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Background Considering trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is overexpressed in a wide range of human epithelial cancers, it presents an attractive target for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple types of cancer. Herein, we have developed a Trop2-specific radiotracer, 68Ga-MY6349, and present a prospective, investigator-initiated trial to explore the clinical values of 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT. Methods In this translational study, 90 patients with 15 types of cancer, who underwent 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT, were enrolled prospectively. Among them, 78 patients underwent paired 68Ga-MY6349 and 18F-FDG PET/CT, and 12 patients with prostate cancer underwent paired 68Ga-MY6349 and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Results Among the 90 patients across 15 types of cancer, 68Ga-MY6349 uptake in tumors was generally high but heterogeneous, varying among lesions, patients, and cancer types. Trop2 expression level determined by immunohistochemistry was highly correlated with 68Ga-MY6349 uptake at primary and metastatic tumor sites. 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT showed higher tumor uptake (quantified by SUVmax) than 18F-FDG PET/CT in certain types of cancer, including breast (7.2 vs. 5.4, P < 0.001), prostate (9.2 vs. 3.0, P < 0.001), and thyroid cancers (8.5 vs. 3.7, P < 0.001). When compared with 68Ga-PSMA-11, 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT exhibited comparable lesion uptake (12.2 vs. 12.5, P = 0.223) but a better tumor-to-background contrast (15.8 vs. 12.2, P < 0.001) for primary and metastatic prostate cancer, allowing visualization of more metastatic lesions. Conclusion 68Ga-MY6349 PET/CT is a non-invasive method for comprehensively assessing Trop2 expression in tumors, which can improve the diagnosis and staging for cancer patients, and aid in the decision-making for Trop2-targeted therapies and advancing personalized treatment.

Early detection of pulmonary fibrosis is a critical yet insufficiently met clinical necessity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of FAPI-LM3, a 68 Ga-radiolabeled heterobivalent molecular probe that targets fibroblast activating protein (FAP) and somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), in the early detection of pulmonary fibrosis, leveraging its potential for early disease identification. A bleomycin-induced early pulmonary fibrosis model was established in C57BL/6 mice for 7 days. FAP and SSTR2 expression levels were quantitatively assessed in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lung tissue samples and bleomycin-treated mouse lung tissues by using western blotting, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and immunofluorescence techniques. The diagnostic performance of FAPI-LM3 was investigated by synthesizing monomeric radiotracers 68 Ga-FAPI-46 and 68 Ga-DOTA-LM3 alongside the heterobivalent probe 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3. These imaging radiopharmaceuticals were used in small-animal PET to compare their uptake in fibrotic and normal lung tissues. Results indicated significant upregulation of FAP and SSTR2 at both RNA and protein levels in fibrotic lung tissues compared with that in normal controls. PET imaging demonstrated significantly enhanced uptake of the 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 probe in fibrotic lung tissues, with superior visual effects compared to monomeric tracers. At 60 min postinjection, early stage fibrotic tissues (day 7) demonstrated low-to-medium uptake of monomeric probes, including 68 Ga-DOTA-LM3 (0.45 ± 0.04% ID/g) and 68 Ga-FAPI-46 (0.78 ± 0.09% ID/g), whereas the uptake of the heterobivalent probe 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 (1.90 ± 0.10% ID/g) was significantly higher in fibrotic lesions than in normal lung tissue. Blockade experiments confirmed the specificity of 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 uptake, which was attributed to synergistic targeting of FAP and SSTR2. This study demonstrates the potential of 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 for early pulmonary fibrosis detection via molecular imaging, offering significant benefits over monomeric tracers 68 Ga-FAPI-46 and 68 Ga-DOTA-LM3. This strategy offers new possibilities for noninvasive and precise early detection of pulmonary fibrosis.

Extensive research has been conducted on radiolabeled fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitors (FAPIs) and p-Cl-Phe-cyclo(d-Cys-Tyr-d-4-amino-Phe(carbamoyl)-Lys-Thr-Cys)d-Tyr-NH 2 (LM3) peptides for imaging of FAP and somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-positive tumors. In this study, we designed and synthesized a FAPI-LM3 heterobivalent molecule radiolabeled with 68 Ga and evaluated its effectiveness in both tumor xenografts and patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: The synthesis of FAPI-LM3 was based on the structures of FAPI-46 and LM3. After radiolabeling with 68 Ga, its dual-receptor-binding affinity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Preclinical studies, including small-animal PET and biodistribution evaluation, were conducted on HT-1080-FAP and HT-1080-SSTR2 tumor xenografts. The feasibility of 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 PET/CT in a clinical setting was evaluated in patients with NPC, and the results were compared with those of 18 F-FDG. Results: 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 showed high affinity for both FAP and SSTR2. The tumor uptake of 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 was significantly higher than that of 68 Ga-FAPI-46 and 68 Ga-DOTA-LM3 in HT-1080-FAP-plus-HT-1080-SSTR2 tumor xenografts. In a clinical study involving 6 NPC patients, 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 PET/CT showed significantly higher uptake than did 18 F-FDG in primary and metastatic lesions, leading to enhanced lesion detectability and tumor delineation. Conclusion: 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 exhibited FAPI and SSTR2 dual-receptor-targeting properties both in vitro and in vivo, resulting in improved tumor uptake and retention compared with that observed with monomeric 68 Ga-FAPI and 68 Ga-DOTA-LM3. This study highlights the clinical feasibility of 68 Ga-FAPI-LM3 PET/CT for NPC imaging., (© 2024 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

This study collected the stools of 10-km open-water swimmers after race and probiotic supplementation, and 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic analysis were performed to clarify their intestinal microbiota characteristics. The findings revealed a relatively high proportion of Firmicutes in all the athletes. Firmicutes in female athletes were significantly higher after probiotic supplementation. The intestinal microbiota of athletes was closely associated with the pathways of exercise against cancer, exercise against aging, exercise for improving cognition, sphingolipid metabolism and endocrine resistance. Future research should focus on the relationship between Firmicutes and Proteobacteria with super class metabolites in athletes. This report initially explored the changes in intestinal microbiota involved in metabolic pathways in athletes after race and after probiotic supplementation and provided a theoretical basis for the further improvement of the monitoring of their physical function after race and selection of nutritional strategies during exercise training., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Josephson tunneling in twisted cuprate junctions provides a litmus test for the pairing symmetry, which is fundamental for understanding the microscopic mechanism of high temperature superconductivity. This issue is rekindled by experimental advances in van der Waals stacking and the proposal of an emergent d+id-wave. So far, all experiments have been carried out on Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+x (Bi-2212) with double CuO 2 planes but show controversial results. Here, we investigate junctions made of Bi 2 Sr 2-x La x CuO 6+y (Bi-2201) with single CuO 2 planes. Our on-site cold stacking technique ensures uncompromised crystalline quality and stoichiometry at the interface. Junctions with carefully calibrated twist angles around 45° show strong Josephson tunneling and conventional temperature dependence. Furthermore, we observe standard Fraunhofer diffraction patterns and integer Fiske steps in a junction with a twist angle of 45.0±0.2°. Together, these results pose strong constraints on the d or d+id-wave pairing and suggest an indispensable isotropic pairing component., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: While community-based eldercare has proven to be effective in qualitative studies, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of this geriatric care model in rural communities where caring for older people is traditionally the responsibility of family members, but a formal long-term care was recently introduced in China. CIE is a rural community-embedded intervention using multidisciplinary team, to provide evidenced-based integrated care services for frail older people including social care services and allied primary healthcare and community-based rehabilitation services., Methods: CIE is a prospective stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial conducted at 5 community eldercare centers in rural China. The multifaceted CIE intervention, guided by chronic care model and integrated care model, consists of five components: comprehensive geriatric assessment, individualized care planning, community-based rehabilitation, interdisciplinary case management, and care coordination. The intervention is rolled out in a staggered manner in these clusters of centers at an interval of 1 month. The primary outcomes include functional status, quality of life, and social support. Process evaluation will also be conducted. Generalized linear mixed model is employed for binary outcomes., Discussion: This study is expected to provide important new evidence on clinical effectiveness and implementation process of an integrated care model for frail older people. The CIE model is also unique as the first registered trial implementing a community-based eldercare model using multidisciplinary team to promote individualized social care services integrated with primary healthcare and community-based rehabilitation services for frail older people in rural China, where formal long-term care was recently introduced. TRIAL REGISTRATION {2A}: China Clinical Trials Register ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/historyversionpub.aspx?regno=ChiCTR2200060326 ). May 28th, 2022., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of semiquantitative parameters derived from [ 68  Ga]Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on patients from a prospective parent study (NCT04416165). A total of 45 patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent [ 68  Ga]Ga-FAPI from December 2019 to March 2021 were included. The maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), gross tumor volume (GTV), and total lesion-FAPI (TL-FAPI) of the primary tumor were calculated from the corresponding PET/CT image. Unpaired parameters were compared using Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney U test. Paired parameters were compared using the paired t test or the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to calculate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates, and Cox regression analysis was performed to determine which PET/CT parameters were prognostic factors for PFS and/or OS., Results: Thirty-four of the 45 patients met the criteria, and the median follow-up time was 24 months (16-29 months). SUVmax-FAPI, GTV FAPI , and TL-FAPI in patients with stage T4 tumors were significantly higher than those in patients with stage T2/T3 tumors (all P < 0.01). In the univariate Cox regression analysis, T stage, N stage, GTV FAPI , and TL-FAPI were associated with PFS, and T stage, GTV FAPI , and TL-FAPI were associated with OS. Upon multivariable analysis, GTV FAPI was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS (hazard ratio (HR), 5.76; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.13-15.57, P = 0.001) and OS (HR, 4.96; 95% CI, 2.55-18.79, P = 0.001)., Conclusion: This pilot study revealed that [ 68  Ga]Ga-FAPI PET/CT may have prognostic value for patients with ESCC treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. It may aid in personalized patient management by steering treatment modifications before therapy. Prospective studies with larger samples and longer observation periods are needed., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Graphene is considered as a promising cathode candidate for Li-O 2 batteries because of its excellent electronic conductivity and oxygen adsorption capacity. However, for Li-O 2 batteries, the self-stacking effect caused by two-dimensional (2D) structural properties of graphene is not conducive to the rapid oxygen transport and mass transfer process, thereby affecting the electrode kinetics. Here, we successfully prepared three-dimensional (3D) graphene with different scales by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and physical pulverization strategies, in which CH 4 is the carbon source and H 2 /Ar mixed gas is the etching gas. Meanwhile, we fabricated 3D graphene-based Pt nanocatalysts by an ultraviolet-assisted construction strategy and then applied them in Li-O 2 batteries. Systematic studies reveal a special relevance between electrochemical performance and graphene particle size, and the smaller-sized 3D graphene can better maintain the microstructure distribution in both the Pt embedding process and electrochemical applications, which is beneficial to the transport of oxygen and Li ions, lowering the decomposition energy barrier of Li 2 O 2 , and further obtaining reduced charge overpotential (0.22 V) and prolonged cycle life for Li-O 2 batteries. Finally, we anticipate that this work could promote the practical application of 2D materials and larger-sized 3D materials in Li-O 2 batteries.

Background: In China, the majority of community care for older people is planned and offered in a few large cities. The provision of community care to the rural population is a new concept. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of willingness to receive a novel community care service that incorporates community rehabilitation among older people, and identify the possible factors influencing utilization willingness in Foshan, China., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 413 older people in Lishui county, China from January to March 2021. Trained staff interviewed older people using structured questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors that were significantly associated with the willingness to receive this novel community care., Results: The prevalence of willingness to receive community care for older people was 61.9% (n = 245) in Foshan, China. Older people who were living alone or living with spouses were about two times significantly more likely to receive community care compared to those living with children/others (OR = 2.19, 95%CI:2.44 ~ 3.19, OR = 2.015, 95%CI: 1.39 ~ 2.23, respectively). Older people who lived closer to the community care center were about two times significantly more likely to receive community care compared to those who lived far away (OR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.61 ~ 2.41). Older people with activity of daily living disability were about three times significantly more likely to receive community care compared to those without a disability (OR = 3.13, 95%CI: 2.38 ~ 3.29)., Conclusions: A majority of rural older people were willing to receive this novel community care service that includes community rehabilitation. The findings suggest the need for policies and programs to not only improve the provision of this novel community care service but also promote its uptake among older people in the study setting., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To explore the feasibility of [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to evaluate whether [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT could be used for non-invasive determination of somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) expression in NPC., Methods: This prospective study included patients with NPC who underwent [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT between February and May 2021. The [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE and [ 18 F]FDG uptakes in primary and metastatic NPC lesions were calculated and compared, and the [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE uptake between SSTR2 score groups was analysed., Results: A total of 36 participants (25 patients, initial staging; 11 patients, recurrence detection) were included; 33 patients also underwent [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT for staging/restaging as a part of their routine diagnostic workup. [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT showed an intense tracer uptake in primary and metastatic NPC lesions. The radiotracer uptake was higher with [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE than with [ 18 F]FDG PET in primary NPC lesions (SUVmax: 12.03 vs. 10.07, P = 0.048; tumour-to-brain ratio: 36.16 vs. 0.86, P < 0.001) and regional lymph node metastases (median SUVmax: 9.11 vs. 6.12, P < 0.001) and comparable in bone and visceral metastases. Importantly, most NPC lesions showed intense SSTR2 expression (85.7%), which was strongly correlated with the [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE uptake. The SUVmax of SSTR2-negative lesions was significantly lower than that of SSTR2-positive lesions (SUVmax: 4.95 vs. 12.61, P = 0.013)., Conclusion: [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT is a promising imaging modality for detecting primary and metastatic NPC, with favourable image contrast and comparable diagnostic efficacy when compared to [ 18 F]FDG PET/CT. An intense SSTR2 expression was observed in most NPCs, and this expression was significantly correlated with the [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTATATE uptake., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium with degradation ability of chitin, designated strain YD-1  T , was isolated from landfill soil sample collected in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China. The growth of strain YD-1  T occurred optimally in the tryptone soy broth (TSB) with 1.0% NaCl at pH 7.0-8.0, 30 °C. Ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) was the predominant quinone. The polar lipids of strain YD-1  T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, five glycolipids and four lipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C 15:0 (30.7%), iso-C 17:1 ω9c (23.2%), iso-C 11:0 (18.9%), iso-C 11:0 3-OH (6.8%) and iso-C 17:0 (5.9%). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YD-1  T was affiliated to the genus Luteimonas with the highest similarity to Luteimonas marina KCTC 12327  T (97.3%), followed by Luteimonas aquatica DSM 22088  T (96.5%) and Luteimonas composti CCUG 53595  T (96.4%). The genomic DNA G + C content of strain YD-1  T was 71.8 mol%. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and the digital DNA-DNA hybridizations (dDDH) for draft genomes between strain YD-1  T and Luteimonas marina KCTC 12327  T were 82.7% and 26.1%, respectively. On the basis of genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain YD-1  T is considered to represent a novel species to degrade chitin in the genus Luteimonas, for which the name Luteimonas wenzhouensis sp. nov. is proposed, with YD-1  T (= KCTC 72425  T  = CCTCC AB 2019153  T ) as the type strain.