Liquid biopsy for gastric cancer:Techniques,applications,and future directions

After the study of circulating tumor cells in blood through liquid biopsy(LB),this technique has evolved to encompass the analysis of multiple materials originating from the tumor,such as nucleic acids,extracellular vesicles,tumor-educated platelets,and other metabolites.Additionally,research has extended to include the examination of samples other than blood or plasma,such as saliva,gastric juice,urine,or stool.LB techniques are diverse,intricate,and variable.They must be highly sensitive,and pre-analytical,patient,and tumor-related factors significantly influence the detection threshold,diagnostic method selection,and potential results.Consequently,the implementation of LB in clinical practice still faces several challenges.The potential applications of LB range from early cancer detection to guiding targeted therapy or immunotherapy in both early and advanced cancer cases,monitoring treatment response,early identification of relapses,or assessing patient risk.On the other hand,gastric cancer(GC)is a disease often diagnosed at advanced stages.Despite recent advances in molecular understanding,the currently available treatment options have not substantially improved the prognosis for many of these patients.The application of LB in GC could be highly valuable as a non-invasive method for early diagnosis and for enhancing the management and outcomes of these patients.In this comprehensive review,from a pathologist’s perspective,we provide an overview of the main options available in LB,delve into the fundamental principles of the most studied techniques,explore the potential utility of LB application in the context of GC,and address the obstacles that need to be overcome in the future to make this innovative technique a game-changer in cancer diagnosis and treatment within clinical practice.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promote neurogenesis and cognitive function recovery in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes can enhance neural plasticity and improve cognitive impairment.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes on neurogenesis and cognitive capacity in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s disease mouse models were established by injection of beta amyloid 1?42 aggregates into dentate gyrus bilaterally.Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests were performed to evaluate mouse cognitive deficits at 14 and 28 days after administration.Afterwards,neurogenesis in the subventricular zone was determined by immunofluorescence using doublecortin and PSA-NCAM antibodies.Results showed that mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes stimulated neurogenesis in the subventricular zone and alleviated beta amyloid 1?42-induced cognitive impairment,and these effects are similar to those shown in the mesenchymal stem cells.These findings provide evidence to validate the possibility of developing cell-free therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease.All procedures and experiments were approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee(CICUAL)(approval No.CICUAL 2016-011)on April 25,2016.

Association between physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors:Dose and sex matter

Dear Editor,ETadegn TagedPFailure to meet World Health Organization(WHO)-determined minimum physical activity(PA)levels is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease(CVD),^(1)but evidence is still scarce on its effects on other CVD risk factors.Furthermore,whether or not there are sex-specific effects on the association between PA and CVD risk is a matter of controversy,with some authors observing a protective effect of PA in men but not in women,^(2)and others finding the opposite trend.^(3)

Passive Strategies for the Prevention of Muscle Wasting During Recovery from Sports Injuries

Background Recovery from sport injuries commonly involves a muscle disuse situation(i.e.,reduction in physical activity levels sometimes preceded by joint immobilization)with subsequent negative effects on muscle mass and function.Purpose To summarize the current body of knowledge on the effectiveness of different physical strategies that are currently available to mitigate the negative effects of muscle disuse during recovery from sports injury.Methods A narrative review was conducted to summarize the information available on neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES),blood flow restriction(BFR)and vibration intervention.Results The concomitant application of BFR and low-intensity exercise has shown promising results in the prevention of disuse-induced muscle atrophy.Some benefits might also be obtained with BFR alone(i.e.,with no exercise),but evidence is still inconclusive.NMES,which can be applied both passively and synchronously with exercise,can also attenuate most of the negative changes associated with disuse periods.In turn,the mechanical stimulus elicited by vibration seems effec-tive to reduce the loss of bone mineral density that accompanies muscle disuse and could also provide some benefits at the muscle tissue level.Conclusions Different physical strategies are available to attenuate disuse-induced negative consequences during recovery from injury.These interventions can be applied passively,which makes them feasible during the first stages of the recovery.However,it would be advisable to apply these strategies in conjunction with low-intensity voluntary exercise as soon as this is feasible.

Neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric brain tumors after treatment with proton versus photon radiation:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Advances in cancer treatments,particularly the development of radiation therapy,have led to improvements in survival outcomes in children with brain tumors.However,radiation therapy is associated with significant long-term neurocognitive morbidity.The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the neurocognitive outcomes of children and adolescents with brain tumors treated with photon radiation(XRT)or proton therapy(PBRT).Methods A systematic search was conducted(PubMed,Embase,Cochrane,and Web of Science from inception until 02/01/2022)for studies comparing the neurocognitive outcomes of children and adolescents with brain tumors treated with XRT vs.PBRT.The pooled mean differences(expressed as Z scores)were calculated using a random effects method for those endpoints analyzed by a minimum of three studies.Results Totally 10 studies(n=630 patients,average age range:1–20 years)met the inclusion criteria.Patients who had received PBRT achieved significantly higher scores(difference in Z scores ranging from 0.29–0.75,all P<0.05 and significant in sensitivity analyses)after treatment than those who had received XRT for most analyzed neurocognitive outcomes(i.e.,intelligence quotient,verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning indices,visual motor integration,and verbal memory).No robust significant differences(P>0.05 in main analyses or sensitivity analyses)were found for nonverbal memory,verbal working memory and working memory index,processing speed index,or focused attention.Conclusions Pediatric brain tumor patients who receive PBRT achieve significantly higher scores on most neurocognitive outcomes than those who receive XRT.Larger studies with long-term follow-ups are needed to confirm these results.

85岁以上高龄老人的运动锻炼 高龄并不妨碍老年人从量身定制的运动中获益

当今社会正在逐步老龄化,年龄≥85岁的人群已成为人口增长最快的群体,预计到2050年,他们的人口数量将增加2倍以上。如何在高龄时保持机体的健康和功能,对医护人员和公众来说,是个日益严峻的挑战。

Rare germline copy number variants in colorectal cancer predisposition characterized by exome sequencing analysis

Colorectal cancer （CRC） is one of the most common neoplasms and an important cause of mortality worldwide （http：//globocan. iarc.fr]）. Approximately 35% of the variation in CRC susceptibility is likely due to heritable factors （Lichtenstein et al., 2000}. Genetic variations in the human genome include single nucleotide variants （SNVs）, short insertions and deletions, and larger structural variants resulting in gain or loss of genomic DNA larger than 1 kb, such as copy number variants （CNVs）. Leaving aside the importance of CNVs in sporadic tumor development, these variants can also be present in the germline DNA of healthy individuals from the general population and be considered polymorphic.