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Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fifth in global cancer diagnosis and fourth in cancer-related death. Despite tremendous progress in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies and significant improvements in patient survival, the low malignancy stage is relatively asymptomatic and many GC cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, which leads to unsatisfactory prognosis and high recurrence rates. With the recent advances in genome analysis, biomarkers have been identified that have clinical importance for GC diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Modern molecular classifications have uncovered the vital roles that signaling pathways, including EGFR/HER2, p53, PI3K, immune checkpoint pathways, and cell adhesion signaling molecules, play in GC tumorigenesis, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic responsiveness. These biomarkers and molecular classifications open the way for more precise diagnoses and treatments for GC patients. Nevertheless, the relative significance, temporal activation, interaction with GC risk factors, and crosstalk between these signaling pathways in GC are not well understood. Here, we review the regulatory roles of signaling pathways in GC potential biomarkers, and therapeutic targets with an emphasis on recent discoveries. Current therapies, including signaling-based and immunotherapies exploited in the past decade, and the development of treatment for GC, particularly the challenges in developing precision medications, are discussed. These advances provide a direction for the integration of clinical, molecular, and genomic profiles to improve GC diagnosis and treatments.

BackgroundGastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers, with a wide range of symptoms and outcomes. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are newly identified in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and associated with GC progression, prognosis, and treatment response. A novel CAF-associated prognostic model is urgently needed to improve treatment strategies.MethodsThe detailed data of GC samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GSE62254, GSE26253, and GSE84437 datasets, then obtained 18 unique CAF-related genes from the research papers. Eight hundred eight individuals with GC were classified as TCGA or GSE84437 using consensus clustering by the selected CAF-related genes. The difference between the two subtypes revealed in this study was utilized to create the “CAF-related signature score” (CAFS-score) prognostic model and validated with the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.ResultsWe identified two CAF subtypes characterized by high and low CAFS-score in this study. GC patients in the low CAFS-score group had a better OS than those in the high CAFS-score group, and the cancer-related malignant pathways were more active in the high CAFS-score group, compared to the low CAFS-score group. We found that there was more early TNM stage in the low CAFS-score subgroup, while there was more advanced TNM stage in the high CAFS-score subgroup. The expression of TMB was significantly higher in the low CAFS-score subgroup than in the high CAFS-score subgroup. A low CAFS-score was linked to increased microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), mutation load, and immunological activation. Furthermore, the CAFS-score was linked to the cancer stem cell (CSC) index as well as chemotherapeutic treatment sensitivity. The patients in the high CAFS-score subgroup had significantly higher proportions of monocytes, M2 macrophages, and resting mast cells, while plasma cells and follicular helper T cells were more abundant in the low-risk subgroup. The CAFS-score was also highly correlated with the sensitivity of chemotherapeutic drugs. The low CAFS-score group was more likely to have an immune response and respond to immunotherapy. We developed a nomogram to improve the CAFS-clinical score’s usefulness.ConclusionThe CAFS-score may have a significant role in the TME, clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, CSC, MSI, and drug sensitivity, according to our investigation of CAFs in GC. We also analyzed the value of the CAFS-score in immune response and immunotherapy. This work provides a foundation for improving prognosis and responding to immunotherapy in patients with GC.

In this work, high-entropy (HE) spinel ferrites of (FeCoNiCrM)xOy (M = Zn, Cu, and Mn) (named as HEO-Zn, HEO-Cu, and HEO-Mn, respectively) were synthesized by a simple solid-phase reaction. The as-prepared ferrite powders possess a uniform distribution of chemical components and homogeneous three-dimensional (3D) porous structures, which have a pore size ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers. All three HE spinel ferrites exhibited ultrahigh structural thermostability at high temperatures even up to 800 °C. What is more, these spinel ferrites showed considerable minimum reflection loss (RLmin) and significantly enhanced effective absorption bandwidth (EAB). The RLmin and EAB values of HEO-Zn and HEO-Mn are about −27.8 dB at 15.7 GHz, 6.8 GHz, and −25.5 dB at 12.9 GHz, 6.9 GHz, with the matched thickness of 8.6 and 9.8 mm, respectively. Especially, the RLmin of HEO-Cu is −27.3 dB at 13.3 GHz with a matched thickness of 9.1 mm, and the EAB reaches about 7.5 GHz (10.5–18.0 GHz), which covers almost the whole X-band range. The superior absorbing properties are mainly attributed to the dielectric energy loss involving interface polarization and dipolar polarization, the magnetic energy loss referring to eddy current and natural resonance loss, and the specific functions of 3D porous structure, indicating a potential application prospect of the HE spinel ferrites as EM absorbing materials.

In this study, the corrosion behavior of rare earth (RE) microalloyed steels was first evaluated through potentiodynamic polarization tests and corrosion weight loss experiments, and then the corrosion morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). After immersion in a NaCl solution, the sulfides (or oxygen sulfides) dissolved preferentially, followed by corrosion at the boundary between the Fe matrix and oxides. Afterwards, the inclusions fell off as a whole, which promoted pitting nucleation. The first principle modeling demonstrated that the work functions of various kinds of inclusions descended in the following order: La2Zr2O7 > LaAlO3 > (La2O3 ≈ Fe ≈ La2O2S) > La2S3, which provided a theoretical explanation to the dissolution behaviors of inclusions. That is, inclusions containing sulfur tend to dissolve preferentially, whereas the oxides do not dissolve easily. Subsequently, the surface current distributions were detected by the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET), which provided more microscopic insight into the role of inclusions in the corrosion propagation. Results showed that the active sites of pitting nucleation accelerated the transverse propagation of corrosion. Finally, local corrosion spread to the whole surface as uniform corrosion.

A facile template method was employed to synthesize Fe nanowires of different sizes, dimensions. Comprehensive analyses were conducted to explore their morphology, structure, composition, and magnetic properties. The surface of as-prepared Fe nanowires was modified with SiO2 by sol–gel method to improve the dispersion of as-prepared Fe nanowires in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the relaxation properties, biocompatibility and in vivo imaging abilities of the Fe@SiO2 nanowires were evaluated. The study revealed that the SiO2-coated Fe nanowires functioned effectively as transverse relaxation time (T2) contrast agents (CAs). Notably, as the length of the Fe@SiO2 nanowires increased, their diameter decreased, leading to a higher the transverse relaxivity (r2) value. Our study identified that among the Fe nanowires synthesized, the Fe3@SiO2 nanowires, characterized by a diameter of around 30 nm and a length of approximately 500 nm, exhibited the highest r2 value of 59.3 mM−1 s−1. These nanowires demonstrated good biocompatibility and non-toxicity. Notably, upon conducting small animal imaging a 1.5 T with Sprague–Dawley rats, we observed a discernible negative enhancement effect in the liver. These findings indicate the promising potential of Fe@SiO2 nanowires as T2 CAs, with the possibility of tuning their size for optimized results.

In concentrated solar power (CSP) systems, structural materials face severe corrosion challenges induced by molten chlorides, with the corrosion severity being highly dependent on the salt composition. This study systematically compares the corrosion behavior of two representative superalloys, Inconel 625 and SS321, in binary NaCl–KCl and ternary MgCl2–NaCl–KCl molten salts at 700 °C. The corrosion products and microstructural features were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), in combination with static exposure tests to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The results show that in NaCl–KCl molten salts, both alloys primarily form Cr2O3 as the protective product. However, the corrosion scale of SS321 is porous, whereas Inconel 625 develops a dense NiCr2O4 inner layer, exhibiting superior corrosion resistance. In the MgCl2–NaCl–KCl molten salt system, Cr2O3 is replaced by a dense MgO layer forms on Inconel 625, coupled with Mo surface enrichment, which significantly inhibits Cr depletion and leads to a notably reduced corrosion rate relative to the binary salt. In contrast, the transformation of Cr2O3 on SS321 into porous MgCr2O4 exacerbates intergranular corrosion, resulting in a substantial degradation of corrosion resistance. This study elucidates the distinct corrosion pathways and mechanisms of different alloys in binary and ternary chloride salts, providing important guidance for the selection of molten salt compositions and corrosion-resistant structural materials in CSP applications.

The fracture toughness, damage tolerance, electronic structure, and magnetic properties of M2C (M = Fe, Cr) carbides were analyzed using first-principles calculations. Calculations of formation energy and modulus of elasticity indicate that a Cr/Fe ratio of 1/3 is a critical threshold which triggers a significant increase in the corresponding stability and related mechanical properties. Cr atomic content enhances the crack resistance, while Cr has a significantly detrimental effect on damage resistance. The electronic properties demonstrated that the Cr atom content enhances the metallic, ionic and covalent bonding. Furthermore, the reduction in the coordination number of Fe atoms is the main reason for the reduction in the local magnetic moment of the low-spin Cr atoms, which is strongly supported by the electronic structure. These studies provide detailed insights into Cr-containing carbides, providing valuable theoretical and technological information for the knowledge-based design and prediction of the mechanical properties of chromium-containing iron-based materials.

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent reproductive endocrine disorder among women of childbearing age, characterized by elevated serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels as a key biomarker. This study primarily investigates the tissue-specific expression of AMHR2 (the receptor for AMH) and its mechanistic role in PCOS pathogenesis. Methods In this study, we employed a two-phase experimental approach to investigate the tissue-specific roles of AMHR2 in PCOS pathogenesis. First, we established extra-ovarian (Ex-AMHR2) and intra-ovarian (In-AMHR2) AMHR2 expression models through reciprocal ovarian transplantation between wild-type (WT) and conventional AMHR2 knockout (AMHR2 −/− ) female mice. Second, we systematically compared tissue-specific effects using conditional knockout models targeting either neuronal (Neur-AMHR2 −/− ) or ovarian (Ovary-AMHR2 −/− ) AMHR2 expression. All experimental groups received standardized AMH intervention (0.12 mg/kg, i.p., twice weekly for 4 weeks). Comprehensive evaluations included: (1) reproductive cyclicity monitoring and ovarian index calculation; (2) ELISA quantification of serum AMH, LH, FSH, T, E1, and E2 levels with derived hormonal ratios; (3) histopathological assessment of ovarian morphology via H&E staining with follicular enumeration; and (4) molecular analyses of oocyte quality markers (GDF9, BMP15) at both protein (Western blot) and mRNA (qPCR) levels. This integrated experimental paradigm enabled multi-dimensional characterization of compartmentalized AMHR2 signaling in PCOS development. Results By comparing mice with intraovarian and extraovarian expression of AMHR2, we discovered that the Ex-AMHR2 + AMH group exhibited significantly higher serum AMH levels than the In-AMHR2 + AMH group, along with hormonal profiles more consistent with PCOS pathology. Histological (H&E staining) analysis revealed severe follicular atresia, disorganized granulosa cell layers, and impaired luteal development in the Ex-AMHR2 + AMH group, further corroborated by reduced protein and mRNA expression of oocyte quality markers (GDF9, BMP15). Subsequent tissue-specific studies on AMHR2 reveal that the Neur-AMHR2 −/− +AMH group demonstrated restored estrous cyclicity, improved serum levels of AMH and related hormones, compared with Ovary-AMHR2 −/− +AMH group, indicating attenuated PCOS symptoms. Consistently, H&E staining and GDF9/BMP15 expression (protein & mRNA) confirmed enhanced oocyte quality in Neur-AMHR2 −/− mice, reinforcing the central role of neuronal AMHR2 in mediating AMH-induced ovarian dysfunction. Conclusion Neuronal AMHR2 serves as the specific binding site for AMH, and the neuronal AMH/AMHR2 signaling pathway contributes to PCOS pathogenesis by disrupting HPO axis hormone secretion and interfering with cyclic follicular development. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

As an efficient advanced oxidation process, the Fenton-like reaction provides a promising way toward the degradation of organic pollutants; thus, the development of a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst is of great significance. Herein, the chemical etching behavior of Fe-Si-B metallic glass (MG) ribbons in a dilute HF solution is studied by varying the etching time. Based on this, the uniform nanoporous (NP) structures are successfully fabricated. The Fe-Si-B MG ribbons after etching for 30, 60, and 90 min still maintain an amorphous structure and possess much larger specific surface areas than untreated Fe-Si-B ribbons. The thicknesses of their nanoporous structures, with a pore size range of tens to hundreds of nanometers, are about 92.0, 180.5, and 223.4 nm, respectively. The formation of the nanoporous structure probably follows the pitting corrosion mechanism, mainly referring to the generation of corrosion pits due to the selective leaching of Si and B and pore growth and integration owing to the selective corrosion of Fe. The Fenton-like system of NPFe/H2O2 exhibits enhanced degradation performance toward methyl orange (MO), primarily due to the high intrinsic catalytic activity of the amorphous structure and the large specific surface areas of nanoporous structures, indicating the great potential application of NPFe in wastewater treatments. The mechanism analysis shows that MO degradation mainly contains two sub-processes: the heterogeneous reaction on the catalyst surface and the homogeneous reaction in MO solution, which exhibit a strong synergistic effect with excellent degradation performance.

Despite a global decline in gastric cancer (GC) incidence, nondistal GC (NDGC) is increasingly prevalent among younger patients, necessitating targeted investigation of early-onset NDGC (EONDGC) to identify prognostic determinants for enhanced risk stratification. EONDGC patients were identified from multiple datasets, including the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Stomach Adenocarcinoma cohort, and the Affiliated Hospitals of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) as an external validation cohort. Propensity score matching was performed to reduce baseline differences between groups. A prognostic model was developed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression and LASSO analysis in a 7:3 training-validation split. The prognostic model was applied to TCGA patients to generate risk scores, and high-risk patients were selected for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis. The identified genes were then analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier methods to determine prognostic relevance. In parallel, MGC-803 and AGS cells were transiently transfected to overexpress ; RT-qPCR verification, scratch and transwell migration assays quantified motility. A total of 535 EONDGC patients from SEER and 171 from SYSU were included. The prognostic model, incorporating seven clinical variables (race, pathological grade, T, N, and M stage, lymph node ratio, and chemotherapy), achieved robust performance with concordance index values of 0.758 (training), 0.718 (validation), and 0.762 (SYSU), with all AUCs > 0.75. In the TCGA patients, 73 upregulated genes were identified from high-risk patients through DEGs analysis. Among these, and were determined to be independent prognostic markers based on Cox and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Furthermore, a higher ratio (APR) was associated with poorer overall survival (  = 0.041). , overexpression increased scratch migration area and transwell-migrated cell counts versus empty vector. This study developed a clinical prognostic model for EONDGC and therefore identified and as key molecular markers. The APR value enhances survival stratification, offering valuable insights into personalized prognosis and potential immunotherapy strategies.