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Xiaodan He,1 Li Li,2 Hong Su,1 Dinglun Zhou,3 Hongmei Song,4 Ling Wang,1 Xuehua Jiang1 1West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 2National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 3West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 4HitGen Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China Background: Effective anticancer drug delivery to the tumor site without rapid body clearance is a prerequisite for successful chemotherapy. 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine-N-(methoxy[polyethyleneglycol]-2000) (DSPE-PEG2000) has been widely used in the preparation of stealth liposomes. Although PEG chains can efficiently preserve liposomes from rapid clearance by the reticuloendothelial system (RES), its application has been hindered by poor cellular uptake and unsatisfactory therapeutic effect.Methods: To address the dilemma, we presented a facile approach to fabricate novel stealth nanoparticles generated by poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL), soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC), and cholesterol, namely LPPs (L represented lipid and PP represented PEG-b-PCL), for the delivery of anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX). LPPs were prepared using the thin film hydration method. Two PEG-b-PCL polymers with different molecular weights (MW; PEG2000-b-PCL2000, MW: 4,000 Da and PEG5000-b-PCL5000, MW: 10,000 Da) were used to fabricate stealth nanoparticles. Conventional PEGylated liposome (LDP2000, L represented lipid and DP2000 represented DSPE-PEG2000) composed of SPC, cholesterol, and DSPE-PEG2000 was used as the control. The physical properties, cellular uptake, endocytosis pathway, cytotoxicity, pharmacokinetics, tumor accumulation, and anticancer efficacy of free PTX, PTX-loaded LPPs, and LDP2000 were systemically investigated after injection into 4T1 breast tumor–bearing mice.Results: LPPs were vesicles around 100 nm in size with negative zeta potential. With enhanced stability, LPPs achieved sustainable release of cancer therapeutics. The cellular uptake level was closely related to the PEG chain length of PEG-b-PCL; a shorter PEG chain resulted in higher cellular uptake. Moreover, the cellular internalization of LPP2000 modified by PEG2000-b-PCL2000 on 4T1 cells was 2.1-fold higher than LDP2000 due to the improved stability of LPP2000. The cytotoxicity of PTX-loaded LPP2000 was also higher than that of LDP2000 and LPP5000 as observed using a WST-8 assay, while blank LPPs showed negligible toxicity. Consistent with the results of the in vitro study, in vivo experiments showed that LPPs allowed significantly improved bioavailability and prolonged T1/2ß as compared to free PTX injection. More importantly, LPPs mainly accumulated at the tumor site, probably due to the enhanced permeation and retention effect (EPR effect). As a nanomedicine, LPP2000 (tumor inhibition rate of 75.1%) significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect of PTX in 4T1 breast tumor–bearing mice by inhibiting tumor growth compared to LDP2000 and LPP5000 (tumor inhibition rates of 56.3% and 49.5%, respectively).Conclusion: Modification of liposomes with PEG2000-b-PCL2000 can simultaneously improve drug accumulation at the target tumor site and tumor cells, showing great promise for utilization as a PEG modification tool in the fabrication of stealth nanoparticles for cancer chemotherapy. Keywords: nanoparticles PEG-b-PCL, phospholipid, murine breast cancer chemotherapy, paclitaxel

Patients who are diagnosed with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) usually have ventilation-perfusion mismatch, severe decrease in lung capacity, and gas exchange abnormalities. Health care workers have implemented various strategies in an attempt to compensate for these pathological alterations. By rotating patients with ALI/ARDS between the supine and prone position, it is possible to achieve a significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2, decrease shunting and therefore improve oxygenation without use of expensive, invasive and experimental procedures. Prone positioning is a safe and effective way to improve ventilation when conventional strategies fail to initiate a patient response. Because a specific cure for ARDS is not available, the goal is to support the patients with therapies that cause the least amount of injury while the lungs have an opportunity to heal. Based on current data, a trial of prone positioning ventilation should be offered to the patients who have ALI/ARDS in the early course of the disease. Published studies exhibit substantial heterogeneity in clinical results, suggesting that an adequately sized study optimizing the duration of proning ventilation strategy is warranted to enable definitive conclusions to be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian preimplantation development culminates in the formation of a blastocyst which undergoes extensive gene expression regulation to successfully implant into the maternal endometrium. Zinc-finger HIT domain-containing (ZNHIT) 1 and 2 are members of a highly conserved family, yet they have been identified as subunits of distinct complexes. Here we report that knockout of either Znhit1 or Znhit2 results in embryonic lethality during peri-implantation stages. Znhit1 and Znhit2 mutant embryos have overlapping phenotypes, including reduced proportion of SOX2-positive ICM cells, a lack of Fgf4 expression and aberrant expression of NANOG and SOX17. Furthermore, we find that the similar phenotypes are caused by distinct mechanisms. Specifically, embryos lacking ZNHIT1 likely fail to incorporate sufficient H2A.Z at the promoter region of Fgf4 and other genes involved in cell projection organization resulting in impaired invasion of trophoblast cells during implantation. In contrast, Znhit2 mutant embryos display a complete lack of nuclear EFTUD2, a key component of U5 spliceosome, indicating a global splicing deficiency. Our findings unveil the indispensable yet distinct roles of ZNHIT1 and ZNHIT2 in early mammalian embryonic development., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Early embryonic development is a finely orchestrated process that requires precise regulation of gene expression coordinated with morphogenetic events. TATA-box binding protein-associated factors (TAFs), integral components of transcription initiation coactivators like TFIID and SAGA, play a crucial role in this intricate process. Here we show that disruptions in TAF5, TAF12 and TAF13 individually lead to embryonic lethality in the mouse, resulting in overlapping yet distinct phenotypes. Taf5 and Taf12 mutant embryos exhibited a failure to implant post-blastocyst formation, and Taf5 mutants have aberrant lineage specification within the inner cell mass. In contrast, Taf13 mutant embryos successfully implant and form egg-cylinder stages but fail to initiate gastrulation. Strikingly, we observed a depletion of pluripotency factors in TAF13-deficient embryos, including OCT4, NANOG and SOX2, highlighting an indispensable role of TAF13 in maintaining pluripotency. Transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct gene targets affected by the loss of TAF5, TAF12 and TAF13. Thus, we propose that TAF5, TAF12 and TAF13 convey locus specificity to the TFIID complex throughout the mouse genome., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare safety and efficacy outcomes between immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) and mastectomy alone in locally advanced breast cancer patients., Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. The primary outcomes evaluated were overall survival, disease-free survival, and local recurrence. The secondary outcome was the incidence of surgical complications. All data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3., Results: Sixteen studies, involving 15,364 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled data demonstrated that patients underwent IBR were more likely to experience surgical complications than those underwent mastectomy alone (HR: 3.96, 95%CI [1.07,14.67], p = 0.04). No significant difference was found in overall survival (HR: 0.94, 95%CI [0.73,1.20], p = 0.62), disease-free survival (HR: 1.03, 95%CI [0.83,1.27], p = 0.81), or breast cancer specific survival (HR: 0.93, 95%CI [0.71,1.21], p = 0.57) between IBR group and Non-IBR group., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that IBR after mastectomy does not affect the overall survival and disease-free survival of locally advanced breast cancer patients. However, IBR brings with it a nonnegligible higher risk of complications and needs to be fully evaluated and carefully decided., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Function-preserving pancreatectomy can improve the long-term quality of life of patients with benign or low-grade malignant tumors, such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms. However, there is limited literature on laparoscopic spleen-preserving total pancreatectomy (L-SpTP) due to technical difficulties., Case Summary: Patient 1 was a 51-year-old male diagnosed with IPMN based on preoperative imaging, showing solid nodules in the pancreatic head and diffuse dilation of the main pancreatic duct with atrophy of the distal pancreas. We performed L-SpTP with preservation of the splenic vessels, and the postoperative pathology report revealed IPMN with invasive carcinoma. Patient 2 was a 60-year-old male with multiple cystic lesions in the pancreatic head and body. L-SpTP was performed, and intraoperatively, the splenic vein was injured and required ligation. Postoperative pathology revealed a mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas with low-grade dysplasia. Both patients were discharged on postoperative day 7, and there were no major complications during the perioperative period., Conclusion: We believe that L-SpTP is a safe and feasible treatment for low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors, but more case studies are needed to evaluate its safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no competing interests., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: During the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19, the association between hyperglycemia and COVID-19 infection has emerged as a notable concern. Therefore, finding effective methods to manage hyperglycemia in patients with COVID-19 is crucial., Objective: To introduce the clinical pharmacists participating in multidisciplinary collaborative whole hospital blood glucose management mode, and to explore its effect on blood glucose control in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 infection and complicated with hyperglycemia., Methods: Patients with COVID-19 treated at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from December 2022 to January 2023 were assigned to routine diagnosis and treatment group and whole hospital blood glucose management group according to the blood glucose management plan received by patients. The groups were compared in regards to their adherence to management advice, blood glucose levels, fluctuation, inflammation-related indicators, medical service-related indicators, and incidence of hypoglycemia and adverse events., Results: After 5 days of glucose management, both groups showed a decrease in fasting and postprandial blood glucose. Postprandial blood glucose in the whole hospital glucose management group was significantly lower than the routine group (P < 0.05). The whole hospital glucose management group showed a significant increase in compliance rate, improved inflammation-related indicators, and higher detection rates for hemoglobin and islet function (P < 0.05). Implementation rates for medical orders and treatment plans were also higher in the whole hospital group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in incidence of adverse events., Conclusions: Multidisciplinary blood glucose management is highly recommended for patients with COVID-19 who have hyperglycemia due to its effectiveness, standardization, safety, and improvement of inflammation indicators., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nanomechanical measurements, especially the detection of weak contact forces, play a vital role in many fields, such as material science, micromanipulation, and mechanobiology. However, it remains a challenging task to realize the measurement of ultraweak force levels as low as nanonewtons with a simple sensing configuration. In this work, an ultrasensitive all-fiber nanonewton force sensor structure based on a single-mode-tapered U-shape multimode-single-mode fiber probe is proposed and experimentally demonstrated with a limit of detection of ~5.4 nanonewtons. The use of the sensor is demonstrated by force measurement on a human hair sample to determine the spring constant of the hair. The results agree well with measurements using an atomic force microscope for the spring constant of the hair. Compared with other force sensors based on optical fiber in the literature, the proposed all-fiber force sensor provides a substantial advancement in the minimum detectable force possible, with the advantages of a simple configuration, ease of fabrication, and low cost.

Abstract: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematological malignancy originating from transformed hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. AML prognosis remains poor owing to resistance and relapse driven by leukemia stem cells (LSCs). Targeting molecules essential for LSC function is a promising therapeutic approach. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway is often dysregulated in AML. We found that although PI3Kγ is highly enriched in LSCs and critical for self-renewal, it was dispensable for normal hematopoietic stem cells. Mechanistically, PI3Kγ-AKT signaling promotes nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) nuclear accumulation, which induces 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD) and the pentose phosphate pathway, thereby maintaining LSC stemness. Importantly, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of PI3Kγ impaired expansion and stemness of murine and human AML cells in vitro and in vivo. Together, our findings reveal a key role for PI3Kγ in selectively maintaining LSC function by regulating AKT-NRF2-PGD metabolic pathway. Targeting the PI3Kγ pathway may, therefore, eliminate LSCs without damaging normal hematopoiesis, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for AML., (© 2024 American Society of Hematology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.)

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are two widespread chronic disorders characterized by shared risk factors and molecular pathways. Glucose metabolism, pivotal for cellular homeostasis and energy supply, plays a critical role in these diseases. Its disturbance has been linked to the pathogenesis of both AD and T2DM. However, a comprehensive investigation into the specific roles of glucometabolic genes in the onset and progression of AD and T2DM has yet to be conducted., Methods: By analyzing microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository, we identified differentially expressed glucometabolic genes (DEGs) in AD and T2DM cohorts. A range of bioinformatics tools were employed for functional annotation, pathway enrichment, protein interaction network construction, module analysis, ROC curve assessment, correlation matrix construction, gene set enrichment analysis, and gene-drug interaction mapping of these DEGs. Key genes were further validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in AD and T2DM murine models., Results: Our investigation identified 41 glucometabolic-related DEGs, with six prominent genes (G6PD, PKM, ENO3, PFKL, PGD, and TALDO1) being common in both AD and T2DM cohorts. These genes play crucial roles in metabolic pathways including glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, and amino sugar metabolism. Their diagnostic potential was highlighted by area under curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.6 for AD and 0.8 for T2DM. Further analysis explored the interactions, pathway enrichments, regulatory mechanisms, and potential drug interactions of these key genes. In the AD murine model, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed significant upregulation of G6pd, Eno3, and Taldo1. Similarly, in the T2DM murine model, elevated expression levels of G6pd, Pfkl, Eno3, and Pgd were observed., Conclusion: Our rigorous research sheds light on the molecular interconnections between AD and T2DM from a glucometabolic perspective, revealing new opportunities for pharmacological innovation and therapeutic approaches. This study appears to be the first to extensively investigate glucometabolic-associated DEGs and key genes in both AD and T2DM, utilizing multiple datasets. These insights are set to enhance our understanding of the complex pathophysiology underlying these widespread chronic diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shuo Liu et al.)

Background: The potential impact of learning curve on long-term health-related quality of life (QoL) after esophagectomy for cancer has not been investigated. The aim of this article is to investigate the relationship between learning curve for McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) and health-related quality of life (QoL) in long-term, disease free survivors up to 10 years after esophageal cancer resection., Methods: Esophageal cancer patients who underwent McKeown MIE between 2009 and 2019 were identified in which 280 who were free of disease at the time of survey and completed health-related QoL and symptom questionnaires, including EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-OES18, and Digestive Symptom Questionnaire. Patients were assessed in 3 cohorts according to the learning phases of expertise reported by our previous study: initial phase; plateau phase, and; experienced phase., Results: Median time from operation to survey was 5.8 years (interquartile range 4.6-8.2). The QLQ-C30 mean scores of functional scales, and symptom scales of respiratory and digestive systems including dyspnea (P = 0.006), shortness of breath (P = 0.003), and dysphagia (P = 0.031) were significantly better in experienced phase group. Furthermore, in the subgroup analyses for patients without postoperative major complications, patients in the initial learning phase remained suffering from more symptoms of dyspnea (P = 0.040) and shortness of breath (P = 0.001)., Conclusion: Esophageal cancer patients undergoing McKeown MIE in initial learning phase tend to suffer from a deterioration in long-term health-related QoL and higher symptomatic burden as compared to experienced learning phase, which did not improved over time and warranted more attention., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Lymph nodes along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (LRLN) is thought to be highly involved in esophageal cancer. Given the unique anatomical positioning of the nerve, performing lymphadenectomy in this region requires advanced techniques within limited working space. Meanwhile, high incidence of morbidity and mortality is associated with lymphadenectomy. Although several methods have been applied to reduce the technical requirement and the incidence of postoperative complication, the optimal method remains controversial., Methods: This study was a single-center, prospective, randomized trial to investigate the utility of lymphadenectomy along the LRLN during the minimally invasive esophagectomy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients by comparing the surgical outcome, postoperative complication, survival rate, and quality of life (QoL) between the retraction method (RM) and the suspension method (SM) in patients with esophageal cancer from June 2018 to November 2020. QoL was assessed according to questionnaire: EQ-5D-5L., Results: Of 94 patients were enrolled and randomized allocated to RM and SM group equally. Characteristics did not differ between groups. The duration of lymph node dissection along LRLN was significant longer in SM group ( P <0.001). No difference was observed about postoperative complications. One of in-hospital death was occurred in each group ( P >0.999). Patients in neither of groups exhibiting difference about 3-year disease-free survival rate ( P =0.180) and overall survival rate ( P =0.430). No difference was observed in postoperative QoL between groups at different time points (all, P >0.05)., Conclusion: Both methods of lymph node dissection along the LRLN during minimally invasive esophagectomy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients are technically feasible and safe. The RM appears more favorable in terms of reducing surgical duration compared to the SM., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a severe complication following esophagectomy with high mortality. Perioperative decreased serum albumin level is considered a predictive of AL, however, its impact on AL incidence in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) followed by minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is not well defined., Methods: The data of 318 consecutive esophageal cancer patients who underwent MIE were collected retrospectively from January 2021 to December 2021. The perioperative level of albumin was detected and the baseline of altering levels for albumin was established. The incidence of postoperative complications and survival rate were analyzed between groups., Results: After exclusion, 137 patients were enrolled and assigned to more decreased albumin (MA) and less decreased albumin (LA) groups. The levels of albumin descended significantly after MIE (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the clinicopathologic characteristics or surgical outcomes between groups. The incidence of postoperative AL was 10.2% in MA group and 1.4% in LA group (p = 0.033). Three patients died due to AL in MA group, while no mortality was observed in LA group (p = 0.120). The rate of other postoperative complications was similar between groups. Progression-free survival (PFS) in LA group was a little higher than that in MA group, but it was no significant difference (p = 0.853). Similarly, no difference was observed in overall survival (OS) between groups (p = 0.277)., Conclusions: Severely deficient serum albumin after MIE was an indicator of AL in esophageal cancer patients treated with NCT., Trial Registration: Chinese clinical trial registry: ChiCTR2200066694, registered December14th,2022. https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=185067&htm=4 ., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Owing to the predominance of dopamine (DA) in controlling mental health, planning an innovative method for DA detection with simplicity and high efficacy is conducive to the assessment of neurological disorders. Herein, an efficient fluorogenic tactic has been elaborated for ultrasensitive detection of DA with remarkably enhanced turn-on response. Utilizing a twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (TICT)-suppressing strategy, a highly emissive azocine derivative 11-hydroxy-2,3,6,7,11,12,13,14-octahydro-1 H ,5 H ,10 H -11,14a-methanoazocino[5',4':4,5]furo[2,3- f ]pyrido[3,2,1- ij ]quinolin-10-one ( J-Aza ) is generated via a one-step reaction between DA and 8-hydroxyjulolidine. It is marvelous that J-Aza not only possesses ideal fluorescence quantum yield (Φ F ) as high as 0.956 but also exhibits bathochromic shifted fluorescence (green emissive) and stronger anti-photobleaching capacity superior to traditional azocine-derived 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5 H -4,11a-methanobenzofuro[2,3- d ]azocin-5-one ( Aza ) with moderate Φ F , blue fluorescence, and poor photostability. By confining the TICT process, the detection limit to DA can be reduced to 80 pM, which is competitive in contrast to previously reported fluorescence methods. Encouraged by the instant response (within 90 s), wide linear range (0.1-500 nM), great selectivity, and excellent sensitivity, this fluorogenic method has been used for the real-time measurement of DA contents in practical urine samples with satisfactory results. Furthermore, the cerebral DA level in the reserpine-induced depression rat model has also been evaluated by our designed method, demonstrating its potent analytical applicability in the biosensing field.

Background: To evaluate effectiveness of concurrent radiotherapy in esophageal cancer patient treated with neoadjuvant therapy., Methods: The data of 1026 consecutive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) were retrospectively collected. The main inclusion criteria were patients with locally advanced (cT2-4N0-3M0) ESCC who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) followed by MIE, and divided into two groups according to different neoadjuvant strategies. Propensity score matching was performed to improve the comparability between the two groups., Results: After exclusion and matching, 141 patients were enrolled retrospectively: 92 received NCT, and 49 received NCRT. No difference in clinicopathologic characteristics or incidence of adverse events between groups. A shorter operation time (215.7 ± 35.5 min) (p < 0.001), less blood loss (111.2 ± 67.7 ml) (p = 0.0007) and a greater number of lymph nodes retrieved (33.8 ± 11.7) (p = 0.002) were observed in NCT group than in NCRT group. The incidence of postoperative complications was similar between groups. Although patients in NCRT group had better pathological complete response (16, 32.7%) (p = 0.0026) and ypT0N0 (10, 20.4%) (p = 0.0002) rates, there was no significant difference in 5-year progression-free survival (p = 0.1378) or disease-specific survival (p = 0.1258) between groups., Conclusions: Compared with NCRT, NCT has certain advantages in that it can simplify the surgical procedure and decrease the surgical technique required without compromising the surgical oncological outcomes and long-term survival of patients., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: To compare the perioperative outcomes from McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) when performed in three-dimensional versus two-dimensional visualization system, and investigate the learning curve of a single surgeon who implemented three-dimensional McKeown MIE., Methods: A total of 335 consecutive cases (three-dimensional or two-dimensional) were identified. Perioperative clinical parameters were compared and cumulative sum learning curve was plotted. Propensity score matching was used to reduce selection bias from confounding factors., Results: Patients in three-dimensional group were associated with more chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (23.9% vs 3.0%, p < 0.01). After propensity score matching (108 matched patients in each groups), this finding was no longer statistically significant. Comparing to two-dimensional group, significant improvement in total retrieved lymph nodes (28 vs 33, p = 0.003) was observed in three-dimensional group. In addition, more lymph nodes around the right recurrent laryngeal nerve were harvested in three-dimensional group than that in two-dimensional group (p = 0.045). However, there were no significantly differences were found between the two groups in terms of other intraoperative parameters (e.g., operative time) and postoperative relevant outcomes (e.g., lung infection). Furthermore, the change point in the cumulative sum learning curves for intraoperative blood loss and thoracic procedure time was 33 procedures, respectively., Conclusion: Three-dimensional visualization system appears to be superior in performing lymphadenectomy during McKeown MIE to that of a two-dimensional technique. For surgeons proficient in performing two-dimensional McKeown MIE, the learning curve for a three-dimensional procedure appears to begin near proficiency after more than 33 cases., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

A critical challenge to realize ultra-high sensitivity with optical fiber interferometers for label free biosensing is to achieve high quality factors (Q-factor) in liquid. In this work a high Q-factor of 10 5 , which significantly improves the detection resolution is described based on a structure of single mode -core-only -single mode fiber (SCS) with its multimode (or Mach-Zehnder) interference effect as a filter that is integrated into an erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) system for excitation. In the case study, the section of core-only fiber is functionalized with porcine immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which could selectively bind to bacterial pathogen of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The developed microfiber-based biosensing platform called SCS-based EDFL biosensors can effectively detect concentrations of S. aureus from 10 to 10 5  CFU/mL, with a responsivity of 0.426 nm wavelength shift in the measured spectrum for S. aureus concentration of 10 CFU/mL. The limit of detection (LoD) is estimated as 7.3 CFU/mL based on the measurement of S. aureus with minimum concentration of 10 CFU/mL. In addition, when a lower concentration of 1 CFU/mL is applied to the biosensor, a wavelength shift of 0.12 nm is observed in 10% of samples (1/10), indicating actual LoD of 1 CFU/mL for the proposed biosensor. Attributed to its good sensitivity, stability, reproducibility and specificity, the proposed EDFL based biosensing platform has great potentials for diagnostics., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Detection and recovery of audio signals using optical methods is an appealing topic. Observing the movement of secondary speckle patterns is a convenient method for such a purpose. In order to have less computational cost and faster processing, one-dimensional laser speckle images are captured by an imaging device, while it sacrifices the ability to detect speckle movement along one axis. This paper proposes a laser microphone system to estimate the two-dimensional displacement from one-dimensional laser speckle images. Hence, we can regenerate audio signals in real time even as the sound source is rotating. Experimental results show that our system is capable of reconstructing audio signals under complex conditions.

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder carcinoma. Methods: The data of 197 gallbladder carcinoma patients admitted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2012 and September 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 86 males and 111 females,with age of (64.4±9.8)years(range:35 to 89 years). Patients were divided into laparoscopic group( n =53) and open group( n =144) according to different surgical methods. The general information of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching,and the clinical data and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Categorical variables were analyzed using χ 2 test or Fisher's exact test,as appropriate. Continuous variables with and without normal distribution were analyzed using t -test and Mann-Whitney U test,respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves with Log-rank test were used to analyze the cumulative survival rates. Results: Forty-eight pairs of patients were matched successfully. There was no difference in general information,cholecystolithiasis,partial hepatectomy,and tumor stage between two groups(all P >0.05). The laparoscopic group had shorter operation time( t =-3.987, P <0.01),less bleeding( Z =-4.862, P <0.01),shorter total( Z =-5.009, P <0.01) and postoperative( Z =-5.412, P <0.01) hospital stay. Seventeen patients had postoperative complications. According to the Clavien-Dindo system,there were 4,11,1,and 1 patient with grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲa,and Ⅲb,respectively. All complications were improved after active treatment. After a median follow-up of 24(36) months(range:3 to 130 months),56 patients(58.3%) survived without tumor,7 patients(7.3%) survived with tumor,and 33 patients(34.4%) died. According to the Kaplan-Meier curves,there was no significant difference between laparoscopic and open groups in disease free(χ 2 =0.399, P =0.528) and overall(χ 2 =0.672, P =0.412) survival rates. Conclusions: The laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective in selected patients with gallbladder carcinoma. It can reduce surgical trauma and enhance patient recovery without increasing complication. Its prognosis is similar to that of open surgery.

Single atoms are interesting candidates for studying quantum optics and quantum information processing. Recently, trapping and manipulation of single atoms using tight optical dipole traps has generated considerable interest. Here we report an experimental investigation of the dynamics of atoms in a modified optical dipole trap with a backward propagating dipole trap beam, where a change in the two-atom collision rate by six times has been achieved. The theoretical model presented gives a prediction of high probabilities of few-atom loading rates under proper experimental conditions. This work provides an alternative approach to the control of the few-atom dynamics in a dipole trap and the study of the collective quantum optical effects of a few atoms.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe genotype-phenotype associations and novel insights into genetic characteristics in a trio-based cohort of inherited eye diseases (IEDs)., Methods: To determine the etiological role of de novo mutations (DNMs) and genetic profile in IEDs, we retrospectively reviewed a large cohort of proband-parent trios of Chinese origin. The patients underwent a detailed examination and was clinically diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. Panel-based targeted exome sequencing was performed on DNA extracted from blood samples, containing coding regions of 792 IED-causative genes and their flanking exons. All participants underwent genetic testing., Results: All proband-parent trios were divided into 22 subgroups, the overall diagnostic yield was 48.67% (605/1243), ranging from 4% to 94.44% for each of the subgroups. A total of 108 IED-causative genes were identified, with the top 24 genes explaining 67% of the 605 genetically solved trios. The genetic etiology of 6.76% (84/1243) of the trio was attributed to disease-causative DNMs, and the top 3 subgroups with the highest incidence of DNM were aniridia (n = 40%), Marfan syndrome/ectopia lentis (n = 38.78%), and retinoblastoma (n = 37.04%). The top 10 genes have a diagnostic yield of DNM greater than 3.5% in their subgroups, including PAX6 (40.00%), FBN1 (38.78%), RB1 (37.04%), CRX (10.34%), CHM (9.09%), WFS1 (8.00%), RP1L1 (5.88%), RS1 (5.26%), PCDH15 (4.00%), and ABCA4 (3.51%). Additionally, the incidence of DNM in offspring showed a trend of correlation with paternal age at reproduction, but not statistically significant with paternal (P = 0.154) and maternal (P = 0.959) age at reproduction., Conclusions: Trios-based genetic analysis has high accuracy and validity. Our study helps to quantify the burden of the full spectrum IED caused by each gene, offers novel potential for elucidating etiology, and plays a crucial role in genetic counseling and patient management.

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and curdlan (CL) were used to prepare uniform films. The influence of the composition ratios and drying temperature on the microstructures, compatibility and physical performance of HPMC/CL films were studied. The crystalline peaks corresponding to CL component of HPMC/CL films increased with the increasing CL content. Increasing CL content resulted in increased hydrogen bonds in HPMC/CL film, reduced transmittance at 500 nm, oxygen permeability and water solubility of the HPMC/CL films. Higher drying temperature led to increased phase separation and decreased physical properties of pure HPMC film, and led to increased compatibility, cross-section smoothness, oxygen barrier property and mechanical properties of pure CL and blending films., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Both the effects of enzymolysis condition on the microstructures and emulsifying property of enzymatic modified quinoa starch (EMQS) and the effects of emulsion formulation on the EMQS based emulsions were investigated. The emulsifying capacity (EC) and stability (ES) of EMQS were positive correlated with enzyme amount (0-2.4 % w/w starch ). The particle sizes of EMQS decreased and its hydrophobicity increased with increasing enzyme amount (0-2.4 % w/w starch ), which were the main reasons for the increasing emulsifying performance of EMQS. With the increasing starch concentration, the EC of the EMQS increased, the oil droplet size of the emulsion decreased. With the oil/water ratios ranging from 1:9 to 6:4, the emulsification index (EI) and oil droplet size of the emulsion increased. EMQS based emulsion had a relatively good stability in the pH range of 2-10. This study lays the foundation for the application of EMQS as a stable clean-label Pickering emulsifier., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Targeted therapy (TT) has resulted in controversial efficacy as first-line treatment for biliary tract cancer (BTC). More efficacy comparisons are required to clarify the overall effects of chemotherapy (CT) combined with TT and CT alone on advanced BTC., Aim: To conduct a meta-analysis of the available evidence on the efficacy of CT combined with TT for advanced BTC., Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for relevant studies published from inception to August 2022. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) including comparisons between the combination of gemcitabine-based CT with TT and CT alone as first-line treatment for advanced BTC were eligible (PROSPERO-CRD42022313001). The odds ratios (ORs) for the objective response rate (ORR) and hazard ratios (HRs) for both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated and analyzed. Subgroup analyses based on different targeted agents, CT regimens and tumor locations were prespecified., Results: Nine RCTs with a total of 1361 individuals were included and analyzed. The overall analysis showed a significant improvement in ORR in patients treated with CT + TT compared to those treated with CT alone (OR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.11-1.86, P = 0.007) but no difference in PFS or OS. Similar trends were observed in the subgroup treated with agents targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (OR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.17-2.37, P = 0.004) but not in the subgroups treated with agents targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor or mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor. Notably, patients who received a CT regimen of gemcitabine + oxaliplatin in the CT + TT arm had both a higher ORR (OR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.20-2.56, P = 0.004) and longer PFS (HR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.70-0.99, P = 0.03) than those in the CT-only arm. Moreover, patients with cholangiocarcinoma treated with CT + TT had significantly increased ORR and PFS (ORR, OR = 2.06, 95%CI: 1.27-3.35, PFS, HR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.66-0.94)., Conclusion: CT + TT is a potential first-line treatment for advanced BTC that leads to improved tumor control and survival outcomes, and highlighting the importance of CT regimens and tumor types in the application of TT., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Surgery with total gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection (LND) has been recommended as the standard treatment for patients with advanced upper and middle gastric carcinoma and/or Siewert type II/III adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG). However, whether the No. 10 lymph node (No. 10 LN, also known as splenic hilar LN) should be dissected in total gastrectomy remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate whether the No. 10 LND with spleen preservation has survival benefit for patients with gastric cancer and/or AEG who underwent the total gastrectomy., Methods: The PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and American Society of Clinical Oncology.org (ASCO.org) were electronically searched to identify eligible studies. The primary outcome was the survival rate, and secondary outcomes included the disease-free survival (DFS) rate and side effects. The Review Manager 5.3.5 software was used for the meta-analysis. The odds ratio (OR) and mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. The statistical heterogeneity was assessed using chi-square (χ 2 ) and I 2 tests., Results: Eight studies enrolling a total of 4,131 patients were eligible for our review. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that the No. 10 LND group was significantly better than the non-No. 10 LND group in terms of the 3- (OR =0.71, 95% CI: 0.62-0.81, P<0.00001) and the 5-year (OR =0.66, 95% CI: 0.58-0.75, P<0.00001) survival rates but not in the 1-year survival rate (OR =0.91, 95% CI: 0.75-1.11, P=0.36). The DFS rates in the No. 10 LND group were significantly increased after 1 (OR =0.76, 95% CI: 0.61-0.93, P=0.008), 3 (OR =0.69, 95% CI: 0.60-0.81, P<0.00001), and 5 (OR =0.66, 95% CI: 0.56-0.76, P<0.00001) years compared with those in the non-No. 10 LND group., Discussion: Evidence shows that the No. 10 LND with spleen preservation can improve the survival and the DFS rates for patients with gastric cancer and/or Siewert type II/III AEG who underwent the total gastrectomy. High-quality prospective trials are expected., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tcr.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tcr-22-522/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)

Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a nonthermal technology resulting in the rupture of cell membranes and increasing the electrical conductivity and the permeability of intracellular material. There was little work about the safety of food treated by PEF. The acute, subacute oral, and genetic toxicities were investigated to explore the safety of canola oil extracted by aid of PEF treatment (PTCO). The results showed that no negative consequences were caused by PEF. PTCO was regarded as practically non-toxic with a LD 50 higher than 40 g/kg bw. No oil intake-related mortality, clinical, weight gain and organ coefficient abnormalities were observed. The histopathological symptoms indicated a mild load but not obvious toxicities on liver and kidney. The 28-day subacute toxicity test confirmed that less than 10 g/kg·d bw of oil intake did not exhibit any intake-related changes in physical, physiological, biochemical, hematological, and histopathological signs. The less than 4 of atherosclerosis index suggested that no risk of cardiovascular disease caused by PTCO intake. It was speculated that the PEF treatment would not cause any safety issues to food products.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in perioperative management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma. Methods: The data of the patients with gallbladder carcinoma admitted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2017 and December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 69 males(42.1%) and 95 females(57.9%),with age of (64.0±10.3) years(range:37 to 89 years). Patients were divided into ERAS group( n =53) and normal group( n =111) according to whether they were treated with ERAS measures during the perioperative period.The basic characteristics of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching,and then the perioperative information was compared between the two groups. Categorical variables were presented as absolute numbers or frequencies. Differences between study groups were analyzed using χ 2 test, Fisher's exact test, t -test, or Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate. Results: Each group had 45 patients after propensity score matching with well-balanced basic characteristics. There was no difference in basic characteristics, operation time,bleeding,complication,and hospitalization expenses between two groups(all P >0.05). Compared with the normal group,time of ambulation ( M (IQR)) (1(1) day vs . 2(2) days; Z =-3.839 ,P <0.01),postoperative anal exhaust time (2(1) days vs . 3(1) days; Z =-3.013 ,P =0.003),feeding time(2(1) days vs . 2(1) days; Z =-3.647 ,P <0.01),postoperative (5(2) days vs . 7(4) days; Z =-3.984 ,P <0.01) and total(8(4) days vs . 13(6) days; Z =-3.605 ,P <0.01) hospitalization time were shorter in ERAS group. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification,6,4,and 2 patients were classified as grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲa,respectively. Conclusion: The ERAS measures is safe and effective for perioperative management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma, enhancing patient recovery and shortening hospitalization time without increasing complication or hospitalization cost.

Protein fatty acylation regulates numerous cell signaling pathways. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exert a plethora of physiological effects, including cell signaling regulation, with underlying mechanisms to be fully understood. Herein, we report that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) regulate PI3K-AKT signaling by modifying PDK1 and AKT2. DHA-administered mice exhibit altered phosphorylation of proteins in signaling pathways. Methylene bridge-containing DHA/EPA acylate δ1 carbon of tryptophan 448/543 in PDK1 and tryptophan 414 in AKT2 via free radical pathway, recruit both the proteins to the cytoplasmic membrane, and activate PI3K signaling and glucose uptake in a tryptophan acylation-dependent but insulin-independent manner in cultured cells and in mice. DHA/EPA deplete cytosolic PDK1 and AKT2 and induce insulin resistance. Akt2 knockout in mice abrogates DHA/EPA-induced PI3K-AKT signaling. Our results identify PUFA's methylene bridge tryptophan acylation, a protein fatty acylation that regulates cell signaling and may underlie multifaceted effects of methylene-bridge-containing PUFAs., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Parkin is a crucial E3 ubiquitin ligase for initiating mitophagy through the PINK1/Parkin pathway. Regulating the expression and activity of parkin can remedy mitophagy and human disease. We developed an efficient method to isolate natural parkin ligands from herbal medicines by combining centrifugal ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The heterologous expression technology identified functionally active and pure parkin proteins. After evaluating the reliability of the method using DL-selenomethionine and DL-dithiothreitol as positive controls, this method was successfully applied to capture parkin ligands from Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix. LC/MS identified seven novel parkin-targeting compounds, namely, 7,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-8-( γ , γ -dimethylallyl)-flavanone, kushenol I, kurarinone, sophoraflavanone G, torachrysone-8-O-glucoside, apigenin, and emodin, supported by the molecular docking analysis. Five of the seven novel compounds (kushenol I, kurarinone, sophoraflavanone G, apigenin, and emodin) can activate parkin in in vitro autoubiquitination assays. Meanwhile, kushenol I and kurarinone had antisteatosis activity in fat emulsion-damaged human hepatocytes. These results confirmed the effectiveness of the method for identifying parkin ligands from complex preparations, useful to advance drug discovery from medicinal herbs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest associated with this manuscript., (Copyright © 2022 Feng-Jiao Li et al.)

Introduction: Controversy remains about the classification, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategy for gallbladder polypoid lesions (GPLs). This study sought to explore the individualized treatment strategy for GPLs., Methods: We retrospectively studied 642 consecutive patients with GPLs from January 2015 to May 2020. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to explore the potential risk factors for neoplastic polyps. The outcome of laparoscopic gallbladder-preserving polypectomy (GPP) was evaluated and compared with that of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC)., Results: Of 642 enrolled patients, 572 underwent LC, and 70 underwent GPP. Pathologically, the majority of GPLs were cholesterol polyps (68.4%), followed by adenomyomatosis (19.9%), benign adenoma (7.3%), adenocarcinoma (3.6%), and rare pathological types (0.8%). Additionally, 66.3% (379/572) of the LC cases were classified as non-neoplastic, and 33.7% (193/572) neoplastic polyps. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that single polyps (OR 1.956, 95% CI: 1.121-3.412; p = 0.018), polyps located at the gallbladder fundus (OR 4.326, 95% CI: 2.179-8.591; p < 0.001), polyps not less than 14 mm (OR 2.833, 95% CI: 1.614-4.973; p < 0.001), and polyps with a broad base (OR 4.173, 95% CI: 1.743-9.990; p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for neoplastic polyps. The 5-year prospective results after GPP showed that the 1-year and 3-year polyp recurrence rates were 13.2% and 23.4%, respectively., Conclusion: The majority of GPLs are cholesterol or other benign lesions without malignant potential. LC is the main treatment procedure for GPLs with a high neoplastic risk. GPP is potentially feasible and could be an alternative management strategy for a group of GPLs patients who meet the selection criteria., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Mitochondria regulate a range of important physiological and biochemical cellular processes including apoptotic cell death, energy production, calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism. Given their role as the 'engines' of cells, their dysfunction is associated with a variety of disease states. Exploring the relationship between mitochondrial function and disease can reveal the mechanism(s) of drug activity and disease pathology. In this review, we summarized the methods of evaluating the structure and function of mitochondria, including the morphology, membrane fluidity, membrane potential, opening of the membrane permeability transition pore, inner membrane permeabilization, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, oxidative stress, energy metabolism-related enzymes, apoptotic pathway related proteins, calcium concentration, DNA copy number, oxygen consumption, β-oxidation-related genes and proteins, cardiolipin content, and adenosine triphosphate content. We believe that the information presented in this review will help explore the pathological processes of mitochondria in the occurrence and development of diseases, as well as the activity and mechanism of drugs, and the discovery of new drugs., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Under the background of the Belt and Road Initiative, the exchange of traditional medicine has become inevitable. China and Thailand are amicable neighbors, and the cooperation between the two countries in the field of traditional medicine has become increasingly close in recent years. Nevertheless, on account of the differences in culture, region, politics, economy and so on, the two countries have common features and unique characteristics in the theoretical system of traditional medicine, quality standard control of medicinal materials, research and development and use of medicinal materials. This paper summarizes the similarities and differences as well as the development opportunities of traditional medicine between China and Thailand. The specific content involves the development history, resources, and use of medicinal resources in Thailand, the main achievements and existing problems of modern research of Thai medicine, the spread and development of Chinese medicine in Thailand, and the spread and development of Thai medicine in China. Furthermore, the paper outlines the recent situation of traditional medicine interflow and cooperation between the two countries, and predicts the prospects for cooperation and development of traditional medicine between China and Thailand in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, especially in the joint research and development and the improvement of quality standards of important medicinal plant varieties commonly used by the two countries and circulated across the border. Through the exchange and mutual learning, we can step up the traditional medicine cooperation between China and Thailand, which will provide advantageous conditions for the safety of medicine use as well as political and social stability between the two countries.

Background: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) uses the hydrophilic layer of liposomes to reach the sweat on the skin surface or accumulate in the sweat glands, producing toxic free radicals and oxidative damage, resulting in hand-foot syndrome (HFS). Regional cooling can induce vasoconstriction to reduce the release of drugs in the limbs and reduce the accumulation of drugs in sweat glands; thus, decreasing the incidence and severity of HFS., Aim: To study the efficacy of cooling patches to prevent HFS caused by PLD in the short-term., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Female breast cancer patients ( n = 101) who were treated with PLD in two breast wards at our department from February 2020 to February 2021 were enrolled in the study and were randomly divided into the cooling group (51 patients) and the control group (50 patients). Patients in the control group only received routine care, while the patients in the cooling group applied cooling patches, based on routine care, to the palm and back of the hands 15 min before chemotherapy infusion for 10 h. All patients took a corresponding dose of dexamethasone orally one day before chemotherapy, on the day of chemotherapy, and one day after chemotherapy. SPSS23.0 version was used to analyze the data in this study. The occurrence and severity of HFS was analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test, and scores were analyzed by the Student's t test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A P value < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant., Results: In this study, neither group of patients developed Grade 3 HFS. In the control group, the incidence of Grade 1 HFS and Grade 2 HFS was 38% and 2%, respectively. However, in the cooling group, only one person developed Grade 1 HFS (2%), and none of the patients developed Grade 2 HFS. These findings showed that cooling patches can effectively reduce the frequency and severity of HFS ( P < 0.0001) in the short-term. Before the fourth chemotherapy cycle, although general self-efficacy scale scores in the cooling group were low, they were still significantly higher than those in the control group (17.22 ± 5.16 vs 19.63 ± 6.42, P = 0.041). Compared with the control group, the mean Hand-Foot Skin Reaction and Quality of Life Questionnaire score in the cooling group was significantly lower (18.08 ± 7.01 vs 14.20 ± 7.39, P = 0.008)., Conclusion: Cooling patches can effectively reduce the frequency and severity of HFS caused by PLD in the short-term. In addition, it may help delay the decline in patients' self-efficacy., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: Each author certifies that he or she has not received any fees for serving as a speaker or server as a member of any organization. None of the authors owns a patent., (©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Quinoa starch was developed as a new kind of Pickering emulsifier by enzymatic modification. The morphological structure, crystalline structure, lamellar structure, fractal structure, particle size distribution, contact angle, emulsion index (EI), and emulsion micromorphology were studied to explore the relationship between structure characteristics, hydrophilic property, and emulsifying properties of enzymatically modified (EM) quinoa starches. With the increasing enzymatic hydrolysis time in the test range of 0-9 h, particle size of EM quinoa starch decreased, and the broken starch and contact angle of EM quinoa starch increased; the EI value of emulsions with EM quinoa starch increased, and the oil droplet size of emulsions with EM quinoa starch decreased. It suggested that both the smallest particle size and the closest extent of the contact angle to 90° derived the best emulsifying property of EM-9. The EM quinoa starch had higher emulsifying capacity at higher oil volume fraction (Φ) (50%) than at lower Φ (20%), proving that the EM starch has potential to be used as Pickering emulsifiers in higher oil products, such as salad dressing., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: To analyze the characteristics, related risk factors, and prognosis of lymph node metastasis (Number [No.] 5 and No.6) in the group of adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG)., Methods: The patients with Siewert II AEG who underwent total gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection from September 2015 to December 2018 in Lanzhou University Second Hospital were enrolled in this study. The pathological features of the postoperative specimens were analyzed (sex, age, maximum diameter, location, depth of invasion, degree of differentiation, neurological and vascular invasion, etc), and the lymph node metastasis rate of No.5, No.6 groups were calculated. The analysis was performed by IBM SPSS statistical software. The risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis in No.5 and No.6 groups were analyzed. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-M method, and survival rate was estimated, Log-rank test was used for comparison, and the difference was statistically significant at P < .05., Results: There were 142 cases of Siewert type II AEG with the positive rate of No.5 lymph nodes being 10.81% (8/74), and the positive rate of No.6 lymph nodes was 8.33% (11/132). No.5 and No.6 lymph nodes metastasis were not associated with gender, age, tumor maximum diameter, location (cardiac left/cardiac right) (P > .05), and were associated with invasion depth, differentiation degree, nerve and vascular invasion (P < .05). In the No.5 lymph node-positive group, the 3-year Overall Survival (OS) was 25.0%, and the No.5 lymph node-negative group had a 5-year OS of 57.8%, which was statistically different (P < .05). The 3-year OS was 18.2% in No.6 node-positive group and 53.8% in No.6 node-negative group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05)., Conclusion: For Siewert type II AEG, the lymph node metastasis rate was higher in No.5 and No.6 groups when the tumor invaded all layers of gastric wall and was poorly differentiated complicated with vascular nerve invasion, and the lymph node metastasis rate was lower at 3 years, which may be more appropriate for total gastrectomy +D2 lymph node dissection., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Bile duct cyst (BDC) is a rare congenital bile duct malformation. The incidence of bile duct malignancy in BDC patients is markedly higher than that in the general population. However, few studies have been conducted on the risk factors for preoperative carcinogenesis in BDC patients., Aim: To analyze the risk factors associated with preoperative carcinogenesis in BDC patients., Methods: The medical records of BDC patients treated at our hospital between January 2012 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. We constructed a database and compared the characteristics of BDC patients with dysplasia and carcinoma against those with benign cysts. The risk factors for preoperative carcinogenesis were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses., Results: The cohort comprised 109 BDC patients. Ten patients had preoperative dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that gallbladder wall thickness > 0.3 cm [odds ratio (OR), 6.551; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.351 to 31.763; P = 0.020] and Todani type IV (OR, 7.675; 95%CI, 1.584 to 37.192; P = 0.011) were independent factors associated with preoperative carcinogenesis., Conclusion: BDC is a premalignant condition. Our findings show that gallbladder wall thickness > 0.3 cm and Todani type IV are independent risk factors for preoperative carcinogenesis of BDC. They are therefore useful for deciding on the appropriate treatment strategy, especially in asymptomatic patients., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interests for this article., (©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling (IIS) is known to constrain longevity by inhibiting the transcription factor FOXO. How phosphorylation mediated by IIS kinases regulates lifespan beyond FOXO remains unclear. Here, we profile IIS-dependent phosphorylation changes in a large-scale quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of wild-type and three IIS mutant Caenorhabditis elegans strains. We quantify more than 15,000 phosphosites and find that 476 of these are differentially phosphorylated in the long-lived daf-2/insulin receptor mutant. We develop a machine learning-based method to prioritize 25 potential lifespan-related phosphosites. We perform validations to show that AKT-1 pT492 inhibits DAF-16/FOXO and compensates the loss of daf-2 function, that EIF-2α pS49 potently inhibits protein synthesis and daf-2 longevity, and that reduced phosphorylation of multiple germline proteins apparently transmits reduced DAF-2 signaling to the soma. In addition, an analysis of kinases with enriched substrates detects that casein kinase 2 (CK2) subunits negatively regulate lifespan. Our study reveals detailed functional insights into longevity., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a burdensome global disease. In-depth understanding of its mechanism will help to optimize diagnosis and treatment, which reduces the burden. Multi-omics research has unparalleled advantages in contributing to the overall understanding of the mechanism of this chronic metabolic disease. In the past two decades, the study of multi-omics on T2DM-related intestinal flora perturbation and plasma dyslipidemia has shown tremendous potential and is expected to achieve major breakthroughs. The regulation of intestinal flora in diabetic patients has been confirmed by multiple studies. The use of metagenomics, 16S RNA sequencing, and metabolomics has comprehensively identified the overall changes in the intestinal flora and the metabolic disturbances that could directly or indirectly participate in the intestinal flora-host interactions. Lipidomics combined with other "omics" has characterized lipid metabolism disorders in T2DM. The combined application and cross-validation of multi-omics can screen for dysregulation in T2DM, which will provide immense opportunities to understand the mechanisms behind T2DM., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

With the rapid development and advancement in orthodontic and orthopedic technologies, the demand for biomedical-grade titanium (Ti) alloys is growing. The Ti-based implants are susceptible to bacterial infections, leading to poor healing and osteointegration, resulting in implant failure or repeated surgical intervention. Silk sericin (SS) is hydrophilic, biocompatible, and biodegradable and could induce a low immunological response in vivo . As a result, it would be intriguing to investigate the use of hydrophilic SS in surface modification. In this work, the tyrosine moiety in SS was oxidized by tyrosinase (or polyphenol oxidase) to the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) form, generating the catechol moiety-containing SS (SSC). Inspired by the adhesion of mussel foot proteins, the SSC coatings could be directly deposited onto multiple surfaces in SS and tyrosinase mixed stock solutions to create active surfaces with catechol groups. Further, the SSC-coated Ti surfaces were hybridized with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) via in situ silver ion (Ag + ) reduction. The antibacterial properties of the Ag NPs/SS-coated Ti surfaces are demonstrated, and they can prevent bacterial cell adhesion as well as early-stage biofilm formation. In addition, the developed Ag NPs/SSC-coated Ti surfaces exhibited a negligible level of cytotoxicity in L929 mouse fibroblast cells.

The mixed polyanionic material Na 4 Fe 3 (PO 4 ) 2 (P 2 O 7 ) combines the advantages of NaFePO 4 and Na 2 FeP 2 O 7 in capacity, stability, and cost. Herein, we synthesized carbon-coated hollow-sphere-structured Na 4 Fe 3 (PO 4 ) 2 (P 2 O 7 ) powders by a scalable spray drying route. The optimal sample can deliver a high discharge capacity of 107.7 mA h g -1 at 0.2C. It also delivers a capacity of 88 mA h g -1 at 10C and a capacity of retention of 92% after 1500 cycles. Ex situ X-ray diffraction analysis indicates a slight volume change (less than 3%) in the Na 4 Fe 3 (PO 4 ) 2 (P 2 O 7 ) lattice cell. Therefore, such a spraying-derived carbon-coated Na 4 Fe 3 (PO 4 ) 2 (P 2 O 7 ) powder is a very attractive cathode electrode for sodium-ion batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are the appropriate alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for the large-scale energy storage applications because of the abundant resources and wide distribution of sodium on earth. O3-NaCrO 2 is a promising cathode material for SIBs due to its stable structure and low-cost raw materials. In this paper, we design and synthesize a powder consisting of submicrometer-sized O3-NaCrO 2 spheres (s-NaCrO 2 ) self-assembled with nanoflakes, which exhibits faster ion migration ability and strong structure robustness. The galvanostatic intermittent titration technique test reveals the higher apparent Na + diffusion coefficient of s-NaCrO 2 when compared with a normal NaCrO 2 powder with an irregular particle morphology . The s-NaCrO 2 shows impressive electrochemical properties with a capacity of 90 mAh g -1 at 50 C. In addition, outstanding cycling stability is shown when tested at 20 C, where a capacity of 90 mAh g -1 is maintained with a retention of 87% after 1500 cycles. Also, s-NaCrO 2 is advantageous at high (50 °C) and low (-10 °C) temperatures. The full cells assembled employing Sb/C as the anode exhibit good rate capability with 85 mAh g -1 obtained at 50 C.

We develop and demonstrate a method of optical phase modulation in the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique. The phase modulation in this paper is realized by an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) operating in the Bragg diffraction regime. In this process, a light beam separated from a laser (780 nm) is sent through the AOM twice and coupled to a high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity. Then, the light power coupling into the cavity is stabilized by modulating the optical amplitude with this AOM. The coupling light power is stabilized to a level of 10 -3 . In the meantime, the PDH error signal is obtained by modulating the optical phase with the same AOM. After the error signal is fed back to the laser current, the laser linewidth is suppressed to approximately 907.91 Hz. This method of phase modulation is simple and convenient, and we believe it can be widely used in modulation transfer spectroscopy and frequency-modulation sideband spectroscopy.

Abstract: Objective To understand the trend of funding in the field of forensic science by analyzing the projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （NSFC）. Methods Based on the data of funded projects in the field of forensic science published on NSFC website in the twenty years from 2000 to 2019, the trend of project number and fund, project type, discipline type, funded institution and personnel were analyzed with metrological methods. The funding theme was analyzed through multi-methods. Results In the twenty years, NSFC funded 352 projects in the field of forensic science, including 9 project types, 47 institutions and 213 persons. General programs （184 projects）, forensic toxicology, pathology, and toxicology analysis （H2301, 188 projects）, and the Academy of Forensic Science （37 projects） had the most funded projects. NSFC funded 174.69 million yuan in the field of forensic science. The Excellent Young Scientists Fund （3.50 million yuan/project）, forensic toxicology, pathology, and toxicology analysis （H2301, 78.64 million yuan）, and Xi'an Jiaotong University （23.78 million yuan） had the most funding. The differences in the number and funding of subsidized projects between the first ten years and the last ten years had statistical significance （ P <0.05）. The main targets of funding were toxicology research, evidence-related research, estimation-related research, brain injury research, et al. The field of research mainly funded from 2010 to 2019 was interdisciplinary research. Conclusion Since 2010, the number of project, funding of project, the number of institutions and persons funded by NSFC in the field of forensic science showed an increasing trend. The types of disciplines, types of projects and themes of projects are more diverse, which will promote the long-term development of basic forensic research in China., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Forensic Medicine.)

Cr 2 O 3 is generally considered as an impurity phase with negative effects on the electrochemical performance of NaCrO 2 because it may cause a certain degree of capacity loss. In this study, however, we have found the bright side of Cr 2 O 3 as a protective coating material, which greatly improves the Na + storage capability, especially the cycling stability, of NaCrO 2 . After 1000 cycles at 10C, a capacity of 100.4 mAh g -1 with a high capacity retention of 84.8% can be achieved for a Cr 2 O 3 -coated NaCrO 2 sample. The optimal sample exhibits a rate performance with 108.0 mAh g -1 at a high rate of 60C. Cyclic voltammetry analysis indicates that such an in situ-formed inactive Cr 2 O 3 layer has little influence on Na + diffusion in NaCrO 2 electrodes, but it prevents the direct contact between the active material and the electrolyte, suppressing the side reactions effectively.

Renal fibrosis has no effective target for its prevention or reversal. Fibinogen-like protein 2 (Fgl2) is a novel prothrombinase exhibiting coagulation activity and immunomodulatory effects. Although Fgl2 is known to play a vital role in the development of liver and interstitial fibrosis, its function in renal fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, Fgl2 expression was found to be markedly increased in kidney tissues from mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal fibrosis and patients with chronic kidney disease. However, Fgl2 deficiency aggravated UUO-induced renal fibrosis, as evidenced by the significantly increasing collagen I, fibronectin, and α-SMA expression, extracellular matrix deposition, and profibrotic factor (TGF-β1) secretion. Administration of rmFgl2 (recombinant mouse Fgl2) significantly alleviated UUO-induced renal fibrosis in mice, suggesting that the increased fibrosis can be reversed by supplementing rmFgl2. Although there was no difference in the percentages of total macrophages between Fgl2 +/+ and Fgl2 -/- mice, Fgl2 deficiency remarkably facilitated M2 macrophage polarization and accelerated M1 macrophage polarization to a low degree, during UUO-induced renal fibrosis development in mice. Similar results were observed when Fgl2 +/+ and Fgl2 -/- mice bone marrow-derived macrophages were treated for M1 or M2 polarization. Moreover, Fgl2 deficiency significantly increased the phosphorylation of STAT6, a critical mediator of M2 polarization, in both UUO-induced fibrotic kidney tissues and bone marrow-derived M2 macrophages. In conclusion, the aggravation of renal fibrosis by Fgl2 deficiency is facilitated by the p-STAT6-dependent upregulation of macrophage polarization, especially of M2., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)