A Pan-Cancer Analysis of the Immunological and Prognostic Role of BUB1 Mitotic Checkpoint Serine/Threonine Kinase B (BUB1B) in Human Tumors.

BACKGROUND: BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase B (BUB1B) is a member of the spindle assembly checkpoint family and is related to cancer disease progression, invasion, metastasis, and functional promotion of angiogenesis. Several studies have noted that the BUB1B gene is frequently upregulated in various types of cancers. However, the expression patterns of BUB1B across different cancer types and its diagnostic and prognostic potential have not been investigated from a pan-cancer perspective. METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data were used to explore the diagnostic and prognostic immunological potential of BUB1B in 33 cancer types. RESULTS: BUB1B was almost universally upregulated across all cancers, with increased protein expression in at least six cancer types and an enhanced phosphorylation level of S670 in two cancer types. Furthermore, BUB1B expression was negatively associated with clinical progression and prognosis in most cancers. BUB1B expression was positively associated with tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability in 17 and 7 cancer types, respectively, and there was a correlation between BUB1B expression and DNA methylation at multiple probes in 30 cancer types. Additionally, a positive relationship existed between BUB1B expression and the infiltration levels of Th2, Tcm, and T helper cells, whereas BUB1B showed a negative correlation with the infiltration levels of other immune cells in multiple cancers. Moreover, functions associated with cell cycle progression and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis were involved in the functional mechanism of BUB1B. CONCLUSIONS: Our pan-cancer study offers a comprehensive understanding of the role of BUB1B in tumorigenesis and tumor immunity across different types of cancer.

The Mediating Role of Systemic Inflammation in the Effects of Fetal Famine Exposure on Cardiovascular Disease in Adults: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: A few studies have reported the association between famine exposure during fetal development and risk of CVD, but no mechanisms have been explored. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine risk of CVD in adulthood after exposure to famine during the fetal stage and explore the mediating role of systemic inflammation. METHODS: A total of 59,416 participants of the Kailuan Study without CVD were included. All participants were divided into 3 groups based on date of birth, including the unexposed group (1963-1974), the fetal-exposed group (1959-1962), and the childhood-exposed group (1949-1958). Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (neutrophils × platelets / lymphocytes) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) (neutrophils × monocytes / lymphocytes) are 2 novel systemic inflammation indexes that represent the level of systemic inflammation. Time-weighted Cox regression was used to test the effect of famine exposure on risk of CVD, and a mediation model was used to calculate the role of systemic inflammation. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 12.36 (12.69, 13.16) y, a total of 3772 cases of CVD were documented. Compared with unexposed participants, the fetal-exposed group had an increased risk of CVD (HR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.38) and stroke (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.51) but not MI. No association was observed in the childhood-exposed group. In mediation analysis, SII mediated an estimated 24.43% of the association between fetal exposure and CVD (24.61% for stroke and 23.27% for MI). For SIRI, this percentage was 30.20% for CVD (29.94% for stroke and 31.25% of MI). CONCLUSIONS: Fetal exposure to famine may increase risk of CVD in adulthood. Systemic inflammation may play an intermediary role in the effect of fetal famine exposure on CVD.

Construction of ceRNA Regulatory Network in Human Oocytes.

BACKGROUND: Cryogenic freezing, often known as cryopreservation, is a technique for preserving human oocytes. METHODS: In this study, differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were identified using the human frozen oocyte dataset GSE69768 from the Gene Expression Database (GEO). Subsequently, combined with the microRNA atlas database, the miRNAs combined with differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were predicted, and the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction relationship and competitive endogenous (ceRNA) regulatory network were obtained. RESULTS: The results revealed that multiple DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs were involved in the ceRNA network of the human oocyte. Finally, GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the differentially expressed mRNA (DEmRNA) in the ceRNA network, and the biological processes and pathways that may be related to the ceRNA network in frozen oocytes were explored. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, in the ceRNA network for human oocyte, lncRNA, mRNA, and miRNA do not each operate via a distinct, independent mechanism. Not only does the RNA-RNA contact involve the ceRNA regulatory mechanism, but it also involves interactions between proteins that are encoded by genes. Furthermore, the negative effects of inter-individual variations and instability on the quality of high-throughput detection cannot be completely ruled out due to the paucity of human oocyte data containing both mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles.

Is no de-squamatization of the TM reliable for cartilage over-underlay myringoplasty without external auditory canal packing?

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the graft and hearing outcomes of patients with chronic perforations treated via the cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay technique without de-squamatization of the TM and external auditory canal (EAC) packing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with chronic perforations and residual tympanic membranes around the perforation margins were treated using the cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay technique without de-squamatization of the TM and EAC packing. Patients were followed-up for 6 months. RESULTS: For all 39 patients with unilateral perforations, the graft success rate was 100% (39/39) at 6 months after surgery. The mean air-bone gap significantly (P < 0.05) improved from 13.41 ± 8.34 dB preoperatively to 7.45 ± 3.81 dB postoperatively in patients with small and medium perforations; the mean air-bone gap significantly improved from 20.57 ± 9.41 dB preoperatively to 9.84 ± 2.41 dB postoperatively in patients with large perforations. The lateral perichondrium gradually became necrotic and crust at postoperative 2-3 months and migrated into the EAC in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay myringoplasty without de-squamatization of the TM and EAC packing is feasible, affording a high graft success rate and good hearing improvement. The lateral perichondrium may gradually become necrotic and crusted, and migrate along the EAC over time.

Discovery of novel inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 with 1-phenyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline scaffold: Structure-based drug design and fragment identification.

Currently, it is in urgent need to develop novel selective PDE4 inhibitors with novel structural scaffolds to overcome the adverse effects and improve the efficacy. Novel 1-phenyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline amide derivatives were developed as potential PDE4 inhibitors based on the structure-based drug design and fragment identification strategy. A SARs analysis was performed in substituents attached in the C-3 side chain phenyl ring, indicating that the attachment of methoxy group or halogen atom substitution at the ortho-position of the phenyl ring was helpful to enhance both inhibitory activity toward PDE4B and selectivity. Compound 15 with excellent selectivity, exhibited the most potent inhibition in vitro and in vivo, which is a promising lead for development of a new class of selective PDE4 inhibitors.

[Dietary quality among heat-exposed steelworkers in Tangshan City in 2015].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dietary quality and find the dietary problems among heat-exposed steelworkers. METHODS: During May and June of 2015, 301 heat-exposed steelworkers were recruited using a cluster sampling method from three workshops in steel works of the Tangshan Iron & Steel Group. In the study, 3 day twentyfour hour(24 h) recall method was used to conduct the dietary survey. The adjusted diet balance index(DBI)-2007 was used to evaluate the dietary quality. RESULTS: The low bound score(LBS) and high bound score(HBS) of heat-exposed steelworkers were 26-39 and 14-20, their diet quality distance(DQD) was 49. 85±7. 3. About 159(52. 8%)and 131(43. 5%) workers were in moderate and high dietary imbalance status. The LBS and DQD of the workers at occupational exposure to heat stress level IV((33. 7±6. 3) and(51. 1±7. 1)) were higher than those of the workers at heat stress level Ⅱ((27. 7±6. 0)and(44. 9±7. 2)) and Ⅲ((28. 5 ± 5. 7) and(45. 1 ± 6. 1))(P < 0. 001). The main dietary pattern of 43. 5% workers was pattern E. The percentages of worker 's intake meeting to high temperature recommended amount(score 0-1) of vegetable, fruit, bean, salt and drinking water in working were respectively 9. 3%, 11. 0%, 43. 8%, 1. 7% and17. 3%. All(100%) workers ' intakes of milk and fish did not meet diet pagoda recommended amount. 278(92. 4%) and 254(84. 4%) workers' meat and egg intakes achieved or exceeded diet pagoda recommended amount. CONCLUSION: nutritional structure of heat-exposed steelworkers was still unreasonable. The intakes of water during working, vegetables, fruits, milk, beans, fish and shrimp and salt were insufficient, while the intakes of grains and meat were excessive. The main dietary pattern of workers was pattern E, which reflect middle insufficient intake and excessive intake. No workers was pattern A, which reflect optimal dietary pattern with less insufficient intake and excessive intake.

Structure-based design and structure-activity relationships of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as potential PDE4 inhibitors.

This paper describes our medicinal chemistry efforts on 7-(cyclopentyloxy)-6-methoxy1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline scaffold: design, synthesis and biological evaluation using conformational restriction approach and bioisosteric replacement strategy. Biological data revealed that the majority of the synthesized compounds of this series displayed moderate to potent inhibitory activity against PDE4B and strong inhibition of LPS-induced TNFα release. Among them, compound 19 exhibited the strongest inhibition against PDE4B with an IC50 of 0.88 µM and 21 times more potent selectivity toward PDE4B over PDE4D when compared to rolipram. A primary structure-activity relationship study showed that the attachment of CH3O group or CF3O group to the phenyl ring at the para-position was helpful to enhance the inhibitory activity against PDE4B. Moreover, sulfonamide group played a key role in improving the inhibitory activity against PDE4B and subtype selectivity. In addition, the attachment of the additional rigid substituents at the C-3 position of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline ring was favored to subtype selectivity, which was consistent well with the observed docking simulation.

Synthesis and bioactivity of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole derivatives as potential PDE4 inhibitors.

A series of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole derivatives containing 5-phenyl-2-furan moiety were designed and synthesized as phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitors. Bioassay results showed that the title compounds exhibited considerable inhibitory activity against PDE4B and blockade of LPS-induced TNFα release. Among the designed compounds, compound If showed the best inhibitory activity against PDE4B with the IC50 value of 1.7 µM, which also showed good in vivo activity in animal models of asthma/COPD and sepsis induced by LPS. The primary structure-activity relationship (SAR) study and docking results suggested that introduction of the substituent groups to the phenyl ring at the para-position, especially methoxy group, was helpful to enhance inhibitory activity against PDE4B.

Design, Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationship of Novel Aphicidal Mezzettiaside-Type Oligorhamnosides and Their Analogues.

Oligosaccharides have been used for an environmentally friendly insect control in the agricultural industry. In order to discover novel eco-friendly pesticides, a series of partially acetylated oligorhamnoses mezzettiasides, 2-8, and their analogues, 9-14, with biosurfactant characteristics were designed and synthesized, some of which exhibited comparable to or even stronger aphicidal activity than pymetrozine. Preliminary SAR studies demonstrated that the aphicidal activity of mezzettiasides analogs is highly dependent on their structures, including both the sugar length and the substitutes on the sugar. Among them, trirhamnolipid 9 displayed the strongest aphicidal activity, with an LC50 of 0.019 mmol/L, indicating that the biosurfactant 9 may have potential for use as an environmentally friendly agricultural pesticide.

[Effects of the nutritional education and dietary intervention on nutritional status and bone mineral density of middle-aged and senile patients with osteoporosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the nutritional education and dietary intervention on nutritional status and bone mineral density (BMD) of middle-aged and senile patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: Ninty middle-aged and senile osteoporosis patients were enrolled. They were randomly divided into two groups (intervention and control group) with 45 cases each. The control group was received conventional therapy and the intervention group added with nutritional education and dietary intervention for six months on the basis of conventional therapy. The methods of education and intervention included seminars, brochures distribution, dietary survey and individual guidance. The nutritional status and BMD were analyzed at the beginning and the end of the intervention respectively. RESULTS: After the intervention, the ratios of subjects whose intake of grain, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk and beans in line with recommended intake of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, frequencies of coarse grain, dairy, beans and seafood consumption of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the daily intakes of protein, VA, VC, calcium, zinc, magnesium, dietary fiber of the intervention group were significantly superior to the control group (P < 0.05). BMDs of lumbar spine and femoral neck in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The nutritional education and dietary intervention could promote middle-aged and senile patients' reasonable diet, improve their nutritional status, enhance bone mineral density and improve the effect of conventional therapy for osteoporosis.

Risk factors affecting human traumatic tympanic membrane perforation regeneration therapy using fibroblast growth factor-2.

OBJECTIVE: The use of growth factors to achieve closure of human traumatic tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs) has recently been demonstrated. However, pretreatment factors affecting healing outcomes have seldom been discussed. The objective of this study was to evaluate pretreatment factors contributing to the success or failure of healing of TMPs using fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective cohort study of 99 patients (43 males, 56 females) with traumatic TMPs who were observed for at least 6 months after FGF-2 treatment between March 2011 and December 2012. Eleven factors considered likely to affect the outcome of perforation closure were evaluated statistically using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Each traumatic TMP was treated by direct application of FGF-2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complete closure versus failure to close. RESULTS: In total, 99 patients were analyzed. The total closure rate was 92/99 (92.9%) at 6 months; the mean closure time was 10.59 ± 6.81 days. The closure rate did not significantly differ between perforations with or without inverted edges (100.0% vs. 91.4%, p = 0.087), among different size groups (p = 0.768), or among different periods of exposure to injury (p = 0.051). However, the closure rate was significantly different between the high- and low-dose FGF-2 groups (85.0% vs. 98.3%, p = 0.010) and between perforations where the umbo or malleus was or was not involved in perforation (85.4% vs. 98.3%, p = 0.012). Additionally, univariate logistic regression analysis tests showed that it was difficult to achieve healing of these perforations with a history of chronic otitis media or residual TM calcification (p = 0.006), the umbo or malleus was involved in perforation (p = 0.038), and with a high dose of FGF-2 (p = 0.035) compared with control groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only a history of chronic otitis media and residual TM calcification and perforation close to the umbo or malleus were associated with non-healing of the TM perforation (p = 0.03 and p = 0.017, respectively) with relative risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Direct application of FGF-2 can be used in all traumatic TMPs, the size of the perforation and inverted edges did not affect the closure rate, and the most beneficial dose was sufficient to keep the residual eardrum environment moist, but without adding liquid. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a large perforation was not a major risk factor for nonhealing of TM perforations. However, a history of chronic otitis media, residual TM calcification and involvement of the umbo or malleus in perforation were significant risk factors.

Utility of basic fibroblast growth factor in the repair of blast-induced total or near-total tympanic membrane perforations: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: A pilot study was performed to investigate the utility of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the repair of blast-induced total or near-total tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were treated with 0.10-0.15 mL of bFGF solution applied directly to total or near-total TMPs once daily until the perforations closed or for a maximum of 6 months. The treatment response was monitored via serial otoendoscopy, and audiometric outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Complete TMP closure was achieved in 16 of 17 patients with a blast-induced total or near-total TMP. The mean closure time was 28.4 ± 10.9 days. The improvement in hearing from pre- to post-treatment was statistically significant. There were no complications or adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The direct application of bFGF to blast-induced total or near-total TMPs is a promising, minimally invasive alternative to conventional tympanoplasty, with a comparable success rate. As reported in the literature, the closure rate was higher than achieved with spontaneous healing. There was no effect of the inverted edge on healing outcome. The use of bFGF in this setting has immediate therapeutic applications for military personnel with blast-induced TMPs who are stationed in isolated, remote environments.

Discovery of Potent and Selective PI3Kδ Inhibitors for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

PI3Kδ is an essential target correlated to the occurrence and development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Herein, we investigated the pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as potent and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors with high therapeutic efficacy toward AML. There were 44 compounds designed and prepared in a four-round optimization, and the biological evaluation showed that (S)-36 exhibited potent PI3Kδ inhibitory activity, high selectivity, and high antiproliferative activities against MV-4-11 and MOLM-13 cells, coupled with high oral bioavailability (F = 59.6%). In the MOLM-13 subcutaneous xenograft model, (S)-36 could significantly suppress the tumor progression with a TGI of 67.81% at an oral administration dosage of 10 mg/kg without exhibiting obvious toxicity. Mechanistically, (S)-36 could robustly inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway for significant suppression of cell proliferation and remarkable induction of apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, compound (S)-36 represents a promising PI3Kδ inhibitor for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia with high efficacy.

Discovery of Novel Azaindoles as Potent and Selective PI3Kδ Inhibitors for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system and the unmet need for MS treatment demands new therapeutic development. Particularly, PI3Kδ is a high-value target for autoimmune disease, while the investigation of PI3Kδ inhibitors for MS therapy is relatively scarce. Herein, we report a novel class of azaindoles as PI3Kδ inhibitors for MS treatment. Compound 31, designed via nitrogen bioisosterism, displayed excellent PI3Kδ inhibitory activity and selectivity. In vitro assay showed that 31 exhibited superior activity on T lymphocytes to inhibit the proliferation of CD4+, CD8+, and CD3+ T cells. In the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, 31 showed a comparable therapeutical efficacy with Dexamethasone to significantly ameliorate EAE symptoms. Mechanistic studies showed that compound 31 could significantly inhibit the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and inhibited T-cell proliferation and differentiation. Overall, this work provides a new structural PI3Kδ inhibitor and a new vision for MS therapy.

TYM-3-98, a novel selective inhibitor of PI3Kδ, demonstrates promising preclinical antitumor activity in B-cell lymphomas.

AIMS: PI3Kδ is expressed predominately in leukocytes and is commonly found to be aberrantly activated in human B-cell lymphomas. Although PI3Kδ has been intensively targeted for discovering anti-lymphoma drugs, the application of currently approved PI3Kδ inhibitors has been limited due to unwanted systemic toxicities, thus warranting the development of novel PI3Kδ inhibitors with new scaffolds. MAIN METHODS: We designed TYM-3-98, an indazole derivative, and evaluated its selectivity for all four PI3K isoforms, as well as its efficacy against various B-cell lymphomas both in vitro and in vivo. KEY FINDINGS: We identified TYM-3-98 as a highly selective PI3Kδ inhibitor over other PI3K isoforms at both molecular and cellular levels. It showed superior antiproliferative activity in several B-lymphoma cell lines compared with the approved first-generation PI3Kδ inhibitor idelalisib. TYM-3-98 demonstrated a concentration-dependent PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling blockage followed by apoptosis induction. In vivo, TYM-3-98 showed good pharmaceutical properties and remarkably reduced tumor growth in a human lymphoma xenograft model and a mouse lymphoma model. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings establish TYM-3-98 as a promising PI3Kδ inhibitor for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma.

Selective PI3Kδ inhibitor TYM-3-98 suppresses AKT/mTOR/SREBP1-mediated lipogenesis and promotes ferroptosis in KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common tumors of the digestive system worldwide. KRAS mutations limit the use of anti-EGFR antibodies in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of CRC. Therefore, novel targeted therapies are needed to overcome the KRAS-induced oncogenesis. Recent evidence suggests that inhibition of PI3K led to ferroptosis, a nonapoptotic cell death closely related to KRAS-mutant cells. Here, we showed that a selective PI3Kδ inhibitor TYM-3-98 can suppress the AKT/mTOR signaling and activate the ferroptosis pathway in KRAS-mutant CRC cells in a concentration-dependent manner. This was evidenced by the lipid peroxidation, iron accumulation, and depletion of GSH. Moreover, the overexpression of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), a downstream transcription factor regulating lipid metabolism, conferred CRC cells greater resistance to ferroptosis induced by TYM-3-98. In addition, the effect of TYM-3-98 was confirmed in a xenograft mouse model, which demonstrated significant tumor suppression without obvious hepatoxicity or renal toxicity. Taken together, our work demonstrated that the induction of ferroptosis contributed to the PI3Kδ inhibitor-induced cell death via the suppression of AKT/mTOR/SREBP1-mediated lipogenesis, thus displaying a promising therapeutic effect of TYM-3-98 in CRC treatment.

Increased expression of TBC1D10B as a potential prognostic and immunotherapy relevant biomarker in liver hepatocellular carcinoma.

The TBC1 domain family member 10B (EPI64B/TBC1D10B), a member of the RabGAP EPI64 subfamily, contains a TBC domain that confers GTPase-activating protein activity. Even though overexpression of TBC1D10B has been reported to promote tumor invasion and metastasis in gastric adenocarcinoma, the prognostic value of TBC1D10B and its correlation with DNA methylation and immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma are still not known. Transcriptional expression profiles of TBC1D10B between hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and normal tissues were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus. The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium and the Human Protein Atlas were used to assess the TBC1D10B protein expression. The biological functions of TBC1D10B were evaluated by the Metascape database and by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma from adjacent normal tissues. The effect of TBC1D10B on survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. DNA methylation in the TBC1D10B gene was assessed using the online MEXPRESS and MethSurv tools. The association between TBC1D10B mRNA expression and immune cell infiltration was investigated by the TIMER2 web server, tumor immune estimation resource and single-sample GSEA. This study found that TBC1D10B is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and that increased TBC1D10B mRNA expression is associated with female sex, lower Body Mass Index, high level of alpha fetal protein, and worse clinical stages. The mRNA and protein levels of TBC1D10B were verified in cells. Functional annotation indicated enrichment with negative regulation of the cell cycle, extracellular matrix, and corresponding pathways in the high-TBC1D10B phenotype. The ROC curve analysis showed that, with a cutoff level of 2.912, the accuracy, sensitive, and specificity in differentiate TBC1D10B hepatocellular carcinoma from adjacent controls were 0.931, 0.920, and 0.802, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that hepatocellular carcinoma patients with high TBC1D10B had a worse prognosis than those with low TBC1D10B, especially in patients with a weight below 70 kg, height above 170 cm, and histological G2 and G3. We also found that the methylation of TBC1D10B was associated with the prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, correlation analysis indicated that TBC1D10B mRNA expression was positively correlated with infiltration levels of most immune cells, but negatively correlated with Th17 and cytotoxic cells infiltration. Our study indicates that increased TBC1D10B expression in hepatocellular carcinoma may play a role in tumorigenesis by regulating the cell cycle and extracellular matrix. TBC1D10B may be a novel prognostic and predictive marker and immune therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Discovery of Highly Selective and Orally Bioavailable PI3Kδ Inhibitors with Anti-Inflammatory Activity for Treatment of Acute Lung Injury.

PI3Kδ is a promising target for the treatment of inflammatory disease; however, the application of PI3Kδ inhibitors in acute respiratory inflammatory diseases is rarely investigated. In this study, through scaffold hopping design, we report a new series of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-amine-tethered 3-methyl-1-aryl-1H-indazoles as highly selective and potent PI3Kδ inhibitors with significant anti-inflammatory activities for treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). There were 29 compounds designed, prepared, and subjected to PI3Kδ inhibitory activity evaluation and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation in macrophages. (S)-29 was identified as a candidate with high PI3Kδ inhibitory activity, isoform selectivity, and high oral bioavailability. The in vivo administration of (S)-29 at 10 mg/kg dosage could significantly ameliorate histopathological changes and attenuate lung inflammation in lung tissues of LPS-challenged mice. Molecular docking demonstrated the success of scaffold hopping design. Overall, (S)-29 is a potent PI3Kδ inhibitor which might be a promising candidate for the treatment of ALI.

Analysis of the effectiveness of basic fibroblast growth factor treatment on traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane at different time points.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment on traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane at different time points. RESEARCH DESIGN: This is a prospective clinical study. METHODS: Patients with traumatic perforations of the tympanic membrane were given a treatment of gelatin sponge + bFGF at different time intervals of 3 days, 4 to 7 days, 8 to 15 days, and more than 4 weeks after the injury. Healing rate and time of perforation were also observed after 1 month. RESULTS: In 147 ears, 144 (98.0%) were healed. The perforation healing rates were 98.6%, 97.6%, 96.3%, and 100%, respectively, at the following time intervals: within 3 days, 4 to 7 days, 8 to 14 days, and 2 to 4 weeks since the injury. This was quite true without any significant difference (P > .05). Meanwhile, in the small perforation healing of 120 ears, the average healing times from admission to perforation within 3 days, 4 to 7 days, and 8 to 14 days after the injury were 7.95 ± 2.07, 6.75 ± 2.67, and 4.18 ± 0.91 days, respectively. No significant difference was found among the 3 groups (P(1) < .01). CONCLUSION: Treating traumatic perforation of the tympanic membrane using the bFGF technique at different times of admissions is quite effective.

Comparison of Electrocoagulation Tuboplasty and Continued Medical Therapy for Treating Persistent Eustachian Tube Dysfunction With Hypertrophic Mucosa Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this trial was to compare outcomes of electrocoagulation tuboplasty and continued medical therapy for treating persistent Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) with hypertrophic mucosa disease in the Eustachian tube (ET) orifice. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, case-control trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with persistent ETD were recruited and allocated to electrocoagulation tuboplasty and continued medical therapy groups. The ETD questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7) score and objective parameters were compared between the groups at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with a decrease in ETDQ-7 scores was greater in the electrocoagulation group than in the medical therapy group at the 6-month follow-up (53.49% and 34.38%, respectively; p = .158), but the difference was not statistically significant. However, at the 12-month follow-up, there was a significantly higher proportion of patients with a decrease in ETDQ-7 scores in the electrocoagulation group (88.37% and 40.63%, respectively; p = .001). Additionally, a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the proportion of patients who improved 12 months after the treatment (tympanometry: 72.09% and 9.38%, respectively; p = .001; air-bone gap: 79.07% and 25.00%, respectively; p = .001; tympanic membrane status: 62.79% and 0.00%, respectively). In addition, the proportion of patients with improvements in the ET inflammation score was significantly different between the groups at 6-month (67.44% and 34.38%, respectively; p = .009) and 12-month (93.02% and 34.38%; p = .001) follow-ups. No device- or procedure-related serious adverse events were reported in any patients. CONCLUSIONS: Electrocoagulation Eustachian tuboplasty appears to be a safe and feasible procedure for adult persistent ETD with hypertrophic mucosa disease in the ET orifice, and is superior to continued medical management alone. The improvements in ETDQ-7 and objective parameters persisted for 12 months.