NCX1/Ca2+ promotes autophagy and decreases bortezomib activity in multiple myeloma through non-canonical NFκB signaling pathway

Although bortezomib (BTZ) is the cornerstone of anti-multiple myeloma (MM) therapy, the inevitable primary and secondary drug resistance still seriously affects the prognosis of patients. New treatment strategies are in need. Sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1) is a calcium-permeable ion transporter on the membrane, and our previous studies showed that low NCX1 confers inferior viability in MM cells and suppressed osteoclast differentiation. However, the effect of NCX1 on BTZ sensitivity of MM and its possible mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of NCX1 on BTZ sensitivity in MM, focusing on cellular processes of autophagy and cell viability. Our results provide evidence that NCX1 expression correlates with MM disease progression and low NCX1 expression increases BTZ sensitivity. NCX1/Ca2+ triggered autophagic flux through non-canonical NFκB pathway in MM cells, leading to attenuated the sensitivity of BTZ. Knockdown or inhibition of NCX1 could potentiate the anti-MM activity of BTZ in vitro and vivo, and inhibition of autophagy sensitized NCX1-overexpressing MM cells to BTZ. In general, this work implicates NCX1 as a potential therapeutic target in MM with BTZ resistance and provides novel mechanistic insights into its vital role in combating BTZ resistance.

Wearable smart contact lenses: A critical comparison of three physiological signals outputs for health monitoring

Smart contact lenses (SCLs) have been considered as novel wearable devices for out-of-hospital and self-monitoring applications. They are capable of non-invasively and continuously monitoring physiological signals in the eyes, including vital biophysical (e.g., intraocular of pressure, temperature, and electrophysiological signal) and biochemical signals (e.g., pH, glucose, protein, nitrite, lactic acid, and ions). Recent progress mainly focuses on the rational design of wearable SCLs for physiological signal monitoring, while also facilitating the treatment of various ocular diseases. It covers contact lens materials, fabrication technologies, and integration methods. We also highlight and discuss a critical comparison of SCLs with electrical, microfluidic, and optical signal outputs in health monitoring. Their advantages and disadvantages could help researchers to make decisions when developing SCLs with desired properties for physiological signal monitoring. These unique capabilities make SCLs promising diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Despite the extensive research in SCLs, new technologies are still in their early stages of development and there are a few challenges to be addressed before these SCLs technologies can be successfully commercialized particularly in the form of rigorous clinical trials.

SSBP1 is a novel prognostic marker and promotes disease progression via p38MAPK signaling pathway in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease. Identification of meaningful co-expressed gene clusters or representative biomarkers of MM may help to identify new pathological mechanisms and promote the development of new therapies. Here, we performed weighted sgene co-expression network analysis and a series of bioinformatics analysis to identify single stranded DNA binding protein 1 (SSBP1) as novel hub gene associated with MM development and prognosis. In vitro, CRISPR/cas9 mediated knockdown of SSBP1 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of MM cells through inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. We also found that decreased SSBP1 expression significantly increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) generation and the level of phosphorylated p38MAPK. Furthermore, it was further verified that disruption of SSBP1 expression could inhibit the tumor growth via p38MAPK pathway in a human myeloma xenograft model. In summary, our study is the first to demonstrate that SSBP1 promotes MM development by regulating the p38MAPK pathway.

3D Printed Ion-Responsive Personalized Transdermal Patch

Microneedle patches are easy-to-use medical devices for transdermal administration. However, the insufficient insertion of microneedles due to the gap between planar patches and contoured skin affects drug delivery. Herein, we formulate a prepolymer for high-fidelity three-dimensional (3D) printed personalized transdermal patches. With the excellent photoinitiation ability of 2-(4-methoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine (Tz), a high-fidelity and precise microneedle patch is successfully fabricated. Upon irradiation of the white illuminator, the doped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the patch release heat and promisingly induce sweat production. With the introduction of Na+, the dominant component of sweat, the curvature of the produced transdermal patch is observed due to the ion-induced network rearrangement. The alkanethiol-stabilized AuNP with an end group of a carboxyl group causes controlled drug release behavior. Furthermore, the irradiation-induced photothermal heating of AuNP can facilitate the sustainability of drug release thanks to the substantially increased particle size of AuNP. These findings demonstrate that the developed prepolymer is a promising candidate for the production of transdermal patches fitting the curvature of the body surface.

[Analysis of clinical characteristics of children with adenoid hypertrophy and pharyngolaryngeal reflux]

Objectives: To explore the clinical characteristics of children with adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) by detecting the expression of pepsin in adenoids as a standard for AH with LPR. Methods: A total of 190 children who were admitted for surgical treatment due to AH were included in the study. The main clinical symptoms of the patients were recorded, and the degree of adenoid hypertrophy was evaluated. Before the surgery, Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS) were used to evaluate the reflux symptoms. After the surgery, pepsin immunohistochemical staining was performed on the adenoid tissue, and according to the staining results, the patients were divided into study group (pepsin staining positive) and control group (pepsin staining negative). SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Quantitative data conforming to normal distribution between the two groups were tested by two-independent sample t test, and quantitative data with skewed distribution were tested by Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The positive rate of pepsin staining in the 190 AH patients was 78.4% (149/190). The study group had higher levels of preoperative symptoms such as erythema and/or congestion of the pharynx(2.1±0.7 vs. 1.8±0.6,t=2.23), vocal cord edema[1.0(0, 1.0) vs. 1.0(0, 1.0), Z=2.00], diffuse laryngeal edema[0(0, 1.0) vs. 0(0, 0), Z=2.48], posterior commissure hypertrophy[(1.4±0.6 vs. 1.1±0.5), t=2.63], and a higher total score on the RFS scale than the control group(6.2±2.7 vs. 5.0±2.6, t=2.47), with statistical differences (P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of RFS score in diagnosing AH with LPR were 24.8% and 80.5%, respectively. When RFS>5 was used as the positive threshold, the sensitivity and specificity of RFS score in diagnosing AH with LPR were 61.1% and 58.5%, respectively. There was a statistical difference in the number of positive cases of RFS score between the study group and the control group(91 vs. 17,χ2=5.04,P=0.032). Conclusions: LPR is common in AH children. Children with AH and LPR have specific performance in electronic laryngoscopy, such as erythema with edema in the pharynx, posterior commissure hypertrophy, and vocal cord edema.

Potential role of RhoA GTPase regulation in type interferon signaling in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by abnormal activation of the type I interferon (IFN) pathway, which results in tissue inflammation and organ damage. We explored the role of the RhoA GTPase in the type I IFN activation pathway to provide a potential basis for targeting GTPase signaling for the treatment of SLE.

METHODS

Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients and healthy controls, and the mRNA expression levels of RhoA and IFN-stimulated genes were measured by SYBR Green quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. IFN-a-stimulated response element (ISRE)-luciferase reporter gene assays and Western blotting were conducted to assess the biologic function of RhoA. An enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) measured C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) protein expression.

RESULTS

Our studies demonstrate that the expression of RhoA in the PBMCs of SLE subjects was significantly higher than in healthy controls and positively correlated with type I IFN scores and type I IFN-stimulated gene (ISGs) expression levels. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of RhoA and the RhoA/ROCK inhibitor Y27632 reduced the activity of the type I IFN-induced ISRE, the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT-1) phosphorylation, and the expression of CXCL10 and 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1). Finally, we verified that Y27632 could significantly down-regulate the OAS1 and CXCL10 expression levels in the PBMCs of SLE patients.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that RhoA positively regulates the activation of the type I IFN response pathway. Reducing the expression level of RhoA inhibits the abnormal activation of the type I IFN system, and the RhoA/ROCK inhibitor Y27632 decreases aberrant type I IFN signaling in SLE PBMCs, suggesting the possibility of targeting the RhoA GTPase for the treatment of SLE.

Efficacy and safety of azathioprine plus prednisone versus prednisone alone as first-line treatment for antinuclear antibody-positive immune thrombocytopenia: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Antinuclear antibody (ANA)-positive immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients have an unsatisfactory prognosis due to the more severe conditions of these patients and poor response to first-line glucocorticoids (GCs). The current study intended to compare the efficacy and safety of AZA plus prednisone and prednisone alone as first-line treatment in ANA-positive ITP patients.

METHODS

Fifteen ANA-positive ITP patients receiving AZA plus prednisone (AZA + GC group) and eighteen ANA-positive ITP patients receiving prednisone alone (GC group) as first-line treatment were retrospectively enrolled.

RESULTS

The complete response (CR) rate (60.0% versus 22.2%) (P = 0.038) was increased in the AZA + GC group versus the GC group, while the overall response rate (86.7% versus 55.6%) (P = 0.070) only showed an increasing trend that did not achieve statistical significance. In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that AZA + GC (versus GC) (odds ratio = 31.331, P = 0.018) was independently associated with a higher possibility of achieving CR. Additionally, accumulating relapse-free duration was prolonged in the AZA + GC group versus the GC group (median: 7.8 months versus 3.4 months) (P = 0.038). Additionally, the multivariate analysis suggested that AZA + GC (versus GC) (hazard ratio = 0.306, P = 0.007) was independently correlated with longer accumulating relapse-free duration. The incidence of adverse events did not differ between the two groups (all P > 0.05), and the common adverse events in the AZA + GC group were pneumonia (13.3%), anemia (13.3%), cough (13.3%), nausea (6.7%), and granulocytopenia (6.7%), which were all tolerable and manageable.

CONCLUSION

First-line AZA plus prednisone realizes a better hematological response and relapse-free duration with acceptable adverse events compared to prednisone alone in ANA-positive ITP patients.

BNIP3 overexpression may promote myeloma cell apoptosis by enhancing sensitivity to bortezomib via the p38 MAPK pathway

BACKGROUND

BCL2-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) expression varies among cancers, and its role in myeloma cells remains unknown. We investigated the role of BNIP3 overexpression in myeloma cells, and particularly its effects on apoptosis and mitochondria.

METHODS

A BNIP3-overexpressing plasmid was transfected into the MM.1S and RPMI8226 myeloma cell lines. Transfected cell apoptosis rate and mitochondrial function were determined via flow cytometry and western blotting. We verified the signaling pathway underlying myeloma cell sensitivity to bortezomib (BTZ).

RESULTS

Cell lines carrying the BNIP3-overexpressing plasmid exhibited higher rates of apoptosis and expression of Bax and Cleaved caspase 3 protein than the vector group, and less Bcl-2 protein expression than the control cells. Relative to the vector group, BNIP3-overexpressing strains contained more reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exhibited mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) upregulation and mitofusin-1 (Mfn1) downregulation. BTZ supplementation increased BNIP3 expression. Relative to the BNIP3-OE group, the BNIP3-OE BTZ-treated group exhibited upregulated Bax and Cleaved caspase 3 protein expression, downregulated Bcl-2 protein expression, higher apoptosis rates, ROS levels, MMP, and Drp1 expression, and lower Mfn1 expression. BTZ treatment induced p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway activation in BNIP3-OE cells. Upon adding N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580, the affected index levels returned to the baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

BNIP3 overexpression induced apoptosis in myeloma cells and increased myeloma cell sensitivity to BTZ. These effects may be mediated by the ROS/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Risk of cancer in acromegaly patients: An updated meta-analysis and systematic review

The incidence of cancer in acromegaly patients may be higher than that in the general population, although this has not been fully elucidated yet. This study analyzed the risk of various important types of cancer in acromegaly patients. The study was registered in INPLASY (registration number: INPLASY202340037). The PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched for studies based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, from the time of database inception up to June 30, 2022. All observational studies of acromegaly patients with cancer were included, without language restrictions. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) checklist to assess the quality of evidence. A meta-analysis revealed the relationship between acromegaly and cancer using the standardized incidence rates (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) retrieved from the included studies. Nineteen studies were included and analyzed. The overall incidence of cancer (SIR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.20-1.75), as well as that of thyroid (SIR = 6.96, 95%CI = 2.51-19.33), colorectal and anal (SIR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.32-2.87), brain and central nervous system (SIR = 6.14, 95%CI = 2.73-13.84), gastric (SIR = 3.09, 95%CI = 1.47-6.50), urinary (SIR = 2.66, 95%CI = 1.88-3.76), hematological (SIR = 1.89, 95%CI = 1.17-3.06), pancreatic and small intestine (SIR = 2.59, 95%CI = 1.58-4.24), and connective tissue (SIR = 3.15, 95%CI = 1.18-8.36) cancers, was higher among patients with acromegaly than among the general population. No association between acromegaly and hepatobiliary, respiratory, reproductive, skin, breast, or prostate cancer was observed. This study demonstrated that acromegaly patients have a modestly increased chance of cancer as compared to the general population. Risk factors for cancer need to be further explored to monitor patients with acromegaly at a high risk for cancer more carefully.

CD4+ T cell count in HIV/TB co-infection and co-occurrence with HL: Case report and literature review

In the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population, especially HIV with concomitant tuberculosis (TB) or Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), numerous risk factors have been reported in recent years. Among them, the decreased CD4+ T cell count was recognized as the common risk factor. We report a case of a patient with HIV and TB and HL co-occurrence, in which patient's CD4+ T cell count was inconsistent with disease. A 58-year-old male presented with fever and shortness of breath that persisted for 2 months. The patient had a 4-year history of HIV infection and underwent antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively. After blood test, computed tomography, bone biopsy, and lymphoma biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with skeletal TB and HL, underwent TB treatment and received ART, and underwent four cycles of chemotherapy. CD4+ T cell count was not decreased before diagnosed with TB/HL and increased in this case after the fourth cycle of chemotherapy. We collected and analyzed CD4+ T cell counts in our case and reviewed relevant literature. It is suggested that CD4+ T cell count may be insufficient to predict the risk of HIV-related disease, especially lymphoproliferative disorders.

The RhoA GTPase regulates Type I Interferon Signaling in Systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by abnormal activation of the type I interferon (IFN) pathway, which results in tissue inflammation and organ damage. We explored the role of the RhoA GTPase in the type I IFN activation pathway to provide a potential basis for targeting GTPase signaling for the treatment of SLE.

Methods

Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients and healthy controls, and the mRNA expression levels of RhoA and IFN-stimulated genes were measured by SYBR Green quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE)-luciferase reporter gene assays and Western blotting were conducted to asssess the biologic function of RhoA. An Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) measured C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10(CXCL10)protein expression.

Results

Our studies demonstrated that the expression of RhoA in the PBMCs of SLE subjects was significantly higher than healthy controls and positively correlated with type I IFN scores and type I IFN-stimulated gene (ISGs) expression levels. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of RhoA and the RhoA/ROCK inhibitor Y27632 reduced the activity of the type I IFN-induced ISRE, the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT-1) phosphorylation, and the expression of CXCL10 and 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1(OAS1). Finally,we verified that Y27632 could significantly down-regulate the OAS1 and CXCL10 expression levels in PBMCs of SLE patients.

Conclusion

Our study shows that RhoA positively regulates the activation of the type I IFN response pathway. Reducing the expression level of RhoA inhibits the abnormal activation of the type I IFN system, and the RhoA/ROCK inhibitor Y27632 decreases aberrant type I IFN signaling in SLE PBMCs, suggesting the possibility of targeting the RhoA GTPase for the treatment of SLE.

[Challenges and countermeasures in the development of artificial intelligence research in ophthalmology]

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has led to revolutionary advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmic diseases, introducing a novel AI-assisted diagnostic approach for ophthalmology that is rich in imaging diagnostic technologies. However, as clinical applications continue to evolve, AI research in ophthalmology faces challenges such as the lack of standardized datasets and innovative algorithm models, insufficient cross-modal information fusion, and limited clinical interpretability. In response to the growing demand for AI research in ophthalmology, it is essential to establish ophthalmic data standards and sharing platforms, innovate core algorithms, and develop clinical logic interpretable models for the screening, diagnosis, and prediction of eye diseases. Additionally, the deep integration of cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, virtual reality, and surgical robots would advance the development of ophthalmic intelligent medicine into a new phase.

Correlation research of serum substance P, CCK-8, and 5-HT values with depression levels in stroke survivors

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the correlation of serum octapeptide cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8), substance P (SP), and 5-hydroxytryptryptamine (5-HT) values with depression levels in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). It also aimed to explore the potential approach for the early diagnosis of PSD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A correlation research between patients' biochemical indicators and depression levels was performed among 70 stroke patients during hospitalization from June 2021 to February 2022. The 70 stroke patients were selected and divided into post-stroke depression and non-depression groups according to the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score. The concentrations of CCK-8, SP, and 5-HT in both groups were measured, and the relationship between the values of CCK-8, SP, 5-HT and the depression levels was analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the 70 stroke survivors, 35 were in the depression group and 35 were in the non-depression group. Significant differences were observed in the concentration of CCK-8, SP, and 5-HT between the patients in the depression and non-depression group (p < 0.05). Accompanied by an increase in the depression level, the SP value gradually increased, but the CCK-8 and 5-HT values gradually decreased. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that the order of the correlation between CCK-8, 5-HT, SP, and the depression levels was CCK-8 > SP > 5-HT.

CONCLUSIONS

All the CCK-8, SP and 5-HT values were correlated with the depression levels in stroke survivors. Furthermore, the correlation between CCK-8, SP, and post-stroke depression levels was higher than that of 5-HT, suggesting that the early diagnosis of PSD may be reflected more precisely through the detection of CCK-8, and SP values, thus providing potential priority for biochemical detection in the diagnosis of PSD.

Clinical features and high-risk indicators of central nervous system involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome

BACKGROUND

Evidence for central nervous system involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients is controversial and extremely limited. We aimed to describe the clinical profiles and high-risk indicators of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement (pSS-CNS).

METHODS

A total of 412 participants with pSS from a hospital in China from January 2012 to December 2019 were enrolled in the retrospective study. 42 pSS-CNS patients were compared with 370 pSS patients without CNS involvement. The clinical features, laboratory examinations, imaging characteristics, and treatment of the pSS-CNS cases were systematically analyzed. Potential risk factors related to pSS-CNS patients were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of central nervous system involvement in the studied pSS patients was 10.2% (42/412), with 31.3% (14/42) of pSS patients having neurological manifestations as the initial symptom. The manifestations of hemiparesis (35.7%, 15/42), paraparesis (28.6%, 12/42), dysphonia (31.0%, 13/42), blurred vision (21.4%, 9/42), and dysfunctional proprioception (23.8%, 10/42) were more common in the pSS-CNS patients. Cerebral infarction (57.1%, 24/42), demyelination (31.0%, 13/42), myelitis (23.8%, 11/42), and angiostenosis (21.4%, 9/42) were most often found on MRI or CT scan imaging in the pSS-CNS patients. Intrathecal IgG level and total protein of cerebrospinal fluid were increased in 50% (8/16) of the pSS-CNS group. In comparison with patients without CNS involvement, the pSS-CNS patients were found to also have kidney and lung involvement, hematologic abnormalities, positive ANA and anti-SSA antibody tests, and reduced complement 3 (C3) and complement 4 (C4) levels (all p < 0.05). The prevalence of lung involvement, immune thrombocytopenia, and high-titer ANA (1:1000) were significantly higher in pSS-CNS disease activity compared to those in the moderately active group. Multivariate analysis identified lung involvement, anti-SSA positivity, and low C3 levels as prognostic factors for pSS-CNS. After high-dose glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy, 60.5% (26/38) of pSS-CNS patients improved, 36.8% (14/38) were unresponsive to treatment, and 2.6% (1/38) died.

CONCLUSION

Clinical features are diverse in pSS-CNS patients, and the morbidity rate is low. CNS involvement was the initial presentation in state percentage here pSS patients. Pulmonary involvement, a positive anti-SSA antibody test, and reduced C3 levels are potential risk factors for CNS involvement in pSS. Treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy appeared effective in 60% of pSS-CNS patients. Key Points • The CNS manifestations of pSS are diverse, and CNS imaging and CSF analysis are important for the diagnosis. • Pulmonary involvement, positive anti-SSA, and reduced C3 levels are potential risk factors of pSS-CNS. • About 60% of pSS-CNS patients were responsive to high-dose glucocorticoid administration and immunosuppressive therapy.

Characterization data of reference materials used for phase II of the priority program DFG SPP 2005 "Opus Fluidum Futurum - Rheology of reactive, multiscale, multiphase construction materials"

A thorough characterization of base materials is the prerequisite for further research. In this paper, the characterization data of the reference materials (CEM I 42.5 R, limestone powder, calcined clay and a mixture of these three components) used in the second funding phase of the priority program 2005 of the German Research Foundation (DFG SPP 2005) are presented under the aspects of chemical and mineralogical composition as well as physical and chemical properties. The data were collected based on tests performed by up to eleven research groups involved in this cooperative program.

[Characteristics and related factors of viral nucleic acid negative conversion in children infected with Omicron variant strain of SARS-CoV-2]

Objective: To understand the characteristics and associated factors of viral nucleic acid conversion in children infected with Omicron variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in Shanghai. Methods: The clinical symptoms, laboratory results and other data of 177 children infected with SARS-CoV-2 who were hospitalized in Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (designated hospital for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Shanghai) from April 25 to June 8, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the chest imaging findings, the children were divided into mild and common type groups. According to their age, the unvaccinated children were divided into<3 years old group and 3-<18 years old group. According to the vaccination status, the children aged 3-<18 year were divided into non-vaccination group, 1-dose vaccination group and 2-dose vaccination group. Comparison between groups was performed by independent sample t-test and analysis of variance, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis. Results: Among the 177 children infected with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, 96 were males and 81 were females, aged 3 (1, 6) years. The time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion was (10.3±3.1) days. The 177 children were 138 cases of mild type and 39 cases of common type. Among the children aged 3-<18 years old, 55 cases were not vaccinated, 5 cases received 1-dose and 36 cases received 2-dose vaccination. Among the 36 children who received 2 doses of vaccination, the time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion was shorter in those vaccinated within 6 months than those over 6 months ((7.1±1.9) vs. (10.8±3.0) d, t=-3.23, P=0.004). Univariate analysis showed that the time of nucleic acid negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 was associated with age, underlying diseases, gastrointestinal symptoms, white blood cell count, proportion of neutrophils, proportion of lymphocytes, and the number of doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (t=3.87, 2.55, 2.04, 4.24, 3.51, 2.92, F=16.27, all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that older age (β=-0.33, 95% CI -0.485--0.182, P<0.001) and more doses of vaccination (β=-0.79, 95% CI -1.463--0.120, P=0.021) were associated with shortened nucleic acid negative conversion time in children, while lower lymphocyte proportion (β=-0.02, 95% CI -0.044--0.002, P=0.031) and underlying diseases (β=1.52, 95% CI 0.363-2.672, P=0.010) were associated with prolonged nucleic acid negative conversion time in children. Conclusion: The children infected with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 with reduced lymphocyte proportion and underlying diseases may have longer time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion,while children with older age and more doses of vaccination may have shorter time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion.

[Striving to promote precise diagnosis of dry eye]

Dry eye is a common ocular surface disease worldwide that affects the patients' visual quality and life quality. Correctly distinguishing its etiology, severity and subtypes is the basis for precise diagnosis and effective treatment. This article summarizes the challenges and bottlenecks in the development of dry eye precise diagnosis, and discusses the current situation and development trend of dry eye diagnosis from traditional evaluation methods to novel diagnostic techniques, aiming to provide reference and guidance for promotion of clinical precise diagnosis of dry eye.

Water-soluble/visible-light-sensitive naphthalimide derivative-based photoinitiating systems: 3D printing of antibacterial hydrogels

Adaptability of hydrogels allows these structures to be used in a variety of industries, including biomedicine, soft electronics, and sensors. In this study, 10 different naphthalimide derivatives were prepared (five...

TTP protects against acute liver failure by regulating CCL2 and CCL5 through m6A RNA methylation

Tristetraprolin (TTP), an important immunosuppressive protein regulating mRNA decay through recognition of the AU-rich elements (AREs) within the 3′-UTRs of mRNAs, participates in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. However, whether TTP regulates mRNA stability through other mechanisms remains poorly understood. Here, we report that TTP was upregulated in acute liver failure (ALF), resulting in decreased mRNA stabilities of CCL2 and CCL5 through promotion of N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) mRNA methylation. Overexpression of TTP could markedly ameliorate hepatic injury in vivo. TTP regulated the mRNA stabilization of CCL2 and CCL5. Interestingly, increased m⁶A methylation in CCL2 and CCL5 mRNAs promoted TTP-mediated RNA destabilization. Moreover, induction of TTP upregulated expression levels of WT1 associated protein, methyltransferase like 14, and YT521-B homology N⁶-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 2, which encode enzymes regulating m⁶A methylation, resulting in a global increase of m⁶A methylation and amelioration of liver injury due to enhanced degradation of CCL2 and CCL5. These findings suggest a potentially novel mechanism by which TTP modulates mRNA stabilities of CCL2 and CCL5 through m⁶A RNA methylation, which is involved in the pathogenesis of ALF.

An NF-κB-responsive long noncoding RNA, PINT, regulates TNF-α gene transcription by scaffolding p65 and EZH2

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are central regulators of the inflammatory response and play an important role in inflammatory diseases. PINT has been reported to be involved in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. However, the potential functions of PINT in the innate immune system are largely unknown. Here, we revealed the transcriptional regulation of inflammatory genes by PINT, whose expression is primarily dependent on the NF-κB signaling pathway in human and mouse macrophage and intestinal epithelial cell lines. Functionally, PINT selectively regulates the expression of TNF-α in basal and LPS-stimulated cells. Mechanistically, PINT acts as a modular scaffold of p65 and EZH2 to coordinate their localization and specify their binding to the target genes. Further, a high expression level of PINT was detected in intestinal mucosal tissues from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Together, these findings demonstrate that PINT acts as an activator of inflammatory responses, highlighting the importance of this lncRNA as a potential therapeutic target in infectious diseases and inflammatory diseases.

[Advances and controversies of statins application in prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Statins, as lipid-regulating drugs, have been widely used in the treatment for hyperlipidemia and the primary and secondary prevention of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious burden of liver disease in China with poor prognosis, thus effective adjuvant drug used for HCC treatment has attracted much attention. Statins can suppress tumor growth, decrease the risk of tumorigenesis and postoperative recurrence of HCC, extend the survival time and improve the therapeutic effect of other treatment, therefore might increase the benefit obtained by the HCC patients. Statins also can impact the expression of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, promote the apoptosis of malignant cells and ameliorate the HCC risk of hepatitis B virus infected patients. Statins not only prevents the HCC, but also has part therapeutic effect on the different stage of HCC. Although it can't replace the operation, radiofrequency ablation, molecular targeted treatment and immunotherapy currently, statins may be a potential adjuvant drug to provide clinical benefit for HCC patients. The advancement of statins application in the prevention and treatment of HCC has attracted more attention recently, however, discussion and controversy also existed about whether it can eventually become an adjuvant therapy for HCC. The purpose of this paper is to summarize and comment on the new development and disputes of statins application in the prevention and treatment of HCC in recent years, to provide help for the future clinical practice.