Diagnostic efficiency of intravoxel incoherent motion-based virtual magnetic resonance elastography in pulmonary neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study were as below. (1) To investigate the feasibility of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-based virtual magnetic resonance elastography (vMRE) to provide quantitative estimates of tissue stiffness in pulmonary neoplasms. (2) To verify the diagnostic performance of shifted apparent diffusion coefficient (sADC) and reconstructed virtual stiffness values in distinguishing neoplasm nature. METHODS: This study enrolled 59 patients (37 males, 22 females) with one pulmonary neoplasm who underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) with pathological diagnosis (26 adenocarcinoma, 10 squamous cell carcinoma, 3 small cell carcinoma, 4 tuberculosis and 16 non-specific benign; mean age, 60.81 ± 9.80 years). IVIM was performed on a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner before biopsy. sADC and virtual shear stiffness maps reflecting lesion stiffness were reconstructed. sADC and virtual stiffness values of neoplasm were extracted, and the diagnostic performance of vMRE in distinguishing benign and malignant and detailed pathological type were explored. RESULTS: Compared to benign neoplasms, malignant ones had a significantly lower sADC and a higher virtual stiffness value (P < 0.001). Subsequent subtype analyses showed that the sADC values of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma groups were significantly lower than non-specific benign group (P = 0.013 and 0.001, respectively). Additionally, virtual stiffness values of the adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma subtypes were significantly higher than non-specific benign group (P = 0.008 and 0.001, respectively). However, no significant correlation was found among other subtype groups. CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive vMRE demonstrated diagnostic efficiency in differentiating the nature of pulmonary neoplasm. vMRE is promising as a new method for clinical diagnosis.

A Minimally Invasive Approach for Laparoscopic-Perineal Sigmoid Colpoplasty: Case Report and Innovations.

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic-perineal neovagina construction by sigmoid colpoplasty is a popular therapeutic approach for patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. The conventional approach requires an auxiliary abdominal incision to exteriorize the descending colon to fix the anvil for end-to-end colorectal anastomosis. We modified the natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) approach by exteriorizing the descending colon through the artificial neovaginal tunnel to replace the anvil extracorporeally, without requiring an auxiliary abdominal incision. It was a more minimally invasive technique. CASE REPORT We performed this modified laparoscopic-perineal sigmoid colpoplasty in a 26-year-old woman with MRKH syndrome. We cut off a segment of the sigmoid colon with a vascular pedicle to make a new vagina out of it, the same as in the traditional laparoscopic-perineal sigmoid colpoplasty. What is new about this technique is that it has no need for abdominal incision and is more minimally invasive. The operating time was 315 min. No postoperative complications occurred. The postoperative hospital stay was 4 days. The modified laparoscopic-perineal approach, free from an auxiliary abdominal incision, demonstrated advantages, including a shorter hospital stay, expedited recovery, and comparable anatomical outcomes, when compared with the traditional approach. This innovation improves the surgical experience for patients with MRKH syndrome, addressing the physical and psychological aspects of their condition. CONCLUSIONS This refined laparoscopic-perineal neovagina construction by sigmoid colpoplasty represents a feasible and minimally invasive technique. It is an attractive option for MRKH syndrome patients in need of vaginal reconstruction, offering a streamlined procedure with reduced postoperative recovery time and enhanced patient outcomes.

A 3-year follow-up clinical study on the preservation for vitality of involved tooth in jaw cysts through an innovative method.

Jaw cysts commonly affect the oral and maxillofacial region, involving adjacent tooth roots. The management of these teeth, particularly regarding root canal therapy and apicoectomy, lacks consensus. This study introduces a novel treatment concept and refined surgical approach to preserve pulp viability in teeth involved in jaw cysts. The objective was to investigate the effectiveness and potential benefits of this approach over a 36-month follow-up period. A conservative management approach prioritized vitality preservation, reserving root canal treatment and apicectomy for cases with post-operative discomfort. A comprehensive follow-up of 108 involved teeth from 36 jaw cyst cases treated with the modified method was conducted. Clinical observation, X-ray imaging, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and pulp vitality testing assessed changes in cyst size, tooth color, pulp vitality, root structure, and surrounding alveolar bone. After 36 months, our modified surgical approach successfully preserved tooth vitality in 84 involved teeth. Adverse symptoms in 19 teeth, such as redness, swelling, fistula, and pain, resolved with postoperative root canal therapy. Follow-up was lost for five teeth in two cases. No cyst recurrences were observed, and in 34 cases, the bone cavity gradually disappeared, restoring normal bone density during long-term follow-up. Our modified surgical method effectively preserves tooth vitality in jaw cysts. This innovative approach has the potential to improve the management of teeth involved in jaw cysts.

Advances in Understanding Fusarium graminearum: Genes Involved in the Regulation of Sexual Development, Pathogenesis, and Deoxynivalenol Biosynthesis.

The wheat head blight disease caused by Fusarium graminearum is a major concern for food security and the health of both humans and animals. As a pathogenic microorganism, F. graminearum produces virulence factors during infection to increase pathogenicity, including various macromolecular and small molecular compounds. Among these virulence factors, secreted proteins and deoxynivalenol (DON) are important weapons for the expansion and colonization of F. graminearum. Besides the presence of virulence factors, sexual reproduction is also crucial for the infection process of F. graminearum and is indispensable for the emergence and spread of wheat head blight. Over the last ten years, there have been notable breakthroughs in researching the virulence factors and sexual reproduction of F. graminearum. This review aims to analyze the research progress of sexual reproduction, secreted proteins, and DON of F. graminearum, emphasizing the regulation of sexual reproduction and DON synthesis. We also discuss the application of new gene engineering technologies in the prevention and control of wheat head blight.

RPTOR blockade suppresses brain metastases of NSCLC by interfering the ceramide metabolism via hijacking YY1 binding.

BACKGROUND: Ceramide metabolism is crucial in the progress of brain metastasis (BM). However, it remains unexplored whether targeting ceramide metabolism may arrest BM. METHODS: RNA sequencing was applied to screen different genes in primary and metastatic foci and whole-exome sequencing (WES) to seek crucial abnormal pathway in BM + and BM-patients. Cellular arrays were applied to analyze the permeability of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the activation or inhibition of pathway. Database and Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay were adopted to verify the protein-protein interaction. Xenograft and zebrafish model were further employed to verify the cellular results. RESULTS: RNA sequencing and WES reported the involvement of RPTOR and ceramide metabolism in BM progress. RPTOR was significantly upregulated in BM foci and increased the permeability of BBB, while RPTOR deficiency attenuated the cell invasiveness and protected extracellular matrix. Exogenous RPTOR boosted the SPHK2/S1P/STAT3 cascades by binding YY1, in which YY1 bound to the regions of SPHK2 promoter (at -353 ~ -365 nt), further promoting the expression of SPHK2. The latter was rescued by YY1 RNAi. Xenograft and zebrafish model showed that RPTOR blockade suppressed BM of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and impaired the SPHK2/S1P/STAT3 pathway. CONCLUSION: RPTOR is a key driver gene in the brain metastasis of lung cancer, which signifies that RPTOR blockade may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for clinical application.

CD206 modulates the role of M2 macrophages in the origin of metastatic tumors.

Tumor metastasis is a key factor affecting the life of patients with malignant tumors. For the past hundred years, scientists have focused on how to kill cancer cells and inhibit their metastasis in vivo, but few breakthroughs have been made. Here we hypothesized a novel mode for cancer metastasis. We show that the phagocytosis of apoptotic tumor cells by macrophages leads to their polarization into the M2 phenotype, and that the expression of stem cell related as well as drug resistance related genes was induced. Therefore, it appears that M2 macrophages have "defected" and have been transformed into the initial "metastatic cancer cells", and thus are the source, at least in part, of the distal tissue tumor metastasis. This assumption is supported by the presence of fused cells with characteristics of both macrophage and tumor cell observed in the peripheral blood and ascites of patients with ovarian cancer. By eliminating the expression of CD206 in M2 macrophages using siRNA, we show that the growth and metastasis of tumors was suppressed using both in vitro cell line and with experimental in vivo mouse models. In summary, we show that M2 macrophages in the blood circulation underwent a "change of loyalty" to become "cancer cells" that transformed into distal tissue metastasis, which could be suppressed by the knockdown of CD206 expression.

Achieving 2.2 GPa Ultra-High Strength in Low-Alloy Steel Using a Direct Quenching and Partitioning Process.

Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) have a wide range of applications in equipment safety and lightweight design, and enhancing the strength of AHSS to the ultra-high level of 2 GPa is currently a key focus. In this study, a new process of thermo-mechanical control process followed by direct quenching and partitioning (TMCP-DQP) was developed based on Fe-0.4C-1Mn-0.6Si (wt.%) low-alloy steel, and the effects of microstructure evolution on mechanical properties under TMCP-DQP process and conventional hot rolled quenched and tempered process (HR-QT) were comparatively studied. The results show that the TMCP-DQP process not only shortened the processing steps but also achieved outstanding comprehensive mechanical properties. The TMCP-DQP steel exhibited a tensile strength of 2.23 GPa, accompanied by 11.9% elongation and a Brinell hardness of 624 HBW, with an impact toughness of 28.5 J at -20 °C. In contrast, the HR-QT steel exhibited tensile strengths ranging from 2.16 GPa to 1.7 GPa and elongations between 5.2% and 12.2%. The microstructure of TMCP-DQP steel primarily consisted of lath martensite, containing thin-film retained austenite (RA), nanoscale rod-shaped carbides, and a minor number of nanoscale twins. The volume fraction of RA reached 7.7%, with an average carbon content of 7.1 at.% measured by three-dimensional atom probe tomography (3DAP). Compared with the HR-QT process, the TMCP-DQP process resulted in a finer microstructure, with a prior austenite grain (PAG) size of 11.91 µm, forming packets and blocks with widths of 5.12 µm and 1.63 µm. The TMCP-DQP process achieved the ultra-high strength of low-alloy steel through the synergistic effects of grain refinement, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation strengthening. The dynamic partitioning stage stabilized the RA through carbon enrichment, while the relaxation stage reduced a small portion of the dislocations generated by thermal deformation, and the self-tempering stage eliminated internal stresses, all guaranteeing considerable ductility and toughness. The TMCP-DQP process may offer a means for industries to streamline their manufacturing processes and provide a technological reference for producing 2.2 GPa grade AHSS.