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This article, published in the journal Biocell, presents a systematic analysis of DNA polymerases as therapeutic targets in various types of cancer. The study examines the expression profiles of 15 DNA polymerases and their clinical correlations using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The analysis reveals that DNA polymerases exhibit distinct expression patterns in tumor and normal samples across most cancer types. The study also highlights the prognostic value of DNA polymerases in multiple cancers and explores their associations with immune cells, DNA damage repair pathways, and ubiquitination. The findings suggest that DNA polymerases could serve as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for cancer. [Extracted from the article]

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) serves an important role in maintaining plasma cholesterol levels, and fatty acid metabolism is involved in the progression of various types of cancer. In the present study, the role of PCSK9 in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) was investigated. PCSK9 expression was compared between ESCC and normal esophageal epithelial tissues using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. In addition, the association between PCSK9 expression and clinical staging and prognosis was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The effects of PCSK9 overexpression or knockdown on cell proliferation was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays. The invasion and migration of cancer cells was assessed using wound healing and Transwell assays. Western blotting was performed to evaluate changes in the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins. ELISA was performed to detect the effects of PCSK9 on chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 25 (CCL25) secretion. The results revealed that PCSK9 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues compared with that in normal esophageal tissues, and the high expression of PCSK9 was associated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, PCSK9 could promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro. Mechanistically, PCSK9 could promote EMT by secreting CCL25. In conclusion, patients with ESCC may benefit from a novel therapeutic strategy based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP) is a rare lung tumor that is mostly isolated and commonly reported among middle-aged East Asian women. Recently, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis has suggested that PSP is of primitive epithelial origin, most likely derived from type II alveolar air cells. Patients with PSP are generally asymptomatic and usually detected for other unrelated reasons during routine imaging. Several studies have already investigated the computed tomography (CT) features of PSP and their correlation with pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a radiation-free imaging technique with important diagnostic value for specific pulmonary nodules. However, very few case reports or studies focus on the MRI findings of PSP. Case report: We reported a case of an asymptomatic 56-year-old female with a solitary, well-defined soft-tissue mass in the lower lobe of the left lung. The mass showed iso-to-high signal intensity (SI) than muscle on T1-weighted image (T1WI) and T2-weighted image (T2WI) and a much higher SI on fat-suppressed T2WI, diffusion-weighted image, and apparent diffusion coefficient image. Contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed T1WI revealed noticeable inhomogeneous progressive enhancement throughout the mass. The mass revealed early enhancement without a significant peak, followed by a plateau pattern on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI images. The patient underwent left basal segmentectomy via thoracoscopic surgery. Histopathology and IHC results of the surgical specimen confirmed that it was a PSP. We concluded that the MRI findings of PSP might adequately reflect the different components within the tumor and aid clinicians in preoperative diagnosis and assessment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive case report on the MRI findings of PSP. Conclusion: The MRI findings of PSP correspond to its histopathological features. Here, we present a case of PSP with the most comprehensive MRI findings, emphasizing the importance of multiple-sequence MRI in diagnosing PSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L1 is one of the largest offshore gas fields currently under development. In order to optimize the related design, nodal analysis is applied (including proper consideration of the plant productivity, sensitivity to the tubing size, erosion effects, liquid carrying performance, and tubing string). As a result of such approach, it is shown that 13Cr material should be chosen as the appropriate tubing material. Moreover, 3-1/2 inches 9.3 lb/ft N80 tubing, 4-1/2 inches 12.75 lb/ft N80 tubing, 5-1/2 inches 17 lb/ft N80 tubing should be used for a gas production rate under 80 × 104 m³d, between 80 × 104 m3/d and 120 × 104M m³/d and above 120 × 104 m³/d, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neoadjuvant programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor combined with chemotherapy has been reported to improve the pathological response of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the systematic report on survival follow-up is quite few. This study we will report the survival follow-up outcomes after a median follow-up of 21.1 months. Methods: This was a real-world retrospective study. Locally advanced ESCC patients treated with neoadjuvant sintilimab combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel and nedaplatin followed by surgery and completed at least 1-year follow-up were reviewed. The primary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS) at 24 months. The secondary outcome was overall survival (OS) at 24 months. Results: Ninety eligible patients were included in the analysis between July 2019 and October 2021. The median number of neoadjuvant cycles was 3 (range 2-4). All patients achieved R0 resection. With a median follow-up of 21.1 months (range 14.0-39.0), the median DFS and median OS had not reached, 2-year DFS rate was 78.3% (95%CI 68.8%-89.1%) and 2-years OS rate was 88.0% (95%CI 80.6%-96.0%). Postoperative pathological stage, pCR, MPR, tumor down-staging were significantly correlated with favorable survival outcome. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis identified cycle number of neoadjuvant treatment as independent predictor of DFS. Conclusion: Our results preliminarily show a survival benefit of neoadjuvant sintilimab combined with chemotherapy in locally advanced ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of SARS in 2003 opened the way of public health emergency management in China. COVID-19 which suddenly outbroke in 2019 is still raging all over the world, and emergency management mechanism of China is being tested. Efforts to improve the emergency management mechanism can provide effective institutional guarantee for the overaH victory of anti epidemic and the prevention and control of public health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions among the three phases of nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA), Konjac glucomannan (KGM) and Chitosan (CS) in n-HA/KGM/CS composite were investigated using TEM, IR, XRD, XPS and TGA methods. The crystalline structure of n-HA was studied by means of Rietveld method. A series of structure parameters, such as, cell lattice parameters ( a or c), bonding lengths and a numerical index of distortion for PO4 tetrahedron, were calculated by Newton–Raphson calculating method to characterize the crystalline structure of HA at atom level. The results showed that n-HA was mainly linked with KGM and CS by hydrogen bonding between OH−–PO of n-HA and –C=O, –NH of KGM-CS copolymer, and there was a stable interface formed between the three phases in the composite. Besides, orientation of this hydrogen bonding resulted in the decrease of the relative crystallization degree of KGM-CS copolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]