Int J Med Sci
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Background: The current research aims to elucidate the interplay between the anatomical distribution of spinal metastases, MRI features, and the intensity of bone pain in patients with breast cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis was used on a cohort of 45 breast cancer patients with verified spinal metastases, examining the relationship between metastatic locations, MRI-derived metrics, and bone pain scores. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was conducted to measure the severity of bone pain. ⋯ Conclusions: The study's outcomes indicate that distinct MRI profiles, including the number and location of spinal metastases, can serve as prognostic indicators of bone pain intensity in breast cancer patients. Our data highlighted the need for personalized pain management strategies and targeted interventions tailored to specific imaging characteristics. Ultimately, this research underscores the dual role of MRI in both detecting spinal metastases and informing symptom management, with the potential to augment the overall well-being of breast cancer patients with spinal involvement.
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Background: A more accurate assessment of extrahepatic metastases (EHMs) with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLMs) improve patient prognosis without unnecessary surgery and economic burden. At present, PET-CT can only be used as a second-line modality. We aimed to construct a predictive model for EHMs, and provide guidance for the selective application of 18F-FDG PET/CT. ⋯ The nomogram model achieved stable and accurate prediction results in the training and validation sets (AUC = 0.768 and 0.733), and was significantly superior to CEA and CA19-9. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET/CT for the diagnosis of EHMs were 100% and 88%, respectively. Conclusions: We constructed and validated a nomogram on predicting the risk of EHMs in patients with CRLMs, which can guide clinicians to selective application of 18F-FDG PET/CT.
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Background: Chemotherapy resistance is a great challenge in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC), so it is urgent to explore the prognostic markers of chemoresistance. PUF60 (Poly (U)-binding splicing factor 60) is a nucleic acid-binding protein that has been shown to regulate transcription and link to tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, its biological role and function in chemotherapy resistance of GC is unclear. ⋯ Mechanistically, PUF60 enhances chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer (GC) cells by actively excluding chemotherapy drugs via the recombinant ATP Binding Cassette Transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily C Member 1 (ABCC1). This process further affects the cell cycle, reduces cell apoptosis, and ultimately promotes resistance to chemotherapy in GC. Conclusion: PUF60 promotes chemoresistance in GC, resulting in poor prognosis of GC patients treated with 5-FU, and providing a new idea for overcoming the chemoresistance in GC.
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Background: Olfactory and gustatory disturbances are commonly overlooked symptoms but may be linked to various health conditions, including cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that these sensory impairments could be early indicators of lung cancer, particularly in individuals with sleep disorders, a group already at elevated cancer risk due to factors like circadian disruption and hormonal changes. Objective: To evaluate whether olfactory and gustatory disturbances can serve as early markers for lung cancer in patients with sleep disorders. ⋯ COVID-19 infection did not have a significant impact on lung cancer risk in this population. Conclusion: Olfactory and gustatory disturbances may serve as early markers for lung cancer, particularly in older patients and males with sleep disorders. These findings suggest the potential for using sensory impairments in early cancer detection strategies.
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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy with high morbidity and mortality rates globally. Advances in single-cell sequencing technology have enabled comprehensive analyses of tumor cells at single-cell resolution, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC initiation and progression. In this study, we integrated single-cell sequencing data with the TCGA database to identify key molecular pathways involved in CRC pathogenesis. ⋯ Specifically, we observed aberrant expression of genes involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis and degradation, as well as altered levels of various sphingolipid metabolites in CRC cells. Furthermore, we identified several potential therapeutic targets, including SMPD1, GLTP, B3GALT4, and ST8SIA6, within the sphingolipid metabolism pathway that could be exploited for the development of novel CRC treatments. Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC and highlight the importance of targeting phospholipid metabolism, specifically sphingolipid metabolism, as a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC.