Brain metastases (BM) of colorectal cancer (CRC) are rare but lethal, and an understanding of their genomic landscape is lacking. We conduct an analysis of whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data on 19 trios of patient-matched BMs, primary CRC tumors, and adjacent normal tissue. Compared with primary CRC, BM exhibits elevated mutational signatures of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and mismatch repair deficiency (MMRD). Further analysis reveals two DNA damage response (DDR) signatures could emerge early and are enhanced in BM tissues but are eliminated eventually in matched primary CRC tissues. BM-specific mutations in DDR genes and elevated microsatellite instability (MSI) levels support the importance of DDR in the brain metastasis of CRC. We also identify BM-related genes (e.g., SCN7A , SCN5A , SCN2A, IKZF1 , and PDZRN4 ) that carry frequent BM-specific mutations. These results provide a better understanding of the BM mutational landscape and insights into treatment.

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Purpose. To assess the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family and its prognostic impact in ovarian cancer (OC) patients. Materials and Methods. The mRNA expression and protein expression of individual IGFBPs in healthy ovarian samples and OC tissues were explored through Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, and Human Protein Atlas database. Additionally, the prognostic values of the six IGFBP members in patients with OC were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier plotter. Results. IGFBP2 and IGFBP4 mRNA expression were remarkably upregulated in patients with OC. To be specific, the mRNA expression of IGFBP2 was upregulated in patients with serous ovarian cancer (SOC), while IGFBP1/3/4/5/6 mRNA levels were downregulated. In addition, the IGFBP4 protein expression was upregulated in SOC, and the IGFBP6 protein expression was upregulated in both of SOC and endometrioid ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues. High IGFBP1 mRNA levels showed favorable overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in all OC. Meanwhile, increased IGFBP5/6 mRNA levels revealed worsen OS and PFS in all OC patients. IGFBP4/6 mRNA levels predicted unfavorable OS and PFS only in SOC patients. Moreover, the aberrant mRNA expression of IGFBP1/2/4/5/6 was correlated with significantly prognosis in patients receiving different chemotherapeutic regimens. Conclusion. This study indicates that the IGFBP family reveals distinct prognosis in patients with OC. IGFBP1/2/4/5/6 are useful prognostic predictors for chemotherapeutic effect in OC patients, and IGFBP2/4 are potential tumor markers for the diagnosis of OC.

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Based on cylindrical guided wave technology, a new designed piezoelectric ring was presented here and it was put on the cross section of the hollow sucker rod’s end to excite or receive guided waves in the hollow sucker rod. By selecting and exciting specific guided mode at a given frequency, two artificial cracks (20 mm × 1 mm × 0.5 mm and 20 mm × 1mm × 1mm), which located on the hollow sucker rod, can be found in time domain. Tie-ins in the hollow sucker rod increase the complexity of analyzing the received signals. An alternative method presented here is that a fast guide mode was selected and excited at a specific frequency. Then, the echo from cracks will appear the front of the echo from tie-ins of the hollow sucker rod in the received signals. Some conclusions proved that the new designed piezoelectric ring was more effective than previous piezoelectric transducers and it is feasible to utilize cylindrical guided wave to achieve nondestructive inspection on hollow sucker rod.

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As part of Chinese national culture, Minnan culture embodies the particular cultural connotation, way of thinking and mentality of Chinese nation. Also, as a kind of regional culture, it boasts local characteristics related to its own geographic environment. In the context of building a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, efforts have been put into the strong expansion of connotation of Minnan culture and building of value inheritance system for Minnan culture with diverse advantages. As the sustainable and innovative development of Minnan culture, this paper studies how to boost the closest regional cooperation between Fujian and ASEAN countries and deliver win-win results with Minnan culture as a link, expand Fujian-Taiwan exchange and cooperation so as to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and implement China's strategy of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.