[Retracted] MicroRNA­195 inhibits the behavior of cervical cancer tumors by directly targeting HDGF.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6210.].

Erythrocyte-Mimicking Nanovesicle Targeting Porphyromonas gingivalis for Periodontitis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis has been demonstrated to have the strongest association with periodontitis. Within the host, P. gingivalis relies on acquiring iron and heme through the aggregation and lysis of erythrocytes, which are important factors in the growth and virulence of P. gingivalis. Additionally, the excess obtained heme is deposited on the surface of P. gingivalis, protecting the cells from oxidative damage. Based on these biological properties of the interaction between P. gingivalis and erythrocytes, this study developed an erythrocyte membrane nanovesicle loaded with gallium porphyrins to mimic erythrocytes. The nanovesicle can target and adhere with P. gingivalis precisely, being lysed and utilized by P. gingivalis as erythrocytes. Ingested gallium porphyrin replaces iron porphyrin in P. gingivalis, causing intracellular metabolic disruption. Deposited porphyrin generates a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under blue light, causing oxidative damage, and its lethality is enhanced by bacterial metabolic disruption, synergistically killing P. gingivalis. Our results demonstrate that this strategy can target and inhibit P. gingivalis, reduce its invasion of epithelial cells, and alleviate the progression of periodontitis.

Intracellular Gelation-Mediated Living Bacteria for Advanced Biotherapeutics in Mouse Models.

Despite its significant potential in various disease treatments and diagnostics, microbiotherapy is consistently plagued by multiple limitations ranging from manufacturing challenges to in vivo functionality. Inspired by the strategy involving nonproliferating yet metabolically active microorganisms, we report an intracellular gelation approach that can generate a synthetic polymer network within bacterial cells to solve these challenges. Specifically, poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (PEGDA, 700 Da) monomers are introduced into the bacterial cytosol through a single cycle of freeze-thawing followed by the initiation of intracellular free radical polymerization by UV light to create a macromolecular PEGDA gel within the bacterial cytosol. The molecular crowding resulting from intracytoplasmic gelation prohibits bacterial division and confers robust resistance to simulated gastrointestinal fluids and bile acids while retaining the ability to secrete functional proteins. Biocompatibility assessments demonstrate that the nondividing gelatinized bacteria are effective in alleviating systemic inflammation triggered by intravenous Escherichia coli injection. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of gelatinized Lactobacillus rhamnosus in colitis mice provides additional support for this approach. Collectively, intracellular gelation indicates a universal strategy to manufacture next-generation live biotherapeutics for advanced microbiotherapy.

Amyloid A and lactic acid as a predictor in patients with sepsis in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is triggered by pathogenic microorganisms, resulting in a systemic inflammatory response. Liver cirrhosis and sepsis create a vicious cycle: cirrhosis weakens immune function, raising infection risk and hindering pathogen clearance. Optimal treatment outcomes depend on understanding liver cirrhosis patients' sepsis risk factors. Thus, preventing sepsis involves addressing these risk factors. Therefore, early identification and understanding of clinical characteristics in liver cirrhosis patients with sepsis are crucial for selecting appropriate antibiotics. A case-control study using logistic regression was conducted to examine the prognostic value of amyloid A/lactate level monitoring in identifying sepsis risk factors in liver cirrhosis patients. METHODS: From March 2020 to March 2022, 136 liver cirrhosis patients treated at our hospital were divided into a sepsis group (n = 35) and a non-sepsis group (n = 101) based on sepsis complications. General clinical data were collected. Univariate analysis screened for liver cirrhosis patients' sepsis risk factors. Multivariate logistic analysis was subsequently employed to evaluate the risk factors. Sepsis patients were followed up for a month. Based on prognosis, patients were categorized into a poor prognosis group (n = 16) and a good prognosis group (n = 19). Serum amyloid A (SAA) and blood lactic acid (BLA) levels were compared between the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the prognostic value of both individual and combined SAA/BLA monitoring. RESULTS: Patient data, including age, diabetes history, liver cancer, hepatic artery embolization, recent antibiotic use, invasive procedures within two weeks, APACHE II Scoring, ALB and SAA and BLA levels, were compared between the sepsis and non-sepsis groups, showing significant differences (P < 0.05). Logistic regression identified factors such as age ≥ 70, recent antibiotic use, recent invasive procedures, history of liver cancer, hepatic artery embolization history, high APACHE II scores, decreased albumin, and elevated SAA and BLA levels as independent sepsis risk factors in liver cirrhosis patients (P < 0.05). Among the 35 sepsis patients, 16 had a poor prognosis, representing an incidence rate of 45.71%. Serum SAA and BLA levels were significantly higher in the poor prognosis group than in the good prognosis group (P < 0.05). The AUC for serum SAA and BLA was 0.831 (95%CI: 0.738-0.924), 0.720 (95%CI: 0.600-0.840), and 0.909 (95%CI: 0.847-0.972), respectively. The combined diagnostic AUC was significantly higher than that of single factor predictions (P < 0.05). The predictive value ranked as follows: joint detection > SAA > BLA. CONCLUSION: In treating liver cirrhosis, prioritize patients with advanced age, a history of hepatic artery embolization, recent invasive operations, history of liver cancer, recent antibiotic exposure, high APACHE II scores and low albumin. Closely monitoring serum SAA and BLA levels in these patients can offer valuable insights for early clinical prevention and treatment.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Continuous Heparin Infusion to Prevent Asymptomatic Catheter-related Thrombosis at Discharge in Infants After Cardiac Surgery: The CHIP-CRT Trial.

OBJECTIVES: There are conflicting results in preventing catheter-related thrombosis (CRT). Continuing infusion of unfractionated heparin (UFH) was a potential option for CRT. This study was to determine the effect of continuous UFH infusion on asymptomatic CRT at discharge in infants after cardiac surgery. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial at a single center. All infants with central venous catheters after cardiac surgery, below 3 months of age, were eligible. Stratified by CRT, infants were randomly assigned to the UFH group or the normal saline group. UFH was initiated at a speed of 10 to 15 units/kg/h for infants with CRT and 2 to 3 units/kg/h without CRT. The primary outcome was to determine the rate of CRT at discharge. The secondary outcomes included thrombosis 6 months after surgery, adverse events of UFH, and post-thrombotic symptoms. RESULTS: Due to slow recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic, this trial was prematurely stopped. Only 35 infants were randomly assigned to the UFH or control groups. There was no statistically significant difference in CRT rate at discharge ( P =0.429) and 6 months after surgery ( P =1.000) between groups. All CRTs except one disappeared at discharge. No thrombosis or post-thrombotic symptom was reported at follow-up evaluation. There was no difference between groups in duration of thrombus ( P =0.088), D dimer ( P =0.412), catheter in situ days ( P =0.281), and post-thrombotic syndrome ( P =1.000), except for activated partial thromboplastin time ( P =0.001). CONCLUSIONS: With the early stop of this trial and limited data, it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion about the efficacy of UFH on CRT. Meanwhile, considering the data from 6 months follow-up, in this population, asymptomatic CRT might resolve with no intervention.