Shukun Zhang

Primary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the breast (BMCA) is a rare neoplasm with few reports in the literature. Its molecular characteristics, prognosis, and treatment protocols are not well understood, and there is a lack of consensus concerning the optimal management of this condition. Four cases of clinical and pathological data were collected from 2018 to 2024. Next generation sequencing with a 654 cancer-associated gene panel was utilized to detect gene mutations. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to evaluate protein expression levels. Firstly, we combined clinical imaging examinations and IHC to exclude the possibility of metastasis from ovarian or pancreatic origins. BMCA was composed of cystically dilated ducts lined by tall columnar mucin-containing epithelium. The morphological spectrum of MCA varied from MCA alone to MCA combined with carcinoma in situ (CIS) to MCA associated with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). ER/PR/HER2 and CK20 were all negative, while CK7 and GATA3 were positive by IHC in four cases. Although the prognosis of the other three patients was favorable during the follow-up periods of 13, 10, and 3 months, respectively, case 2# experienced a recurrence of the primary focus after 42 months. No lymphatic metastasis was identified in cases 1–4#. In addition, next-generation sequencing (NGS) identified 17 mutated genes and 25 mutation sites in four cases. TP53, PIK3CA, AKT, PTEN, and RB1 were the highest frequency mutated genes. Given that AKT mutations typically refer to AKT1(E17K) rather than AKT2 or AKT3, AKT protein expression was detected only in Case 2# (AKT1, E17K). PTEN protein was expressed in case 4# (corresponded to missense mutation), loss of PTEN expression were corresponding with splicing mutation in case1#. In brief, AKT and PTEN protein expression could be corresponded to gene mutation in a certain extent. However, PIK3CA protein expression was positive in Case 2# but negative in Case 1#, which did not fully accordance with the NGS-detected missense mutations. No associated germline variations were detected. Additionally, neither PDL-1 expression nor microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status was identified. The tumorigenesis and development of BMCA may be regulated to the PI3K/AKT pathway. Consequently, a comprehensive genetic analysis of more cases could elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this rare tumor.

Background Aberrant expression of SWI/SNF complex subunits is closely associated with tumorigenesis. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of altered SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 subunits has not been well evaluated in gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods We collected 1271 postoperative cases of gastric adenocarcinoma and then constructed tissue microarrays (TMA), from which we obtained the immunohistochemistry expression of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4. Next, we screened the variables related to the loss of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 by univariate correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Then, we identified the variables related to prognosis by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Finally, we constructed a nomogram prognostic model and evaluated it. Results The loss of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 occurred in 236 (18.57%) and 86 (6.77%) cases, respectively, including 26 cases of co-loss. After multivariate logistic regression, variables independently associated with SMARCA2 loss were T stage, differentiation status, WHO histological classification, and EBER. Variables independently associated with SMARCA4 loss were differentiation status, WHO histological classification, PD-L1, and MMR. Survival analysis revealed that the SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 lost groups showed worse survival than the corresponding present groups (P = 0.032 and P = 0.0048, respectively). Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses identified independent prognostic factors, including age, T stage, N stage, M stage, SMARCA2, and chemotherapy. Conclusion The loss of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 correlated with poor differentiation, leading to a worse prognosis. SMARCA2, as an independent prognostic factor, combined with other clinicopathological variables, established a novel nomogram prognostic model, which outperformed the AJCC TNM model.

Background: AT‐rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A) is an essential subunit of the switch/sucrose non‐fermentable chromatin remodeling complex and is considered to be a tumor suppressor. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) molecular classification has deepened our understanding of gastric cancer at the molecular level. This study explored the significance of ARID1A expression in TCGA subtypes of gastric adenocarcinoma.Methods: We collected 1248 postoperative patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, constructed tissue microarrays, performed immunohistochemistry for ARID1A, and obtained correlations between ARID1A and clinicopathological variables. We then carried out the prognostic analysis of ARID1A in TCGA subtypes. Finally, we screened patients by random sampling and propensity score matching method and performed multiplex immunofluorescence to explore the effects of ARID1A on CD4, CD8, and PD‐L1 expression in TCGA subtypes.Results: Seven variables independently associated with ARID1A were screened out: mismatch repair proteins, PD‐L1, T stage, differentiation status, p53, E‐cadherin, and EBER. The independent prognostic variables in the genomically stable (GS) subtype were N stage, M stage, T stage, chemotherapy, size, and ARID1A. PD‐L1 expression was higher in the ARID1A negative group than in the ARID1A positive group in all TCGA subgroups. CD4 showed higher expression in the ARID1A negative group in most subtypes, while CD8 did not show the difference in most subtypes. When ARID1A was negative, PD‐L1 expression was positively correlated with CD4/CD8 expression; while when ARID1A was positive, this correlation disappeared.Conclusions: The negative expression of ARID1A occurred more frequently in the Epstein–Barr virus and microsatellite instability subtypes and was an independent adverse prognostic factor in the GS subtype. In the TCGA subtypes, ARID1A negative expression caused increased CD4 and PD‐L1 expression, whereas CD8 expression appeared independent of ARID1A. The expression of CD4/CD8 induced by ARID1A negativity was accompanied by an increase in PD‐L1 expression.

Background: The switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex is an evolutionarily conserved chromatin remodeling complex that displays dysfunction in many tumors, especially undifferentiated carcinoma. Cancer stem cells (CSC), a special type of undifferentiated cancer cells with stem cell-like properties, play an essential role in tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In undifferentiated gastric carcinomas, the association of SWI/SNF complexes with clinicopathological features, CSC phenotype, and the prognosis is not fully understood. Methods: We collected a cohort of 21 patients with undifferentiated/dedifferentiated gastric carcinoma. We next performed immunohistochemistry staining for the five subunits of the SWI/SNF complex (ARID1A, ARID1B, SMARCA2, SMARCA4, and SMARCB1), and four mismatch repair proteins (MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6), as well as other markers such as p53, PD-L1, and cancer stem cell (CSC) markers (SOX2, SALL4). Then, we investigated the correlation of SWI/SNF complex subunits with clinicopathological characters and performed prognostic analysis. Results: We observed SMARCA2 loss in 12 cases (57.14%), followed by ARID1A (5 cases, 23.81%) and SMARCA4 (3 cases, 14.29%). Fourteen cases (66.67%) lost any one of the SWI/SNF complex subunits, including 3 cases with SMARCA2 and ARID1A co-loss, and 3 cases with SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 co-loss. Correlation analysis revealed that the CSC phenotype occurred more frequently in the SWI/SNF complex deficient group (P = 0.0158). Survival analysis revealed that SWI/WNF complex deficiency, undifferentiated status, CSC phenotype, and the loss of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 resulted in worse survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses screened out three independent factors associated with worse prognosis: undifferentiated status, SWI/SNF complex deficiency, and lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: The SWI/SNF complex deficiency was more likely to result in a CSC phenotype and worse survival and was an independent prognostic factor in undifferentiated/dedifferentiated gastric carcinoma.

Skin is the interface between human beings and the outside world. After skin injury, bleeding control and wound protection is urgently needed. In the study, the carboxymethyl cellulose/carboxymethyl chitosan-polydopamine (CMC/CMCS-PDA) sponge is prepared for skin hemostasis and repair. The self-polymerization of dopamine (DA) and cross-linking between DA and CMCS are simultaneously completed by Michael addition reaction to form CMCS-PDA under alkaline conditions. CMCS-PDA is introduced into the CMC sponge by EDC/NHS to improve the hemostasis ability and wound repair. By increasing the dosage of CMCS to get CMC/CMCS-PDA₁, CMC/CMCS-PDA_2, and CMC/CMCS-PDA₃ sponges, and the stability of CMC/CMCS-PDA sponge is improved with the increasing addition of CMCS. Compared with a simple CMC/PDA sponge, CMC/CMCS-PDA sponge has a high hemostatic effect for its dispersion stability and CMC/CMCS-PDA2 exhibits the best hemostatic ability with proper crosslinking. At the same time, the prepared CMC/CMCS-PDA sponge has good antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Rat skin wound model showed that CMC/CMCS-PDA sponge can better promote wound repair. Therefore, CMC/CMCS-PDA sponge could be a potential wound dressing for skin hemostasis and repair.

In order to study the micro behavior of alkanes and their interaction with carbon nanomaterials and metal nanomaterials in composite phase change materials (CPCM), in this paper, Cu surface and amorphous n-octadecane composite system (system A) and Cu surface, as well as graphene/n-octadecane composite system (system B), were constructed. The micro behavior of alkanes on the Cu surface was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The MD results show that the alkane molecules are arranged in a relatively orderly crystalline form on the Cu surface because of the interface interaction and make the thermal conductivity of the alkane molecules in the composite system improved. Moreover, by comparing the self-diffusion coefficient of n-octadecane in these two systems, it is found that the phase transition temperature of n-octadecane in system A is about 300 K, while the phase transition temperature of n-octadecane/graphene composite system in system B is enhanced to 320 K.

Background: SMARCA2 (SWI/SNF Related, Matrix Associated, Actin Dependent Regulator of Chromatin, Subfamily A, Member 2) is an important ATPase catalytic subunit in the switch-sucrose nonfermenting (SWI/SNF) complex. However, its relationship with the pathological features of NSCLC and its prognosis remain unclear.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 2390 patients with surgically resected NSCLC, constructed tissue microarrays (TMAs) and performed immunohistochemical assays. We analyzed the correlation of SAMRCA2 with clinicopathological features and evaluated its prognostic value.Results: Among 2390 NSCLC cases, the negative expression ratios of SAMRCA2, SMARCA4, ARID1A, ARID1B and INI1 were 9.3%, 1.8%, 1.2%, 0.4% and 0%, respectively. In NSCLC, male sex, T3 and T4 stage, moderate and poor differentiation, tumor ≥ 2 cm, Ki67 ≥ 15%, SOX-2 negative expression, middle lobe lesion and adenocarcinoma were relative risk factors affecting SMARCA2-negative expression. In lung adenocarcinomas, high-grade nuclei, histological morphology of acinar and papillary, solid and micropapillary and TTF-1-negative expression were relative risk factors affecting SMARCA2-negative expression. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that the OS was shorter in the SMARCA2-negative group. Multivariate survival analysis revealed that SMARCA2-negative expression was an independent factor correlated with a poor prognosis in NSCLC.Conclusion: In conclusion, SMARCA2-negative expression is an independent predictor of a poor outcome of NSCLC and is a potential target for NSCLC treatment.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common lung disease characterized by severe acute inflammatory lung injury in patients with sepsis. Syringaresinol (SYR) has been reported to have anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, but whether it could prevent pyroptosis to improve sepsis-induced ALI remains unclear. The purpose of this work was to examine the impact of SYR on sepsis-induced ALI and investigate the underlying mechanisms. The ALI model was induced by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in C57BL/6 mice, structural damage in the lung tissues was determined using haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the levels of related inflammatory cytokines and macrophage polarization were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and flow cytometry, respectively. The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the protein levels of TLR4, NF-κB and MAPKs was measured by western blotting. The results demonstrated that SYR pretreatment significantly reduced lung tissue histological damage, inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines and albumin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels, thereby alleviating lung tissue injury. Meanwhile, septic mice treated with SYR displayed a higher survival rate and lower percentage of M1 macrophages in the BALF and spleen than septic mice. In addition, lung tissues from the CLP + SYR group exhibited downregulated protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD caspase-1 p20 and TLR4, along with decreased phosphorylated levels of NF-κB, ERK, JNK and P38, indicating that SYR administration effectively prevented CLP-induced pyroptosis in the lung. SYR also suppressed LPS-induced pyroptosis in RAW 264.7 cells by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which was abolished by an oestrogen receptor-β (ERβ) antagonist (PHTPP). In conclusion, SYR exerted protective effects on CLP-induced ALI via the oestrogen receptor-β signalling pathway.