Non-oxidized and oxidized flaxseed orbitides differently induce HepG2 cell apoptosis: involvement of cellular uptake and membrane death receptor DR4.

BACKGROUND: Flaxseed orbitides have health-promoting properties, particularly potent anti-cancer activity. However, flaxseed orbitides containing a methionine structure, such as [1-9-NαC]-linusorb B2 (CLB), are easily oxidized to sulfoxide ([1-9-NαC],[1-Rs,Ss-MetO]-linusorb-B2 (CLC)) and sulfone ([1-9-NαC], [1-MetO]-linusorb B2 (CLK)), with CLC having less anti-cancer ability than CLB. It is unclear why oxidized flaxseed orbitides are less effective against cancer than non-oxidized flaxseed orbitide. RESULTS: Non-oxidized ([1-9-NαC]-linusorb-B3 (CLA) and CLB) and oxidized (CLC and CLK) flaxseed orbitides were found to significantly upregulate the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins, including Bax/Bcl-2, CytoC, caspase-3, and caspase-8, in a dose-dependent manner, with non-oxidized flaxseed orbitides being more effective than oxidized flaxseed orbitides. Mechanically, the cellular absorption of non-oxidized flaxseed orbitides was higher than that of oxidized flaxseed orbitides. Moreover, the significant fluorescence quenching of DR4 protein by flaxseed orbitides (especially non-oxidized orbitides) indicated the formation of a DR4-orbitide complex. Molecular docking demonstrated that non-oxidized orbitides could easily dock into the active cavity of DR4 protein. Further blocking DR4 significantly reduced the ability of non-oxidized flaxseed orbitides to stimulate caspase-3 expression, whereas oxidized flaxseed orbitides retained this ability. CONCLUSION: Non-oxidized flaxseed orbitides are more effective against cancer than oxidized flaxseed orbitides due to higher cellular uptake and activation of the DR4-mediated death receptor signaling pathway. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Identification of key genes and the pathophysiology associated with allergen-specific immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is a causative treatment in allergic rhinitis (AR), comprising long-term allergen administration and over three years of treatment. This study is carried out for revealing the mechanisms and key genes of AIT in AR. METHODS: The present study utilized online Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray expression profiling dataset GSE37157 and GSE29521 to analyze the hub genes changes related to AIT in AR. Based on limma package, differential expression analysis for the two groups (samples of allergic patients prior to AIT and samples of allergic patients undergoing AIT) was performed to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of DEGs were conducted using DAVID database. A Protein-Protein Interaction network (PPI) was built and a significant network module was acquired by using Cytoscape software (Cytoscape, 3.7.2). Utilizing the miRWalk database, we identified potential gene biomarkers, constructed interaction networks of target genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) using Cytoscape software, and explore the cell type-specific expression patterns of these genes in peripheral blood using publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data (GSE200107). Finally, we are using PCR to detect changes in the hub genes that are screened using the above method in peripheral blood before and after AIT treatment. RESULTS: GSE37157 and GSE29521 included 28 and 13 samples, respectively. A total of 119 significantly co-upregulated DEGs and 33 co-downregulated DEGs were obtained from two datasets. The GO and KEGG analyses demonstrated that protein transport, positive regulation of apoptotic process, Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, T cell receptor signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway and Apoptosis may be potential candidate therapeutic targets for AIT of AR. From the PPI network, 20 hub genes were obtained. Among them, the PPI sub-networks of CASP3, FOXO3, PIK3R1, PIK3R3, ATF4, and POLD3 screened out from our study have been identified as reliable predictors of AIT in AR, especially the PIK3R1. CONCLUSION: Our analysis has identified novel gene signatures, thereby contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AIT in the treatment of AR.

Differential susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 in the normal nasal mucosa and in chronic sinusitis.

Human nasal mucosa is susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and serves as a reservoir for viral replication before spreading to other organs (e.g. the lung and brain) and transmission to other individuals. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common respiratory tract disease and there is evidence suggesting that susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection differs between the two known subtypes, eosinophilic CRS and non-ECRS (NECRS). However, the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the human nasal mucosa and its association with CRS has not been experimentally validated. In this study, we investigated whether the human nasal mucosa is susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and how different endotypes of CRS impact on viral infection and progression. Primary human nasal mucosa tissue culture revealed highly efficient SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and production, with particularly high susceptibility in the NECRS group. The gene expression differences suggested that human nasal mucosa is highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, presumably due to an increase in ACE2-expressing cells and a deficiency in antiviral immune response, especially for NECRS. Importantly, patients with NECRS may be at a particularly high risk of viral infection and transmission, and therefore, close monitoring should be considered.

Chinese Expert Consensus on the Use of Biologics in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis (2022, Zhuhai).

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common inflammatory disease in otolaryngology, mainly manifested as nasal congestion, nasal discharge, facial pain/pressure, and smell disorder. CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), an important phenotype of CRS, has a high recurrence rate even after receiving corticosteroids and/or functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In recent years, clinicians have focused on the application of biological agents in CRSwNP. However, it has not reached a consensus on the timing and selection of biologics for the treatment of CRS so far. SUMMARY: We reviewed the previous studies of biologics in CRS and summarized the indications, contraindications, efficacy assessment, prognosis, and adverse effects of biologics. Also, we evaluated the treatment response and adverse reactions of dupilumab, omalizumab, and mepolizumab in the management of CRS and made recommendations. KEY MESSAGES: Dupilumab, omalizumab, and mepolizumab have been approved for the treatment of CRSwNP by the US Food and Drug Administration. Type 2 and eosinophilic inflammation, need for systemic steroids or contraindication to systemic steroids, significantly impaired quality of life, anosmia, and comorbid asthma are required for the use of biologics. Based on current evidence, dupilumab has the prominent advantage in improving quality of life and reducing the risk of comorbid asthma in CRSwNP among the approved monoclonal antibodies. Most patients tolerate biological agents well in general with few major or severe adverse effects. Biologics have provided more options for severe uncontrolled CRSwNP patients or patients who refuse to have surgery. In the future, more novel biologics will be assessed in high-quality clinical trials and applied clinically.

Patterns of Caudate Lobe Invasion of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A Panoramic Histologic Study of Liver.

BACKGROUND: At present, caudate lobectomy (CL) in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) was controversial. Our study was designed to investigate the features of caudate lobe invasion (CLI) by whole-mount histologic large sections (WHLS). METHODS: A total of 46 HCCA patients underwent hemihepatectomy or trisectionectomy combined with CL were included. Serial WHLS (120 mm × 100 mm) were collected, and the relationship between caudate lobe and tumor was retained to determine the incidence of CLI. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were completed to further explore the pathway of CLI. RESULTS: The whole region of the Glisson system in caudate lobe and hilar area can be clearly displayed by WHLS, and 32 (32/46 69.6%) patients were identified with CLI. There were three different pathways of CLI with panoramic IHC staining. The most common pathway is through the fibrous connective tissue along Glisson system (20/32 62.5%, without carcinoma in bile ducts). The Bismuth type, tumor size, vascular invasion, pathological type, and hepatic invasion were related to the CLI (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and distribution of CLI provided histologic evidence for CL in HCCA. Based on the invasion pathway, it is necessary to assess the fibrous connective tissue in Glisson system of caudate lobe in pathological research and practice.

Petrositis caused by fluconazole-resistant candida: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Petrositis is a rare and fatal complication associated with otitis media. It is most likely caused by bacterial infections, but in some cases it is caused by fungal infections. CASE STUDY: The case in this report is associated with fungal petrositis. The clinical symptoms are: ear pain from chronic otitis media, severe headache, peripheral facial palsy and diplopia. The case was finally confirmed through imaging of middle ear, bacterial culture, pathology, and blood Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) test. The patient was treated with sensitive antifungal drugs. CONCLUSION: Drug treatment is conservative but efficient method in this case. mNGS can provide pathogenic reference, when antibiotic is not efficient enough for fungal infections or drug-resistant fungal infections cases. This allows we to adjust drug use for the treatment.

Significance of Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Carbon Monoxide in Auxiliary Diagnosis and Evaluation of Allergic Rhinitis.

Objective: The concentration of exhaled NO and CO is considered as a candidate marker of respiratory inflammatory disease. This report discusses the exhaled NO and CO in the auxiliary diagnosis and evaluation of allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: 60 AR patients from October 2017 to March 2019, compared with 30 healthy controls. The severity of AR disease was distinguished by symptom score. Both groups were tested for exhaled nitric oxide through the nose or mouth and exhale carbon monoxide through the mouth. AR patients received glucocorticoid nasal spray for 1 month and were tested again for nNO, eNO, eCO, and symptom score. Results: Before treatment, all the nNO, eNO, and eCO of the AR group were higher than the control group. There were differences in the severe and moderate subgroup: severe > moderate > mild. eCO was not significantly different between the mild and control groups. The nNO, eNO, and eCO levels were positively correlated with symptom score. After treatment, nNO decreased significantly in the three subgroups; eNO and eCO in the severe AR group decreased significantly. Drawing the ROC curve, the area under curve (AUC) of nNO is 0.978. The AUC of eNO and eCO was 0.786 and 0.577, respectively. Conclusion: The nNO, eNO, and eCO in the AR group are higher than healthy people, which positively correlated with the severity of AR symptoms. The detection of nNO, eNO, and eCO can monitor the changes of AR. The detection of nNO level as an indicator of AR auxiliary diagnosis has high accuracy.

Roles of regulatory B cells in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common otolaryngologic disease with frequent episodes of sneezing, clear nasal discharge flow and nasal congestion. The mechanisms of AR are complex and considered generally caused by the immune tolerance deficiency. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are immunosuppressive cells that can modulate immune responses by the secretion of IL-10, IL-35, and tumor growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and via the interaction of membrane surface molecules. However, Bregs are numerically deficient and/or dysfunctional in airway allergic diseases such as AR and allergic asthma, and the related mechanisms remain unclear. In this review, we summarize the role of Bregs in AR pathogenesis and highlight the importance of Bregs in maintaining immune tolerance. It is believed that further research on Bregs will contribute to developing new treatments and finding specific biomarkers that could help to predict disease progression.

Lanthanum Chloride Inhibits LPS Mediated Expressions of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Adhesion Molecules in HUVECs: Involvement of NF-κB-Jmjd3 Signaling.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the regulation of LaCl3 on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: Primary cultured HUVECs were pretreated with 2.5 µM LaCl3 for 30 min followed by 1 µg/ml LPS for 2 h. Pro-inflammatory cytokine and adhesion molecule expressions were determined by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation was examined by immunofluorescence and immuno-blot, and its DNA-binding activity was measured by chemiluminescence. Recruitment of NF-κB/p65, Jmjd3, and H3K27me3 to gene promoter regions was determined by ChIP-qPCR. RESULTS: LaCl3 exhibited no cytotoxic effects to primary HUVECs at concentrations ≤ 50 µM. LPS-mediated TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, MMP-9, and ICAM-1 production, nuclear translocation, and DNA-binding activity of NF-κB/p65, as well as Jmjd3 expression, were all reduced significantly by LaCl3. Furthermore, LaCl3 treatment significantly impaired LPS-induced enrichment of NF-κB/p65 to the promoter regions of TNF-α, MMP-9, IL-1ß, ICAM-1, and IL-6; and of Jmjd3 to the promoter regions of TNF-α, MMP-9, IL-1ß, and IL-6. H3K27me3 abundance in the promoter regions of TNF-α and ICAM-1 increased significantly in following LaCl3 treatment. CONCLUSION: LaCl3 inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine and adhesion molecule expressions induced by LPS in HUVECs. NF-κB and histone demethylase Jmjd3 are involved in this effect.

The regulation of Jmjd3 upon the expression of NF-κB downstream inflammatory genes in LPS activated vascular endothelial cells.

Inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules have been implicated in a variety of diseases including atherosclerosis. As both the mediator-releasing and targeted cells, vascular endothelial cells play key role in pathological processes. NF-κB signaling regulates a cluster of inflammatory factors in LPS-activated vascular endothelial cells but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the epigenetic regulation of LPS upon the expression of inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules. We found that LPS treatment promoted jmjd3 expression, enhanced Jmjd3 nuclear accumulation in human vascular endothelial cells. In addition, LPS enhanced the demethylation of H3K27me3, a specific substrate of Jmjd3. LPS treatment recruited Jmjd3 and NF-κB to the promoter region of target genes, suggesting Jmjd3 synergizes with NF-κB to activate the expression of target genes. We further found that Jmjd3 attenuated the methylation status in promoter region of target genes, culminating in target gene expression. Our findings unveil epigenetic regulations of LPS upon NF-κB pathway and identify Jmjd3 as a critical modulator of NF-κB pathway and potential therapeutic target for NF-κB related diseases including atherosclerosis.

Prediction of rhinitis with class imbalance based on heterogeneous ensemble learning.

Common clinical rhinitis is characterized by different types of cases and class imbalance. Its prediction belongs to multiple output classification. Low recognition rate and poor generalization performance often occur for minority class. Therefore, we propose a novel integrated classification model, ARF-OOBEE, which transforms the multi-output classification to multi-label classification and multi-class classification. The multi-label classifier automatically adjusts the number and depth of integrated forest learners according to the imbalance ratio of single class label in a subset. It can effectively reduce the impact of class imbalance on classification and improve prediction performance of both majority or minority class concurrently. Also, we build a multi-class classification based on out-of-bag Extra-Tree to accomplish finer classification for the predicted labels. In addition, we calculate the feature importance for rhinitis on the grounds of the purity of nodes in decision-making tree inside Random Forest and study the correlation between rhinitis features. We conduct 12 folds cross-validation experiments on 461 cases of clinical rhinitis. The outcomes show that the evaluation indicators of ARF-OOBEE, such as Sensitivity, Specificity, Accuracy, F1-Score, AUC, and G-Mean are 74.9%,86.5%,92.0%,78.3%,95.3%, and 79.9%, respectively. In comparison to the other methods, ARF-OOBEE has better evaluation indicator and is more effective for the early clinical diagnosis of rhinitis.

Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in Allergy.

Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells constitute a distinct subset within the memory T cell population, serving as the vanguard against invading pathogens and antigens in peripheral non-lymphoid tissues, including the respiratory tract, intestines, and skin. Notably, TRM cells adapt to the specific microenvironment of each tissue, predominantly maintaining a sessile state with distinctive phenotypic and functional attributes. Their role is to ensure continuous immunological surveillance and protection. Recent findings have highlighted the pivotal contribution of TRM cells to the modulation of adaptive immune responses in allergic disorders such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and dermatitis. A comprehensive understanding of the involvement of TRM cells in allergic diseases bears profound implications for allergy prevention and treatment. This review comprehensively explores the phenotypic characteristics, developmental mechanisms, and functional roles of TRM cells, focusing on their intricate relationship with allergic diseases.

Metformin dampens the progression of cholangiofibrosis induced by thioacetamide using deep learning.

Purpose: The consistent use of metformin has been linked to a reduced incidence of neoplastic diseases among diabetic populations. As a preventive intervention, metformin may offer a more favorable risk-benefit profile. Here, we explored the efficacy of metformin in the primary prevention of cholangiofibrosis, which can precede the carcinogen-induced development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Our objective was to assess the potential of metformin to act as an intervention prior to the onset of these conditions. Methods: A rat model of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced cholangiofibrosis was utilized to assess the impact of metformin on the induction process of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Liver tissues were harvested and analyzed histologically using light microscopy, complemented by a deep-learning convolutional neural network for enhanced evaluation. Additionally, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to investigate the genetic alterations associated with metformin treatment in this TAA-induced cholangiofibrosis model. Results: In the rat model, the TAA control group exhibited an increased incidence and average count of cholangiofibrosis cases in the liver, with rates of 100 % and an average of 12.0, compared to the metformin-treated group, which showed an incidence of 70 % and an average of 3.3. Notably, the progression from normal cholangioles to cholangiofibrosis was associated with the upregulation of several proteins critical for metabolic processes and the tumor microenvironment. These alterations were significantly mitigated by metformin treatment. Conclusions: Long-term metformin use may offer protective benefits against cholangiofibrosis, partially by regulating metabolic processes and improving the tumor microenvironment.

Pattern and extent of intrahepatic infiltration of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma - A case-control study based on liver panoramic digital pathology.

BACKGROUND: The extent of intrahepatic infiltration of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) remains unclear. This research aimed to explore the pattern and extent of intrahepatic infiltration of PHCC to guide surgical treatment and pathological research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 62 patients diagnosed with PHCC who underwent major hepatectomy. A whole-mount digital liver pathology system (WDLPS) for hepatectomy specimens greater than 10 × 10 cm was used to panoramically assess the intrahepatic infiltration extent of PHCC. RESULTS: The distal intrahepatic infiltration (DIHI) and radial liver invasion (RLI) were important parts of intrahepatic infiltration for PHCC explored by WDLPS. The study confirmed that 75.8% of PHCCs had RLI and the infiltration distance in all patients were within 15,000 µm, 62.9% of PHCCs had DIHI greater than 1 cm away from the main tumor in liver parenchyma. The recurrence-free survival rates and overall survival rates of patients with DIHI were poorer than the patients without DIHI (P＜0.0001, P=0.0038). Arterial invasion on the resected side could be an excellent predictor. A total of 105 liver lobes were resected from 62 PHCC patients. The invasion rates of the left lateral, left medial, right anterior, and right posterior lobe of PHCC were 79%, 100, 100%, and 69% respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of DIHI in most PHCCs was a significant predictor of poor postoperative recurrence and survival. Based on the extent of intrahepatic infiltration, minor hepatectomy was not suitable as the curative surgery for PHCC. Major hepatectomy and liver transplantation were the ideal radical treatment.

[Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases exacerbated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （2024, Chengdu）].

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-exacerbated respiratory disease （N-ERD） is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by eosinophilic inflammation, featuring chronic rhinosinusitis （CRS）, asthma, and intolerance to cyclooxygenase 1 （COX-1） inhibitors. The use of these medications can lead to an acute worsening of rhinitis and asthma symptoms. This condition has not yet received sufficient attention in China, with a high rate of misdiagnosis and a lack of related research. The Chinese Rhinology Research Group convened a group of leading young experts in otolaryngology from across the country, based on the latest domestic and international evidence-based medical practices to formulate this consensus.The consensus covers the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies for N-ERD, including pharmacotherapy, surgery, biologic treatments, and desensitization therapy. The goal is to improve recognition of N-ERD, reduce misdiagnosis, and enhance treatment outcomes.

Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain infection in China: A national multicenter survey of 35,566 individuals.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the epidemiology of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to COVID-19 in China. Methods: This study was conducted by 45 tertiary Grade-A hospitals in China. Online and offline questionnaire data were obtained from patients infected with COVID-19 between December 28, 2022, and February 21, 2023. The collected information included basic demographics, medical history, smoking and drinking history, vaccination history, changes in olfactory and gustatory functions before and after infection, and other postinfection symptoms, as well as the duration and improvement status of olfactory and gustatory disorders. Results: Complete questionnaires were obtained from 35,566 subjects. The overall incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunction was 67.75%. Being female or being a cigarette smoker increased the likelihood of developing olfactory and taste dysfunction. Having received four doses of the vaccine or having good oral health or being a alcohol drinker decreased the risk of such dysfunction. Before infection, the average olfactory and taste VAS scores were 8.41 and 8.51, respectively; after infection, they decreased to 3.69 and 4.29 and recovered to 5.83 and 6.55 by the time of the survey. The median duration of dysosmia and dysgeusia was 15 and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% of patients having symptoms lasting for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate was 59.16%. Recovery was higher in males, never smokers, those who received two or three vaccine doses, and those that had never experienced dental health issues, or chronic accompanying symptoms. Conclusions: The incidence of dysosmia and dysgeusia following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is high in China. Incidence and prognosis are influenced by several factors, including sex, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, history of head-facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking and drinking history, and the persistence of accompanying symptoms.

MicroRNA-143 downregulates interleukin-13 receptor alpha1 in human mast cells.

MicroRNA-143 (miR-143) was found to be downregulated in allergic rhinitis, and bioinformatics analysis predicted that IL-13Rα1 was a target gene of miR-143. To understand the molecular mechanisms of miR-143 involved in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation, recombinant miR-143 plasmid vectors were constructed, and human mast cell-1(HMC-1) cells which play a central role in the allergic response were used for study. The plasmids were transfected into HMC-1 cells using a lentiviral vector. Expression of IL-13Rα1 mRNA was then detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blotting. The miR-143 lentiviral vector was successfully stably transfected in HMC-1 cells for target gene expression. Compared to the control, the target gene IL-13Rα1 was less expressed in HMC-1 transfected with miR-143 as determined by RT-PCR and Western Blotting (p < 0.05); this difference in expression was statistically significant and the inhibition efficiency was 71%. It indicates that miR-143 directly targets IL-13Rα1 and suppresses IL-13Rα1 expression in HMC-1 cells. Therefore, miR-143 may be associated with allergic reaction in human mast cells.