Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that adapt to cellular stress and metabolic demands through processes such as fission, fusion, mitophagy, and transport, all of which are vital for maintaining cellular signaling and metabolic homeostasis. Fission facilitates mitochondrial division and biogenesis, while fusion enhances mitochondrial fitness and metabolic flexibility by mitigating damage. Together, these processes play a critical role in regulating cellular stress responses and apoptosis. Dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics has been linked to impaired development and cancer progression, including breast cancer metastasis. A comprehensive understanding of mitochondrial dynamics in breast cancer progression is essential for advancing precision medicine. This review delves into the intricate molecular mechanisms governing mitochondrial biogenesis, fission, fusion, and mitophagy, with a particular focus on the role of mitophagy in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and its connection to metastasis progression. Furthermore, it discusses potential therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial dynamics and highlights the critical steps necessary to translate these approaches into clinical trials.

Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is essential for non-invasively investigating brain function. However, conventional fMRI methods are limited by low spatial and temporal resolution. This narrative review evaluates recent advancements in deep learning techniques for high-resolution BOLD-fMRI reconstruction, focusing on super-resolution, segmentation, and image registration. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, IEEE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for the period 2000–2023. Studies employing deep learning methods, including convolutional neural networks, transformer-based models, and generative adversarial networks for super-resolution, segmentation, and registration of BOLD-fMRI, were included. Deep learning approaches demonstrated significant improvements in spatial resolution, segmentation accuracy, and registration robustness. Convolutional neural network-based models, particularly generative adversarial networks, notably improved image reconstruction quality and detail preservation. Preliminary studies targeting specific brain regions such as the cerebellum and hippocampus showed promise; however, systematic evaluations across broader brain areas and large-scale clinical validations remain limited. While deep learning techniques have led to substantial advancements in high-resolution BOLD-fMRI reconstruction, future research should focus on standardized protocols, multi-center validation, and improving computational efficiency and model generalization to enhance clinical utility.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies of the female reproductive system and ranks among the three primary types of gynecological cancers. Recent trends indicate a rising incidence of EC in younger patients, highlighting the urgent need for effective early screening strategies. This review examines the challenges associated with early diagnosis and screening, including ambiguous methodologies (e.g., transvaginal ultrasound: sensitivity 80–90%, specificity 60–70%), undefined target populations, and the absence of efficient, cost-effective, minimally invasive solutions (e.g., cytology sensitivity ≤50% in community settings). The article provides an overview of the current landscape and emerging innovations in universal EC screening, highlighting advancements in early detection and diagnosis, such as DNA methylation panels (sensitivity 89–94%, specificity 91–97% in phase II trials) and vibrational spectroscopy (sensitivity 92%, specificity 88% in pilot studies). Additionally, future directions for implementing effective screening strategies are explored, emphasizing the potential of high-accuracy biomarkers and scalable technologies to reduce mortality and healthcare costs.

Diagnosing and treating cytopenic myelofibrosis in children is challenging due to the wide spectrum of clinical and pathological features, underlying etiologies, and variable therapeutic responses. In this review, we summarize the related literature and present our diagnostic algorithm to differentiate pediatric myelofibrosis and guide therapy. In brief, primary myelofibrosis is extremely rare in children, while myelofibrosis secondary to non-neoplastic or neoplastic disorders should be thoroughly ruled out in ambiguous cases. Moreover, it is reasonable to closely follow up patients and repeat bone marrow biopsy before reaching a definitive diagnosis.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used in cancer care in China as an integral part of treatment. This study aimed to understand the motivations of cancer patients in China for adopting TCM in their treatment and to examine their communication with oncologists. Gaining insights into these factors can enhance culturally sensitive, patient-centered oncology care.

A consecutive sample of 287 outpatients with cancer was recruited. Sociodemographic and clinical data, TCM usage, primary reasons for adopting TCM, and communication about TCM with oncologists were collected. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data.

Patients’ primary reasons for choosing TCM fell into five main categories: (1) belief in the benefits of TCM itself, (2) recommendations from others (family, friends, or oncologists), (3) belief in the benefits of combining TCM with Western medicine (WM), (4) previous positive experiences with TCM, and (5) dissatisfaction with or intolerance to WM. Among the 103 patients who consulted external TCM providers, 65% disclosed this to their oncologists. A longer time since diagnosis was associated with a higher likelihood of disclosure, while employed patients were less likely to inform their oncologists. Oncologists’ responses varied, with 55% neither approving nor disapproving of external TCM prescriptions.

The primary reasons for TCM use were perceived benefits and recommendations from oncologists and family members. However, communication about TCM with oncologists remains inconsistent. Enhancing patient-provider communication through education and fostering the integration of TCM and WM can improve holistic cancer care.

Prostate cancer (PCa) often manifests insidiously, with most patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to a poor prognosis. Early detection of PCa can significantly prolong overall survival by impeding the progression of metastasis. A commonly utilized screening method for detecting PCa is the prostate-specific antigen test. However, since the prostate-specific antigen lacks specificity and sensitivity for PCa identification, there is a paramount urgency to develop precise diagnostic biomarkers for early detection. Extracellular vesicles, known as exosomes, are released by cells into body fluids. Exosomes derived from cancer cells can carry genetic information about the tumor, including DNA, RNA, and proteins, which play crucial roles in tumor initiation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Studies have indicated that exosomes (including messenger RNAs, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs and others) can enhance the sensitivity and specificity of PCa diagnosis, indicating their potential for early detection. This review highlights the biological characteristics and functions of exosomes, as well as recent advancements in their use for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of prostate cancer.

Balamuthia mandrillaris is a free-living amoeba that can cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, a lethal neurological condition in humans. This pathogen infects not only immunocompromised hosts but, more commonly, immunocompetent individuals. Balamuthia mandrillaris mainly infects the skin and nervous system. When it affects the nervous system, it can manifest as Balamuthia mandrillaris encephalitis (BAE). This article presents a case of BAE in central China, diagnosed through next-generation sequencing and histopathology. The patient is a 64-year-old male who was admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery with a one-week history of headache. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed a mass in the right temporal-occipital region, and postoperative pathological examination confirmed that the lesion was BAE. We will detail the clinical course of this disease in this patient, aiming to enhance clinicians’ understanding of Balamuthia mandrillaris infections.

Insulinoma is a neuroendocrine tumor originating in the pancreas that secretes excess amounts of insulin, leading to severe hypoglycemia. The clinical presentation of hypoglycemia is classically described by Whipple’s Triad. Due to the rarity of this diagnosis, it can often be mistaken for other etiologies with similar presentations. In this paper, we present the case of a woman in her 70s with metastatic insulinoma involving the liver, who was initially diagnosed with an insulin-like growth factor 2-secreting hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses were instrumental in distinguishing between these two etiologies.

Lung Squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) represents the second most common non-small cell lung cancer. Although studies identified adenocarcinoma-like driver mutations in LSCC using next-generation sequencing (NGS), the disease is challenging to treat due to the limited number of detectable mutations for targeted drug therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the mutation profiles of LSCC detected by NGS to assess the relationships between different driver mutations and clinicopathological parameters.

NGS with a panel of 72 cancer-related genes was used to evaluate the driver mutation profiles of 41 lung resection specimens from patients with LSCC at the Molecular Pathology Laboratory of Aydın Adnan Menderes University in Türkiye. Clinical and histopathological features were recorded for analysis.

Detection of 94 mutations in 23 genes in DNA extracted from the tissue samples of 36 patients revealed that the most prevalent mutations were TP53 (30.85%), NF1 (20.20%), PTEN (11.70%), PIK3CA (5.31%), FBXW7 (4.25%), KRAS (3.20%), respectively. We identified statistically significant relationships between PIK3CA and lower mean age (p = 0.007) and between PTEN and mild inflammatory reaction (p = 0.004). PTEN was associated with central localization (p = 0.13), NF1 with visceral pleural involvement (p = 0.09), and PIK3CA with severe inflammatory reaction (p = 0.053), as well as with advanced pathological T stage (p = 0.09) and pathological N stage (p = 0.057) according to the TNM staging system.

Our study highlights the importance of assessing mutation profiles in LSCC patients to identify driver mutations as potential therapeutic targets. Certain histopathological features are associated with these mutations, serving as indicators for treatment and follow-up decisions.

We reported a case of recurrent liver dysfunction in an adult patient with a history of abnormal liver enzymes persisting for over ten years. The primary abnormalities included elevated levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase. Despite conducting a series of extensive etiological tests to identify common causes of liver disease, the diagnosis remained unclear. However, whole-exome next-generation sequencing revealed a homozygous intronic mutation in the ferrochelatase gene (c.315-48T>C), which may be associated with the patient’s cholestasis.