BACKGROUND: Molecular subtyping is an essential complementarity after pathological analyses for targeted therapy. This study aimed to investigate the consistency of next-generation sequencing (NGS) results between circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based and tissue-based in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and identify the patient characteristics that favor ctDNA testing. METHODS: Patients who diagnosed with NSCLC and received both ctDNA- and cancer tissue-based NGS before surgery or systemic treatment in Lung Cancer Center, Sichuan University West China Hospital between December 2017 and August 2022 were enrolled. A 425-cancer panel with a HiSeq 4000 NGS platform was used for NGS. The unweighted Cohen's kappa coefficient was employed to discriminate the high-concordance group from the low-concordance group with a cutoff value of 0.6. Six machine learning models were used to identify patient characteristics that relate to high concordance between ctDNA-based and tissue-based NGS. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were enrolled, of which 22.4% (19/85) had stage III disease and 56.5% (48/85) had stage IV disease. Forty-four patients (51.8%) showed consistent gene mutation types between ctDNA-based and tissue-based NGS, while one patient (1.2%) tested negative in both approaches. Patients with advanced diseases and metastases to other organs would be suitable for the ctDNA-based NGS, and the generalized linear model showed that T stage, M stage, and tumor mutation burden were the critical discriminators to predict the consistency of results between ctDNA-based and tissue-based NGS. CONCLUSION ctDNA-based NGS showed comparable detection performance in the targeted gene mutations compared with tissue-based NGS, and it could be considered in advanced or metastatic NSCLC.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Circulating Tumor DNA/blood* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods* ; Female ; Male ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Mutation/genetics* ; Aged ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have become prominent global health threats, escalating the burden on public health systems. The increasing occurrence of invasive fungal infections is due primarily to the extensive application of chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapies, and broad-spectrum antifungal agents. At present, therapeutic practices utilize multiple categories of antifungal agents, such as azoles, polyenes, echinocandins, and pyrimidine analogs. Nevertheless, the clinical effectiveness of these treatments is progressively weakened by the emergence of drug resistance, thereby substantially restricting their therapeutic utility. Consequently, there is an imperative need to expedite the discovery of novel antifungal agents. This review seeks to present an exhaustive synthesis of novel antifungal drugs and candidate agents that are either under current clinical investigation or anticipated to progress into clinical evaluation. These emerging compounds exhibit unique benefits concerning their modes of action, antimicrobial spectra, and pharmacokinetic characteristics, potentially leading to improved therapeutic outcomes relative to conventional antifungal regimens. It is anticipated that these novel therapeutic agents will furnish innovative treatment modalities and enhance clinical outcomes in managing invasive fungal infections.

Magnolol, a compound extracted from Magnolia officinalis, demonstrates potential efficacy in addressing metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Its biological activities encompass anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticoagulant, and anti-diabetic effects. Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily, is considered a potential therapeutic target for metabolic disorders. This study investigated the impact of magnolol on GDF-15 production and its underlying mechanism. The research examined the pharmacological effect of magnolol on GDF-15 expression in vitro and in vivo, and determined the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling in this process. Luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and in vitro DNA binding assays were employed to examine the regulation of GDF-15 by activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), CCAAT enhancer binding protein γ (CEBPG), and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF). The study also investigated the effect of magnolol and ATF4 on the activity of a putative enhancer located in the intron of the GDF-15 gene, as well as the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on magnolol and ATF4-induced transcription activity. Results demonstrated that magnolol triggers GDF-15 production in endothelial cells (ECs), hepatoma cell line G2 (HepG2) and hepatoma cell line 3B (Hep3B) cell lines, and primary mouse hepatocytes. The cooperative binding of ATF4 and CEBPG upstream of the GDF-15 gene or the E1944285 enhancer located in the intron led to full-power transcription of the GDF-15 gene. SNP alleles were found to impact the magnolol and ATF4-induced transcription activity of GDF-15. In high-fat diet ApoE^-/- mice, administration of magnolol induced GDF-15 production and partially suppressed appetite through GDF-15. These findings suggest that magnolol regulates GDF-15 expression through priming of promoter and enhancer activity, indicating its potential as a drug for the treatment of metabolic disorders.
Lignans/pharmacology* ; Growth Differentiation Factor 15/metabolism* ; Animals ; Biphenyl Compounds/pharmacology* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects* ; Activating Transcription Factor 4/genetics* ; Mice ; Humans ; Male ; Magnolia/chemistry* ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of 1q21.1 microdeletion by using single nucleotide polymorphism microarrays (SNP array).Methods:Eighteen cases of 1q21.1 microdeletion syndrome diagnosed at the Longgang District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shenzhen City from June 2017 to December 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the patients were collected. Results of chromosomal karyotyping and SNP assay were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 18 cases with 1q21.1 microdeletions, 13 had a deletion between BP3 and BP4, 4 had a deletion between BP1/BP2 and BP4, whilst 1 had a proximal 1q21.1 deletion (between BP2 and BP3) involving the Thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) region. The deletions had spanned from 360 kb to 3.9 Mb, which encompassed the GJA5, GJA8, CHD1L, RBM8AB and other morbid genes. In three families, the proband child has inherited the same 1q21.1 microdeletion from their parents, whose clinical phenotype was normal or slightly abnormal. The clinical phenotypes of 1q21.1 microdeletion had included cognitive or behavioral deficits in 9 cases (9/18, 50.0%), growth retardation in 8 cases (8/18, 44.4%), craniofacial deformities in 7 cases (7/18, 38.8%), cardiovascular malformations in 5 cases (5/18, 27.8%), and microcephaly in 3 cases (3/18, 16.7%). Conclusion:1q21.1 microdeletion syndrome has incomplete penetrance and varied expression such as intellectual impairment, growth and development delay, and microcephaly, with a wide range of non-specific phenotypes.

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) in the treatment of near-clinical complete response (near-cCR) rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy.Methods:A 74-year-old female patient with cT3N0M0 stage rectal adenocarcinoma who refused radical surgery for rectal cancer underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (5 cycles of CapeOx chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy for 25 sessions) after multidisciplinary team discussion. One month after completing neoadjuvant treatment, reassessment including digital rectal examination, colonoscopy, and pelvic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging suggested near-cCR. Despite this, the patient requested rectal-preserving therapy. Subsequently, EFTR was performed five weeks after completion of neoadjuvant treatment. Postoperatively, supportive care including fasting, antimicrobial therapy, and nutritional support was provided. The patient started a liquid diet on the 6th day postoperatively and was discharged on the 13th day.Results:Pathological analysis revealed tubular adenoma with low-grade epithelial dysplasia, with negative margins and negative involvement of the base. During one-year follow-up, there were no signs of local regrowth or distant metastasis, and satisfactory anal function was observed.Conclusion:EFTR is safe and feasible in patients with near-cCR rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. This approach should be considered after thorough evaluation of the patient's condition.

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) in the treatment of near-clinical complete response (near-cCR) rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy.Methods:A 74-year-old female patient with cT3N0M0 stage rectal adenocarcinoma who refused radical surgery for rectal cancer underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (5 cycles of CapeOx chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy for 25 sessions) after multidisciplinary team discussion. One month after completing neoadjuvant treatment, reassessment including digital rectal examination, colonoscopy, and pelvic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging suggested near-cCR. Despite this, the patient requested rectal-preserving therapy. Subsequently, EFTR was performed five weeks after completion of neoadjuvant treatment. Postoperatively, supportive care including fasting, antimicrobial therapy, and nutritional support was provided. The patient started a liquid diet on the 6th day postoperatively and was discharged on the 13th day.Results:Pathological analysis revealed tubular adenoma with low-grade epithelial dysplasia, with negative margins and negative involvement of the base. During one-year follow-up, there were no signs of local regrowth or distant metastasis, and satisfactory anal function was observed.Conclusion:EFTR is safe and feasible in patients with near-cCR rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. This approach should be considered after thorough evaluation of the patient's condition.

Biosynthesis of nanomaterials has attracted much attention for its excellent characteristics such as low energy consumption, high safety, and environmental friendliness. As we all know, the toxic selenite can be transformed into higher-value nanomaterials by using bacteria. In this study, nano-selenium was synthesized by halophilic Bacillus subtilis subspecies stercoris strain XP in LB medium supplemented with selenite (electron acceptor). The physicochemical characteristics of nano-selenium were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectral analysis (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Meanwhile, the antifungal activity of nano-selenium to strawberry pathogens (fusarium wilt, erythema, and purple spot fungi) was determined. The products from reduction of selenite by strain XP was amorphous spherical selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) with a diameter range of 135-165 nm. The production of SeNPs was positively correlated with time (0-48 h) and no changes were observed on cell morphology. Selenium was dominant in the surface of SeNPs where the organic elements (C, O, N, and S) existed at the same time. SeNPs were coated with biomolecules containing functional groups (such as -OH, C=O, N-H, and C-H) which were associated with the stability and bioactivity of particles. Although the highest concentration of SeNPs had significant (P<0.05) inhibitory effects on three strains of strawberry pathogens, antifungal activity to erythema and fusarium wilt pathogenic fungi was higher than that to purple spot pathogenic fungi from strawberry. In conclusion, strain XP not only has strong tolerance to high salt stress, but can be also used to synthesize biological SeNPs with good stability and biological activity. Thus, the strain XP has bright perspectives and great potential advantage in pathogens control and green selenium-rich strawberry planting as well as other fields.
Bacillus subtilis ; Fragaria ; Nanoparticles ; Selenious Acid ; Selenium

Background:MicroRNA-9 (miR-9)is involved in the modulation of a variety of physiological process such as organ development and self-renewal and multipotential differentiation of cells. Moreover,its aberrant expression is closely associated with several types of malignant tumors. Aims:To investigate the effect of miR-9 on biological behavior of human gastric cancer cells. Methods:Expression of miR-9 in normal human gastric epithelial cell line GES-1 and human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 and SGC-7901 was detected by real-time PCR. Then the two gastric cancer cell lines were transiently transfected with miR-9 mimic,miR-9 inhibitor and empty vector,respectively;the efficiency of transfection was assessed by real-time PCR. CCK-8 assay,Transwell assay and wound healing assay were used to examine the cell proliferation and migration capacities. Results:The expression level of miR-9 was significantly higher in gastric cancer cells than in normal gastric epithelial cells (P＜0. 05). Compared with cells transfected with empty vector,overexpression of miR-9 occurred in cells transfected with miR-9 mimic and effectively promoted the proliferation and migration of BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cells (P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conversely,transfection with miR-9 inhibitor significantly suppressed the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells (P＜0. 05). Conclusions:Up-regulating miR-9 expression promotes the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells,which indicates that miR-9 overexpression may be associated with progression of gastric cancer.

Objective To compare ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and chemiluminescence immunoassay(CLIA) measurement of human serum androgen levels in polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS). Methods 160 PCOS patients and 146 healthy subjects(control group) were recruited and their serum androgen levels——measurements of testosterone and dehydcoepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were tested by UPLC-MS/MS and CLIA. The androgen results combined with body mass index(BMI) were analyzed by ROC curve. According to area under curve(AUC) calculated by SPSS, a better method will be selected to provide accurate test results for physicians. Results (1)AUC of DHEA-S tested by UPLC-MS/MS was significantly higher than the one tested by CLIA(P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the AUC of T tested by UPLC-MS/MS and the one tested by CLIA. (2)AUC of T combined with DHEA-S tested by HPLC was not only significantly higher than the AUC of two combined indicators tested by CLIA(P<0.01),but also significantly higher than the AUC of a single indicator——either T(P<0.01) or DHEA-S(P<0.01) tested by UPLC-MS/MS. (3)The AUC of T,DHEA-S combined with BMI tested by HPLC was not only significantly higher than the AUC of three combined indicators tested by CLIA(P<0.01),but also higher than the AUC of two combined indicators tested by UPLC-MS/MS(P<0.05). Conclusion T and DHEA-S tested by UPLC-MS/MS combined with BMI has a certain reference value in the diagnosis of PCOS.

Exosomes are vesicular bodies secreted by living cells containing proteins and RNA, and play an important role in the process of physiology and pathology.Pancreatic cancer is one of the common gastrointestinal tumor with high morbidity and mortality.As a hotspot in oncology, exosomes have potential values in the research of development, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.This article reviewed the role of exosomes in pancreatic cancer.