DDB2 and MDM2 genes are promising markers for radiation diagnosis and estimation of radiation dose independent of trauma and burns

In the field of biodosimetry, the current accepted method for evaluating radiation dose fails to meet the need of rapid, large-scale screening, and most RNA marker-related studies of biodosimetry are concentrating on a single type of ray, while some other potential factors, such as trauma and burns, have not been covered. Microarray datasets that contain the data of human peripheral blood samples exposed to X-ray, neutron, and γ-ray radiation were obtained from the GEO database. Totally, 33 multi-type ray co-induced genes were obtained at first from the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and key genes identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and these genes were mainly enriched in DNA damage, cellular apoptosis, and p53 signaling pathway. Following transcriptome sequencing of blood samples from 11 healthy volunteers, 13 patients with severe burns, and 37 patients with severe trauma, 6635 trauma-related DEGs and 7703 burn-related DEGs were obtained. Through the exclusion method, a total of 12 radiation-specific genes independent of trauma and burns were identified. ROC curve analysis revealed that the DDB2 gene performed the best in diagnosis of all three types of ray radiation, while correlation analysis showed that the MDM2 gene was the best in assessment of radiation dose. The results of multiple-linear regression analysis indicated that such analysis could improve the accuracy in assessment of radiation dose. Moreover, the DDB2 and MDM2 genes remained effective in radiation diagnosis and assessment of radiation dose in an external dataset. In general, the study brings new insights into radiation biodosimetry.

miR-135b: A Potential Biomarker for Pathological Diagnosis and Biological Therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous non-coding RNAs found in eukaryotes with post-transcriptional regulatory functions. A variety of miRNAs is differentially expressed in cancer tissues and thus can be used as biomarkers. microRNA-135b-5p (miR-135b) has been shown to be involved in the pathological processes of a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. Under different conditions, miR-135b has different tumor suppressive and carcinogenic effects. miR-135b regulates the development of cancer, including metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, fibrosis, angiogenesis, immunomodulation, and drug resistance. miR-135b can be used as a new biomarker for tumor diagnosis and prognosis, which has the potential for clinical guidance. This article reviews the relevant research on miR-135B in the field of tumors, including the biogenesis background of miR-135b, the expression of miR-135b in tumors, and the related targets and signaling pathways of miR-135b mediating tumor progression in order to sort out and explore the clinical transformation value of miR-135b.

Exosomal circRNAs: Deciphering the novel drug resistance roles in cancer therapy

Exosomal circular RNA (circRNAs) are pivotal in cancer biology, and tumor pathophysiology. These stable, non-coding RNAs encapsulated in exosomes participated in cancer progression, tumor growth, metastasis, drug sensitivity and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Their presence in bodily fluids positions them as potential non-invasive biomarkers, revealing the molecular dynamics of cancers. Research in exosomal circRNAs is reshaping our understanding of neoplastic intercellular communication. Exploiting the natural properties of exosomes for targeted drug delivery and disrupting circRNA-mediated pro-tumorigenic signaling can develop new treatment modalities. Therefore, ongoing exploration of exosomal circRNAs in cancer research is poised to revolutionize clinical management of cancer. This emerging field offers hope for significant breakthroughs in cancer care. This review underscores the critical role of exosomal circRNAs in cancer biology and drug resistance, highlighting their potential as non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could transform the clinical management of cancer.

Global trends of single cell sequence associated in cancer from 2011 to 2024: A bibliometric analysis

OBJECTIVE

Exploring the different molecular and clinicopathological features of nodal cancer based on single cell sequencing can reveal the intertumoral heterogeneity in cancer, and provide new ideas for early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis analysis of cancer.

METHODS

The hotspots, the features of worldwide scientific output, and the frontiers concerning single cell sequence related to cancer from 2011 to 2024 were determined using our bibliometric analysis. Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database was searched for publications on single cell sequence associated with cancer that were published between 2011 and 2024. According to the journals, keywords, number of records, affiliations, citations, and countries, we conducted a bibliometric analysis. With the use of the data gathered from the WOSCC, geographic distribution was visualized, keyword, affiliation, and author cluster analyses were conducted, and co-cited references were reviewed and a descriptive analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

From the analysis, it was concluded that 6189 articles that were published between 2011 and 2024 in total were identified. Frontiers in immunology is the leading journal with the most publications in field of the research. The five clusters that were identified for hotspots included immunotherapy, single-cell RNA sequencing, hepatocellular carcinoma, proliferation, gene expression appeared the most frequently. Journals, nations, organizations, scholars with most contribution and most referenced publications globally were extracted. Studies have mostly concentrated on the spatial transcriptomics, pan-cancer analysis, hepatocellular carcinoma et al.

CONCLUSION

Single-cell sequencing plays a significant role in tumor diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Comparison of complications and long-term survival after minimally invasive esophagectomy versus open esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE

To compare the complications and long-term survival of esophageal cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) versus open esophagectomy (OE) using propensity score matching (PSM).

METHODS

Esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy at the Thoracic Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. The incidence of postoperative complications and prognosis of the MIE (n = 132) and OE (n = 138) groups were compared. To reduce bias, 1:1 PSM was adopted for the analysis.

RESULTS

The median disease-free survival (DFS) of the MIE and OE groups were 24 months and 26 months, respectively, and neither group reached median survival. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of 3-year DFS and overall survival (OS). The stratification of the patients on the basis of the percentage of estimated forced expiratory volume in the first second (%FEV1) did not result in significant differences in the survival rates. A total of 42 patients (50%) in the MIE group and 55 patients (65.48%) in the OE group experienced complications, and the difference was statistically significant (OR=0.527, 95% CI: 0.283-0.981, P=0.042). The incidence of acute COPD exacerbation (OR=0.213, 95% OR, CI: 0.068-0.666, P=0.004) and pulmonary atelectasis requiring bronchoscopic aspiration (OR=0.232, 95% OR, CI: 0.082-0.659, P=0.004) were significantly higher in the OE versus the MIE group. In addition, the distribution of the various grades of complications also differed significantly between the two groups (P=0.016). While the incidence of minor complications (≤Grade II) was similar in both groups (P=0.503), that of severe complications (≥Grade III) was markedly higher in the OE group (P=0.002) and the Grade-IIIa complications were predominant (P=0.001). The severity of complications was correlated with the postoperative duration of hospital stay in both groups (r=0.187, P=0.015). No significant difference was observed in the incidence of minor complications (≤Grade II) between the two groups following stratification on the basis of %FEV1, whereas severe complications were more frequent in the OE group among patients with %FEV1 between 60% and 70% (P=0.001<0.05).

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference in the postoperative DFS and OS of esophageal cancer patients with COPD after undergoing MIE or OE. However, MIE significantly reduced the incidence of severe postoperative complications among patients with %FEV1 between 60% and 70%.

A Case Report of Two Kala-Azar Cases in China Diagnosed by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing

BACKGROUND

Leishmaniasis being a local disease, as kala-azar this particular form is a visceral form. It is transmitted by sandflies, and is a parasitic disease involving the reticuloendothelial system of mononuclear macrophages. Due to its poor prognosis and high fatality rate, the fatality rate of patients without effective treatment can exceed 95%. Thereby, early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve its prognosis. The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has the advantage of being able to find pathogens that cannot be detected by traditional methods. More importantly, it can conduct nucleic acid detection of pathogens covering a wide range in a short time. For infectious diseases like kala-azar, which is clinically complicated and difficult, mNGS detection provides a basis for accurate etiological diagnosis.

CASE REPORT

We report 2 cases of kala-azar in West China Hospital, Chengdu, China. The first case is a 47-year-old male patient who had recurrent fever for 4 months, accompanied by reduction of red blood cell, white blood cell, and blood platelet. He was detected by mNGS and clinically diagnosed as kala-azar (Leishmania detection), finally died of multiple organ failure. The second patient was a 15-year-old male who had fever for more than 10 days. He was detected by mNGS and clinically diagnosed as kala-azar (Leishmania detection). He recovered and discharged quickly after treatment with sodium stibogluconate.

CONCLUSION

Efforts should be made to improve early etiological diagnosis in order to improve patient prognosis. mNGS detection is beneficial to the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases with unknown causes in the early stage of emergency treatment.

Comparison between different advanced cannulation techniques for difficult biliary cannulation: a systematic review with a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of the double-guidewire technique along with other methods (persistent standard cannulation techniques, transpancreatic sphincterotomy, and pancreatic stent-assisted technique) for difficult biliary cannulation.

METHODS

Two researchers searched for literature on the efficacy and safety of the double-guidewire technique and other techniques in difficult biliary cannulation in databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The success rate of cannulation, duration of cannulation, post-ERCP pancreatitis, and overall postoperative complications were also analyzed using RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

In total, 20 randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies involving 2008 participants were identified. The success rate of cannulation in the double-guidewire technique was much higher than that in persistent standard cannulation techniques [RR = 1.37, 95%CI (1.05, 1.79), p = 0.02]. However, it was lower than the success rate observed with transpancreatic sphincterotomy [RR = 0.89, 95%CI (0.81, 0.97), p = 0.01]. There was no significance in post-ERCP pancreatitis [RR = 1.09, 95% CI (0.85, 1.40), p = 0.49], overall postoperative complications [RR = 0.90, 95% CI (0.56, 1.45), p = 0.66], and duration of cannulation [SMD = -0.14, 95%C I (-1.43, 1.15), p = 0.83] between the double-guidewire technique and other techniques.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the success rate of cannulation ranged from transpancreatic sphincterotomy to the double-guidewire technique and then to persistent standard cannulation techniques.

EVA1B facilitates esophageal squamous carcinoma progression and recruitment of immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment

Eva-1 Homolog B (EVA1B) has been preliminarily found to be associated with prognostic outcomes and immune microenvironment in several human cancer types, but the implications of EVA1B in ESCC remain unclear. Human ESCC and paracancerous tissues were gathered in this study, and EVA1B expression was measured via immunoblotting. EC109 and KYSE-180 ESCC cells were stably infected by sh-EVA1B lentivirus, and functional experiments were subsequently implemented. Syngeneic mouse models were built, and the expansion and recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were then evaluated. The results showed that EVA1B presented the notable up-regulation in clinical ESCC tissues versus controls, and was connected to more advanced stages and the abundance of MDSCs. Silencing EVA1B notably attenuated proliferation of ESCC cells and tumor growth in syngeneic mouse models. Moreover, EVA1B suppression resulted in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and impaired ESCC cell aggressiveness. Among ESCC patients, EVA1B was strongly correlated to EMT pathway activity. Targeted suppression of EVA1B mitigated the expression of Wnt3a, β-catenin and LRP6 in ESCC cells and tumor xenografts. Additionally, inhibition of EVA1B attenuated the expansion and recruitment of MDSCs within the immune microenvironment based upon the reduction in the percentage of CD11b+Gr-1+ immunosuppressive MDSCs as well as the expression of MDSC expansion stimulators (S100A8, S100A9, Arg-1, and VEGF). Collectively, our findings unveiled the contribution of high expression of EVA1B to ESCC progression and MDSCs expansion and recruitment, indicating that targeted suppression of EVA1B may be a potential treatment choice for ESCC patients.

Development and validation of a novel endoplasmic reticulum stress-related lncRNA signature in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is an intracellular process in which improperly folded proteins lead to a cellular stress response. How endoplasmic reticulum stress contributes to the onset and progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma remains unclear. Our research aimed to find an ERS signature to forecast the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to investigate its potential biological functions. LSCC sample data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were co-expressed with ERS- related genes, and then a prognostic signature on the basis of endoplasmic reticulum stress- related lncRNAs (ERS-related lncRNAs) was constructed by differential analysis and Cox regression analysis. Survival analysis, TMB, consensus cluster analysis, drug sensitivity analysis, immune analysis and clinical drug prediction were carried out on the model. Finally, the function of LHX1-DT was verified by in vitro experiments. From the TCGA-LSCC cohort, 35 significantly different ERS-related lncRNAs were identified. A prognostic signature consisting of three lncRNAs (AC110611.2, LHX1-DT, and AL157373.2) was identified. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated the predictive ability of the model for overall survival. Calibration curves and receiver operating characteristic curves were validated and showed high predictive accuracy. Ultimately, the experimental results verified the expression of LHX1-DT in LSCC.

Combined Detection of RUNX3 and EZH2 in Evaluating Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Therapy and Prognostic Value of Middle and Low Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

OBJECTIVE

This article investigated whether Runt-Related Transcription Factor 3 (RUNX3) and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) can be used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy and prognosis of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

METHODS

Eighty LARC patients admitted to the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute/Hospital and First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from Jan 2015 to Jan 2016 were enrolled. The patients were followed up for 60 months through hospital visits. All patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (long range radiotherapy + oral capecitabine) + total mesorecta excision (TME) surgery. The clinical efficacy of the treatments was evaluated through endoscopic, radiography, and tumor regression grade (TRG). In addition, expression level of RUNX3 and EZH2 was quantified via immunohistochemistry. The association of RUNX3 and EZH2 with clinicopathological characteristics of advanced tumors and efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy was explored. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Survival curve was used to evaluate the impact of RUNX3 and EZH2 on the prognosis of LARC patients.

RESULTS

A total of 80 patients diagnosed with LARC were enrolled in the study. Expression of RUNX3 was elevated in 25 (31.25%) patients, whereas expression of EZH2 was upregulated in 44 (55.00%) patients. Analysis of tumor regression identified 10 cases with TRG grade 0 (pathologic complete response, PCR), 24 cases with TRG grade 1, 35 cases with TRG grade 2, and 11 cases with TRG grade 3. Furthermore, 38 cases had significant down-staging, and 42 cases showed no significant down-staging as revealed by endoscopy and imaging. Patients with high expression of RUNX3 showed better tumor regression response and down-staging compared with those with low expression of RUNX3 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Moreover, patients with low EZH2 expression achieved TRG grade 0 and 1 response and down-staging effect compared with those with high expression of EZH2 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that high expression of RUNX3, low expression of EZH2, and clinical N (cN) stage were good predictors of tumor regression response and down-staging. The 5-year disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 48.75 (39/80) and 58.75% (47/80), respectively. The 5-year DFS and OS of patients with high RUNX3 expression were significantly higher than low RUNX3 expression, whereas the 5-year DFS and OS of patients with high EZH2 expression were significantly lower than low EZH2 expression (P < 0.001). Univariate survival analysis showed that RUNX3 expression, EZH2 expression, cN, clinical T (cT), pathological T (pT) and pathological N (pN) were significantly correlated with the 5-year DFS and 5-year OS. Multivariate survival analysis showed that EZH2 expression and PN were good predictors of 5-year DFS and 5-year OS, whereas RUNX3 was a good predictor of 5-year DFS but not 5-year OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Expression level of RUNX3 and EZH2 accurately predicts clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and the prognosis of LARC patients, suggesting that RUNX3 and EZH2 can be used as pivotal clinical predictors for LARC.

Integrin α6 Indicates a Poor Prognosis of Craniopharyngioma through Bioinformatic Analysis and Experimental Validation

BACKGROUND

Craniopharyngioma (CP) is a benign slow-growing tumor. It tends to affect children, and the number of patients is on rise. Considering the high morbidity and mortality of CP, it is urgent and pivotal to identify new biomarkers to uncover the etiology and pathogenesis of CP.

METHODS

The "limma" package was utilized to calculate the data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs), gene ontology and pathway analysis were deduced from the DAVID web tool. Further, we constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to build a coexpression network. Finally, Western blotting and survival analysis were performed to examine the expression level of important metabolism-related genes.

RESULTS

Three hundred and eighty-four DEGs were identified between normal tissues and CPs from the GSE94349 and GSE26966 datasets. The Venn diagram for DEGs and hub genes in the 'turquoise' module revealed four key genes. Finally, the outcome of the survival analysis suggested that Integrin α6 (ITGA6) significantly affected the overall survival time of the patients with CP.

CONCLUSION

IGTA6, as a metabolism-related molecule, was found to be substantially related to the overall survival of patients with CP.

Correlation between the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Prognostic Index and Outcomes in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicentre Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prognostic value of the immune checkpoint inhibitor prognostic index (ICPI), based on the albumin (ALB) and derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

METHODS

We conducted a multicentre retrospective study with an ICIs cohort (n = 143) and a chemotherapy control cohort (n = 84). A Cox proportional hazards regression and logistic regression model were used to find the independent risk factor for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and disease control rate (DCR) in NSCLC patients. The Kaplan-Meier was used to evaluating the PFS and OS.

RESULTS

The ALB <35 g/L and dNLR >3 were correlated with worse PFS and OS for NSCLC patients receiving ICIs, respectively. The moderately high-risk ICPI had a significantly increased risk of progression (hazard ratio (HR) 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-2.91; P=0.012) and of death (HR 2.33, 95% CI 1.12-4.87; P=0.024) and of nondisease control (odds ratio (OR) 3.05, 95% CI 1.19-7.83; P=0.021) and was correlated with worse PFS and 1-year survival rates (4.0 months vs. 7.2 months; P=0.001; 44.3% vs. 76.1%; P=0.001) compared with low-risk ICPI when it was characterized two groups. When ICPI was further divided into three groups, the results showed that the high-risk ICPI was correlated with worse PFS and 1-year survival rates. However, there was no difference in the chemotherapy cohort.

CONCLUSION

The ICPI was correlated with worse outcomes for NSCLC patients receiving ICIs but not for patients with chemotherapy.

Association of estimated glomerular filtration rate with prostate cancer risk in a cross-ethnic population: a Mendelian randomization study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether a causal relationship exists between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) and the occurrence of prostate cancer in East Asian and European populations and to determine if genetic factors influence the association between the EGFR and prostate cancer risk.

METHODS

In this Mendelian randomization study, the existence of a causal relationship between the EGFR and prostate cancer occurrence was assessed using five analytical techniques, including Mendelian randomization-Egger regression (MR-Egger), calculation of the weighted median estimator (WME), the maximum likelihood ratio method, the linear median weighting method and the random-effects inverse-variance weighting (IVW) method.

RESULTS

In the IVW model, no causal relationship was observed between the EGFR and prostate cancer in either the East Asian or European populations.

CONCLUSIONS

After excluding confounding factors and reverse causal associations using two-sample Mendelian randomization, unbiased estimates were obtained, and there was no causal relationship between prostate cancer and the EGFR in the East Asian or European populations. Therefore, for patients with suspected prostate cancer, it is considered unnecessary to improve the detection of glomerular filtration rate, which will effectively reduce the economic burden of patients.

Establishment of a nonshockable rhythm cardiac arrest model caused by asphyxia

OBJECTIVE

Cardiac arrest (CA) is caused by a nonshockable rhythm with a low success rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and a poor prognosis. This study intended to establish a nonshockable rhythm CA model caused by asphyxia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Healthy adult male Wistar rats were injected with vecuronium bromide to induce CA. After the CA duration reached the target time point, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed. The survival status and neurological and cardiac function were evaluated after ROSC. Brain histopathology, including hematoxylin staining, Nissl staining and Terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, was performed to evaluate the surviving cells and apoptotic cells. Apoptosis-related proteins after ROSC for 72 h were analyzed by western blot.

RESULTS

CA was successfully induced in all animals. The time for the three groups of animals to PEA was 320 ± 22 s in the CA-8 group, 322 ± 28 s in the CA-12 group and 320 ± 18 s in the CA-15 group. The time to asystole was 436 ± 54 s in the CA-8 group, 438 ± 62 s in the CA-12 group and 433 ± 56 s in the CA-15 group. The NDS of rats in the CA group was significantly decreased after ROSC for 24 h. The NDS in the CA-15 group was 5-16 points, while it was 58-67 points and 15-43 points in the CA-8 and CA-12 groups, respectively. The cardiac function of animals in the CA group was impaired after ROSC, and the ejection fraction, fractional shortening, stroke volume and cardiac output, were all significantly decreased. Brain histopathology showed that the number of surviving neurons was decreased, and the number of apoptotic cells was increased in CA group, the longer the CA duration, the more apoptotic cells increased. The expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax and the apoptotic executive protein caspase3 in the hippocampus of CA rats was significantly increased, while the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of vecuronium can successfully induce CA caused by nonshockable rhythm in rats, which will help to further study the pathophysiological changes after CA by nonshockable rhythm.

miR-1293 suppresses osteosarcoma progression by modulating drug sensitivity in response to cisplatin treatment

Chemotherapy is considered the primary treatment for osteosarcoma. however, its effectiveness is limited due to drug resistance and toxicity. Thus, identifying novel therapeutic targets to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy is urgently needed. Here, we identified a novel cisplatin-sensitivity enhancing mechanism via up-regulation of the tumour suppressor gene, miR-1293. Meanwhile, higher levels of miR-1293 observed in prechemotherapy patients were associated with a more favorable prognosis. The mechanism underlying cisplatin upregulated miR-1293 expression involves hypomethylation of the miR-1293 promoter, which blocks the binding of the transcription repressor TFAP2A to the promoter. Furthermore, miR-1293 inhibits osteosarcoma progression by targeting TIMP1 to inactivate the Notch1/Hes1 and TGFBR1/Smad2/3 pathways, thereby promoting tumour cell death. The findings presented herein unveil a novel mechanism for enhancing cisplatin sensitivity and proposed a potential therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma through pre-chemotherapy supplementation of miR-1293.

Cell Profiling of Acute Kidney Injury to Chronic Kidney Disease Reveals Novel Oxidative Stress Characteristics in the Failed Repair of Proximal Tubule Cells

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health issue around the world. A significant number of CKD patients originates from acute kidney injury (AKI) patients, namely "AKI-CKD". CKD is significantly related to the consequences of AKI. Damaged renal proximal tubular (PT) cell repair has been widely confirmed to indicate the renal prognosis of AKI. Oxidative stress is a key damage-associated factor and plays a significant role throughout the development of AKI and CKD. However, the relationships between AKI-CKD progression and oxidative stress are not totally clear and the underlying mechanisms in "AKI-CKD" remain indistinct. In this research, we constructed unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI)-model mice and performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of the kidney samples from UIRI and sham mice. We obtained our snRNA-seq data and validated the findings based on the joint analysis of public databases, as well as a series of fundamental experiments. Proximal tubular cells associated with failed repair express more complete senescence and oxidative stress characteristics compared to other subgroups. Furthermore, oxidative stress-related transcription factors, including Stat3 and Dnmt3a, are significantly more active under the circumstance of failed repair. What is more, we identified abnormally active intercellular communication between PT cells associated with failed repair and macrophages through the APP-CD74 pathway. More notably, we observed that the significantly increased expression of CD74 in hypoxia-treated TECs (tubular epithelial cells) was dependent on adjacently infiltrated macrophages, which was essential for the further deterioration of failed repair in PT cells. This research provides a novel understanding of the process of AKI to CKD progression, and the oxidative stress-related characteristics that we identified might represent a potentially novel therapeutic strategy against AKI.

Exploring the correlation between Tom1L1 and the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally progressive mid-low rectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the specificity of Target of Myb1-Like1 (Tom1L1) expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues and analyze the predictive value of Tom1L1 in the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with rectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

The cancerous tissues and paracancerous normal tissues of 102 patients diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma without treatment were selected; quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were adopted to validate the expression level of Tom1L1 in the two groups. Furthermore, 34 patients with locally progressive mid-low rectal adenocarcinoma, who were treated with neoadjuvant Xelox chemotherapy prior to the operation, IHC was adopted to detect the expression of Tom1L1 protein in patients before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to analyze the relationship between the expression level of Tom1L1 and the sensitivity of neoadjuvant therapy.

RESULTS

The results of qPCR, Western blot and IHC showed that the expression of Tom1L1 in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous normal tissues, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01); Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was significantly more effective in patients with low expression of Tom1L1 protein than in those with high expression of Tom1L1 protein, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Tom1L1 is highly expressed in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues; neoadjuvant Xelox chemotherapy can have an impact on Tom1L1 expression in progressive rectal cancer; patients with locally progressive mid-low rectal adenocarcinoma who have low Tom1L1 expression are more sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Lysophosphatidic acid 2 alleviates deep vein thrombosis via protective endothelial barrier function

Background

The specific role of lysophosphatidic acid 2 (LPA2) in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains unclear.

Methods

An inferior vena cava annulus retraction model of DVT was established in wild-type (WT) and global LPA2 knockout (Lpar2 -/- ) mice. We examined the incidence of DVT, wet weight of thrombus, length of thrombus, assessed endothelial permeability through Evans blue dye assay in vivo, cell viability, and endothelial cell (EC) permeability of mouse inferior vena cava ECs in vitro. Proteomics, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting were employed to investigate the role of LPA2 in DVT.

Results

Lpar2 deficiency increased vascular endothelial permeability and promoted the progression of DVT. Histological examination revealed aggravated inflammation in the thrombus of Lpar2 -/- DVT mice. In vitro, Lpar2 -/- resulted in increased permeability of ECs. Proteomic results indicated that DVT after Lpar2 -/- may be related to tight junction (TJ) protein. LPA2 agonist, 2-[4-(1,3-dioxo-1H,3H-benzoisoquinolin-2-yl)butylsulfamoyl] benzoic acid, significantly reduced vascular endothelial permeability as well as increased expression of the vascular endothelial TJ protein zonula occludens-1.

Conclusion

These data provide a novel mechanism of endothelial barrier protection of LPA2 in DVT.

The molecular and metabolic landscape of ferroptosis in respiratory diseases: Pharmacological aspects

Ferroptosis is a form of cell death that occurs when there is an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and iron accumulation. The precise regulation of metabolic pathways, including iron, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, is crucial for cell survival. This type of cell death, which is associated with oxidative stress, is controlled by a complex network of signaling molecules and pathways. It is also implicated in various respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute lung injury (ALI), lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis (PF), and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To combat drug resistance, it is important to identify appropriate biological markers and treatment targets, as well as intervene in respiratory disorders to either induce or prevent ferroptosis. The focus is on the role of ferroptosis in the development of respiratory diseases and the potential of targeting ferroptosis for prevention and treatment. The review also explores the interaction between immune cell ferroptosis and inflammatory mediators in respiratory diseases, aiming to provide more effective strategies for managing cellular ferroptosis and respiratory disorders.

EGFR-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Combined with Radiotherapy in 105 Patients of Lung Adenocarcinoma with Brain Metastasis: A Retrospective Study of Prognostic Factor Analysis

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to retrospectively analyse the response and prognosis factors for patients with lung adenocarcinoma exhibiting brain metastasis and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, who were treated with a combination of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and brain radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

Clinicopathological data of patients with lung adenocarcinoma were collected from January 2021 to January 2024 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients were included. The overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 82.9%, 61.2%, and 33.7%, respectively. The progression-free survival 1 (PFS1) rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 62.7%, 36.6%, and 22.1%, respectively. The progression-free survival 2 (PFS2) rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 80.8%, 54.6%, and 31.4%, respectively. The median OS, PFS1, and PFS2 were 29.8, 18.0, and 28.1 months, respectively. Cox multivariate analysis identified gene mutation status and brain radiation dose as independent prognostic factors for OS. For PFS1, gene mutation status, brain radiation dose, and initial treatment response were independent prognostic factors. Clinical stage, gene mutation status, brain radiation dose, and initial treatment response were independent prognostic factors for PFS2.

CONCLUSION

The combination of TKIs and brain RT is effective for patients with lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations and brain metastases. Patients with exon 19 Del or exon 21 L858R mutations and brain radiation doses ≥40 Gy exhibit longer OS, PFS1, and PFS2. Additionally, complete remission + partial remission is associated with extended PFS1 and PFS2, while patients in stage IVA show longer PFS2.

Integrative Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Critical Molecular Networks Linking Intestinal-System Diseases to Colorectal Cancer Progression

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) frequently co-occurs with intestinal system diseases (ISDs), yet their molecular interplay remains poorly understood. We employed a comprehensive bioinformatics approach to elucidate shared genetic signatures and pathways between CRC and ISDs. Methods: We systematically analyzed 12 microarray and RNA-seq datasets encompassing 989 samples across seven ISDs and CRC. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using Limma and DESeq2. Functional enrichment analysis was performed using clusterProfiler. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed via STRING and visualized with Cytoscape to identify hub genes. Clinical significance of shared genes was further assessed through survival analysis and validated by immunohistochemistry staining of 30 paired CRC-normal tissue samples. Results: Integrating bioinformatics and machine learning approaches, we uncovered 160 shared DEGs (87 upregulated, 73 downregulated), which predominantly enriched cell metabolism, immune homeostasis, gut-brain communication, and inflammation pathways. Network analysis revealed nine key hub proteins linking CRC and ISDs, with seven upregulated (CD44, MYC, IL17A, CXCL1, FCGR3A, SPP1, and IL1A) and two downregulated (CXCL12 and CCL5). Survival analysis demonstrated the prognostic potential of these shared genes, while immunohistochemistry confirmed their differential expression in CRC tissues. Conclusions: Our findings unveil potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets, providing insights into ISD-influenced CRC progression and offering a robust foundation for improved diagnostic and treatment strategies in ISD-associated CRC.

Curculigoside exhibits multiple therapeutic efficacy to induce apoptosis and ferroptosis in osteosarcoma via modulation of ROS and tumor microenvironment

OBJECTIVE

Patients with osteosarcoma (OS) exhibit metastasis upon diagnosis, and the condition frequently acquires resistance to traditional chemotherapy treatments, failing the therapy. The objective of this research was to examine the impact of curculigoside (Cur), a key phenolic compound discovered in the rhizome of C. orchioides Gaertn, on OS cells and the surrounding tumor environment.

METHODS

We assessed the impact of curculigoside on tumor inhibition in four osteosarcoma cell lines and mice tumor xenograft models using various techniques including cell viability assay, wound healing assay, cell apoptosis analysis, immunofluorescent staining, and IHC. Moreover, we created a mini-PDX model by utilizing freshly obtained primary OS cells from surgically removed OS tissues to evaluate the possible clinical use of Cur.

RESULT

The results of our study show that Cur triggers cell death in OS cells and enhances the maturation of RAW264.7 cells. By effectively inhibiting the growth of OS cells, these actions mechanistically trigger the catastrophic buildup of unbound iron and uncontrolled lipid peroxidation, ultimately resulting in ferroptosis. Moreover, additional validation of Cur's substantial antineoplastic impact is obtained through in vivo experiments employing xenograft and mini-PDX models.

CONCLUSIONS

To sum up, this research is the initial one to exhibit the anti-tumor effects of Cur on OS using various methods, indicating that Cur shows potential as a viable approach for treating OS.

Adeno-associated virus therapies: Pioneering solutions for human genetic diseases

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has emerged as a fundamental component in the gene therapy landscape, widely acknowledged for its effectiveness in therapeutic gene delivery. The success of AAV-based therapies, such as Luxturna and Zolgensma, underscores their potential as a leading vector in gene therapy. This article provides an in-depth review of the development and mechanisms of AAV vector-based therapies, offering a comprehensive analysis of the latest clinical trial outcomes in central nervous system (CNS) diseases, ocular conditions, and hemophilia, where AAV therapies have shown promising results. Additionally, we discusse the selection of administration methods and serotypes tailored to specific diseases. Our objective is to showcase the innovative applications and future potential of AAV-based gene therapy, laying the groundwork for continued clinical advancements.