Previous studies have indicated that prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause adverse neuropsychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. This study aimed to determine the association between the concentrations of prenatal EDCs and brain structure changes in teenagers by using MRI. We recruited 49 mother–child pairs during the third trimester of pregnancy, and collected and examined the concentration of EDCs—including phthalate esters, perfluorochemicals (PFCs), and heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury)—in maternal urine and/or serum. MRI voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and generalized q-sampling imaging (GQI) mapping—including generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA), normalized quantitative anisotropy (NQA), and the isotropic value of the orientation distribution function (ISO)—were obtained in teenagers 13–16 years of age in order to find the association between maternal EDC concentrations and possible brain structure alterations in the teenagers’ brains. We found that there are several specific vulnerable brain areas/structures associated with prenatal exposure to EDCs, including decreased focal brain volume, primarily in the frontal lobe; high frontoparietal lobe, temporooccipital lobe and cerebellum; and white matter structural alterations, which showed a negative association with GFA/NQA and a positive association with ISO, primarily in the corpus callosum, external and internal capsules, corona radiata, superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and superior longitudinal fasciculus. Prenatal exposure to EDCs may be associated with specific brain structure alterations in teenagers.

β-sitosterol (SITO) has been reported with anticancer effects; however, with poor bioavailability. The current study aimed to investigate whether liposomal encapsulated β-sitosterol (LS) has a better inhibition effect on tumor metastasis than β-sitosterol in a CT26/luc lung metastasis mouse model and the possible underlying mechanism. LS was liposomal-encapsulated SITO and was delivered to mice by oral gavage. The cell viability was determined by the MTT assay, and invasiveness of the tumor cells and related protein expression were evaluated with the invasion assay and Western blotting. For therapeutic efficacy evaluation, male BALB/c mice were treated with PBS, SITO, and LS once a day for 7 days prior to intravenous injections of CT26/luc cells; treatments were continued twice a week post-cell inoculation throughout the entire experiment. Tumor growth inhibition was monitored by bioluminescent imaging (BLI). IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-γ in the intestinal epithelium were determined by ELISA. The results show that LS treatment had a better invasion inhibition with lower cytotoxicity than SITO when the same dose was utilized. Notably, mice treated with LS significantly exhibited fewer metastases to the lungs and other tissues/organs compared with the Control and SITO groups. Additionally, the IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in the LS-treated mice compared with the Control and SITO groups. The underlying mechanism may be through the inhibition of MMP-9 and elicitation of the antitumoral Th1 immune response, such as increasing CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-γ.

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of transradial access (TRA) thyroid artery embolization (TAE) for patients with large solitary symptomatic benign thyroid nodules. Six patients with a total of six nodules (three men and three women; mean age, 36.3 years; age range, 23–45 years) underwent TRA TAE between October 2021 and June 2022 and were subsequently followed up three months later, and their cases were retrospectively reviewed. The associated complications were recorded during and after TRA TAE. The volume change and nodule-related symptom score on a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) between baseline, 1- and 3-month follow-up was analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The technical success rate of the TRA TAE was 100% without conversion to transfemoral access. The mean volume of the nodules decreased between baseline (84.1 mL; range, 46.1–170.5 mL), 1-month (38.8 mL; range, 17.6–91.5 mL; P=0.028) and 3-month (14.8 mL; range, 3.95–26.4 mL; P=0.068) at follow-up after TRA TAE. The mean volume reduction rate was 54.9% (range, 45.2–71.8%) at 1-month follow-up and 81.8% (range, 62.0–92.0%) at 3-month follow-up. The VAS score was reduced at 1-month (P=0.028) and at 3-month follow up (P=0.068). Radial artery spasm (n=1) was noted during TRA TAE, and neck pain (n=5) and voice change (n=1) occurred within 1 week after the procedure and resolved with conservative treatment. No major complications were reported. TRA TAE may be a promising alternative therapy for the management of large solitary thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several studies indicated that tumor thickness or tumor volume might be helpful predictors for the prognosis of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Our aim was to compare the value of tumor thickness versus tumor volume measurement based on preoperative MR imaging in predicting the prognosis of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma, especially focusing on lymph node metastases and local recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical, pathologic, and imaging data of patients with 46 oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas were retrospectively studied. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic value of tumor thickness and tumor volume based on MR imaging. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was applied for the optimal cutoff value for the identified risk variable for prognosis. RESULTS: A higher intraclass correlation coefficient was achieved for the measurement of tumor thickness compared with tumor volume (0.990 versus 0.972). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor thickness was a significant predictor of lymph node metastases (P = .024), while tumor volume was not a significant predictor of either lymph node metastases or local recurrence (P > .05). Receiver operating characteristic results indicated that setting a tumor thickness of 8.5 mm as a cutoff value could achieve the optimal diagnostic efficiency for predicting lymph node metastases (area under the curve, 0.753; sensitivity, 0.889; specificity, 0.536). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor thickness based on preoperative MR imaging was useful in predicting the prognosis of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma, especially lymph node metastases, in our patient population, while tumor volume was not.

Background: The local tumor control rate of colon cancer by radiotherapy is unsatisfactory due to recurrence and radioresistance. Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), a panoxadiol saponin, possesses various antitumor effects. Methods: CT26/luc murine colon carcinoma cells and a CT26/luc tumor-bearing animal model were used to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Rh2 combined with ionizing radiation and the underlying mechanisms. Results: Rh2 caused cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase in CT26/luc cells; however, when combined with ionizing radiation, the cells were arrested at the G2/M phase. Rh2 was found to suppress the activity of NF-κB induced by radiation by inhibiting the MAPK pathway, consequently affecting the expression of effector proteins. In an in vivo study, the combination treatment significantly increased tumor growth delay time and overall survival. Furthermore, the combination treatment significantly reduced NF-κB and NF-κB-related effector proteins, along with PD-1 receptor expression. Additionally, Rh2 administration led to increased levels of interleukin-12, -18, and interferon-γ in the mice’s sera. Importantly, biochemical analysis revealed no toxicities associated with Rh2 alone or combined with radiation. Conclusions: The combination of Rh2 with radiation may have potential as an alternative to improve the therapeutic efficacy of colorectal cancer.

Background: Particulate matter (PM) < 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) or fine PM is a serious public health concern. It affects DNA methylation and heightens carcinogenesis. Deleted in lung and esophageal cancer 1 (DLEC1) is a tumor suppressor gene. However, aberrant methylation of the gene is associated with several cancers. We evaluated the association between PM_2.5and DLEC1 promoter methylation in Taiwanese adults based on regular outdoor exercise.Methods: We obtained DNA methylation and exercise data of 496 participants (aged between 30 and 70 years) from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) database. We also extracted PM_2.5data from the Air Quality Monitoring Database (AQMD) and estimated participants’ exposure using residential addresses.Results: DLEC1 methylation and PM_2.5were positively associated: beta coefficient (β) = 0.114 × 10⁻³;pvalue = 0.046. The test for interaction between exercise and PM_2.5on DLEC1 methylation was significant (pvalue = 0.036). After stratification by exercise habits, PM_2.5and DLEC1 methylation remained significantly associated only among those who exercised regularly (β= 0.237 × 10⁻³;pvalue = 0.007). PM_2.5quartile-stratified analyses revealed an inverse association between regular exercise and DLEC1 methylation at PM_2.5< 27.37 μg/m³(β= − 5.280 × 10⁻³;pvalue = 0.009). After combining exercise habits and PM_2.5quartiles, one stratum (i.e., regular exercise and PM_2.5< 27.37 μg/m³) was inversely associated with DLEC1 methylation (β= -5.160 × 10⁻³,pvalue = 0.007).Conclusions: We found significant positive associations between PM_2.5and DLEC1 promoter methylation. Regular exercise at PM_2.5< 27.37 μg/m³seemingly regulated DLEC1 promoter methylation.