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Chemoresistance is a major unmet clinical obstacle in ovarian cancer treatment. Epigenetics plays a pivotal role in regulating the malignant phenotype, and has the potential in developing therapeutically valuable targets that improve the dismal outcome of this disease. Here we show that a series of transcription factors, including C/EBPβ, GCM1, and GATA1, could act as potential modulators of histone methylation in tumor cells. Of note, C/EBPβ, an independent prognostic factor for patients with ovarian cancer, mediates an important mechanism through which epigenetic enzyme modifies groups of functionally related genes in a context-dependent manner. By recruiting the methyltransferase DOT1L, C/EBPβ can maintain an open chromatin state by H3K79 methylation of multiple drug-resistance genes, thereby augmenting the chemoresistance of tumor cells. Therefore, we propose a new path against cancer epigenetics in which identifying and targeting the key regulators of epigenetics such as C/EBPβ may provide more precise therapeutic options in ovarian cancer. In ovarian cancer, the mechanism of chemoresistance is a key question. Here, the authors demonstrate that C/EBPβ and DOT1L together increase methylation of H3K79, which upregulates expression of oncogenic genes and drives poor platinum response and poor survival in ovarian cancer.

Objective To analyze the clinicopathological features of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor retrospectively and help maxillofacial surgeons to improve their recognition of its early diagnosis and proper treatment. Methods Data of 18 patients diagnosed with IMT in Nanjing Stomatological Hospital from November 2003 to July 2024 were collected. Their clinical, pathological, imaging features, treatment, and prognosis were analyzed. Results Main clinical manifestations were local masses, 8 cases were accompanied with malignant signs such as pain. No obvious systemic symptoms were reported. Bone destructions were seen in 3 cases. Pathological examination showed that 12 cases were Type II IMT and 6 cases were Type I IMT. 15 cases underwent surgical resections and were followed up for at least 1 years without recurrence. Conclusions The clinical symptoms and imaging manifestations of head and neck IMT are not specific. It is necessary to diagnose IMT by biopsy before operation. Wide local excision is the most reliable treatment.

Sarcopenia, characterized by the gradual decline of muscle mass and strength, seriously affects the health and mobility of older adults. The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors for sarcopenia, particularly the relationship between chronic diseases and lifestyle factors in individuals aged 60 and over. This study used data from the Longitudinal Study on Health and Retirement in China (CHARLS) collected in 2011 and 2015. All eligible participants were classified according to the standards established by the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group in 2019. The evaluation of sarcopenia was based on a comprehensive score across five dimensions: strength, assistance in walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, and falls. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to explore the risk factors for sarcopenia. The risk of sarcopenia is significantly influenced by multiple factors. Key findings include the association between past drinking and an increased risk of sarcopenia (HR = 2.198, 95% CI: 1.072-4.560,  < 0.05), indicating that individuals with a history of drinking have more than twice the risk of sarcopenia compared to non-drinkers. Chronic diseases such as stroke were also associated with a significantly elevated risk (HR = 3.137, 95% CI: 1.128-8.721,  < 0.05). Conversely, participation in social activities significantly reduced the risk of sarcopenia (HR = 0.482, 95% CI: 0.265-0.876,  < 0.05). A three-piece spline regression model revealed a nonlinear relationship between physical activity and the risk of sarcopenia, characterized by an initial decline in risk followed by an increase as physical activity levels rose. Moderate-intensity physical activity reduced the risk of sarcopenia by approximately 35% (HR ≈ 0.65). However, high-intensity physical activity led to a rebound in risk, increasing the likelihood of sarcopenia relative to moderate activity. Similarly, adequate sleep duration was associated with a reduced risk of sarcopenia, whereas excessive sleep counteracted this benefit. The findings underscore the critical role of lifestyle modifications and balanced physical activity in mitigating the risk of sarcopenia among older adults. Implementing targeted interventions for high-risk groups is essential to reduce the incidence of sarcopenia.

Background: As an ancient concept and practice, “food as medicine” or “medicine–food homology” is receiving more and more attention these days. It is a tradition in many regions to intake medicinal herbal food for potential health benefits to various organs and systems including the kidney. Kidney diseases usually lack targeted therapy and face irreversible loss of function, leading to dialysis dependence. As the most important organ for endogenous metabolite and exogenous nutrient excretion, the status of the kidney could be closely related to daily diet. Therefore, medicinal herbal food rich in antioxidative, anti-inflammation micronutrients are ideal supplements for kidney protection. Recent studies have also discovered its impact on the “gut–kidney” axis. Methods: Here, we review and highlight the kidney-protective effects of botanicals with medicine–food homology including the most frequently used Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, concerning their micronutrients and mechanism, offering a basis and perspective for utilizing and exploring the key substances in medicinal herbal food to protect the kidney. Results: The index for medicine–food homology in China contains mostly botanicals while many of them are also consumed by people in other regions. Micronutrients including flavonoids, polysaccharides and others present powerful activities towards renal diseases. Conclusions: Botanicals with medicine–food homology are widely speeded over multiple regions and incorporating these natural compounds into dietary habits or as supplements shows promising future for renal health.

We developed an integrated workflow for circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection and downstream single‐cell analysis based on a novel ChimeraX®‐i120 platform. The platform facilitates negative enrichment, immunofluorescent labeling, and machine learning‐based identification of CTCs. The CTC captured by the platform is also compatible for single‐cell molecular analysis. In this study, potential utility of our workflow was validated in clinical setting. Circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis holds great potential to be a noninvasive solution for clinical cancer management. A complete workflow that combined CTC detection and single‐cell molecular analysis is required. We developed the ChimeraX®‐i120 platform to facilitate negative enrichment, immunofluorescent labeling, and machine learning‐based identification of CTCs. Analytical performances were evaluated, and a total of 477 participants were enrolled to validate the clinical feasibility of ChimeraX®‐i120 CTC detection. We analyzed copy number alteration profiles of isolated single cells. The ChimeraX®‐i120 platform had high sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility for CTC detection. In clinical samples, an average value of > 60% CTC‐positive rate was found for five cancer types (i.e., liver, biliary duct, breast, colorectal, and lung), while CTCs were rarely identified in blood from healthy donors. In hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with curative resection, CTC status was significantly associated with tumor characteristics, prognosis, and treatment response (all P < 0.05). Single‐cell sequencing analysis revealed that heterogeneous genomic alteration patterns resided in different cells, patients, and cancers. Our results suggest that the use of this ChimeraX®‐i120 platform and the integrated workflow has validity as a tool for CTC detection and downstream genomic profiling in the clinical setting.

PurposeTo explore the efficacy and safety of using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) adjacent to the second hepatic hilus.MethodsBetween February 2011 and June 2013, 17 patients with HCC underwent combination therapy of TACE and RFA under DSA and CT guidance at our institution. The 17 patients had a total of 23 hepatic tumors, 17 of which were adjacent to the second hepatic hilus.ResultsTACE combined with RFA was performed successfully in all 17 patients with no mortalities or major morbidities. During the 1-month follow-up, tumors of 15 patients (88.2%) were completely ablated after one therapy session and 2 patients had detectable tumor residue. During the follow-up time period (range 6–52 months), local tumor progression developed in 1 patient (1/17, 5.9%) and both local tumor progression and new tumors appeared in 1 patient (1/17, 5.9%). Also, new tumors developed in the untreated portions of the liver in 8 patients (8/17, 47.1%). No distant metastasis was found. Of the 17 patients, 6 (35.3%) died due to tumor progression (3/17, 17.6%), liver failure (2/17, 11.8%), or massive hemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract (1/17, 5.9%). The overall survival rates were 94.1% (16/17), 82.4% (14/17), and 61.8% (11/17) at 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively, and the median survival time was 25 months (95% CI 18–27).ConclusionTreatment using combination of TACE and RFA is an effective and safe therapeutic strategy for treating HCC with tumor(s) adjacent to the second hepatic hilus.

Potential mechanisms of depression involving herbal medicines and their specific compounds include elevated 5‐HT level and downstream BDNF pathway. To identify potentially new combined therapeutic strategies, 3,6'‐disinapoylsucrose (DISS) and tenuifoliside A (TFSA) have been observed to show antidepressant‐like effects and its related 5‐HT‐BDNF pathway. We have tried to investigate whether combined administration of DISS and TFSA exerted more effective in the treatment of depression, as assessed through tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). In addition, we also analyzed the expression of three important proteins, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding (CREB), brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and cAMP‐regulated transcriptional coactivators (CRTC1), which have been shown to be involved in the regulation of the neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus. The DISS and TFSA separately, both at a dose of 5 mg/kg each, displayed small effect in the immobility time. However, combined treatment of these two in multiple doses exhibited better effect. Moreover, combined treatment of DISS and TFSA also demonstrated enhanced levels of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), and stronger increase in the phosphorylation levels of CREB, BDNF, and CRTC1 proteins in the hippocampus. Overall, our results indicated that coadministration of these two oligosaccharide esters at low dose may induce more pronounced antidepressant activity, in comparison with individual treatment even at high dosage. Thus, the antidepressant properties of both these compounds can be attributed to their ability to influence 5‐HT and BDNF pathway, and thereby suggesting that this combination strategy can definitely act as alternative therapy for depression disorder with very limited side effects. The antidepressant properties of DISS and TFSA can be attributed to their ability to influence 5‐HT and BDNF pathway, and thereby suggesting that this combination strategy can definitely act as alternative therapy for depression disorder with very limited side effects.

Objective About 7%–34% of the femur fracture contributes to subtrochanteric fracture, and only very little research is available about these fractures when compared to common hip fractures. Hence, the aim of this study was to develop a clinically relevant and reproducible open fracture model in rabbits at the subtrochanteric region to understand the fracture healing mechanism at this site and to explore treatment effects of biophysical intervention in future studies. Methods An open osteotomy was created in 32 adult New Zealand white rabbits at the subtrochanteric region, followed by customized titanium internal fixations. The internal fixator consists of a 3D printed titanium compression plate with cortical screws for locking. The fracture healing was monitored for 6 weeks, and the corresponding radiography, MicroCT, and histomorphometry analysis were performed at regular intervals. Results Four rabbits were excluded due to complications (4/32), including bone dislocation one week post‐surgery (3/32). Fracture healing progression was observed in radiographic images. MicroCT analysis showed increased callus volume after 42 days. Histomorphometry revealed remodeled bone area with a higher number of osteocyte cells. Conclusion The rabbit fracture model of an open femoral osteotomy at the subtrochanteric region has been successfully established, with the facilitation of an internal fixator consisting of a 3D printed titanium compression plate with cortical screws for locking. Applications of this model are being investigated, including different biophysical stimulation methods for accelerating fracture healing. A clinically relevant and reproducible open fracture model at the subtrochanteric region of rabbits has been established. Post 6 weeks of fracture, MicroCT showed higher callus volume, and histology exhibited remodeled stage with a greater number of osteocyte cells.

Context: Tracheal stent implantation with bronchoscope has become one of the main methods for the treatment of airway stenosis. Bronchoscopy is usually performed under local or general anesthesia. Aims: The aim of this study is to report our experience with direct cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia for airway stent placement. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 48 consecutive patients who underwent direct cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia for tracheal or bronchial stent placement were reviewed. The puncture site was chosen as the interspace between the thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage. Through the cricothyroid membrane, lidocaine was injected into the trachea to suppress the cough reflex. The airway stent was placed fluoroscopically at 48 patients at the trachea or bronchus. The success rate and complications of cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia were assessed. Results: Anesthesia was successfully performed in all 48 patients. Six patients needed 2-4 mL supplementary lidocaine by injection from the catheter or stent delivery system. Technical success of the stent insertion was achieved in all 48 cases. Small asymptomatic subcutaneous hemorrhage occurred at the puncture site in two patients, which disappeared 1 or 2 days after stent placement. Conclusion: Direct cricothyroid membrane puncture anesthesia for airway metal stent insertion is safe and effective.