Higher-order sensorimotor circuit of the whole-brain functional network involved in pruritus regulation in atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying pruritus regulation in Atopic dermatitis (AD).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the functional changes of the resting-state whole brain network of AD participants and the mechanisms by which they were involved in pruritus regulation.

METHOD

Based on the functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 19 AD participants and 37 healthy controls (HC), a graph-theoretical measure of degree centrality (DC) conjoined with a voxel-level seed-based functional connectivity (FC) method was used to identify abnormal higher-order nodes and the functionally relevant circuit in AD participants compared to healthy controls (HC).

RESULTS

Of 64 participants screened, 19 AD participants (12M/7F, median [IQR] age, 27 [14] years) and 36 HCs (13M/23F, median [IQR] age, 20 [1] years) were enrolled. DC values of the left superior frontal gyrus (LSFG) increased in AD participants and exhibited a negative correlation with the SCORAD score (r = -0.561, p = 0.012) compared with HC. In the FC analysis with LSFG as the seed, FC values of several sensory and motor regions increased in AD participants, highly overlapping with the anatomical distribution of the inferior fronto-occipital fascicle (IFOF). AD participants with severe pruritus exhibited lower levels of DC (T = -2.316, p = 0.033) and FC between the LSFG and left insula (T = -2.203, p = 0.042) than those with mild-to- moderate pruritus.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

LSFG was involved in pruritus regulation in AD by forming a high-order sensorimotor circuit through the IFOF, a white matter fascicle that proved to provide multimodal integration in motor control and sensory information processing. These results offer more mechanism-guided treatment targets for severe pruritus in AD.

A new threshold selection method for species distribution models with presence-only data: Extracting the mutation point of the P/E curve by threshold regression

Selecting thresholds to convert continuous predictions of species distribution models proves critical for many real-world applications and model assessments. Prevalent threshold selection methods for presence-only data require unproven pseudo-absence data or subjective researchers' decisions. This study proposes a new method, Boyce-Threshold Quantile Regression (BTQR), to determine thresholds objectively without pseudo-absence data. We summarize that the mutation point is a typical shape feature of the predicted-to-expected (P/E) curve after reviewing relevant articles. Analysis based on source-sink theory suggests that this mutation point may represent a transition in habitat types and serve as an appropriate threshold. Threshold regression is introduced to accurately locate the mutation point. To validate the effectiveness of BTQR, we used four virtual species of varying prevalence and a real species with reliable distribution data. Six different species distribution models were employed to generate continuous suitability predictions. BTQR and nine other traditional methods transformed these continuous outputs into binary results. Comparative experiments show that BTQR has advantages in terms of accuracy, applicability, and consistency over the existing methods.

Engineered Bio-Heterojunction Confers Extra- and Intracellular Bacterial Ferroptosis and Hunger-Triggered Cell Protection for Diabetic Wound Repair

Nanomaterial-mediated ferroptosis has garnered considerable interest in the antibacterial field, as it invokes the disequilibrium of ion homeostasis and boosts lipid peroxidation in extra- and intracellular bacteria. However, current ferroptosis-associated antibacterial strategies indiscriminately pose damage to healthy cells, ultimately compromising their biocompatibility. To address this daunting issue, this work has designed a precise ferroptosis bio-heterojunction (F-bio-HJ) consisting of Fe2 O3 , Ti3 C2 -MXene, and glucose oxidase (GOx) to induce extra-intracellular bacteria-targeted ferroptosis for infected diabetic cutaneous regeneration. Fe2 O3 /Ti3 C2 -MXene@GOx (FMG) catalytically generates a considerable amount of ROS which assaults the membrane of extracellular bacteria, facilitating the permeation of synchronously generated Fe2+ /Fe3+ into bacteria under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, causing planktonic bacterial death via ferroptosis, Fe2+ overload, and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, FMG facilitates intracellular bacterial ferroptosis by transporting Fe2+ into intracellular bacteria via inward ferroportin (FPN). With GOx consuming glucose, FMG creates hunger protection which helps macrophages escape cell ferroptosis by activating the adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. In vivo results authenticate that FMG boosts diabetic infectious cutaneous regeneration without triggering ferroptosis in normal cells. As envisaged, the proposed tactic provides a promising approach to combat intractable infections by precisely terminating extra-intracellular infection via steerable ferroptosis, thereby markedly elevating the biocompatibility of therapeutic ferroptosis-mediated strategies.

Antibacterial and Angiogenic (2A) Bio-Heterojunctions Facilitate Infectious Ischemic Wound Regeneration via an Endogenous-Exogenous Bistimulatory Strategy

In infectious ischemic wounds, a lack of blood perfusion significantly worsens microbe-associated infection symptoms and frequently complicates healing. To overcome this daunting issue, antibacterial and angiogenic (2A) bio-heterojunctions (bio-HJs) consisting of CuS/MXene heterojunctions and a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mimicking peptide (VMP) are devised and developed to accelerate infectious cutaneous regeneration by boosting angiogenesis via an endogenous-exogenous bistimulatory (EEB) strategy. Assisted by near-infrared irradiation, the bio-HJ platform exhibits versatile synergistic photothermal, photodynamic, and chemodynamic effects for robust antibacterial efficacy. In addition, copper ions liberated from 2A bio-HJs elevate VEGF secretion from fibroblasts, which provokes VEGF receptors (VEGFR) activation through an endogenous pathway, whereas VMP itself promotes an exogenous pathway to facilitate endothelial cell multiplication and tube formation by directly activating the VEGFR signaling pathway. Moreover, employing an in vivo model of infectious ischemic wounds, it is confirmed that the EEB strategy can considerably boost cutaneous regeneration through pathogen elimination, angiogenesis promotion, and collagen deposition. As envisaged, this work leads to the development of a powerful 2A bio-HJ platform that can serve as an effective remedy for bacterial invasion-induced ischemic wounds through the EEB strategy.

Abnormal mechanical stress induced chondrocyte senescence by YAP loss-mediated METTL3 upregulation

OBJECTIVES

Abnormal mechanical stress is the pivotal risk factor of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). This study investigated the pathogenic mechanism by which abnormal mechanical stress induced chondrocyte senescence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cellular senescence was investigated in the rodent model of unilateral anterior crossbite and in the chondrocytes subjected to mechanical overloading in vitro. The effects of Yes-associated protein (YAP) in chondrocyte senescence and its correlation with methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) modification were evaluated. The role of m6 A modification in chondrocyte senescence was determined. The therapeutic effects of m6 A inhibition in TMJOA were investigated.

RESULTS

Senescent chondrocytes were accumulated in the mechanically induced TMJOA lesions in rats and mechanical overloading could trigger chondrocyte senescence in vitro. This mechanical stress-induced cellular senescence was revealed to be mediated by YAP deficiency that promoted METTL3-dependent m6 A modification. Moreover, inhibition of m6 A modification rescued chondrocyte senescence in vitro and in vivo, and suppressed TMJOA progression in rats.

CONCLUSIONS

This study uncovered the underlying mechanism of mechanically induced senescence in TMJOA from the perspective of epitranscriptomics and revealed the therapeutic potential of m6 A inhibition in TMJOA.

Cytoplasmic Endonuclease G promotes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via mTORC2-AKT-ACLY and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Endonuclease G (ENDOG), a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial intermembrane space protein, is well known to be translocated into the nucleus during apoptosis. Recent studies have shown that ENDOG might enter the mitochondrial matrix to regulate mitochondrial genome cleavage and replication. However, little is known about the role of ENDOG in the cytosol. Our previous work showed that cytoplasmic ENDOG competitively binds with 14-3-3γ, which released TSC2 to repress mTORC1 signaling and induce autophagy. Here, we demonstrate that cytoplasmic ENDOG could also release Rictor from 14-3-3γ to activate the mTORC2-AKT-ACLY axis, resulting in acetyl-CoA production. Importantly, we observe that ENDOG could translocate to the ER, bind with Bip, and release IRE1a/PERK to activate the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, promoting lipid synthesis. Taken together, we demonstrate that loss of ENDOG suppresses acetyl-CoA production and lipid synthesis, along with reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress, which eventually alleviates high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in female mice.

A 3D-printed orthopedic implant with dual-effect synergy based on MoS2 and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for tumor therapy and bone regeneration

Treatments for malignant bone tumors are urgently needed to be developed due to the dilemma of precise resection of tumor tissue and subsequent bone defects. Although polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) has widely attracted attention in the orthopedic field, its bioinertness and poor osteogenic properties significantly restrict its applications in bone tumor treatment. To tackle the daunting issue, we use a hydrothermal technique to fabricate novel PEEK scaffolds modified with molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles. Our dual-effect synergistic PEEK scaffolds exhibit perfect photothermal therapeutic (PTT) property dependent on molybdous ion (Mo²⁺) concentration and laser power density, superior to conventional PEEK scaffolds. Under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, the viability of MG63 osteosarcoma cells is significantly reduced by modified PEEK scaffolds, indicating a tumor-killing potential in vitro. Furthermore, the incorporation of HA nanoparticles on the surface of PEEK bolsters proliferation and adherence of MC3T3-E1 cells, boosting mineralization for further bone defect repair. The results of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological analysis of 4-week treated rat femora demonstrate the preeminent photothermal and osteogenesis capacity of 3D-printed modified scaffolds in vivo. In conclusion, the dual-effect synergistic orthopedic implant with photothermal anticancer property and osteogenic induction activity strikes a balance between tumor treatment and bone development promotion, offering a promising future therapeutic option.

[Study on related factors and characteristics of multimorbidity of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children in Hunan Province]

From January 2019 to December 2021, overweight and obese children who visited in health outpatient Center of Hunan Children's Hospital were studied to explore and analyze the rate, related factors and patterns of multimorbidity of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children in Hunan Province. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the multimorbidity-related factors of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. Association rules (apriori algorithm) were used to explore the multimorbidity patterns of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. A total of 725 overweight and obese children were included in this study. The multimorbidity rate of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children was 46.07% (334/725). Age, waist circumference, the frequency of food consumption such as hamburgers and fries and adding meals before bedtime were multimorbidity-related factors of overweight and obesity-related diseases in children. The multimorbidity associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was relatively common. The patterns with the top three support degrees were "NAFLD+dyslipidemia","NAFLD+hypertension" and "NAFLD+hyperuricemia". The patterns with the top three confidence and elevation degrees were "Hypertension+dyslipidemia => NAFLD","Hyperuricemia => NAFLD" and "NAFLD+hypertension => dyslipidemia".

Association between subclinical hypothyroidism and psychotic features in Chinese young adults with first-episode and untreated major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

Thyroid dysfunction is often reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and may be associated with depression severity and psychotic symptoms. We included young adults with first-episode and untreated MDD to avoid the effect of age and disease duration on thyroid dysfunction and psychotic symptoms.

METHODS

481 young patients with MDD (aged 18-24 years) were recruited. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale and Global Impression of Severity Scale (CGIS) were used to assess depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms and disease severity, respectively.

RESULTS

The prevalence rate of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and thyroid antibody positivity was 56.76 % (273/481) and 26.61 % (128/481) in young MDD, respectively. A higher proportion of MDD patients with SCH displayed psychotic features (14.3 % vs. 5.3 %, OR = 2.985, p = 0.001). TSH was a risk factor for psychotic symptoms in MDD patient with SCH (B = 0.136, p = 0.017, OR = 1.384), with an AUC of 0.709, indicating acceptable discrimination. Multivariate regression analysis also showed that TSH was also independently associated with PANSS positive score (B = 0.339, t = 2.019, p = 0.045).

LIMITATION

This cross-sectional study design did not demonstrate a causal relationship. Relying solely on the PANSS positive subscale as psychotic symptoms may cause bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that SCH is common in young patients with first-episode and untreated MDD. MDD patients with higher TSH levels may suffer from more psychotic symptoms. Regular screening of serum thyroid hormones is necessary in patients with MDD.

The association between glucose fluctuation with sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Growing evidence shows that sarcopenia is more prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than in the normal population. However, currently, data on the relationship between blood glucose fluctuation and sarcopenia in elderly patients with T2DM are still limited.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, 280 patients ≥ 60 years with T2DM were divided into sarcopenic group and non-sarcopenic group, according to the diagnostic criteria of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. They wore MeiQi to acquire the indexes including time in range (TIR), time above range (TAR), time below range (TBR), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), coefficient of Variation (CV), blood glucose standard deviation (SD), largest amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE) and mean glucose (MG). The prevalence rate of sarcopenia was statistically analyzed and the different indicators of glucose fluctuation between the two groups were compared. We analyzed the indexes of glucose fluctuation and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), handgrip strength, the time of five times sit to stand test (FTSST) with Spearman's correlation analysis. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influence factors for sarcopenia.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sarcopenia was 15.36%. TIR, MG and TAR were correlated with ASMI, handgrip strength, the time of FTSST. MG and TAR were risk factors for sarcopenia, while TIR was the protective factor of sarcopenia. After adjusting mixing factors, logistic regression analysis showed that TIR was an independent protective factor. The result of the Chi-square test showed that the incidence of sarcopenia in different TIR ranges was different: the proportion of patients with sarcopenia was 40.48% (TIR ≤50%), 20.41% (50%<TIR≤70%) and 8.47% (TIR >70%).

CONCLUSIONS

TIR is associated with sarcopenia in elderly T2DM patients. Furtherly, the incidence rate of sarcopenia decreases with the increase of TIR.

Fibroblast ferroptosis is involved in periodontitis-induced tissue damage and bone loss

Periodontitis causes inflammatory destructions of tooth-supporting tissue and constitutes a significant burden on public health. Failing to reserve the tissue damage and bone loss by any of the currently available therapies has left periodontitis uncurable thus far. Understanding the molecular mechanism in the inflammatory process is crucial to elucidating the pathogenesis and enlightening new therapeutic strategies for periodontitis. This study was to investigate whether and how ferroptosis, a newly-discovered form of cell death, was involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Healthy and periodontitis human gingiva samples were collected and ligature-induced periodontitis murine models were constructed to investigate the role of ferroptosis in periodontitis. Single-cell RNA sequencing data was analyzed to identify the cell type that underwent ferroptosis. The susceptibility of human gingival fibroblasts to ferroptosis was investigated by in vitro cell cultures. We found that gingival fibroblasts undergo ferroptosis in periodontitis, and that periodontitis-induced tissue damage and bone loss were alleviated by inhibition of ferroptosis. Periodontitis-induced pro-inflammatory immune responses was featured by profound elevation of fibroblast-derived Interleukin-6, which was attenuated by ferroptosis inhibition. These results indicated fibroblast ferroptosis as a new clue to unveiling the cellular and molecular basis for periodontitis-induced tissue damage. Involvement of ferroptosis/Interleukin-6 signaling in the pathogenic process suggested a potential target for immunopharmacological approaches to curing periodontitis.

Bioheterojunction-Engineered Polyetheretherketone Implants With Diabetic Infectious Micromilieu Twin-Engine Powered Disinfection for Boosted Osteogenicity

Diabetic infectious micromilieu (DIM) leads to a critical failure rate of osseointegration by virtue of two main peculiarities: high levels of topical glucose and inevitable infection. To tackle the daunting issue, a bioheterojunction-engineered orthopedic polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implant consisting of copper sulfide/graphene oxide (CuS/GO) bioheterojunctions (bioHJs) and glucose oxidase (GOx) is conceived and developed for DIM enhanced disinfection and boosted osseointegration. Under hyperglycemic micromilieu, GOx can convert surrounding glucose into hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ). Then, upon infectious micromilieu, the bioHJs enable the catalyzation of H₂ O₂ to highly germicidal hydroxyl radical (·OH). As a result, the engineered implants massacre pathogenic bacteria through DIM twin-engine powered photo-chemodynamic therapy in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the engineered implants considerably facilitate cell viability and osteogenic activity of osteoblasts under a hyperglycemic microenvironment via synergistic induction of copper ions (Cu²⁺ ) and GO. In vivo studies using bone defect models of diabetic rats at 4 and 8 weeks further authenticate that bioHJ-engineering PEEK implants substantially elevate their osseointegration through biofilm elimination and vascularization, as well as macrophage reprogramming. Altogether, the present study puts forward a tactic that arms orthopedic implants with DIM twin-engine powered antibacterial and formidable osteogenic capacities for diabetic stalled osseointegration.

Imaging Findings and Clinical Analysis of Primary Intracranial Pure Yolk Sac Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Study from China

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Primary intracranial pure yolk sac tumor is very rare. Our aim was to summarize the characteristics of primary intracranial pure yolk sac tumors from the clinical and imaging aspects in a retrospective study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 5 patients with primary intracranial pure yolk sac tumors in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2015 to June 2021. A comprehensive literature search was performed on the electronic database of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (1990 to June 2021). Clinical data based on age, sex, treatment, CT, and MR imaging findings were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients were included in the study, 21 boys and 4 girls. Twenty-one patients underwent plain MR imaging and an enhanced examination, 9 patients underwent DWI, and 12 patients underwent plain CT and/or an enhanced examination. The tumors were posterior fossa in 9 cases and supratentorial in 16 cases. All tumors showed marked enhancement after enhanced scanning by MR imaging or CT. The signal on DWI was similar to that of the cerebral cortex, and the ADC map was similar to or slightly higher than that of the cerebral cortex. Among the cases, 13 were followed up from 2 months to 5 years. There was no recurrence or metastasis in 9 patients with postoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed up for 1.5-5 years. Four patients died 2 months to 1.5 years after only an operation, or chemoradiotherapy but no operation.

CONCLUSIONS

There are some relatively specific imaging findings of primary intracranial yolk sac tumors that could assist in their diagnosis. Surgery combined with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy can achieve a better prognosis.

Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Cognitive Impairment in Bipolar Disorder: Current Evidence

Recent studies have reported that the gut microbiota influences mood and cognitive function through the gut-brain axis, which is involved in the pathophysiology of neurocognitive and mental disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia. These disorders have similar pathophysiology to that of cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder (BD), including neuroinflammation and dysregulation of various neurotransmitters (i.e., serotonin and dopamine). There is also emerging evidence of alterations in the gut microbial composition of patients with BD, suggesting that gut microbial dysbiosis contributes to disease progression and cognitive impairment in BD. Therefore, microbiota-centered treatment might be an effective adjuvant therapy for BD-related cognitive impairment. Given that studies focusing on connections between the gut microbiota and BD-related cognitive impairment are lagging behind those on other neurocognitive disorders, this review sought to explore the potential mechanisms of how gut microbial dysbiosis affects cognitive function in BD and identify potential microbiota-centered treatment.

Gene activation in Caenorhabditis elegans using the Campylobacter jejuni CRISPR-Cas9 feeding system

Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-based activation system, a powerful genetic manipulation technology, can modulate endogenous gene transcription in various organisms through fusing nuclease-deficient Cas9 to transcriptional regulatory domains. At present, this clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-based activation system has been applied to activate gene expression by microinjection manner in Caenorhabditis elegans. However, this complicated and time-consuming injection manner is not suitable for efficient and high-throughput gene regulation with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-Cas9 system. Here, we engineered a Campylobacter jejun clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-Cas9-based gene activation system through bacteria feeding technique to delivering gene-specific sgRNA in C. elegans. It enables to activate various endogenous genes efficiently, as well as induce the corresponding phenotypes with a more efficient and labor-saving manner. Collectively, our results demonstrated that our novel dCjCas9-based activation feeding system holds great promise and potential in C. elegans.

Shared postulations between bipolar disorder and polycystic ovary syndrome pathologies

INTRODUCTION

Women with bipolar disorder (BD) present a high prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other reproductive disorders even before diagnosis or treatment of the disease. Postulations on the potential molecular mechanisms of comorbid PCOS in women with BD remain limited to influence of medications and need further extension.

OBJECTIVES

This review focuses on evidence suggesting that common metabolic and immune disorders may play an important role in the development of BD and PCOS.

RESULTS

The literature covered in this review suggests that metabolic and immune disorders, including the dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, chronic inflammatory state, gut microbial alterations, adipokine alterations and circadian rhythm disturbance, are observed in patients with BD and PCOS. Such disorders may be responsible for the increased prevalence of PCOS in the BD population and indicate a susceptibility gene overlap between the two diseases. Current evidence supports postulations of common metabolic and immune disorders as endophenotype in BD as well as in PCOS.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic and immune disorders may be responsible for the comorbid PCOS in the BD population. The identification of hallmark metabolic and immune features common to these two diseases will contribute to the clarification of the effect of BD on the reproductive endocrine function and development of symptomatic treatments targeting the biomarkers of the two diseases.

Histone H3K4me3 modification is a transgenerational epigenetic signal for lipid metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans

As a major risk factor to human health, obesity presents a massive burden to people and society. Interestingly, the obese status of parents can cause progeny's lipid accumulation through epigenetic inheritance in multiple species. To date, many questions remain as to how lipid accumulation leads to signals that are transmitted across generations. In this study, we establish a nematode model of C. elegans raised on a high-fat diet (HFD) that leads to measurable lipid accumulation, which can transmit the lipid accumulation signal to their multigenerational progeny. Using this model, we find that transcription factors DAF-16/FOXO and SBP-1/SREBP, nuclear receptors NHR-49 and NHR-80, and delta-9 desaturases (fat-5, fat-6, and fat-7) are required for transgenerational lipid accumulation. Additionally, histone H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) marks lipid metabolism genes and increases their transcription response to multigenerational obesogenic effects. In summary, this study establishes an interaction between a network of lipid metabolic genes and chromatin modifications, which work together to achieve transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of obesogenic effects.

A comprehensive analysis of the correction of alar retraction in rhinoplasty: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Alar retraction, as a type of alar deformity, seriously affects the esthetic perception of the nose in patients. Despite the rapid development of rhinoplasty in recent years, the treatment of alar retraction is still a challenge work in plastic surgery. This systematic review highlights the etiology, treatment, and prevention of alar retraction to further guide practitioners.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted from 1975 to 2020 through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane database with the key words "alar retraction" and "rhinoplasty" or "Rhinoplasties" to investigate the surgical treatment of alar retraction. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were set to screen the literature.

RESULTS

A total of 163 literatures were obtained through database retrieval. After removing the duplicate literature, reading the title and abstract, and reviewing the full text finally, 34 articles were included in the final study. Most of the articles have summarized the surgical methods to correct alar retraction by retrospective study.

CONCLUSIONS

Alar retraction should be analyzed from the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment. The diversity of surgical methods provides more options for the clinic. However, the plastic surgeons need to develop sharp analytical skills, improve clinical operational capability, and look for appropriate methods to achieve in good result.

Three-dimensional surgical guide approach to correcting skeletal Class II malocclusion with idiopathic condylar resorption

Treatment of skeletal Class II patients with dual bite and idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) is challenging for orthodontists because of the unstable position of the mandible as well as skeletal relapse attributed to improper seating of the mandibular condyles. This case report describes the successful treatment of an 18-year-old Mongolian man diagnosed with centric relation-maximum intercuspation discrepancy and ICR. After making a definitive diagnosis from verified centric relation using bilateral manipulation, orthodontic treatment was initiated followed by three-dimensional computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing prebent titanium plate-guided sagittal split ramus osteotomy and genioplasty. Postoperative 3D superimposition demonstrated that this surgical guide approach provided accurate repositioning of the condyles, which were well positioned in the fossae. Complete orthodontic and surgical treatment time was 24 months. The patient's facial appearance and occlusion improved significantly, and a stable result was obtained with a 1-year follow-up.

Publication trends and hotspots in enhanced recovery after surgery: 20-year bibliometric analysis

We evaluated enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) research and used bibliometric analysis to quantitatively and qualitatively predict research hotspots through extracting relevant publications from the core collection of the Web of Science database.

[Hsa_circ_0006948 regulates the proliferation, migration and invasion in osteosarcoma by regulation of the expression of miR-490-3p target ATG7]

Objective: To investigate the effect of hsa_circ_0006948 (circ_0006948) on the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and the underlying mechanism. Methods: A total of 120 osteosarcoma tissues and 40 adjacent normal tissue samples were collected from patients admitted to the First People's Hospital of Shangqiu City from 2009 to 2015. Microarray analysis was performed to detect the differential expressions of circRNA in Saos-2 cell. The mRNA expressions of circ_0006948, microRNA (miR)-490-3p and autophagy-related protein 7 (ATG7) in osteosarcoma cells, NHOst cells, osteosarcoma tissues and adjacent tissues were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell clone formation assay was used to detect cell proliferation ability, Transwell assay was used to detect cell invasion ability, and cell scratch assay was used to detect cell migration ability. The interactions between circ_0006948 and miR-490-3p, miR-490-3p and ATG7 were detected by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The correlation between miR-490-3p and ATG7 was analyzed by TargetScan database, and the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in cells were detected by western blot. Results: The mRNA expression levels of circ_0006948, miR-490-3p and ATG7 in SAOS-2 cells were significantly different from NHOst cells (P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of circ_0006948, miR-490-3p and ATG7 in osteosarcoma tissues were significantly different from adjacent tissues (P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in circ_0006948-siRNA group were (32.78±1.76), (37.58±1.82) and (36.93±1.45)%, respectively, lower than (65.72±1.45), (78.63±1.93) and (65.32±1.74)% in the siRNA NC group (all P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in the miR-490-3p mimics group were (20.08±1.54), (30.24±1.78) and (21.15±1.68)%, respectively, lower than (60.36±1.83), (76.93±1.64) and (40.56±1.27)% in the mimics NC group (all P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in the miR-490-3p inhibitor+ siRNA NC group were (90.34±1.72), (120.89±2.34) and (70.83±1.93)%, respectively, higher than (61.27±1.73), (75.82±1.82) and (42.38±1.74)% in the inhibitor NC+ siRNA NC group (P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in the circ_0006948 siRNA+ miR-490-3p inhibitor group were (58.74±1.98), (73.46±1.04) and (40.35±1.72)%, respectively, lower than (90.34±1.72), (120.89±2.34) and (70.83±1.93)% in the miR-490-3p inhibitor+ siRNA NC group (P<0.01). The numbers of cell clone, migration and mobility in the ATG7 siRNA group were (20.56±1.87), (40.36±1.76) and (20.96±1.73)%, lower than (65.46±1.74), (90.87±2.32) and (40.87±2.03)% in the siRNA NC group (P<0.01). The absorbance of miR-490-3p mimics+ pcDNA-ATG7 group was 0.54±0.11, higher than (0.36±0.08) of miR-490-3p mimics group (P<0.05). The expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 protein in Saos-2 cells of miR-490-3p mimics group were significantly different from mimics NC group (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 in Saos-2 cells of miR-490-3p mimics + pcDNA-ATG7 group were significantly different from miR-490-3p mimics group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Circ_0006948 regulates ATG7 expression through miR-490-3p, therefore regulates the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells.

lncRNA NEAT1 ameliorates LPS‑induced inflammation in MG63 cells by activating autophagy and suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome

The mechanisms of inflammation in bone and joint tissue are complex and involve long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which play an important role in this process. The aim of the present study was to screen out differentially expressed genes in human osteoblasts stimulated by inflammation, and to further explore the mechanisms underlying inflammatory responses and the functional activity of human osteoblasts through bioinformatics methods and in vitro experiments. For this purpose, MG63 cells were stimulated with various concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for different periods of time to construct an optimal inflammatory model and RNA sequencing was then performed on these cells. The levels of nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), various inflammatory factors, Nod‑like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) protein and osteogenesis‑related proteins, as well as the levels of cell apoptosis‑ and cell cycle‑related markers were measured in MG63 cells stimulated with LPS, transfected with NEAT1 overexpression plasmid and treated with bexarotene by western blot analysis, RT‑qPCR, immunofluorescence, FISH, TEM and flow cytometry. There were 427 differentially expressed genes in the LPS‑stimulated MG63 cells, in which NEAT1 was significantly downregulated. LPS upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and NLRP3, inhibited the expression of autophagy‑related and osteogenesis‑related proteins, promoted apoptosis and altered the cell cycle, which was partially inhibited by NEAT1 overexpression and promoted by bexarotene. LPS stimulated inflammation in the MG63 cells and inhibited the retinoid X receptor (RXR)‑α to downregulate the expression of NEAT1 and decrease levels of autophagy, which promoted the activation of NLRP3 and the release of inflammatory factors, and impaired the functional activity of osteoblasts, thus promoting the development of inflammation.

N6-methyldeoxyadenine and histone methylation mediate transgenerational survival advantages induced by hormetic heat stress

Environmental stress can induce survival advantages that are passed down to multiple generations, representing an evolutionarily advantageous adaptation at the species level. Using the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, we found that heat shock experienced in either parent could increase the longevity of themselves and up to the fifth generation of descendants. Mechanistic analyses revealed that transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO, heat shock factor HSF-1, and nuclear receptor DAF-12/FXR functioned transgenerationally to implement the hormetic stress response. Histone H3K9me3 methyltransferases SET-25 and SET-32 and DNA N6-methyl methyltransferase DAMT-1 participated in transmitting high-temperature memory across generations. H3K9me3 and N6-methyladenine could mark heat stress response genes and promote their transcription in progeny to extend life span. We dissected the mechanisms responsible for implementing and transmitting environmental memories in descendants from heat-shocked parents and demonstrated that hormetic stress caused survival benefits could be transmitted to multiple generations through H3K9me3 and N6-mA modifications.

Value of serum collagen triple helix repeat containing-1(CTHRC1) and 14-3-3η protein compared to anti-CCP antibodies and anti-MCV antibodies in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

INTRODUCTION

Serological markers are important in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other connective tissues diseases This study explored the clinical value of collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1) and 14-3-3η protein, compared to routine markers, in the diagnosis of RA.

METHODS

We recruited 103 RA patients, 105 non-RA patients (osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus) and 59 healthy controls. CTHRC1, 14-3-3η, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP), anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibody (anti-MCV), rheumatoid factor and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels were measured, and their diagnostic value for RA evaluated and compared.

RESULTS

All laboratory indices were elevated in RA (P < 0.05). Of these, anti-MCV had the highest sensitivity (86.4%) and anti-CCP the highest specificity (94.5%). The areas under the curve (AUC) of CTHRC1, 14-3-3η, anti-CCP, anti-MCV, rheumatoid factor and ESR were 0.84, 0.81, 0.89, 0.91, 0.85 and 0.77 respectively (all P < 0.01). Anti-CCP and anti-MCV were the most valuable in the diagnosis of RA. The combination of anti-CCP and anti-MCV had the maximum Youden index, followed by the combination of anti-CCP and 14-3-3η. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that 14-3-3η had the largest odds ratio value (95% CI) at 5.1 (2.1-12.5) for RA.

CONCLUSION

CTHRC1 and 14-3-3η are promising serological indicators of RA, and when combined with anti-CCP, anti-MCV and ESR, can improve the diagnosis of this disease.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression in an Immune Microenvironment

Increasing evidence has revealed a significant association between microorganisms and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Porphyromonas gingivalis, the keystone pathogen in chronic periodontitis, is considered an important potential etiologic agent of OSCC, but the underlying immune mechanisms through which P. gingivalis mediates tumor progression of the oral cancer remain poorly understood. Our cohort study showed that the localization of P. gingivalis in tumor tissues was related to poor survival of patients with OSCC. Moreover, P. gingivalis infection increased oral lesion multiplicity and size and promoted tumor progression in a 4-nitroquinoline-1 oxide (4NQO)–induced carcinogenesis mouse model by invading the oral lesions. In addition, CD11b+ myeloid cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) showed increased infiltration of oral lesions. Furthermore, in vitro observations showed that MDSCs accumulated when human-derived dysplastic oral keratinocytes (DOKs) were exposed to P. gingivalis, and CXCL2, CCL2, interleukin (IL)–6, and IL-8 may be potential candidate genes that facilitate the recruitment of MDSCs. Taken together, our findings suggest that P. gingivalis promotes tumor progression by generating a cancer-promoting microenvironment, indicating a close relationship among P. gingivalis, tumor progression of the oral cancer, and immune responses.

Demonstration of Controlled-Phase Gates between Two Error-Correctable Photonic Qubits

To realize fault-tolerant quantum computing, it is necessary to store quantum information in logical qubits with error correction functions, realized by distributing a logical state among multiple physical qubits or by encoding it in the Hilbert space of a high-dimensional system. Quantum gate operations between these error-correctable logical qubits, which are essential for implementation of any practical quantum computational task, have not been experimentally demonstrated yet. Here we demonstrate a geometric method for realizing controlled-phase gates between two logical qubits encoded in photonic fields stored in cavities. The gates are realized by dispersively coupling an ancillary superconducting qubit to these cavities and driving it to make a cyclic evolution depending on the joint photonic state of the cavities, which produces a conditional geometric phase. We first realize phase gates for photonic qubits with the logical basis states encoded in two quasiorthogonal coherent states, which have important implications for continuous-variable-based quantum computation. Then we use this geometric method to implement a controlled-phase gate between two binomially encoded logical qubits, which have an error-correctable function.

Multifunctional nanocomposites MGO/FU-MI inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and enhance the effect of chemoradiotherapy in vivo and in vitro

PURPOSE

The limitation of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer and the rise of the application of nanomaterials in the field of biomedicine have promoted the application of various nanomaterials in the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer. To improve the efficiency of cancer treatment, the multifunctional nanocomposites MGO/FU-MI (MGO/FU-MI NCs) were used for combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy to verify its effectiveness in treating tumors.

METHODS

The proliferation activity of MGO/FU-MI NCs on MC-38 and B16 cells was detected by CCK-8, and the level of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species were detected by flow cytometry. To verify its efficacy in the combination of chemoradiotherapy, different treatment regimens were developed for several groups of tumor-bearing mice.

RESULTS

The MGO/FU-MI NCs can induce apoptosis, stimulate ROS production, and inhibit cell proliferation. In vivo experiments, when MGO/FU-MI NCs are used alone for chemotherapy, have a certain therapeutic effect on mouse tumors. When MGO/FU-MI NCs are combined with radiation, the tumor volume can be significantly reduced and the survival time of mice is significantly prolonged.

CONCLUSION

The MGO/FU-MI NCs are very effective in the treatment of tumors when combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and have the potential to be a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

[Spatio-temporal distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails along the Danyang section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the spatio-temporal characteristics of Oncomelania hupensis snails along the Danyang section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal, so as to provide scientific evidence for the dynamic assessment of the risk of snail spread in this region.

METHODS

O. hupensis snail status was collected in the plain regions with waterway networks in the study area from 2012 to 2017. The spatio-temporal variations of snail distribution were investigated along the Danyang section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal using buffer zone analysis, spatial autocorrelation, hotspot analysis and standard deviational ellipse with the geographical information system (GIS) tools.

RESULTS

The number of snail habitats showed a tendency towards a rise in the study area from 2012 to 2017, and snail habitats were predominantly distributed in the 1 000 m long buffer zone of the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal, notably along the Jiuqu River at the junction between the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal. The distribution of snail habitats appeared spatial autocorrelations in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and the hotspot areas were mainly identified at the junction between the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. In addition, the overall distribution of snail habitats was located in the northeastern-southwestern part of the study aera, and gradually shifted to the southern and northern parts with the time.

CONCLUSIONS

The spatial distribution of O. hupensis snails is complex along the Danyang section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal, and there is a risk of snail spread from the upper reaches to the lower reaches, where snail control needs to be intensified.

Genetic variants in the folate metabolic pathway genes predict cutaneous melanoma-specific survival

BACKGROUND

Folate metabolism plays an important role in DNA methylation and nucleic acid synthesis and thus may function as a regulatory factor in cancer development. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with cutaneous melanoma-specific survival (CMSS), but no SNPs were found in genes involved in the folate metabolic pathway.

OBJECTIVES

To examine associations between SNPs in folate metabolic pathway genes and CMSS.

METHODS

We comprehensively evaluated 2645 (422 genotyped and 2223 imputed) common SNPs in folate metabolic pathway genes from a published GWAS of 858 patients from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and performed the validation in another GWAS of 409 patients from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, in which 95/858 (11·1%) and 48/409 (11·7%) patients died of cutaneous melanoma, respectively.

RESULTS

We identified two independent SNPs (MTHFD1 rs1950902 G>A and ALPL rs10917006 C>T) to be associated with CMSS in both datasets, and their meta-analysis yielded an allelic hazards ratio of 1·75 (95% confidence interval 1·32-2·32, P = 9·96 × 10^-5 ) and 2·05 (1·39-3·01, P = 2·84 × 10^-4 ), respectively. The genotype-phenotype correlation analyses provided additional support for the biological plausibility of these two variants' roles in tumour progression, suggesting that variation in SNP-related mRNA expression levels is likely to be the mechanism underlying the observed associations with CMSS.

CONCLUSIONS

Two possibly functional genetic variants, MTHFD1 rs1950902 and ALPL rs10917006, were likely to be independently or jointly associated with CMSS, which may add to personalized treatment in the future, once further validated. What is already known about this topic? Existing data show that survival rates vary among patients with melanoma with similar clinical characteristics; therefore, it is necessary to identify additional complementary biomarkers for melanoma-specific prognosis. A hypothesis-driven approach, by pooling the effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a specific biological pathway as genetic risk scores, may provide a prognostic utility, and genetic variants of genes in folate metabolism have been reported to be associated with cancer risk. What does this study add? Two genetic variants in the folate metabolic pathway genes, MTHFD1 rs1950902 and ALPL rs10917006, are significantly associated with cutaneous melanoma-specific survival (CMSS). What is the translational message? The identification of genetic variants will make a risk-prediction model possible for CMSS. The SNPs in the folate metabolic pathway genes, once validated in larger studies, may be useful in the personalized management and treatment of patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Uric acid induces stress resistance and extends the life span through activating the stress response factor DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/NRF2

Uric acid is a common metabolite found in mammals’ serum. Recently, several metabolites have been identified that modulate aging, and uric acid levels are positively correlated with mammals’ lifespan. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this are largely undefined. Here we show that uric acid, an end product of purine metabolism, enhances the resistance of oxidative stress and extends the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). We show that uric acid enhances a variety of pathways and leads to the upregulation of genes that are required for uric acid-mediated life span extension. We find that the transcription factors DAF-16/FOXO, SKN-1/NRF2 and HSF-1 contribute to the beneficial longevity conferred by uric acid. We also show that uric acid induced life span extension by regulating the reproductive signaling and insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathways. In addition, we find that mitochondrial function plays an important role in uric acid-mediated life span extension. Taken together, these data suggest that uric acid prolongs the life span of C. elegans, in part, because of its antioxidative activity, which in turn regulates the IIS and the reproductive signaling pathways, thereby activating the function of the transcription factors DAF-16, HSF-1 and SKN-1.

Hypotaurine promotes longevity and stress tolerance via the stress response factors DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/NRF2 in Caenorhabditis elegans

Hypotaurine, an important sulfur-containing and nonpeptidic amino acid, is a precursor of taurine and an antioxidant.

[Expression of RAGE in asthmatic rats and the intervention of Roxithromycin]

Objective: To observe the expression of the Receptor of Advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in asthmatic rats, and explore the intervention of Roxithromycin. Methods: A total of 18 Specific Pathogen Free-class Brown Norway male rats were randomly divided into control group, asthma model group and Roxithromycin group, with 6 rats in each group. The asthmatic model was sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of Ovalbumin (OVA)+Al(OH)(3), and challenged with OVA. Rats in Roxithromycin group were given Roxithromycin 30 mg/kg 30 minutes before each challenge. Rats in control group and asthma model group were treated with equal volume of saline. The concentrations of RAGE and interleukin (IL)-4 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA); the pathological changes of lung tissues were observed by HE-staining; the thickness of airway wall and airway smooth muscle were measured by Image-Pro Plus; the relative expression of RAGE in lung tissues were detected by Western blot. Results: In asthma model group, the concentrations of RAGE and IL-4 in the serum and BALF were obviously higher than those in control group [(494±32) vs (327±45) ng/L; (32.4±5.8) vs (13.1±2.9) ng/L; (553±38) vs (399±56) ng/L; (37.8±3.4) vs (19.4±2.5) ng/L] (all P<0.01); in Roxithromycin group, the concentrations of RAGE and IL-4 in the serum and BALF were obviously lower than those in asthma model group [(438±18) vs (494±32) ng/L; (22.8±6.0) vs (32.4±5.8) ng/L; (444±42) vs (553±38) ng/L; (25.6±4.5) vs (37.8±3.4) ng/L] (all P<0.05). In asthma model group, the bronchial wall was thickened, the lumen was narrow, the mucosal wrinkles were significantly increased, edema appeared under the mucosa, and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated and aggregated in the bronchi, perivascular and alveolar spaces; the thickness of airway wall and airway smooth muscle were significantly increased than those in control group (P<0.01); in Roxithromycin group, airway inflammation and remodeling were alleviated compared with those in asthma model group (P<0.05). In asthma model group, the expression of RAGE in lung tissues were significantly increased than those in control group (P<0.01); in Roxithromycin group, the expression of RAGE were significantly decreased than those in asthma model group (P<0.01). There were positive correlations between the expression of RAGE and IL-4 in BALF and serum (r=0.782, 0.804, all P<0.01); there were positive correlations between RAGE and total white cell counts, eosinophil counts, smooth muscle thickness (r=0.897, 0.927, 0.860, all P<0.01). Conclusions: The increasing of RAGE in asthmatic rats are positively correlated with airway inflammation and airway remodeling. Roxithromycin may inhibit the development of asthma by reducing the expression of RAGE.

Periodontal ligament fibroblasts regulate osteoblasts by exosome secretion induced by inflammatory stimuli

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the role of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs)-derived exosomes in periodontitis progression and discovered whether hPDLFs influence bone remodeling activity via exosome secretion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Exosomes were isolated and quantified from Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated primary hPDLFs and evaluated by western blotting, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. GW4869 was used to block exosome secretion in conditioned medium (CM). hPDLFs-derived CM, CM containing GW4869 (CM + GW4869) and exosomes were used to stimulate MG-63 cell lines. The expression levels of proinflammatory mediators, osteogenic genes, and osteoclastogenesis-related genes were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blotting, and alkaline phosphatase staining.

RESULTS

Exosome-enriched protein and total exosomal protein levels were higher in the LPS-treated group than in the vehicle controls. hPDLFs-derived exosomes were incorporated into MG-63 osteoblasts and slightly upregulated the expression of Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. CM and exosomes inhibited alkaline phosphatase, Collagen-I, Runt-related transcription factor 2, and Osteoprotegerin expression as well as ALP activity, and blocking exosome secretion by GW4869 eliminated the inhibitory effects.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that LPS-pretreated hPDLFs induce inflammation and inhibit osteogenic activity of osteoblasts through secreting exosomes. This study provides a potential mechanism by which localized periodontal inflammation may influence bone remodeling by release exosomes.

Genomewide analysis of 6-methyladenine DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of systemic lupus erythematosus

Aim

The aim of this paper is to explore the expression of 6-methyladenine (6mA) DNA and to elucidate its gene regulation role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Twenty SLE patients and 20 normal control healthy individuals (HCs) were included in this study. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and subsequently underwent 6mA-immunoprecipitation-sequencing (6mA-IP-Seq) after DNA quality control and 6mA precipitation. Bioinformation analysis was applied to the raw data comparing 6mA levels between SLE patients and HCs.

Results

We identified 5462 hypermethylation and 431 hypomethylation genes in PBMCs of individuals with SLE, which indicated that a high level of 6mA participates in the pathogenesis of SLE. Gene ontology analysis revealed that hypermethylation genes might regulate the inflammatory process, which has been well documented in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Conclusion

6mA may be involved in the initial development of SLE, which may lead to its potential use as an early diagnostic marker and therapeutic target.

Risk factors of postoperative complications after emergency repair of incarcerated groin hernia for adult patients: a retrospective cohort study

Purpose

This study aimed to explore risk factors of postoperative complications for adult patients with incarcerated groin hernia (IGH).

Methods

From January 2010 to December 2017, consecutive patients undergoing emergency hernia repair for IGH in our center were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative complications, such as surgical site infection, seroma, hernia recurrence and mortality, were investigated, with risk factors for such complications analyzed using univariate and multivariate regressions.

Results

Sixty-four patients were included, with 51 males and 13 females (mean age 65.1, range 25–98 years). Ten patients (15.6%) underwent resection of necrotic bowel and anastomosis. 43 patients (67.2%) received open tension-free herniorrhaphy with polypropylene mesh, whereas the rest (32.8%) received herniorrhaphy without mesh. The overall postoperative complication rate was 40.6% (26/64), with an incisional complication rate of 31.2% (20/64) and an infection rate of 6.2% (4/64). At a median follow-up of 32 months, hernia recurrence and mortality were recorded in five cases each (7.8%). Mesh repair was associated with decreased recurrence rate compared with non-mesh repair (2.3% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.019). Diabetes mellitus (OR 8.611, 95%CI 1.292–57.405; p = 0.026) was an independent risk factor of postoperative complications, together with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; OR 14.365, 95%CI 1.652–127.767, p = 0.016), intestinal necrosis (OR 14.260, 95%CI 1.079–188.460, p = 0.044), and general anesthesia (OR 14.543, 95%CI 1.682–125.711, p = 0.015) as risk for incisional complications after surgery.

Conclusions

Diabetes mellitus was an independent risk factor of postoperative complications for IGH, along with COPD, intestinal necrosis and general anesthesia associated with incisional complications. The use of polypropylene mesh did not increase infection or recurrence rate in this cohort.