An Anthropomorphic Diagnosis System of Pulmonary Nodules using Weak Annotation-Based Deep Learning.

Purpose: To develop an anthropomorphic diagnosis system of pulmonary nodules (PN) based on Deep learning (DL) that is trained by weak annotation data and has comparable performance to full-annotation based diagnosis systems. Methods: The proposed system uses deep learning (DL) models to classify PNs (benign vs. malignant) with weak annotations, which eliminates the need for time-consuming and labor-intensive manual annotations of PNs. Moreover, the PN classification networks, augmented with handcrafted shape features acquired through the ball-scale transform technique, demonstrate capability to differentiate PNs with diverse labels, including pure ground-glass opacities, part-solid nodules, and solid nodules. Results: The experiments were conducted on two lung CT datasets: (1) public LIDC-IDRI dataset with 1,018 subjects, (2) In-house dataset with 2740 subjects. Through 5-fold cross-validation on two datasets, the system achieved the following results: (1) an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.938 for PN localization and an AUC of 0.912 for PN differential diagnosis on the LIDC-IDRI dataset of 814 testing cases, (2) an AUC of 0.943 for PN localization and an AUC of 0.815 for PN differential diagnosis on the in-house dataset of 822 testing cases. These results demonstrate comparable performance to full annotation-based diagnosis systems. Conclusions: Our system can efficiently localize and differentially diagnose PNs even in resource-limited environments with good robustness across different grade and morphology sub-groups in the presence of deviations due to the size, shape, and texture of the nodule, indicating its potential for future clinical translation. Summary: An anthropomorphic diagnosis system of pulmonary nodules (PN) based on deep learning and weak annotation was found to achieve comparable performance to full-annotation dataset-based diagnosis systems, significantly reducing the time and the cost associated with the annotation. Key Points: A fully automatic system for the diagnosis of PN in CT scans using a suitable deep learning model and weak annotations was developed to achieve comparable performance (AUC = 0.938 for PN localization, AUC = 0.912 for PN differential diagnosis) with the full-annotation based deep learning models, reducing around 30%∼80% of annotation time for the experts.The integration of the hand-crafted feature acquired from human experts (natural intelligence) into the deep learning networks and the fusion of the classification results of multi-scale networks can efficiently improve the PN classification performance across different diameters and sub-groups of the nodule.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals the inhibitory effect of beta-sitosterol on proliferation of bovine preadipocytes.

Fat deposition affects beef quantity and quality via preadipocyte proliferation. Beta-sitosterol, a natural small molecular compound, has various functions, such as anti-inflammation, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. The mechanism of action of Beta-sitosterol on bovine preadipocytes remains unclear. This study, based on RNA-seq, reveals the impact of Beta -sitosterol on the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes. Compared to the control group, Beta-sitosterol demonstrated a more pronounced inhibitory effect on cell proliferation after 48 hours of treatment than after 24 hours, as evidenced by the results of EdU staining and flow cytometry. RNA-seq and Western Blot analyses further substantiated these findings. Our results suggest that the impact of Beta-sitosterol on the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes is not significant after a 24-hour treatment. It is only after extending the treatment time to 48 hours that Beta-sitosterol may induce cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase by suppressing the expression of CCNB1, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes.

Detection of lung cancer through SERS analysis of serum.

Early detection and postoperative assessment are crucial for improving overall survival among lung cancer patients. Here, we report a non-invasive technique that integrates Raman spectroscopy with machine learning for the detection of lung cancer. The study encompassed 88 postoperative lung cancer patients, 73 non-surgical lung cancer patients, and 68 healthy subjects. The primary aim was to explore variations in serum metabolism across these cohorts. Comparative analysis of average Raman spectra was conducted, while principal component analysis was employed for data visualization. Subsequently, the augmented dataset was used to train convolutional neural networks (CNN) and Resnet models, leading to the development of a diagnostic framework. The CNN model exhibited superior performance, as verified by the receiver operating characteristic curve. Notably, postoperative patients demonstrated an increased likelihood of recurrence, emphasizing the crucial need for continuous postoperative monitoring. In summary, the integration of Raman spectroscopy with CNN-based classification shows potential for early detection and postoperative assessment of lung cancer.

Crosstalk between Exercise and Immunotherapy: Current Understanding and Future Directions.

Accumulated evidence highlights that exercise can modulate multiple cytokines, influencing transcriptional pathways, and reprogramming certain metabolic processes, ultimately promoting antitumor immunity and enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients. Exploring the mechanisms behind this will, for one thing, help us uncover key factors and pathways in exercise-assisted cancer immunotherapy, offering more possibilities for future treatment methods. For another, it will support the development of more personalized and effective exercise prescriptions, thereby improving the prognosis of cancer patients.

Preparation, Structural Identification, and Screening of Egg-Derived Peptides with Facilitating Alcohol Metabolism Activity.

The aim of this study was to obtain egg-derived peptides with facilitating alcohol metabolism (EPs) by enzymolysis, to identify their structures, and screen small polypeptides with higher activity by molecular docking. The optimum conditions for preparing EPs with facilitating alcohol metabolism were obtained by a single factor experiment, adding 2% Protamex and performing enzymolysis for 3 h with a liquid-material ratio of 35:1. The dose-response relationship experiment showed that 800 mg/kg·bw EPs played a better role in facilitating alcohol metabolism. EPs contained 40% hydrophobic amino acids (HAA), including 9.24% Leu. Eighty-four peptides were identified by HPLC-MS/MS and four peptides with potential activation of alcohol dehydrogenase were further selected by molecular docking. The tetrapeptide Trp-Ile-Val-Asp (WIVD) with the highest binding energy reached -7.16 kcal/mol. These findings suggest that egg is a good source for the preparation of peptides with facilitating alcohol metabolism activity.

Airway necrosis and granulation tissue formation caused by Rhizopus oryzae leading to severe upper airway obstruction: a case report.

Pulmonary Mucormycosis is a fatal infectious disease with high mortality rate. The occurrence of Mucormycosis is commonly related to the fungal virulence and the host's immunological defenses against pathogens. Mucormycosis infection and granulation tissue formation occurred in the upper airway was rarely reported. This patient was a 60-year-old male with diabetes mellitus, who was admitted to hospital due to progressive cough, sputum and dyspnea. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and bronchoscopy revealed extensive tracheal mucosal necrosis, granulation tissue proliferation, and severe airway stenosis. The mucosal necrotic tissue was induced by the infection of Rhizopus Oryzae, confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in tissue biopsy. This patient was treated with the placement of a covered stent and local instillation of amphotericin B via bronchoscope. The tracheal mucosal necrosis was markedly alleviated, the symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, as well as exercise tolerance were significantly improved. The placement of airway stent and transbronchial microtube drip of amphotericin B could conduce to rapidly relieve the severe airway obstruction due to Mucormycosis infection.

Microbiome and lung cancer: carcinogenic mechanisms, early cancer diagnosis, and promising microbial therapies.

Microbiomes in the lung, gut, and oral cavity are correlated with lung cancer initiation and progression. While correlations have been preliminarily established in earlier studies, delving into microbe-mediated carcinogenic mechanisms will extend our understanding from correlation to causation. Building upon the causative relationships between microbiome and lung cancer, a novel concept of microbial biomarkers has emerged, mainly encompassing cancer-specific bacteria and circulating microbiome DNA. They might function as noninvasive liquid biopsy techniques for lung cancer early detection. Furthermore, potential microbial therapies have displayed initial efficacy in lung cancer treatment, providing multiple avenues for therapeutic intervention. Herein, we will discuss the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways through which microbes influence lung cancer initiation and development. Additionally, we will summarize recent findings on microbial biomarkers as a member of tumor liquid biopsy techniques and provide an overview of the latest advances in various microbe-assisted/mediated therapeutic approaches for lung cancer.

Rapid in situ mutation detection in extracellular vesicle-DNA.

A PCR- and sequencing-free mutation detection assay facilitates cancer diagnosis and reduces over-reliance on specialized equipment. This benefit was highlighted during the pandemic when high demand for viral nucleic acid testing often sidelined mutation analysis. This shift led to substantial challenges for patients on targeted therapy in tracking mutations. Here, we report a 30-minute DNA mutation detection technique using Cas12a-loaded liposomes in a microplate reader, a fundamental laboratory tool. CRISPR-Cas12a complex and fluorescence-quenching (FQ) probes are introduced into tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EV) through membrane fusion. When CRISPR-RNA hybridizes with the DNA target, activated Cas12a can trans-cleave FQ probes, resulting in fluorescence signals for the quantification of DNA mutation. Future advancements in multiplex and high-throughput mutation detection using this assay will streamline self-diagnosis and treatment monitoring at home.

Chimeric nanobody-decorated liposomes by self-assembly.

Liposomes as drug vehicles have advantages, such as payload protection, tunable carrying capacity and improved biodistribution. However, due to the dysfunction of targeting moieties and payload loss during preparation, immunoliposomes have yet to be favoured in commercial manufacturing. Here we report a chemical modification-free biophysical approach for producing immunoliposomes in one step through the self-assembly of a chimeric nanobody (cNB) into liposome bilayers. cNB consists of a nanobody against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a flexible peptide linker and a hydrophobic single transmembrane domain. We determined that 64% of therapeutic compounds can be encapsulated into 100-nm liposomes, and up to 2,500 cNBs can be anchored on liposomal membranes without steric hindrance under facile conditions. Subsequently, we demonstrate that drug-loaded immunoliposomes increase cytotoxicity on HER2-overexpressing cancer cell lines by 10- to 20-fold, inhibit the growth of xenograft tumours by 3.4-fold and improve survival by more than twofold.

Construction of a three-dimensional inflammation model of human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B by using the self-assembling D-form peptide Sciobio-â ¢.

Human bronchial epithelial cells in the airway system, as the primary barrier between humans and the surrounding environment, assume a crucial function in orchestrating the processes of airway inflammation. Target to develop a new three-dimensional (3D) inflammatory model to airway system, and here we report a strategy by using self-assembling D-form peptide to cover the process. By testing physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of Sciobio-Ⅲ, we confirmed that it can rapidly self-assembles under the trigger of ions to form a 3D nanonetwork-like scaffold, which supports 3D cell culture including the cell strains like BEAS-2B cells. Subsequently, inflammation model was established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the expression of some markers of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8), the levels of relevant inflammatory factors were measured by RT-qPCR and the secretion profile of inflammatory cytokines by ELISA, are obtained the quite difference effects in 2D and 3D microenvironment, which suggested Sciobio-Ⅲ hydrogel is an ideal scaffold that create the microenvironment for 3D cell culture. Here we are success to establish a 3D inflammation model for airway system. This innovative model allows for rapid and accurate evaluation of drug metabolism and toxicological side effects, hope to use in drug screening for airway inflammatory diseases and beyond.

Twelve Weeks of Daily Lentil Consumption Improves Fasting Cholesterol and Postprandial Glucose and Inflammatory Responses-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Lentils have potential to improve metabolic health but there are limited randomized clinical trials evaluating their comprehensive impact on metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of lentil-based vs. meat-based meals on fasting and postprandial measures of glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammation. Thirty-eight adults with an increased waist circumference (male ≥ 40 inches and female ≥ 35 inches) participated in a 12-week dietary intervention that included seven prepared midday meals totaling either 980 g (LEN) or 0 g (CON) of cooked green lentils per week. Linear models were used to assess changes in fasting and postprandial markers from pre- to post-intervention by meal group. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were assessed through a survey randomly delivered once per week during the intervention. We found that regular consumption of lentils lowered fasting LDL (F = 5.53, p = 0.02) and total cholesterol levels (F = 8.64, p < 0.01) as well as postprandial glucose (ß = -0.99, p = 0.01), IL-17 (ß = -0.68, p = 0.04), and IL-1ß (ß = -0.70, p = 0.03) responses. GI symptoms were not different by meal group and all symptoms were reported as "none" or "mild" for the duration of the intervention. Our results suggest that daily lentil consumption may be helpful in lowering cholesterol and postprandial glycemic and inflammatory responses without causing GI stress. This information further informs the development of pulse-based dietary strategies to lower disease risk and to slow or reverse metabolic disease progression in at-risk populations.

Selenium- and/or Zinc-Enriched Egg Diet Improves Oxidative Damage and Regulates Gut Microbiota in D-Gal-Induced Aging Mice.

Eggs, with their high nutritional value, are great carriers for enriching nutrients. In this study, selenium- and/or zinc-enriched eggs (SZE) were obtained and their effects on ameliorating oxidative stress injury, alleviating cognitive impairment, and maintaining intestinal flora balance in a D-gal-induced aging mice model were investigated. As determined by the Y-maze test, SZE restored the learning and memory abilities and increased the Ach level and AChE activity of aging mice (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, supplementation of low-dose SZE increased antioxidant levels and decreased inflammation levels (p < 0.05). High-dose SZE increased anti-inflammatory levels but were less effective than low dose. Additionally, SZE maintained the intestinal flora balance and significantly increased the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. Blautia, as a probiotic, was negatively correlated with pro-inflammatory factors and positively correlated with antioxidant levels (p < 0.05). These results suggest that SZE might improve organ damage and cognitive function by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory response and maintaining healthy gut flora.

Engineering Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogel to Enhance the Capacity of Dendritic Cells to Activate In Vivo T-Cell Immunity.

The efficacy of the dendritic cell (DC) has failed to meet expectations thus far, and crucial problems such as the immature state of DCs, low targeting efficiency, insufficient number of dendritic cells, and microenvironment are still the current focus. To address these problems, we developed two self-assembling peptides, RLDI and RQDT, that mimic extracellular matrix (ECM). These peptides can be self-assembled into highly ordered three-dimensional nanofiber scaffold structures, where RLDI can form gelation immediately. In addition, we found that RLDI and RQDT enhance the biological function of DCs, including releasing antigens sustainably, adhering to DCs, promoting the maturation of DCs, and increasing the ability of DC antigen presentation. Moreover, peptide hydrogel-based DC treatment significantly achieved prophylactic and treatment effects on colon cancer. These results have certain implications for the design of new broad-spectrum vaccines in the future.

Efficacy of an enhanced recovery nursing plan as a rooming-in practice for women with preeclampsia post-cesarean section.

Our purpose was to develop and evaluate the clinical outcomes of a nursing plan as a rooming-in practice for enhanced recovery of women with preeclampsia following a cesarean section. The authors developed a postoperative enhanced recovery nursing plan as a rooming-in practice for women with preeclampsia based on summarizing evidence-based best practices. The authors used convenience sampling to select women with preeclampsia after a cesarean section from the obstetrics department of a Class A tertiary hospital in Nanjing, China, as the participants in our study. There were 30 women in the experimental group. The postoperative enhanced recovery nursing care plan was formulated for five postoperative time points and incorporated management of blood pressure, temperature, and fluids, as well as monitoring of complications, pain management, activity and rest, diet management, and breastfeeding. The control group consisted of 30 women who received routine nursing care and health education. The authors compared levels of maternal self-efficacy, breastfeeding efficacy, anxiety, pain scores, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention compliance before and after the intervention. Women in the experimental group had a self-efficacy score of 7.5 ± 0.63, which was higher than that in the control group (5.4 ± 0.85); they had a higher breastfeeding efficacy score of 7.13 ± 0.68 when compared to the control group (4.23 ± 0.86); the anxiety score was 6.7 ± 1.62, which was lower than that in the control group (10.03 ± 1.87); and the pain score was lower at 3.26 ± 0.52 when compared to the control group (3.83 ± 0.83). All the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Postoperative blood pressure was controlled within the target range, and the rate of DVT prevention compliance increased in the experimental group. The implementation of a postoperative enhanced recovery nursing intervention for women with preeclampsia as part of the rooming-in practice was effective in helping manage the blood pressure, pain, and fluids of women with preeclampsia, improved their postoperative self-management ability and breastfeeding efficacy, reduced their anxiety levels, improved their compliance with the prevention of related complications, and ultimately promoted enhanced postoperative recovery, thereby guaranteeing the safety of mothers and newborns.

Giant magnetocaloric effect in spin supersolid candidate Na2BaCo(PO4)2.

Supersolid, an exotic quantum state of matter that consists of particles forming an incompressible solid structure while simultaneously showing superfluidity of zero viscosity1, is one of the long-standing pursuits in fundamental research2,3. Although the initial report of 4He supersolid turned out to be an artefact4, this intriguing quantum matter has inspired enthusiastic investigations into ultracold quantum gases5-8. Nevertheless, the realization of supersolidity in condensed matter remains elusive. Here we find evidence for a quantum magnetic analogue of supersolid-the spin supersolid-in the recently synthesized triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Na2BaCo(PO4)2 (ref. 9). Notably, a giant magnetocaloric effect related to the spin supersolidity is observed in the demagnetization cooling process, manifesting itself as two prominent valley-like regimes, with the lowest temperature attaining below 100 mK. Not only is there an experimentally determined series of critical fields but the demagnetization cooling profile also shows excellent agreement with the theoretical simulations with an easy-axis Heisenberg model. Neutron diffractions also successfully locate the proposed spin supersolid phases by revealing the coexistence of three-sublattice spin solid order and interlayer incommensurability indicative of the spin superfluidity. Thus, our results reveal a strong entropic effect of the spin supersolid phase in a frustrated quantum magnet and open up a viable and promising avenue for applications in sub-kelvin refrigeration, especially in the context of persistent concerns about helium shortages10,11.

Ferritinophagy: A new idea for liver diseases regulated by ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: The discovery of regulatory cell death has led to a breakthrough in the therapeutic field. Various forms of cell death, such as necrosis, apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis, play an important role in the development of liver diseases. In general, more than one form of cell death pathways is responsible for the disease state. Therefore, it is particularly important to study the regulation and interaction of various cell death forms in liver diseases. DATA SOURCES: We performed a PubMed search up to November 2022 with the following keywords: ferritinophagy, ferroptosis, and liver disease. We also used terms such as signal path, inducer, and inhibitor to supplement the query results. RESULTS: This review summarized the basic characteristics of ferritinophagy and ferroptosis and the regulation of ferroptosis by ferritinophagy and reviewed the key targets and treatment strategies of ferroptosis in different liver diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Ferritinophagy is a potential therapeutic target in ferroptosis-related liver diseases.

MYC expression and fatty acid oxidation in EGFR-TKI acquired resistance.

This report expands on our previous research, highlighting a unique inverse correlation between MYC expression in tumor cells and immune cells during the development of EGFR-TKI resistance. It is observed that MYC expression and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) metabolism in tissue-resident memory (TRM) CD8 + T cells are significantly impaired. These findings offer new insights into the mechanisms of TKI resistance. Although the study is preliminary, it suggests caution when interpreting the effectiveness of MYC inhibitors in reversing TKI resistance, especially when immune factors are not considered.