Microbiome analysis reveals the inducing effect of Pseudomonas on prostatic hyperplasia via activating NF-κB signalling

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent disease among middle-aged and elderly males, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. Dysbiosis of the microbiome is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in various human diseases. Prostate tissue also contains a unique microbiome, and its dysbiosis has been proposed to contribute to prostate diseases. Here, we obtained prostate tissues and preoperative catheterized urine from 24 BPH individuals, and 8 normal prostate samples as controls, which followed strict aseptic measures. Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), we found the disparities in the microbiome composition between normal and BPH tissues, with Pseudomonas significantly enriched in BPH tissues, as confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Additionally, we showed that the prostate microbiome differed from the urine microbiome. In vitro experiments revealed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pseudomonas activated NF-κB signalling, leading to inflammation, proliferation, and EMT processes, while inhibiting apoptosis in prostatic cells. Overall, our research determines the presence of microbiome dysbiosis in BPH, and suggests that Pseudomonas, as the dominant microflora, may promote the progression of BPH through LPS activation of NF-κB signalling.

Applications of blood plasma derivatives for cutaneous wound healing: A mini-review of clinical studies

Skin injuries are a global healthcare problem. Chronic ulcers do not heal in a timely fashion, so it is essential to help the body with skin repair. There are some treatments that have been applied to chronic ulcers. One of these treatments is growth factor (GF) therapy. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) are two types of plasma derivatives containing many GFs important for wound healing. Several works have reported their application in wound healing and tissue regeneration. The use of autologous PRP is now an adequate alternative in regenerative medicine. It was also demonstrated that PPP is a hemostatic agent for wounds. This review has studied the latest clinical studies, which have applied PRP and PPP to patients with chronic wounds.

The crucial roles and research advances of cGAS‑STING pathway in liver diseases

Inflammation responses have identified as a key mediator of in various liver diseases with high morbidity and mortality. cGAS-STING signalling is essential in innate immunity since it triggers release of type I interferons and various of proinflammatory cytokines. The potential connection between cGAS-STING pathway and liver inflammatory diseases has recently been reported widely. In our review, the impact of cGAS-STING on liver inflammation and regulatory mechanism are summarized. Furthermore, many inhibitors of cGAS-STING signalling as promising agents to cure liver inflammation are also explored in detail. A comprehensive knowledge of molecular mechanisms of cGAS-STING signalling in liver inflammation is vital for exploring novel treatments and providing recommendations and perspectives for future utilization.

Systemic investigation of di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP) exposure in the risk of cardiovascular via influencing the gut microbiota arachidonic acid metabolism in obese mice model

Phthalate esters (PE), a significant class of organic compounds used in industry, can contaminate humans and animals by entering water and food chains. Recent studies demonstrate the influence of PE on the development and progression of heart diseases, particularly in obese people. Di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP) was administered orally to normal and diet-induced obese mice in this research to assess cardiovascular risk. The modifications in the microbial composition and metabolites were examined using RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis. Based on the findings, lean group rodents were less susceptible to DIBP exposure than fat mice because of their cardiovascular systems. Histopathology examinations of mice fed a high-fat diet revealed lesions and plagues that suggested a cardiovascular risk. In the chronic DIBP microbial remodeling metagenomics Faecalibaculum rodentium was the predominant genera in obese mice. According to metabolomics data, arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism changes caused by DIBP were linked to unfavorable cardiovascular events. Our research offers new understandings of the cardiovascular damage caused by DIBP exposure in obese people and raises the possibility that arachidonic acid metabolism could be used as a regulator of the gut microbiota to avert related diseases.

Animal models of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: deciphering the complexity and guiding therapeutic development

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) poses formidable challenges due to its multifaceted etiology while impacting multiple tissues and organs and displaying diverse clinical manifestations. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to SLE complexity, with relatively limited approved therapeutic options. Murine models offer insights into SLE pathogenesis but do not always replicate the nuances of human disease. This review critically evaluates spontaneous and induced animal models, emphasizing their validity and relevance to neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE). While these models undoubtedly contribute to understanding disease pathophysiology, discrepancies persist in mimicking some NPSLE intricacies. The lack of literature addressing this issue impedes therapeutic progress. We underscore the urgent need for refining models that truly reflect NPSLE complexities to enhance translational fidelity. We encourage a comprehensive, creative translational approach for targeted SLE interventions, balancing scientific progress with ethical considerations to eventually improve the management of NPSLE patients. A thorough grasp of these issues informs researchers in designing experiments, interpreting results, and exploring alternatives to advance NPSLE research.

Advances in Traditional Chinese Medicine research in diabetic kidney disease treatment

CONTEXT

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prominent complication arising from diabetic microangiopathy, and its prevalence and renal impact have placed it as the primary cause of end-stage renal disease. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the distinct advantage of multifaceted and multilevel therapeutic attributes that show efficacy in improving clinical symptoms, reducing proteinuria, protecting renal function, and slowing DKD progression. Over recent decades, extensive research has explored the mechanisms of TCM for preventing and managing DKD, with substantial studies that endorse the therapeutic benefits of TCM compounds and single agents in the medical intervention of DKD.

OBJECTIVE

This review lays the foundation for future evidence-based research efforts and provide a reference point for DKD investigation.

METHODS

The relevant literature published in Chinese and English up to 30 June 2023, was sourced from PubMed, Cochrane Library, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), Wanfang Data, CNKI, and China Biology Medicine disc (CBM). The process involved examining and summarizing research on TCM laboratory tests and clinical randomized controlled trials for DKD treatment.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The TCM intervention has shown the potential to inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines and various growth factors, lower blood glucose levels, and significantly affect insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, and improved renal function. Furthermore, the efficacy of TCM can be optimized by tailoring personalized treatment regimens based on the unique profiles of individual patients. We anticipate further rigorous and comprehensive clinical and foundational investigations into the mechanisms underlying the role of TCM in treating DKD.

Jaceosidin induces apoptosis and inhibits migration in AGS gastric cancer cells by regulating ROS-mediated signaling pathways

Jaceosidin (JAC) is a natural flavonoid with anti-oxidant and other pharmacological activities; however, its anti-cancer mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the mechanism of action of JAC in gastric cancer cells. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays showed that JAC effectively killed multiple gastric cancer cells and induced apoptosis in human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells via the mitochondrial pathway. Network pharmacological analysis suggested that its activity was linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS), AKT, and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, JAC accumulated ROS to up-regulate p-JNK, p-p38, and IκB-α protein expressions and down-regulate the p-ERK, p-STAT3, and NF-κB protein expressions. Cell cycle assay results showed that JAC accumulated ROS to up-regulate p21 and p27 protein expressions and down-regulate p-AKT, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, Cyclin D1, and Cyclin E protein expressions to induce G0/G1 phase arrest. Cell migration assay results showed JAC accumulated ROS to down-regulate Wnt-3a, p-GSK-3β, N-cadherin, and β-catenin protein expressions and up-regulate E-cadherin protein expression to inhibit migration. Furthermore, N-acetyl cysteine pre-treatment prevented the change of these protein expressions. In summary, JAC induced apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest and inhibited migration through ROS-mediated signaling pathways in AGS cells.

3D-printed airway model as a platform for SARS-CoV-2 infection and antiviral drug testing

We present a bioprinted three-layered airway model with a physiologically relevant microstructure for the study of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection dynamics. This model exhibited clear cell-cell junctions and mucus secretion with an efficient expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2). Having infected air-exposed epithelial cells in the upper layer with a minimum multiplicity of infection of 0.01, the airway model showed a marked susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 within one-day post-infection (dpi). Furthermore, the unique longevity allowed the observation of cytopathic effects and barrier degradation for 21 dpi. The in-depth transcriptomic analysis revealed dramatic changes in gene expression affecting the infection pathway, viral proliferation, and host immune response which are consistent with COVID-19 patient data. Finally, the treatment of antiviral agents, such as remdesivir and molnupiravir, through the culture medium underlying the endothelium resulted in a marked inhibition of viral replication within the epithelium. The bioprinted airway model can be used as a manufacturable physiological platform to study disease pathogeneses and drug efficacy.

Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hoffman extract protects against lead-induced neurodegeneration in cockerel chickens

Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous, non-biodegradable heavy metal contaminant with a significant impact on both human and animal health. The adverse effect of lead on health and productivity of avian species has received little attention. Alchornea laxiflora (Benth) belongs to Euphorbiaceae family and grows naturally in the Nigerian rain forest. Decoction of the leaves is usually administered traditionally to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases. The ethanol extract of Alchornea laxiflora (EaAL) leaves was used in this study to ameliorate lead-induced neurodegeneration. Seven groups of 5-week-old cockerels (n=5) were treated for 6 weeks thus: Group A - Control (water only), Group B - (100 mg/kg of EaAL daily), Group C - (200 mg/kg of EaAL daily, p.o.), Group D - (1 % lead acetate in drinking water), Group E - (1 % lead acetate in drinking water and 100 mg/kg of EaAL daily), Group F - (1 % lead acetate and 200 mg/kg of EaAL daily), Group G - (1 % lead acetate and 100 mg/kg of Vitamin C). All administrations were per os birds were euthanized on day 43 by quick cervical dislocation. Histological stains (H&E and Nissl) and Black Gold II (BGII) histochemistry were used to assess alterations in the cerebrum and cerebellum. Administration of EaAL at the two concentrations resulted in a drastic reduction in the incidence of neuropathologies observed (e.g. pyknosis and multilayering of Purkinje cells, neuronal degeneration in hippocampus cerebrum and ependymal cells, distortion of meningeal epithelial cells, etc). BGII histochemistry revealed severe demyelination caused by the administration of lead acetate, while the two doses of EaAL showed significant restoration of myelin in the cerebellum. The amelioration of demyelination observed with the use of vitamin C was considerably lower than that recorded with the use of EaAL. The use of EaAL significantly ameliorated morphological alterations and demyelination caused by the administration of lead acetate, however, caution should be exercised in the administration, as individual species idiosyncrasies may arise and the tendency to pro-oxidation at 200 mg/kg when administered alone was observed in one subject.

Establishing a differential diagnosis model between primary membranous nephropathy and non-primary membranous nephropathy by machine learning algorithms

CONTEXT

Four algorithms with relatively balanced complexity and accuracy in deep learning classification algorithm were selected for differential diagnosis of primary membranous nephropathy (PMN).

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the most suitable classification algorithm for PMN identification, and to provide data reference for PMN diagnosis research.

METHODS

A total of 500 patients were referred to Luo-he Central Hospital from 2019 to 2021. All patients were diagnosed with primary glomerular disease confirmed by renal biopsy, contained 322 cases of PMN, the 178 cases of non-PMN. Using the decision tree, random forest, support vector machine, and extreme gradient boosting (Xgboost) to establish a differential diagnosis model for PMN and non-PMN. Based on the true positive rate, true negative rate, false-positive rate, false-negative rate, accuracy, feature work area under the curve (AUC) of subjects, the best performance of the model was chosen.

RESULTS

The efficiency of the Xgboost model based on the above evaluation indicators was the highest, which the diagnosis of PMN of the sensitivity and specificity, respectively 92% and 96%.

CONCLUSIONS

The differential diagnosis model for PMN was established successfully and the efficiency performance of the Xgboost model was the best. It could be used for the clinical diagnosis of PMN.

A deterministic model for homologous antibody dependant enhancement on influenza infection

Antibody dependant enhancement refers that viral infectivity was unexpectedly enhanced at low antibody concentration compared to when antibodies were absent, such as Dengue, Zika and influenza virus. To mathematically describe switch from enhancement to neutralisation with increase of antibody concentration, one hyperbolic tangent variant is used as switching function in existed models. However, switching function with hyperbolic tangent contains four parameters, and does not always increase with antibody concentration. To address this problem, we proposed a monotonically increasing Logistical function variant as switching function, which only contains position parameter and magnitude parameter. Analysing influenza viral titre estimated from 21 focus reduction assay (FRA) datasets from neutralisation group (viral titre lower than negative control on all serial dilutions) and 20 FRA dataset from enhancement group (viral titre higher than negative control on high serial dilution), switching function with Logistic function performs better than existed model independent of both groups and exhibited different behaviour/character; specifically, magnitude parameter estimated from enhancement group is lower, but position parameter estimated from enhancement group is higher. A lower magnitude parameter refers that enhancement group more rapidly switches from enhancement to neutralisation with increase of antibody concentration, and a higher position parameter indicates that enhancement group provides a larger antibody concentration interval corresponding to enhancement. Integrating estimated neutralisation kinetics with viral replication, we demonstrated that antibody-induced bistable influenza kinetics exist independent of both groups. However, comparing with neutralisation group, enhancement group provides higher threshold value of antibody concentration corresponding to influenza infectivity. This explains the observed phenomenon that antibody dependent enhancement enhances susceptibility, severity, and mortality to influenza infection. On population level, antibody dependant enhancement can promote H1N1 and H3N2 influenza virus cooperate to sustain long-term circulation on human populations according to antigenic seniority theory.

Cysteine hyperoxidation rewires communication pathways in the nucleosome and destabilizes the dyad

Gene activity is tightly controlled by reversible chemical modifications called epigenetic marks, which are of various types and modulate gene accessibility without affecting the DNA sequence. Despite an increasing body of evidence demonstrating the role of oxidative-type modifications of histones in gene expression regulation, there remains a complete absence of structural data at the atomistic level to understand the molecular mechanisms behind their regulatory action. Owing to μs time-scale MD simulations and protein communication networks analysis, we describe the impact of histone H3 hyperoxidation (i.e., S-sulfonylation) on the nucleosome core particle dynamics. Our results reveal the atomic-scale details of the intrinsic structural networks within the canonical histone core and their perturbation by hyperoxidation of the histone H3 C110. We show that this modification involves local rearrangements of the communication networks and destabilizes the dyad, and that one modification is enough to induce a maximal structural signature. Our results suggest that cysteine hyperoxidation in the nucleosome core particle might favor its disassembly.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in nerve repair

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has the capability of assisting in the recovery of damaged tissues by releasing a variety of biologically active factors to initiate a hemostatic cascade reaction and promote the synthesis of new connective tissue and revascularization. It is now widely used for tissue engineering repair. In addition, PRP has demonstrated nerve repair and pain relief, and has been studied and applied to the facial nerve, median nerve, sciatic nerve, and central nerve. These suggest that PRP injection therapy has a positive effect on nerve repair. This indicates that PRP has high clinical value and potential application in nerve repair. It is worthwhile for scientists and medical workers to further explore and study PRP to expand its application in nerve repair, and to provide a more reliable scientific basis for the opening of a new approach to nerve repair.

Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater by quantitative PCR and digital PCR: a case study in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei province, China

In this study, we reported the first long-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Mainland China from November 2021 to October 2023. The city of Shijiazhuang was employed for this case study. We developed a triple reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) method using triple primer-probes for simultaneous detection of the N1 gene, E gene, and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) to achieve accurate quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. Both the RT-ddPCR method and the commercial multiplex reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method were implemented for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Shijiazhuang City over a 24-month period. Results showed that SARS-CoV-2 was detected for the first time in the wastewater of Shijiazhuang City on 10 November 2022. The peak of COVID-19 cases occurred in the middle of December 2022, when the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater was highest. The trend of virus concentration increases and decreases forming a "long-tailed" shape in the COVID-19  outbreak and recession cycle. The results indicated that both multiplex RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR are effective in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, but RT-ddPCR is capable of detecting low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater which is more efficient. The SARS-CoV-2 abundance in wastewater is correlated to clinical data, outlining the public health utility of this work.HighlightsFirst long-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Mainland ChinaCOVID-19 outbreak was tracked in Shijiazhuang City from outbreak to containmentWastewater was monitored simultaneously using RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR methodsTriple primer-probe RT-ddPCR detects N1 and E genes of SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV.

Impact of PAHs compounds on air quality in Maragheh city: Probabilistic risk assessment and source apportionment

This study explores the concentrations and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the ambient air of Maragheh city, Iran, while evaluating their potential health implications. PAHs levels were examined in PAHs-bound to particulate matter samples collected from diverse locations across the city. The results showed that in all sampling points, there was contamination by PAHs. The mean total PAHs concentration was 11.5 ng.m-3, with Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) emerging as the predominant compound. Comparative analysis with other cities revealed relatively lower BaP levels in Maragheh, yet surpassing WHO guidelines in 92 % of samples. Spatial assessment heightened pollution in areas characterized by heavy traffic and industrial operations. Based on PCA analysis, it appears that 74 % of PAHs compounds originate from vehicle emissions, 13 % from the combustion of petroleum, and 6 % from a possible petroleum source. Health risk appraisal uncovered escalated carcinogenic and mutagenic hazards, especially among children. While risks remained below USEPA thresholds, ongoing monitoring and targeted interventions are advised to mitigate PAHs pollution in Maragheh and similar urban locales. Future endeavors should prioritize source elucidation, health impact assessments, and public awareness initiatives to safeguard community well-being.

Association between the levels of urinary cell cycle biomarkers and non-recovery of renal function among critically ill geriatric patients with acute kidney injury

The lack of early renal function recovery among geriatric patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a commonly observed and acknowledged poor prognostic factor, especially for older adults. However, no reliable prognostic biomarker is available for identifying individuals at risk of renal non-recovery or mortality in older adults. In this prospective observational cohort study, we enrolled critically ill older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) with AKI from the ICU and followed their disease progression. The primary endpoint was renal non-recovery within seven days of follow-up, while the secondary endpoint was the determinants of 30-day mortality after AKI. We assessed the predictive accuracy using receiver operating characteristic curves and performed between-group comparisons using the log-rank test. Among 209 older adults, 117 (56.0%) experienced renal recovery. Multiple regression analysis revealed that urine levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) multiplied by insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) ([TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7]), AKI stages 2-3, and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score were independently associated with renal non-recovery. The regression model incorporating [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] demonstrated a fair predictive value (AUC 0.774, p < 0.001), with the optimal threshold set at 0.81 (ng/mL)2/1000. When [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] was combined with AKI severity and the APACHE score, the AUC increased to 0.851. In conclusion, urine [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] is a reliable biomarker associated with renal non-recovery in critically ill older adults, and its predictive efficacy can be further enhanced when combined with AKI severity and the APACHE score.

HPV vaccine-related articles shared on Facebook from 2019 to 2021: Did COVID make a difference?

Objective

HPV vaccination is recommended for children beginning at age 9 to prevent several types of cancer. Many parents turn to Facebook for health information. This study describes changes in HPV vaccine-related articles shared on Facebook amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

HPV-related articles shared on Facebook (2019-2021) were collected using Buzzsumo, a social media analytics tool and analyzed using content analysis. Articles were categorized by valence, misinformation, evidence types, persuasive tactics, and framing. We quantified these data and tested for difference by article year.

Results

Of the 138 included articles, 51% had positive valence towards the vaccine and 36% had negative valence. In 2021, there was a significant increase in positive messaging (72% vs. 44% in 2019/2020; p < 0.01) and misinformation decreased from 50% in 2019 to 24% in 2021 (p = 0.04). Persuasive strategies were more common in 2019 than in later years.

Conclusion

Despite decreased engagement in 2021, more positive HPV vaccine messaging was observed, although a quarter of articles still contained misinformation. Our results can inform strategies for communicating with parents about the HPV vaccine.

Innovation

Our study is the first to analyze HPV-related articles linked on Facebook and to assess for differences during the pandemic.

Evolution of H6N6 viruses in China between 2014 and 2019 involves multiple reassortment events

H6N6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have been widely detected in wild birds, poultry, and even mammals. Recently, H6N6 viruses were reported to be involved in the generation of H5 and H7 subtype viruses. To investigate the emergence, evolutionary pattern, and potential for an epidemic of H6N6 viruses, the complete genomes of 198 H6N6 viruses were analyzed, including 168 H6N6 viruses deposited in the NCBI and GISAID databases from inception to January 2019 and 30 isolates collected from China between November 2014 and January 2019. Using phylogenetic analysis, the 198 strains of H6N6 viruses were identified as 98 genotypes. Molecular clock analysis indicated that the evolution of H6N6 viruses in China was constant and not interrupted by selective pressure. Notably, the laboratory isolates reassorted with six subtype viruses: H6N2, H5N6, H7N9, H5N2, H4N2, and H6N8, resulting in nine novel H6N6 reassortment events. These results suggested that H6N6 viruses can act as an intermediary in the evolution of H5N6, H6N6, and H7N9 viruses. Animal experiments demonstrated that the 10 representative H6N6 viruses showed low pathogenicity in chickens and were capable of infecting mice without prior adaptation. Our findings suggest that H6N6 viruses play an important role in the evolution of AIVs, and it is necessary to continuously monitor and evaluate the potential epidemic of the H6N6 subtype viruses.

A core scientific problem in the treatment of central nervous system diseases: newborn neurons

It has long been asserted that failure to recover from central nervous system diseases is due to the system's intricate structure and the regenerative incapacity of adult neurons. Yet over recent decades, numerous studies have established that endogenous neurogenesis occurs in the adult central nervous system, including humans'. This has challenged the long-held scientific consensus that the number of adult neurons remains constant, and that new central nervous system neurons cannot be created or renewed. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of the alterations and regulatory mechanisms of endogenous neurogenesis following central nervous system injury, and describe novel treatment strategies that target endogenous neurogenesis and newborn neurons in the treatment of central nervous system injury. Central nervous system injury frequently results in alterations of endogenous neurogenesis, encompassing the activation, proliferation, ectopic migration, differentiation, and functional integration of endogenous neural stem cells. Because of the unfavorable local microenvironment, most activated neural stem cells differentiate into glial cells rather than neurons. Consequently, the injury-induced endogenous neurogenesis response is inadequate for repairing impaired neural function. Scientists have attempted to enhance endogenous neurogenesis using various strategies, including using neurotrophic factors, bioactive materials, and cell reprogramming techniques. Used alone or in combination, these therapeutic strategies can promote targeted migration of neural stem cells to an injured area, ensure their survival and differentiation into mature functional neurons, and facilitate their integration into the neural circuit. Thus can integration replenish lost neurons after central nervous system injury, by improving the local microenvironment. By regulating each phase of endogenous neurogenesis, endogenous neural stem cells can be harnessed to promote effective regeneration of newborn neurons. This offers a novel approach for treating central nervous system injury.

Effectiveness of digital tools for smoking cessation in Asian countries: a systematic review

AIM

The use of tobacco is responsible for many preventable diseases and deaths worldwide. Digital interventions have greatly improved patient health and clinical care and have proven to be effective for quitting smoking in the general population due to their flexibility and potential for personalization. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions for smoking cessation in Asian countries.

METHODS

Three major databases - Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and PubMed - for relevant studies published between 1 January 2010 and 12 February 2023 were searched for studies evaluating the effectiveness of digital intervention for smoking cessation in Asian countries.

RESULTS

A total of 25 studies of varying designs were eligible for this study collectively involving a total of n = 22,005 participants from 9 countries. Among different digital tools for smoking cessation, the highest abstinence rate (70%) was reported with cognitive behavioural theory (CBT)-based smoking cessation intervention via Facebook followed by smartphone app (60%), WhatsApp (59.9%), and Pharmacist counselling with Quit US smartphone app (58.4%). However, WhatsApp was preferred over Facebook intervention due to lower rates of relapse. WeChat was responsible for 15.6% and 41.8% 7-day point prevalence abstinence. For telephone/text messaging abstinence rate ranged from 8-44.3% and quit rates from 6.3% to 16.8%. Whereas, no significant impact of media/multimedia messages and web-based learning on smoking cessation was observed in this study.

CONCLUSION

Based on the study findings the use of digital tools can be considered an alternative and cost-effective smoking cessation intervention as compared to traditional smoking cessation interventions.

Assessment and Management of Patients with Obesity and Hypertension in European Society of Hypertension Excellence Centres. A survey from the ESH Working Group on Diabetes and Metabolic Risk Factors

BACKGROUND

Healthcare providers are faced with an increasing number of patients with obesity and arterial hypertension. Preventing obesity-associated hypertension and appropriately managing patients with established disease are both important. Hence, the aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical care of patients with obesity and hypertension among ESH Excellence Centres (ECs).

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional, international 30-item survey through e-mails.

RESULTS

In total, 70 representatives of ECs participated (78% men) with 66% of them practicing medicine for more than 30 years and working in well-equipped clinics. Most were internists (41%) and cardiologists (37%) and 73% reported training on the management of obese patients with hypertension. A majority weigh their patients (77%) and evaluate patients for sleep disorders (93%). However, only 47% spend more than 5min to advise for lifestyle modification in general, 59% for weight loss, 56% for salt intake and 64% for exercise. Finally, a minority of participants ask patients if they like their body (6%) or about previous attempts to lose weight (28%), evaluate 24h urinary sodium excretion rate (22%) and provide written (15%) or personalized (10%) dietary advices. If the patient suffers also from type 2 diabetes mellitus, 66% switch treatment to GLP1 receptor agonists and 60% to SGLT2 inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

Most clinicians in ESH ECs are well educated regarding obesity-associated hypertension, and clinics are sufficiently equipped to manage these patients, as well. However, several deficits were reported regarding efforts to address and implement obesity specific aspects and interventions to improve care in patients with obesity and hypertension.

Targeting the glutamine-arginine-proline metabolism axis in cancer

Metabolic abnormalities are an important feature of tumours. The glutamine-arginine-proline axis is an important node of cancer metabolism and plays a major role in amino acid metabolism. This axis also acts as a scaffold for the synthesis of other nonessential amino acids and essential metabolites. In this paper, we briefly review (1) the glutamine addiction exhibited by tumour cells with accelerated glutamine transport and metabolism; (2) the methods regulating extracellular glutamine entry, intracellular glutamine synthesis and the fate of intracellular glutamine; (3) the glutamine, proline and arginine metabolic pathways and their interaction; and (4) the research progress in tumour therapy targeting the glutamine-arginine-proline metabolic system, with a focus on summarising the therapeutic research progress of strategies targeting of one of the key enzymes of this metabolic system, P5CS (ALDH18A1). This review provides a new basis for treatments targeting the metabolic characteristics of tumours.

Suture passer combined with two-hole laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis catheterization in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic techniques are being widely applied for peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter (PDC) placement. The suture passer is a novel fixation tool that aims to reduce catheter migration. We compared the clinical value of the suture passer combined with two-hole laparoscopic PDC placement to open surgical placement by evaluating preoperative and postoperative conditions, as well as the onset of complications in both groups.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted including 169 patients who underwent PDC placement surgery from January 2021 to May 2023. Based on the method employed, patients were divided into two groups: the suture passer combined with a two-hole laparoscopy group (SLG) and the open surgical group (SG). Comprehensive patient information, including general data, preoperative and postoperative indicators, peritoneal function after surgery, and the incidence rate of complications, were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

The SLG showed a statistically significant decrease in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and 6-month postoperative drift rate compared to the SG (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of sex, age, primary disease, hospitalization time, hospitalization costs, preoperative and postoperative examination indicators, peritonitis, and omental wrapping.

CONCLUSIONS

Suture passer combined with two-hole laparoscopic PDC placement, characterized by simplicity and facilitating secure catheter fixation, was deemed safe and effective for patients undergoing PD. It reduces the catheter migration rate and improved surgical comfort. Overall, this technique demonstrates favorable outcomes in clinical practice.

microRNAs: critical targets for treating rheumatoid arthritis angiogenesis

Vascular neogenesis, an early event in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflammation, is critical for the formation of synovial vascular networks and plays a key role in the progression and persistence of chronic RA inflammation. microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of single-stranded, non-coding RNAs with approximately 21-23 nucleotides in length, regulate gene expression by binding to the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of specific mRNAs. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs are differently expressed in diseases associated with vascular neogenesis and play a crucial role in disease-related vascular neogenesis. However, current studies are not sufficient and further experimental studies are needed to validate and establish the relationship between miRNAs and diseases associated with vascular neogenesis, and to determine the specific role of miRNAs in vascular development pathways. To better treat vascular neogenesis in diseases such as RA, we need additional studies on the role of miRNAs and their target genes in vascular development, and to provide more strategic references. In addition, future studies can use modern biotechnological methods such as proteomics and transcriptomics to investigate the expression and regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs, providing a more comprehensive and in-depth research basis for the treatment of related diseases such as RA.

Denosumab ameliorates osteoarthritis by protecting cartilage against degradation and modulating subchondral bone remodeling

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative joint disease worldwide. Effective management for early-stage OA is crucial. Denosumab (DS) has been widely used to treat osteoporosis (OP) and rheumatoid arthritis, but its potential for managing OA remains clear. We assessed the effects of DS on osteoclast activity and chondrocyte apoptosis using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), flow cytometry, and TUNEL staining. To assess the impact of DS on the NF-κB pathway, we performed Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Additionally, we used an OA model to explore the influence of DS on subchondral bone remodeling and cartilage degeneration in vivo. We found that DS hindered receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting the activity of the NF-κB pathway. Besides, DS alleviated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced apoptosis in chondrocytes by regulating the expression of genes related to apoptosis. Moreover, we observed an attenuation of OA-related subchondral bone remodeling and cartilage degeneration in vivo. Our findings indicate that DS could effectively suppress osteoclast activity and chondrocyte apoptosis, thereby mitigating OA-related subchondral bone remodeling and cartilage degeneration. These results provide a mechanistic basis for using DS to treat OA.

Association between monocyte-lymphocyte ratio and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney diseases: A data analysis from national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) 2003-2010

BACKGROUND

The relationship between monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and prognosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MLR and both all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with CKD.

METHODS

This study analyzed data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2010. This study included 11262 eligible subjects, and 3015 of them were with CKD. We first compared the differences in clinical characteristics between individuals with and without CKD, and then grouped the CKD population based on quartiles of MLR. The partial correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationships between MLR and some important clinical features. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the associations between MLR and mortality from all-cause and cardiovascular disease. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to investigate the dose-response relationship between MLR and mortality, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves is used to compare the efficacy of MLR with different clinical biological indicators in assessing the risk of death.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 10.3 years in CKD population, 1398 (43%) all-cause deaths and 526 (16%) CVD deaths occurred. It has been found that individuals with CKD have higher MLR level. The partial correlation analysis results showed that even after adjusting for age, sex, and race, MLR is still correlated with blood glucose, lipid levels, and kidney function indicators. The results of the cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier curve shown after adjusting for covariates, higher MLR was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality. Consistent results were also observed when MLR was examined as categorical variable (quartiles). The RCS demonstrated a positive association between MLR and the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. The ROC results indicate that the predictive efficacy of MLR for all-cause mortality risk is comparable to eGFR, higher than NLR and CRP. The predictive efficacy of MLR for cardiovascular mortality risk is higher than these three indicators.

CONCLUSION

Compared to non-CKD population, the CKD population has higher levels of MLR. In the CKD population, MLR is positively correlated with the risk of death. Furthermore, the predictive efficacy of MLR for mortality risk is higher than other clinical indicators. This suggests that MLR can serve as a simple and effective clinical indicator for predicting mortality risk in CKD patients.

Pharmaceutical cocrystals: a rising star in drug delivery applications

Pharmaceutical cocrystals, owing to their manifold applications, are acting as bridge between drug discovery and pharmaceutical product development. The ability to scale up pharmaceutical cocrystals through continuous manufacturing approaches offers superior and economic pharmaceutical products. Moreover, cocrystals can be an aid for the nanoparticulate systems to solve the issues related to scale-up and cost. Cocrystals grabbed attention of academic researchers and pharmaceutical scientist due to their potential to target various diseases like cancer. The present review is mainly focussed on the diverse and comprehensive applications of pharmaceutical cocrystals in drug delivery including solubility and dissolution enhancement, improvement of bioavailability of drug, mechanical and flow properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients, controlled/sustained release and colour tuning of API. Besides, phytochemical based cocrystals, multi-drug cocrystals and cocrystals for tumour therapy have been discussed in this review. Additionally, recent progress pertinent to pharmaceutical cocrystals is also included, which may provide future directions to manufacturing and scale-up of cocrystals.

Navigating the redox landscape: reactive oxygen species in regulation of cell cycle

Objectives: To advance our knowledge of disease mechanisms and therapeutic options, understanding cell cycle regulation is critical. Recent research has highlighted the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cell cycle regulation. Although excessive ROS levels can lead to age-related pathologies, ROS also play an essential role in normal cellular functions. Many cell cycle regulatory proteins are affected by their redox status, but the precise mechanisms and conditions under which ROS promote or inhibit cell proliferation are not fully understood.Methods: This review presents data from the scientific literature and publicly available databases on changes in redox state during the cell cycle and their effects on key regulatory proteins.Results: We identified redox-sensitive targets within the cell cycle machinery and analysed different effects of ROS (type, concentration, duration of exposure) on cell cycle phases. For example, moderate levels of ROS can promote cell proliferation by activating signalling pathways involved in cell cycle progression, whereas excessive ROS levels can induce DNA damage and trigger cell cycle arrest or cell death.Discussion: Our findings encourage future research focused on identifying redox-sensitive targets in the cell cycle machinery, potentially leading to new treatments for diseases with dysregulated cell proliferation.

Uncovering the potential of APOD as a biomarker in gastric cancer: A retrospective and multi-center study

Gastric cancer (GC) poses a significant health challenge worldwide, necessitating the identification of predictive biomarkers to improve prognosis. Dysregulated lipid metabolism is a well-recognized hallmark of tumorigenesis, prompting investigation into apolipoproteins (APOs). In this study, we focused on apolipoprotein D (APOD) following comprehensive analyses of APOs in pan-cancer. Utilizing data from the TCGA-STAD and GSE62254 cohorts, we elucidated associations between APOD expression and multiple facets of GC, including prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer biomarkers, mutations, and immunotherapy response, and identified potential anti-GC drugs. Single-cell analyses and immunohistochemical staining confirmed APOD expression in fibroblasts within the GC microenvironment. Additionally, we independently validated the prognostic significance of APOD in the ZN-GC cohort. Our comprehensive analyses revealed that high APOD expression in GC patients was notably associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes, reduced microsatellite instability and tumor mutation burden, alterations in the TME, and diminished response to immunotherapy. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential prognostic and therapeutic implications of APOD in GC.

GP-HTNLoc: A graph prototype head-tail network-based model for multi-label subcellular localization prediction of ncRNAs

Numerous research results demonstrated that understanding the subcellular localization of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is pivotal in elucidating their roles and regulatory mechanisms in cells. Despite the existence of over ten computational models dedicated to predicting the subcellular localization of ncRNAs, a majority of these models are designed solely for single-label prediction. In reality, ncRNAs often exhibit localization across multiple subcellular compartments. Furthermore, the existing multi-label localization prediction models are insufficient in addressing the challenges posed by the scarcity of training samples and class imbalance in ncRNA dataset. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel multi-label localization prediction model for ncRNAs, named GP-HTNLoc. To mitigate class imbalance, GP-HTNLoc adopts separate training approaches for head and tail location labels. Additionally, GP-HTNLoc introduces a pioneering graph prototype module to enhance its performance in small-sample, multi-label scenarios. The experimental results based on 10-fold cross-validation on benchmark datasets demonstrate that GP-HTNLoc achieves competitive predictive performance. The average results from 10 rounds of testing on an independent dataset show that GP-HTNLoc outperforms the best existing models on the human lncRNA, human snoRNA, and human miRNA subsets, with average precision improvements of 31.5%, 14.2%, and 5.6%, respectively, reaching 0.685, 0.632, and 0.704. A user-friendly online GP-HTNLoc server is accessible at https://56s8y85390.goho.co.

Prevalence and characteristics of ertapenem-mono-resistant isolates among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in China

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), specifically those resistant to only ertapenem among carbapenems (ETP-mono-resistant), are increasingly reported, while the optimal therapy options remain uncertain. To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ETP-mono-resistant CRE, CRE strains were systematically collected from 102 hospitals across China between 2018 and 2021. A 1:1 randomized matching study was conducted with ETP-mono-resistant strains to meropenem- and/or imipenem-resistant (MEM/IPM-resistant) strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing, carbapenem-hydrolysing activity and the expression of carbapenemase genes were determined. In total, 18.8% of CRE strains were ETP-mono-resistant, with relatively low ertapenem MIC values. ETP-mono-resistant strains exhibited enhanced susceptibility to β-lactams, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, levofloxacin, fosfomycin, amikacin and polymyxin than MEM/IPM-resistant strains (P < 0.05). Phylogenetic analysis revealed high genetic diversity among ETP-mono-resistant strains. Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and/or AmpC, as well as porin mutations, were identified as potential major mechanisms mediating ETP-mono-resistance, while the presence of carbapenemases was found to be the key factor distinguishing the carbapenem-resistant phenotypes between the two groups (P < 0.001). Compared with the MEM/IPM-resistant group, limited carbapenemase-producing CRE (CP-CRE) strains in the ETP-mono-resistant group showed a significantly lower prevalence of ESBLs and porin mutations, along with reduced expression of carbapenemase. Remarkably, spot assays combined with modified carbapenem inactivation method indicated that ETP-mono-resistant CP-CRE isolates grew at meropenem concentrations eightfold above their corresponding MIC values, accompanied by rapidly enhanced carbapenem-hydrolysing ability. These findings illustrate that ETP-mono-resistant CRE strains are relatively prevalent and that caution should be exercised when using meropenem alone for treatment. The detection of carbapenemase should be prioritized.

M2 macrophages promote subconjunctival fibrosis through YAP/TAZ signalling

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of M2 macrophages in subconjunctival fibrosis after silicone implantation (SI) and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A model of subconjunctival fibrosis was established by SI surgery in rabbit eyes. M2 distribution and collagen deposition were evaluated by histopathology. The effects of M2 cells on the migration (using wound-scratch assay) and activation (by immunofluorescence and western blotting) of human Tenon's fibroblasts (HTFs) were investigated.

RESULTS

There were more M2 macrophages (CD68+/CD206+ cells) occurring in tissue samples around silicone implant at 2 weeks postoperatively. Dense collagen deposition was observed at 8 weeks after SI. In vitro experiment showed M2 expressed high level of CD206 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The M2-conditioned medium promoted HTFs migration and the synthesis of collagen I and fibronectin. Meanwhile, M2-conditioned medium increased the protein levels of TGF-β1, TGF-βR II, p-Smad2/3, yes-associated protein (YAP), and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Verteporfin, a YAP inhibitor, suppressedTGF-β1/Smad2/3-YAP/TAZ pathway and attenuated M2-induced extracellular matrix deposition by HTFs.

CONCLUSIONS

TGF-β1/Smad2/3-YAP/TAZ signalling may be involved in M2-induced fibrotic activities in HTFs. M2 plays a key role in promoting subconjunctival fibrosis and can serve as an attractive target for anti-fibrotic therapeutics.

Computational methods for metastasis detection in lymph nodes and characterization of the metastasis-free lymph node microarchitecture: A systematic-narrative hybrid review

Background

Histological examination of tumor draining lymph nodes (LNs) plays a vital role in cancer staging and prognostication. However, as soon as a LN is classed as metastasis-free, no further investigation will be performed and thus, potentially clinically relevant information detectable in tumor-free LNs is currently not captured.

Objective

To systematically study and critically assess methods for the analysis of digitized histological LN images described in published research.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in several public databases up to December 2023 using relevant search terms. Studies using brightfield light microscopy images of hematoxylin and eosin or immunohistochemically stained LN tissue sections aiming to detect and/or segment LNs, their compartments or metastatic tumor using artificial intelligence (AI) were included. Dataset, AI methodology, cancer type, and study objective were compared between articles.

Results

A total of 7201 articles were collected and 73 articles remained for detailed analyses after article screening. Of the remaining articles, 86% aimed at LN metastasis identification, 8% aimed at LN compartment segmentation, and remaining focused on LN contouring. Furthermore, 78% of articles used patch classification and 22% used pixel segmentation models for analyses. Five out of six studies (83%) of metastasis-free LNs were performed on publicly unavailable datasets, making quantitative article comparison impossible.

Conclusions

Multi-scale models mimicking multiple microscopy zooms show promise for computational LN analysis. Large-scale datasets are needed to establish the clinical relevance of analyzing metastasis-free LN in detail. Further research is needed to identify clinically interpretable metrics for LN compartment characterization.

Unraveling the role of long non-coding RNAs in therapeutic resistance in acute myeloid leukemia: New prospects & challenges

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a fatal hematological disease characterized by the unchecked proliferation of immature myeloid blasts in different tissues developed by various mutations in hematopoiesis. Despite intense chemotherapeutic regimens, patients often experience poor outcomes, leading to substandard remission rates. In recent years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have increasingly become important prognostic and therapeutic hotspots, due to their contributions to dysregulating many functional epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms leading to alterations in cell expressions, resulting in increased chemoresistance and reduced apoptosis in leukemic cells. Through this review, I highlight and discuss the latest advances in understanding the major mechanisms through which lncRNAs confer therapy resistance in AML. In addition, I also provide perspective on the current strategies to target lncRNA expressions. A better knowledge of the critical role that lncRNAs play in controlling treatment outcomes in AML will help improve existing medications and devise new ones.

The relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and early renal injury in population with/without hypertension: analysis of the National health and nutrition examination survey 2001-2002

BACKGROUND

Inflammation plays a crucial role in occurrence of kidney injury, and specific dietary patterns can influence systemic inflammation levels. However, the relationship between dietary inflammatory potential and early-stage kidney damage remains unclear.

METHOD

2,108 participants was recruited from 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is utilized to assess dietary inflammatory potential, calculated through a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire. Early renal injury was evaluated using urinary albumin to creatinine (UACR), cystatin C (CysC), β-2 microglobulin (β2M), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on serum creatinine (eGFRs), cystatin C (eGFRc), and both Scr and CysC (eGFRs&c). Participant characteristics were analyzed, and association between DII, hypertension, and early renal injury markers was explored using multiple linear and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The average age of participants was 53.9 years. DII exhibited a positive correlation with UACR (β = -0.048[0.017,0.078]), β2M (β = 0.019[0.010,0.027]), CysC (β = 0.012 [0.004,0.021]). Conversely, a negative correlation was observed between DII and eGFRc (β = -1.126[-1.554, -0.699]), eGFRs&c (β=-1.101[-1.653, -0.549]). A significant association was observed between hypertension and abnormality of early kidney damage markers. Subgroup analysis reveals that the positive correlation between DII and the occurrence of abnormal markers of early kidney damage is only observed in individuals with hypertension. Furthermore, an interaction between DII and hypertension was detected in eGFRs&c (OR:1.250[1.042, 1.499], p for interaction = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Higher levels of DII may be associated with occurrence of early kidney damage. For individuals with hypertension, avoiding excessive consumption of pro-inflammatory foods may reduce the risk of renal injury.

Recombinant duck enteritis virus bearing the hemagglutinin genes of H5 and H7 influenza viruses is an ideal multivalent live vaccine in ducks

Due to the fact that many avian influenza viruses that kill chickens are not lethal to ducks, farmers are reluctant to use avian influenza inactivated vaccines on ducks. Large numbers of unvaccinated ducks play an important role in the transmission of avian influenza viruses from wild birds to domestic poultry, creating a substantial challenge to vaccination strategies for avian influenza control. To solve this problem, we constructed a recombinant duck enteritis virus (DEV), rDEV-dH5/H7, using a live attenuated DEV vaccine strain (vDEV) as a vector. rDEV-dH5/H7 carries the hemagglutinin gene of two H5 viruses [GZ/S4184/17 (H5N6) (clade 2.3.4.4 h) and LN/SD007/17 (H5N1) (clade 2.3.2.1d)] and an H7 virus [GX/SD098/17 (H7N9)]. These three hemagglutinin genes were stably inherited in rDEV-dH5/H7 and expressed in rDEV-dH5/H7-infected cells. Animal studies revealed that rDEV-dH5/H7 and vDEV induced similar neutralizing antibody responses and protection against lethal DEV challenge. Importantly, rDEV-dH5/H7 induced strong and long-lasting hemagglutinin inhibition antibodies against different H5 and H7 viruses and provided complete protection against challenges with homologous and heterologous highly pathogenic H5 and H7 influenza viruses in ducks. Our study shows that rDEV-dH5/H7 could serve as an ideal live attenuated vaccine to protect ducks against infection with lethal DEV and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.

RfxCas13d-mediated inhibition of Circ1647 alleviates renal fibrosis via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) have been shown to be involved in the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to investigate the role of Circ1647 in renal fibrosis, which is a hallmark of CKD.

METHODS

In this study, we established a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model and delivered Circ1647 RfxCas13d knockdown plasmid into renal parenchymal cells via retrograde injection through the ureter followed by electroporation. After that, the pathological changes were determined by Hematoxylin and Eosin. Meanwhile, Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blot were conducted to assess the degree of fibrosis. In addition, overexpressing of Circ1647 in renal tubular epithelial cells (TCMK1) was performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of Circ1647.

RESULTS

Our results displayed that electroporation-mediated knockdown of Circ1647 by RfxCas13d knockdown plasmid significantly inhibited renal fibrosis in UUO mice as evidenced by reduced expression of fibronectin and α-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin). Conversely, overexpression of Circ1647 in TCMK1 cells promoted the fibrosis. In terms of mechanism, Circ1647 may mediate the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway as demonstrated by the balance of the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT in vivo and the aggravated phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT in vitro. These observations were corroborated by the effects of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, which mitigated fibrosis post Circ1647 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that Circ1647 plays a significant role in renal fibrosis by mediating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. RfxCas13d-mediated inhibition of Circ1647 may serve as a therapeutic target for renal fibrosis in CKD.

Overview of role of survivin in cancer: expression, regulation, functions, and its potential as a therapeutic target

Survivin holds significant importance as a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family due to its predominant expression in tumours rather than normal terminally differentiated adult tissues. The high expression level of survivin in tumours is closely linked to chemotherapy resistance, heightened tumour recurrence, and increased tumour aggressiveness and serves as a negative prognostic factor for cancer patients. Consequently, survivin has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In this review, we delve into the various biological characteristics of survivin in cancers and its pivotal role in maintaining immune system homeostasis. Additionally, we explore different therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting survivin.

The effect of histo-blood group ABO system transferase (BGAT) on pregnancy related outcomes：A Mendelian randomization study

Protein level of Histo-Blood Group ABO System Transferase (BGAT) has been reported to be associated with cardiometabolic diseases. But its effect on pregnancy related outcomes still remains unclear. Here we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to ascertain the putative causal roles of protein levels of BGAT in pregnancy related outcomes. Cis-acting protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) robustly associated with protein level of BGAT (P < 5 ×10-8) were used as instruments to proxy the BGAT protein level (N = 35,559, data from deCODE), with two additional pQTL datasets from Fenland (N = 10,708) and INTERVAL (N = 3301) used as validation exposures. Ten pregnancy related diseases and complications were selected as outcomes. We observed that a higher protein level of BGAT showed a putative causal effect on venous complications and haemorrhoids in pregnancy (VH) (odds ratio [OR]=1.19, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.12-1.27, colocalization probability=91%), which was validated by using pQTLs from Fenland and INTERVAL. The Mendelian randomization results further showed effects of the BGAT protein on gestational hypertension (GH) (OR=0.97, 95% CI=0.96-0.99), despite little colocalization evidence to support it. Sensitivity analyses, including proteome-wide Mendelian randomization of the cis-acting BGAT pQTLs, showed little evidence of horizontal pleiotropy. Correctively, our study prioritised BGAT as a putative causal protein for venous complications and haemorrhoids in pregnancy. Future epidemiology and clinical studies are needed to investigate whether BGAT can be considered as a drug target to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes.

RIscoper 2.0: A deep learning tool to extract RNA biomedical relation sentences from literature

RNA plays an extensive role in a multi-dimensional regulatory system, and its biomedical relationships are scattered across numerous biological studies. However, text mining works dedicated to the extraction of RNA biomedical relations remain limited. In this study, we established a comprehensive and reliable corpus of RNA biomedical relations, recruiting over 30,000 sentences manually curated from more than 15,000 biomedical literature. We also updated RIscoper 2.0, a BERT-based deep learning tool to extract RNA biomedical relation sentences from literature. Benefiting from approximately 100,000 annotated named entities, we integrated the text classification and named entity recognition tasks in this tool. Additionally, RIscoper 2.0 outperformed the original tool in both tasks and can discover new RNA biomedical relations. Additionally, we provided a user-friendly online search tool that enables rapid scanning of RNA biomedical relationships using local and online resources. Both the online tools and data resources of RIscoper 2.0 are available at http://www.rnainter.org/riscoper.

TCR-like bispecific antibodies toward eliminating infected hepatocytes in HBV mouse models

Therapeutics for eradicating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are still limited and current nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) and interferon are effective in controlling viral replication and improving liver health, but they cannot completely eradicate the hepatitis B virus and only a very small number of patients are cured of it. The TCR-like antibodies recognizing viral peptides presented on human leukocyte antigens (HLA) provide possible tools for targeting and eliminating HBV-infected hepatocytes. Here, we generated three TCR-like antibodies targeting three different HLA-A2.1-presented peptides derived from HBV core and surface proteins. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) were developed by fuzing variable fragments of these TCR-like mAbs with an anti-CD3ϵ antibody. Our data demonstrate that the BsAbs could act as T cell engagers, effectively redirecting and activating T cells to target HBV-infected hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. In HBV-persistent mice expressing human HLA-A2.1, two infusions of BsAbs induced marked and sustained suppression in serum HBsAg levels and also reduced the numbers of HBV-positive hepatocytes. These findings highlighted the therapeutic potential of TCR-like BsAbs as a new strategy to cure hepatitis B.

Mechanisms of nitric oxide in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a primary lesion of the spinal cord that results from external forces or diseases, accompanied by a cascade of secondary events. Nitric oxide, an endogenous gas that functions as a signaling molecule in the human body, plays a crucial role in vasodilation of smooth muscles, regulation of blood flow and pressure, and inflammatory response. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the involvement of nitric oxide in SCI and highlights recent advances in basic research on pharmacological agents that inhibit nitric oxide elevation after SCI, offering valuable insights for future therapeutic interventions targeting SCI.

Advancing burn wound treatment: exploring hydrogel as a transdermal drug delivery system

Burn injuries are prevalent and life-threatening forms that contribute significantly to mortality rates due to associated wound infections. The management of burn wounds presents substantial challenges. Hydrogel exhibits tremendous potential as an ideal alternative to traditional wound dressings such as gauze. This is primarily attributed to its three-dimensional (3D) crosslinked polymer network, which possesses a high water content, fostering a moist environment that supports effective burn wound healing. Additionally, hydrogel facilitates the penetration of loaded therapeutic agents throughout the wound surface, combating burn wound pathogens through the hydration effect and thereby enhancing the healing process. However, the presence of eschar formation on burn wounds obstructs the passive diffusion of therapeutics, impairing the efficacy of hydrogel as a wound dressing, particularly in cases of severe burns involving deeper tissue damage. This review focuses on exploring the potential of hydrogel as a carrier for transdermal drug delivery in burn wound treatment. Furthermore, strategies aimed at enhancing the transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents from hydrogel to optimize burn wound healing are also discussed.

A novel cell source for therapy of knee osteoarthritis using atelocollagen microsphere-adhered adipose-derived stem cells: Impact of synovial fluid exposure on cell activity

Introduction

Administration of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into the joint cavity has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) by releasing exosomes and anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, the therapeutic effect of these cells is limited by their rapid disappearance after administration. Thus, it is necessary to prolong cell survival in the joint cavity. This study aimed to investigate the potential application of ADSCs adhered to atelocollagen microspheres (AMSs) for cell therapy of knee OA.

Methods

ADSCs were cultured for 2, 4, and 7 days in AMS suspension or adherent culture dishes. The supernatants were analyzed for IL-10 and exosome secretion via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Nanosight. The effect of AMS was compared with that of adherent-cultured ADSCs (2D-cultured ADSCs) using transcriptome analysis. Moreover, the solubility of AMS and viability of ADSCs were evaluated using synovial fluid (SF) from patients with knee OA.

Results

Compared with 2D-cultured ADSCs, AMS-cultured ADSCs exhibited a significant increase in secretion of exosomes and IL-10, and the expression of several genes involved in extracellular matrix and immune regulation were altered. Furthermore, when AMS-cultured ADSCs were cultured in SF from knee OA patients to mimic the intra-articular environment, the SF dissolved the AMSs and released viable ADSCs. In addition, AMS-cultured ADSCs showed significantly higher long-term cell viability than 2D-cultured ADSCs.

Conclusion

Increased survival of AMS-adhered ADSCs was observed in the intra-articular environment, and AMSs were found to gradually dissipate. These results suggest that AMS-adhered ADSCs are promising source for cell therapy of knee OA.

New mechanism of LncRNA: In addition to act as a ceRNA

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules with nucleic acid lengths ranging from 200 bp to 100 kb that cannot code for proteins, which are diverse and widely expressed in both animals and plants. Scholars have found that lncRNAs can regulate human physiological processes at the gene and protein levels, mainly through the regulation of epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels of genes and proteins, as well as in the immune response by regulating the expression of immune cells and inflammatory factors, and thus participate in the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. From the downstream targets of lncRNAs, we summarize the new research progress of lncRNA mechanisms other than miRNA sponges in recent years, aiming to provide new ideas and directions for the study of lncRNA mechanisms.

Development of a novel SupraChoroidal-to-Optic-NervE (SCONE) drug delivery system

PURPOSE

Targeted drug delivery to the optic nerve head may be useful in the preclinical study and later clinical management of optic neuropathies, however, there are no FDA-approved drug delivery systems to achieve this. The purpose of this work was to develop an optic nerve head drug delivery technique.

METHODS

Different strategies to approach the optic nerve head were investigated, including standard intravitreal and retroorbital injections. A novel SupraChoroidal-to-Optic-NervE (SCONE) delivery was optimized by creating a sclerotomy and introducing a catheter into the suprachoroidal space. Under direct visualization, the catheter was guided to the optic nerve head. India ink was injected. The suprachoroidal approach was performed in New Zealand White rabbit eyes in vivo (25 animals total). Parameters, including microneedle size and design, catheter design, and catheter tip angle, were optimized ex vivo and in vivo.

RESULTS

Out of the candidate optic nerve head approaches, intravitreal, retroorbital, and suprachoroidal approaches were able to localize India ink to within 2 mm of the optic nerve. The suprachoroidal approach was further investigated, and after optimization, was able to deposit India ink directly within the optic nerve head in up to 80% of attempts. In eyes with successful SCONE delivery, latency and amplitude of visual evoked potentials was not different than the naïve untreated eye.

CONCLUSIONS

SCONE delivery can be used for targeted drug delivery to the optic nerve head of rabbits without measurable toxicity measured anatomically or functionally. Successful development of this system may yield novel opportunities to study optic nerve head-specific drug delivery in animal models, and paradigm-shifting management strategies for treating optic neuropathies.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

Here we demonstrate data on a new method for targeted delivery to the optic nerve head, addressing a significant unmet need in therapeutics for optic neuropathies.

MTHFD2-mediated redox homeostasis promotes gastric cancer progression under hypoxic conditions

OBJECTIVES

Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to adapt to high oxidative stress, but little is known about how metabolic remodeling enables gastric cancer cells to survive stress associated with aberrant reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Here, we aimed to identify the key metabolic enzymes that protect gastric cancer (GC) cells from oxidative stress.

METHODS

ROS level was detected by DCFH-DA probes. Multiple cell biological studies were performed to identify the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, cell-based xenograft and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model were performed to evaluate the role of MTHFD2 in vivo.

RESULTS

We found that overexpression of MTHFD2, but not MTHFD1, is associated with reduced overall and disease-free survival in gastric cancer. In addition, MTHFD2 knockdown reduces the cellular NADPH/NADP+ ratio, colony formation and mitochondrial function, increases cellular ROS and cleaved PARP levels and induces in cell death under hypoxia, a hallmark of solid cancers and a common inducer of oxidative stress. Moreover, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of MTHFD2 reduces tumor burden in both tumor cell lines and patient-derived xenograft-based models.

DISCUSSION

our study highlights the crucial role of MTHFD2 in redox regulation and tumor progression, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of targeting MTHFD2.

Astaxanthin attenuates diabetic kidney injury through upregulation of autophagy in podocytes and pathological crosstalk with mesangial cells

Objectives: Astaxanthin (ATX) is a strong antioxidant drug. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ATX on podocytes in diabetic nephropathy and the underlying renal protective mechanism of ATX, which leads to pathological crosstalk with mesangial cells.Methods: In this study, diabetic rats treated with ATX exhibited reduced 24-h urinary protein excretion and decreased blood glucose and lipid levels compared to vehicle-treated rats. Glomerular mesangial matrix expansion and renal tubular epithelial cell injury were also attenuated in ATX-treated diabetic rats compared to control rats.Results: ATX treatment markedly reduced the α-SMA and collagen IV levels in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Additionally, ATX downregulated autophagy levels. In vitro, compared with normal glucose, high glucose inhibited LC3-II expression and increased p62 expression, whereas ATX treatment reversed these changes. ATX treatment also inhibited α-SMA and collagen IV expression in cultured podocytes. Secreted factors (vascular endothelial growth factor B and transforming growth factor-β) generated by high glucose-induced podocytes downregulated autophagy in human mesangial cells (HMCs); however, this downregulation was upregulated when podocytes were treated with ATX.Conclusions: The current study revealed that ATX attenuates diabetes-induced kidney injury likely through the upregulation of autophagic activity in podocytes and its antifibrotic effects. Crosstalk between podocytes and HMCs can cause renal injury in diabetes, but ATX treatment reversed this phenomenon.

Association between hydration status and the risk and all-cause mortality of diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

This cohort study aimed to explore the relationship between hydration status and the risk of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) as well as all-cause death in DKD patients.

METHODS

Weighted univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the association between hydration status and DKD risk in diabetic population while weighted univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to identify the association between hydration status and all-cause mortality in DKD patients. Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted to present the survival probability of patients with different hydration status. Estimates were presented as odds ratio (OR), and hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time was 79.74 (±1.89) months. There were 2041 participants with DKD, and 2889 participants without. At the end of the follow-up, 965 participants were alive. The risk of DKD was increased as the increase of osmolarity level (OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.05-1.08). The elevated risk of DKD was observed in patients with impending dehydration (OR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.19-1.85) or current dehydration (OR = 2.69, 95%CI: 2.09-3.46). The association between increased osmolarty level and elevated risk of all-cause mortality in DKD patients was statistically different (HR = 1.02, 95%CI: 1.01-1.03). Current dehydration was correlated with increased all-cause mortality risk in DKD patients (HR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.01-1.61). Compared to DKD patients with normal hydration, the survival probability of DKD patients with current dehydration was significant lower (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Increased osmolarity level was associated with increased risk of DKD and elevated risk of all-cause mortality in DKD patients.

Construction of a nomogram combining CEUS and MRI imaging for preoperative diagnosis of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose

To use Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (S-CEUS) and Gadolinium-Ethoxybenzyl-Diethylenetriamine Penta-Acetic Acid magnetic-resonance imaging (EOB-MRI), exploring a non-invasive preoperative diagnostic strategy for microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

111 newly developed HCC cases were retrospectively collected. Both S-CEUS and EOB-MRI examinations were performed within one month of hepatectomy. The following indicators were investigated: size; vascularity in three phases of S-CEUS; margin, signal intensity, and peritumoral wedge shape in EOB-MRI; tumoral homogeneity, presence and integrity of the tumoral capsule in S-CEUS or EOB-MRI; presence of branching enhancement in S-CEUS; baseline clinical and serological data. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to optimize feature selection for the model. A nomogram for MVI was developed and verified by bootstrap resampling.

Results

Of the 16 variables we included, wedge and margin in HBP of EOB-MRI, capsule integrity in AP or HBP/PVP images of EOB-MRI/S-CEUS, and branching enhancement in AP of S-CEUS were identified as independent risk factors for MVI and incorporated into construction of the nomogram. The nomogram achieved an excellent diagnostic efficiency with an area under the curve of 0.8434 for full data training set and 0.7925 for bootstrapping validation set for 500 repetitions. In evaluating the nomogram, Hosmer-Lemeshow test for training set exhibited a good model fit with P > 0.05. Decision curve analysis of nomogram model yielded excellent clinical net benefit with a wide range (5-80 % and 85-94 %) of risk threshold.

Conclusions

The MVI Nomogram established in this study may provide a strategy for optimizing the preoperative diagnosis of MVI, which in turn may improve the treatment and prognosis of MVI-related HCC.