The myonuclear scaffold in Drosophila larval muscles exhibits both elastic features, contributed by the stretching capacity of MSP300/nesprin, and rigidity, provided by a perinuclear network of microtubules stabilized by Shot/spectraplakin and EB1.

Nuclear mechanotransduction has been implicated in the control of chromatin organization and gene expression. Wang et al. show that, in Drosophila myofibers, the LINC complex is required for the regulation of DNA replication and synchronized cell-cycle progression in myonuclei.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the salvage radiotherapy outcome in patients with local recurrent esophageal cancer after radical radiochemotherapy (RCT).MethodsA total of 114 patients with local recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after initial radical RCT were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-five (55) patients belonged to the salvage radiotherapy group (SR group) and 59 patients to the non-salvage radiotherapy group (NSR group).ResultsThe median survival time after-recurrence was 4 months in all patients. The 1, 2, 3 year overall survival (OS) rates were 83.6%, 41.8% and 21.8% respectively in the SR group, and 57.6%, 16.9%, and 8.5% in the NSR group. The 6-month and 1-year survival rates after-recurrence were 41.8% and 16.4% respectively in the SR group, and 11.9% and 3.4% respectively in the NSR group. A salvage radiation dose > 50 Gy after initial radical RCT, improved the survival of patients with local recurrent esophageal cancer. Three patients (5.45%) from the SR group showed more than 3-grade radiation pneumonitis. In addition, esophageal fistula/perforation was observed in 11 cases (20.0%) in the SR group and in 8 cases (13.6%) in the NSR group.ConclusionsSalvage treatment after definitive RCT may improve the overall survival and survival after-recurrence of patients with local recurrent esophageal cancer.

Transferring charge between the hematite photoanode and cocatalyst interface for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation is a big obstacle. However, the chemical microenvironment at the interface plays an important role in this field. Here, we used a covalent triazine framework (CTF-BTh) containing a bithiophene moiety to modulate the microenvironment at the interface between Gd-doped hematite and the cobalt silicate cocatalyst. Detailed studies show that Gd doping increases the donor density and reduces the charge transfer resistance. Furthermore, the coordination bonds (N–Co and S–Co) provide pathways for charge flow and also enhance the average oxidation state of Co. The conjugated system of the CTF-BTh is also easy for electron delocalization. These modifications effectively passivate the surface state and synergistically suppress the electron–hole recombination. This work provides a universal strategy for improving the interfacial microenvironment to achieve efficient water oxidation.

SummaryHere we report on the generation and in vivo analysis of a series of loss-of-function mutants for the Drosophila ArfGEF, Gartenzwerg. The Drosophila gene gartenzwerg (garz) encodes the orthologue of mammalian GBF1. garz is expressed ubiquitously in embryos with substantially higher abundance in cells forming diverse tubular structures such as salivary glands, trachea, proventriculus or hindgut. In the absence of functional Garz protein, the integrity of the Golgi complex is impaired. As a result, both vesicle transport of cargo proteins and directed apical membrane delivery are severely disrupted. Dysfunction of the Arf1-COPI machinery caused by a loss of Garz leads to perturbations in establishing a polarized epithelial architecture of tubular organs. Furthermore, insufficient apical transport of proteins and other membrane components causes incomplete luminal diameter expansion and deficiencies in extracellular matrix assembly. The fact that homologues of Garz are present in every annotated metazoan genome indicates that secretion processes mediated by the GBF-type ArfGEFs play a universal role in animal development.