Objective To explore the relationship between uric acid, visceral fat thickness and insulin resistance in elderly patients with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). Methods A total of 347 elderly patients with HTG admitted to the hospital from January 2021 to January 2025 were retrospectively selected, and the related factors of insulin resistance in elderly HTG were analyzed. Results Among the 347 elderly patients with HTG, 218 cases had insulin resistance and 129 cases did not develop insulin resistance, and were included in the insulin resistance group (n=218) and the non-insulin resistance group (n=129) respectively. Compared with the non-insulin resistance group, patients in the insulin resistance group had higher proportions of severe HTG and concurrent fatty liver, higher levels of IL-6, TNF- α, FFA and uric acid, and thicker visceral fat thickness (P<0.05). After logistic regression analysis, it was found that the related factors for insulin resistance in elderly patients with HTG included the severity of HTG, IL-6, FFA, uric acid, and visceral fat thickness (P<0.05). Conclusion The severity of HTG, IL-6, FFA, uric acid, and visceral fat thickness are related to insulin resistance in elderly HTG patients. Clinically, it is necessary to pay attention to targeted interventions for uric acid control and visceral fat reduction in elderly patients with HTG so as to improve the insulin resistance status.

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is a glycoprotein that is barely expressed in normal tissues but highly expressed in malignant tumors; it is remarkably associated with poor prognosis. Various targeted therapeutics against Trop2, such as anti-Trop2 antibodies and antibody-drug conjugate drugs targeting Trop2, have been developed, and some therapeutics have been approved or are in clinical trials for cancer treatment. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the gene structure, mechanism of action, clinical research, drug development, and other aspects of Trop2 to provide references for the clinical development of effective and safe Trop2-targeting drugs.

Reactive astrocytes, which exhibit a correlation with the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, are present in a considerable number during the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying factors shaping astrocyte reactivity and neuroinflammation in PD remain inadequately elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7)/FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2) autocrine signaling intensifies astrocyte reactivity and inflammation. Genetic deletion of Arrb2, β-Arrestin2 encoding gene, led to escalated astrocyte reactivity in MPTP-treated mice, which was further substantiated in astrocyte-specific Arrb2 knockdown mice. RNA sequencing profiling of Arrb2 knockout astrocytes identified Fgf7 as a critical effector of astrocyte reactivity. Subsequently, conditional knockdown of Fgf7 and its receptor Fgfr2 in astrocytes elicited advantageous effects for MPTP-treated mice by restraining the inflammatory phenotypic transition of reactive astrocytes. Furthermore, deletion of astrocytic Fgf7 mitigated MPTP-induced pathology in Arrb2 knockout mice. Mechanistically, STAT1 was distinguished as the transcription factor suppressing Fgf7 expression, while β-Arrestin2 counteracted the proteasomal degradation of STAT1 by binding to RNF220, an E3 ubiquitin ligase for STAT1. More importantly, selectively engaging dopamine D2 receptor (Drd2)/β-Arrestin2-biased signaling using the agonist UNC9995 exhibited therapeutic potential in MPTP-treated mice via moderation of astrocytic FGF7 production, thereby restoring balance in astrocyte reactivity. Collectively, our study bridges a crucial knowledge gap by elucidating the novel functions of FGF family members within the central nervous system, particularly within the context of PD. The autocrine signaling of FGF7/FGFR2 represents a novel mechanism and a potential druggable target for modulating astrocyte-derived inflammation.

Objective To observe the expression of GLIS3 in triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)and analyze its relationship with the prognosis of TNBC patients.Methods Bioinformatic analysis was applied to analyze the expression level of GLIS3 in Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted to evaluate the impact of GLIS3 expression on the survival rate of patients based on DNA chip data.A total of 125 patients pathologically diagnosed as TNBC in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January to December 2014 were enrolled by cluster random sampling.Among them,53 patients had complete tissue specimens,medical records and follow-up data.Immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the expression of GLIS3 in TNBC and adjacent tissues to tumors,while the relationships between GLIS3 protein expression in breast cancer tissues and clinicopathological parameters such as age,menstrual status,tumor size,clinical stage,histological grade,pathological type,axillary lymph node metastasis,vascular tumor thrombus,and expression of TP53 and Ki-67 were analyzed.Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted to analyze the effect of GLIS3 on the overall and disease-free survival of TNBC patients.Cox regression model was established to identify the risk factors impacting the prognosis of the patients.Results Analysis of GEO data showed that the expression of GLIS3 in TNBC was significantly higher than that in paracancer tissues(P＜0.05).The expression of GLIS3 was notably higher in the TNBC tissue than the adjacent tissue to tumor(P＜0.05).A marked augmentation of GLIS3 expression was observed in both the advanced and larger-sized tumors(P＜0.05).Univariate analysis of Cox regression model revealed that lymph node metastasis,TNM stage and GLIS3 expression were all related to disease-free survival of TNBC patients(P＜0.05).Univariate and multivariate analyses displayed that TNM stage was related to the overall survival of TNBC patients(P＜0.05).The patients with high expression of GLIS3 had significant shorter disease-free survival time than those with low expression(P＜0.05),but had no statistical difference in overall survival(P＞0.05).Conclusion GLIS3 protein is highly expressed in TNBC tissues,and tumor size and TNM stage are correlated with its high expression.The high expression of GLIS3 suggests that the patients have poor prognosis and low disease-free survival rate.

ABSTRCT Purpose To explore the evolution of HER2 nega-tive subgroups(IHC Null,Ultra-low and 1+)in breast cancer with hormone receptor(HR)positive before and after neoadju-vant therapy,and the relationship with clinical pathological fea-tures.Methods There were 255 patients who did not achieve pathological complete response(pCR)consecutively after neoad-juvant therapy.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the ex-pression of ER,PR,HER2 and Ki67 and to evaluate the evolu-tion of HER2-negative subgroups after neoadjuvant therapy and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics.Results Among the 255 patients included in this study,HER2 expression was 0 and 1+in 116 cases(45.5％)and 139 cases(54.7％)respectively before neoadjuvant therapy,and then HER2 0 was further divided into Null group(61 cases,23.9％)and Ultra-low group(55 cases,21.6％).After neoadjuvant therapy,HER2 expression was 0 and 1+in 117 cases(45.9％)and 138 cases(54.1％)respectively,and then HER2 0 was further di-vided into Null group(64 cases,25.1％)and Ultra-low group(53 cases,20.8％).HER2 status changed in 121 patients(47.5％)after neoadjuvant therapy.The highest conversion rate was from HER2 Ultra-low before neoadjuvant therapy to 1+after neoadjuvant therapy,with a conversion rate of 11.76％(30/255),followed by HER2 1+to the Ultra-low,with a conversion rate of 10.98％(28/255).After the neoadjuvant therapy,44 of 55 cases had transformation in the HER2 Ultra-low group,with the conversion rate of as high as 80％.Chi-square test showed that HER2 expression before neoadjuvant therapy was correlated with the maximum tumor diameter(≤2 cm,＞2cm)after neo-adjuvant therapy(x2=6.106,P=0.047);the tumor of HER21+before neoadjuvant therapy was mostly 2 cm or less in the di-ameter.The HER2 status after neoadjuvant therapy was correla-ted with the tumor thrombus(x2=6.975,P=0.029).Patients with HER2 Ultra-low after treatment were more likely to have vascular invasion.Conclusion In HR positive breast cancer,when the HER2 0 cases are divided into Ultra-low and Null sub-groups,the HER2 conversion rate increases significantly after neoadjuvant therapy,in which the Ultra-low conversion rate is the highest,indicating that the HER2 Ultra-low cases are highly unstable after neoadjuvant therapy.It is important to detect HER2 expression in residual lesions after neoadjuvant therapy and to identify the Ultra-low HER2 expression subgroup.

The STAR tool was used to evaluate and analyze the science, transparency, and applicability of Chinese pathology guidelines and consensus published in medical journals in 2022. There were a total of 18 pathology guidelines and consensuses published in 2022, including 1 guideline and 17 consensuses. The results showed that the guideline score was 21.83 points, lower than the overall guideline average (43.4 points). Consensus ratings scored an average of 27.87 points, on par with the overall consensus level (28.3 points). Areas that scored above the overall level were "conflict of interest" and "working groups", while areas that scored below the overall level were "proposals", "funding", "evidence", "consensus approaches" and "accessibility". To sum up, the formulation of pathology guidelines and consensuses in 2022 is not standardized, and the evidence retrieval process, evidence evaluation methods and grading criteria for recommendations on clinical issues are not provided in the formulation process; the process and method for reaching consensus are not provided, the plan is lacking, and registration is not carried out. It is therefore suggested that guidelines/consensus makers in the field of pathology should attach importance to evidence-based medical evidence, strictly follow guideline formulation methods and processes, further improve the scientific, applicable and transparent guidelines/consensuses in the field, and better provide support for clinicians and patients.

Objective:To explore the patterns of failure after postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for gastric cancer.Methods:Clinical data of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma with pathological stages T 3-4N 0 or T xN 1-3 admitted to Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from May 2009 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy. During the follow-up, tumor recurrence was confirmed by imaging or endoscopic or pathological data, etc. According to the location of tumor recurrence, recurrence patterns were divided into local, regional and distant recurrence. Differences in recurrence patterns among different groups were compared using t-test and Chi-square test. Patient survival was assessed through Kaplan-Meier method. Results:A total of 76 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 49 years old (27-67 years old), 34 cases (45%) were classified as T 3 stage, 40 cases (53%) of T 4 stage, and 75 cases (99%) of N 1-3 stage, respectively. Seventy-three patients (92%) were classified as stage Ⅲ, and 38 patients (50%) underwent D2 dissection. The median follow-up time was 32.8 months (7.1-138.5 months). The median time of recurrence was 17.6 months (2.9-113.6 months). The median survival time after recurrence was 8.19 months (0.6-91.9 months). There were 13 cases (17%) of local recurrence, 6 cases (8%) of regional recurrence, and 72 cases (95%) of distant metastasis in patients. Peritoneal metastasis (33 cases, 43%) and distant lymph node metastasis (12 cases, 16%) were the main patterns of distant recurrence. Conclusions:By intensity-modulated radiotherapy technology, adjuvant radiotherapy yields favorable local and regional control for gastric cancer. Distant metastasis is still the main pattern of recurrence.

Objective:To analyze clinical features, short-term efficacy and side effects of salvage re-irradiation therapy for patients with locally recurrent esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy, to investigate the prognostic factors of re-irradiation with precise radiotherapy techniques.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with locally recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after definitive chemoradiotherapy treated in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2008 to December 2016. The patients underwent re-irradiation therapy (re-RT) or re-irradiation therapy concurrent chemotherapy (re-CCRT). The main observation index was after-recurrence survival (ARS), which was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method for survival analysis. Univariate analysis was conducted by log-rank test, and multivariate analysis was performed by Cox regression model.Results:A total of 109 patients were included, with a median age of 66 years (43-89 years), and a median follow-up time of 120.8 months (79.0-176.5 months). The objective response rates (ORR) and dysphagia improvement rates (DIR) in all patients were 64.2% and 63.0%, respectively. The median ARS and 1-, 3-, 5-, 8-year survival rates in all patients were 7.8 months and 32.1%, 9.2%, 7.3% and 2.3%, respectively. The median ARS and 1-, 3-, 5-years survival rates were 10.8 months and 45.9%, 13.5%, 10.8% for patients with time to recurrence (TTR) ≥24 months, significantly longer than those of 5.7 months and 25.0%, 6.9%, 5.6% for patients with TTR<24 months ( χ2=7.99, P=0.005). The median ARS in groups with re-irradiation dose of ≤50 Gy,>50-54 Gy, and>54 Gy groups were 5.7, 10.0 and 8.1 months, respectively ( χ2=6.94, P=0.031). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 30.4%, 5.1%, and 3.8% for re-RT versus 36.7%, 20.0%, and 16.7% for re-CCRT ( χ2=2.12, P=0.145). Multivariate analysis showed that TTR ( HR=0.607, 95% CI=0.372-0.991, P=0.046) and lesion length ( HR=0.603, 95% CI=0.371-0.982, P=0.042) were the independent factors for ARS. There was no significant difference in ≥2 grade pneumonitis and 2-3 grade radiation esophagitis between the re-RT and re-CCRT groups ( χ2=0.25, P=0.619; χ2=0.51, P=0.808). The morbidity of ≥2 grade myelosuppression in the re-RT group was significantly lower than that in the re-CCRT group (3.7% vs. 36.7%, χ2=18.15, P<0.001). Conclusions:Precise re-irradiation therapy for patients with locally recurrent esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy can alleviate dysphagia, but ARS remains poor. Re-irradiation dose range from>50-54 Gy may be suitable for locally relapse patients as salvage treatment. Patients with TTR≥24 months and lesion length ≤5 cm obtain favorable prognosis.

Objective:To analyze clinical efficacy of intensity-modulated chemoradiotherapy for patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma and identify prognostic factors.Methods:Clinical data of patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma who received intensity-modulated chemoradiotherapy in the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Regular follow-up was carried out. The main indexes included disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS) and overall survival (OS), and adverse reactions were recorded. The survival curve was delineated by Kaplan-Meier method and the influencing factors of survival were analyzed by Cox regression models.Results:A total of 65 patients were enrolled with 19 (29%) males and 46 (71%) females. According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7 th edition staging, there were 7 (11%), 28 (43%), 10 (15%), and 20 (31%) patients with stage I, II, IIIa, and IIIb, respectively. Before the chemoradiotherapy, 2 (3%) patients received chemotherapy and 12 (18%) patients received local resection. The median dose of radiotherapy was 54 Gy (range: 45-64 Gy) and the main concurrent chemotherapy regimen was capecitabine combined with cisplatin ( n=34, 52%). The completion rate of radiotherapy during concurrent chemoradiotherapy was 100%, and the chemotherapy completion rate was 88%. During the therapy, 5 patients (8%) were interrupted but completed concurrent chemoradiotherapy in full dose, and 8 patients (12%) reduced the dose of concurrent chemotherapy due to the toxicities. During the chemoradiotherapy, 15 cases (23%) experienced grade 3-4 leukopenia, and 17 cases (26%) experienced grade 3-4 radiation dermatitis. No treatment-related death occurred during the treatment. The median follow-up time was 50.4 months (range: 4.4-142.2 months), local recurrence occurred in 7 cases (11%), distant metastasis occurred in 3 cases (5%), and the 5-year DFS, LRFFS and OS rates were 78.8%, 86.5% and 85.1%, respectively. Cox univariate analysis indicated that T stage was significantly associated with DFS ( P=0.006), and tended to be associated with OS ( P=0.054). Conclusions:Intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy is an effective treatment for anal squamous cell carcinoma, with tolerable acute toxicities. T stage is an influencing factor of DFS in anal squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Radiation therapy (RT) is a well-established and widely used treatment modality for prostate cancer. As prostate-rectum proximity contributes to rectal toxicity, there is growing interest in rectal protection. Technical advances have enabled the reduction of rectal injury. To improve the safety of prostate cancer radiotherapy and minimize the rectal toxicity of irradiation, the advances in rectal protection technique during prostate cancer radiotherapy, including technical advances of radiation therapy, image-guided radiotherapy, application of endorectal balloons, and use of rectum spacers, were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for improving the safety of prostate cancer radiotherapy and alleviating rectal radiation injury.