Exploring the pathogenesis of chronic atrophic gastritis with atherosclerosis via microarray data analysis

Although several studies have reported a link between chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and atherosclerosis, the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms common to both diseases from a bioinformatics perspective. Gene expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Data on atherosclerosis and CAG were downloaded from the GSE28829 and GSE60662 datasets, respectively. We identified the differentially expressed genes co-expressed in CAG and atherosclerosis before subsequent analyses. We constructed and identified the hub genes and performed functional annotation. Finally, the transcription factor (TF)-target genes regulatory network was constructed. In addition, we validated core genes and certain TFs. We identified 116 common differentially expressed genes after analyzing the 2 datasets (GSE60662 and GSE28829). Functional analysis highlighted the significant contribution of immune responses and the positive regulation of tumor necrosis factor production and T cells. In addition, phagosomes, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and cell adhesion molecules strongly correlated with both diseases. Furthermore, 16 essential hub genes were selected with cytoHubba, including PTPRC, TYROBP, ITGB2, LCP2, ITGAM, FCGR3A, CSF1R, IRF8, C1QB, TLR2, IL10RA, ITGAX, CYBB, LAPTM5, CD53, CCL4, and LY86. Finally, we searched for key gene-related TFs, especially SPI1. Our findings reveal a shared pathogenesis between CAG and atherosclerosis. Such joint pathways and hub genes provide new insights for further studies.

Interleukin‑22 alleviates arginine‑induced pancreatic acinar cell injury via the regulation of intracellular vesicle transport system: Evidence from proteomic analysis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe inflammatory condition characterized by the activation of pancreatic enzymes within acinar cells, leading to tissue damage and inflammation. Interleukin (IL)-22 is a potential therapeutic agent for AP owing to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to promote tissue repair. The present study evaluated the differentially expressed proteins in arginine-induced pancreatic acinar cell injury following treatment with IL-22, and the possible mechanisms involved in IL-22-mediated alleviation of AP. AR42J cells were stimulated using L-arginine to establish an acinar cell injury model in vitro and the damaged cells were subsequently treated with IL-22. The characteristics of the model and the potential therapeutic effects of IL-22 were examined by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, TUNEL assay, transmission electron microscopy and ELISA. Differentially expressed proteins in cells induced by arginine and treated with IL-22 were assessed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The identified proteins were further subjected to Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis to elucidate their functional roles. The present study demonstrated that arginine-stimulated cells showed significant pathological changes resembling those in AP, which were alleviated after IL-22 treatment. Proteomic analysis then demonstrated that in IL-22-treated cells, proteins related to the formation and fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes were significantly downregulated, whereas endocytosis related proteins were enriched in the upregulated proteins. After IL-22 treatment, western blotting demonstrated reduced expression of autophagy-associated proteins. In conclusion, by inhibiting the formation and fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes, IL-22 may have mitigated premature trypsinogen activation, subsequently minimizing acinar cell injury induced by L-arginine. This was accompanied by concurrent upregulation of endocytosis, which serves a pivotal role in sustaining regular cellular material transport and signal propagation. This research underscored the potential of IL-22 in mitigating arginine-induced AR42J injury, which could be valuable in refining treatment strategies for AP.

Therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of endoscopic submucosal injection of mesenchymal stem cells on chronic atrophic gastritis

Previous studies have demonstrated the rejuvenating and restorative actions of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in multiple diseases, but their role in reversing chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is not well understood owing to their low efficiency in homing to the stomach. In this work, we investigated the therapeutic effect of umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) on CAG by endoscopic submucosal injection and preliminarily explored possible mechanisms in vitro. MSCs and normal saline (NS) were injected into the submucosa of the stomach in randomly grouped CAG rabbits. Therapeutic effects on serum indices and histopathology of the gastric mucosa were analyzed in vivo at 30 and 60 days after MSCs injection. GES-1 cells were co-cultured with MSCs in vitro using a Transwell system and cell viability, proliferation, and migration ability were detected. Additionally, in view of the potential mechanisms, the relative protein expression levels of apoptosis, autophagy and inflammation in vitro were explored by Western Blotting. We found that submucosal injection of MSCs up-regulated serum indices (G-17, PGI and PGI/PGII) and alleviated histopathological damage to the gastric mucosa in CAG rabbits. Co-culture of GES-1 cells with MSCs improved cell viability, proliferation, and migration ability, while suppressing apoptosis. We also observed a reduction in the expression of apoptosis indicators, including Bax and cleaved caspase-3, in GES-1 cells after co-culture with MSCs in vitro. Our findings suggest that submucosal injection of MSCs is a promising approach for reversing CAG, and attenuating apoptosis plays a potential role in this process.

Global taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of bees in apple orchards

An essential prerequisite to safeguard pollinator species is characterisation of the multifaceted diversity of crop pollinators and identification of the drivers of pollinator community changes across biogeographical gradients. The extent to which intensive agriculture is associated with the homogenisation of biological communities at large spatial scales remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated diversity drivers for 644 bee species/morphospecies in 177 commercial apple orchards across 33 countries and four global biogeographical biomes. Our findings reveal significant taxonomic dissimilarity among biogeographical zones. Interestingly, despite this dissimilarity, species from different zones share similar higher-level phylogenetic groups and similar ecological and behavioural traits (i.e. functional traits), likely due to habitat filtering caused by perennial monoculture systems managed intensively for crop production. Honey bee species dominated orchard communities, while other managed/manageable and wild species were collected in lower numbers. Moreover, the presence of herbaceous, uncultivated open areas and organic management practices were associated with increased wild bee diversity. Overall, our study sheds light on the importance of large-scale analyses contributing to the emerging fields of functional and phylogenetic diversity, which can be related to ecosystem function to promote biodiversity as a key asset in agroecosystems in the face of global change pressures.

Microwave ablation versus laparoscopic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension: a propensity score-matched study of postoperative liver decompensation

OBJECTIVES

The study of postoperative liver decompensation after microwave ablation (MWA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) is still lacking. The purpose of the present study was to compare the postoperative liver decompensation after MWA and laparoscopic resection (LR) for HCC in patients with CSPH.

METHODS

The present retrospective study enrolled 222 HCC patients with CSPH who underwent MWA (n = 67) or LR (n = 155). Postoperative liver decompensation, complications, postoperative hospital stays, and overall survival were analyzed. Factors associated with postoperative liver decompensation were identified.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, the postoperative liver decompensation rate was significantly lower in the MWA group than that in the LR group (15.5% versus 32.8%, p = 0.030). The multivariable regression analysis identified that type of treatment (MWA vs. LR, odds ratio [OR] 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-0.91; p = 0.026) and Child-Pugh B (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.24-6.61; p = 0.014) were independent predictors for postoperative liver decompensation. The rate of complications for patients in the MWA group was significantly lower than that in the LR group (p < 0.001). And MWA showed shorter postoperative hospital stays than LR (3 days vs. 6 days, p < 0.001). Overall survival rate between the two groups was not significantly different (p = 0.163).

CONCLUSION

Compared with laparoscopic resection, microwave ablation has a lower rate of postoperative liver decompensation and might be a better option for HCC patients with CSPH.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

Microwave ablation exhibited a lower incidence of postoperative liver decompensation in comparison to laparoscopic resection, thereby conferring greater advantages to hepatocellular carcinoma patients with clinically significant portal hypertension.

KEY POINTS

•Postoperative liver decompensation rate after microwave ablation was lower than that of laparoscopic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension. •Microwave ablation showed shorter postoperative hospital stays than laparoscopic resection. •Microwave ablation had fewer complications than laparoscopic resection.

Second near-infrared photoactivatable biocompatible polymer nanoparticles for effective in vitro and in vivo cancer theranostics

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI)-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) has drawn considerable attention due to the deeper tissue penetration and higher maximum permissible exposure. However, current phototheranostic agents are greatly restricted by weak absorption in the second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) window, long-term toxicity, and poor photostability. In this report, novel organic NIR-II conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) based on narrow bandgap donor-acceptor BDT-TBZ polymers were developed for effective cancer PAI and PTT. Characterization data confirmed the high photothermal conversion efficiency, good photostability, excellent PAI performance, and superior biocompatibility of as-obtained CPNs. In addition, in vitro and in vivo tests demonstrated the efficient PTT effect of CPNs in ablating cancer cells and inhibiting tumor growth under 1064 nm laser irradiation. More importantly, the CPNs exhibited rapid clearance capability through the biliary pathway and negligible systematic toxicity. Thus, this work provides a novel organic theranostic nanoplatform for NIR-II PAI-guided PTT, which advances the future clinical translation of biocompatible and metabolizable conjugated nanomaterials in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Reversible Ratiometric NADH Sensing Using Semiconducting Polymer Dots

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is a key coenzyme in living cells due to its role as an electron carrier in redox reactions, and its concentration is an important indicator of cell metabolic state. Abnormal NADH levels are associated with age-related metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, creating a demand for a simple, rapid analytical method for point-of-care NADH sensing. Here we develop a series of NADH-sensitive semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) as nanoprobes for NADH measurement, and test their performance in vitro and in vivo. NADH sensing is based on electron transfer from semiconducting polymer chains in the Pdot to NADH upon UV excitation, quenching Pdot fluorescence emission. In polyfluorene-based Pdots, this mechanism resulted in an on-off NADH sensor; in DPA-CNPPV Pdots, UV excitation resulted in NADH-sensitive emission at two wavelengths, enabling ratiometric detection. Ratiometric NADH detection using DPA-CNPPV Pdots exhibits high sensitivity (3.1 μM limit of detection), excellent selectivity versus other analytes, reversibility, and a fast response (less than 5 s). We demonstrate applications of the ratiometric NADH-sensing Pdots including smartphone-based NADH imaging for point-of-care use.

Advances in tumor markers of ovarian cancer for early diagnosis

Ovarian cancer often occurs in perimenopausal women. The mortality of ovarian cancer is in the first place among gynecological cancers because of no obvious early symptoms and the lack of effective diagnostic approach. Gene chips, proteomics, immunohistochemistry and other methods have become hot topics for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. However, due to the variety of pathology and not clear enough of mechanism and etiology, there is still no ideal tumor markers with both high specific and sensitivity, which can be applied into clinical early diagnosis for ovarian cancer. Therefore, a new systematic method with high sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer and new tumor markers need to be identified. We should make an examination of ovarian cancer in the early period in the crowd for early diagnosis and early treatment to further improve life quality of patients. This paper reviewed the recent advancements of tumor markers for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

S100 protein in breast tumor

S100 protein is the largest subtribe in calcium binding protein family. According to recent researches, abnormal expression of S100 protein is often related to tumor, including breast tumor. Breast tumor is the most common malignant disease in female with high mortality mainly due to metastasis. Estimating early diagnostic and prognostic markers are helpful to conduct treatment for patients with breast cancer. Accumulating investigations focused on the role of S100 proteins in breast tumor development and metastasis. This paper summarizes the expression situation of S100 proteins in breast tumor as well as its effects on metastasis and prognosis of breast tumor.

First Report of Leaf Spot Disease on Dictamnus dasycarpus Caused by Phoma dictamnicola in China

Fraxinella, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz (Rutaceae), is a perennial herbal plant and mainly distributed in Eurasia and North America. It is often used to treat jaundice, cough, rheumatism, and other diseases and is extensively cultivated in the northeast and northwest of China (3). In June 2009, a severe foliar disease was observed on D. dasycarpus in medicinal plantations in Antu, China. The disease occurred on 100% of the plants and at least 25% of the surface was affected. In the early stages of disease development, symptoms were visible on the top and bottom of infected leaves as small brown spots. Subsequently, these spots became elliptical to irregularly shaped, with beige or grayish white centers and dark brown margins. Within the spots, numerous, dark brown or black, subglobose or ostiolate pycnidia measuring 152 to 367 μm in diameter were observed. Fungal isolates were obtained from the infected leaves on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, with conidia that were aseptate or one-septate and ellipsoidal or reniform, measuring approximately 4.7 to 12.6 × 2.1 to 4.5 μm. On the basis of these characteristics, the fungus was identified as a Phoma sp. Four well-sporulating isolates, designated as DdPh-1, DdPh-2, DdPh-3, and DdPh-4, were selected for further studies. The morphological and cultural characteristics of these four isolates were studied as described by Boerema et al. and the fungus was identified as Phoma dictamnicola Boerema et al. (1). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear rDNA was amplified and sequenced using primers ITS4/ITS5 (2). All four of the ITS sequences were identical (GenBank Accession No. FR681861) and were 99% identical to P. dictamnicola strains CBS507.91 (Accession No. GU237877) and KACC42445 (Accession No. EF600960). Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying the leaves of healthy D. dasycarpus plants with a conidial suspension (1 × 10⁶ conidia/ml). Five plants were inoculated with each isolate (DdPh-1, DdPh-2, DdPh-3, and DdPh-4) and five plants were mock inoculated with sterile water. The plants were covered with plastic bags and kept in a greenhouse at 20 to 25° for 72 h. After 9 to 13 days, all inoculated plants showed characteristic symptoms as previously described, while the control plants remained healthy. The fungus was reisolated from the leaf spots of inoculated plants. Currently, the economic importance of this disease is limited, but it may become a more significant problem in production of D. dasycarpus with the cultivation area increasing. The fungus was found in the Netherlands and Korea, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of P. dictamnicola on D. dasycarpus in China. References: (1) G. H. Boerema et al. Phoma Identificatión Manual: Differentiation of Specific and Infra-Specific Taxa in Culture. CABI Publishing. Wallingford, U.K., 2004. (2) D. E. L. Cooke et al. Mycol. Res. 101:667, 1997. (3) S. S. Jiang et al. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 72:660, 2008.