Association between dietary quality and accelerated aging: a cross-sectional study of two cohorts.

Background: Diet quality significantly influences aging processes and age-related health outcomes. This study aims to explore the association between dietary quality and accelerated aging in two large cohorts. Methods: This study collected data from the Kailuan and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cohorts; participants' dietary quality was evaluated using the American Heart Association (AHA) dietary score and Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), respectively. Accelerated aging in participants was determined by calculating the difference between phenotypic age and chronological age. Logistic regression models were used to explore the association between dietary quality scores and accelerated aging. Additionally, variations in this association across different subgroups were investigated. To minimize the influence of excessive aging, individuals aged 75 and above were excluded in sensitivity analyses. Results: In this study, we included 33 701 participants (27.3% female, mean age 57.29 ± 11.88) from the Kailuan study and 9285 participants (50.6% female, mean age 49.83 ± 17.62) from NHANES. In the Kailuan cohort, individuals with dietary scores ranging from 3 to 5 exhibited a 22% lower risk of accelerated aging compared to those scoring between 0 and 2 (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.72-0.85). Similarly, in the NHANES cohort, participants in the highest quartile of HEI-2015 experienced a 34% reduction in the risk of accelerated aging compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.52-0.84). Subgroup analyses underscored a more pronounced association between dietary quality and accelerated aging among males and individuals with unhealthy lifestyles. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the association between dietary quality and accelerated aging. Conclusion: In summary, our study found a significant association between dietary quality and accelerated aging. Better dietary quality was associated with a reduced risk of accelerated aging, particularly among males, smokers, and participants with unhealthy lifestyles.

Altered leptin level in autism spectrum disorder and meta-analysis of adipokines.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that leptin is involved in the pathology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this study, our objective was to investigate the levels of leptin in the blood of children with ASD and to examine the overall profile of adipokine markers in ASD through meta-analysis. METHODS: Leptin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, while adipokine profiling, including leptin, was performed via meta-analysis. Original reports that included measurements of peripheral adipokines in ASD patients and healthy controls (HCs) were collected from databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. These studies were collected from September 2022 to September 2023 and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Standardized mean differences were calculated using a random effects model for the meta-analysis. Additionally, we performed meta-regression and explored heterogeneity among studies. RESULTS: Our findings revealed a significant increase in leptin levels in children with ASD compared to HCs (p = 0.0319). This result was consistent with the findings obtained from the meta-analysis (p < 0.001). Furthermore, progranulin concentrations were significantly reduced in children with ASD. However, for the other five adipokines analyzed, there were no significant differences observed between the children with ASD and HCs children. Heterogeneity was found among the studies, and the meta-regression analysis indicated that publication year and latitude might influence the results of the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide compelling evidence that leptin levels are increased in children with ASD compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential mechanism involving adipokines, particularly leptin, in the pathogenesis of ASD. These results contribute to a better understanding of the pathology of ASD and provide new insights for future investigations.

Comprehensive characterization of the differences in metabolites, lipids, and volatile flavor compounds between Ningxiang and Berkshire pigs using multi-omics techniques.

This study was conducted to comprehensively characterize, metabolites, lipids, and volatile flavor compounds of NingXiang (NX) pigs, Berkshire (BKS) pigs, and their crossbred (Berkshire × Ningxiang, BN) pigs using multi-omics technique. The results showed that NX had high intramuscular fat (IMF) content and meat redness. The metabolite and lipid compositions were varied greatly among three pig breeds. The NX pigs exhibited distinctive sweet, fruity, and floral aroma while BN pigs have inherited this flavor profile. 2-pentylfuran, pentanal, 2-(E)-octenal, and acetic acid were the key volatile flavor compounds (VOC) of NX and BKS pork. The VOCs were influenced by the composition and content of metabolites and lipids. The NX pigs have excellent meat quality traits, unique flavor profiles, and high degree of genetic stability regarding flavor. The study deepens our understanding of the flavor of Chinese indigenous pigs, providing theoretical basis to understand the meat flavor regulation under different feeding conditions.

A polyoxometalate/chitosan-Ti3C2Tx MXene nanocomposite constructed by electrostatically mediated strategy for electrochemical detecting L-tryptophan in milk.

L-tryptophan (L-Trp) is crucial for human metabolism, and its imbalance or deficiency can lead to certain diseases, such as insomnia, depression, and heart disease. Since the body cannot synthesize L-Trp and must obtain it from external sources, accurately monitoring L-Trp levels in food is essential. Herein, a nanocomposite film based on polyoxometalate (P2Mo17V), Ti3C2Tx MXene, and chitosan (Cs) was developed through a green electrostatically mediated layer-by-layer self-assembly strategy for electrochemical detection of L-Trp. The composite film exhibits fast electron transfer and remarkable electrocatalytic performance for L-Trp with a wide linear range (0.1-103 µM), low limit of detection (0.08 µM, S/N = 3), good selectivity, reproducibility, and repeatability. In milk sample, the recoveries of L-Trp were from 95.78% and 104.31%. The P2Mo17V/Cs-Ti3C2Tx electrochemical sensor not only provides exceptional recognition and detection capabilities for L-Trp but also shows significant potential for practical applications, particularly in food safety and quality control.

Treatment of endometriosis with mifepristone mediated by nanostructured lipid carriers.

Mifepristone, a progesterone receptor antagonist, was initially used to terminate early pregnancy. As scientific research advanced, it emerged to be effective in the treatment of various tumors and tumor-like conditions such as endometriosis. Despite the therapeutic potential of mifepristone, its therapeutic effect is still far from ideal because the drug is difficult to dissolve and to accumulate in the target tissue sites. To address this issue, mifepristone-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (Mif-NLC) were prepared by a simple solvent diffusion method and their anti-endometriosis performance and mechanisms were initially investigated. By optimizing the preparation protocol, we obtained uniform and spheroidal Mif-NLC with an average particle size of 280 nm. The encapsulation rate and drug loading capacity were 64.67% ± 0.15% and 2.7% ± 0.014%, respectively, as measured by UV spectrophotometry. The in vitro release kinetics indicated that mifepristone was released from NLC in a sustained-release manner. Compared with free mifepristone, Mif-NLC exhibited enhanced cellular uptake and inhibition of invasion activity in primary mesenchymal cells of endometriosis. A certain reduction in the size of endometriotic cysts was observed in animals compared to controls. The induction of autophagy via Mif-NLC may serve as the molecular mechanism underlying this effect. Furthermore, observation of uterine structures showed negligible toxic effects. This suggested that mifepristone encapsulated in NLC can improve its bioavailability and anti-endometriosis efficacy, which provided a new strategy for the treatment of endometriosis.

A bibliometric analysis based on hotspots and frontier trends of positron emission tomography/computed tomography utility in bone and soft tissue sarcoma.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze articles on the diagnosis and treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcoma using positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) published in the last 13 years. The objective was to conduct a bibliometric analysis and identify the research hotspots and emerging trends. Methods: Web of Science was used to search for articles on PET/CT diagnosis and treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcoma published from January 2010 to June 2023. CiteSpace was utilized to import data for bibliometric analysis. Results: In total, 425 relevant publications were identified. Publications have maintained a relatively stable growth rate for the past 13 years. The USA has the highest number of published articles (139) and the highest centrality (0.35). The UDICE-French Research Universities group is the most influential institution. BYUN BH is a prominent contributor to this field. The Journal of Clinical Oncology has the highest impact factor in the field. Conclusion: The clinical application of PET/CT is currently a research hotspot. Upcoming areas of study concentrate on the merging of PET/CT with advanced machine learning and/or alternative imaging methods, novel imaging substances, and the fusion of diagnosis and therapy. The use of PET/CT has progressively become a crucial element in the identification and management of sarcomas. To confirm its efficacy, there is a need for extensive, multicenter, prospective studies.

C-terminal frameshift mutations generate viable knockout mutants with developmental defects for three essential protein kinases.

Loss-of-function mutants are fundamental resources for gene function studies. However, it is difficult to generate viable and heritable knockout mutants for essential genes. Here, we show that targeted editing of the C-terminal sequence of the embryo lethal gene MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASES 1 (OsMPK1) results in weak mutants. This C-terminal-edited osmpk1 mutants displayed severe developmental defects and altered disease resistance but generated tens of viable seeds that inherited the mutations. Using the same C-terminal editing approach, we also obtained viable mutants for a wall-associated protein kinase (Os07g0493200) and a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase (Os01g0239700), while the null mutations of these genes were lethal. These data suggest that protein kinase activity could be reduced by introducing frameshift mutations adjacent to the C-terminus, which could generate valuable resources for gene function studies and tune protein kinase activity for signaling pathway engineering. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-024-00165-5.

Integration of High-Resolution LC-Q-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Multidimensional Chemical-Biological Analysis to Detect Nanomolar-Level Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors from Different Parts of Zanthoxylum nitidum.

Zanthoxyli radix is a popular tea among the elderly, and it is believed to have a positive effect on Alzheimer's disease. In this study, a highly effective three-step strategy was proposed for comprehensive analysis of the active components and biological functions of Zanthoxylum nitidum (ZN), including high-resolution LC-Q-TOF mass spectrometry (HRMS), multivariate statistical analysis for heterogeneity (MSAH), and experimental and virtual screening for bioactivity analysis (EVBA). A total of 117 compounds were identified from the root, stem, and leaf of ZN through HRMS. Bioactivity assays showed that the order of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity from strong to weak was root > stem > leaf. Nitidine, chelerythrine, and sanguinarine were found to be the main differential components of root, stem, and leaf by OPLS-DA. The IC50 values of the three compounds are 0.81 ± 0.02, 0.14 ± 0.01, and 0.48 ± 0.01 µM respectively, indicating that they are potent and high-quality AChE inhibitors. Molecular docking showed that pi-pi T-shaped interactions and pi-lone pairs played important roles in AChE inhibition. This study not only explains the biological function of Zanthoxyli radix in alleviating Alzheimer's disease to some extent, but also lays the foundation for the development of stem and leaf of ZN.

Structural and theoretical basis for drug development targeting TMEM16A: Inhibition mechanism of tracheloside analogs.

Ion channels play a crucial role in the electrophysiological activities of organisms. The calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A is involved in various physiological processes. Therefore, inhibitors of TMEM16A are used to treat diseases caused by TMEM16A dysfunction. However, the unclear inhibition mechanism hinders the progress of drug development. Based on our previous study, we found that the molecular structures of TMEM16A inhibitors tracheloside, matairesinoside and arctigenin are similar. In this study, we conducted a structure-based virtual screening of tracheloside analogs from the PubChem database. The six tracheloside analogs with the highest affinity to TMEM16A were selected, and their inhibitory effects were detected by fluorescence and electrophysiological experiments. Subsequently, the interaction between the tracheloside analogs and TMEM16A was investigated through molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis. Based on the above results, the mechanism of inhibition of TMEM16A gated conformation by tracheloside analogs was proposed. These findings provide a structural and theoretical basis for drug development targeting TMEM16A.

Midpoint transverse process to pleura block for postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic renal cyst decortication: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: The midpoint transverse process to pleura (MTP) block, a novel technique for thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB), was first employed in laparoscopic renal cyst decortication. CASE SUMMARY: Thoracic paravertebral nerve block is frequently employed for perioperative analgesia during laparoscopic cyst decortication. To address safety concerns associated with TPVBs, we administered MTP blocks in two patients prior to administering general anesthesia for laparoscopic cyst decortication. The MTP block was performed at the T9 level under ultrasound guidance, with 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected. Reduced sensation to cold and pinprick was observed from the T8 to T11 dermatome levels. Immediately postoperative Numeric Pain Rating Scale scores were 0/10 at rest and on movement, with none exceeding a mean 24 h numeric rating scale > 3. CONCLUSION: MTP block was effective technique for providing postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing laparoscopic renal cyst decortication.

Safety and efficacy of tract embolization using gelatin sponge particles in reducing pneumothorax after CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy in patients with emphysema.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pneumothorax is higher in patients with emphysema who undergo percutaneous lung biopsy. Needle embolization has been shown to reduce the incidence of pneumothorax in patients with emphysema. Existing studies have reported small sample sizes of patients with emphysema, or the degree of emphysema has not been graded. Therefore, the efficacy of biopsy embolization in the prevention of pneumothorax induced by percutaneous pulmonary biopsy in patients with emphysema remains to be determined. METHODS: In this retrospective, controlled study, patients with emphysema who underwent CT-guided PTLB were divided into two groups: group A (n = 523), without tract embolization, and Group B (n = 504), with tract embolization. Clinical and imaging features were collected from electronic medical records and Picture Archiving and Communication Systems. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for pneumothorax and chest tube placement. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of demographic characteristics and complications other than pneumothorax. The incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube placement in group B was significantly lower than in group A (20.36% vs. 46.12%, p < 0.001; 3.95% vs. 9.18%, p < 0.001, respectively). In logistic regression analyses, variables affecting the incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube placement were the length of puncture of the lung parenchyma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.30, p = 0.001; OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.30-1.85, p < 0.001, respectively), tract embolization (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.24-0.41, p < 0.001; OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.22-0.69, p = 0.001, respectively), and grade of emphysema. CONCLUSIONS: Tract embolization with gelatin sponge particles after CT-guided PTLB significantly reduced the incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube placement in patients with emphysema. Tract embolization, length of puncture of the lung parenchyma, and grade of emphysema were independent risk factors for pneumothorax and chest tube placement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

Antibody targeting of anaerobic bacteria warms cold tumors and improves the abscopal effect of radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors with radiotherapy can enhance the immunomodulation by RT and reduce the growth of distant unirradiated tumors (abscopal effect); however, the results are still not very satisfactory. Therefore, new treatment options are needed to enhance this effect. Our previous study showed that the combination of Bifidobacterium (Bi) and its specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) could target and alleviate hypoxia at the tumor site and act as a radiosensitizer. In this study, we explored the anti-tumor efficacy of quadruple therapy (Bi + mAb and RT + αPD-1). The current study also aimed to probe into the complex immune mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. METHODS: Constructed 4T1 breast and CT26 colon cancer tumor models. A comprehensive picture of the impact of constructed quadruple therapy was provided by tumor volume measurements, survival analysis, PET/CT imaging, immune cell infiltration analysis and cytokine expression levels. RESULTS: The abscopal effect was further amplified in the "cold" tumor model and prolonged survival in tumor-bearing mice. Bi can colonized in primary and secondary tumors and direct the mAb to reach the tumor site, activate complement, enhance the ADCC effect and initiate the innate immune response. Then combined with αPD-1 and radiotherapy to stimulate adaptive immune response and synergize with cytokines to expand the immune efficacy and generate effective anti-tumor immune response. CONCLUSIONS: Bi was used as an artificially implanted anaerobic target to cause a transient "infection" at the tumor, causing the tumor to become locally inflamed and "hot", and at the same time, mAb was used to target Bi to enhance the local immune effect of the tumor, and then combined with radiotherapy and αPD-1 to amplify the abscopal effect in multiple dimensions. Therefore, the present study provided a new idea for the multipotent immune-activating function of antibody-targeted anaerobic bacteria for the RT treatment of extensively metastasized cancer patients.

Blood mercury mediates the associations between fish consumption and serum uric acid levels among Chinese adults: A nationally representative study.

Fish consumption can increase purine load in human body, and the enrichment of mercury in fish may affect the glomerular filtration function, both resulting in increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels. The data of blood mercury (BHg), fish consumption frequency and SUA levels of 7653 participants aged 18 years or older was from China National Human Biomonitoring (2017-2018). The associations between fish consumption frequency, ln-transformed BHg and SUA levels were explored through weighted multiple linear regressions. The mediating effect of BHg levels between fish consumption frequency and SUA levels was evaluated by mediation analysis. We found that both the fish consumption frequency and BHg were positively associated with SUA levels in both sexes. Compared to participants who had never consumed fish, participants who consumed fish once a week or more had higher SUA levels [ß (95% confidence interval, CI): 20.39 (2.16, 38.62) in males; ß (95% CI): 10.06 (0.76, 19.37) in females] and ln-transformed BHg [ß (95% CI): 0.97 (0.61, 1.34) in males; ß (95% CI): 0.84 (0.63, 1.05) in females]. Each 1-unit increase in ln-transformed BHg, the SUA levels rose by 4.78 (95% CI: 0.01, 9.54) µmol/L for males and 3.81 (95% CI: 1.60, 6.03) µmol/L for females. The association between fish consumption with SUA levels was mediated by ln-transformed BHg with the percent mediated of 34.66% in males and 26.58% in females. It revealed that BHg played mediating roles in the elevation of SUA levels caused by fish consumption. This study's findings could promote the government to intervene in mercury pollution in fish, so as to ensure the safety of fish consumption.

Effects of Planarization of the Triphenylamine Unit on the Electronic and Transport Properties of Triarylamine-Fluorene Copolymers in Both Doped and Undoped Forms.

Triarylamine-alt-fluorene (TAF) copolymers are widely used for hole injection and transport in organic electronics. Despite suggestions to planarize the triphenylamine moiety, little research has been conducted. Here, we report a comprehensive investigation of the effects of planarization on the electronic and transport properties of a model TAF polymer semiconductor core. We compared the conventional twisted-propeller N-4-methoxyphenyl-N,N-diphenylamine-4',4″-diyl (TA) unit and its planarized bridged analogue (bTA) where adjacent o,o'-positions are linked by 1,1-dimethylmethylene. We studied both polyelectrolyte and non-polyelectrolyte forms of this core in both doped and undoped states. We found that planarization leads to an unprecedented trap-free transport of holes, and a pronounced enhancement of their mobility in the undoped state though less so in the doped state. Planarization also induces a slight reduction in the ionization energy of the undoped polymer, consequently lowering the work function of the doped polymer. This is accompanied by small spectral shifts: a red shift in the first absorption band of the undoped polymer and a blue shift in the first absorption band of the polaron. Furthermore, this study unveils new fundamental features of TAF polymers: (i) Doping induces the formation of three polaron bands within the subgap. (ii) Absorption of both neutral and polaron segments exhibit a linear intensity relationship with doping level. (iii) Electrical conductivity reaches a maximum at the half-doped state, varying as σ ∼ (x (1 - x))3 for 0.1 ≲ x ≲ 0.9, where x is the doping level. Finally, we demonstrate the successful integration of these self-compensated hole-doped TAF polymers as efficient hole injection layers in organic semiconductor diodes.

First-in-Human Evaluation of [18F]FDOPA Produced by Organo-Photoredox Reactions.

Photoredox is a powerful synthetic tool in organic chemistry and has been widely used in various fields, including nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. In particular, acridinium-based organophotoredox radiolabeling has significantly impacted the production and discovery of positron emission tomography (PET) agents. Despite their extensive use in preclinical research, no PET agents synthesized by acridinium photoredox labeling have been tested in humans. [18F]FDOPA is clinically used for tumor diagnosis and the evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorders, but its application is limited by complex synthesis methods, the need for expensive modules, and/or the high cost of consumable materials/cassettes. In this report, we integrated a photoredox labeling unit with an automated module and produced [18F]FDOPA for human study. This research not only represents the first human study of a PET agent generated by acridinium-based organophotoredox reactions but also demonstrates the safety of this novel labeling method, serving as a milestone/reference for the clinical translation of other PET agents generated by this technique in the future.

Lysine L-lactylation is the dominant lactylation isomer induced by glycolysis.

Lysine L-lactylation (Kl-la) is a novel protein posttranslational modification (PTM) driven by L-lactate. This PTM has three isomers: Kl-la, N-ε-(carboxyethyl)-lysine (Kce) and D-lactyl-lysine (Kd-la), which are often confused in the context of the Warburg effect and nuclear presence. Here we introduce two methods to differentiate these isomers: a chemical derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis for efficient separation, and isomer-specific antibodies for high-selectivity identification. We demonstrated that Kl-la is the primary lactylation isomer on histones and dynamically regulated by glycolysis, not Kd-la or Kce, which are observed when the glyoxalase system was incomplete. The study also reveals that lactyl-coenzyme A, a precursor in L-lactylation, correlates positively with Kl-la levels. This work not only provides a methodology for distinguishing other PTM isomers, but also highlights Kl-la as the primary responder to glycolysis and the Warburg effect.

A strategy to distinguish similar traditional Chinese medicines by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, electronic senses, and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry: Marsdeniae tenacissimae Caulis and Paederiae scandens Caulis as examples.

INTRODUCTION: Marsdeniae tenacissimae Caulis (MTC), a popular traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in the treatment of tumor diseases. Paederiae scandens Caulis (PSC), which is similar in appearance to MTC, is a common counterfeit product. It is difficult for traditional methods to effectively distinguish between MTC and PSC. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a rapid and accurate method to identify MTC and PSC. OBJECTIVES: The aim is to distinguish between MTC and PSC by analyzing the differences in nonvolatile organic compounds (NVOCs), taste, odor, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). METHODS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was utilized to analyze the NVOCs of MTC and PSC. Electronic tongue (E-tongue) and electronic nose (E-nose) were used to analyze their taste and odor respectively. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) was applied to analyze VOCs. Finally, multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to further investigate the differences between MTC and PSC, including principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, discriminant factor analysis, and soft independent modeling of class analysis. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that the integrated strategy of LC-MS, E-tongue, E-nose, GC-IMS, and multivariate statistical analysis can be effectively applied to distinguish between MTC and PSC. Using LC-MS, 25 NVOCs were identified in MTC, while 18 NVOCs were identified in PSC. The major compounds in MTC are steroids, while the major compounds in PSC are iridoid glycosides. Similarly, the distinct taste difference between MTC and PSC was precisely revealed by the E-tongue. Specifically, the pronounced bitterness in PSC was proven to stem from iridoid glycosides, whereas the bitterness evident in MTC was intimately tied to steroids. The E-nose detected eight odor components in MTC and six in PSC, respectively. The subsequent statistical analysis uncovered notable differences in their odor profiles. GC-IMS provided a visual representation of the differences in VOCs between MTC and PSC. The results indicated a relatively high relative content of 82 VOCs in MTC, contrasted with 32 VOCs exhibiting a similarly high relative content in PSC. CONCLUSION: In this study, for the first time, the combined use of LC-MS, E-tongue, E-nose, GC-IMS, and multivariate statistical analysis has proven to be an effective method for distinguishing between MTC and PSC from multiple perspectives. This approach provides a valuable reference for the identification of other visually similar traditional Chinese medicines.

Elevated 68Ga-FAPI Activity in Benign Carotid Body Tumors.

ABSTRACT: We present 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT findings of benign carotid body tumor in a 33-year-old woman. Benign carotid body tumor demonstrated intense tracer uptakes on 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT. Our case suggests that benign carotid body tumors should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neck mass with elevated 68Ga-FAPI activity.

Radionuclide therapy of bevacizumab-based PNA-mediated pretargeting.

BACKGROUND: The radionuclide-labeled bevacizumab (BV) is a potential therapeutic approach for vascular endothelial growth factor overexpressed tumors. Because of its large molecular weight, BV is cleared slowly in vivo, which caused damage to healthy tissues and organs. On account of this situation, using the pretargeting strategy with DNA/RNA analogs, such as peptide nucleic acid (PNA), is an effective way of treating solid tumors. METHODS: The BV-PNA conjugate (BV-PNA-1) was injected intravenously as the pretargeted probe, which was specifically accumulated in a solid tumor and gradually metabolically cleared. Then the [177Lu]Lu-labeled complementary PNA strand ([177Lu]Lu-PNA-2) as the second probe was injected, and bound with BV-PNA-1 by the base complementary pairing. In this study, the BV-based PNA-mediated pretargeting strategy was systematically studied, including stability of probes, specific binding ability, biodistribution in animal model, evaluation of single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography imaging, and therapeutic effect. RESULTS: Compared with group A ([177Lu]Lu-BV), the group B (BV-PNA-1 + [177Lu]Lu-PNA-2) showed lower blood radiotoxicity (22.55 ±1.62 vs. 5.18 ±â€…0.40%, %ID/g, P < 0.05), and similar accumulation of radioactivity in tumor (5.32 ±â€…0.66 vs. 6.68 ± 0.79%, %ID/g, P > 0.05). Correspondingly, there was no significant difference in therapeutic effect between groups A and B. CONCLUSION: The PNA-mediated pretargeting strategy could increase the tumor-to-blood ratio, thereby reducing the damage to normal tissues, while having a similar therapeutic effect to solid tumor. All the experiments in this study showed the potential and effectiveness of pretargeting radioimmunotherapy.

Involvement of the Laboratory Department in MDT Discussion for the Diagnosis of Unexplained Leukocytosis.

BACKGROUND: This paper reports the diagnostic process of a case involving an 86-year-old male patient who was admitted with cough, sputum, and fever, accompanied by persistent leukocytosis. METHODS: Through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion, the laboratory department identified elevated ferritin levels, prompting clinical consideration of potential malignancy. RESULTS: Further investigations confirmed the diagnosis of thyroid cancer with multiple lung metastases. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the potential value of ferritin in tumor diagnosis, offering new insights into the etiology of abnormal leukocyte elevation. Additionally, the active involvement of the laboratory department in MDT discussions proves to be crucial for diagnosing challenging cases.