Preoperative computed tomography-guided localization for pulmonary nodules: a randomized controlled trial of coil and anchored needle localization.

Introduction: In patients with pulmonary nodules (PNs), computed tomography (CT)-guided localization is commonly performed prior to the resection of these nodules through video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Aim: To evaluate the relative clinical efficacy of coil and anchored needle (AN) insertion as approaches to preoperative CT-guided PN localization. Material and methods: This single-center, prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial (registration number: NCT05183945) enrolled consecutive patients from January 2022 to July 2022, assigning these patients at random to undergo either coil or AN localization prior to VATS. Efficacy and safety outcomes in these two groups were then compared. Results: This study enrolled in total 100 patients with 120 PNs who were assigned at random to the coil (patients = 50; PNs = 60) and AN (patients = 50; PNs = 60) localization groups. The respective technical success rates for coil and AN localization were 98.3% (59/60) and 100% (60/60), with no significant difference between the groups (p = 1.000). The coil group had a significantly longer median duration of localization relative to the AN group (16.0 min vs. 8.0 min, p < 0.001). Similar rates of localization-related pneumothorax (8.3% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.715) and pulmonary hemorrhage (5.0% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.110) were observed in both groups. In addition, the VATS resection procedures achieved 100% technical success rates in both of these localization groups. Conclusions: Both coil- and AN-based localization approaches can be successfully employed to localize PNs prior to VATS resection, with the AN localization procedure requiring less time to complete on average as compared to the coil-based approach.

E93 is indispensable for reproduction in ametabolous and hemimetabolous insects.

Ecdysone-induced protein 93 (E93), known as the 'adult-specifier' transcription factor in insects, triggers metamorphosis in both hemimetabolous and holometabolous insects. Although E93 is conserved in ametabolous insects, its spatiotemporal expression and physiological function remain poorly understood. In this study, we first discover that, in the ametabolous firebrat Thermobia domestica, the previtellogenic ovary exhibits cyclically high E93 expression, and E93 mRNA is broadly distributed in previtellogenic ovarioles. E93 homozygous mutant females of T. domestica exhibit severe fecundity deficiency due to impaired previtellogenic development of the ovarian follicles, likely because E93 induces the expression of genes involved in ECM (extracellular matrix)-receptor interactions during previtellogenesis. Moreover, we reveal that in the hemimetabolous cockroach Blattella germanica, E93 similarly promotes previtellogenic ovarian development. In addition, E93 is also essential for vitellogenesis that is necessary to guarantee ovarian maturation and promotes the vitellogenesis-previtellogenesis switch in the fat body of adult female cockroaches. Our findings deepen the understanding of the roles of E93 in controlling reproduction in insects, and of E93 expression and functional evolution, which are proposed to have made crucial contributions to the origin of insect metamorphosis.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of low-dose CT-driven biopsy for pulmonary nodules.

Introduction: The diagnosis of pulmonary nodules (PNs) has traditionally relied on computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy. To reduce radiation exposure, low-dose CT-guided PN biopsy has been employed. Aim: This meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of low-dose CT-guided biopsy in the diagnosis of PNs. Material and methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Wanfang were searched for relevant articles until June 2023. Comparing low-dose CT to normal-dose CT, we considered factors such as diagnostic yield, diagnostic accuracy, biopsy process time, dose-length product (DLP) value, the frequency of pneumothorax and pulmonary bleeding, and the frequency with which complications necessitated the placement of a chest tube. Results: This meta-analysis included data from a total of 6 investigations. There was a total of 459 patients who had a CT-guided PN biopsy performed at a low dosage, and 384 patients who had a normal-dose CT-guided PN biopsy. There were no statistically significant differences between the low-dose CT and normal-dose CT groups in terms of diagnostic accuracy (p = 0.08), diagnostic yield (p = 0.55), biopsy procedure duration (p = 0.30), pneumothorax (p = 0.61), pulmonary hemorrhage (p = 0.29), or complications requiring a chest tube (p = 0.48). Low-dose CT patients obtained a DLP that was 91% lower than those in the standard-dose CT group (p = 0.01). According to Egger's test, there is a significant possibility of publication bias in DLP (p = 0.034). Conclusions: The diagnostic and safety results of low-dose CT-driven PN biopsy are equivalent to those of the standard one, although patients are much less exposed to radiation.

Preoperative localization for lung nodules: a meta-analysis of bronchoscopic versus computed tomography guidance.

Introduction: Both computed tomography (CT)-guided and bronchoscopic localization strategies have been utilized prior to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) as a means of achieving high lung nodule (LN) wedge resection success rates. Aim: The present meta-analysis was thus developed for the assessment of the efficacy and safety of preoperative CT-guided and bronchoscopic LN localization approaches. Material and methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Wanfang databases were searched for all relevant studies published through May 2022, with RevMan v5.3 being used to conduct pooled analyses of data pertaining to all endpoints of interest. Results: In total, this meta-analysis incorporated data from 7 retrospective studies including 321 patients bearing 353 LNs that underwent CT-guided localization and 220 patients bearing 244 LNs that underwent bronchoscopic localization. When comparing the CT and bronchoscopic localization approaches, pooled rates of technical success (p = 0.20) and duration of localization (p = 0.20) were comparable. However, bronchoscopic localization was associated with significantly lower pooled rates of pneumothorax (p < 0.001) and pulmonary hemorrhage (p = 0.005) relative to CT-guided localization. In the CT group, the pooled VATS duration was significantly shorter compared with the bronchoscopic group (p = 0.04), although the pooled duration of postoperative hospitalization was comparable in both groups (p = 0.69). The heterogeneity was significant with respect to both the duration of localization (I2 = 97%) and the duration of postoperative hospitalization (I2 = 74%). Conclusions: Relative to a CT-guided localization approach, the bronchoscopic localization of LNs can achieve similar clinical efficacy and superior safety.

Sleep deficiency promotes Alzheimer's disease development and progression.

Sleep disorders are a common health problem in modern society. Long-term sleep deficiency increases the risk for Alzheimer's disease. However, the exact mechanisms by which sleep deficiency affects Alzheimer's disease remain unclear. Therefore, we reviewed the relevant studies and investigated the role of sleep deprivation in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Sleep deficiency was found to be associated with oxidative stress, ß-amyloid protein deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation, which are known to increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease. In addition, insufficient sleep also increases glucocorticoid levels, decreases brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, and reduces the number of synapses in the central nervous system. These factors also promote Alzheimer's disease development and progression. The present study showed that a growing body of evidence supports an association between sleep disturbances and Alzheimer's disease. It discusses the role of sleep insufficiency in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, which may provide a theoretical basis for effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Rabi resonance in coherent population trapping: microwave mixing scheme.

Coherent population trapping (CPT) resonance signals have promise in a wide range of applications involving precision sensing. Generally, the CPT phenomenon occurs in a three-level Λ system with a bichromatic phase-coherent light fields. We theoretically and experimentally studied an Rb vapor-cell-based atomic system involving bichromatic CPT optical fields and an external microwave (MW) field simultaneously. In such a mixing scheme, the coherence of the ground states could be controlled either by the Rabi frequency of the microwave field or by the relative phase between the optical fields and the MW field. Moreover, we investigated the Rabi resonance in this mixing scheme. The Rabi frequency of the MW field can be measured SI (International System of Units)-traceably based on the Rabi resonance lineshape, and thus holds the potential to realize intensity stabilization of the optical field in this system. Simple theoretical models and numerical calculations are also presented to explain the experimental results. There is scope to use the proposed technique in future development of SI-traceable optical field strength standards.

Selection of Reference Genes for Normalization of Gene Expression in Thermobia domestica (Insecta: Zygentoma: Lepismatidae).

Zygentoma occupies a key evolutionary position for understanding the evolution of insect metamorphosis but has received little attention in terms of genetic analysis. To develop functional genomic studies in this insect, we evaluated five candidate internal reference genes for quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) studies from Thermobia domestica, a representative species of Zygentoma, including Actin 5C (Actin5C), Elongation factor-1 alpha (EF1A), Ribosome protein S26 (RPS26), Ribosome protein L32 (RPL32), and Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), at different developmental stages, in various body parts, and under dsRNA microinjection and starvation stresses, using four algorithms (delta Ct, geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper) and a comparative algorithm (RefFinder). Specific suitable reference genes were recommended across specific experimental conditions, and the combination of RPS26 and RPL32 was appropriate for all tested samples. Employing our selected reference gene combination, we investigated the gene expression pattern of Myoglianin (Myo), a crucial gene-regulating insect metamorphosis, in ametabolous T. domestica, and demonstrated the efficiency of RNA interference (RNAi) in firebrat nymphs. This study provides a basis for reliable quantitative studies of genes and greatly benefits evolutionary and functional genomics studies in Zygentoma.

Update on urine as a biomarker in cancer: a necessary review of an old story.

Introduction: Cancer causes thousands of deaths worldwide each year. Therefore, monitoring of health status and the early diagnosis of cancer using noninvasive assays, such as the analysis of molecular biomarkers in urine, is essential. However, effective biomarkers for early diagnosis of cancer have not been established in many types of cancer.Areas covered: In this review, we discuss recent findings with regard to the use of urine composition as a biomarker in eleven types of cancer. We also highlight the use of urine biomarkers for improving early diagnosis.Expert opinion: Urinary biomarkers have been applied for clinical application of early diagnosis. The main limitation is a lack of integrated approaches for identification of new biomarkers in most cancer. The utilization of urinary biomarker detection will be promoted by improved detection methods and new data from different types of cancers. With the development of precision medicine, urinary biomarkers will play an increasingly important clinical role. Future early diagnosis would benefit from changes in the utilization of urinary biomarkers.

miR-144 suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells via direct regulation of mTOR expression.

Studied as a type of tumor suppressor, microRNA (miR) performs an important role in growth and apoptosis of various human carcinomas. However, the effects of miR-l44 on osteosarcoma growth and apoptosis, as well as possible underlying mechanisms, remain unclear. The present study investigated the expression of miR-144 in osteosarcoma MG-63 and U-2 OS cell lines compared with osteoblast cells. In order to elucidate the effects of miR-144 on osteosarcoma, miR-144 was upregulated in MG-63 and U-2 OS cells by transfecting chemically synthesized miR-144 mimics. Bioinformatics analysis of potential miR-144 target genes was performed using TargetScanHuman 7.0 and confirmed by luciferase assay. This analysis identified mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) as a target of miR-144. The present results indicated that the overexpression of miR-144 may significantly inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of MG-63 and U-2 cells compared with scramble control. Furthermore, the effects of miR-144 on osteosarcoma were associated with the mTOR signaling pathway via directly targeting the 3' untranslated region of mTOR mRNA, resulting in a decrease in the level of mTOR protein. In summary, miR-144 was demonstrated to act as a tumor suppressor, which inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of osteosarcoma cell lines. In addition, this effect was mediated by direct targeting on mTOR following inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway. The present study suggested that miR-144 may be a candidate for the gene therapy of osteosarcoma.