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The carbon–carbon triple bond (–C≡C–) is an elementary constituent for the construction of conjugated molecular wires and carbon allotropes such as carbyne and graphyne. Here we describe a general approach to in situ synthesize –C≡C– bond on Cu(111) surface via homo-coupling of the trichloromethyl groups, enabling the fabrication of individual and arrays of poly( p -phenylene ethynylene) molecular wires. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals a delocalized electronic state extending along these molecular wires, whose structure is unraveled by atomically resolved images of scanning tunneling microscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy. Combined with density functional theory calculations, we identify the intermediates formed in the sequential dechlorination process, including surface-bound benzyl, carbene, and carbyne radicals. Our method overcomes the limitation of previous on-surface syntheses of –C≡C– incorporated systems, which require the precursors containing alkyne group; it therefore allows for a more flexible design and fabrication of molecular architectures with tailored properties. Incorporating carbon-carbon triple bonds into conjugated chains typically requires acetylenic precursors. Here, the authors synthesize poly( p -phenylene ethynylene) molecular wires on Cu(111) by directly coupling trichloromethyl-containing precursors, forming C-C triple bonds in situ

As the malignancy with the highest global incidence, breast cancer represents a significant threat to women’s health. Recent advances have shed light on the importance of mitochondrial function in cancer, particularly in metabolic reprogramming within tumors. Recognizing this, we developed a novel risk signature based on mitochondrial-related genes to improve prognosis prediction and risk stratification in breast cancer patients. In this study, transcriptome data and clinical features of breast cancer samples were extracted from two sources: the TCGA, serving as the training set, and the METABRIC, used as the independent validation set. We developed the signature using LASSO-Cox regression and assessed its prognostic efficacy via ROC curves. Furthermore, the signature was integrated with clinical features to create a Nomogram model, whose accuracy was validated through clinical calibration curves and decision curve analysis. To further elucidate prognostic variations between high and low-risk groups, we conducted functional enrichment and immune infiltration analyses. Additionally, the study encompassed a comparison of mutation landscapes and drug sensitivity, providing a comprehensive understanding of the differing characteristics in these groups. Conclusively, we established a risk signature comprising 8 mitochondrial-related genes—ACSL1, ALDH2, MTHFD2, MRPL13, TP53AIP1, SLC1A1, ME3, and BCL2A1. This signature was identified as an independent risk predictor for breast cancer patient survival, exhibiting a significant high hazard ratio (HR = 3.028, 95%CI 2.038–4.499, P  < 0.001). Patients in the low-risk group showed a more favorable prognosis, with enhanced immune infiltration, distinct mutation landscapes, and greater sensitivity to anti-tumor drugs. In contrast, the high-risk group exhibited an adverse trend in these aspects. This risk signature represents a novel and effective prognostic indicator, suggesting valuable insights for patient stratification in breast cancer.

Aim We constructed a multicentre cohort in China to analyse the differences in clinical characteristics, treatment strategies and prognoses between breast neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. Methods All patients with early‐stage breast cancer who attended three hospitals in Beijing from 2000 to 2018 were included in the study. We used propensity score matching to make a 1:3 match between NEC and IDC. Results After propensity score matching, 153 patients with IDC and 51 patients with NEC were analysed. Multivariate Cox regression showed that compared to patients with IDC, patients with NEC had a worse disease‐free survival (HR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.69–5.12, p < 0.001). Conclusion NEC patients have a worse disease‐free survival than IDC patients. Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the breast is a very rare pathological type with few studies illustrating the prognosis compared with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Our team used propensity score matching to make a 1:3 match between NEC and IDC. Thus, 153 patients with IDC and 51 patients with NEC were analysed. Compared to patients with IDC, patients with NEC had a worse disease‐free survival (HR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.69–5.12, p < 0.001).

Neuropeptides act mostly on a class of G-protein coupled receptors, and play a fundamental role in the functions of neural circuits underlying behaviors. However, physiological functions of some neuropeptide receptors are poorly understood. Here, we used the molluscan model system Aplysia and microinjected the exogenous neuropeptide receptor apATRPR ( Aplysia allatotropin-related peptide receptor) with an expression vector (pNEX3) into Aplysia neurons that did not express the receptor endogenously. Physiological experiments demonstrated that apATRPR could mediate the excitability increase induced by its ligand, apATRP ( Aplysia allatotropin-related peptide), in the Aplysia neurons that now express the receptor. This study provides a definitive evidence for a physiological function of a neuropeptide receptor in molluscan animals.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on improving the prognosis of patients with stage I triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods TNBC patients diagnosed in the SEER 18 database from 2010 to 2015 were included. Kaplan–Meier plots and log-rank tests were used to compare the differences in breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) between subgroups of variables. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the prognostic factors affecting BCSS and OS. Results A total of 9256 patients were enrolled in this study. Among these patients, 380 died from breast cancer, and 703 died from all causes. Patients who received chemotherapy had significantly better BCSS and OS than those who did not receive chemotherapy for stage T1cN0M0 (BCSS, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51–0.90; OS, HR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.44–0.67) and stage IB (BCSS, HR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.16–0.95; OS, HR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.19–0.87) disease. Patients who received chemotherapy did not have significantly better BCSS or OS than those who did not receive chemotherapy for stage T1aN0M0 or T1bN0M0 disease. The patients who received chemotherapy in the poorly differentiated and undifferentiated groups had better BCSS (HR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.52–0.88) and OS (HR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.44–0.66) than the patients who did not receive chemotherapy. Conclusion According to current clinical guidelines, patients with stage T1bN0M0 TNBC are probably overtreated. The prognosis of these patients with stage T1aN0M0 or T1bN0M0 disease is good enough that adjuvant chemotherapy cannot improve it further.

Background Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas (NEBCs) are an extremely rare and underrecognized subtype of mammalian carcinoma. The prognostic factors for NEBCs remain controversial. Methods In this multicenter retrospective study, the prognostic factors for patients with primary NEBCs who underwent surgery and had a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma in China and the United States were examined. The endpoints were disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results A total of 51 Chinese patients and 98 US patients were included. In the Chinese cohort, tumor grade and Ki‐67 levels were prognostic factors for DFS in univariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.11 [1.67–15.60], p = 0.004; HR = 57.70 [6.36–523.40], p < 0.001, respectively) and multivariate analysis (HR = 100.52 [1.33–7570.21], p = 0.037; HR = 31.47 [1.05–945.82], p = 0.047, respectively). In the US cohort, age was an important prognostic factor for OS in univariate analysis (HR = 1.09 [1.04–1.15], p = 0.001). The random effects model for the combined cohorts revealed age and positive expression of estrogen receptor (ER) as potential prognostic factors for OS (HR = 1.08 [1.01–1.14], p = 0.015; HR = 0.10 [0.02–0.44], p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusions Tumor grade and Ki‐67 levels are important prognostic factors for DFS of patients with primary NEBCs. Age and ER status are important prognostic factors for OS of patients with primary NEBCs. Tumor grade and Ki‐67 levels are important prognostic factors for DFS of patients with primary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas, Ki‐67 > 55% had a worse prognosis than <55%.

The work function variations of NO2 and H2S molecules on Pd-adsorbed ZnGa2O4(111) were calculated using first-principle calculations. For the bonding of a nitrogen atom from a single NO2 molecule to a Pd atom, the maximum work function change was +1.37 eV, and for the bonding of two NO2 molecules to a Pd atom, the maximum work function change was +2.37 eV. For H2S adsorption, the maximum work function change was reduced from −0.90 eV to −1.82 eV for bonding sulfur atoms from a single and two H2S molecules to a Pd atom, respectively. Thus, for both NO2 and H2S, the work function change increased with an increase in gas concentration, showing that Pd-decorated ZnGa2O4(111) is a suitable material in NO2/H2S gas detectors.

We performed first-principles total-energy density functional calculations to study the reactions of NO2 and H2S molecules on Ga–Zn–O-terminated ZnGa2O4(111) surfaces. The adsorption reaction and work functions of eight NO2 and H2S adsorption models were examined. The bonding of the nitrogen atom from a single NO2 molecule to the Ga atom of the Ga–Zn–O-terminated ZnGa2O4(111) surfaces exhibited a maximum work function change of +0.97 eV. The bond joining the sulfur atom from a single H2S molecule and the Ga atom of Ga–Zn–O-terminated ZnGa2O4(111) surfaces exhibited a maximum work function change of −1.66 eV. Both results concur with previously reported experimental observations for ZnGa2O4-based gas sensors.

PurposeThe optimal adjuvant systemic treatment and potential prognostic factors for patients with T1N0 HER2-positive breast cancer are still unclear. We conducted a real-world study in this relatively low-risk population to identify the clinical-pathological factors of potential prognostic value and to compare the efficacy of different adjuvant strategies.MethodsWe included patients with HER2-positive T1N0 breast cancer of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) histology treated at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from April 2010 to April 2017. We performed Cox multivariate analysis to identify the potential prognostic factors for invasive disease-free survival (IDFS). We also compared survival outcomes of (1) patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy alone, or chemotherapy plus trastuzumab, or observation; (2) patients receiving adjuvant anthracycline-based and non-anthracycline regimens, both combined with trastuzumab. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) propensity score was used to reduce selection bias.ResultsOverall, 692 consecutive patients were included, with a median follow-up of 78.0 months for IDFS. Age ≤ 40, T1c, ER + PR + , and adjuvant trastuzumab were identified as independent prognostic factors. For adjuvant treatment, compared with observation and chemotherapy alone, chemotherapy plus trastuzumab could significantly benefit patients (HR = 2.70, P = 0.034; HR = 3.95, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, compared with observation, chemotherapy alone did not significantly benefit patients (HR = 1.37, P = 0.424). For the comparison of anthracycline-based versus non-anthracycline regimens when combined with trastuzumab, patients in both groups had similar IDFS (HR = 1.74, P = 0.242).ConclusionsHER2-positive T1N0 IDC patients could benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab. Age ≤ 40, T1c, ER + PR + , and adjuvant trastuzumab are independent prognostic factors for this population.