A 3D radially aligned nanofiber scaffold co-loaded with LL37 mimetic peptide and PDGF-BB for the management of infected chronic wounds.

Diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and bedsores can easily develop into chronic wounds with bacterial infections, complicating wound healing. This work reports a two-step strategy for treating infected chronic wounds. Firstly, LL37 mimetic peptide-W379 peptides were rapidly released to eliminate the bacterial biofilm on the wound. Then, 3D radially aligned nanofiber scaffolds loaded with W379 antimicrobial peptide and PDGF-BB were used to treat the wound to prevent bacterial infection recurrence and promote angiogenesis and granulation tissue regeneration, thereby accelerating wound healing. In the presented study, we found that the combined use of burst and controlled release of W379 antimicrobial peptide effectively clears the bacterial biofilm and prevents the recurrence of bacterial infection. Additionally, we found that the removal of the bacterial biofilm contributed to modulating the local inflammatory response from a pro-inflammatory type to a pro-regenerative type. Furthermore, the use of PDGF-BB significantly promotes neovascularization and granulation tissue regeneration in the wound bed, resulting in accelerating re-epithelialization and wound closure. Our study provides a promising treatment method for the repair of infected chronic wounds.

Prognostic value of left ventricular structure and strain in chronic kidney disease patients by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging: a retrospective study.

Background: Individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently face a heightened likelihood of experiencing cardiovascular complications, including heart failure and cardiac mortality. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) is utilized to assess the micro-contraction function of the myocardium. The objective of this research is to explore the relationship between the left ventricular anatomy, myocardial strain, and the clinical outcomes in patients with CKD. Methods: A total of 77 patients with late-stage CKD were enrolled in this retrospective study. They underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and were followed up, with no history of significant cardiac diseases. The patients were divided into two groups: those with a left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) ≥ -15.2% (n = 49) and those with LVGLS < -15.2% (n = 28). The clinical endpoints were defined as hospitalization for heart failure or all-cause mortality. Results: Over an average observation period of 22 ± 9 months, 11 (14%) patients passed away and 30 (39%) were admitted to the hospital for heart failure, with eight encountering both incidents. Those with LVGLS ≥ -15.2% had markedly lower rates of event-free survival concerning heart failure admissions and overall mortality than their counterparts (log-rank P = 0.014). Cox multivariable analysis indicated that reduced LVGLS consistently predicted a higher likelihood of combined outcomes of heart failure admissions and total mortality (HR: 3.40, 95% CI [1.35-8.56], P = 0.009), even when factoring in age, diabetes, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). However, the LVMI showed no significant correlation with the risk of heart failure admissions or overall mortality. Conclusion: Compared to patients with LVGLS < -15.2%, CKD patients with LVGLS ≥ -15.2% have an increased risk of heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality. The prognostic role of LVMI in assessing CKD patients among the Asian population requires further investigation.

Dual enhancement in strength and ductility of Fe-rich medium-entropy alloys via an in situ formed heterogeneous multi-phase structure.

In this work, we successfully achieved an exceptional strength-ductility synergy in the brittle Ni0.6CoFe1.4 medium-entropy alloy (MEA) via in situ formation of a heterogeneous structure by doping with Si. The newly developed Ni0.6CoFe1.4Six (x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) MEAs exhibited a multi-phase heterogeneous structure consisting of face-centered cubic (FCC), body-centered cubic (BCC) and NiSi phases, with some B2 nanoparticles precipitated inside the BCC matrix. This multi-phase heterogeneous structure combined with precipitation hardening resulted in a dual enhancement in the strength and ductility of the alloys. Notably, the tensile strength and strain of the Ni0.6CoFe1.4Si0.3 MEA were significantly increased to 1096.9 ± 39.0 MPa and 31.7 ± 0.3%, respectively, which were about 39.9% and 456.1% higher than those of the Ni0.6CoFe1.4 base alloy. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) results indicated that the charge redistribution caused by the addition of Si led to the presence of local charge enrichment and depletion regions, which facilitate plastic deformation and increase the ductility. The current study would provide valuable guidance to produce low-cost yet high-performance BCC-structured MEAs.

Serotype, antibiotic susceptibility and whole-genome characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae in all age groups living in Southwest China during 2018-2022.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common pathogen that colonizes the human upper respiratory tract, causing high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence status of S. pneumoniae isolated from patients of all ages in Southwest China, including serotype, antibiotic susceptibility and other molecular characteristics, to provide a basis for clinical antibiotic usage and vaccine development. Methods: This study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2022 at West China Hospital, West China Second University Hospital, First People's Hospital of Longquanyi District (West China Longquan Hospital), Meishan Women and Children's Hospital (Alliance Hospital of West China Second University Hospital) and Chengdu Jinjiang Hospital for Women and Children Health. Demographic and clinical characteristics of 263 pneumococcal disease (PD) all-age patients were collected and analyzed. The serotypes, sequence types (STs), and antibiotic resistance of the strains were determined by next-generation sequencing, sequence analysis and the microdilution broth method. Results: The most common pneumococcal serotypes were 19F (17.87%), 19A (11.41%), 3 (8.75%), 23F (6.46%) and 6A (5.70%). Coverage rates for PCV10, PCV13, PCV15, PCV20 and PCV24 were 36.12, 61.98, 61.98, 63.12 and 64.26%, respectively. Prevalent STs were ST271 (12.55%), ST320 (11.79%), ST90 (4.18%), ST876 (4.18%) and ST11972 (3.42%). Penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) accounted for 82.35 and 1.22% of meningitis and nonmeningitis PD cases, respectively. Resistance genes msrD (32.7%), mefA (32.7%), ermB (95.8%), tetM (97.3%) and catTC (7.6%) were found among 263 isolates. Most isolates showed high resistance to erythromycin (96.96%) and tetracycline (79.85%), with more than half being resistant to SXT (58.94%). A few isolates were resistant to AMX (9.89%), CTX (11.03%), MEN (9.13%), OFX (1.14%), LVX (1.14%) and MXF (0.38%). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid. Conclusion: Our study provides reliable information, including the prevalence, molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance of S. pneumoniae isolates causing pneumococcal diseases in Southwest China. The findings contribute to informed and clinical policy decisions for prevention and treatment.

Role of serum alkaline phosphatase as a potential biomarker of severity and prognosis in intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) catalyzes the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate and facilitates vascular calcification. We aimed at investigating serum ALP levels in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients and ascertaining its relationship to severity and prognosis. METHODS: Serum ALP levels from 148 patients and 148 healthy controls were detected. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score and hematoma volume at admission were recorded to evaluate hemorrhagic severity. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score > 2 at 90 days after onset was judged as a poor prognosis. RESULTS: Serum ALP levels in patients with ICH were substantially elevated compared with healthy controls, and were significantly related to hematoma volume and GCS score. Serum ALP levels significantly distinguished ICH patients at risk for unfavorable prognosis. Serum ALP levels > 78.5 U/L in ICH patients may indicated a unfavorable prognosis with 69.1 % sensitivity and 83.6 % specificity, and served as an independent predictor for unfavorable prognosis. CONLUSIONS: Elevated serum ALP levels were intimately connected with increased severity and 90-day unfavorable prognosis in patients with ICH. Serum ALP could be a potential biomarker for severity and prognosis of ICH.

Biomimetic nanoparticles of platelet membranes carrying bFGF and VEGFA genes promote deep burn wound healing.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of burn wounds, especially deep burn wounds, remains a major clinical challenge. Growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) show great potential in promoting the healing of damaged tissues. This study explored wound healing following targeted delivery of bFGF and VEGFA genes into deep burn wounds through a novel platelet membrane-coated nanoparticle (PM@gene-NP) complex delivery system. METHODS: First, bFGF and VEGFA genes were inserted into plasmid (pEGFP-N1) vectors. Subsequently, the assembled plasmids were loaded onto nanoparticles to form gene-loaded nanoparticle complexes, which were then wrapped with extracted platelet membrane, fully simulating the characteristics of platelets, in order to actively target sites of inflammatory damage. After administration of PM@gene-NP complexes through the tail vein of rats, a series of experiments were conducted to evaluate wound healing. RESULTS: The PM@gene-NP complexes effectively targeted the burn sites. After the administration of the PM@gene-NP complexes, the rats exhibited increased blood flow in the burn wounds, which also healed faster than control groups. Histological results showed fewer inflammatory cells in the burned skin tissue after treatment. After the wounds healed, the production of hair follicles, sebaceous glands and other skin accessories in the skin tissue increased. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the PM@gene-NP complexes can effectively deliver gene therapy to the injured area, and this delivery system should be considered as a potential method for treating deep burns.

Actinobacillus ureae may be a critical pathogen in patients with predispositions: A case report and review of the literature.

RATIONALE: Actinobacillus ureae (A. ureae) is an unusual commensal of human respiratory flora, rarely causing human infection. The predisposing factors, identification, clinical features, and antibiotic therapy of A. ureae are seldomly reported. Herein, we present a case of 64-year-old man affected by A. ureae pneumonia after intracranial surgery. PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES: A 64-year-old male was admitted with vomiting, drowsiness, and a severe disturbance of consciousness and was later diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage by computed tomography images. After a craniocerebral surgery, the patient suffered from intractable pneumonia, experiencing treatment failure with multiple anti-bacterial agents. Sputum culture yield pure colonies of A. ureae, confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. INTERVENTIONS: Minocycline (100 mg p.o. per 12 hours) with a course of 15 days was administrated for this patient. OUTCOMES: The respiratory symptoms, presenting as intermittent coughing with purulent and yellowish sputum, were gone. A 3-month follow-up examination showed a complete resolution of radiological findings. LESSONS: Clinically, the actual incidence of A. ureae pneumonia may be higher than that we generally recognized, and clinicians should consider A. ureae as a possible etiologic agent in patients with predispositions. Currently, A. ureae may be susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, and third-generation cephalosporins. Other antibacterial agents, such as tetracycline, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and aminoglycosides also respond well and can be a choice in the treatment of A. ureae infections.

Long noncoding RNA FTX promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition of epithelial ovarian cancer through modulating miR-7515/TPD52 and activating Met/Akt/mTOR.

Overexpressed long noncoding RNA FTX is associated with low survival rate of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients, and enhances tumor infiltration. Thus, we aim to illuminate the undefined underlying mechanisms. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect the expressions of FTX, miR-7515, miR-342-3p, miR-940, miR-150-5p, miR-205-5p and tumor protein D52 (TPD52). Cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays were utilized to explore the cell viability, migration or invasion of EOC cells. Western blot was conducted to measure the expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Met, phosphorylated (p)-Met, Akt, p-Akt, mTOR and p-mTOR. LncBase and TargetScan predicted the binding of miR-7515 with FTX, and the binding of TPD52 with miR-7515, respectively. The two bindings were further validated by dual luciferase reporter assay. As a result, FTX sponged miR-7515 and miR-7515 targeted to TPD52. FTX was overexpressed in four EOC cell lines. Overexpressed FTX enhanced the cell viability, migration or invasion of EOC cells, elevated N-cadherin and TPD52 expressions, phosphorylated Met/Akt/mTOR, and inhibited E-cadherin expression. All these influences were subsequently reversed by miR-7515 mimic. Collectively, FTX regulates miR-7515/TPD52 to facilitate the migration, invasion or epithelial-mesenchymal transition of EOC through activating Met/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Highly efficient CsPbBr3@glass@polyurethane composite film as flexible liquid crystal display backlight.

Inorganic lead halide perovskite quantum dots (CsPbX3 QDs (X = Cl, Br, or I)) have attracted more and more attention due to their high absorption coefficient, narrow emission band, high quantum efficiency, and tunable emission wavelength. However, CsPbX3 QDs are decomposed when exposed to bright light, heat, moisture, etc., which leads to severe luminous attenuation and limits their commercial application. In this paper, CsPbBr3@glass materials were successfully synthesized by a one-step self-crystallization method, including melting, quenching and heat treatment processes. The stability of CsPbBr3 QDs was improved by embedding CsPbBr3 QDs into zinc-borosilicate glass. Then, the CsPbBr3@glass was combined with polyurethane (PU) to form a flexible composite luminescent film CsPbBr3@glass@PU. This strategy enables the transformation of rigid perovskite quantum dot glass into flexible luminescent film materials and further improves the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) from 50.5% to 70.2%. The flexible film has good tensile properties, and its length can be strained 5 times as long as the original length. Finally, a white LED was encapsulated by combining CsPbBr3@glass@PU film and red phosphor K2SiF6:Mn4+ with a blue LED chip. The good performance of the obtained CsPbBr3@glass@PU film indicates that it has potential application in flexible liquid crystal displays (LCDs) as a backlight source.

Role of DEP domain-containing protein 1B (DEPDC1B) in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Aberrant expression of DEPDC1B (DEP domain-containing protein 1B) has been shown to be associated with various types of malignant tumors. However, little is known about the role of DEPDC1B in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and role of DEPDC1B in EOC. Immunohistochemical staining of 60 high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) showed that DEPDC1B expression was associated with response to first line chemotherapy, and DEPDC1B expression was higher in platinum-resistant patients than in platinum-sensitive patients. However, there was no association between DEPDC1B expression and age, preoperative CA125 level, ascites status, location, FIGO stage, and residual disease. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that increased DEPDC1B expression was correlated with reduced overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) time in patients with HGSOC. Multivariate analysis showed that DEPDC1B independently predicted OS in patients with HGSOC. However, DEPDC1B expression was not an independent prognostic factor for PFS in patients with HGSOC. Moreover, our study demonstrated that DEPDC1B could promote the proliferation of OVCAR3 and SKOV3 cells by enhancing AKT phosphorylation at Ser473. Treatment with MK2206 and LY294002 significantly suppressed cell proliferation that is induced by DEPDC1B up-regulation in both OVCAR3 and SKOV3 cells. Together, these results revealed that DEPDC1B was an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with HGSOC, and DEPDC1B may promote the proliferation of EOC cells via enhancing AKT phosphorylation at Ser473.

Trending prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in a tertiary hospital in China during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate both the four-year prevalence trend of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in a large tertiary hospital and the trend regarding the prevalence of HAIs following the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in order to provide evidence of hospital infection management during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Based on the hospital's electronic nosocomial infection databases related to HAIs, we retrospectively identified the HAI cases to assess the epidemiological characteristics of HAIs from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021, in a large tertiary hospital in China. Similarly, the trends of HAIs after the COVID-19 outbreak and the seasonal variation of HAIs were further analyzed. RESULTS: The HAI cases (n = 7833) were identified from the inpatients (n = 483,258) during the 4 years. The most frequently occurring underlying cause of HAIs was respiratory tract infections (44.47%), followed by bloodstream infections (11.59%), and urinary tract infections (8.69%). The annual prevalence of HAIs decreased from 2.39% in 2018 to 1.41% in 2021 (P = 0.032), with the overall prevalence of HAIs significantly decreasing since the outbreak of COVID-19 (2.20% in 2018-2019 vs. 1.44% in 2020-2021, P < 0.001). The prevalence of respiratory tract infections decreased most significantly; whereas, overall, the prevalence of HAIs was significantly greater during the winter compared with the rest of the year. CONCLUSIONS: Not only did the annual prevalence of HAIs decrease from 2018 to 2021, but it also significantly decreased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly respiratory tract infections. These results provide evidence for the need to prevent HAIs, especially during the winter season.

CT-based radiomics nomogram for the pre-operative prediction of lymphovascular invasion in colorectal cancer: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and externally validate a CT-based radiomics nomogram for the pre-operative prediction of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: 357 patients derived from 2 centers with pathologically confirmed CRC were included in this retrospective study. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) radiomics features were extracted from portal venous phase CT images. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm and logistic regression were used for constructing 2D and 3D radiomics models. The radiomics nomogram was developed by integrating the radiomics score (rad-score) and the clinical risk factor. RESULTS: The rad-score was significantly higher in the LVI+ group than in the LVI- group (p < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the 3D radiomics model were higher than those of the 2D radiomics model. The AUCs of 3D and 2D radiomics models in the training set were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.75-0.89) and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.66-0.82); in the internal validation set were 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65-0.85) and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.56-0.78); in the external validation set were 0.75 (95% CI: 0.64-0.86) and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.45-0.69); respectively. The AUCs of the nomogram integrating the optimal 3D rad-score and clinical risk factors (CT-reported T stage, CT-reported lymph node status) in the internal set and external validation set were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73-0.91) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.91), respectively. CONCLUSION: Both 2D and 3D radiomics models can predict LVI status of CRC. The nomogram combining the optimal 3D rad-score and clinical risk factors further improved predictive performance. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This is the first study to compare the difference in performance of CT-based 2D and 3D radiomics models for the pre-operative prediction of LVI in CRC. The prediction of the nomogram could be improved by combining the 3D radiomics model with the imaging model, suggesting its potential for clinical application.

High expression of PYK2 is associated with poor prognosis and cancer progression in early-stage cervical carcinoma.

Proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2 (PYK2), also known as calcium dependent tyrosine kinase, regulates different signal transduction cascades that control cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. However, the role of PYK2 in cervical cancer remains to be elucidated. The current study retrospectively included 134 patients with cervical cancer from December 2007 to September 2014. PYK2 expression was detected in tissue microarray and cervical cancer cell lines. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate its clinicopathological significance. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was employed to suppress endogenous PYK2 expression in cervical cancer cells to observe the biological function. PYK2 expression was up-regulated in cervical cancer specimens compared with paired adjacent normal cervical tissue samples. Statistical analyses indicated that PYK2 expression might be an independent prognostic indicator for patients with early-stage cervical cancer. A nomogram model was constructed based on PYK2 expression and other clinicopathological risk factors, and it performed well in predicting patients survival. In cellular studies, down-regulation of PYK2 remarkably inhibited cellular proliferation, migration and invasion. PYK2 expression possessed the potential to serve as a novel prognostic marker in cervical cancer patients.

Computed tomography-based radiomics nomogram for the preoperative prediction of perineural invasion in colorectal cancer: a multicentre study.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a computed tomography (CT) radiomics nomogram from multicentre datasets for preoperative prediction of perineural invasion (PNI) in colorectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 299 patients with histologically confirmed colorectal cancer from three hospitals were enrolled in this retrospective study. Radiomic features were extracted from the whole tumour volume. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression was applied for feature selection and radiomics signature construction. Finally, a radiomics nomogram combining the radiomics score and clinical predictors was established. The receiver operating characteristic curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the radiomics nomogram in the training cohort, internal validation and external validation cohorts. RESULTS: Twelve radiomics features extracted from the whole tumour volume were used to construct the radiomics model. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the radiomics model in the training cohort, internal validation cohort, external validation cohort 1, and external validation cohort 2 were 0.82 (0.75-0.90), 0.77 (0.62-0.92), 0.71 (0.56-0.85), and 0.73 (0.60-0.85), respectively. The nomogram, which combined the radiomics score with T category and N category by CT, yielded better performance in the training cohort (AUC = 0.88), internal validation cohort (AUC = 0.80), external validation cohort 1 (AUC = 0.75), and external validation cohort 2 (AUC = 0.76). DCA confirmed the clinical utility of the nomogram. CONCLUSIONS: The CT-based radiomics nomogram has the potential to accurately predict PNI in patients with colorectal cancer.

An Objective Diagnosis Model with Integrated Metabolic and Immunity Parameters for Phlegm-Dampness Constitution.

BACKGROUND: According to Chinese constitutional theory, people can be divided into nine constitutions, which represent distinctive vulnerability to different diseases such as metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, and immunity-related disease, and so forth in modern medicine, phlegm-dampness constitution (PDC) is one of the nine constitutions, which is susceptible to metabolic syndrome (MS) and atherosclerosis that associate with lipid metabolism and immunity dysregulation closely. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate the metabolic and immunity profiles of phlegm-damp constitution (PDC), including metabolites, lymphocytes distribution, and inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: A total of 74 patients with PDC and 66 individuals with gentle constitution (GC) were enrolled in this study. We utilized biochemical methods to detect metabolic parameters, flow cytometry to survey T/B/NK/NKT lymphocyte subgroups distribution, and ELISA to assay inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: The subjects with PDC had higher GLU, AI TC, TG, and LDL-C and lower HDL-C levels. The immunity profile indicated that PDC subjects had higher percentage of WBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, B cells, and natural killer T cells compared with subjects with GC (P < 0.05). Serum levels of IL-10 decreased significantly in the subjects with phlegm-damp constitution, whereas IL-12 levels increased dramatically in the PDC group compared with the GC group (both P < 0.05). Additionally, logistic regression identified four independent variables (GLU, TG, LDL-C, and lymphocytes) that were highly correlated with PDC (P < 0.05). The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.878, which indicated the data were reliable to distinguish the subjects with PDC from the ones with GC. CONCLUSION: Phlegm-damp constitution was prone to hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia syndrome, promoting the occurrence and progression of metabolic-related diseases. Interestingly, proinflammatory cells and cytokines were activated in the PDC group as well. Our findings could offer a profile of early screening indicators to identify high-risk patients of metabolic- and immunity-related diseases from Chinese constitution.

Effects of Oxygenated Acids on Graphene Oxide: The Source of Oxygen-Containing Functional Group.

Graphene oxide is an important member of the graphene family which has a wide range of applications. The chemical method, especially the liquid phase method, is one of the most common and important methods for its preparation. However, the complex solution environment not only gives them rich structure, but also brings great challenges for its large-scale industrial synthesis. In order to better realize its industrial application, it is important to understand its structure, such as the source of oxygen-containing functional groups. Here we studied the contribution of four oxygenated acids to oxygen-containing functional groups in Hummers' method using first principles. We found that the permanganic acid molecules that exist instantaneously due to energy fluctuations can be the source of oxygen-containing functional group. In addition, Stone-Wales defect have a certain effect on the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups, but this effect is not as good as that of solvation effect. This work provides a guide for exploring the source of oxygen-containing functional groups on graphene oxide.

Sucralose enhances the susceptibility to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis in mice with changes in gut microbiota.

Sucralose is one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners, free of nutrients and calories. Its approval and uses correlate with many of the worldwide epidemiological changes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Multiple animal studies by us and others showed that sucralose exacerbated ileitis in SAMP1/YitFc mice and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. In this study, we further investigated the effect of sucralose on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and the associated mechanisms. Male C57BL/6 mice received 1.5 mg ml-1 sucralose in drinking water for 6 weeks. Then, 2.5% DSS was added to drinking water for 7 days to induce ulcerative colitis (UC). The results showed that, compared with the DSS group, administration of sucralose exacerbated the severity of colitis as indicated by the further decrease in body weight, increase in disease activity index (DAI) and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the activation of the TLR5-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway, and the disturbances of intestinal barrier function, along with changes in the intestinal microbiota. Our findings indicate that sucralose may increase the susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis through causing dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota and damage to the intestinal barrier.

Enhanced expression of FGF19 predicts poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although many treatment options exist for lung cancer, some patients still suffer postoperative recurrence, and a consequent reduction of overall survival (OS). Our study aimed to investigate the correlation of FGF19 expression with the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis was conducted using the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to distinguish between the FGF19 levels of tumor and normal tissue and to determine their correlation with the OS. A total of 187 NSCLC patients who underwent radical resection of lung cancer were enrolled, and tissues were collected to determine FGF19 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. Clinicopathological features including the survival date were collected for detailed research. RESULTS: According to the analysis based on the TCGA database, we found that the NSCLC tissues exhibited enhanced FGF19 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and that the FGF19 mRNA levels correlated with shorter OS in NSCLC patients. IHC staining indicated that 88 (47.1%) patients had high FGF19 expression and 99 (52.9%) patients had low FGF19 expression. Meanwhile, survival data showed that high FGF19 expression was correlated with reduced OS (P<0.001). Moreover, both the univariate analysis and the forward stepwise multivariate Cox regression revealed that high FGF19 expression was an independent prognostic factor for decreased OS (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The expression of FGF19 is significantly upregulated in NSCLC, and the overexpression of FGF19 is correlated with poor OS, especially in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cases. FGF19 might serve as a potential biomarker for predicting poor OS in NSCLC patients.

Low FOXJ2 expression is associated with unfavorable postoperative prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

ABSTRACT: The forkhead box (FOX) family is a large and diverse group of transcription factors. Forkhead box J2 (FOXJ2) is a member of the FOX family that is aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancers. However, its role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains elusive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of FOXJ2 expression in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.The current study retrospectively included 151 patients with EOC from January 2013 to September 2016. FOXJ2 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry based on tissue microarrays. Then, the prognostic value of FOXJ2 expression and clinical outcomes were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and cox regression analysis.Low FOXJ2 expression was associated with high International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that high FOXJ2 expression was associated with improved median overall survival (OS, 57.9 vs 31.9 months; P = .037) and longer median progression-free survival (PFS, 31.8 vs 18.1 months; P = .012). Univariate analysis demonstrated that FOXJ2 expression was significantly correlated with OS and PFS in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Multivariate analysis revealed FOXJ2 expression as an independent prognostic factor of progression-free survival of epithelial ovarian cancer patients.Low FOXJ2 expression is a novel adverse prognostic factor of clinical outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Detection and analysis of multiple biomarkers in ovarian cancer: clinical significance in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical significance of CA125, CK7, CK20, ER, PR, C-erbb2, and P-gp in ovarian cancer. METHODS: Ovarian cancer patients were recruited from Nantong Cancer Hospital between March 2006 and July 2011. The expressions of CA125, CK7, CK20, ER, PR, C-erbb2, and P-gp were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC).The chi-square test (χ2) was used to analyze the correlation between each index and the clinical characteristics of the patients. The patients were followed up to record the cancer recurrence time. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to map the cumulative recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate, and COX regression analysis was established for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The results of IHC showed that the positive expression rates of CA125, CK7, ER, C-erbb2, and P-gp in malignant ovarian cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in benign ovarian cancer tissues. CA125 expression in malignant ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with the age of patients and the Federation of International Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage. CK7 expression in malignant ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with the age, tissue differentiation, and number of residual lesions. CK20 expression in malignant ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with the age and tissue differentiation of the patients. ER expression in malignant ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with the age of patients and FIGO stage. PR expression in malignant ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with the age of the patients. C-erbb2 expression in malignant ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with the age of the patients. P-gp expression in malignant ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with the patient age, pathological type, and tissue differentiation. The expression of CA125, CK7, CK20, C-erbb2, and P-gp had significant effects on the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. The COX regression analysis showed that P-gp was an independent risk factor for ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS: In malignant ovarian cancer tissues, CA125, CK7, CK20, ER, PR, C-erbb2, and P-gp are over-expressed. The expression of P-gp is an independent risk factor for ovarian cancer, and it can be an important target for the treatment of malignant ovarian cancer.