Prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio for predicting mortality in adult patients meeting sepsis-3 criteria in intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Patients with sepsis with low albumin levels and high red blood cell distribution width levels have poor prognoses. Red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio (RAR) has recently attracted attention as an innovative inflammation biomarker. We aimed to explore the association between RAR and the prognosis of patients with sepsis. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 402 patients meeting the sepsis-3 standards admitted to Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital's intensive care units (ICUs) between January 2020 and December 2022. The relationship between RAR and mortality in patients with sepsis was examined using regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier analyses, and a receiver operating characteristic curve. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the results' robustness. RESULTS: RAR, when considered as a continuous variable, was a significant independent in-hospital mortality risk factor (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.383; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.164-1.645; P < 0.001). When considering RAR as a categorical variable, the ORs (95% CIs) of hospital mortality for quartile 2 (Q2), Q3, and Q4 compared with Q1 were 1.027 (0.413-2.551), 3.632 (1.579-8.354), and 4.175 (1.625-10.729), respectively, P < 0.001. Similar outcomes were observed for 28- and 90-day mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: RAR may indicate clinical prognosis for patients with sepsis in the ICU, potentially providing a low-cost, easily repeatable, and accessible biomarker for risk categorization for these patients.

The MuvB complex safeguards embryonic stem cell identity through regulation of the cell cycle machinery.

Increasing evidences indicate that unlimited capacity for self-renewal and pluripotency, two unique properties of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), are intrinsically linked to cell cycle control. However, the precise mechanisms coordinating cell fate decisions and cell cycle regulation remain to be fully explored. Here, using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, we show that in ESCs, deficiency of components of the cell cycle regulatory MuvB complex Lin54 or Lin52, but not Lin9 or Lin37, triggers G2/M arrest, loss of pluripotency, and spontaneous differentiation. Further dissection of these phenotypes demonstrated that this cell cycle arrest is accompanied by the gradual activation of mesoendodermal lineage-specifying genes. Strikingly, the abnormalities observed in Lin54-null ESCs were partially but significantly rescued by ectopic coexpression of genes encoding G2/M proteins Cyclin B1 and Cdk1. Thus, our study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which the MuvB complex determines cell fate through regulation of the cell cycle machinery.

Genome-wide association analyses identified novel susceptibility loci for pulmonary embolism among Han Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: A large proportion of pulmonary embolism (PE) heritability remains unexplained, particularly among the East Asian (EAS) population. Our study aims to expand the genetic architecture of PE and reveal more genetic determinants in Han Chinese. METHODS: We conducted the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of PE in Han Chinese, then performed the GWAS meta-analysis based on the discovery and replication stages. To validate the effect of the risk allele, qPCR and Western blotting experiments were used to investigate possible changes in gene expression. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to implicate pathogenic mechanisms, and a polygenic risk score (PRS) for PE risk prediction was generated. RESULTS: After meta-analysis of the discovery dataset (622 cases, 8853 controls) and replication dataset (646 cases, 8810 controls), GWAS identified 3 independent loci associated with PE, including the reported loci FGG rs2066865 (p-value = 3.81 × 10-14), ABO rs582094 (p-value = 1.16 × 10-10) and newly reported locus FABP2 rs1799883 (p-value = 7.59 × 10-17). Previously reported 10 variants were successfully replicated in our cohort. Functional experiments confirmed that FABP2-A163G(rs1799883) promoted the transcription and protein expression of FABP2. Meanwhile, MR analysis revealed that high LDL-C and TC levels were associated with an increased risk of PE. Individuals with the top 10% of PRS had over a fivefold increased risk for PE compared to the general population. CONCLUSIONS: We identified FABP2, related to the transport of long-chain fatty acids, contributing to the risk of PE and provided more evidence for the essential role of metabolic pathways in PE development.

Ambient fine particulate matter and allergic symptoms in the middle-aged and elderly population: results from the PIFCOPD study.

BACKGROUND: The associations between short- and long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and allergic symptoms in middle-aged and elderly populations remain unclear, particularly in China, where most cities have severe air pollution. METHODS: Participants (n = 10,142; age = 40-75 years) were recruited from ten regions in China from 2018 to 2021 for the Predictive Value of Inflammatory Biomarkers and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (PIFCOPD) study. Short-term (lag0 and lag0-7 day) and long-term (1-, 3- and 5-year) PM2.5 concentrations at residences were extracted from the air pollutant database known as Tracking Air Pollution (TAP) in China. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate associations for short- and long-term PM2.5 exposure concentrations and long-term exposure models were additionally adjusted for short-term deviations. RESULTS: A 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 on the day the allergic symptoms questionnaire was administered (lag0 day) was associated with higher odds of allergic nasal (1.09, 95% CI 1.05, 1.12) and eye symptoms (1.08, 95% CI 1.05, 1.11), worsening dyspnea caused by allergens (1.06, 95% CI 1.02, 1.10), and ≥ 2 allergic symptoms (1.07, 95% CI 1.03, 1.11), which was similar in the lag0-7 day concentrations. A 10 µg/m3 increase in the 1-year average PM2.5 concentration was associated with an increase of 23% for allergic nasal symptoms, 22% for eye symptoms, 20% for worsening dyspnea caused by allergens, and 21% for ≥ 2 allergic symptoms, similar to the 3- and 5-year average PM2.5 concentrations. These associations between long-term PM2.5 concentration and allergic symptoms were generally unchanged after adjustment for short-term deviations. CONCLUSIONS: Short- and long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of allergic nasal and eye symptoms, worsening dyspnea caused by allergens, and ≥ 2 allergic symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial ID: NCT03532893 (29 Mar 2018).

SMC4 knockdown inhibits malignant biological behaviors of endometrial cancer cells by regulation of FoxO1 activity.

Structural maintenance of chromosomes 4 (SMC4) has an important role in chromosome condensation and segregation, which is involved in regulating multiple tumor development. However, the role of SMC4 in endometrial cancer is uncertain. The expression and prognostic value of SMC4 were predicted by UALCAN, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Human Protein Atlas and Kaplan Meier plotter tools. SMC4-related genes were analyzed by LinkedOmics, Gene Ontology (GO) annotations, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) activity was suppressed by AS1842856 (AS). SMC4, Ki67, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), FoxO1, phosphorylated FoxO1 (p-FoxO1), and p27 protein levels were detected by Western blotting. Cell proliferation was detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) analyses. Cell apoptosis was measured using TUNEL analysis. SMC4 abundance was increased in endometrial cancer, and predicted a worse overall survival. SMC4 knockdown repressed proliferative ability of endometrial cancer cells and promoted cell apoptosis. SMC4 knockdown promoted FoxO1 transactivation by decreasing its phosphorylated level. Addition of AS inhibited FoxO1 activity by increasing the phosphorylated level of FoxO1. The inhibition of FoxO1 activity reversed the effect of SMC4 silencing on cell proliferation and apoptosis. In conclusion, SMC4 silencing restrained cell proliferation and facilitated apoptosis in endometrial cancer via regulating FoxO1 activity.

Inhibition of NCAPG expression inactivates the Wnt/ß-catenin signal to suppresses endometrial cancer cell growth in vitro.

Endometrial cancer (EC) ranks as the most prevalent malignancy occurring in the female genital tract. Non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG), a mitotic associated chromosomal condensing protein, is reported to be frequently abnormally expressed in several tumors and plays a vital role in carcinogenesis. Our study aimed to explore the effect of NCAPG on cell proliferation and apoptosis in EC cells and to determine the underlying mechanism. Expression and survival data of NCAPG in EC tissues were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Cell proliferation was evaluated by EdU and CCK-8 assays. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry analysis. Expression of NCAPG, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki67, Bcl-2, Bax, active caspase-3, active ß-catenin, and c-Myc were determined by western blotting. NCAPG was highly expressed in EC tissues and cells and predicted poor survival for EC patients. NCAPG knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in EC cells. Additionally, NCAPG knockdown inactivated the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in EC cells. Mechanistically, ß-catenin overexpression blocked the tumorigenic effects of NCAPG in EC cells. In conclusion, NCAPG silencing inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in EC cells via inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

An effector caspase Sp-caspase first identified in mud crab Scylla paramamosain exhibiting immune response and cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis plays a key role in the immune defense against pathogen infection, and caspase is one of the most important protease enzyme families, which could initiate and execute apoptosis. Among crustaceans, several caspase genes have been reported. However, caspase in mud crab Scylla paramamosain, have not been identified yet. Here, in the present study, we characterized a new caspase, named as Sp-caspase, from S. paramamosain. The full-length cDNA sequence of Sp-caspase contained 966 bp open reading frame, encoding 322 amino acids, and its molecular weight was 36 kDa. This gene has three conserved domains of the caspase family, a prodomain, a large subunit P20 and a small subunit P10. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Sp-caspase was clustered into an effector caspase group. Sp-caspase mainly distributed in midgut, hepatopancreas, hemocytes and female ovaries, and the transcript was significantly regulated in different tissues after being challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus or LPS. After infection with V. alginolyticus, the apoptosis rate of hemocytes notably increased, while the mRNA level of Sp-caspase and hydrolysis activity of caspase 3/7 significantly decreased. Furthermore, in vitro assays showed that the recombinant protein tSp-caspase (deletion of Sp-caspase prodomain) could efficiently recognize and cleave human caspase 3/7 substrate Ac-DEVD-pNA, functioning as an effector caspase. Meanwhile, heterologous expression of Sp-caspase in several cell lines (HEK293T cells, HeLa cells and HighFive cells) could specifically induce cell apoptosis. Taken together, these data demonstrated that Sp-caspase could perform apoptosis as an effector caspase. In addition, it might be a negative regulator of hemocytes apoptosis under pathogen infection, which would contribute to homeostasis and immune defense of hemocytes in S. paramamosain.

Association of ABCB1 polymorphisms with lipid homeostasis and liver injury response to atorvastatin in the Chinese population.

The present research was to assess the relationship between ABCB1 (G2677T/A, C3435T) polymorphisms and lipid homeostasis as well as risk of liver injury induced by atorvastatin in in-patients from China. The lipid levels (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides) as well as metabolic enzymes of hepar (glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase) in plasma for 162 patients were measured at baseline and after approximately 6 months of atorvastatin treatment. Polymorphisms of the ABCB1 gene were determined using the Snapshot technique. The associations between genetic polymorphisms and lipid levels as well as hepar indexes were evaluated at the end of medical treatment. Based on one-way ANOVA analysis, patients with the 2677GG or 3435TT genotypes showed a remarkable decrease in percentage when the level of TC was above 4.00 mmol·L-1, separately (P < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in percentage in the frequency of patients with the 2677GG genotype (low-density lipoprotein > 2.00 mmol·L-1) (P < 0.05). The level of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase in patients with the 2677GG or 3435CC genotype displayed a significantly increase in percentage, respectively (P < 0.05). The ABCB1 G-C haplotype carriers were associated with an increased risk of AILI. The results provide evidence for clinically individualised utilisation of atorvastatin for lipid homeostasis as well as risk of induced liver injury in the Chinese population.

The clinical value of lncRNA MALAT1 and its targets miR-125b, miR-133, miR-146a, and miR-203 for predicting disease progression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to explore the correlations of long non-coding RNA MALAT1 (lncRNA MALAT1) and its targets microRNA (miR)-125b, miR-133, miR-146a, and miR-203 with acute exacerbation risk, inflammation, and disease severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Plasma samples were obtained from 120 acute exacerbation COPD (AECOPD) patients, 120 stable COPD patients, and 120 healthy controls (HCs). RT-qPCR was conducted to detect lncRNA MALAT1 expression and its target miRNAs, and ELISA was performed to detect the inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: LncRNA MALAT1 was highest in AECOPD patients followed by stable COPD patients and then HCs, which distinguished AECOPD patients from HCs (AUC: 0.969, 95% CI: 0.951-0.987) and stable COPD patients (AUC: 0.846, 95% CI: 0.798-0.894). Furthermore, lncRNA MALAT1 positively correlated with GOLD stage in both AECOPD and stable COPD patients. Regarding inflammatory cytokines, lncRNA MALAT1 positively correlated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and IL-23 in both AECOPD and stable COPD patients. Besides, lncRNA MALAT1 negatively correlated with miR-125b, miR-146a, and miR-203 in AECOPD patients and reversely correlated with miR-125b and miR-146a in stable COPD patients. Notably, miR-125b, miR-133, miR-146a, and miR-203 were the lowest in AECOPD patients, followed by stable COPD patients, and then HCs; miR-125b, miR-133, miR-146a, and miR-203 negatively correlated with inflammation and GOLD stage in AECOPD and stable COPD patients. CONCLUSION: LncRNA MALAT1 exhibits clinical implications in acute exacerbation risk prediction and management of COPD via the inner-correlation with its targets miR-125b, miR-146a, and miR-203.

A novel innexin2 forming membrane hemichannel exhibits immune responses and cell apoptosis in Scylla paramamosain.

Innexins are a class of transmembrane proteins that are important for embryonic development, morphogenesis and electrical synapse formation. In the present study, a novel innexin2 gene from Scylla paramamosain was named Sp-inx2 and characterized. The complete cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of Sp-inx2 were revealed. Sp-inx2 mRNA transcripts were distributed in various tissues of S. paramamosain and were most abundant in the hemocytes. The Sp-inx2 was significantly upregulated in hemocyte, gill and hepatopancreas tissues with the challenge of either Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus or lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) when analyzed at 3 and 6 h using quantitative real-time PCR, suggesting that it could activate an immune response against the challenge of LPSs or Vibrio species. Using the chemical inhibitors carbenoxolone and probenecid, the absorption of the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow decreased in the primary cultured hemocytes of crabs, thus confirming that hemichannels composed of Sp-inx2 existed in the crab hemocytes. With LPS stimulation, the level of mRNA transcripts and protein expression of Sp-inx2 in the same cultured hemocytes gradually increased from 6 to 48 h, while the activity of hemichannels was down-regulated at 6 and 12 h, demonstrating that LPSs could modulate the absorption activity of hemichannels in addition to its upregulation of Sp-inx2 gene expression. Furthermore, the dye uptake rate in HeLa cells in which Sp-inx2 was ectopically expressed increased dramatically but the increase was significantly down-regulated with the addition of 50 µg mL(-1) LPS, suggesting that the LPS stimulation could effectively reduce the activity of hemichannels. Interestingly, with the ectopic expression of Sp-inx2 in HeLa and EPC cells, apoptosis spontaneously occurred in both cultured cell lines when detected using TUNEL assay. In summary, a new Sp-inx2 gene was first characterized in a marine animal S. paramamosain and it had a function associated with immune response and cell apoptosis.

LGK974 suppresses the formation of deep vein thrombosis in mice with sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a disorder characterized by host inflammation and is caused by systemic infection. The inflammatory cytokine storm results in platelet overactivation, leading to coagulation dysfunction and thrombosis, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Recent evidence has shown that the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway is related to sepsis, but its role and mechanism in sepsis complicated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are unclear. METHODS: In this study, a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model and DVT mouse model were constructed by inferior vena cava ligation. The levels of serum inflammatory factors and adhesion molecules were measured in each group, and the thrombus weight and size, hematoxylin-eosin staining, collagen fiber tissue, and transcriptome of the venous wall were analyzed. The activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signal was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence methods. RESULTS: Sepsis significantly promoted the formation of venous wall collagen fibers and DVT. In addition, Porcn significantly upregulated and activated the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in sepsis mouse models with DVT. In contrast, the Wnt signaling inhibitor LGK974 was found to improve the survival rate, decrease thrombosis, and inhibit the expression of inflammation and adhesion molecules in sepsis mice with DVT. Therefore, activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signal may promote the formation of DVT in sepsis mice. CONCLUSIONS: LGK974 protects against DVT formation in sepsis mice by inhibiting the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signal and down-regulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines, PAI-1, and adhesion molecules. LGK974 may be a new candidate for the treatment of sepsis complicated with DVT.

FBXO7 ubiquitinates PRMT1 to suppress serine synthesis and tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cancer cells are often addicted to serine synthesis to support growth. How serine synthesis is regulated in cancer is not well understood. We recently demonstrated protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to methylate and activate phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), thereby promoting serine synthesis. However, the mechanisms underlying PRMT1 upregulation and regulation of PRMT1-PHGDH axis remain unclear. Here, we show the E3 ubiquitin ligase F-box-only protein 7 (FBXO7) inhibits serine synthesis in HCC by binding PRMT1, inducing lysine 37 ubiquitination, and promoting proteosomal degradation of PRMT1. FBXO7-mediated PRMT1 downregulation cripples PHGDH arginine methylation and activation, resulting in impaired serine synthesis, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibition of HCC cell growth. Notably, FBXO7 is significantly downregulated in human HCC tissues, and inversely associated with PRMT1 protein and PHGDH methylation level. Overall, our study provides mechanistic insights into the regulation of cancer serine synthesis by FBXO7-PRMT1-PHGDH axis, and will facilitate the development of serine-targeting strategies for cancer therapy.

Targeted degradation of NDUFS1 by agrimol B promotes mitochondrial ROS accumulation and cytotoxic autophagy arrest in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global public health problem with increased morbidity and mortality. Agrimol B, a natural polyphenol, has been proved to be a potential anticancer drug. Our recent report showed a favorable anticancer effect of agrimol B in HCC, however, the mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we found agrimol B inhibits the growth and proliferation of HCC cells in vitro as well as in an HCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Notably, agrimol B drives autophagy initiation and blocks autophagosome-lysosome fusion, resulting in autophagosome accumulation and autophagy arrest in HCC cells. Mechanistically, agrimol B downregulates the protein level of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit S1 (NDUFS1) through caspase 3-mediated degradation, leading to mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) accumulation and autophagy arrest. NDUFS1 overexpression partially restores mROS overproduction, autophagosome accumulation, and growth inhibition induced by agrimol B, suggesting a cytotoxic role of agrimol B-induced autophagy arrest in HCC cells. Notably, agrimol B significantly enhances the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our study uncovers the anticancer mechanism of agrimol B in HCC involving the regulation of oxidative stress and autophagy, and suggests agrimol B as a potential therapeutic drug for HCC treatment.

Negative regulation of mTOR activity by LKB1-AMPK signaling in non-small cell lung cancer cells.

AIM: To investigate the role of LKB1 in regulation of mTOR signaling in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. METHODS: LKB1 protein expression and phosphorylation of AMPK, 4E-BP1 and S6K in the cells were assessed using Western blotting in various NSCLC cell lines (A549, H460, H1792, Calu-1 and H1299). Energy stress was mimicked by treating the cells with 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG). Compound C was used to inhibit AMPK activity. Cell growth was measured using the MTS assay. RESULTS: LKB1 protein was expressed in LKB1 wild-type Calu-1, H1299 and H1792 cells, but it was undetected in LKB1 mutant A549 and H460 cells. Treatment of the LKB1 wild-type cells with 2-DG (5, 10 and 25 mmol/L) augmented the phosphorylation of AMPK in dose- and time-dependent manners. In the LKB1 wild-type cells, 2-DG dramatically suppressed the phosphorylation of two mTOR targets, 4E-BP1 and S6K, whereas the LKB1 mutant A549 and H460 cells were highly resistant to 2-DG-induced inhibition on mTOR activity. In addition, stable knockdown of LKB1 in H1299 cells impaired 2-DG-induced inhibition on mTOR activity. Pretreatment of H1299 and H1792 cells with the AMPK inhibitor compound C (10 µmol/L) blocked 2-DG-induced inhibition on mTOR activity. 2-DG inhibited the growth of H1299 cells more effectively than that of H460 cells; stable knockdown of LKB1 in H1299 cells attenuated the growth inhibition caused by 2-DG. CONCLUSION: In non-small cell lung cancer cells, LKB1/AMPK signaling negatively regulates mTOR activity and contributes to cell growth inhibition in response to energy stress.

Targeting the Interplay of Autophagy and ROS for Cancer Therapy: An Updated Overview on Phytochemicals.

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved self-degradation system that recycles cellular components and damaged organelles, which is critical for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) are short-lived molecules containing unpaired electrons that are formed by the partial reduction of molecular oxygen. It is widely known that autophagy and ROS can regulate each other to influence the progression of cancer. Recently, due to the wide potent anti-cancer effects with minimal side effects, phytochemicals, especially those that can modulate ROS and autophagy, have attracted great interest of researchers. In this review, we afford an overview of the complex regulatory relationship between autophagy and ROS in cancer, with an emphasis on phytochemicals that regulate ROS and autophagy for cancer therapy. We also discuss the effects of ROS/autophagy inhibitors on the anti-cancer effects of phytochemicals, and the challenges associated with harnessing the regulation potential on ROS and autophagy of phytochemicals for cancer therapy.

Association Between the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Risk Stratification of Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the severity of OSA and the risk stratification of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). In this single-center cohort study, patients diagnosed with PE were evaluated for OSA via polygraphy monitoring. The simplified PE severity index (sPESI) and the number of patients requiring systemic thrombolysis were used to determine the severity of the disease. Echocardiography was performed on all participants. All patients were divided into 2 groups (OSA group and non-OSA group), and the patients in OSA group were then divided into 3 groups based on the severity of OSA. Patients with severe OSA had a significantly higher number of patients with sPESI ≥ 1 (P = .005). A higher proportion of patients with severe OSA require systemic thrombolysis (P = .010). Patients with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 30/h had a much higher fibrinogen (P = .004) and D-dimer (P = .040) level than those in the non-OSA group. The levels of creatinine were significantly higher in patients with OSA (P = .040). Echocardiography showed a significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between patients in non-OSA and severe OSA groups (P = .035). And brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) also exhibited a progressive worsening related to the deepest desaturation and oxygen desaturation index. OSA, especially with AHI > 30/h, is correlated with the severity and prognosis of acute PE. This might be attributed to the prothrombotic effect, renal impairment, and cardiac dysfunction in patients with severe OSA.

Tectoridin and PLK1 inhibitor synergistically promote the apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells: Bioinformatic analysis of TCGA and TCMSP.

Lung cancer is still the most common cancer in the world, especially lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Despite years of effort, including the application of immunotherapy and targeted therapy, the survival rate of LUAD has not improved significantly. Exploring effective targets and combination drugs is crucial for the treatment of LUAD. We characterized differentially expressed genes between LUAD and normal lung tissue based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and identified polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) as the hub gene. Through an analysis using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), we obtained a combination of Chinese medicine with PLK1 inhibitor, whose biological function we confirmed by western blot and TdT-UTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assays. After combined analysis of protein expression with clinical characteristics, GNPNAT1, CCT6A, SMOX, UCK2, PLK1, HMMR and ANLN expression were significantly correlated with age, sex and stage. Among them, the survival rate was lower in patients with high PLK1 expression than in those with low PLK1 expression, making PLK1 a promising therapeutic target for LUAD. Stage and PLK1 expression could be used as independent prognostic factors for LUAD. By TCMSP analysis, tectoridin had the strongest correlation with PLK1. Tectoridin synergized with PLK1 inhibitor to suppress autophagy and ferroptosis but promoted caspase-3-mediated apoptosis in A549 cells. Our findings highlight a potential drug target and the combination therapy strategy of PLK1 inhibitor and tectoridin for LUAD patients.

Crosstalk between septic shock and venous thromboembolism: a bioinformatics and immunoassay analysis.

Background: Herein, we applied bioinformatics methods to analyze the crosstalk between septic shock (SS) and venous thromboembolism (VTE), focusing on the correlation with immune infiltrating cells. Methods: Expression data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including blood samples from SS patients (datasets GSE64457, GSE95233, and GSE57065) and VTE patients (GSE19151). We used the R package "limma" for differential expression analysis (p value<0.05,∣logFC∣≥1). Venn plots were generated to identify intersected differential genes between SS and VTE and conducted Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of intersected genes was constructed by Cytoscape software. The xCell analysis identified immune cells with significant changes in VTE and SS and correlated them with significant molecular pathways of crosstalk. Finally, we validated the mRNA expression of crosstalk genes by qPCR, while Matrix Metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9) protein levels were assessed through Western blotting (WB) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mice. Results: In the present study, we conducted a comparison between 88 patients with septic shock and 55 control subjects. Additionally, we compared 70 patients with venous thromboembolism to 63 control subjects. Twelve intersected genes and their corresponding three important molecular pathways were obtained: Metabolic, Estrogen, and FOXO signaling pathways. The resulting PPI network has 194 nodes and 388 edges. The immune microenvironment analysis of the two diseases showed that the infiltration levels of M2 macrophages and Class-switched memory B cells were correlated with the enrichment scores of metabolic, estrogen, and FOXO signaling pathways. Finally, qPCR confirmed that the expression of MMP9, S100A12, ARG1, SLPI, and ANXA3 mRNA in the SS with VTE group was significantly elevated. WB and IHC experiments revealed that MMP9 protein was significantly elevated in the experimental group. Conclusion: Metabolic, estrogen, and FOXO pathways play important roles in both SS and VTE and are related to the immune cell microenvironment of M2 macrophages and Class-switched memory B cells. MMP9 shows promise as a biomarker for diagnosing sepsis with venous thrombosis and a potential molecular target for treating this patient population.

Application of Adenosine Deaminase and γ-Interferon Release Assay in Pleural Fluid for the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Pleural Effusion in Patients Over 40 Years Old.

Background: In patients with tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) of various ages, the diagnostic accuracy of pleural biomarkers varies, and there are insufficient studies specifically in different age groups. Therefore, we investigated the adenosine deaminase cut-off value and its combination with the gamma interferon release assay for the diagnosis of TPE among patients aged ≥40 years. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 198 patients who underwent medical thoracoscopy and were admitted to the hospital between 2015 and 2020 with exudative pleural effusion and either fever, night sweats, fatigue, cough, or other clinical manifestations was performed. The medical thoracoscopy, ADA, and T-SPOT results were analysed in the pleural fluid. The patients were divided into groups based on age: 18-39, 40-59, and 60-87. Results: The best cut-off values of ADA were 29.5, 31.5 and 19.5 U/L, respectively, for the aged 18-39, aged 40-87 and aged 60-87 groups. The accuracy of 31.5 U/L was higher than 40 U/L for aged ≥40 years (86 vs 83%). The ADA diagnostic accuracy was higher than that of people under 40 years (83 vs 77%) when cut-off value of ADA was 40 U/L, but the IGRA accuracy was lower than that of people under 40 (87 vs 91%). The sensitivity of ADA or IGRA detection in patients over 40 years was 99%, and the specificity was 78%. The ADA specificity combined with IGRA for TPE was the highest (100%) in the ≥40 age group, and the sensitivity was 69%. Conclusion: Our study revealed the best cut-off values of ADA for TBE in different age groups. Combining ADA and IGRA in pleural fluid improves the detection rate of TPE in patients over 40 years of age with exudative pleural effusion. ADA combined with IGRA increases specificity, and ADA or IGRA increases sensitivity substantially.

A functional crosstalk between the H3K9 methylation writers and their reader HP1 in safeguarding embryonic stem cell identity.

Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation, as a hallmark of heterochromatin, has a central role in cell lineage and fate determination. Although evidence of a cooperation between H3K9 methylation writers and their readers has started to emerge, their actual interplay remains elusive. Here, we show that loss of H3K9 methylation readers, the Hp1 family, causes reduced expression of H3K9 methyltransferases, and that this subsequently leads to the exit of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from pluripotency and a reciprocal gain of lineage-specific characteristics. Importantly, the phenotypes of Hp1-null ESCs can be rescued by ectopic expression of Setdb1, Nanog, and Oct4. Furthermore, Setdb1 ablation results in loss of ESC identity, which is accompanied by a reduction in the expression of Hp1 genes. Together, our data support a model in which the safeguarding of ESC identity involves the cooperation between the H3K9 methylation writers and their readers.