Regulation of Sacha Inchi protein on fecal metabolism and intestinal microorganisms in mice.

Introduction: With the increasing demand for protein utilization, exploring new protein resources has become a research hotspot. Sacha Inchi Protein (SIP) is a high-quality plant protein extracted from Sacha Inchi meal. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SIP on mouse metabolomics and gut microbiota diversity and explore the underlying pathways responsible for its health benefits. Methods: In this study, the structural composition of SIP was investigated, and the effects of SIP on fecal metabolomics and intestinal microorganisms in mice were explored by LC-MS metabolomics technology analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: The results showed that SIP was rich in amino acids, with the highest Manuscript Click here to view linked References content of arginine, which accounted for 22.98% of the total amino acid content; the potential fecal metabolites of mice in the SIP group involved lipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism; SIP altered the microbial composition of the cecum in mice, decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes value, and It decreased the abundance of the harmful intestinal bacteria Actinobacteriota and Desulfobacterota, and increased the abundance of the beneficial intestinal bacteria Faecalibaculum, Dubosiella. Discussion: In conclusion, SIP is a high-quality plant protein with great potential for development in lipid-lowering, intestinal health, and mental illness, providing valuable clues for further research on its health-promoting mechanisms.

Research progress of aphid immunity system: Potential effective target for green pest management.

Due to the absence of acquired immunity, insects primarily rely on their innate immune system to resist pathogenic microorganisms and parasitoids in natural habitats. This innate immune system can be classified into cellular immunity and humoral immunity. Cellular immunity is mediated by hemocytes, which perform phagocytosis, aggregation, and encapsulation to fight against invaders, whereas the humoral immunity primarily activates the immune signaling pathways and induces the generation of immune effectors. Existing studies have revealed that the hemipteran aphids lack some crucial immune genes compared to other insect species, indicating the different immune mechanisms in aphids. The current review summarizes the adverse impacts of pathogenic microorganisms and parasitoids on aphids, introduces the cellular and humoral immune systems in insects, and analyzes the differences between aphids and other insect species. Furthermore, our review also discussed the existing prospects and challenges in aphid immunity research, and proposed the potential application of immune genes in green pest management.

Delta Radiomics Based on Longitudinal Dual-modal Ultrasound Can Early Predict Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To develop a monitoring model using radiomics analysis based on longitudinal B-mode ultrasound (BUS) and shear wave elastography (SWE) to early predict pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 112 breast cancer patients who received NAC between September 2016 and March 2022 were included. The BUS and SWE data of breast cancer were obtained prior to treatment as well as after two and four cycles of NAC. Radiomics features were extracted followed by measuring the changes in radiomics features compared to baseline after the second and fourth cycles of NAC (△R [C2], △R [C4]), respectively. The delta radiomics signatures were established using a support vector machine classifier. RESULTS: The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of △RBUS (C2) and △RBUS (C4) for predicting the response to NAC were 0.83 and 0.84, while those of △RSWE (C2) and △RSWE (C4) were 0.88 and 0.90, respectively. △RSWE exhibited significantly superior performance to △RBUS for predicting NAC response (Delong test, p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in the performances between △R (C2) and △R (C4) based on BUS or SWE data. The longitudinal dual-modal ultrasound radiomics (LDUR) model had an excellent discrimination, good calibration and clinical usefulness, with the AUC, sensitivity and specificity of 0.97, 95.52% and 91.11%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The LDUR model achieved excellent performance in predicting the pathological response to chemotherapy during the early stages of NAC for breast cancer.

Deep Learning Model Based on Dual-Modal Ultrasound and Molecular Data for Predicting Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To carry out radiomics analysis/deep convolutional neural network (CNN) based on B-mode ultrasound (BUS) and shear wave elastography (SWE) to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 255 breast cancer patients who received NAC between September 2016 and December 2021 were included. Radiomics models were designed using a support vector machine classifier based on US images obtained before treatment, including BUS and SWE. And CNN models also were developed using ResNet architecture. The final predictive model was developed by combining the dual-modal US and independently associated clinicopathologic characteristics. The predictive performances of the models were assessed with five-fold cross-validation. RESULTS: Pretreatment SWE performed better than BUS in predicting the response to NAC for breast cancer for both the CNN and radiomics models (P < 0.001). The predictive results of the CNN models were significantly better than the radiomics models, with AUCs of 0.72 versus 0.69 for BUS and 0.80 versus 0.77 for SWE, respectively (P = 0.003). The CNN model based on the dual-modal US and molecular data exhibited outstanding performance in predicting NAC response, with an accuracy of 83.60% ± 2.63%, a sensitivity of 87.76% ± 6.44%, and a specificity of 77.45% ± 4.38%. CONCLUSION: The pretreatment CNN model based on the dual-modal US and molecular data achieved excellent performance for predicting the response to chemotherapy in breast cancer. Therefore, this model has the potential to serve as a non-invasive objective biomarker to predict NAC response and aid clinicians with individual treatments.

Two-Dimensional FePS3 Nanosheets as an Integrative Sonosensitizer/Nanocatalyst for Efficient Nanodynamic Tumor Therapy.

As the emerging modalities for tumor therapy, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), typically inducing tumor cell apoptosis. However, the construction of more efficient sonosensitizers integrated with excellent Fenton/Fenton-like catalytic activity to improve the synergistic therapeutic effect of SDT and CDT is still highly challenging. In this study, 2D semiconductor FePS3 nanosheets (NSs), as one of the metal phosphorus trichalcogenides for both sonosensitizer and Fenton catalyst, are successfully synthesized via an ultrasonic-assisted liquid phase exfoliation method from bulk FePS3 and further modified with lipoic acid-polyethylene glycol (LA-PEG) to obtain FePS3 -PEG NSs with desirable biocompatibility. The in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that the engineered FePS3 -PEG NSs induce the combinatorial SDT/CDT effect attributing to the enhanced ROS generation and significant glutathione depletion, which can conduct highly efficient and safe tumor inhibition and prolong the life span of tumor-bearing mice. This work provides the paradigm of semiconductor FePS3 NSs as the integrative sonosensitizer/Fenton nanocatalyst for dual nanodynamic tumor therapy, paving the new way for exploring other 2D metal phosphorus trichalcogenides in biomedicine.

Combining conventional ultrasound and sonoelastography to predict axillary status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of conventional ultrasound (US) combined with shear wave elastography (SWE) to reveal axillary status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients. METHODS: From September 2016 to December 2021, 201 patients with node-positive breast cancer who underwent NAC were enrolled in this prospective study. Conventional US features of axillary lymph nodes and SWE characteristics of breast lesions after NAC were analyzed. The diagnostic performances of US, SWE, and their combination were assessed using multivariate logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analyses. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the ability of conventional US features to determine axillary status after NAC was 0.82, with a sensitivity of 85.23%, a specificity of 67.39%, and an accuracy of 76.11%. Shear wave velocity (SWV) displayed moderate performance for predicting axilla status after NAC with SWVmean demonstrating an AUC of 0.85. Cortical thickness and shape of axillary nodes and SWVmean of breast tumors were independently associated with axillary nodal metastasis after NAC. Compared to conventional US, the combination of conventional US of axillary lymph nodes with SWE of breast lesions achieved a significantly higher AUC (0.90 vs 0.82, p < 0.01, Delong's test) with a sensitivity of 87.50%, improved specificity of 82.61% and accuracy of 85.00%. CONCLUSIONS: Breast SWE was independently associated with residual metastasis of axillary node after NAC in patients with initially diagnosed positive axilla. Combining SWE with conventional US showed good diagnostic performance for axillary node disease after NAC. KEY POINTS: • Breast SWE can serve as a supplement to axilla US for the evaluation of the axilla after NAC. • The combination of axilla US with breast SWE may be a promising method to facilitate less-invasive treatment in patients receiving NAC.

PET-RAFT single unit monomer insertion of ß-methylstyrene derivatives: RAFT degradation and reaction selectivity.

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) single unit monomer insertion (SUMI) of ß-methylstyrene derivatives into diverse RAFT agents presented fast reaction kinetics, but significant degradation of the SUMI products occurred due to a hydrogen abstraction reaction. Fortunately, such degradation can be suppressed through appropriate design of initial RAFT agents attributed to effective chain transfer and selective photoactivation.

A two-dimensional MXene potentiates a therapeutic microneedle patch for photonic implantable medicine in the second NIR biowindow.

Due to the refractory nature and recurrence of cancer, the related treatments are continuously updated and improved. Here, we designed a soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) microneedle system loaded with a two-dimensional (2D) MXene (Nb2C nanosheets) for medical implantation and photothermal ablation of superficial tumors in the second near infrared biological window (NIR-II). In this system, 2D Nb2C nanosheets acted as high-performance photothermal nanoagents, and biocompatible PVP functioned as matrix material to maintain the structure of the needles. The microneedle system exhibited sufficient skin-penetration ability and distinctive dissolution behavior. After being inserted into the skin of the tumor site, it can be dissolved within a short period to release the loaded 2D Nb2C nanosheets. The temperature of the tumor site increased rapidly to almost 70 °C under the irradiation of a 1064 nm laser at a power density of 1 W cm-2, and this could provide sufficient conditions for photonic tumor ablation. After two weeks of treatment, the tumor growth was significantly suppressed, compared to that of the control group, and the survival rate of mice was clearly improved. In addition, the biocompatibility of the microneedle system was tested on mice, in which no significant toxicity or side effects were observed. Therefore, this kind of microneedle system with minimally invasive, safe and effective features is expected to be developed as an intriguing strategy for localized superficial cancer treatment.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography vs MRI for evaluation of local invasion by cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of this study is to compare contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to MRI for evaluating local invasion of cervical cancer. METHODS:: A total of 108 patients with cervical cancer were included in this study. All the enrolled patients were Stage IIA2-IVB according to the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology and treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy. Tumour size in different dimensions was compared between MRI and CEUS. The correlation coefficients (r) between MRI and CEUS for diagnosing local invasion, parametrial extension, and invasion to vagina, uterine corpus and adjacent organs were assessed. RESULTS:: Measurements by MRI and CEUS were strongly correlated in the three dimensions: left-right r = 0.84, craniocaudal r = 0.86 and anteroposterior r = 0.88. Vaginal and parametrial invasion were detected by both MRI and CEUS with moderate concordance, and invasion of uterine corpus, bladder and rectum with good concordance. CONCLUSION:: CEUS is comparable to MRI for measuring tumour size, with good concordance for evaluating invasion of cervical cancer. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:: CEUS is a less expensive non-invasive modality for assessment of tumour size and invasion of cervical cancer.

Ultrasound elastography as an imaging biomarker for detection of early tumor response to chemotherapy in a murine breast cancer model: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the feasibility of using strain elastography (SE) and real time shear wave elastography (RT-SWE) to evaluate early tumor response to cytotoxic chemotherapy in a murine xenograft breast cancer tumor model. METHODS: MCF-7 breast cancer-bearing nude mice were treated with either cisplatin 2 mg kg-1 plus paclitaxel 10 mg kg-1 (treatment group) or sterile saline (control group) once daily for 5 days. The tumor elasticity was measured by SE or RT-SWE before and after therapy. Tumor cell density was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the ratio of collagen fibers in the tumor was evaluated by Van Gieson staining. The correlation between tumor elasticity, as determined by SE and SWE, as well as the pathological tumor responses were analyzed. RESULTS: Chemotherapy significantly attenuated tumor growth compared to the control treatment (p < 0.05). Chemotherapy also significantly increased tumor stiffness (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) tumor cell density compared with the control. Moreover, chemotherapy significantly increased the ratio of collagen fibers (p < 0.05). Tumor stiffness was positively correlated with the ratio of collagen fibers but negatively correlated with tumor cell density. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that ultrasound elastography by SE and SWE is a feasible tool for assessing early responses of breast cancer to chemotherapy in our murine xenograft model. Advances in knowledge: This study showed that the tumor elasticity determined by ultrasound elastography could be a feasible imaging biomarker for assessing very early therapeutic responses to chemotherapy.

Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy of Pelvic Masses.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of transvaginal ultrasound (US)-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) for obtaining adequate pelvic mass samples for histologic analysis and evaluated factors that may affect biopsy success. METHODS: Two hundred cases underwent transvaginal US-guided CNBs for primary inoperable tumors, suspicion of metastases to the ovaries or peritoneum, recurrence, or other solid lesions in the pelvis. Biopsy samples were obtained from the pelvic cavity (67.0%), vaginal cuff or vaginal wall (17.5%), or peritoneal cake (15.5%). The potential influences of the biopsy site (pelvic cavity, vaginal cuff or vaginal wall, or peritoneal cake), vascularization, ascites, tumor size, and tumor type (inoperable, metastases, recurrence, or solid pelvic tumor) on the success of transvaginal US-guided CNB were evaluated by a univariate analysis. RESULTS: Adequate samples were obtained in 192 of 200 biopsies (96.0%), of which 190 yielded successful diagnoses (95.0%). The biopsy site had a significant effect on biopsy adequacy, as there was a significantly lower probability of obtaining satisfactory specimens for histologic verification from the peritoneal cake compared to pelvic tumors and the vaginal cuff or vaginal wall (P < .01). Adequacy was also affected by tumor size (P < .05) but not by vascularization, ascites, or tumor type. No complications occurred during the biopsy procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal US-guided CNB is a safe and effective alternative to more invasive methods for evaluating pelvic lesions, such as laparoscopy and laparotomy.