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Background: The enzyme 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 3 (OAS3) plays a well-established role in antiviral immunity, but its involvement in cancer biology remains poorly understood. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the expression patterns, mutation characteristics, prognostic significance, functional roles, and therapeutic potential of OAS3 across multiple cancer types.

Methods: Utilizing multi-omics data from public cancer databases, we analyzed OAS3 expression patterns, survival correlations, immune interactions, pathway enrichment, genomic associations, mutation profiles, and functional validation of OAS3 knockdown in THP-1 cells for apoptosis assays.

Results: OAS3 expression was significantly upregulated in 32 cancer types, highlighting its context-dependent roles as an oncogene. The expression patterns of OAS3 were found to be stage-specific and cancer-specific across multiple tumor types. Survival analysis revealed that high OAS3 expression was significantly associated with unfavorable prognosis in several cancers. Further analyses demonstrated that OAS3 expression was correlated with immune-related genes, immune checkpoints, tumor stemness, and immune cell infiltration across multiple tumor types. Moreover, gene set enrichment profiling revealed significant involvement of OAS3 in interferon response and immune regulation, with prominent enrichment in Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) and Notch signaling pathways. Mutation analysis highlighted high mutation frequencies of OAS3 in several cancer types, especially in endometrial cancer and melanoma. Comprehensive molecular profiling further identified significant associations between OAS3 expression levels and key genomic features (tumor mutation burden, homologous recombination deficiency and RNA modification-related proteins). Besides, OAS3's expression was associated with key processes such as cell cycle regulation and immune evasion, further underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target in lung and breast cancers. Finally, we found that OAS3 was observably related with some mutation types (CEBPA, FLT3 internal tandem duplication, NRAS, and EVI1 expression) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (LAML). Functional validation through RNA interference demonstrated that OAS3 knockdown significantly induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that OAS3 acts as a pivotal modulator in the complex network of cancer progression, highlighting its dual role in both tumorigenesis and immune response regulation.

Oysters are important coastal foundation species that provide valuable hard substrate for the recruitment of epibiotic organisms in environments otherwise dominated by soft sediment. Yet, their interactions with epibionts are relatively understudied. Despite the proliferation of macroalgal mats across the Southeastern United States in winter months, the relationship between oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and seasonal macroalgae is poorly understood. We conducted an observational field survey and two manipulative field experiments to document seasonal macroalgal dynamics on intertidal oyster reefs and to better understand the interaction between the oysters and algae. We found that algal mats in North Carolina were primarily composed of two genera, Ulva and Ectocarpus, which together reached extremely high cover (up to 100%) over large areas of reef. Macroalgae appeared in January and declined in May, with peak cover in February and March. Algal cover was significantly higher on constructed oyster reefs vs. natural oyster reefs. Our field experiments showed that algal cover was significantly higher on dead oyster mimics vs. live oysters, suggesting that the primary mechanism of algal facilitation is associated with the provisioning of hard substrate rather than fertilization. Reciprocally, we found no significant effects of macroalgae on oyster abundance or growth, likely due to relatively low algal cover in the experimental treatments. With a predicted proliferation of macroalgae under global change, our study highlights the important role that intertidal oyster reefs play in providing substrate for macroalgae, but more research on this key species interaction in intertidal areas of the Southeastern United States is needed.

Background: Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) currently lacks reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and precision therapy. While Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 (SLC7A11) plays key roles in ferroptosis resistance, redox homeostasis and tumor progression, its epigenetic regulation, diagnostic potential, and immunological functions in LUSC remain poorly understood.

Methods: Multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and an in-house cohorts of 173 LUSC patients were integrated to characterize SLC7A11 DNA methylation, mRNA, and protein levels. Four methylation probes were utilized to construct diagnostic models, including Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB). These models were validated internally (via 10-fold cross-validation and bootsrtapping) and externally using the GSE121849 dataset. Model interpretability was examined through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). Additionally, immune infiltration, pathway enrichment and drug sensitivity analyses were performed to explore ferroptosis-associated and immunity-related mechanisms.

Results: SLC7A11 exhibited LUSC-specific epigenetic activation, characterized by promoter hypomethylation, mRNA upregulation, and protein overexpression across cohorts. The four-probe GLM diagnostic model achieved superior performance (AUC = 0.985 in TCGA; AUC = 1.000 in GSE121849), with SHAP identifying cg02102889 (TSS1500) as the most influential probe. While SLC7A11 expression and methylation were not significantly associated with survival in the overall cohort, high SLC7A11 predicted poorer outcomes in female patients and those with pathologic T3 & T4 stage disease. Mechanistically, SLC7A11-high tumors displayed ferroptosis-resistant and immunosuppressive phenotypes, including increased Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and enrichment of regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages. Drug sensitivity profiling suggested resistance to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) inducers and Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, but enhanced sensitivity to recombinant tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (rTRAIL) and 17-Allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin.

Conclusion: SLC7A11 undergoes epigenetic activation in LUSC and enables a robust four-probe, methylation-based diagnostic model. Its expression is linked to ferroptosis resistance, immune evasion, and therapeutic response, supporting SLC7A11 as a promising biomarker for early diagnosis and personalized treatment in LUSC.

Allium grayi Regel is a seasonally limited small perennial herb of the subfamily Allioideae, and is endemic to Matsu, Taiwan. The species possesses nutritious, ornamental value, and biological pharmacological activity. This study evaluated for the first time to induce polyploidy using the dissected bulb of A. grayi as explants in vitro, with the expectation of increasing the bulb size. Sterile bulbs were divided into four equal parts and pre-cultured under different durations before being soaked in a one g/L colchicine solution for 12 or 24 hours. Survival, regeneration, variation, and tetraploid induction rates were recorded, while ploidy levels were determined by flow cytometry and stomatal traits were measured microscopically. The results showed that pre-cultured treatment after dissecting the sterile bulbs increased the variation rate of the plants, with the group that was left static for 10 days before immersing in a one g/L colchicine liquid medium for 24 hours showing the best results. The variation rate reached 100%, and the induction rate of tetraploid plants reached 20% by flow cytometry examination. Among 123 regenerated shoots, 13 were chimeras and three stable tetraploid lines were established, all exhibiting larger stomata and lower stomatal density than diploids. These tetraploid lines provide great potential for future breeding and improvement of Matsu native shallot cultivars.

Jellyfish are increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to marine organic matter (OM) on a global scale, with implications for ecosystem dynamics. While the role of jellyfish detritus in microbial nutrient cycling has been explored, the contribution of OM released by live jellyfish-primarily as mucus (hereinafter referred to as mucus-associated OM, or MAOM)-remains understudied. This study investigates the release of organic and inorganic nutrients through MAOM from live jellyfish and their effects on ambient microbial communities in the northern Adriatic Sea using a series of leaching and short-term microcosm experiments. Our results show that per gram of MAOM dry weight from the jellyfish Aurelia spp, approximatively 2 µmol of phosphate, 4 µmol of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, 18 µmol dissolved organic nitrogen, 134 µmol of dissolved organic carbon and 15 µmol of dissolved free amino acids can be released in the ambient seawater in 24 h. Almost half of the OM is released as dissolved OM (DOM), of which a substantial part is low molecular weight (<1 kDa) molecules. During the first 20 h, the DOM fraction of MAOM was rapidly consumed by the ambient microbial community without a corresponding increase in biomass, likely due to nitrogen limitation. In the subsequent 22 h, microbial growth accelerated to 0.19 ± 0.03 h^-1 until phosphate became limiting, leading to a sharp decline in microbial production. Our metagenomics analysis revealed that the MAOM-degrading microbial community, dominated by Gammaproteobacteria opportunistic copiotrophs, exhibited increased functional capacity for nutrient assimilation and OM degradation, particularly in the transport and metabolism of amino acids (particularly glycine and taurine) and phosphorus. These traits mirror those found in detritus-degrading microbial communities, suggesting that jellyfish blooms promote the emergence of specialized microbial consortia with shared metabolic capabilities. Taken together, our findings highlight that live jellyfish, through the release of OM, play an active and previously underappreciated role in shaping ambient microbial community dynamics and nutrient fluxes in marine systems affected by jellyfish blooms.

Background: In recent years, an increasing number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses have examined the health benefits of traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs). However, most of the reviews and meta-analyses have just focused on their effects on physical function in older adults. This study conducts a meta-analysis of existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the effects of TCEs on psychological health outcomes.

Methods: Five Chinese and English databases were searched from their inception to July 2, 2025. RCTs were included if they used TCE interventions to improve psychological health outcomes in older adults, such as depression, anxiety, subjective well-being, general self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Study screening and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers at all stages. Meta-analyses were conducted using Rev Man 5.4 and Stata 17.0. Pre-determined subgroups included the type of TCEs, mode of the intervention, duration of the intervention, frequency of exercise, duration of the single exercise session, and type of control condition.

Result: This study included 42 RCTs involving 4,317 participants. The meta-analysis revealed that, compared to control groups, TCEs are more effective in improving depression (SMD = -0.51, 95% CI [-0.72 to -0.29], p < 0.00001), anxiety (SMD = -0.39, 95% CI [-0.63 to -0.15], p = 0.002), and subjective well-being among older adults (SMD = 1.07, 95% CI [0.18-1.96], p = 0.02). TCEs also showed positive effects on general self-efficacy (SMD = 0.63, 95% CI [-0.05 to 1.31], p = 0.07) and self-esteem (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI [-0.06 to 1.13], p = 0.08), although these effects are not statistically significant. Despite the high heterogeneity in some outcomes, the studies with heterogeneity did not have a significant effect on the results. None of the included studies reported any injuries or adverse events among the participants.

Conclusion: TCEs represent an effective and safe intervention that can significantly reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults, while also enhancing their subjective well-being. When implementing TCE interventions, it is recommended to adopt a group-based exercise class, with sessions lasting 30 to 50 minutes, conducted 3 to 5 times per week, for a minimum duration of 24 weeks.

Registration: PROSPERO (No. CRD420251067843).

Purpose: Using ultrasound to distinguish between benign and malignant thyroid nodules can be challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a modified Chinese Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (C-TIRADS) that incorporates a redefined criterion for marked hypoechogenicity in stratifying the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed patients with thyroid nodules who underwent ultrasound examination and subsequent biopsy or treatment at a tertiary hospital between January 2022 and December 2023. Interobserver agreement in identifying marked hypoechogenicity between two reviewers was assessed using kappa statistics. Using histopathology as the reference standard, the diagnostic performance of three classification systems, including the classical C-TIRADS, the modified C-TIRADS, and the 2021 K-TIRADS, was compared in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results: The study included 1,219 patients with 1,721 thyroid nodules. After redefining marked hypoechogenicity, interobserver agreement (kappa) improved from 0.652 to 0.722. Compared to the original criterion, the redefined marked hypoechogenicity demonstrated significantly higher sensitivity (74.5% vs. 15.1%), accuracy (86.8% vs. 70.8%), and AUC (0.836 vs. 0.563) (all p < 0.05), with only a marginal reduction in specificity (92.6% vs. 97.4%, p > 0.05). The malignancy rates for the modified C-TIRADS categories were as follows: 12.0% (4a), 60.6% (4b), 85.8% (4c), and 93.3% (5). The optimal diagnostic thresholds were category 4b for both classical and modified C-TIRADS and category 4 for K-TIRADS. The modified C-TIRADS achieved superior accuracy (90.2% vs. 88.2% vs. 81.3%) and AUC (0.908 vs. 0.870 vs. 0.857) compared to the classical C-TIRADS and K-TIRADS, respectively (all pairwise p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The modified C-TIRADS, incorporating a redefined criterion of marked hypoechogenicity, shows improved diagnostic performance in stratifying the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules and provides risk assessments that align more closely with the expected probabilities outlined in the (classical) C-TIRADS guidelines.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of three distinct cultivation methods on the plant-soil system of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. specifically focusing on how they shape the rhizosphere microbial community and influence the accumulation of it is phenolic compounds. This study employed high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal ITS rDNA to assess the impact of three cultivation methods including in situ cultivation (ISC), indoor cultivation (IC), and tissue culture (TC) on the diversity and community structure of H. cordata rhizosphere soil microbes. Additionally, we explored the environmental drivers of phenotypic variations in secondary metabolite composition. Soil pH, urease (URA), total potassium (TK), and total nitrogen (TN) were significantly correlated with the accumulation of quercitrin, kaempferol-3-O-glucorhamnoside, isoquercitrin, and chlorogenic acid in H. cordata. Moreover, these environmental factors significantly influenced the rhizosphere microbial taxa Saitozyma, Lysobacter, Gemmata, and Penicillium. IC presents a sustainable approach for H. cordata cultivation, enhancing rhizosphere soil fertility and health. Furthermore, pH, URA, TK, and TN serve as key environmental drivers of secondary metabolite variation. These findings provide a foundation for establishing quality evaluation standards for H. cordata ensuring stable pharmacological efficacy, and facilitating further functional applications.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most frequently diagnosed cancer. Early diagnosis and precise risk assessment for lymph node metastasis (LNM) of T1 CRC, characterized by tumor confined to the mucosa and submucosa, essential for enhancing patient outcomes and informing therapeutic strategies. This project aims to use machine learning in refining clinical decision-making processes for T1 CRC patients, thereby laying the groundwork for more personalized and efficacious treatment protocols.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed data from 210 patients with T1 CRC who underwent surgical resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 2017 to 2023. The datasets encompassed clinical, endoscopic, and pathological parameters, which were examined to identify potential predictors of LNM. A range of machine learning algorithms, including boosted trees, decision trees, logistic regression, multilayer perceptron (MLP), naïve Bayes, k-nearest neighbors (K-NN), random forest and support vector machine (SVM), were leveraged to construct a predictive model for LNM in T1 CRC.

Results: Our research demonstrated that the random forest algorithm outperformed other models in predictive performance for the risk of LNM. Furthermore, the model identified seven key risk factors associated with LNM. We found four novel LNM predictive indicators for T1 CRC: tumor submucosal invasion area, percentage of tumors with invasive carcinoma, poorly differentiated tumor cell clusters, and serrated lesions.

Conclusion: This study developed a risk predictive model for LNM in T1 CRC patients by utilizing eight machine learning algorithms. Four novel predictive indicators were identified, improving the accuracy of LNM prediction.

This study investigates the effects of 8 weeks of liquid protein supplementation on resistance-training adaptations in healthy, untrained college students. Thirty untrained male participants were randomized into two groups: a protein supplement (resistance training exercise (RTE) + protein) and a control (RTE). Both groups underwent resistance training exercises (RTE) three times per week for 8 weeks. The RTE + protein consumed a protein liquid supplement post-exercise, while the RTE consumed water. The results showed a higher degree of change in chest circumference (mean difference = 6.10 cm vs 3.36 cm), maximal bench press strength (mean difference = 16.00 kg vs 8.93 kg, P = 0.007) and maximal squat strength (mean difference = 42.33 kg and 27.32 kg, P = 0.018) in the RTE + protein group compared to the RTE group. Both groups demonstrated increases in thigh circumference, muscle mass, and maximal bench press and deep squat repetitions, but no significant differences were observed between the two groups. These findings suggest that post-exercise protein liquid supplementation can enhance the benefits of RTE on muscle strength and body circumference in young untrained adults. The study highlights the importance of post-exercise protein supplementation for beginners seeking to improve muscle performance, and future research should explore the long-term effects and optimal dosages of protein supplementation in different forms. This trial was registered with ChiCTR under the registration number ChiCTR2300076750.