Bevel-edge epitaxy of ferroelectric rhombohedral boron nitride single crystal.

Within the family of two-dimensional dielectrics, rhombohedral boron nitride (rBN) is considerably promising owing to having not only the superior properties of hexagonal boron nitride1-4-including low permittivity and dissipation, strong electrical insulation, good chemical stability, high thermal conductivity and atomic flatness without dangling bonds-but also useful optical nonlinearity and interfacial ferroelectricity originating from the broken in-plane and out-of-plane centrosymmetry5-23. However, the preparation of large-sized single-crystal rBN layers remains a challenge24-26, owing to the requisite unprecedented growth controls to coordinate the lattice orientation of each layer and the sliding vector of every interface. Here we report a facile methodology using bevel-edge epitaxy to prepare centimetre-sized single-crystal rBN layers with exact interlayer ABC stacking on a vicinal nickel surface. We realized successful accurate fabrication over a single-crystal nickel substrate with bunched step edges of the terrace facet (100) at the bevel facet (110), which simultaneously guided the consistent boron-nitrogen bond orientation in each BN layer and the rhombohedral stacking of BN layers via nucleation near each bevel facet. The pure rhombohedral phase of the as-grown BN layers was verified, and consequently showed robust, homogeneous and switchable ferroelectricity with a high Curie temperature. Our work provides an effective route for accurate stacking-controlled growth of single-crystal two-dimensional layers and presents a foundation for applicable multifunctional devices based on stacked two-dimensional materials.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) is a distinct molecular subtype of gastric cancer (GC). At present, the clinical characteristics and prognostic implications of EBV infection and the potential clinical benefits of immune checkpoint blockade in GC remain to be clarified. Hence, this study was designed to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of GC patients with varying EBV infection states and compare their overall survival (OS). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 1031 consecutive GC patients who underwent gastrectomy at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from February 2018 to November 2022. EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization (ISH) was used for EBV assessment, and immunohistochemical staining was used for evaluation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), and Ki67 expression. EBVaGC was defined as tumors with EBV positivity. In addition, EBV-negative GC (EBVnGC) patients were matched with EBVaGC patients based on seven clinicopathological parameters (age, gender, anatomic subsite, tumor size, Lauren classification, degree of differentiation, and tumor-node-metastasis [TNM] stage). The correlations of clinical features with HER2, PD-L1, and Ki67 expression were evaluated statistically. The survival of patients was assessed through medical records, telephone, or WeChat communication, and prognostic analysis was performed using the logrank test as well as univariable and multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: Out of 1031 GC patients tested, 35 (3.4%) were diagnosed with EBVaGC. Notably, the EBVaGC group exhibited a distinct predominance of males and younger patients, significantly higher Ki67 and PD-L1 expression levels, and a lower prevalence of pericancerous nerve invasion than the EBVnGC group (P < 0.01). In the 35 EBVaGC cases, Ki67 expression was negatively correlated with age (P < 0.05), suggesting that a younger onset age was associated with higher Ki67 expression. In addition, PD-L1 expression was correlated with the degree of differentiation, T-stage, and clinical stage of the patient. Furthermore, PD-L1 expression was elevated in tumors with lower differentiation or at later stages (P < 0.05). Using univariate analysis, Ki67, PD-L1, and clinical stage were identified as significant factors influencing the overall survival (OS) of EBVaGC patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, multivariate survival analysis revealed that clinical stage and Ki67 expression were independent risk factors for the OS of the patients (P < 0.05), and the three-year OS rate of EBVaGC patients was 64.2%. CONCLUSION: EBV-ISH is a practical and valuable method to identify EBVaGC. Owing to its unique etiological, pathological, and clinical characteristics, patients with EBVaGC might benefit from immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus via selective apoptosis modulation by Chinese patent medicine Liuweiwuling Tablet.

BACKGROUND: Liuweiwuling Tablet (LWWL) is a Chinese patent medicine approved for the treatment of chronic inflammation caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Previous studies have indicated an anti-HBV effect of LWWL, specifically in terms of antigen inhibition, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. AIM: To investigate the potential mechanism of action of LWWL against HBV. METHODS: In vitro experiments utilized three HBV-replicating and three non-HBV-replicating cell lines. The in vivo experiment involved a hydrodynamic injection-mediated mouse model with HBV replication. Transcriptomics and metabolomics were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of action of LWWL. RESULTS: In HepG2.1403F cells, LWWL (0.8 mg/mL) exhibited inhibitory effects on HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen and pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) at rates of 51.36%, 24.74% and 50.74%, respectively. The inhibition rates of LWWL (0.8 mg/mL) on pgRNA/covalently closed circular DNA in HepG2.1403F, HepG2.2.15 and HepG2.A64 cells were 47.78%, 39.51% and 46.74%, respectively. Integration of transcriptomics and metabolomics showed that the anti-HBV effect of LWWL was primarily linked to pathways related to apoptosis (PI3K-AKT, CASP8-CASP3 and P53 pathways). Apoptosis flow analysis revealed that the apoptosis rate in the LWWL-treated group was significantly higher than in the control group (CG) among HBV-replicating cell lines, including HepG2.2.15 (2.92% ± 1.01% vs 6.68% ± 2.04%, P < 0.05), HepG2.A64 (4.89% ± 1.28% vs 8.52% ± 0.50%, P < 0.05) and HepG2.1403F (3.76% ± 1.40% vs 7.57% ± 1.35%, P < 0.05) (CG vs LWWL-treated group). However, there were no significant differences in apoptosis rates between the non-HBV-replicating HepG2 cells (5.04% ± 0.74% vs 5.51% ± 1.57%, P > 0.05), L02 cells (5.49% ± 0.80% vs 5.48% ± 1.01%, P > 0.05) and LX2 cells (6.29% ± 1.54% vs 6.29% ± 0.88%, P > 0.05). TUNEL staining revealed a significantly higher apoptosis rate in the LWWL-treated group than in the CG in the HBV-replicating mouse model, while no noticeable difference in apoptosis rates between the two groups was observed in the non-HBV-replicating mouse model. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results suggest that LWWL exerts a potent inhibitory effect on wild-type and drug-resistant HBV, potentially involving selective regulation of apoptosis. These findings offer novel insights into the anti-HBV activities of LWWL and present a novel mechanism for the development of anti-HBV medications.

The immunoregulatory effects of total glucosides of paeony in autoimmune diseases.

Total glucoside of paeonia (TGP) and its main active ingredient paeoniflorin, extracted from the Chinese herb Paeonia Lactiflora Pallas, exhibit potent immunomodulatory effects. TGP has been shown to inhibit inflammatory responses and disease progression in experimental models of multiple autoimmune diseases (AIDs), including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, psoriasis, etc. TGP shows broad immunomodulatory effects on many immune cells such as T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, by regulating their activation, proliferation, differentiation, and production of effector molecules. Mechanistically, TGP modulates intracellular signaling transductions including JAK/STAT, NF-κB, MAPK, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Moreover, TGP has been applied in the clinical treatment of various AIDs with satisfactory therapeutic outcomes and minor side effects. Thus, available studies have demonstrated that TGP and its bioactive constituents exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions and may have extensive applications in the treatment of AIDs.

Effects of Vaccination against Recombinant FSH or LH Receptor Subunits on Gonadal Development and Functioning Male Rats.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) play key roles in regulating testosterone secretion and spermatogenesis in male mammals, respectively, and they maintain the fertility of male animals by binding to their corresponding receptors. We designed and prepared a recombinant LH receptor (LHR) subunit vaccine and a recombinant FSH receptor (FSHR) subunit vaccine and used male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats as a model to examine their effects on testicular development, spermatogenesis, and testosterone secretion in prepubertal and pubertal mammals. Both vaccines (LHR-DTT and FSHR-DTT) significantly decreased the serum testosterone level in prepubertal rats (p < 0.05) but had no effect on the testosterone secretion in pubertal rats; both vaccines decreased the number of cell layers in the seminiferous tubules and reduced spermatogenesis in prepubertal and pubertal rats. Subunit vaccine FSHR-DTT decreased the sperm density in the epididymis in both prepubertal and pubertal rats (p < 0.01) and lowered testicular index and sperm motility in pubertal rats (p < 0.05), whereas LHR-DTT only reduced the sperm density in the epididymis in pubertal rats (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the FSHR subunit vaccine may be a promising approach for immunocastration, but it still needs improvements in effectiveness.

E3 Ubiquitin Ligase NEDD4L Negatively Regulates Skin Tumorigenesis by Inhibiting IL-6/GP130 Signaling Pathway.

IL-6 signaling plays a crucial role in the survival and metastasis of skin cancer. NEDD4L acts as a suppressor of IL-6 signaling by targeting GP130 degradation. However, the effects of the NEDD4L-regulated IL-6/GP130 signaling pathway on skin cancer remain unclear. In this study, protein expression levels of NEDD4L and GP130 were measured in tumor tissues from patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Skin tumors were induced in wild-type and Nedd4l-knockout mice, and activation of the IL-6/GP130/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway was detected. The results indicated a negative correlation between the protein expression levels of NEDD4L and GP130 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma tissues from patients. Nedd4l deficiency significantly promoted 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced skin tumorigenesis and benign-to-malignant conversion by activating the IL-6/GP130/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway, which was abrogated by supplementation with the GP130 inhibitor SC144. Furthermore, our findings suggested that NEDD4L can interact with GP130 and promote its ubiquitination in skin tumors. In conclusion, our results indicate that NEDD4L could act as a tumor suppressor in skin cancer, and inhibition of GP130 could be a potential therapeutic method for treating this disease.

Seamless integration of a nickel-based metal-organic framework with three-dimensional substrates for nonenzymatic glucose sensing.

The effective integration of nanomaterials with underlying current collectors is a key factor affecting the performance of nonenzymatic glucose sensors, where an inappropriate integration structure often leads to poor electron transport and instability. In this work, a seamless integrated electrode was constructed by the in situ immobilizing of a nickel-based metal-organic framework (Ni-MOF) on a three-dimensional (3D) conductive nickel foam (NF) for highly sensitive and durable glucose sensing. Facilitated by a rapid microwave-assisted reaction, a robust interfacial interaction between the Ni-MOF and the substrate was established through in situ conversion from nickel oxide (NiO). The fabricated Ni-MOF/NF electrode exhibits an excellent limit of detection (LOD) of 2.65 µM and an impressive sensitivity (14.31 mA cm-2 mM-1) within the linear range (4-576 µM), which is significantly boosted compared with that of an electrode prepared by a typical drop-casting method (3.56 mA cm-2 mM-1 in 4-1836 µM). Characterization and electrochemical tests reveal that this integrated structure on the one hand contributes to fast electron transport and thus has enhanced sensitivity and on the other hand leads to exceptional durability with its structural integrity maintained under bending, shaking, and ultrasonication. Moreover, this seamless integration method was also employed to immobilize the Ni-MOF converted from the pre-chemically deposited NiO layer on another type of substrate, 3D carbon paper (CP), demonstrating the versatility of this facile strategy in creating diverse electrochemical electrodes for applications beyond glucose sensing.

Evaluation of mandibular motion in adolescents with skeletal class II division 1 malocclusion during mandibular advancement using clear functional aligners: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of mandibular protrusive condylar trajectory in adolescents with skeletal Class II Division 1 malocclusion and the changes of condylar trajectory during mandibular advancement (MA) treatment using clear functional aligners. METHODS: This prospective study consisted of a cross-sectional study and a longitudinal study. In cross-sectional study, sixty-one adolescents were divided into two groups: Class I (n = 30) and Class II Division 1 (n = 31). The condylar trajectory was measured and compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. The longitudinal study was the MA treatment group using clear functional aligner and consisted of 16 participants from Class II Division 1group. The condylar trajectory was collected at three-time points: pre-treatment (T1), during MA treatment at approximately 3 months (T2, 105.6 days average), and at the end of MA treatment (T3, 237.6 days average). The changes at T1, T2, and T3, as well as the symmetry between the left and right condyles across all groups, were examined using the Wilcoxon paired test. RESULTS: A greater increase in the anteroposterior displacement and space displacement during protrusive movements was observed in the Class II Division 1 group compared with that in the Class I group, with a large difference being observed in the left and right condylar movements. The condylar anteroposterior displacement and space displacement decreased significantly at T2 and increased significantly at T3; however, no significant difference was observed between T1 and T3. A significant difference was observed between the condylar movement on the left and right sides at T1; however, no significant difference was observed at T2 and T3. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with Class II Division 1 malocclusion had higher protrusive capacity than those with Class I. Moreover, their left and right condylar motion was more asymmetric. The range of condyle motion decreased first and then increased during MA therapy, and the left and right condyle movement became more symmetrical, which may be the adaptive response of neuromuscular function to the changes in jaw position.

[Analysis of Photochemical Characteristics and Sensitivity of Atmospheric Ozone in Nanjing in Summer].

Tropospheric ozone (O3) is mainly produced through a series of photochemical reactions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The reaction process presents complex non-linear relationships. In this work, datasets of atmospheric ozone and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) observed during the summer of 2018 in Nanjing were used. Combining with the framework for 0-D atmospheric model-master chemical mechanism (F0AM-MCM), the characteristics of photochemical reactions for ozone (O3) formation in Nanjing during the O3 episode days and non-episode days were investigated. The results showed that φ(O3) and φ(TVOCs) in the O3 episode days were 47.8×10-9 and 49.0×10-9, respectively, exceeding those in the non-episode days by factors of 1.8 and 1.6. Furthermore, F0AM, the empirical kinetic modeling approach (EKMA), and relative incremental reactivity (RIR) were utilized for the calculation of ozone chemical sensitivity. It was found that O3 formation in Nanjing was attributed to both VOCs and NOx limitation. In addition, the modeled ·OH and HO2 concentrations in the O3 episode days were 1.3 and 1.8 times higher than those in the non-episode days. The higher formation and loss rates of ·OH and HO2 were also found during O3 episode days. These findings reflected that the enhancements of atmospheric oxidation capacity resulted in increased production rates of O3, providing an explanation for the enhancements of O3 concentrations in Nanjing during the O3 episode days. The findings also improved the understanding of the O3 photochemical characteristics over Nanjing in the summer during the O3 episode days.

Mi-2ß promotes immune evasion in melanoma by activating EZH2 methylation.

Recent development of new immune checkpoint inhibitors has been particularly successfully in cancer treatment, but still the majority patients fail to benefit. Converting resistant tumors to immunotherapy sensitive will provide a significant improvement in patient outcome. Here we identify Mi-2ß as a key melanoma-intrinsic effector regulating the adaptive anti-tumor immune response. Studies in genetically engineered mouse melanoma models indicate that loss of Mi-2ß rescues the immune response to immunotherapy in vivo. Mechanistically, ATAC-seq analysis shows that Mi-2ß controls the accessibility of IFN-γ-stimulated genes (ISGs). Mi-2ß binds to EZH2 and promotes K510 methylation of EZH2, subsequently activating the trimethylation of H3K27 to inhibit the transcription of ISGs. Finally, we develop an Mi-2ß-targeted inhibitor, Z36-MP5, which reduces Mi-2ß ATPase activity and reactivates ISG transcription. Consequently, Z36-MP5 induces a response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in otherwise resistant melanoma models. Our work provides a potential therapeutic strategy to convert immunotherapy resistant melanomas to sensitive ones.

Loofah sponge crosslinked polyethyleneimine loaded with biochar biofilm reactor for ecological remediation of oligotrophic water: Mechanism, performance, and functional characterization.

The removal of complex pollutants from oligotrophic water is an important challenge for researchers. In this study, the HCl-modified loofah sponge crosslinked polyethyleneimine loaded with biochar (LS/PEI@biochar) biofilm reactor was adapted to achieve efficient removal of complex pollutants in oligotrophic water. On the 35 d, the average removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), calcium (Ca2+), and phosphate (PO43--P) in water was 51, 95, 81, and 77 %, respectively. Additionally, it effectively used a low molecular weight carbon source. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the LS/PEI@biochar biocarrier had superior biofilm suspension performance. Meanwhile, analysis of the biocrystals confirmed Ca2+ and PO43- removal through the generation of CaCO3 (calcite and vaterite) and Ca5(PO4)3OH. This study demonstrated that the system has great efficiency and application prospect in treating oligotrophic water on the laboratory scale, and will be further validated for practical application on large-scale oligotrophic water.

Distinct Topological Properties of the Reward Anticipation Network in Preadolescent Children With Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have considered the neural underpinnings of binge eating disorder (BED) in children, despite clinical and subclinical symptom presentation occurring in this age group. Symptom presentation at this age is of clinical relevance, as early onset of binge eating is linked to negative health outcomes. Studies in adults have highlighted dysfunction in the frontostriatal reward system as a potential candidate for binge eating pathophysiology, although the exact nature of such dysfunction is currently unclear. METHOD: Data from 83 children (mean age 9.9 years, SD = 0.60) with symptoms of BED (57% girls) and 123 control participants (mean age 10.0 years, SD = 0.60) (52% girls) were acquired from the 4.0 baseline release of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Task-based graph theoretic techniques were used to analyze data from anticipation trials of the monetary incentive delay task. Network and nodal properties were compared between groups. RESULTS: The BED-S group showed alterations in topological properties associated with the frontostriatal subnetwork, such as reduced nodal efficiency in the superior frontal gyrus, nucleus accumbens, putamen, and in normal sex-difference patterns of these properties, such as diminished girls-greater-than-boys pattern of betweenness-centrality in nucleus accumbens observed in controls. CONCLUSION: Distinct network properties and sex-difference patterns in preadolescent children with BED-S suggest dysregulation in the reward system compared to those of matched controls. For the first time, these results quantify this dysregulation in terms of systems-level properties during anticipation of monetary reward and significantly inform the early and sex-related brain markers of BED symptoms.

Response of nutrients removal efficiency, enzyme activities and microbial community to current and voltage in a bio-electrical anammox system.

The effects of different current intensities and voltage levels on nutrient removal performance and microbial community evolution in a Bio-Electrical Anammox (BEA) membrane bioreactor (MBR) were evaluated. The nitrogen removal efficiency increased with the current intensity within the range of 64-83 mA, but this improvement was limited at the current further increased. The phosphorus removal in the BEA MBR was attributed to the release of Fe2+, which was closely associated with the applied current to the electrodes. Heme c concentration, enzyme activities, and specific anammox activity exhibited a decreasing trend, while the functional denitrification genes showed a positive correlation with rising voltage. The nitrogen removal efficiency of the BEA system initially increased and then decreased with the voltage rose from 1.5V to 3.5V, peaking at 2.0V of 94.02% ± 1.19%. Transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry results indicated that accelerated cell apoptosis/lysis led to an irreversible collapse of the biological nitrogen removal system at 3.5V. Candidatus Brocadia was the predominant anammox bacteria in the BEA system. In contrast, closely related Candidatus Kuenenia and Chloroflexi bacteria were gradually eliminated in electrolytic environment. The abundances of Proteobacteria-affiliated denitrifiers were increased with the voltage rising since the organic matter released by the cell apoptosis/lysis was accelerated at a high voltage level.

Iron-electrolysis assisted anammox/denitrification system for intensified nitrate removal and phosphorus recovery in low-strength wastewater treatment.

Two iron-electrolysis assisted anammox/denitrification (EAD) systems, including the suspended sludge reactor (ESR) and biofilm reactor (EMR) were constructed for mainstream wastewater treatment, achieving 84.51±4.38 % and 87.23±3.31 % of TN removal efficiencies, respectively. Sludge extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) analysis, cell apoptosis detection and microbial analysis demonstrated that the strengthened cell lysate/apoptosis and EPS production acted as supplemental carbon sources to provide new ecological niches for heterotrophic bacteria. Therefore, NO3--N accumulated intrinsically during anammox reaction was reduced. The rising cell lysis and apoptosis in the ESR induced the decline of anammox and enzyme activities. In contrast, this inhibition was scavenged in EMR because of the more favorable environment and the significant increase in EPS. Moreover, ESR and EMR achieved efficient phosphorus removal (96.98±5.24 % and 96.98±4.35 %) due to the continued release of Fe2+ by the in-situ corrosion of iron anodes. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that vivianite was the dominant P recovery product in EAD systems. The anaerobic microenvironment and the abundant EPS in the biofilm system showed essential benefits in the mineralization of vivianite.

Clinicopathological features, psychological status, and prognosis of 33 patients with occult breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Occult breast cancer (OBC) has traditionally been considered to be a carcinoma of unknown primary origin with a favorable prognosis and can be treated as stage II-III breast cancer. Due to the small number of cases and limited clinical ex-perience, treatments vary greatly around the world and no standardized treat-ment has yet been established. AIM: To investigate the clinicopathological features, psychological status and prog-nostic features of patients with OBC. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 33 OBC patients diagnosed and treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and Xuzhou Central Hospital from November 2015 to November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The psychological status of OBC patients was evaluated by the Self-rating Anxiety Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale. Patients' emotions, stress perception and psychological resilience were evaluated by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), respectively. Patient survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival curves were plotted for analysis with the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: The 33 OBC patients included 32 females and 1 male. Of the 33 patients, 30 (91%) had axillary tumors, 3 (9%) had a neck mass as the primary symptom; 18 (54.5%) had estrogen receptor-positive tumors, 17 (51.5%) had progesterone receptor-positive tumors, and 18 (54.5%) had Her-2-positive tumors; 24 (72.7%) received surgical treatment, including 18 patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy, 1 patient who underwent breast-conserving surgery plus axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), and 5 patients who underwent ALND alone; 12 patients received preoperative neoadjuvant therapy. All 30 patients developed anxiety and depression, with low positive affect scores and high negative affect scores, accompanied by a high stress level and poor psychological resilience. There were no differences in the psychological status of patients according to age, body mass index, or menopausal status. The overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) of all the patients were 83.3% and 55.7%, respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the initial tumor site (P = 0.021) and node stage (P = 0.020) were factors that may affect patient prognosis. The 5-year DFS rate of OBC patients who received radiotherapy was greater (P < 0.001), while the use of different surgical methods (P = 0.687) had no statistically significant effect on patient outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed that radiotherapy (P = 0.031) was an independent prognostic factor. Receiving radiotherapy had a significant effect on the CD-RISC score (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: OBC is a rare breast disease whose diagnosis and treatment are currently controversial. There was no significant difference in the efficacy of other less invasive surgical procedures compared to those of modified radical mastectomy. In addition, radiotherapy can significantly improve patient outcomes. We should pay attention to the psychological state of patients while they receive antitumor therapy.

Effects of low-volume functional and running high-intensity interval training on physical fitness in young adults with overweight/obesity.

Objectives: This study examined and compared the effects of functional and running high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular fitness of young adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: Forty-five participants (22.1 ± 2.1 years, BMI = 25.2 ± 1.0 kg/m2) were assigned to functional HIIT (HIIT-F; n = 15), running HIIT (HIIT-R; n = 15), or non-training control group (CON; n = 15). Participants in HIIT-F and HIIT-R performed functional exercise based-HIIT (four sets of all-out whole-body exercises including jumping jacks, squats, twist jumps and mountain climbers, et al.) and running HIIT (four sets of running on a treadmill) for 12 weeks, respectively. Body composition, muscular fitness, and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed pre and post intervention. Results: Both HIIT-F and HIIT-R significantly improved the body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness, with HIIT-F induced greater improvements in lean mass (+1.623 vs. -1.034 kg, p < 0.001), back strength (+6.007 vs. +3.333 kg, p < 0.01), and push-ups (+5.692 vs. 1.923 reps, p < 0.001) than that in HIIT-R. HIIT-R reduced more visceral fat area (VFA) (-11.416 vs. -4.338 cm2, p = 0.052) and induced similar improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max, +2.192 vs. +2.885 mL/kg/min, p = 0.792) with HIIT-F. Conclusion: Twelve weeks of HIIT-R or HIIT-F improved physical fitness among young adults with overweight or obesity. Despite the similar impact on cardiorespiratory fitness, HIIT-F generates a better positive effect on muscular fitness relative to HIIT-R, which could be partly explained by the greater increase in lean mass after HIIT-F intervention.

TP53 to mediate immune escape in tumor microenvironment: an overview of the research progress.

Increasing evidence suggests that key cancer-causing driver genes continue to exert a sustained influence on the tumor microenvironment (TME), highlighting the importance of immunotherapeutic targeting of gene mutations in governing tumor progression. TP53 is a prominent tumor suppressor that encodes the p53 protein, which controls the initiation and progression of different tumor types. Wild-type p53 maintains cell homeostasis and genomic instability through complex pathways, and mutant p53 (Mut p53) promotes tumor occurrence and development by regulating the TME. To date, it has been wildly considered that TP53 is able to mediate tumor immune escape. Herein, we summarized the relationship between TP53 gene and tumors, discussed the mechanism of Mut p53 mediated tumor immune escape, and summarized the progress of applying p53 protein in immunotherapy. This study will provide a basic basis for further exploration of therapeutic strategies targeting p53 protein.

Development of an m6A-Related lncRNAs Signature Predicts Tumor Stemness and Prognosis for Low-Grade Glioma Patients.

Background: Growing evidence has revealed that m6A modification of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) dynamically controls tumor stemness and tumorigenesis-related processes. However, the prognostic significance of m6A-related lncRNAs and their associations with stemness in low-grade glioma (LGG) remain to be clarified. Methods: A multicenter transcriptome analysis of lncRNA expression in 1,247 LGG samples was performed in this study. The stemness landscape of LGG tumors was presented and associations with clinical features were revealed. The m6A-related lncRNAs were identified between stemness groups and were further prioritized via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression analysis. A risk score model based on m6A-related lncRNAs was constructed and validated in external LGG datasets. Results: Based on the expression of LINC02984, PFKP-DT, and CRNDE, a risk model and nomogram were constructed; they successfully predicted the survival of patients and were extended to external datasets. Significant correlations were observed between the risk score and tumor stemness. Moreover, patients in different risk groups exhibited distinct tumor immune microenvironments and immune signatures. We finally provided several potential compounds suitable for specific risk groups, which may aid in LGG treatment. Conclusions: This novel signature presents noteworthy value in the prediction of prognosis and stemness status for LGG patients and will foster future research on the development of clinical regimens.

A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine formula Kaixinsan decoction for depression.

BACKGROUND: Kaixinsan (KXS) decoction is a traditional Chinese herbal formulation commonly used to treat depression. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of KXS, which is widely used, alone and in combination with other therapies, for the treatment of depression. The main objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of KXS in the treatment of depression as a single agent or in combination with other methods. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials of KXS in the treatment of depression were systematically searched from several Chinese and English databases with no language restriction. Patients in these studies met the relevant diagnostic criteria for depression. Data on HAMD, SDS, practical situations, and occurrence of side effects in the studies were extracted. Finally, the methodological quality and risk of bias of the included studies were assessed using the Jadad scale and Cochrane bias evaluation tool. RESULTS: Twelve studies with 1034 patients were included after screening. The Jadad scale and Cochrane bias evaluation tool indicated that the quality of the studies ranged from fair to good, with 41.7% categorized as good and 58.3% as poor. Egger test and funnel plots showed that the publication bias remain low. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the frequency of side effects in the control group was higher than that in the treatment group, and there was a statistically significant difference. KXS was comparable or superior to antidepressants in treating depression and has fewer side effects. The data analysis showed that effectiveness and other indicators differed significantly by geographic area and dosage form, which has implications for future clinical work.

Silver Nanowires-Based Flexible Gold Electrode Overcoming Interior Impedance of Nanomaterial Electrodes.

In the development of nanomaterial electrodes for improved electrocatalytic activity, much attention is paid to the compositions, lattice, and surface morphologies. In this study, a new concept to enhance electrocatalytic activity is proposed by reducing impedance inside nanomaterial electrodes. Gold nanodendrites (AuNDs) are grown along silver nanowires (AgNWs) on flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) support. The AuNDs/AgNWs/PDMS electrode affords an oxidative peak current density of 50 mA cm-2 for ethanol electrooxidation, a value ≈20 times higher than those in the literature do. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrates the significant contribution of the AgNWs to reduce impedance. The peak current densities for ethanol electrooxidation are decreased 7.5-fold when the AgNWs are electrolytically corroded. By in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and density functional theory (DFT) simulation, it is validated that the ethanol electrooxidation favors the production of acetic acid with undetectable CO, resulting in a more complete oxidation and long-term stability, while the AgNWs corrosion greatly decreases acetic acid production. This novel strategy for fabricating nanomaterial electrodes using AgNWs as a charge transfer conduit may stimulate insights into the design of nanomaterial electrodes.