Causal relationship between gut microbiota and polycystic ovary syndrome: a literature review and Mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: Numerous studies have suggested an association between gut microbiota and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However, the causal relationship between these two factors remains unclear. Methods: A review of observational studies was conducted to compare changes in gut microbiota between PCOS patients and controls. The analysis focused on four levels of classification, namely, phylum, family, genus, and species/genus subgroups. To further investigate the causal relationship, Mendelian randomization (MR) was employed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on gut microbiota from the MiBioGen consortium, as well as GWAS data from a large meta-analysis of PCOS. Additionally, a reverse MR was performed, and the results were verified through sensitivity analyses. Results: The present review included 18 observational studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The abundance of 64 gut microbiota taxa significantly differed between PCOS patients and controls. Using the MR method, eight bacteria were identified as causally associated with PCOS. The protective effects of the genus Sellimonas on PCOS remained significant after applying Bonferroni correction. No significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was found in the instrumental variables (IVs). Reverse MR analyses did not reveal a significant causal effect of PCOS on gut microbiota. Conclusion: The differences in gut microbiota between PCOS patients and controls vary across observational studies. However, MR analyses identified specific gut microbiota taxa that are causally related to PCOS. Future studies should investigate the gut microbiota that showed significant results in the MR analyses, as well as the underlying mechanisms of this causal relationship and its potential clinical significance.

Diagnostic and prognostic risk factors analysis for distant metastasis in melanoma: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to develop tools that could predict the occurrence of distant metastases in melanoma and its prognosis based on clinical and pathological characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of melanoma patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2019. Logistic analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors associated with distant metastasis. Additionally, multivariate Cox analyses were conducted to determine independent prognostic factors for patients with distant metastasis. Two nomograms were established and evaluated with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Furthermore, we performed a retrospective analysis of melanoma with distant metastasis from our institute between March 2018 and June 2022. RESULTS: Of the total 19 396 melanoma patients, 352 (1.8%) had distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. The following clinical and pathological characteristics were identified as independent risk factors for distant metastasis in melanoma: N stage, tumor size, ulceration, mitosis, primary tumor site, and pathological subtype. Furthermore, tumor size, pathological subtype, and radiotherapy were identified as independent prognostic factors. The results of the training and validation cohorts' ROC curves, calibration, DCA, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrate the effectiveness of the two nomograms. The retrospective study results from our center supported the results from the SEER database. CONCLUSION: The clinical and pathological characteristics of melanoma can predict a patient's risk of metastasis and prognosis, and the two nomograms are expected to be effective tools to guide therapy decisions.

Contralateral Approach to Paraclinoid Aneurysms: Angiographic Analysis and Surgical Results of 12 Patients.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: To explore the usefulness of a unilateral approach for clipping multiple aneurysms including a contralateral paraclinoid aneurysm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2011 and May 2016, the unilateral approach was used to clip a contralateral paraclinoid aneurysm plus additional ipsilateral aneurysms. The records of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 27 bilateral aneurysms in 12 patients were clipped successfully via a unilateral pterional craniotomy. All patients showed a good recovery (Glasgow Outcome Scale score: 5). Postoperative digital subtraction angiography or computed tomography angiography did not show any residual aneurysm. Of the three patients with preoperative visual symptoms, two showed improvement. No visual function impairment was observed among the others. CONCLUSION: The contralateral approach remains a safe and reliable treatment option for selected paraclinoid aneurysms and allows to clip additional ipsilateral aneurysm(s). Feasibility depends on the type of paraclinoid aneurysm and other specific related features. It is an alternative approach for experienced neurosurgeons.

LncRNA linc01116 prometes glioma cell migration and invasion by modulation of radixin targeted by miR-31.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) linc01116 was found to be abnormally expressed in many malignant tumor tissues and involved in cancer progression, but its expression and role in glioma tissue is still unclear. This study was designed to investigate the expression of linc01116 in glioma tissues and the role of linc01116 in glioma cell migration and invasion. METHODS: Linc01116 and miR-31 expression was measured in 135 cases of human glioma tissues and normal brain tissues using Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The function of linc01116 in glioma cells was determined by Transwell invasion assays and nude mice metastasis assay. Luciferase reporter system was used to confirm the connection between linc01116 and miR-31, or miR-31 and radixin. RESULTS: Linc01116 is highly expressed in glioma tissue and cells, along with low expression of miR-31, and there was a negative correlation between the expression of linc01116 and miR-31 in glioma tissue. In addition, the expression of linc01116 in glioma patients with metastasis was significantly higher than that in patients without metastasis, while miR-31 was significantly lower. In vitro and in vivo studies shown that linc01116 promoted invasion and migration of glioma cells. The luciferase gene reporter system had confirmed that linc01116 targeted miR-31 and miR-31 targeted radixin in U251 cells. Moreover, radixin was downregulated and decreased E-cadherin protein expression, but increased MMP-9 and vimentin protein expression in U251 cells. CONCLUSION: LncRNA linc01116 is highly expressed in glioma tissues, and it promotes glioma cell migration and invasion by modulation of radixin targeted by miR-31.

Comparison between frontolateral approach and pterional approach in the surgical treatment of paraclinoid aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pterional and frontolateral approach to determine the most effective route for paraclinoid aneurysm surgery. METHODS: Between June 2010 and December 2015, a total of 176 patients with paraclinoid aneurysm underwent surgical clipping, 96 through the pterional and 80 through the frontolateral approach. We analyzed the two groups and compared demographic, radiologic, and clinical variables including age, sex, aneurysm type,intraoperative rupture rates, operative time,anatomical obstacles,outcome and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The 2 groups were comparable with respect to baseline characteristics. The mean operation time was also signifcantly shorter in frontolateral group than in the pterion group (204.3 min vs. 264.1 min, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the mean craniotomy area was much smaller in the frontolateral group (1255.4 mm2 vs. 2758.5 mm2, p < 0.05). No patient experienced rebleeding in either group. In the frontolateral group, the exploration allows enough room for intracranial manipulation with maximal protection of the brain and other intracranial structures. CONCLUSION: The frontolateral approach is a simple, reliable, and efficient procedure. The frontolateral approach could be a good alternative to the classic pterional approach for the treatment of paraclinoid aneurysms.

Dynamics of Zebrafish Heart Regeneration Using an HPLC-ESI-MS/MS Approach.

Failure to properly repair damaged due to myocardial infarction is a major cause of heart failure. In contrast with adult mammals, zebrafish hearts show remarkable regenerative capabilities after substantial damage. To characterize protein dynamics during heart regeneration, we employed an HPLC-ESI-MS/MS (mass spectrometry) approach. Myocardium tissues were taken from sham-operated fish and ventricle-resected sample at three different time points (2, 7, and 14 days); dynamics of protein expression were analyzed by an ion-current-based quantitative platform. More than 2000 protein groups were quantified in all 16 experiments. Two hundred and nine heart-regeneration-related protein groups were quantified and clustered into six time-course patterns. Functional analysis indicated that multiple molecular function and metabolic pathways were involved in heart regeneration. Interestingly, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that P53 signaling was inhibited during the heart regeneration, which was further verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). In summary, we applied systematic proteomics analysis on regenerating zebrafish heart, uncovered the dynamics of regenerative genes expression and regulatory pathways, and provided invaluable insight into design regenerative-based strategies in human hearts.

Microsurgical treatment of carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm associated with multiple anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The clipping of multiple intracranial aneurysms in 1 stage is uncommon. In this case, we report clipping of an ophthalmic aneurysm associated with multiple anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms via the Dolenc approach. METHODS: The main symptoms of the patient are headache, along with nausea and vomiting. The patient's arteriogram revealed a wide-necked aneurysm of the right ophthalmic artery, an irregular aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery, and a basilar artery aneurysm. The surgical intervention for these aneurysms is a challenge because of the complex anatomical relationship with the surrounding structures. The 3 aneurysms, which were not amenable to a single intervention, were successfully clipped in 1 incision. RESULTS: After surgery, the patient reported feeling well. One year after surgery, the patient had no SAH recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Occasionally, surgical treatment was used even for aneurysms of the carotid-ophthalmic artery with aneurysms of anterior communicating artery and basilar artery, which are contraindicated for interventional therapy.

Intracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a very rare malignant cartilaginous forming tumour in central nervous system (CNS), which is rarely encountered in clinical practice and generally occurs in young adults. This article describes a case of primary intracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a 31-year-old woman and reviews the literature on its manifestations and management. CASE REPORT: This patient had suffered from severe headache, intermittent nausea and vomiting for 1 week. Systemic examination was unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a giant, heterogeneous, intensely enhancing mass of 6 × 5 × 4 cm, occupying the bilateral frontal and based on the anterior falx cerebri, which was initially thought to be a simply meningioma. The patient underwent a bicoronal craniotomy and gross total resection of the tumour. Pathologic examination revealed the mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. CONCLUSION: Intracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is an extreme rare neoplasm, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracranial mass like a meningioma. We emphasize the importance of surgical intervention and combination of microsurgical resection and radiotherapy, it should be the therapeutical choice of the future.

Progesterone increases circulating endothelial progenitor cells and induces neural regeneration after traumatic brain injury in aged rats.

Vascular remodeling plays a key role in neural regeneration in the injured brain. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a mediator of the vascular remodeling process. Previous studies have found that progesterone treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) decreases cerebral edema and cellular apoptosis and inhibits inflammation, which in concert promote neuroprotective effects in young adult rats. However, whether progesterone treatment regulates circulating EPC level and fosters vascular remodeling after TBI have not been investigated. In this study, we hypothesize that progesterone treatment following TBI increases circulating EPC levels and promotes vascular remodeling in the injured brain in aged rats. Male Wistar 20-month-old rats were subjected to a moderate unilateral parietal cortical contusion injury and were treated with or without progesterone (n=54/group). Progesterone was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 16mg/kg at 1 h post-TBI and was subsequently injected subcutaneously daily for 14 days. Neurological functional tests and immnunostaining were performed. Circulating EPCs were measured by flow cytometry. Progesterone treatment significantly improved neurological outcome after TBI measured by the modified neurological severity score, Morris Water Maze and the long term potentiation in the hippocampus as well as increased the circulating EPC levels compared to TBI controls (p<0.05). Progesterone treatment also significantly increased CD34 and CD31 positive cell number and vessel density in the injured brain compared to TBI controls (p<0.05). These data indicate that progesterone treatment of TBI improves multiple neurological functional outcomes, increases the circulating EPC level, and facilitates vascular remodeling in the injured brain after TBI in aged rats.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 mediates apolipoprotein A-IV transcriptional regulation by fatty acid in newborn swine enterocytes.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha (HNF-4alpha) regulates transcription of several genes involved in lipid metabolism, including that of apolipoprotein (apo) A-IV, which is tightly regulated by lipid absorption and enhances enterocyte chylomicron secretion. Studies were performed to define the role of HNF-4alpha in the regulation of apo A-IV gene transcription by dietary fatty acid in neonatal swine small intestine. HNF-4alpha mRNA was expressed in liver > intestine > kidney in suckling, weanling, and weaned pigs. Jejunal HNF-4alpha mRNA and protein and apo A-IV and swine microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) large subunit mRNA expression were induced in parallel in 2-day-old swine by a 24-h high-fat intraduodenal infusion. In IPEC-1 cells, incubation with oleic acid (OA) resulted in coordinate induction of both HNF-4alpha, apo A-IV, and MTP mRNA, similar to that observed in vivo. When HNF-4alpha expression was driven by doxycycline by using the TET-On system in the absence of OA to observe the effect of HNF-4alpha directly on apo A-IV and MTP mRNA levels in the absence of other factors that might be concomitantly induced by fatty acid absorption, apo A-IV and MTP expression were increased. In luciferase reporter gene assays in IPEC-1 cells using apo A-IV/C-III intergenic region constructs, TET-On-regulated HNF-4alpha expression without OA increased luciferase activity, and incubation with OA did not further increase activity. These data suggest that acute induction of the apo A-IV and MTP genes by dietary lipid in newborn intestine occurs, at least in part, via ligand-independent transactivation by HNF-4alpha that is itself induced by a lipid-mediated mechanism.