg+ MCL patients was greater than that of HBsAg- MCL patients. HDAC1, TRAF5, FGFR4, SMAD2, JAK3, SMC1A, ZAP70, BLM, CDK12, PLCG2, SMO, TP63, NF1, PTPR, EPHA2, RPTOR and FIP1L1 were significantly enriched in HBsAg+ MCL patients.

Evodiamine Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Growth via RTKs Mediated PI3K/AKT/p53 Signaling Pathway.

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of EVO on colorectal cancer (CRC) growth and further explore the potential mechanism involving the RTKs-mediated PI3K/AKT/p53 signaling pathway. Methods: Firstly, the inhibitory effect of EVO on CRC cells was detected in vitro by cell viability assay and colony formation assay. The effects of EVO on spatial migration and invasion capacity of cells were detected by Transwell assay. The effects of EVO on apoptosis and cycle of cells were detected by flow cytometry. Then, the molecular mechanism of EVO against CRC was revealed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Finally, the excellent anti-tumour activity of EVO was verified by in vivo experiments. Results: The results demonstrated that EVO exerts inhibitory effects on CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and colony formation. The cell cycle assay revealed that EVO induces G1/S phase arrest. Through RNA seq, we explored the influence of EVO on the transcriptional profile of colon cancer and observed significant activation of RTKs and the PI3K/AKT pathway, along with its downstream signaling pathways. Furthermore, we observed upregulation of p53 proteins by EVO, which led to the inhibition of Bcl-2 expression and an increase in Bax expression. Consistently, EVO exhibited remarkable suppression of tumor xenograft growth in nude mice. Conclusion: This study confirmed that EVO inhibits the proliferation of CRC cells and promotes cell apoptosis. The possible mechanism of action is inhibiting the expression of the RTK protein family, activating the PI3K/AKT/p53 apoptotic signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting Bcl-2 expression and increasing Bax expression, promoting apoptosis of CRC cells. As a natural product, EVO has very high potential application value.

Epidemiological features and prognosis for primary gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma.

Primary gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma (PGI-FL) is a rare extra-nodal lymphoma. Its epidemiology and prognosis remain unclear. We performed a retrospective analysis of eligible patients with 1648 PGI-FL and 34 892 nodal FL (N-FL) in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. The age-adjusted average annual incidence of PGI-FL was 0.111/100000. The median overall survival (OS) for PGI-FL and N-FL patients was 207 and 165 months respectively. The 5-year diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) transformation rates were 2.1% and 2.6% respectively. Age, sex, grade, Ann Arbor stage, primary site and radiation were independent prognostic factors (p < 0.05). Nomograms were constructed to predict 1-, 5- and 10-year OS and disease-specific survival (DSS). The receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration plots showed the established nomograms had robust and accurate performance. Patients were classified into three risk groups according to nomogram score. In conclusion, the incidence of PGI-FL has increased over the past 40 years, and PGI-FL has a better prognosis and a lower DLBCL transformation rate than N-FL. The nomograms were developed and validated as an individualized tool to predict survival. Patients were divided into three risk groups to assist clinicians in identifying high-risk patients and choosing the optimal individualized treatments.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of major depression aids locus discovery, fine mapping, gene prioritization and causal inference.

Most genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of major depression (MD) have been conducted in samples of European ancestry. Here we report a multi-ancestry GWAS of MD, adding data from 21 cohorts with 88,316 MD cases and 902,757 controls to previously reported data. This analysis used a range of measures to define MD and included samples of African (36% of effective sample size), East Asian (26%) and South Asian (6%) ancestry and Hispanic/Latin American participants (32%). The multi-ancestry GWAS identified 53 significantly associated novel loci. For loci from GWAS in European ancestry samples, fewer than expected were transferable to other ancestry groups. Fine mapping benefited from additional sample diversity. A transcriptome-wide association study identified 205 significantly associated novel genes. These findings suggest that, for MD, increasing ancestral and global diversity in genetic studies may be particularly important to ensure discovery of core genes and inform about transferability of findings.

cGAS-STING, inflammasomes and pyroptosis: an overview of crosstalk mechanism of activation and regulation.

BACKGROUND: Intracellular DNA-sensing pathway cGAS-STING, inflammasomes and pyroptosis act as critical natural immune signaling axes for microbial infection, chronic inflammation, cancer progression and organ degeneration, but the mechanism and regulation of the crosstalk network remain unclear. Cellular stress disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis, facilitates the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore and the leakage of mitochondrial DNA to cell membrane, triggers inflammatory responses by activating cGAS-STING signaling, and subsequently induces inflammasomes activation and the onset of pyroptosis. Meanwhile, the inflammasome-associated protein caspase-1, Gasdermin D, the CARD domain of ASC and the potassium channel are involved in regulating cGAS-STING pathway. Importantly, this crosstalk network has a cascade amplification effect that exacerbates the immuno-inflammatory response, worsening the pathological process of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Given the importance of this crosstalk network of cGAS-STING, inflammasomes and pyroptosis in the regulation of innate immunity, it is emerging as a new avenue to explore the mechanisms of multiple disease pathogenesis. Therefore, efforts to define strategies to selectively modulate cGAS-STING, inflammasomes and pyroptosis in different disease settings have been or are ongoing. In this review, we will describe how this mechanistic understanding is driving possible therapeutics targeting this crosstalk network, focusing on the interacting or regulatory proteins, pathways, and a regulatory mitochondrial hub between cGAS-STING, inflammasomes, and pyroptosis. SHORT CONCLUSION: This review aims to provide insight into the critical roles and regulatory mechanisms of the crosstalk network of cGAS-STING, inflammasomes and pyroptosis, and to highlight some promising directions for future research and intervention.

Cell membrane-based biomimetic technology for cancer phototherapy: Mechanisms, recent advances and perspectives.

Despite significant advances in medical technology and antitumour treatments, the diagnosis and treatment of tumours have undergone remarkable transformations. Noninvasive phototherapy methods, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), have gained significant interest in antitumour medicine. However, traditional photosensitisers or photothermal agents face challenges like immune system recognition, rapid clearance from the bloodstream, limited tumour accumulation, and phototoxicity concerns. Researchers combine photosensitisers or photothermal agents with natural cell membranes to overcome these obstacles to create a nano biomimetic therapeutic platform. When used to coat nanoparticles, red blood cells, platelets, cancer cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and bacterial outer membranes could provide prolonged circulation, tumour targeting, immune stimulation, or antigenicity. This article covers the principles of cellular membrane biomimetic nanotechnology and phototherapy, along with recent advancements in applying nano biomimetic technology to PDT, PTT, PCT, and combined diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the challenges and issues of using nano biomimetic nanoparticles in phototherapy are discussed. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Currently, there has been significant progress in the field of cell membrane biomimetic technology. Researchers are exploring its potential application in tumor diagnosis and treatment through phototherapy. Scholars have conducted extensive research on combining cell membrane technology and phototherapy in anticancer diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to highlight the mechanisms of phototherapy and the latest advancements in single phototherapy (PTT, PDT) and combination phototherapy (PCT, PRT, and PIT), as well as diagnostic approaches. The review provides an overview of various cell membrane technologies, including RBC membranes, platelet membranes, macrophage cell membranes, tumour cell membranes, bacterial membranes, hybrid membranes, and their potential for anticancer applications under phototherapy. Lastly, the review discusses the challenges and future directions in this field.

RPLP2 activates TLR4 in an autocrine manner and promotes HIF-1α-induced metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Metabolic reprogramming is a major feature of cancer, and aerobic glycolysis is one of the most widely studied metabolic reprogramming processes. Acidic ribosome protein P2 (RPLP2) is associated with both tumorigenesis and endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the role of RPLP2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. In the present study, we observed a significant upregulation of RPLP2 in HCC tissues. Moreover, RPLP2 expression is closely correlated with patient prognosis and survival. The subsequent experimental validation demonstrated that RPLP2 exerted a regulatory effect on the expression of glycolytic enzymes and lactate production, thereby facilitating HCC cell proliferation. Mechanistically, the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway was found to play an important role in the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated aerobic glycolysis and cell growth. RPLP2 activates TLR4 on the surface of HCC cells and the downstream PI3K/AKT pathway through autocrine signalling. This activation then facilitates the entry of HIF-1α into the nucleus, enabling it to fulfil its transcriptional function. In conclusion, our findings suggested that RPLP2 induces a metabolic shift towards aerobic glycolysis and facilitates the progression of HCC through TLR4-dependent activation of the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway. Our study revealed the novel mechanism by which the ribosomal protein RPLP2 regulates glycolysis to promote HCC progression. These findings may offer a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

The effect of perioperative antithrombin supplementation on blood conservation and postoperative complications after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery: A systematic review, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Study objective: Antithrombin (AT) activity is reduced during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. Guidelines has demonstrated that perioperative AT supplementation contributed to blood conservation and prevent perioperative thrombotic complications and target organ injury owing to its role in reducing thrombin generation. But these recommends is lack of support of meta-analysis in the guidelines. This meta-analysis aims to include all the relevant randomized controlled trails (RCT) on patients who experienced cardiac surgeries with CPB and investigate the effect of perioperative AT on blood conservation and complications after cardiac surgery. Methods: Standard published RCTs were searched from bibliographic databases to identify all evidence reporting perioperative AT supplementation for patients undergoing cardiovascular surgeries. The primary outcome was postoperative blood loss, the secondary outcomes were blood component transfusion (red blood cell (RBC), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelet and autologous blood), postoperative morbidity and in hospital mortality. The relative risk (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and the standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes were estimated using a random-effects model. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed using TSA software 0.9.5.10. Results: 13 RCTs with 996 participants undergoing different cardiovascular surgeries were included. Meta-analysis showed AT did not decrease postoperative blood loss (SMD -0.01, 95%CI -0.2 to 0.19). Subgroup analysis showed the effect of AT on postoperative blood loss was not associated with age, RCT type, surgery type, injection time of AT and AT deficiency. TSA further suggested that no additional studies were required for the stable result. Perioperative AT also did not reduce RBC ((SMD 0.10, 95%CI -0.66 to 0.85), (RR 0.99, 95%CI 0.83 to 1.19)), FFP ((SMD 0.11, 95%CI -0.19 to 0.41), (RR 1.30, 95%CI 0.90 to 1.87)), platelet (RR 1.10, 95%CI 0.83 to 1.46) and autologous blood (SMD 0.46, 95%CI -0.12 to 1.8504) transfusions. Perioperative AT significantly increased in hospital mortality (RR 2.53, 95%CI 1.02 to 6.28) and acute kidney injury (AKI) (RR 3.72, 95%CI 1.73 to 8.04) incidence. There was no significant difference in postoperative reexploration, thromboembolism, ECMO/IABP support, and stroke incidence between AT and non-AT group. Conclusions: With the improvement of AT level and heparin sensitivity, perioperative AT has no significant effect on blood conservation. And it is noteworthy that the treatment increased in hospital mortality and the incidence of AKI after cardiac surgery.

Gold-Crowned Bismuth-Based Nanocomposites for Sonodynamic, Photothermal, and Chemotherapeutic Cancer Therapy.

Conventional inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles have emerged as photothermal agents in photothermal therapy and as sonosensitizers in sonodynamic therapy. However, their weak drug-loading capabilities and the deficient techniques for multifunctional inorganic nanoparticles limit their applications. A bismuth-based gold-crowned nanocomposite (BACN) was rationally designed and successfully synthesized and could then be used to prepare nanoplatforms with excellent biocompatibilities for synergistic therapy and real-time imaging. Because of the constituent gold nanoparticles and pyridine, the nanoplatforms functioned as drug delivery vehicles, ultrasonically activated sonosensitizers, and photothermal agents. The BACNs exhibited excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (79.1%) in the second near-infrared biowindow (1064 nm). Cellular and mouse experiments demonstrated that under laser and ultrasound irradiation bufalin-loaded BACNs significantly reduced cancer cell counts and completely eradicated tumors, along with great therapeutic biosafety and no discernible recurrence. Additionally, BACNs were also used as contrast agents in computed tomography-photoacoustic imaging. The versatile BACN nanoplatform with multitreatment effects and trimodal imaging properties shows immense potential as an antitumor nanotherapeutic system.

A first-in-human, open-label, dose-escalation and dose-expansion phase I study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of QL1604, a humanized anti-PD-1 mAb, in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Background: QL1604 is a humanized immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody against programmed cell death protein 1. This first-in-human, open-label phase I study aimed to investigate the safety and tolerability and to identify the recommended doses of QL1604 for future studies. Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) and preliminary antitumor activity were also assessed. Methods: Patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors who failed or had no standard therapies available were recruited. In the dose-escalation phase, patients were treated with QL1604 at 0.3 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg intravenously once every 2 weeks (Q2W) in an accelerated titration with a traditional 3 + 3 design, followed by a dose-expansion phase at 3 mg/kg Q2W, 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks (Q3W), 10 mg/kg Q2W and a fixed dose of 200 mg Q3W. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were assessed during the first 28 days after the first dose of study drug. Adverse events (AEs) were graded per National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0, and antitumor activity of QL1604 was evaluated by investigators on the basis of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Results: A total of 35 patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors were enrolled. DLTs were reported in one patient at the dose level of 3 mg/kg Q2W (grade 3 immune-mediated myositis and myasthenia gravis), and maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The most frequent treatment-related AEs (≥10%) were fatigue (37.1%), anemia (22.9%), increased blood thyroid-stimulating hormone (17.1%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (17.1%), increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (14.3%), decreased white blood cell (WBC) count (11.4%), rash (14.3%), and pruritus (14.3%). AEs leading to discontinuation of QL1604 occurred in three of the 35 patients (8.6%). Partial responses (PRs) occurred in seven patients, resulting in an objective response rate of 20.0% (7/35). Single dose of QL1604 exhibited a dose-dependent increase in the exposure ranging from 0.3 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. Mean receptor occupancy (RO) for QL1604 at the dose of 3 mg/kg (Q2W and Q3W) and 200 mg (Q3W) was greater than 80% during cycle 1 after one infusion. Conclusion: QL1604 monotherapy exhibited favorable safety, PK, and signal of antitumor activity in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors, and the results supported further clinical studies of QL1604. On the basis of the safety, PK, and RO data, the recommended dosage for further clinical trials is 3 mg/kg or a fixed dose of 200 mg given every 3 weeks. Clinical Trial Registration: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05649761?term=QL1604&draw=2&rank=1, identifier NCT05649761.

The mechanism of dendritic cell-T cell crosstalk in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by joint pain and swelling, synovial hyperplasia, cartilage damage, and bone destruction. The mechanisms of dendritic cell (DC) and T cell-mediated crosstalk have gradually become a focus of attention. DCs regulate the proliferation and differentiation of CD4+ T cell subtypes through different cytokines, surface molecules, and antigen presentation. DC-T cell crosstalk also blocks antigen presentation by DCs, ultimately maintaining immune tolerance. DC-T cell crosstalk mainly involves chemokines, surface molecules (TonEBP, NFATc1), the PD-L1/PD-1 signalling axis, and the TGF-ß signalling axis. In addition, DC-T cell crosstalk in RA is affected by glycolysis, reactive oxygen species, vitamin D, and other factors. These factors lead to the formation of an extremely complex regulatory network involving various mechanisms. This article reviews the key immune targets of DC-T cell crosstalk and elucidates the mechanism of DC-T cell crosstalk in RA to provide a basis for the treatment of patients with RA.

Licochalcone B confers protective effects against LPS-Induced acute lung injury in cells and mice through the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe and often fatal pulmonary disease. Current treatments for ALI and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are limited. Natural product metabolites have shown promise as therapeutic alternatives. However, the effects of Licochalcone B (LCB) on ALI are largely unknown. METHODS: We investigated the effects of LCB on lipopolysaccharide-challenged mice and human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Cell viability, apoptosis, and ROS production were assessed. Lung tissue histopathology and oxidative stress and inflammation markers were evaluated. Protein expression levels were measured. RESULTS: LCB had no cytotoxic effects on cells and increased cell viability. It reduced apoptosis and ROS levels in cells. In mice with ALI, LCB decreased lung tissue weight and improved oxidative stress and inflammation markers. It also enhanced expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 while reducing Keap1. CONCLUSION: LCB protects against LPS-induced acute lung injury in cells and mice. The Keap1/Nrf2 pathway may be involved in its protective effects. LCB shows potential as a strategy to alleviate ALI caused by LPS.

Integrative genomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals genetic alterations associated with the early progression of follicular lymphoma.

Follicular lymphoma (FL), the most common indolent lymphoma, is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease. However, the prognostic value of driver gene mutations and copy number alterations has not been systematically assessed. Here, we analysed the clinical-biological features of 415 FL patients to identify variables associated with disease progression within 24 months of first-line therapy (POD24). Patients with B symptoms, elevated lactate dehydrogenase and ß2-microglobulin levels, unfavourable baseline haemoglobin levels, advanced stage, and high-risk FL International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) scores had an increased risk of POD24, with FLIPI being the most important factor in logistic regression. HIST1H1D, identified as a driver mutation, was correlated with POD24. Gains of 6p22.2 (HIST1H1D) and 18q21.33 (BCL2) and loss of 1p36.13 (NBPF1) predicted POD24 independent of FLIPI. Gene expression profiling of FL samples showed that the POD24 cohort was significantly enriched in the inflammatory response (mediated by interferon and tumour necrosis factor), cell cycle regulation (transcription, replication and proliferation) sets and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signalling. This result was further validated with transcriptome-wide information provided by RNA-seq at single-cell resolution. Our study, performed on a large cohort of FL patients, highlights the importance of distinctive genetic alterations and gene expression relevant to disease diagnosis and early progression.

Formation of a traditional Chinese medicine self-assembly nanostrategy and its application in cancer: a promising treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to prevent and treat a variety of illnesses, and its popularity is increasing worldwide. However, the clinical applications of natural active components in TCM are hindered by the poor solubility and low bioavailability of these compounds. To address these issues, Chinese medicine self-assembly nanostrategy (CSAN) is being developed. Many active components of TCM possess self-assembly properties, allowing them to form nanoparticles (NPs) through various noncovalent forces. Self-assembled NPs (SANs) are also present in TCM decoctions, and they are closely linked to the therapeutic effects of these remedies. SAN is gaining popularity in the nano research field due to its simplicity, eco-friendliness, and enhanced biodegradability and biocompatibility compared to traditional nano preparation methods. The self-assembly of active ingredients from TCM that exhibit antitumour effects or are combined with other antitumour drugs has generated considerable interest in the field of cancer therapeutics. This paper provides a review of the principles and forms of CSAN, as well as an overview of recent reports on TCM that can be used for self-assembly. Additionally, the application of CSAN in various cancer diseases is summarized, and finally, a concluding summary and thoughts are proposed. We strongly believe that CSAN has the potential to offer fresh strategies and perspectives for the modernization of TCM.

170-W Nd:YAG InnoSlab laser at 1319†nm.

In this paper, a continuous-wave Nd:YAG InnoSlab laser at 1319 nm with high output power and high beam quality is demonstrated. The maximum output power of 170 W at 1319-nm single wavelength is obtained with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 15.3% from absorbed pump power to laser output and the corresponding slope efficiency of 26.7%. The beam quality factors of M2 are 1.54 and 1.78 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on Nd:YAG 1319-nm InnoSlab lasers with such high output power and good beam quality.

Reactivation of mutant p53 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by isothiocyanate inhibits tumor growth.

p53 mutations are prevalent in human cancers; approximately half of patients with esophageal cancer present these mutations. Mutant p53 (mutp53) exerts oncogenic functions that promote malignant tumor progression, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, resulting in poor prognosis. Some small molecules have been shown to mitigate the oncogenic function of mutp53 by restoring its wild-type activity. Although these molecules have been evaluated in clinical trials, none have been successfully used in the clinic. Here, we investigated the antitumor effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in p53-mutant esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and elucidated its mechanism to identify new therapeutic strategies. We observed that p53R248Q is a DNA contact mutation and a structural mutation and that PEITC can restore the activity of p53R248Q in vitro and in vivo, further clarifying the antitumor activity of PEITC in cancers with different types of p53 mutations. PEITC can inhibit ESCC growth, induce apoptosis, and arrest cell cycle progression and has a preferential selectivity for ESCC with p53 mutations. Mechanistic studies showed that PEITC induced apoptosis and arrested cells at G2/M transition in cells expressing the p53R248Q mutant by restoring the wild-type conformation and transactivation function of p53; these effects were concentration dependent. Furthermore, PEITC inhibited the growth of subcutaneous xenografts in vivo and restored p53 mutant activity in xenografts. According to these findings, PEITC has antitumor effects, with its ability to restore p53R248Q activity being a key molecular event responsible for these effects.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of BT/PVTC composite ferroelectric thin films.

CONTEXT: Ferroelectric ceramic polymer composites have become the preferred electrocaloric materials due to their light weight and high polarization strength. But the mechanical properties were desired to be improved. In this study, the polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoro ethylene chloride (PVTC) and barium titanate (BT) composites were prepared, and the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations and experiments. It was found that with the increase of BT ceramic content in the composites, the yield stress is significantly reduced, which can be reduced by 16.07%. By comparing with the experimental data, the agglomeration and stress mechanism of the composites were proposed. METHOD: The microstructure of the composite was analyzed using radial distribution function, self-diffusion coefficient, and glass transition temperature. The agglomeration mechanism of the composite was revealed from the microscopic point of view, and the rationality of the agglomeration behavior was verified by experiments. The calculations were performed by Material Studio 2019 software and the COMPASS force field was adopted.

Add fuel to the fire: Inflammation and immune response in lung cancer combined with COVID-19.

The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has had an unprecedented and persistent impact on oncological practice, especially for patients with lung cancer, who are more vulnerable to the virus than the normal population. Indeed, the onset, progression, and prognosis of the two diseases may in some cases influence each other, and inflammation is an important link between them. The original chronic inflammatory environment of lung cancer patients may increase the risk of infection with COVID-19 and exacerbate secondary damage. Meanwhile, the acute inflammation caused by COVID-19 may induce tumour progression or cause immune activation. In this article, from the perspective of the immune microenvironment, the pathophysiological changes in the lungs and whole body of these special patients will be summarised and analysed to explore the possible immunological storm, immunosuppression, and immune escape phenomenon caused by chronic inflammation complicated by acute inflammation. The effects of COVID-19 on immune cells, inflammatory factors, chemokines, and related target proteins in the immune microenvironment of tumours are also discussed, as well as the potential role of the COVID-19 vaccine and immune checkpoint inhibitors in this setting. Finally, we provide recommendations for the treatment of lung cancer combined with COVID-19 in this special group.

A Novel Predictor of Pathologic Complete Response for Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy in Resectable Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (nICT) for resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC) has attracted widespread attention recently, whose safety and clinical benefit was observed in clinical researches. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel predictor systemic inflammation-tumor markers index (SITI) to predict the pathological complete response (pCR) for resectable LA-ESCC patients receiving nICT. Patients and Methods: A total of 147 LA-ESCC patients who underwent nICT followed by surgery from February 2020 to April 2022 were included in the study. The dynamic change of inflammatory indexes was compared at baseline, after two cycles of nICT and postoperative one month. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was performed to avoid collinearity and identify key indexes, with SITI constructed. After univariate and multivariate stepwise forward logistic analyses, a nomogram for pCR prediction was developed. Results: 41(27.9%) patients achieved pCR among 147 resectable LA-ESCC patients received nICT. Compared with baseline, most inflammatory indexes were significantly decreased at postoperative one month. 5 key indexes were identified and then a predictive index named SITI was constructed. The result showed that lower SITI and earlier clinical tumor node metastasis (cTNM) stage were more likely to achieve pCR. The nomogram for pCR prediction had excellent discrimination performance (C-index = 0.791). Conclusion: The SITI is an independent predictor for pCR in resectable LA-ESCC patients received nICT. To our knowledge, our nomogram is the first model using systemic inflammation-tumor markers for pCR prediction and may be a promising predictor to effectively differentiate pCR for nICT in LA-ESCC patients.

Genome-wide characterization of the cellulose synthase gene family in Ziziphus jujuba reveals its function in cellulose biosynthesis during fruit development.

The cellulose synthase (Ces/Csl) is a key enzyme in plant cellulose synthesis. Jujube fruits are rich in cellulose. 29 ZjCesA/Csl genes were identified in jujube genome and showed tissue-specific expression. 13 genes highly expressed in jujube fruit exhibited obviously sequential expressions during the fruit development, indicating that they might play distinct roles during the process. Meanwhile, the correlation analysis showed the expressions of ZjCesA1 and ZjCslA1 were significant positive related to the cellulose synthase activities. Furthermore, transient overexpressions of ZjCesA1 or ZjCslA1 in jujube fruits significantly increased cellulose synthase activities and contents, whereas silencing of ZjCesA1 or ZjCslA1 in jujube seedlings obviously reduced cellulose levels. Moreover, the Y2H assays verified that ZjCesA1 and ZjCslA1 may participate in cellulose synthesis by forming protein complexes. The study not only reveals the bioinformatics characteristics and functions of cellulose synthase genes in jujube, but also provides clues for studying cellulose synthesis in other fruits.