To identify factors contributing to the known increased age-standardised incidence and mortality rates for lung cancer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria, Australia.

Retrospective, population-based, case-control study using Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) data and linked health administrative datasets.

Self-identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (respectfully referred to hereon as Aboriginal) and non-Aboriginal people (aged > 18 years) diagnosed with lung cancer from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2022.

Clinical, pathological, demographic, socio-economic factors and biomarkers (programmed cell death-ligand 1 [PD-L1], anaplastic lymphoma kinase [ALK] and c-ros oncogene [ROS1]) were assessed. Endpoints were all-cause and lung cancer-specific mortality. Survival analyses were conducted using Cox regression.

Aboriginal people (N = 512) were younger (p < 0.001), more likely to live outside a major city (p < 0.001) and in areas of greatest disadvantage (p < 0.001) than non-Aboriginal people (N = 43,468). More Aboriginal females had small cell lung cancer compared with non-Aboriginal females (17% vs. 10%), more Aboriginal males had adenocarcinomas (41% vs. 36%) and squamous cell carcinomas (26% vs. 20%), compared with non-Aboriginal males. There were no differences in the proportions of PD-L1-positive disease nor ALK or ROS1 gene rearrangements. A higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.24; p = 0.03) for Aboriginal people after stratification for age, sex and lung cancer subtype was identified.

This study identified that Aboriginal people were younger, more likely to be living outside of major cities and in areas of greatest inequity than non-Aboriginal people, which is an ongoing manifestation of colonisation. Aboriginal people diagnosed with lung cancer had an increased all-cause mortality compared with non-Aboriginal people.

Storiform collagenoma is a rare benign dermal neoplasm recently shown to harbor concurrent PTEN and PDGFRB mutations. While most are sporadic, a subset occurs in the context of Cowden syndrome. We describe two storiform collagenomas with unusual morphology including infiltrative growth pattern and perivascular myoid differentiation. Confirmation of concurrent PTEN and PDGFRB mutations in both cases allowed for a more confident diagnosis of storiform collagenoma in these cases and their distinction from dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Objective: To assess the clinical value of differential expression of BBOX1-AS1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to explore its function and mechanism in disease progression through regulating tumor cells. Methods: Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of BBOX1-AS1. The chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between BBOX1-AS1 and clinicopathological characteristics of patients (patients diagnosed with NSCLC at Pangang Group General Hospital from January 2018 to January 2021). The clinical diagnostic value of BBOX1-AS1 and miR-3940-3p was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic value of BBOX1-AS1. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to analyze the effect of BBOX1-AS1 on the biological function of tumor cells. Bioinformatics tools and dual luciferase reporter system were used to investigate the downstream miRNAs and target genes mediating the function of BBOX1-AS1. Results: BBOX1-AS1 expression was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tumor tissues, serum, and cell lines (all P＜0.05). High BBOX1-AS1 expression was significantly correlated with larger tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, and advanced TNM stage (all P＜0.05). NSCLC patients with high BBOX1-AS1 expression had a significantly lower 5-year survival rate (36.7%) than those with low expression (61.1%), and high BBOX1-AS1 expression was identified as an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC (HR=0.496, 95% CI: 0.272, 0.904, P=0.022). MiR-3940-3p expression was downregulated in NSCLC serum (P＜0.05) and negatively correlated with BBOX1-AS1 levels (r=-0.646,P＜0.001). Both BBOX1-AS1 [area under the curve (AUC)=0.858] and miR-3940-3p (AUC=0.852) exhibited high diagnostic value for NSCLC. Knockdown of BBOX1-AS1 inhibited A549 cell proliferation [the absorbance value of the BBOX1-AS1-siRNA group at 72 hours was 0.67±0.05, which was lower than those of the Mock group (1.17±0.06) and the siRNA-NC group (1.06±0.03), P＜0.001]. MiR-3940-3p directly interacted with BBOX1-AS1 and might be involved in mediating the function of BBOX1-AS1. Bioinformatics analysis predicted 10 potential target genes of miR-3940-3p: MOV10, TP53, PABPC1, TIAL1, STAU1, IGF2BP1, FMR1, ELAVL1, CPEB1, and PABPN1. Conclusions: BBOX1-AS1 is highly expressed in NSCLC patients, and its high expression indicates a poor prognosis. Knockdown of BBOX1-AS1 leads to a decrease in tumor cell proliferation. This study screens potential functional target genes and prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC.

As a core functional component of the tumor microenvironment, the regulatory role of intratumoral microbiome in tumorigenesis and progression has become as a frontier research direction in oncology. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses participate in the regulation of tumor biological mechanisms through multiple pathways, including metabolite secretion, induction of genomic instability, and remodeling of the immune microenvironment; their species composition and abundance characteristics exhibit distinct cancer-type specificity, and their impact on patient prognosis is highly context-dependent. Current detection systems for the intratumoral microbiome mainly encompass in situ detection technologies, metagenomic sequencing, and computational pathology-driven intelligent detection, each with its own advantages and limitations, among which intelligent detection centered on deep learning is gradually overcoming the technical bottlenecks of identifying low-abundance microbial signals, achieving accurate quantification, and resolving spatial distribution. In the future, with the deep integration of three-dimensional pathological imaging, spatial omics, and multi-modal foundation models, intratumoral microbiome research will advance toward the in-depth development of multi-dimensional data integration, providing innovative ideas and technical pathways for elucidating the regulatory mechanisms between microorganisms and the host and for developing precision diagnostic and treatment strategies based on individual microecological characteristics.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)/stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR), leveraging its precision and high efficiency, has become an important radical treatment modality for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, particularly suitable for patients who are inoperable or refuse surgery. With advances in radiotherapy technology and in-depth clinical research, its clinical applications have been continuously expanding. To standardize clinical practice, improve treatment homogenization, and facilitate collaborative research, the expert panel developed this consensus based on domestic and international evidence and practical experience. This consensus covers five core components: (1) reviewing the developmental history and key research outcomes of SBRT/SABR; (2) defining standards for equipment configuration, treatment planning, and quality assurance; (3) refining patient selection, treatment workflow, and efficacy evaluation; (4) discussing strategies and safety management of SBRT/SABR combined with immunotherapy/targeted therapy; (5) providing recommendations for managing complex scenarios such as central lung cancer. This consensus aims to provide clinicians with standardized guidance, optimize treatment decisions, enhance patient benefits, and promote the high-quality development of SBRT/SABR in China, ultimately benefiting a broader population of patients with lung cancer.

Low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT), as an emerging tumor immunomodulatory strategy, has demonstrated its synergistic anti-tumor potential when combined with immunotherapy in multiple solid tumors. Unlike traditional high-dose radiotherapy that directly kill tumors, LDRT reshapes the tumor immune microenvironment by promoting dendritic cell antigen presentation, enhancing T-cell infiltration, reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment, and remodeling tumor vascular and stromal structures, thereby enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy. Clinical studies have shown that LDRT combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, or high-dose radiotherapy can increase the objective response rate and improve patient survival in solid tumors such as non-small cell lung cancer, extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, with favorable safety profiles. However, unified standards for LDRT are still lacking in terms of patient selection, combination strategies, dose fractionation, sequencing, and target volume delineation. Based on current basic research and clinical evidence, this expert consensus, titled "Expert consensus on application specifications of low-dose radiotherapy in solid tumors (2026 edition)", systematically elaborates on the mechanisms, clinical applications, and recommended regimens of LDRT, aiming to promote its standardized application and providing a reference for future clinical research and practice.

Fertility preservation in women with recurrent serous borderline ovarian tumors (SBOTs) remains clinically challenging because of concerns regarding oncological safety and limited evidence. We report the case of a young woman with FIGO Stage IIIA1 SBOT with lymph node involvement who experienced multiple recurrences with adverse pathological features, including micropapillary architecture and stromal microinvasion. Following multidisciplinary discussion and comprehensive counseling, a brief micro-stimulation in vitro fertilization protocol was performed for embryo cryopreservation prior to repeat fertility-sparing surgery to minimize treatment delay. After complete macroscopic disease clearance, frozen-thawed embryo transfer was carried out, resulting in a successful term live birth. No clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence was observed during the available follow-up period. This case suggests that an individualized fertility-first strategy may be considered in carefully selected patients with advanced recurrent SBOT under strict multidisciplinary evaluation and close surveillance.

The heparin wet suction technique (HWST) may improve tissue quality in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) by preventing blood clot formation within the needle. We compared the diagnostic performance and safety of HWST with the conventional suction technique (CST), using a novel 22-gauge FNB needle in patients with solid pancreatic masses.

In this multicenter, single-blinded, randomized crossover trial, patients with solid pancreatic masses (≥ 1 cm) were randomized 1:1 to HWST-first or CST-first. Each patient underwent one pass with each technique using the novel 22-gauge needle. The primary outcome was diagnostic yield; secondary outcomes included technical success, adverse events, and adequacy for immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Of 174 randomized patients, 170 received both interventions and were analyzed; baseline characteristics were comparable. The diagnostic yield was 82.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 76.6-87.9) with HWST and 83.5% (95% CI, 77.2-88.4) with CST. The paired difference was -0.6 percentage points (95% CI, -6.7 to 5.5; exact McNemar p = 1.000). The combined diagnostic yield after sequential sampling was 91.2% (95% CI, 86.0-94.6). Technical success was 100% with both techniques, and IHC adequacy was similar (HWST: 80.6% vs. CST: 78.8%). One self-limiting bleeding event occurred during CST.

HWST showed diagnostic yield, technical success, and safety comparable to CST. Both techniques are highly effective for EUS-FNB of solid pancreatic masses. Sequential sampling may improve overall diagnostic yield, although this finding should be interpreted cautiously and requires further validation.

The primary aim was to conduct a longitudinal pharmacoepidemiological study on the dispensing patterns of the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in a section of the private healthcare sector in South Africa in the presence of the COVID-19 vaccine to document the dispensing of these two respiratory vaccines alongside COVID-19 vaccines.

A quantitative cross-sectional pharmacoepidemiological study on health insurance data covering 5 years (2017-2021) was conducted. The study population consisted of approximately 3.8 million individuals. Profile analysis was used to compare annual dispensing patterns of both vaccines. Ethical approval for the study was obtained.

The annual dispensing patterns of the pneumococcal and influenza vaccines differed significantly for the period 2017-2021 (p-value < 0.01), with the influenza vaccine dispensed most frequently from March to June. A similar pattern was observed for both the pre-COVID-19 period (2017-2019) (p-value < 0.01) and the post-COVID-19 period (2020-2021) (p-value < 0.01). At the 5% level of significance, there was a slight increase in the dispensing pattern of pneumococcal vaccines post-COVID-19, when compared to the dispensing pattern pre-COVID-19 (p-value < 0.05). For the period March to June, there was, however, a significant increase in the dispensing pattern of influenza vaccines post-COVID-19 (p-value < 0.01).

The presence of the COVID-19 vaccine has collectively not had a significant impact on the dispensing patterns of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines. When considering the vaccines separately, however, for the months between March and June, significantly more influenza vaccines were dispensed post-COVID-19.

Conventional critical-sized bone defect (CSD) implants frequently suffer from geometric mismatches and interfacial gaps with the host bone, leading to suboptimal osteogenesis and poor osseointegration. Herein, inspired by kirigami and origami concepts, we propose a novel approach for fabricating bioceramic scaffolds from pliable, trimmable hydrogel-based ceramic precursors composed of photosensitive hydrogel components and nano-hydroxyapatite. The hydrogel precursor exhibits superior ductility and elasticity, enabling convenient tailoring to the contours of complex bone defects, such as cranium. After sintering, the hydrogel-derived bioceramic scaffolds exhibit ultra-low linear shrinkage (∼10%), well-defined structural fidelity, and moderate mechanical properties. In vitro experiments confirmed that the bioceramic scaffolds possess superior biocompatibility and promote osteogenic differentiation, as evidenced by the upregulation of osteogenic genes (Runx2, Alp, Ocn, and Col I). In a rat CSD model, Micro-CT and histological analyses demonstrated that the hydrogel-derived bioceramic scaffolds promoted substantial new bone formation compared with the control group, which was further corroborated by immunohistochemical staining showing upregulated expression of osteogenic-related proteins, including RUNX2, OPN, and OCN. Overall, this work provides a viable strategy for fabricating bioceramic scaffolds that match the geometric contours of bone defects while effectively promoting bone regeneration.