A study predicting long-term survival capacity in postoperative advanced gastric cancer patients based on MAOA and subcutaneous muscle fat characteristics.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is relatively poor, and long-term survival depends on timely intervention. Currently, predicting survival rates remains a hot topic. The application of radiomics and immunohistochemistry-related techniques in cancer research is increasingly widespread. However, their integration for predicting long-term survival in AGC patients has not been fully explored. METHODS: We Collected 150 patients diagnosed with AGC at the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University who underwent radical surgery between 2015 and 2019. Following strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 90 patients were included in the analysis. We Collected postoperative pathological specimens from enrolled patients, analyzed the expression levels of MAOA using immunohistochemical techniques, and quantified these levels as the MAOAHScore. Obtained plain abdominal CT images from patients, delineated the region of interest at the L3 vertebral body level, and extracted radiomics features. Lasso Cox regression was used to select significant features to establish a radionics risk score, convert it into a categorical variable named risk, and use Cox regression to identify independent predictive factors for constructing a clinical prediction model. ROC, DCA, and calibration curves validated the model's performance. RESULTS: The enrolled patients had an average age of 65.71 years, including 70 males and 20 females. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that risk (P = 0.001, HR = 3.303), MAOAHScore (P = 0.043, HR = 2.055), and TNM stage (P = 0.047, HR = 2.273) emerged as independent prognostic risk factors for 3-year overall survival (OS) and The Similar results were found in the analysis of 3-year disease-specific survival (DSS). The nomogram developed could predict 3-year OS and DSS rates, with areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of 0.81 and 0.797, respectively. Joint calibration and decision curve analyses (DCA) confirmed the nomogram's good predictive performance and clinical utility. CONCLUSION: Integrating immunohistochemistry and muscle fat features provides a more accurate prediction of long-term survival in gastric cancer patients. This study offers new perspectives and methods for a deeper understanding of survival prediction in AGC.

Electrochemical synthesis of phosphorylated azaspiro[4.5]di/trienones through dearomative spirocyclization.

Cp2Fe-mediated electrochemical synthesis of a diverse array of phosphorylated azaspiro[4.5]di/trienones has been developed, which demonstrated broad substrate scope and good diastereoselectivity. It represents the first example of electrochemical synthesis of phosphorylated azaspiro[4.5]di/trienones, circumventing the need for external oxidants and high temperatures. Moreover, a plausible mechanism including radical-initiated dearomative cyclization driven by ferrocenium cations has been provided, which was supported by the related mechanistic study.

Impact of chemotherapy delay on long-term prognosis of laparoscopic radical surgery for locally advanced gastric cancer: a pooled analysis of four randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant chemotherapy following curative surgery for locally advanced gastric cancer (AGC) significantly improves long-term patient prognosis. However, delayed chemotherapy (DC), in which patients are unable to receive timely treatment, is a common phenomenon in clinical practice for various reasons. This study aimed to investigate the impact of DC on the prognosis of patients with stage II-III locally AGC and explore the associated risk factors. METHODS: Data from four prospective studies were included in the pooled analysis. The planned chemotherapy (PC) group was defined as the time interval between surgery and the first chemotherapy ≤ 49 d, while the DC group was defined as the time interval between surgery and chemotherapy > 49 d. The prognosis, recurrence, and risk factors were compared, and a nomogram for predicting DC was established. RESULTS: In total, 596 patients were included, of whom 531 (89.1%) had PC and 65 (10.9%) had DC. Survival analysis revealed that the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly lower in the DC group than those in the PC group (log-rank P < 0.001). Cox univariable and multivariable analyses showed that DC was an independent risk factor for OS and DFS in stage II-III patients (P < 0.05). Based on the significant factors for DC, a prediction model was established that had a good fit, high accuracy (AUC = 0.780), and clinical applicability in both the training and validation sets. CONCLUSION: Delayed chemotherapy after gastrectomy is associated with poor long-term prognosis in patients with locally advanced stage II-III GC disease. But standardized, full-cycle adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery may play a remedial role, and can to a certain extent compensate the poor effects caused by delayed chemotherapy.

Biogenic volatile organic compounds in forest therapy base: A source of air pollutants or a healthcare function?

Air pollution poses a significant threat to public health, while biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play a crucial role in both aspects. However, the unclear relationship between BVOCs and air pollutants in the under-canopy space limits the accuracy of air pollution control and the exploitation of forest healthcare functions. To clarify the variation of BVOCs in forest therapy bases, and their impacts on ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at nose height, total VOCs (TVOCs) in the forest were collected during typical sunny days, while air pollutants and meteorological factors were observed simultaneously. The results showed that the branch-level emissions of P. tabuliformis were dominated by healthcare-effective monoterpenoids, with only α-pinene having relative air concentrations of over 5 % in forest air samples. The correlation between concentrations of under-canopy TVOCs and emission rates of BVOCs from P. tabuliformis was weak (p > 0.09) in all seasons. However, the correlation between concentrations of TVOCs and the concentrations of O3 and PM2.5 showed clear seasonal differences. In spring, TVOCs only showed a significant negative correlation with PM2.5 in the forest (p < 0.01). In summer and autumn, TVOCs were significantly negatively correlated with both O3 (p < 0.001) and PM2.5 (p < 0.01). Specifically, the negative linear relationships were more pronounced for O3 and oxygenated VOCs in autumn (R2 = 0.40, p < 0.001) than for other relationships. The relationship between air pollutant concentrations inside and outside the forest also showed significant seasonal differences, generally characterized by a weaker correlation between them during seasons of strong emissions. Therefore, BVOCs in coniferous forests are health functions as they can provide healthcare effects and mitigate the concentration of air pollutants in the forest, and the establishment of forest therapy bases in rural areas with low NOx can be a sensible approach to promote good health, well-being, and sustainable development.

Situational simulation teaching effectively improves dental students' non-operational clinical competency and objective structured clinical examination performance.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate communication with dental patients enhances treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction. Implementing simulated patient interviews courses can improve patient-centered care and reduce conflict during clerkship training. Therefore, this study explored the relationship among student participation in a situational simulation course (SSC), academic performance, clerkship performance, and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) performance. METHODS: This study was conducted with a sample of fifth-year dental students undergoing clerkship training. After implementing a situational simulation course to investigate the relationship among participation in SSC, academic performance, clerkship performance, and OSCE performance, a path analysis model was developed and tested. RESULTS: Eighty-seven fifth-year dental students were eligible for the SSC, and most (n = 70, 80.46%) volunteered to participate. The path analysis model revealed that academic performance had a direct effect on OSCE performance (ß = 0.281, P = 0.003) and clerkship performance (ß = 0.441, P < 0.001). In addition, SSC teaching had a direct effect on OSCE performance (ß = 0.356, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SSCs can enhance dental students' non-operational clinical competency and OSCE performance effectively. Simulated patient encounters with feedback, incorporated into the dental curricula, have led to improved communication. Based on our findings, we suggest implementing SSC teaching before the OSCE to improve communication and cognitive skills.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Phosphorylated Indoles and Trp-Containing Oligopeptides.

Cp2Fe-mediated electrochemical synthesis of phosphorylated indoles and Trp-containing oligopeptides has been developed, which eliminates the need for external oxidants and yields the desired products in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions. Importantly, the synthetic applicability was further demonstrated through its easy scalability and the anticancer activity of the product. Remarkably, it presents the first electrochemical protocol to access the phosphorylation of indoles and Trp-containing oligopeptides.

Associations of the Serum KL-6 with Severity and Prognosis in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: As a biomarker of alveolar-capillary basement membrane injury, Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is involved in the occurrence and development of pulmonary diseases. However, the role of the KL-6 in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) has yet to be elucidated. This prospective study was designed to clarify the associations of the serum KL-6 with the severity and prognosis in patients with AECOPD. METHODS: This study enrolled 199 eligible AECOPD patients. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were recorded. Follow-up was tracked to evaluate acute exacerbation and death. The serum KL-6 concentration was measured via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Serum KL-6 level at admission was higher in AECOPD patients than in control subjects. The serum KL-6 concentration gradually elevated with increasing severity of AECOPD. Pearson and Spearman analyses revealed that the serum KL-6 concentration was positively correlated with the severity score, monocyte count and concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, uric acid, and lactate dehydrogenase in AECOPD patients during hospitalization. A statistical analysis of long-term follow-up data showed that elevated KL-6 level at admission was associated with longer hospital stays, an increased risk of future frequent acute exacerbations, and increased severity of exacerbation in COPD patients. CONCLUSION: Serum KL-6 level at admission is positively correlated with increased disease severity, prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of future acute exacerbations in COPD patients. There are positive dose-response associations of elevated serum KL-6 with severity and poor prognosis in COPD patients. The serum KL-6 concentration could be a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in AECOPD patients.

PeNAC67-PeKAN2-PeSCL23 and B-class MADS-box transcription factors synergistically regulate the specialization process from petal to lip in Phalaenopsis equestris.

The molecular basis of orchid flower development involves a specific regulatory program in which MADS-box transcription factors play a central role. The recent 'perianth code' model hypothesizes that two types of higher-order heterotetrameric complexes, namely SP complex and L complex, play pivotal roles in the orchid perianth organ formation. Therefore, we explored their roles and searched for other components of the regulatory network.Through the combined analysis for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing and RNA sequencing of the lip-like petal and lip from Phalaenopsis equestris var.trilip, transcription factor-(TF) genes involved in lip development were revealed. PeNAC67 encoding a NAC-type TF and PeSCL23 encoding a GRAS-type TF were differentially expressed between the lip-like petal and the lip. PeNAC67 interacted with and stabilized PeMADS3, which positively regulated the development of lip-like petal to lip. PeSCL23 and PeNAC67 competitively bound with PeKAN2 and positively regulated the development of lip-like petal to petal by affecting the level of PeMADS3. PeKAN2 as an important TF that interacts with PeMADS3 and PeMADS9 can promote lip development. These results extend the 'perianth code' model and shed light on the complex regulation of orchid flower development.

The impact of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-143 toothpaste on gingivitis and oral microbiota in adults: a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the oral health benefits of heat-killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-143, particularly its potential in oral microbiota alterations and gingivitis improvement. METHODS: We assessed GMNL-143's in vitro interactions with oral pathogens and its ability to prevent pathogen adherence to gingival cells. A randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial was performed on gingivitis patients using GMNL-143 toothpaste or placebo for four weeks, followed by a crossover after a washout. RESULTS: GMNL-143 showed coaggregation with oral pathogens in vitro, linked to its surface layer protein. In patients, GMNL-143 toothpaste lowered the gingival index and reduced Streptococcus mutans in crevicular fluid. A positive relationship was found between Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and gingival index changes, and a negative one between Campylobacter and gingival index changes in plaque. CONCLUSION: GMNL-143 toothpaste may shift oral bacterial composition towards a healthier state, suggesting its potential in managing mild to moderate gingivitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ID NCT04190485 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ); 09/12/2019, retrospective registration.

Inducing cyclooxygenase-2 expression, prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2α production of human dental pulp cells by activation of toll-like receptor-3, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 signaling.

Background/purpose: Bacterial infection was the major etiology for pulpal/root canal infection. This study aimed to investigate the activation of toll-like receptor-3 (TLR) on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGF2α production of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) and associated signaling. Materials and methods: HDPCs were exposed to different concentrations of Poly (I:C) (a TLR3 activator). Cell viability was determined by 3- (4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was evaluated by ALP staining. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 by Poly (I:C) was determined by immunofluorescent staining. The COX-2 protein expression was analyzed by Western blot. PGE2 and PGF2α production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression was studied by real-time polymerase-chain reaction. Moreover, HDPCs were exposed to Poly(I:C) with/without U0126 or SB203580 treatment and analysis of COX-2 expression and prostanoid production were conducted. Results: Poly (I:C) showed little effect on ALP activity, but decreased viability of HDPCs. It stimulated COX-2 mRNA and protein expression. Poly (I:C) induced PGE2 and PGF2α production of HDPCs. Poly (I:C) activated p-ERK, and p-p38 protein expression. Treatment by U0126 (a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/ERK inhibitor) and SB203580 (a p38 inhibitor) attenuated Poly (I:C)-induced COX-2 mRNA and protein expression as well as PGE2 and PGF2α production. Conclusion: TLR3 activation is involved in the infection and inflammatory responses of pulp tissues, via MEK/ERK, and p38 signaling to mediate COX-2 expression as well as PGE2 and PGF2α production, contributing to the pathogenesis and progression of pulpal/periapical diseases.

Pioneering Astaxanthin-Tumor Cell Membrane Nanoparticles for Innovative Targeted Drug Delivery on Melanoma.

Background: Recently, the use of the tumor or its secretions as drug carriers has gradually become popular, with the advantages of high biocompatibility and enhanced drug delivery to specific cells. Melanoma is the most malignant tumor of all skin cancers; it is the most metastatic and, therefore, the most difficult to treat. The main purpose of this study is to develop nanovesicles with tumor cell membrane secretion properties to encapsulate target substances to enhance the therapeutic effect of cancer. Methods: Astaxanthin was selected as an anticancer drug due to our previous research finding that astaxanthin has extremely high antioxidant, anti-ultraviolet damage, and anti-tumor properties. The manufacturing method of the astaxanthin nanovesicle carrier is to mix melanoma cells and astaxanthin in an appropriate ratio and then remove the genetic material and inflammatory factors of cancer cells by extrusion. Results: In terms of results, after the co-culture of astaxanthin nanovesicles and melanoma cancer cells, it was confirmed that the ability of astaxanthin nanovesicles to inhibit the growth and metastasis of melanoma cancer cells was significantly better than the same amount of astaxanthin alone, and it had no effect on normal Human cells are also effective. There was no apparent harm on normal cells, indicating the ability of the vesicles to be selectively transported. Conclusion: Our findings illustrated the potential of astaxanthin nanovesicles as an anticancer drug.

Arabidopsis calcineurin B-like-interacting protein kinase 8 and its functional homolog in tomato negatively regulates ABA-mediated stomatal movement and drought tolerance.

Stomatal movement is critical for water transpiration, gas exchange, and responses to biotic stresses. Abscisic acid (ABA) induces stomatal closure to prevent water loss during drought. We report that Arabidopsis CIPK8 negatively regulates ABA-mediated stomatal closure and drought tolerance. CIPK8 is highly enriched in guard cells and transcriptionally induced by ABA. Functional loss of CIPK8 results in hypersensitive stomatal closure to ABA and enhanced drought tolerance. Guard cell-specific downregulation of CIPK8 mimics the phenotype of cipk8 whereas guard cell-specific expression of a constitutive active CIPK8 (CIPK8CA) has an opposite effect, suggesting a cell autonomous activity of CIPK8. CIPK8 physically interacts with CBL1 and CBL9. Functional loss of CBL1 and CBL9 mimics ABA-hypersensitive stomatal closure of cipk8 whereas abolishes the effect of CIPK8CA, indicating that CIPK8 and CBL1/CBL9 form a genetic module in ABA-responsive stomatal movement. SlCIPK7, the functional homolog of CIPK8 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), plays a similar role in ABA-responsive stomatal movement. Genomic editing of SlCIPK7 results in more drought-tolerant tomato, making it a good candidate for germplasm improvement.

Textbook oncological outcomes and prognosis after curative gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of achieving textbook oncological outcome (TOO) as a multimodal therapy quality indicator on the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains inadequately assessed. METHODS: Patients with AGC who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2010 and December 2017 at two East Asian medical centers were included. TOO was defined as achieving the textbook outcome (TO) and receiving neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy (NCT or ACT). Cox and logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic and non-TOO-associated risk factors. RESULTS: Among 3626 patients, 57.6% achieved TOO (TOO group), exhibiting significantly better 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than the non-TOO group (both p < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression identified TOO as an independent prognostic factor for 5-year OS (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.61-0.74; p < 0.001) and DFS (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.66-0.81; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that open gastrectomy, lack of health insurance, age ≥65 years, ASA score ≥ Ⅲ, and tumor size ≥50 mm are independent risk factors for non-achievement of TOO (all p < 0.05). On a sensitivity analysis of TOO's prognostic value using varying definitions of chemotherapy parameters, a stricter definition of chemotherapy resulted in a decrease in the TOO achievement rate from 57.6 to 22.3%. However, the associated reductions in the risk of death and recurrence fluctuated within the ranges of 33-39% and 28-37%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TOO is a reliable and stable metric for favorable prognosis in AGC. Optimizing the surgical approach and improving health insurance status may enhance TOO achievement.

Appraisal of surgical outcomes and oncological efficiency of intraoperative adverse events in robotic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surgical quality control is a crucial determinant of evaluating the tumor efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the ClassIntra grade for quality control and oncological outcomes of robotic radical surgery for gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Data of patients undergoing robotic radical surgery for GC at a high-volume center were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into two groups, the intraoperative adverse event (iAE) group and the non-iAE group, based on the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events. The iAEs were further classified into five sublevels (ranging from I to V according to severity) based on the ClassIntra grade. Surgical performance was assessed using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) and the General Error Reporting Tool. RESULTS: This study included 366 patients (iAE group: n = 72 [19.7%] and non-iAE group: n = 294 [80.3%]). The proportion of ClassIntra grade II patients was the highest in the iAE group (54.2%). In total and distal gastrectomies, iAEs occurred most frequently in the suprapancreatic area (50.0% and 54.8%, respectively). In total gastrectomy, grade IV iAEs were most common during lymph node dissection in the splenic hilum area (once for bleeding [grade IV] and once for injury [grade IV]). The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival of the non-iAE group were significantly better than those of the iAE group (Log rank P < 0.001). Uni- and multi-variate analyses showed that iAEs were key prognostic indicators, independent of tumor stage and adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: iAEs in patients who underwent robotic radical gastrectomy significantly correlated with the occurrence of postoperative complications and a poor long-term prognosis. Therefore, utilization and inclusion of ClassIntra grading as a crucial surgical quality control and prognostic indicator in the routine surgical quality evaluation system are recommended.

RAE1 promotes gastric carcinogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to explore the role of RAE1 in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RAE1 expression in GC cells was determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB). Cell models featuring RAE1 gene silencing and overexpression were constructed by lentiviral transfection; The proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of cells were detected by cell counting, colony formation assay, would healing assay, and transwell invasion and migration test. WB analysis of ERK/MAPK signaling pathway (ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, c-Myc) and EMT-related molecules (ZEB1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin). RESULTS: The expression level of RAE1 in GC was notably higher than in adjacent tissues. Elevated RAE1 expression correlated with an unfavorable prognosis for GC patients. Knockdown of RAE1, as compared to the control group, resulted in a significant inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities in GC cell lines. Furthermore, RAE1 knockdown led to a substantial decrease in the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, ZEB1, p-ERK1/2, and c-Myc proteins, coupled with a marked increase in E-cadherin expression. The biological effects of RAE1 in GC cells were effectively reversed by the inhibition of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway using SCH772984. Additionally, RAE1 knockdown demonstrated a suppressive effect on GC tumor size in vivo. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results revealed significantly lower expression of Ki-67 in RAE1 knockout mice compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: RAE1 promotes GC cell migration and invasion through the ERK/MAPK pathway and is a potential therapeutic target for GC therapy.

Patient perception of service quality to preanesthetic oral examination: a cross-sectional study using the SERVQUAL model.

BACKGROUND: A phase-III interdisciplinary quality improvement program, the preanesthetic oral examination (PAOE), was implemented as a new program in an academic medical center to prevent perioperative dental injuries. This study was aimed at surveying the perceived service quality and satisfaction of patients who had undergone PAOE based on the SERVQUAL model. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital using convenience sampling. Patients referred for PAOE (PAOE group) and those who had voluntarily availed dental services (control group) were recruited. A modified SERVQUAL questionnaire was used to assess the perceived service quality and patient satisfaction with dental services. Cronbach's alpha for SERVQUAL was 0.861. RESULTS: We enrolled 286 (68.8%) and 130 (31.2%) participants in the PAOE and control groups, respectively. The path analysis revealed that the PAOE group scored lower in dimensions of reliability (ß = -0.074, P = 0.003), responsiveness (ß = -0.148, P = 0.006), and empathy (ß = -0.140, P = 0.011). Furthermore, reliability (ß = 0.655, P < 0.001) and responsiveness (ß = 0.147, P = 0.008) showed a direct effect on patient satisfaction. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the dental services. CONCLUSIONS: The PAOE group showed lower satisfaction and perceived quality of dental services compared to the control group. Although implementing an interdisciplinary program reduces the perceived service quality, its influence is limited. Employing an interdisciplinary teamwork is a win-win strategy encouraged to improve patient safety and reduce malpractice claims. Future suggestions should focus on establishing waiting times that are considered reasonable by patients. Patient-centered education related to the risk of perioperative dental injuries should be provided, and awareness of oral conditions for patient safety should be improved. Moreover, interprofessional education in continuous and undergraduate programs is necessary to improve professional quality.

Multifunctional metal-coordinated Co-assembled carrier-free nanoplatform based on dual-drugs for ferroptosis-mediated cocktail therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis.

The heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) pose challenges to efficient drug delivery and the antitumor efficacy of combined or synergistic therapies. Herein, a metal-coordinated carrier-free nanodrug (named as USFe3+ LA NPs) was developed for ferroptosis-mediated multimodal synergistic anti-HCC. Natural product ursolic acid (UA) was incorporated to enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to sorafenib (SRF). Surface decoration of cell penetration peptide and epithelial cell adhesion molecule aptamer facilitated the uptake of USFe3+ LA NPs by HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, Fe3+ ions could react with intracellular hydrogen peroxide, generating toxic hydroxyl radical (·OH) for chemodynamical therapy (CDT) and amplified ferroptosis by cystine/glutamate antiporter system (System Xc-), which promoted the consumption of glutathione (GSH) and inhibited the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Notably, these all-in-one nanodrugs could inhibit tumor metastasis and induced immunogenic cell death (ICD). Last but not least, the nanodrugs demonstrated favorable biocompatibility, augmenting the immune response against the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) by increasing cytotoxic T cell infiltration. In vivo studies revealed significant suppression of tumor growth and distant metastasis. Overall, our work introduced a novel strategy for applications of metal-coordinated co-assembled carrier-free nano-delivery system in HCC combination therapy, especially in the realms of cancer metastasis prevention and immunotherapy.

OSATS scoring confirms ICG enhancement of performance in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy: a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging is effective in increasing the number of lymph node dissections during laparoscopic radical gastrectomy; however, no studies have attempted to explain this phenomenon. METHODS: This study utilized the data from a previous randomized controlled trial (FUGES-012 study) investigating ICG-guided laparoscopic radical gastrectomy performed between November 2018 and July 2019. The Objective Structured Assessments of Technical Skills (OSATS) scoring system was used to grade videos from the ICG and non-ICG groups. Patients with an OSATS score greater than 29 were classified as the high-OSATS population, while those with an OSATS score less than or equal to 29 were classified as the low-OSATS population. RESULTS: A total of 258 patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis: 129 in the ICG group and 129 in the non-ICG group. The OSATS score of the ICG group was higher than that of the non-ICG group (29.6±2.6 vs. 26.6±3.6; P <0.001). The ICG group underwent a significantly higher mean total number of lymph node dissections than the non-ICG group (50.5±15.9 vs. 42.0±10.3; adjusted P <0.001). The group assigned to ICG use, better OSATS (high-OSATS) scores were observed, which correlated with greater D2 lymph node retrieval (54.1±15.0 vs. 47.2±8.7; adjusted P =0.039). Finally, the ICG group had a lower rate of lymph node noncompliance than that of the non-ICG group (31.8 vs. 57.4%; P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: By applying the ICG fluorescence navigation technique, better OSATS scores were observed, which correlated with greater lymph node retrieval and a lower lymph node noncompliance rate, as recommended for individualized laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

Biomechanical study of posterior cruciate ligament tibial arrest avulsion fracture fixation with triple tibial channel net sutures.

To investigate the biomechanical properties of posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures of the tibia fixed using four different methods, including triple tibial channel net suture fixation. In 40 porcine knees, a standardized bony avulsion of the posterior cruciate ligament was generated. Double tibial bone channel suture fixation was performed in group A, double-head hollow compression screw fixation was performed in group B, triple tibial bone channel net suture fixation was performed in group C, and cortical suspension EndoButton fixation was performed in group D. The constructs were cyclically loaded 500 times (10 to 100 N) to measure the initial displacement and stiffness values. Subsequently, loading to failure was performed, and the yield load and peak load were measured. The results were analysed by one-way ANOVA, with significance set at P < 0.05. The initial displacement in group D (1.00 ± 0.20 mm) was lower than that in group C (1.46 ± 0.33 mm, P = 0.000), group B (1.91 ± 1.71 mm, P = 0.000) and group A (3.91 ± 0.79 mm, P = 0.000), but there was no significant difference between groups B and C (P = 0.055). The initial stiffness in group A (50.59 ± 6.89 N/mm) was lower than that in group C (67.21 ± 12.80 N/mm, P = 0.001), group D (71.18 ± 9.20 N/mm, P = 0.000) and group B (78.67 ± 5.91 N/mm, P = 0.000). However, there was no significant difference between groups B and D or between groups C and D (P = 0.111 and P = 0.391). The yield load in group A (554.86 ± 71.43 N) was lower than that in group C (767.00 ± 34.53 N, P = 0.000), group D (777.62 ± 73.03 N, P = 0.000) and group B (837.50 ± 55.73 N, P = 0.000). There was no significant difference between groups C and D (P = 0.729). The peak load in group A (667.38 ± 61.54 N) was lower than that in group C (842.00 ± 26.20 N, P = 0.000), group D (867.63 ± 63.42 N, P = 0.000) and group B (901.25 ± 54.38 N, P = 0.000). There was no significant difference between groups C and D (P = 0.346). Different failure modes were found among the four groups. The triple tibial bone channel suture fixation group showed better initial stability and fixation strength, which was comparable to that in the cortical suspension EndoButton fixation group and double-head hollow compression screw fixation group and significantly stronger than that in the double tibial bone channel suture fixation group. This study analysed the dynamic and static indexes of posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion fractures fixed by four different fixation methods under cyclic loading tests and single failure loading tests, providing a theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

COVID-19 anxiety and related factors amid adjusted epidemic prevention policies: a cross-sectional study on patients with late-life depression in China.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the prevalence and associated factors of COVID-19 anxiety in patients with late-life depression (LLD) during the adjustment of epidemic prevention policies in China. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The data analysed in this study were collected from seven regions in China between November 2022 and January 2023. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1205 patients with LLD (aged 60-78 years) participated in the survey. They completed a social demographic assessment and the Chinese version of the five-point Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the anxiety level of the participants. Patients were categorised into two groups based on their anxiety levels, one with anxiety and one without, according to CAS scores. RESULTS: The prevalence of COVID-19 anxiety in depressed older adults was 47.3%. Regression analysis revealed that the average COVID-19 anxiety score was significantly higher among females (AOR: 2.177, 95% CI 1.201 to 3.947), widowed individuals (AOR: 3.015, 95% CI 1.379 to 6.591), patients residing at a distance from healthcare facilities (AOR: 3.765, 95% CI 1.906 to 7.438), and those who frequently experienced worry (AOR: 1.984, 95% CI 1.111 to 3.543). Conversely, the anxiety score was significantly lower among divorced individuals (AOR: 0.491, 95% CI 0.245 to 0.988), those aged 70 years and above (AOR: 0.117, 95% CI 0.064 to 0.213), patients without difficulty obtaining medication (AOR: 0.027, 95% CI 0.007 to 0.097), those living with family members (AOR: 0.080, 95% CI 0.022 to 0.282) or in nursing homes compared with those living alone (AOR: 0.019, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.087). CONCLUSION: Women with LLD who are widowed, live far from healthcare facilities, and are prone to excessive worry are more likely to experience anxiety. It is advisable to implement appropriate preventive measures and provide psychosocial support programmes for this vulnerable group during the COVID-19 pandemic.