Case report: A case of hyperthyroidism secondary to bone metastasis of differentiated thyroid cancer

It is usually believed that differentiated thyroid cancer is less likely to have distant metastases and rarely occurs secondary to hyperthyroidism. In our case report, we describe a patient diagnosed with thyroid fetal adenoma in 2002 who subsequently presented with a painful lump in her right rib. Through puncture biopsy, the mass was considered as metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma, and then she appeared to have hyperthyroidism. The results of SPECT examination and other tests suggested that the hyperthyroidism was secondary to the thyroid cancer. The patient further underwent total thyroidectomy, and the pathology did not find any follicular thyroid foci. In this article, we analyze and discuss this case and review the relevant literature.

Preliminary study on early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in APP/PS1 transgenic mice using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has an insidious onset and lacks clear early diagnostic markers, and by the time overt dementia symptoms appear, the disease is already in the mid-to-late stages. The search for early diagnostic markers of AD may open a critical window for Alzheimer's treatment and facilitate early intervention to slow the progression of AD. In this study, we aimed to explore the imaging markers for early diagnosis of AD through the combined application of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), and 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques at the animal experimental level, with the aim to provide a certain reference for early clinical diagnosis of AD. First, sMRI scans were performed on 4-month-old amyloid beta precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) transgenic AD model mice and wild type mice of the same litter using a 7.0 T animal MRI scanner to analyze the differential brain regions with structural changes in the gray matter of the brain by voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Next, rs-fMRI scans were performed to analyze the differential brain regions between groups for local spontaneous brain activity and functional connectivity (FC) between brain regions. Finally, 1H-MRS scans were performed to quantify and analyze intergroup differences in the relative concentrations of different metabolites within regions of interest (cortex and hippocampus). Compared with wild type mice, the volume of the left hippocampus, and right olfactory bulb of APP/PS1 transgenic AD model mice were reduced, the functional activity of the bilateral hippocampus, right piriform cortex and right caudate putamen was reduced, the functional network connectivity of the hippocampus was impaired, and the relative content of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)in the hippocampus was decreased. In addition, this study found that imaging changes in olfactory-related brain regions were closely associated with AD diagnosis, and these findings may provide some reference for the early diagnosis of AD.

[A case of fungal keratitis caused by Petriella setifera infection]

The patient, a 66-year-old male, suffered from redness, blurred vision, photophobia, and tearing in the right eye after being injured by a wooden board. Anti-inflammatory treatment showed poor effectiveness. A 4 mm × 4 mm infiltrate with white deposits on the surface was observed in the central cornea of the right eye. Microscopic examination of corneal scrapings, fungal culture, and in vivo confocal microscopy all indicated fungal infection. The isolated strain was identified as Scedosporium apiospermum through microscopic morphology and confirmed as Petriella setifera by gene sequencing. The patient received corneal debridement combined with routine anti-inflammatory and antifungal treatment in the outpatient clinic. During the follow-up period, the condition continued to improve. Slit lamp examination at the revisit 40 days after the initial diagnosis revealed thinning of the corneal stroma, basic healing of the epithelium, and an increase in uncorrected visual acuity from 0.3 to 0.6.

[Association between dietary pattern and frailty among people aged 50 years and over in Shanghai]

Objective: To investigate dietary patterns of individuals aged ≥50 in Shanghai and analyze their association with frailty. Methods: Using data from the third wave of the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health in Shanghai conducted between 2018 and 2019. We collected the frequency and average intake of food by the food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to extract dietary patterns, and a frailty index was constructed using the ratio of the cumulative total score of health deficits to 35 health-related variables considered. We used an ordinal multinomial logistic regression model to analyze the association between dietary patterns and frailty. Results: A total of 3 274 participants aged (67.9±9.2) years were included in the study, including 1 971 (60.2%) men and 1 303 (39.8%) women. We extracted four dietary patterns: high-protein-nuts pattern, potato-bean-vegetable-fruit pattern, poultry-meat pattern, and high-oil-salt pattern. After adjusting for confounding factors, the logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the high-oil-salt pattern, the high-protein-nuts pattern was negatively associated with the risk of higher frailty (OR=0.743, 95%CI: 0.580-0.951). We did not find an association between dietary patterns and frailty between the different gender groups. In the age group 50-64, the high-protein-nuts and potato-bean-vegetable-fruit patterns were negatively correlated with a higher degree of frailty than the high-oil-salt pattern. In the low-level physical activity group, the high-protein-nuts pattern was negatively correlated with a higher degree of frailty than the high-oil-salt pattern (OR=0.509, 95%CI: 0.361-0.720). However, we found no significant effect of the high-protein nuts pattern, potato-bean-vegetable-fruit pattern, and poultry-meat pattern on the risk of higher frailty compared to the high-oil-salt pattern in the moderate to high level of physical activity group. Conclusions: Compared to the high-oil-salt pattern, dietary patterns with a higher intake of high-protein nuts, potatoes, legumes, and fruits and vegetables might be associated with a lower risk of higher frailty in residents aged 50-64 years of age than with a high oil and salt pattern. At the same time, it may have a more significant protective effect in people with lower physical activity levels. It is suggested that a diet rich in high-protein foods, nuts, potatoes, beans, vegetables, and fruits may help reduce and delay the risk of frailty.

Nitrous oxide induced subacute combined degeneration of the spine cord: A case report

RATIONALE

In recent years, recreational use of inhaled nitrous oxide (N2O) is on the increase among young people, accompanied by a corresponding rise in reports about its toxicity. Subacute combined degeneration of the spine cord (SCD) is the typical clinical picture of the nervous system disorder caused by N2O intoxication, as a result of metabolic disturbance of vitamin B12.

PATIENT CONCERNS, DIAGNOSES, INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

We report a 28-year-old female of SCD due to prolonged use of N2O, presented with paresthesia and unsteady in walking progressing within 1 month. Symptoms gradually improved with the treatment of intramuscular injections of hydroxocobalamin combined with N2O abstinence, and the patient recovered completely with normal neurological examination after 4 months of follow-up.

LESSONS

Clinicians should be aware of the clinical features and pathogenesis of SCD caused by N2O intoxication in order to lead effective treatment as soon as possible. Recreational N2O use should always be considered as an etiology when dealing with patients presented with myelopathy and/or neuropathy suspected of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Does maternal anxiety and depression increase the risk of asthma in the offspring? A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Adverse exposures during pregnancy have been linked with respiratory disorders in the offspring. Research also shows that maternal mental disorders can influence the risk of respiratory illnesses. We hereby systematically examined if specific mental disorders during pregnancy, namely, anxiety and depression, can increase the risk of asthma in the offspring.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search of PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to 15th October 2023 was undertaken for cohort studies assessing the association between maternal anxiety/depression and the risk of asthma in the offspring. Adjusted data was quantitatively synthesized in a random-effect meta-analysis model.

RESULTS

Nine studies with 1,027,469 mother-child pairs were included. Studies reported data on anxiety, depression, or both anxiety and depression. Maternal anxiety (OR: 1.61 95% CI: 1.29, 2.01 I2=0%), maternal depression (OR: 1.25 95% CI: 1.07, 1.45 I2=12%), and both combined (OR: 1.28 95% CI: 1.16, 1.41 I2=93%) were associated with significantly increase the risk of asthma in childhood. Overall, the pooled analysis showed that maternal anxiety or depression significantly increased the risk of asthma in childhood by 30% (OR: 1.30 95% CI: 1.20, 1.40 I2=75%). Results remained significant on multiple subgroup analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal anxiety and depression can increase the risk of asthma in childhood. The observational nature of studies, differences in adjusted founders, methodological variations, and predominance of European data are important limitations. Further prospective research taking into account present limitations is needed for improved evidence.

Comparison of clinical data between the proximal femoral bionic nail (PFBN) and hip replacement for the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the difference between proximal femoral bionic nail (PFBN) and hip replacement (HR) for femoral intertrochanteric fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the differences in operative time, length of stay, postoperative Harris score, and postoperative mortality between patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture treated by PFBN and HR admitted to Jinzhai County People's Hospital from October 2020 to September 2022 was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 56 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture, 26 with PFBN and 30 with HR, were included in the study. There were no differences in the length of surgery, pre- and post-operative hemoglobin, or post-operative Harris score at 3 months between the two groups. Compared to the HR group, the PFBN group had a lower total cost, shorter hospital stays, and lower mortality but a longer ambulation time, with a difference of 3.36 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

PFBN may be a promising new treatment for femoral intertrochanteric fracture.

Three-dimensional bone remodelling of glenoid fossa in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery

This study aimed to characterize three-dimensional quantitative morphological changes of glenoid fossa in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion treated with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Ninety-five eligible patients (50 male, 45 female; mean age 22.09 years) were enrolled retrospectively. Cone beam computed tomography obtained at 1 week preoperatively (T0), immediately after surgery (T1), and at ≥ 12 months postoperatively (T2) were registered based on cranial base using voxel-based registration in 3D Slicer. Glenoid fossa surface was divided spatially into four regions, and bone modelling in these regions was visualized with color maps. Our data revealed that the mean surface variations of glenoid fossa were small, with modest bone formation as a whole. No significant associations between anteroposterior or vertical mandibular displacement and overall glenoid fossa remodeling were found (P > 0.05). Moreover, bone deposition was frequently observed in the anterior-lateral region of glenoid fossa in patients with a larger mandibular movement during T0-T1 (P < 0.001). Paired bone formation in the anterior-lateral region of glenoid fossa and bone resorption in the anterior-lateral region of condylar head was frequently observed. Collectively, our results revealed that glenoid fossa underwent complex but modest bone remodeling after bimaxillary surgery in skeletal Class III patients.

The Qi Yin San Liang San decoction enhances anti-CD19 CAR-T cell function in the treatment of B-cell lymphomas

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Adoptive T-cell therapy with anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cells is a new approach for treating advanced B-cell malignancies. However, CAR-Tcell therapies for tumors are challenging due to tumor heterogeneity, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and CAR-T cell exhaustion. The Qi Yin San Liang San (SLS) decoction has a significant curative effect in treating tumors and can improve clinical efficacy when combined with tumor immunotherapy. However, there has been no in vitro or in vivo pharmacodynamic evaluation of SLS in combination with immunotherapy, and the underlying immunological mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The study objective was to determine the auxiliary effect and potential mechanism of SLS as an adjuvant treatment with anti-CD19 CAR-T cells for B-cell lymphomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology analyses, in vitro and in vivo studies, and transcriptome sequencing analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Forty-two components were detected in SLS by HPLC. Sixteen pharmacologically active ingredients were analyzed by searching the TCMSP database. The predicted targets included IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, CASP7, and CASP9. In vitro studies revealed that SLS can dose-dependently promote the killing effect of unmodified T and anti-CD19 CAR-T cells against Raji cell lines. Meanwhile, SLS inhibited unmodified T and anti-CD19 CAR-T cell exhaustion, promoted anti-CD19 CAR-T cell proliferation, reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, and increased granzyme B levels. In vivo studies, SLS effectively improved the anti-tumor function of anti-CD19 CAR-T cells, prolonged the survival of the mice, and reduced the levels of IL-6, GM-CSF, and IL-17. Subsequently, the transcriptomic analysis showed that SLS inhibited the IL-17 signaling pathway and the apoptosis signaling pathway of T cells. In addition, SLS downregulated the expression of IL-17A, IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, S100A8, CASP 7, CASP 9, and CASP 10 in anti-CD19 CAR-T cells. SLS regulated the IL-17 signaling pathway and apoptosis signaling pathway in anti-CD19 CAR-T cells.

CONCLUSION

SLS plays a potential auxiliary role in enhancing the function of anti-CD19 CAR T cells in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma, improving the killing ability of these cells, reducing the potential risk associated with inflammation, and providing synergistic and attenuating effects. The mechanism of SLS is partially mediated by the apoptosis and IL-17 signaling pathways (such as IL-17A, IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and Granzyme B).

Chemical Vapor Deposition of a Single-Crystalline MoS2 Monolayer through Anisotropic 2D Crystal Growth on Stepped Sapphire Surface

Recently, a step-flow growth mode has been proposed to break the inherent molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) crystal domain bimodality and yield a single-crystalline MoS2 monolayer on commonly employed sapphire substrates. This work reveals an alternative growth mechanism during the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of a single-crystalline MoS2 monolayer through anisotropic 2D crystal growth. During early growth stages, the epitaxial symmetry and commensurability of sapphire terraces rather than the sapphire step inclination ultimately govern the MoS2 crystal orientation. Strikingly, as the MoS2 crystals continue to grow laterally, the sapphire steps transform the MoS2 crystal geometry into diamond-shaped domains presumably by anisotropic diffusion of ad-species and facet development. Even though these MoS2 domains nucleate on sapphire with predominantly bimodal 0 and 60° azimuthal rotation, the individual domains reach lateral dimensions of up to 200 nm before merging seamlessly into a single-crystalline MoS2 monolayer upon coalescence. Plan-view transmission electron microscopy reveals the single-crystalline nature across 50 μm by 50 μm inspection areas. As a result, the median carrier mobility of MoS2 monolayers peaks at 25 cm2 V-1 s-1 with the highest value reaching 28 cm2 V-1 s-1. This work details synthesis-structure correlations and the possibilities to tune the structure and material properties through substrate topography toward various applications in nanoelectronics, catalysis, and nanotechnology. Moreover, shape modulation through anisotropic growth phenomena on stepped surfaces can provide opportunities for nanopatterning for a wide range of materials.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of 28 cases of infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (IALL). Methods: A retrospective cohort study.Clinical data, treatment and prognosis of 28 cases of IALL who have been treated at Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University and Baoding Children's Hospital from October 2013 to May 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Based on the results of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), all patients were divided into KMT2A gene rearrangement (KMT2A-R) positive group and KMT2A-R negative group. The prognosis of two groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank test were used to analyze the survival of the patients. Results: Among 28 cases of IALL, there were 10 males and 18 females, with the onset age of 10.9 (9.4,11.8) months. In terms of immune classification, 25 cases were B-ALL (89%), while the remaining 3 cases were T-ALL (11%). Most infant B-ALL showed pro-B lymphocyte phenotype (16/25,64%). A total of 22 cases (79%) obtained chromosome karyotype results, of which 7 were normal karyotypes, no complex karyotypes and 15 were abnormal karyotypes were found. Among abnormal karyotypes, there were 4 cases of t (9; 11), 2 cases of t (4; 11), 2 cases of t (11; 19), 1 case of t (1; 11) and 6 cases of other abnormal karyotypes. A total of 19 cases (68%) were positive for KMT2A-R detected by FISH. The KMT2A fusion gene was detected by real-time PCR in 16 cases (57%). A total of 24 patients completed standardized induction chemotherapy and were able to undergo efficacy evaluation, 23 cases (96%) achieved complete remission through induction chemotherapy, 4 cases (17%) died of relapse. The 5-year event free survival rate (EFS) was (46±13)%, and the 5-year overall survival rate (OS) was (73±10)%.The survival time was 31.3 (3.3, 62.5) months. There was no significant statistical difference in 5-year EFS ((46±14)% vs. (61±18)%) and 5-year OS ((64±13)% vs. (86±13)%) between the KMT2A-R positive group (15 cases) and the KMT2A-R negative group (9 cases) (χ2=1.88, 1.47, P=0.170, 0.224). Conclusions: Most IALL patients were accompanied by KMT2A-R. They had poor tolerance to traditional chemotherapy, the relapse rate during treatment was high and the prognosis was poor.

Femoral Anteversion Is Associated With a Thinner Anterior Capsule in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

PURPOSE

To measure femoral torsion on computed tomography images in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and explore whether femoral torsion was significantly correlated with anterior capsular thickness.

METHODS

Prospectively collected data of surgical patients were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients aged 16 to 55 years who underwent primary hip surgery were included in this study. Patients with a history of revision hip surgery, previous knee surgery, hip dysplasia, hip synovitis, and/or incomplete radiographs and medical records were excluded from the study. Femoral torsion was measured via computed tomography imaging using transcondylar slices of the knee. Anterior capsular thickness was measured using oblique-sagittal sequences on a 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging system. The association between anterior capsular thickness and related variables, including femoral torsion, was assessed via multiple linear regression. The patients were then divided into 2 groups to further confirm the effect of femoral torsion on capsular thickness: Patients in the study group had hips with moderate (20°-25°) or severe (>25°) antetorsion, whereas patients in the control group had hips with normal torsion (5°-20°) or retrotorsion (<5°). Anterior capsular thickness was also compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 156 patients (89 female patients [57.1%] and 67 male patients [42.9%]) were finally included in the study. The mean age and body mass index of the included patients were 35.8 ± 11.2 years and 22.7 ± 3.5, respectively. The mean femoral torsion for the entire study population was 15.9° ± 8.9°. Multivariable regression analysis showed that femoral torsion (P < .001) and sex (P = .002) were significantly correlated with anterior capsular thickness. Propensity-score matching yielded 50 hips in the study group and 50 hips in the control group on femoral torsion subanalysis. The results showed that anterior capsular thickness was significantly smaller in the study group than in the control group (3.8 ± 0.5 mm vs 4.7 ± 0.7 mm, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Femoral torsion is significantly inversely correlated with anterior capsular thickness.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Elucidate the Mechanism of Jiegeng Decoction in Improving Allergic Asthma

Allergic asthma is a prevalent form of asthma that is characterized primarily by airway inflammation. Jiegeng decoction (JGT) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula known for its anti-inflammatory properties and has been used to treat respiratory diseases for centuries. This study aimed to investigate the biological effects and mechanisms of action of JGT in improving allergic asthma. An experimental allergic asthma mouse model was established using ovalbumin. The results showed that JGT significantly improved inflammation cell infiltration in the lung tissue of allergic asthmatic mice and the inflammatory environment of Th2 cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid while also reducing serum IgE levels. Subsequently, 38 components of JGT were identified through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Network pharmacology revealed that regulating inflammation and immune responses is the primary biological process by which JGT improves allergic asthma, with Th2 cell differentiation and the JAK-STAT signaling pathway being the key mechanisms of action. Finally, qPCR, flow cytometry, and Western blotting were used to validate that JGT inhibited Th2 cell differentiation by blocking the JAK1-STAT6 signaling pathway in CD4+ T cells, ultimately improving allergic asthma. This study provides a novel perspective on the therapeutic potential of JGT in the treatment of allergic asthma.

Penpulimab combined with anlotinib in patients with R/M HNSCC after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy: a single-arm, multicenter, phase Ⅱ study

BACKGROUND

Treatment regimens for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy have been illustrated with limited efficacy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Here, we report a single-arm, multicenter, phase Ⅱ study of R/M HNSCC patients treated with a programmed cell death-1 antibody penpulimab (200 mg) and anlotinib (12 mg) after failing at least one line of platinum-based chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Of 38 patients in total, 13 (34.21%) patients achieved partial response and 16 (42.11%) patients achieved stable disease. After a median follow-up of 7.06 months (range: 4.14-15.70 months), the independent review committee-assessed objective response rate was 34.21%, the disease control rate was 76.32%. The median progression-free survival was 8.35 months (95% confidence interval 5.95-13.11 months). Twelve patients died and the median overall survival (OS) was not reached. The 12-month OS rate was 59.76%. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 47.37% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Penpulimab combined with anlotinib demonstrated promising efficacy and manageable safety in R/M HNSCC patients after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy.

Hyperon Polarization along the Beam Direction Relative to the Second and Third Harmonic Event Planes in Isobar Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

The polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam direction has been measured relative to the second and third harmonic event planes in isobar Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. This is the first experimental evidence of the hyperon polarization by the triangular flow originating from the initial density fluctuations. The amplitudes of the sine modulation for the second and third harmonic results are comparable in magnitude, increase from central to peripheral collisions, and show a mild p_{T} dependence. The azimuthal angle dependence of the polarization follows the vorticity pattern expected due to elliptic and triangular anisotropic flow, and qualitatively disagrees with most hydrodynamic model calculations based on thermal vorticity and shear induced contributions. The model results based on one of existing implementations of the shear contribution lead to a correct azimuthal angle dependence, but predict centrality and p_{T} dependence that still disagree with experimental measurements. Thus, our results provide stringent constraints on the thermal vorticity and shear-induced contributions to hyperon polarization. Comparison to previous measurements at RHIC and the LHC for the second-order harmonic results shows little dependence on the collision system size and collision energy.

TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling imbalances Th17 and Treg cells in thymoma with myasthenia gravis

OBJECTIVE

Thymus is an immune organ in which pathological changes may cause autoimmune diseases, including myasthenia gravis (MG). Recent studies have focused on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling as the cause of such changes. In our previous study, an imbalance of T helper 17 (Th17) cells and T regulatory (Treg) cells was found in MG thymoma. These results suggest the involvement of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of thymoma MG via an alteration of the Th17/Treg balance. Here, we aimed to assess whether the TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway is upregulated in MG thymoma and its relationship with Th17/Treg cells.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We collect thymoma samples from 54 patients with or without MG, detecting the expression level of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in thymoma tissues. Next, we established an in vitro experiment of coculturing thymoma cells with CD4+ T cells and detected the differentiation of Th17 cells and Treg cells and their marker protein, retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) and forkhead transcription factor 3 (Foxp3).

RESULTS

We found TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB expressed more in MG thymoma compared with simple thymoma. After the transwell coculturing, we observed an imbalance of Th17/Treg cells after TLR4 stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

TLR4 is stimulated in thymoma, causing an increase of Th17 cells and a decrease of Treg cells, namely an imbalance of Th17/Treg cells, resulting in MG.

Spatiotemporal expression of fibroblast growth factor 4 and 10 during the morphogenesis of deciduous molars in miniature pigs

OBJECTIVE

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play pivotal roles in mediating interactions between dental epithelium and mesenchyme throughout tooth initiation and morphogenesis. This study aimed to elucidate the roles of FGF4 and FGF10 in the regulation of tooth development.

DESIGN

In this study, we investigated spatiotemporal expression patterns of FGF4 and FGF10 in the third deciduous molars (DM3) of miniature pigs at the cap, early bell, and late bell stages. Pregnant miniature pigs were obtained, and the samples were processed for histological staining. Non-radioactive in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and real-time PCR were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of FGF4 and FGF10.

RESULTS

FGF4 was expressed in the dental epithelium and mesenchyme at the cap stage. At the early bell stage, epithelial expression of FGF4 was reduced while mesenchymal expression got stronger. At the late bell stage, the FGF4 expression was restricted to the inner enamel epithelium (IEE) and differentiating odontoblasts. FGF10 was expressed intensely in both epithelium and mesenchyme at the cap stage. The expression of FGF10 was concentrated in the secondary enamel knots and surrounding mesenchyme at the early bell stage. FGF10 was weakly detected in the IEE by the late bell stage.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that FGF4 and FGF10 might have partially redundant functions in regulating epithelium morphogenesis. FGF4 may be involved in regulatory signaling cascades mediating interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme. In addition, the downregulation of FGF10 expression may be associated with the cessation of mesenchymal cell proliferation and initiation of preodontoblast polarization.

CYP2D6 Activity Is Correlated with Changes in Plasma Concentrations of Taurocholic Acid during Pregnancy and Postpartum in CYP2D6 Extensive Metabolizers

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is involved in the metabolism of >20% of marketed drugs. CYP2D6 expression and activity exhibit high interindividual variability and is induced during pregnancy. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a transcriptional regulator of CYP2D6 that is activated by bile acids. In pregnancy, elevated plasma bile acid concentrations are associated with maternal and fetal risks. However, modest changes in bile acid concentrations may occur during healthy pregnancy, thereby altering FXR signaling. A previous study demonstrated that hepatic tissue concentrations of bile acids positively correlated with the hepatic mRNA expression of CYP2D6. This study sought to characterize the plasma bile acid metabolome in healthy women (n = 47) during midpregnancy (25-28 weeks gestation) and ≥3 months postpartum and to determine if plasma bile acids correlate with CYP2D6 activity. It is hypothesized that during pregnancy, plasma bile acids would favor less hydrophobic bile acids (cholic acid vs. chenodeoxycholic acid) and that plasma concentrations of cholic acid and its conjugates would positively correlate with the urinary ratio of dextrorphan/dextromethorphan. At 25-28 weeks gestation, taurine-conjugated bile acids comprised 23% of the quantified serum bile acids compared with 7% ≥3 months postpartum. Taurocholic acid positively associated with the urinary ratio of dextrorphan/dextromethorphan, a biomarker of CYP2D6 activity. Collectively, these results confirm that the bile acid plasma metabolome differs between pregnancy and postpartum and provide evidence that taurocholic acid may impact CYP2D6 activity during pregnancy. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Bile acid homeostasis is altered in pregnancy, and plasma concentrations of taurocholic acid positively correlate with CYP2D6 activity. Differences between plasma and/or tissue concentrations of farnesoid X receptor ligands such as bile acids may contribute to the high interindividual variability in CYP2D6 expression and activity.

Expanding structural diversity of 5'-aminouridine moiety of sansanmycin via mutational biosynthesis

Sansanmycins represent a family of uridyl peptide antibiotics with antimicrobial activity specifically against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (including drug-resistant M. tuberculosis) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They target translocase I (MraY) to inhibit bacterial cell wall assembly. Given the unique mechanism of action, sansanmycin has emerged as a potential lead compound for developing new anti-tuberculosis drugs, while the 5'-aminouridine moiety plays a crucial role in the pharmacophore of sansanmycin. For expanding the structural diversity of the 5'-aminouridine moiety of sansanmycin through biosynthetic methods, we firstly demonstrated that SsaM and SsaK are responsible for the biosynthesis of the 5'-aminouridine moiety of sansanmycin in vivo. Using the ssaK deletion mutant (SS/KKO), we efficiently obtained a series of new analogues with modified 5'-aminouridine moieties through mutational biosynthesis. Based on molecular networking analysis of MS/MS, twenty-two new analogues (SS-KK-1 to -13 and SS-KK-A to -I) were identified. Among them, four new analogues (SS-KK-1 to -3 and SS-KK-C) were purified and bioassayed. SS-KK-2 showed better antibacterial activity against E. coli ΔtolC than the parent compound sansanmycin A. SS-KK-3 showed the same anti-TB activity as sansanmycin A against M. tuberculosis H37Rv as well as clinically isolated, drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Furthermore, SS-KK-3 exhibited significantly improved structural stability compared to sansanmycin A. The results suggested that mutasynthesis is an effective and practical strategy for expanding the structural diversity of 5'-aminouridine moiety in sansanmycin.

Loop Closure Detection Method Based on Similarity Differences between Image Blocks

Variations with respect to perspective, lighting, weather, and interference from dynamic objects may all have an impact on the accuracy of the entire system during autonomous positioning and during the navigation of mobile visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) robots. As it is an essential element of visual SLAM systems, loop closure detection plays a vital role in eradicating front-end-induced accumulated errors and guaranteeing the map's general consistency. Presently, deep-learning-based loop closure detection techniques place more emphasis on enhancing the robustness of image descriptors while neglecting similarity calculations or the connections within the internal regions of the image. In response to this issue, this article proposes a loop closure detection method based on similarity differences between image blocks. Firstly, image descriptors are extracted using a lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) model with effective loop closure detection. Subsequently, the image pairs with the greatest degree of similarity are evenly divided into blocks, and the level of similarity among the blocks is used to recalculate the degree of the overall similarity of the image pairs. The block similarity calculation module can effectively reduce the similarity of incorrect loop closure image pairs, which makes it easier to identify the correct loopback. Finally, the approach proposed in this article is compared with loop closure detection methods based on four distinct CNN models with a recall rate of 100% accuracy; said approach performs significantly superiorly. The application of the block similarity calculation module proposed in this article to the aforementioned four CNN models can increase the recall rate's accuracy to 100%; this proves that the proposed method can successfully improve the loop closure detection effect, and the similarity calculation module in the algorithm has a certain degree of universality.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras as Highly Selective and Efficient Degraders of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 5

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is recognized as a key member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family and is involved in tumor growth, migration, and angiogenesis. However, the results of ERK5 inhibition in multiple studies are controversial, and a highly specific ERK5-targeting agent is required to confirm physiological functions. Using proteolysis-targeting chimera technology, we designed the selective ERK5 degrader PPM-3 and examined its biological effect on cancer cells. Interestingly, the selective degradation of ERK5 with PPM-3 did not influence tumor cell growth directly. Based on proteomics analysis, the ERK5 deletion may be associated with tumor immunity. PPM-3 influences tumor development by affecting the differentiation of macrophages. Therefore, PPM-3 is an effective small-molecule tool for studying ERK5 and a promising immunotherapy drug candidate.

[Effect of Echinococcus multilocularis infection on Tim3 expression in spleen natural killer cells of mice]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Echinococcus multilocularis infection on Tim3 expression and its co-expression with immune checkpoint molecules 2B4 and LAG3 in spleen natural killer (NK) cells of mice.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice, each weighing (20 ± 2) g, were randomly divided into a high-dose infection group (15 mice), a low-dose infection group (13 mice), and a control group (11 mice). Mice in the high- and low-dose infection groups were inoculated with 2 000 and 50 Echinococcus multilocularis protoscolices via the hepatic portal vein, while animals in the control group was injected with an equivalent amount of physiological saline via the hepatic portal vein. Mouse spleen cells were harvested 12 and 24 weeks post-infection, and Tim3 expression and its co-expression with 2B4 and LAG3 in NK cells were detected using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in the proportions of Tim3 expression (F = 13.559, P < 0.001) and Tim3 and 2B4 co-expression (F = 12.465, P < 0.001) in mouse spleen NK cells among groups 12 weeks post-infection with E. multilocularis, and the proportion of Tim3 expression was significantly higher in mouse spleen NK cells in the low-dose infection group [(23.84 ± 2.28)%] than in the high-dose infection group [(15.72 ± 3.67)%] and the control group [(16.14 ± 3.83)%] (both P values < 0.01), while the proportion of Tim3 and 2B4 co-expression was significantly higher in mouse spleen NK cells in the low-dose infection group [(22.20 ± 2.13)%] than in the high-dose infection group [(14.17 ± 3.81)%] and the control group [(15.20 ± 3.77)%] (both P values < 0.01). There were significant differences in the proportions of Tim3 expression (F = 5.243, P < 0.05) and Tim3 and 2B4 co-expression (F = 4.659, P < 0.05) in mouse spleen NK cells among groups 24 weeks post-infection with E. multilocularis infection, and the proportions of Tim3 expression and Tim3 and 2B4 co-expression were significantly lower in mouse spleen NK cells in the high-dose infection group [(20.55 ± 7.04)% and (20.98 ± 7.12)%] than in the control group [(31.38 ± 3.19)% and (31.25 ± 3.06)%] (both P values < 0.05), and there were no significantly difference between the proportions of Tim3 expression and Tim3 and 2B4 co-expression in splenic NK cells in the low-dose infection group [(26.80 ± 6.47)% and (26.48 ± 6.48)%] and the control group (both P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportions of Tim3 and LAG3 co-expression in mouse spleen NK cells among groups 12 (F = 2.283, P > 0.05) and 24 weeks post-infection (F = 0.375, P > 0.05). In the low-dose infection group, there were no significant differences in the proportions of Tim3 expression or Tim3 and 2B4 co-expression in mouse spleen NK cells 12 (t = -1.137, P > 0.05) or 24 weeks post-infection (t = -1.658, P > 0.05), and the proportion of Tim3 and LAG3 co-expression increased in mouse spleen NK cells 24 weeks post-infection relative to 12 weeks post-infection (t = -5.261, P < 0.01). In the highdose infection group, there was no significant difference in the proportion of Tim3 expression in mouse spleen NK cells 12 and 24 weeks post-infection (t = -1.546, P > 0.05); however, the proportions of Tim3 co-expression with 2B4 and LAG3 increased in mouse splenic NK cells 24 weeks post-infection relative to 12 weeks post-infection (t = -2.425 and -4.745, both P values < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The Tim3 expression and Tim3 co-expression with LAG3 and 2B4 on spleen NK cells is affected by doses of E. multilocularis infection and disease stages, and present different phenotypes during the course of alveolar echinococcosis. NK cells tend to form an immunosuppressive phenotype with the progression of E. multilocularis infection, which facilitates immune escape and chronic parasitism of E. multilocularis.

Effects of Pregnancy on Plasma Sphingolipids Using a Metabolomic and Quantitative Analysis Approach

Changes in the maternal metabolome, and specifically the maternal lipidome, that occur during pregnancy are relatively unknown. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of pregnancy on sphingolipid levels using metabolomics analysis followed by confirmational, targeted quantitative analysis. We focused on three subclasses of sphingolipids: ceramides, sphingomyelins, and sphingosines. Forty-seven pregnant women aged 18 to 50 years old participated in this study. Blood samples were collected on two study days for metabolomics analysis. The pregnancy samples were collected between 25 and 28 weeks of gestation and the postpartum study day samples were collected ≥3 months postpartum. Each participant served as their own control. These samples were analyzed using a Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy/mass spectroscopy (UPLC/MS/MS) assay that yielded semi-quantitative peak area values that were used to compare sphingolipid levels between pregnancy and postpartum. Following this lipidomic analysis, quantitative LC/MS/MS targeted/confirmatory analysis was performed on the same study samples. In the metabolomic analysis, 43 sphingolipid metabolites were identified and their levels were assessed using relative peak area values. These profiled sphingolipids fell into three categories: ceramides, sphingomyelins, and sphingosines. Of the 43 analytes measured, 35 were significantly different during pregnancy (p < 0.05) (including seven ceramides, 26 sphingomyelins, and two sphingosines) and 32 were significantly higher during pregnancy compared to postpartum. Following metabolomics, a separate quantitative analysis was performed and yielded quantified concentration values for 23 different sphingolipids, four of which were also detected in the metabolomics study. Quantitative analysis supported the metabolomics results with 17 of the 23 analytes measured found to be significantly different during pregnancy including 11 ceramides, four sphingomyelins, and two sphingosines. Fourteen of these were significantly higher during pregnancy. Our data suggest an overall increase in plasma sphingolipid concentrations with possible implications in endothelial function, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and fetal development. This study provides evidence for alterations in maternal sphingolipid metabolism during pregnancy.