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Purpose of Review: With an aging population, extending healthy life expectancy is a global challenge. Maintaining healthy knee joint function is one of the essential factors to preserve the ability to walk and extend healthy life expectancy. Meniscus centralization was introduced in 2012 as a procedure for meniscus extrusion, one of the causes of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Initially, it was performed only for lateral meniscus (LM) extrusion, and favorable 2-year results were reported in 2016. Gradually, basic studies supporting the effectiveness of meniscus centralization have been reported, and it has also been performed for medial meniscus (MM) extrusion, with some positive results reported. Although the surgical procedures vary among the institutions, the basic concept is to reattach the loosened meniscotibial ligament to the edge of the tibial plateau to re-tension it. This review will discuss the history of development and the current status of meniscus centralization. Recent Findings: Current research shows that meniscus centralization is not performed in isolation but is often used as an augmentation along with the conventional repair of meniscus injuries, particularly posterior root tears. Biomechanical studies demonstrated that MM centralization with a posteromedial anchor can better restore meniscus function. Conclusion: Despite its relatively short publication history of just over ten years, meniscus centralization has shown potential as a treatment to curb the progression of knee OA and extend a healthy life. While more evidence is needed, this conclusion underscores the promising role for meniscus centralization, making it a topic of significant interest for knee surgeons and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moyamoya disease is a chronic progressive cerebrovascular disease of unknown etiology, which is most prevalent in children and young adults in East Asia. Over the past two decades, there have been rapid advancements in basic and clinical research on Moyamoya disease, leading to groundbreaking developments, particularly in susceptible gene studies. However, while progress has been made, there are still many problems and challenges. Is genetic testing necessary? What are the differences between Moyamoya disease in children and adults? Are asymptomatic patients truly asymptomatic? Can Moyamoya disease be clearly distinguished from Moyamoya syndrome? Can patients with hemorrhagic Moyamoya disease benefit from surgery? A series of questions continue to perplex clinicians in the field. In the future, researchers need to conduct high-quality basic and clinical research to dispel the “fog” surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of Moyamoya disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is in a critical period of promoting high-quality development and advancing Chinese modernization. This paper attempts to clarify the relationship between innovation and new-quality productivity and provide a potential development direction for China to lead a modernized industrial system by developing new-quality productivity through innovation. The study proposes that the development of new quality productivity through innovation requires serious consideration from three dimensions. First, it is important to figure out where new technologies come from. Second, it is essential to investigate where new industries come from. Third, a feasible solution has to be formulated based on China's reality. The key to cultivating original emerging technologies lies in promoting the trinity of basic scientific research, applied technology, and financial services. In addition, creating an open talent environment, shaping a market of ideas for the exchange and collision of different civilizations, and creating a good business environment to provide the soil for the birth of 0-1 original ideas and technologies are necessary. From the industrial development perspective, both upgrading traditional industries and cultivating new industries are the new versions of industry development. The key to the development of new industries lies in the establishment of the core position of enterprise-led transformation of applied technology. To promote the development of new-quality productivity through innovation, China can stimulate a "three-in-one" innovation model of basic scientific research, applied technology transformation and financial services, adhering to an open environment, promoting integrated regional integration and development, and fostering a cultural middle class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThere is little knowledge about the histological organization of facial and costal cartilages in terms of matrix structure and cell morphology. Second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging is a nonlinear imaging technique that capitalizes on signal generation from highly ordered macromolecules such as collagen fibers. The purpose of this study was to use SHG microscopy to image collagen extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, chondrocyte size, and density of these cartilages.Study designExperimental.MethodsSurgical remnants of septal, lower lateral, rib, and auricular cartilages were collected following surgery, sectioned into 0.5-1 mm thick samples and fixed to facilitate batch process imaging. A Leica TCS SP8 MP Microscope and multiphoton laser were used to image the specimens. Images were analyzed for cell size, cell density, and collagen fiber directionality patterns using ImageJ.ResultsSHG images of septal specimens show mesh-like structure of the ECM. There appears to be a superficial layer, characterized by flattened lacunae and middle zone, marked by circular lacunae clusters, similar to what is observed in articular cartilage. The structure of the ECM depicts a visible orientation perpendicular to the surface of the perichondrium. Cell size and density analysis through ImageJ suggests variety across cartilage types. Directionality analysis indicates that the collagen in the ECM displays preferred direction.ConclusionThis study establishes clear extracellular models of facial and costal cartilages. Limitations include heterogeneous cartilage thickness due to processing difficulties. Further studies include automating the cutting process to increase uniformity of tissue thickness and increasing sample size to further validate results.Level of evidence2 Laryngoscope, 133:3370-3377, 2023.

Background and purpose: In 2016 the National Cancer Institute (NCI) decided stopping to use NCI-60 cell lines for drug screening, suggesting that tumor cell lines were losing their value as a tool for drug discovery and basic research. The reason for NCI-60 cells 'retirement' was that the preclinical studies based on traditional cellular and animal models did not obtain the corresponding expected efficacy in clinical trials. Since the major cancer behaviors, such as proliferation and metastasis, are fundamentally altered with long-term culture, the tumor cell lines are not representative of the characteristics of cancer in patients. Currently, scientists hope to create a new cancer model that are derived from fresh patient samples and tagged with details about their clinical past. Our purpose was to create patient-derived breast cancer primary cell lines as new cancer model for drug screening and basic research. Methods: Breast cancer tissues were collected in the Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. The collection of tumor tissue samples was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University (approval number: 2022 ethics No. 313), and the collection and use of tumor tissues complied with the Declaration of Helsinki. The primary breast cancer cell lines were isolated from the patient's breast cancer tissues and cultured in BCMI medium. After the cells proliferated, the media were replaced with DEME medium. Cell line STR genotyping was done to determine cell-specific genetic markers and identification. Clone formation assay and transplantation assay were done to analyze the ability of breast cancer primary cell lines to form tumors. Results: We created 6 primary breast cancer cell lines. The 6 primary breast cancer cell lines from the patients were tagged with the definitively clinicopathological features, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic regimens, clinical effectiveness and prognostic outcomes. The STR genotyping assays identified the genetic markers and determined the identities of the 6 primary breast cancer cell lines. Clone formation assays and transplantation assay showed that the proliferative capacities of the patient-derived primary breast cancer cell lines were significantly greater compared with the conventional breast cancer cell lines. Conclusion: We created a panel of 6 patient-derived primary breast cancer cell lines as new cancer model for drug screening and basic research in breast cancer.

The goal of this study is a comparative analysis of the relation between funding (a main driver for scientific research) and citations in papers of Nobel Laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine over 2019-2020 and the same relation in these research fields as a whole.

Objective. Basic and translational research in pediatric cancer are essential to improve patient care. To critically assess the developments achieved in these areas in Latin America, we systematically reviewed information published between 2013 and 2023. Methods. Studies of basic and translational research performed by investigators in Latin America evaluating pediatric malignant solid and central nervous system tumors were retrieved from PubMed. Original articles published in English between 2013 and 2023 were included. Collaborations among Latin American authors or among Latin American authors working with researchers from other continents were also included. Studies were excluded if they focused only on adults or on basic research in tumor biology not specifically related to the tumor types analyzed in this review. Results. A total of 550 articles were retrieved, but after removal of duplicates, 514 articles were included in the analysis, the majority of which were authored by researchers affiliated with institutions in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. These countries also had the highest number of collaborations on original articles published with authors from Europe and North America. Argentina had the highest number of collaborations on original publications, with coauthors from Brazil and Uruguay. The median impact factor of the 244 journals in which articles were published was 3.5. The most commonly studied tumors were osteosarcomas, neuroblastomas and medulloblastomas; the most commonly studied areas were molecular analysis, tumor cell biology and biomarkers. Conclusions. In Latin America, research in pediatric oncology is on the agenda, despite a notable disparity in publication rates and frequency of collaboration between countries. There is a need to strengthen scientific collaboration within Latin America and with countries from other continents to promote research and to develop novel treatment strategies that reflect the local needs of children in Latin America who have solid tumors and brain cancer.

Shi-hao Zhao,1 Wen-hui Wang,1 Yu-cong Liang,1 Kai-xin Zhang,1 Kuan Chen,1 Hong-ling Wang,2 Xiang-qi Wang2 1Acupuncture and Moxibustion Massage College, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450008, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiang-qi Wang, Email wangxiangqi777@163.comAbstract: Baihe Gujin decoction is one of the most commonly used decoction in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of lung cancer. It can nourish yin and moisten the lung as well as prevent phlegm from forming and stop coughing. On the one hand, Baihe Gujin decoction is characterized with extensive application, proven efficacy, a long history, and high safety. On the other hand, Baihe Gujin decoction can induce apoptosis of tumor cells, improve immune function and inhibit inflammation. The main anti-tumor components of this include kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, glycyrrhizin and β-sitosterol. Clinically, Baihe Gujin decoction can improve the adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy for lung cancer, enhance the quality of life of patients, and prolong their survival time. At present, there are a large number of clinical and basic researches on the treatment of lung cancer with Baihe Gujin decoction. In this paper, we mainly discussed the treatment of lung cancer with Baihe Gujin decoction through analyzing basic and clinical researches at home and abroad in the past 20 years. Through the discussion, we aimed to probe deeper into Baihe Gujin decoction for the treatment of lung cancer, thereby providing a broader idea for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.Keywords: Baihe Gujin decoction, lung cancer, traditional Chinese medicine, basic research, clinical study

Stroke is a primary cause of noncommunicable disease-related death and disability worldwide. The most common form, ischemic stroke, is increasing in incidence resulting in a significant burden on patients and society. Urgent action is thus needed to address preventable risk factors and improve treatment methods. This review examines emerging technologies used in the management of ischemic stroke, including neuroimaging, regenerative medicine, biology, and nanomedicine, highlighting their benefits, clinical applications, and limitations. Additionally, we suggest strategies for technological development for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite progression in advanced treatments for malignant tumors, surgery remains the primary treatment intervention, which removes a large portion of firm tumor tissues; however, the postoperative phase poses a possible risk for provincial tumor recurrence and metastasis. Consequently, the prevention of tumor recurrence and metastasis has attracted research attention. In this review, we summarized the postoperative treatment strategies for various tumors from both basic research and clinical perspectives. We delineated the underlying factors contributing to the recurrence of malignant tumors with a substantial prevalence rate, related molecular mechanisms of tumor recurrence post‐surgery, and related means of monitoring recurrence and metastasis after surgery. Furthermore, we described relevant therapeutic approaches for postoperative tumor recurrence, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and photodynamic therapy. This review focused on the emerging technologies used for postoperative tumor treatment in recent years in terms of functional classification, including the prevention of postoperative tumor recurrence, functional reconstruction, and monitoring of recurrence. Finally, we discussed the future development and deficiencies of postoperative tumor therapy. To understand postoperative treatment strategies for tumors from clinical treatment and basic research and further guide the research directions for postoperative tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unnatural amino acids (UAAs) have gained significant attention in protein engineering and drug development owing to their ability to introduce new chemical functionalities to proteins. In eukaryotes, genetic code expansion (GCE) enables the incorporation of UAAs and facilitates posttranscriptional modification (PTM), which is not feasible in prokaryotic systems. GCE is also a powerful tool for cell or animal imaging, the monitoring of protein interactions in target cells, drug development, and switch regulation. Therefore, there is keen interest in utilizing GCE in eukaryotic systems. This review provides an overview of the application of GCE in eukaryotic systems and discusses current challenges that need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific work, which was carried out within the framework of the topic of fundamental research "Legal mechanisms of the new research infrastructure" (Research and Development Center of UkrINTEI № 0121U113768), reflects legislative changes in the system of priority areas in the fields of scientific, scientific and technical and innovative activities on the basis of the analyzed current regulatory legal acts in this area (laws of Ukraine "On Scientific and Scientific and Technical Activities", "On Innovative Activities", "On Priority Areas of Development of Science and Technology", "On Priority Areas of Innovative Activities"). The article indicates that given the conditions of martial law and the need to consolidate efforts to maintain an appropriate level of development of scientific activity and high-quality research, to ensure economic reconstruction and its development in an innovative way, it is unacceptable to have legislative inconsistencies and gaps in these areas. In today's realities, attention should be focused on the need and expediency of harmonizing the process of forming priority areas of science and technology and innovation with the key strategic guidelines of the EU in this area. The paper identifies cases of failure to ensure that existing topics of basic research are in line with the legislatively regulated list, due to the lack of clear priority areas that would not have a double interpretation. In particular, in support of the implementation of a unified state policy on the formation of priority areas of scientific, scientific, technical and innovation activities, the procedure for which should be directly approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, prior to the adoption of the draft Law of Ukraine "On the System of Priority Areas of Scientific, Scientific, Technical and Innovation Activities in Ukraine", it is established that it is necessary to agree on: the procedure for approving the list of priority thematic areas of scientific research and scientific and technical development; the need to take into account the integration of the national sector of scientific research and scientific and technical (experimental) developments into the global and European research space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NTT's laboratories are engaged in a wide range of research and development from basic research to applications, and divided into four laboratory groups. As one of those laboratory groups, NTT Science and Core Technology Laboratory Group carries out research and development with three missions in mind: "Conduct research and development on cutting-edge technologies to expand NTT's business domains," "Create new principles and concepts that will revolutionize society," and "Research and develop technologies that are friendly to the global environment and people." We asked Akira Okada, senior vice president of R&D, head of NTT Science and Core Technology Laboratory Group, about the technology strategy of the laboratory group and his mindset as a top manager. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three senior figures at the US National Institutes of Health explain why the agency remains committed to supporting basic science and research.

Cardio-oncology has emerged as a new cardiovascular subspecialty in the past 20 years. Older chemotherapies and radiation were known to be cardiotoxic, but the hope was that targeted therapies would reduce these toxicities. However, it was discovered that certain targeted cancer therapies, such as trastuzumab, can cause cardiomyopathy. With the increasing number of oncological therapies being introduced, cardio-oncology has become a new clinical frontier. It also offers a platform for further understanding cardiovascular diseases and developing new treatments. [Extracted from the article]

This document is an editorial published in Frontiers in Endocrinology titled "Double-edged swords: important factors connecting metabolic disorders and cancer development -- from basic research to translational applications, volume II." The editorial discusses the intersection between metabolic dysfunction and cancer development, highlighting new challenges and opportunities in this field. It covers various topics such as drug resistance in cancer therapy, strategies to overcome resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma, the role of immunity and metabolism in liver steatosis-driven carcinogenesis, the link between metabolic factors and thyroid cancer, the role of metabolites in kidney tubulogenesis, the role of glucose metabolism in human diseases, genetic alterations in metabolic enzymes and their contribution to diseases, the potential therapeutic target of MG53 in cancer, the potential of niclosamide in cancer therapy, and the role of innate immunity and inflammation in differential susceptibilities to metabolic disorders and cancer among racial populations. The editorial concludes by emphasizing the ongoing discussion and learning about the links between metabolic functions and cancer, from basic science to translational applications. [Extracted from the article]

Neuroimmunology is an interdisciplinary branch of biomedical science that emerges from the intersection of studies on the nervous system and the immune system. The complex interplay between the two systems has long been recognized. Research efforts directed at the underlying functional interface and associated pathophysiology, however, have garnered attention only in recent decades. In this narrative review, we highlight significant advances in research on neuroimmune interplay and modulation. A particular focus is on early- and middle-career neuroimmunologists in China and their achievements in frontier areas of ''neuroimmune interface'', ''neuro-endocrine-immune network and modulation'', ''neuroimmune interactions in diseases'', ''meningeal lymphatic and glymphatic systems in health and disease'', and ''tools and methodologies in neuroimmunology research''. Key scientific questions and future directions for potential breakthroughs in neuroimmunology research are proposed.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant digestive tract tumor with hidden symptoms, limited treatment options and rapid progression. With an increasing incidence rate year by year, pancreatic cancer has increasingly become a prominent issue endangering public health, causing a huge social burden. Although there was no significant improvement in survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients in the past two decades, recent progress in epidemiology, basic research and clinical research of pancreatic cancer has accelerated significantly compared to the past. Some findings have already enabled a small proportion of pancreatic cancer patients to achieve better survival. This article provided a review of the significant progress made in research, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer in 2023.

AbstractEconomic growth continues to be a crucial determinant of the achievement of socioeconomic goals. Therefore, the observed declines in economic growth and productivity levels over the last few decades have been a cause for concern, and this has reignited the discussion on the importance of intangible sources of economic growth and productivity such as intellectual property, research, technology, software and human capital. This study investigates the effect of knowledge creation through basic research (article publications) on economic growth for 130 countries from 1995 to 2020 using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression. The results of the study show that knowledge creation is positively associated with economic growth and these results are robust to various sensitivity tests. However, the impact of publications is larger for developed countries which can be explained by the large number of publications relative to emerging and developing countries. Moreover, publications in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields have a larger effect on economic growth. The study recommends increased investments in basic research in order to promote knowledge creation particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields in developing and emerging economies.

BACKGROUND: In chronic gout patients, sodium urate is deposited in bone joints and around synovial membranes, eroding and destroying bone, leading to serious complications such as gouty arthritis and deformity. Research on the mechanisms by which sodium urate crystals erode and destroy bone can help early clinical intervention in gouty diseases and prevent and delay the complications caused by bone destruction. OBJECTIVE: To explore the destructive effects of gout crystals on bone through clinical imaging studies and experimental basic research, review the current progress and development prospects of research on the phenomenon and mechanism of bone destruction caused by gout, guide the clinical early intervention of gouty bone destruction, and guide the direction of research on the role of bone destruction. METHODS: The Chinese search terms were “gout, bone destruction, bone erosion” and the English search terms were “tophi, gout, RANKL, bone destruction, bone erosion,” which were used in the computer search of WanFang and PubMed databases. Finally, 64 articles were selected for review according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The specific manifestations of clinical studies (imaging, histopathology) to some extent elaborate the osteolytic process of gout, and in basic studies, the mechanism of gout-causing bone destruction can be divided into the five aspects: (1) Sodium acid crystals have an important role in bone destruction, directly affecting osteocytes, chondrocytes, osteoblasts and proresorptive factors that promote bone destruction; (2) Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand and other proresorptive factors are involved in bone destruction; (3) T cell-mediated cellular immunity functions as a bridge in bone destruction, and activated T cells induce osteoclast differentiation; (4) Monocytes/macrophages are not only precursors of osteoclast-like cells, but also induce the expression of proresorptive factors such as Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand; (5) Neutrophils affect the morphology of osteoclast arrangement, and neutrophil extracellular trap networks promote osteolysis by promoting osteoclast differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated whether the sheep constitutes a useful translational model to evaluate anatomical and surgical aspects of cesarean delivery (CD) from a human medical perspective with the aim of both maternal and neonatal well-being. Our hypothesis was that CD in contraction-free ewes is not associated with major complications. Primary endpoint was the transferability of anatomical conditions and surgical techniques of CD from the ewe to the human. Secondary endpoints were maternal and fetal survival, occurrence of retained fetal membranes, metritis, mastitis, or wound infections. Forty-eight Merino ewes were delivered by CD after 95% gestation (142–144 days). Both ewes and newborn lambs were cared for intensively after the delivery. Ovine uterine anatomy during CD appeared slightly different but comparable to the human uterus. Uterine incisions were mostly performed in the uterine horns, not in the uterine corpus. The ovine uterine wall is thinner than in humans. All ewes survived without any major complications. Seventy-seven (88.5%) out of 87 live-born lambs survived without any complications. The contraction-free ewe constitutes an appropriate and safe model to evaluate anatomical and surgical aspects of CD from a human medical perspective. We present a step-by-step manual for successfully planned cesarean delivery for sheep including the perioperative management illustrated with photographs and a five-minute video. With adequate planning and a reasonable number of staff, it is possible to safeguard both maternal and neonatal survival. This sustainable translational medicine model offers additional potential for the offspring to be used for further research studies (e.g., transgenerational inheritance research). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considers the ambitious tasks of China's information policy. The structure of China's research and development and its management and financing issues are considered. It is noted that, in China, enterprises are the main investors in research and innovation activities. The key information resources of China's scientific and industrial sectors are shown, as well as the basic elements of the information infrastructure of the research and industrial sector. Actual and comparative data are provided. Some significant negative factors that may impede the accelerated development of China's economy are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize artificial stones used for research in endourology in terms of radiological properties and hardness, based on stone fragmentation, and to compare them with real stones. Materials and Methods: We built artificial stones using BegoStone Plus™ powder (BEGO, Lincoln, RI), with powder (g)–water (mL) ratios ranging from 15:03 to 15:12. The CT Gemstone Spectral Imaging Software® (GE Medical Systems, LLC, Waukesha, WI) was used to evaluate the radiological density in HU and spectral properties. Stone fragmentation was assessed in an in vitro experimental setting. These properties of artificial stones were compared with real urinary calculi. Results: Regarding radiological density in terms of HUs, 15:03 artificial calculi showed similar results when compared with real stones comprising calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. The 15:03 and 15:04 artificial stones showed similar spectral property results to calcium pyrophosphate stones. The 15:11 artificial stones showed similar stone fragmentation results to real stones comprising uric acid, and 15:03 artificial calculi showed similar results to apatite and cystine stones. Conclusions: Artificial stones are useful for research in endourology. Stones with a powder (g)–water (mL) ratio of 15:03 proved to mimic real hard stones in terms of HUs, atomic number, and stone fragmentation in our study and could be used as artificial hard stones, and 15:11 stones showed similar stone fragmentation to uric acid stones. Our study might suggest that standard Bego stones are useful to investigate different areas in endourology, but not radiological properties because radiological homogeneity is not ensured unless more sophisticated mixing methods are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is one of the major public health challenges in China. Rare cancers collectively account for a considerable proportion of all malignancies. The lack of awareness of rare cancers among healthcare professionals and the general public, the typically complex and delayed diagnosis, and limited access to clinical trials are key challenges. Recent years have witnessed an increase in funding for research related to rare cancers in China. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of rare cancers and summarize the status of research on rare cancers in China and overseas, including the trends of funding and publications. We also highlight the challenges and perspectives regarding rare cancers in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the intensity of international competition in science and technology continues to escalate, basic research has taken center stage in the strategic planning of countries worldwide. To address the challenges of the new era, major countries have evaluated the essence of basic research, as well as its positioning within national innovation systems, and are continuously explored innovative funding models. Based on monitoring and analysis of the latest policy developments in foreign basic research in 2022, and on the basis of analysis and data mining, this study comprehensively evaluates the policy trends and future directions of basic research in major countries. The aim of this study is to provide valuable reference and insights for relevant departments and institutions in formulating technology policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant digestive tract tumor with hidden symptoms, limited treatment options and rapid progression. With an increasing incidence rate year by year, pancreatic cancer has increasingly become a prominent issue endangering public health, causing a huge social burden. Although there was no significant improvement in survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients in the past two decades, recent progress in epidemiology, basic research and clinical research of pancreatic cancer has accelerated significantly compared to the past. Some findings have already enabled a small proportion of pancreatic cancer patients to achieve better survival. This article provided a review of the significant progress made in research, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer in 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dystonia refers to a heterogeneous group of movement disorders characterized by involuntary, sustained muscle contractions leading to repetitive twisting movements and abnormal postures. Dystonia has a broad clinical spectrum and can affect different body regions, causing significant disability and reduced quality of life. Despite significant progress in understanding the disorder, many challenges in dystonia research remain. This mini-review aims to highlight the major challenges facing basic and translational research in this field, including 1) heterogeneity of the disorder, 2) limited understanding of its pathophysiology, 3) complications of using animal models, 4) lack of a framework linking genes, biochemistry, circuits, and clinical phenomenology, and 5) limited research funding. Identifying and discussing these challenges can help prioritize research efforts and resources, highlight the need for further investigation and funding, and inspire action towards addressing these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Despite progression in advanced treatments for malignant tumors, surgery remains the primary treatment intervention, which removes a large portion of firm tumor tissues; however, the postoperative phase poses a possible risk for provincial tumor recurrence and metastasis. Consequently, the prevention of tumor recurrence and metastasis has attracted research attention. In this review, we summarized the postoperative treatment strategies for various tumors from both basic research and clinical perspectives. We delineated the underlying factors contributing to the recurrence of malignant tumors with a substantial prevalence rate, related molecular mechanisms of tumor recurrence post‐surgery, and related means of monitoring recurrence and metastasis after surgery. Furthermore, we described relevant therapeutic approaches for postoperative tumor recurrence, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and photodynamic therapy. This review focused on the emerging technologies used for postoperative tumor treatment in recent years in terms of functional classification, including the prevention of postoperative tumor recurrence, functional reconstruction, and monitoring of recurrence. Finally, we discussed the future development and deficiencies of postoperative tumor therapy. To understand postoperative treatment strategies for tumors from clinical treatment and basic research and further guide the research directions for postoperative tumors.

The BraYn association aims to bolster young neuroscientists’ research endeavors through collaborative support, fundraising assistance, and events promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration across Europe. Central to its mission is the annual BraYn conference, tailored for PhD students, postdocs, junior PIs, neurologists, and clinicians. This gathering champions cooperation, offering talks by key figures, educational workshops, and opportunities for attendees to present their work, compete for grants, and engage in international scientific experiences. The conference, established in 2018, has grown substantially in attendance and industry support and was adapted during the pandemic with virtual editions. The last sixth edition in Naples (27–29 September 2023) attracted over 300 delegates, focusing on peer-to-peer discussions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and interaction with renowned speakers, solidifying its place as a flagship event for Europe’s budding neuroscience researchers.

The article examines the structure and the development dynamics of actors operating within the European Funding Area (EFA), with a focus on basic research funding. Though the overwhelming part of research funding in the EFA is directed to strategic and applied research and “policy-driven”, basic research funding has received more attention during the past couple of decades, which has led to a number of changes in funding instruments, subsidy source structure, and recipient institutions. These changes are of interest in the research. It describes groups of actors involved in basic research funding and analyzes their dynamics to understand the extent to which these groups can overcome the fragmentation of the European funding landscape while continuing to support national funding systems. For a detailed study of the current “actor matrix”, the authors propose to consider them within a model that focuses on the relationship between the national funding agencies, the European Commission, and the European Research Council. The funding system in the European Union is more complex than in most nation states as it entails horizontal and vertical relationships between funding agencies. The challenge is not only to find a “modus vivendi” in order to combine financial flows, but also to overcome considerable transaction costs associated with the process of harmonization and functional division of labor.

Due to the acceleration of population aging and the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles, the huge population with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, the burden of CVD continues to increase in China. CVD is still the leading cause of death among urban and rural residents in China. In 2020, CVD accounted for 48.00% and 45.86% of the causes of death in rural and urban areas, respectively, and two out of every five deaths were due to CVD. It is estimated that the number of current CVD patients in China is 330 million, including 13 million cases of stroke, 11.39 million cases of coronary heart disease, 8.9 million cases of heart failure, 5 million cases of pulmonary heart disease, 4.87 million cases of atrial fibrillation, 2.5 million cases of rheumatic heart disease, 2 million cases of congenital heart disease, 45.3 million cases of peripheral artery disease, and 245 million cases of hypertension. The total hospitalization costs were 270.901 billion yuan for CVD in China in 2020. The prevention and treatment of CVD in China still has a long way to go. In general, we should not only do a good job in secondary prevention and treatment of CVD, but also further strengthen the upstream treatment of modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia starting with both preventive treatment and treatment diseases. In addition, attention should be paid to the allocation and prioritization of health care and public health resources, so as to reach the inflection point of CVD prevention and treatment as early as possible.

Background: The German Society for Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gefäßchirurgie und Gefäßmedizin, DGG) represents over 3100 members. In addition to continuing education and professional policy positioning, an important area is the promotion of research and science as well as their visibility. The DGG has set up an online-based platform on its official homepage with the primary goal of providing site-specific information on research content, equipment, and contact information of university centers for vascular surgery. With the introduction of this digital research map, the DGG has created a project that is innovative in the German-speaking environment. Initiation and implementation: In 2022, the DGG Board of Directors established the prerequisite with the necessary funding decision and commissioned the DGG Research Commission to implement the content. The commission determined which parameters should be shown on the map and surveyed them by means of standardized questionnaires at the research institutions in vascular surgery in Germany. The commission prepared the feedback for the digital presentation, web editors and web developers programmed the website including search functions, and the DGG head office entered the data. At the outset, 18 locations were mapped. The map is intended to grow to enable more research centers to submit their data. Discussion: The digital research map is the result of a dedicated collaboration between, among others, the research commission, the management, the service providers, and the board of the DGG. The aim was to create a user-friendly platform where information on the various research groups can be accessed quickly and easily. A research map is an important digitally accessible statement that underscores the self-concept of the specialty of vascular surgery with its claim to innovation and academic basis. Visibility of research activity is a relevant element of highly specialized vascular medicine. The need for digital representation of research structures in academic medicine is confirmed by comparable efforts of other scientific institutions such as the German Society for Surgery (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie, DGCH) (1) and the German Rectors' Conference (Hochschul- Rektorenkonferenz, HRK) (2) The research map of the DGG differs from the above-mentioned projects by highlighting the translational aspect. Scientific research groups are not presented as such, but rather the overall constellation of the clinical or academic university institution. Conclusion: The DGG digital research map represents a pioneering initiative to strengthen collaboration and information exchange in vascular research by providing a comprehensive overview of working groups, research topics, and equipment. The outlook for the future is promising, as the digital research map will be continuously expanded and updated to meet the needs of researchers. Likewise, it provides visibility of the research accomplishments of the vascular surgery community to students, researchers from other disciplines, journalists, industry, and interested parties from abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No matter from the perspective of supply chain, industrial chain or value chain, China's current technology is generally at a middle-technology level. The status quo of Chinese technological development has the following three characteristics. First, there is a lack of original technology, which means technological creation from "0 to 1". Second, technological development is mainly applied technology. If we measure China's level of applied technology development from "1 to 10", China is in the position of "4 to 7" on the scale of "1 to 10", but lacks the technical level of "8 to 10". In other words, China's applied technology development has not yet reached the world's top level in many fields, and many core technologies and key components are still highly dependent on foreign countries. Third, China has achieved the world's leading level in some fields of applied technology, but these fields are still in a fragmented state and have not formed a system. Basically, the overall level of China's technology is far from reaching a comprehensive and systematic strength. The Twentieth National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed that the goal of the country in the next stage is to achieve high-quality development of the China's economy. Although the realization of high-quality economic development is driven by many factors, from the experience of world economic history, whether it is the West that first achieved industrialization, or the latecomers that became developed economies, technological upgrading and the resulting industrial upgrading are the key and core for a country to a high-income one. Especially for a large economy like China, it will be difficult to achieve high-quality economic development without technological upgrades. Thus, China not only needs to achieve "8 to 10" technological progress at the level of applied technology, but also need to transform from applied technology to original technology from "0 to 1". In recent years, my research team and I have studied on how China can achieve high-quality development and upgrade to a developed economy. Through the comparative analysis of developed economies including Europe, the United States, Japan, and Asia's four Little Dragons, as well as other economies in Latin America and Asia, we have refined a new concept, namely, middletechnology trap which tells us that if an economy wants to upgrade from middle-income to the level of a developed economy, it must avoid the middle-technology trap. An economy can rely on technology diffusion and learning the technology transferred from developed economies in the early stage of its development. However, to achieve the goal of becoming a high-income economy, China not only needs to rely on cultivating original technological innovation from "0 to 1", but also needs to be able to achieve sustainable technological upgrades in the existing technical field, that is, to continuously move from a level of "4 to 7" or lower on the technical scale to a level "above 8". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Basic research institutions are a crucial component of China's strategic scientific and technological strength. Efficient evaluation of their development status is an important part in improving China's basic research level and achieving sci-tech selfreliance and self-strengthening at higher levels. Therefore, this study takes the top basic research institution the Max Planck Society as an example to explore the evaluation system constructed by it for its affiliated Max Planck Institutes. Firstly, the study summarizes the evaluation content and characteristics of different evaluation stages in the specific evaluation process of the Max Planck Society. Secondly, it compares and analyzes the key evaluation contents of different periods, and explores the changes of the research institute evaluation system. Finally, based on the actual situation in China, suggestions are proposed for the evaluation practice of basic research institutions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BraYn association aims to bolster young neuroscientists' research endeavors through collaborative support, fundraising assistance, and events promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration across Europe. Central to its mission is the annual BraYn conference, tailored for PhD students, postdocs, junior PIs, neurologists, and clinicians. This gathering champions cooperation, offering talks by key figures, educational workshops, and opportunities for attendees to present their work, compete for grants, and engage in international scientific experiences. The conference, established in 2018, has grown substantially in attendance and industry support and was adapted during the pandemic with virtual editions. The last sixth edition in Naples (27–29 September 2023) attracted over 300 delegates, focusing on peer-to-peer discussions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and interaction with renowned speakers, solidifying its place as a flagship event for Europe's budding neuroscience researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The liver is a multifaceted organ that is responsible for many critical functions encompassing amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, all of which make a healthy liver essential for the human body. Contemporary imaging methodologies have remarkable diagnostic accuracy in discerning focal liver lesions; however, a comprehensive understanding of diffuse liver diseases is a requisite for radiologists to accurately diagnose or predict the progression of such lesions within clinical contexts. Nonetheless, the conventional attributes of radiological features, including morphology, size, margin, density, signal intensity, and echoes, limit their clinical utility. Radiomics is a widely used approach that is characterized by the extraction of copious image features from radiographic depictions, which gives it considerable potential in addressing this limitation. It is worth noting that functional or molecular alterations occur significantly prior to the morphological shifts discernible by imaging modalities. Consequently, the explication of potential mechanisms by multiomics analyses (encompassing genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) is essential for investigating putative signal pathway regulations from a radiological viewpoint. In this review, we elaborate on the principal pathological categorizations of diffuse liver diseases, the evaluation of multiomics approaches pertaining to diffuse liver diseases, and the prospective value of predictive models. Accordingly, the overarching objective of this review is to scrutinize the interrelations between radiological features and bioinformatics as well as to consider the development of prediction models predicated on radiobioinformatics as integral components of clinical decision support systems for diffuse liver diseases.

Thyroid cancer is a common malignancy of the endocrine system with a significantly increased incidence in recent years. Surgical treatment is the primary treatment, followed by endocrine therapy and radionuclide therapy according to the clinical evaluations, and in some cases, radiotherapy and targeted therapy are needed. However, the mortality of thyroid cancer also tends to increase, especially in advanced or low/dedifferentiated patients with poor prognosis and short survival time. With the advancement of basic and clinical research, new progress has been made in individualized treatment of thyroid cancer. This article reviewed the research progress of thyroid cancer in 2022.

Atherosclerosis is harmful to human health. Under pathological conditions including hypertension and hyperlipidemia, increased levels of pro-inflammatory immunocytes in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), “whitening” of brown adipose tissue, and oxidative stress could promote the development of PVAT inflammation. PVAT inflammation could induce various crucial stages of atherosclerosis by disturbing secretion of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory adipokines, inhibiting PVAT cell autophagy, and activating angiogenesis in arterial adventitia, thereby promoting the onset and progression of atherosclerosis.