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Objective To explore the association between DLL3 expression and chemosensitivity of advanced SCLC patients to cis-platinum/etoposide therapy, and to evaluate the prognostic value of DLL3. Methods We selected 64 patients diagnosed as stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ SCLC. Protein levels of DLL3 were examined by immunohistochemistry. χ2 test was used to analyze the relation between DLL3 expression and chemotherapy efficacy. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariate analysis were used to investigate the impacts of DLL3 and other factors on PFS and OS of advanced SCLC patients. Results DLL3 was detected in 84.1% (54/64) of the samples and not associated with gender, age, smoking history or stage (P > 0.05). The response rate(RR) and disease control rate in DLL3-high group were lower than those in DLL3-low group (P < 0.05); PFS of patients with low DLL3 expression were better than those with high DLL3 expression (P < 0.05). DLL3 expression, tumor stage and tumor diameter were independent prognostic factors for PFS, and tumor stage was an independent prognostic factor for OS of advanced SCLC patients. Conclusion DLL3 is related to the response rate of EP chemotherapy and PFS. It may become a biomarker for predicting chemosensitivity. DLL3 has no predictive value for long-term prognosis of patients with advanced SCLC.

Ion migration activated by illumination is a critical factor responsible for the performance decline and stability degradation of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). While ion migration has been widely believed to be much slower than charge transport, recent research suggests that, despite the lack of understanding of the mechanism, it may also be involved in a series of rapid photoelectric responses of PSCs. Here, we report an improved circuit-switched transient photoelectric technique with nanosecond temporal resolution, which enables quantitative characterization of ion migration dynamics in PSCs across a fairly broad time window. Specifically, ion migration occurring within microseconds after illumination (corresponding to a diffusion length of ∼10−7 cm) is unambiguously identified. In conjunction with the composition engineering protocol, we justify that it arises from the short-range migration of halide anions and organic cations around the contact/perovskite interface. The rapid ion migration kinetics revealed in this work strongly complement the well-established ion migration model, which offers new insights into the mechanism of ion-carrier interaction in PSC devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoplophora glabripennis is one of the most devastating wood-boring beetles that attacks poplars. However, one poplar species, Populus deltoides, has strong resistance to Anoplophora glabripennis infestation, the underlying defense mechanisms against Anoplophora glabripennis are poorly understood. Secondary metabolites play a crucial role in plants to combat biological stress. Here, based on transcriptome and metabolome, we demonstrated that the mechanisms for responses to mechanical damage and insect infestation were different. The degree of reactions to adult groove production, larval incubation, and larval frass production was not identical. In addition, the potential genes with insect resistance activity were identified. Predominant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) found in the phloem of Populus deltoides include anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase5 (PdUGT72E), peroxidase 73 (PdPod73), peroxidase A2 (PdPodA2) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (PdMIF) responded to stress caused by Anoplophora glabripennis, which further resulted in activation of the plant defense system against insects via changes in regulation of metabolic pathways, such as tyrosine metabolism pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Therefore, this work has laid a foundation for further unraveling the mechanisms involved in this interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐obstructive azoospermia is the most severe form of male infertility. A testicular biopsy is required for the diagnosis of non‐obstructive azoospermia, and the causal factors for non‐obstructive azoospermia remain unknown. Objectives: To reduce the risk of multiple biopsies and identify factors that contribute to non‐obstructive azoospermia, we proposed an integrated approach for the preoperative diagnosis and clinical management of non‐obstructive azoospermia by applying the chromosome‐spreading technique and whole‐exome sequencing. Materials and Methods: Between July 2020 and December 2022, after ruling out definitive obstructive azoospermia and non‐obstructive azoospermia patients with testicular volume < 6 mL, 20 patients with non‐obstructive azoospermia who underwent preoperative testicular diagnostic biopsy using testicular sperm aspiration were subjected to retrospective analysis. Results: Microscopic examination identified four patients with sperm cells, and 16 without sperm cells. Routine pathological analysis classified one patient as normal spermatogenesis, three as hypospermatogenesis, five as maturation arrest, nine as Sertoli cell‐only, and two as unable to judge. With chromosome‐spreading technology using routine cell suspension samples for microscopic examination, 18 patient diagnoses were validated, and two patients without a definitive diagnosis were supplemented. Detection of the Y chromosome and a well‐organized whole‐exome sequencing analysis revealed potential genetic factors. Discussion and Conclusion: The full use of testicular biopsy is beneficial for the diagnosis of azoospermia, as it avoids the risk of multiple biopsies. Moreover, in combination with whole‐exome sequencing, clinicians can obtain more information regarding the pathogenesis of non‐obstructive azoospermia, which may guide treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]