Development of a diagnostic model for pre-washout screening of primary aldosteronism.

PURPOSE: Primary aldosteronism (PA) diagnosis is affected by antihypertensive drugs that are commonly taken by patients with suspected PA. In this study, we developed and validated a diagnostic model for screening PA without drug washout. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 1095 patients diagnosed with PA or essential hypertension. Patients were randomly grouped into training and validation sets at a 7:3 ratio. Baseline characteristics, plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), and direct renin concentration (DRC) before and after drug washout were separately recorded, and the aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) was calculated. RESULTS: PAC and ARR were higher and direct renin concentration was lower in patients with PA than in patients with essential hypertension. Furthermore, the differences in blood potassium and sodium concentrations and hypertension grades between the two groups were significant. Using the abbreviations potassium (P), ARR (A), PAC (P), sodium (S), and hypertension grade 3 (3), the model was named PAPS3. The PAPS3 model had a maximum score of 10, with the cutoff value assigned as 5.5; it showed high sensitivity and specificity for screening PA in patients who exhibit difficulty in tolerating drug washout. CONCLUSION: PA screening remains crucial, and standard guidelines should be followed for patients to tolerate washout. The PAPS3 model offers an alternative to minimize risks and enhance diagnostic efficiency in PA for those facing washout challenges. Despite its high accuracy, further validation of this model is warranted through large-scale clinical studies.

[Retrospective evaluation of treatment outcomes in immature teeth treated with regenerative endodontic procedures with an over-36-month review].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of immature teeth treated with regenerative endodontic procedures with an over-36-month review, to identify potential contributing factors of root deve-lopment, and to provide new reference for long-time prognosis of regenerative endodontic procedures. METHODS: We recruited teeth that had undergone regenerative endodontic procedures at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from January 2013 to June 2017 and had a follow-up period of more than 36 months.Clinical and radiographic records were collected.We evaluated the treatment outcomes and summarized different patterns of root development.Changes in root length, root canal wall thickness were compared between preoperative and recall radiographs.A statistical analysis was performed using software SPSS 22.0 to identify potential contributing factors of root development. RESULTS: In this study, 84 teeth were recruited and the mean follow-up period was (44.7±19.3) months.The longest follow-up period was 81 months.Sixty-eight teeth (81.0%) were clinical success with bony healing, and 55 teeth (80.9%) gained the continued root development.Forty teeth completed root development with apical closure.The rate of the apical closure reached 58.8%.Twenty-four teeth gained normal root morphology with the increasing of root length and canal wall thickness and apical closure.The rate of continued root development was 92.5% in teeth with broken central cusp and 58.3% in teeth with trauma, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05).There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the root development rates of teeth with different induced bleeding heights (orifice/middle/tip of the root)(92.9%/81.0%/63.2%). CONCLUSION: Most of the teeth treated with regenerative endodontic procedures achieved continued root development with an over 36-month follow-up.However, the patterns of root development were different.The morphology of some teeth were close to the physiological state.Etiology and the height of induced bleeding are two factors significantly associated with the rate of the continued development root.

[Impact of interventional therapy on top of standard drug therapy on left ventricular structure and function in HFrEF patients complicating with middle aortic syndrome caused by Takayasu arteritis].

Objective: To evaluate the impact of interventional therapy on top of drug therapy on cardiac function and structure in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients complicating with middle aortic syndrome caused by Takayasu arteritis (TA-MAS). Methods: It was a retrospective longitudinal study. The data of patients with TA-MAS and HFrEF, who received interventional therapy on top of drug therapy in Fuwai Hospital from January 2010 to September 2020, were collected and analyzed. Baseline clinical data (including demographic data, basic treatment, etc.) were collected through the electronic medical record system. Changes of indexes such as New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) before and after therapy were analyzed. Results: A total of 10 patients were collected. There were 8 females in this patient cohort, age was (18.4±5.0) years and onset age was (15.3±5.0) years. All 10 patients received standard heart failure medication therapy in addition to hormone and/or immunosuppressive anti-inflammatory therapy, but cardiac function was not improved, so aortic balloon dilatation and/or aortic stenting were performed in these patients. The median follow-up was 3.3(1.3, 5.6) years. On the third day after interventional therapy, the clinical symptoms of the 10 patients were significantly improved, NYHA classfication was restored from preoperative Ⅲ/Ⅳ to Ⅱ at 6 months post intervention(P<0.05). Compared with preoperation, NT-proBNP (P=0.028), LVEDD (P=0.011) and LVMI (P=0.019) were significantly decreased, LVEF was significantly increased (P<0.001) at 6 months after operation. Compared with preoperation, NT-proBNP (P=0.016), LVEDD (P=0.023) and LVMI (P=0.043) remained decreased, LVEF remained increased (P<0.001) at 1 year after operation. Conclusion: Results from short and medium term follow-up show that interventional therapy on top of heart failure drug therpay can effectively improve left cardiac function and attenuate cardiac remodeling in patients with TA-MAS comorbid with HFrEF.

[Levels of sgRNA as a Major Factor Affecting CRISPRi Knockdown Efficiency in K562 Cells].

To determine how nuclease deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) or single-guide RNA (sgRNA) expression levels affect the knockdown efficiency of CRISPRi, we created K562 cell clones expressing KRAB-dCas9 protein either with the inducible Tet-on system or with the constitutive SFFV promotor. Single clones were selected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for further study. Six genes with various expression levels were targeted using lentiviral sgRNA from two libraries in four cell clones with various KRAB-dCas9 expression levels. The expression level of dCas9 protein/sgRNA levels and the knockdown efficiency were determined by flow cytometry. The cell clone with the highest KRAB-dCas9 expression level achieved effective CRISPRi knockdown. The data describing this clone were statistically different from that on other clones, indicating the strong KRAB-dCas9 expression might be a prerequisite for CRISPRi. By adopting different multiplicity of infection (MOI) in lentiviral transduction of this clone, we modified the expression level of sgRNA and found that the knockdown efficiency was neither affected by the target gene expression level nor correlated with KRAB-dCas9 levels, which remained relatively constant across all knockdown experiments (coefficient of variation = 2.2%). As an example, the following levels of the knockdowns: 74.72, 72.28 and 39.08% for mmadhc, rpia and znf148 genes, respectively, were achieved. These knockdown efficiencies correlated well with the respective sgRNA expression levels. Linear regression models built using this data indicate that the knockdown efficiency may be significantly affected by the levels of both KRAB-dCas9 and sgRNA. Notably, the sgRNA levels have greater impact, being a major factor affecting CRISPRi efficiency.

[The effects of stelleta ganglion resection on heart failure in response to pressure overload].

Objective: To observe the impact and difference of resection of left stellate ganglion (LSG) or right stellate ganglion (RSG) on rats with heart failure. Methods: Thirty male SD rats were divided into 3 groups (n=10 each) by random number table method: control group, LSG group, RSG group. All three groups underwent TAC surgery to establish a pressure-overloaded heart failure model. Then, LSG and RSG were bluntly separated and removed in rats assigned to the LSG group or RSG group by surgery, while rats in the control group underwent sham operation. The changes in blood pressure and heart rate before operation, 30 minutes and 10 weeks after operation were recorded; echocardiography was performed before operation and 10 weeks after operation to detect the thickness of the ventricular septum, left ventricle posterior wall diameter, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left ventricular end diastolic volume, and calculate the left ventricular fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction. HE staining and Masson staining were performed to observe the degree of myocardial hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, and to judge the ventricular remodeling. Results: The heart rates of the three groups of rats were (352.4±4.3), (320.3±4.0) and (297.9±5.9) beats/min, and the blood pressure was (142.8±2.3), (123.4±2.7) and (129.6±2.9) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) at thirty minutes after surgery; the heart rates of the three groups of rats were (352.9±4.0), (321.6±3.4) and (301±4.1) beats/min, and the blood pressure was (145.6±1.9), (124.8±1.7) and (130.4±4.4) mmHg at 10 weeks after surgery. The heart rate and blood pressure in the LSG group and RSG group at 30 min and 10 weeks after surgery were significantly lower than those in the control group; at 10 weeks after surgery, the heart rate in the RSG group was significantly lower than that in the LSG group (P both<0.001). After 10 weeks, rats in the control group developed severe left ventricular dilatation. Degree of left ventricular hypertrophy was significantly reduced in the LSG group and RSG group than in the control group, the thickness of the ventricular septum was (3.2±0.3), (2.5±0.1) and (2.5±0.1) mm; the left ventricular end-diastolic diameters were (7.5±0.3), (5.5±0.3) and (5.7±0.2) mm; the left ventricular end-diastolic volume was (9.5±0.3), (4.5±0.2) and (4.8±0.2) ml; the left ventricular fractional shortening was (21.6±1.3)%, (49.1±3.9)% and (47.4±1.5)%; and the left ventricular ejection fraction was (50.9±2.5)%, (81.9±2.1)% and (80.0±2.3)%, respectively in the control group, LSG group and RSG group. Compared with the control group, the left ventricular posterior wall diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular end-diastolic volume were significantly lower and the left ventricular fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly higher in the LSG group and RSG group (all P<0.001). 10 weeks after operation, the values of type Ⅰ collagen in the control group, LSG group, and RSG group were (0.354±0.013), (0.211±0.012) and (0.243±0.013), respectively. Ratio of type Ⅰ/Ⅲ collagen was (1.109±0.065), (0.737±0.055) and (0.839±0.075), respectively. Compared with the control group, the ratio of type Ⅰcollagen and ratio of type Ⅰ/Ⅲ collagen were significantly lower in the LSG group and RSG group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Both left and right stellate ganglion resection can similarly reduce ventricular remodeling caused by pressure overload and delay the progression of heart failure in tis TAC rat model.

[Clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of aortic stenosis caused by Takayasu arteritis in pediatric patients].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and summarize the experience on the diagnosis and treatment of aortic stenosis caused by Takayasu arteritis in pediatric patients. Methods: This study was a retrospective study. Five pediatric patients diagnosed as aortic stenosis caused by Takayasu arteritis in Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2016 to August 2018 were included. The clinical features, methods of examination, treatment and outcome were analyzed. Results: There were 2 male and 3 female patients in this cohort. The age of onset ranged from 10 to 13 years. The main clinical symptoms were as follows: intermittent claudication and hypertension (5 patients), heart failure (3 patients). Three patients with heart failure were misdiagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in other hospitals. Except 1 patient died due to disease aggravation before operation, the other 4 patients received interventional therapy for severe heart failure or refractory hypertension on the basis of hormone anti-inflammatory treatment, including 2 patients treated with aortic balloon dilatation and 2 patients treated with aortic balloon dilatation and stent implantation. In post-operational follow-up, clinical symptoms and laboratory examination values of the 4 patients treated with interventional therapy were significantly improved. Conclusions: The clinical symptoms of pediatric patients with aortic stenosis caused by Takayasu arteritis mainly present with intermittent claudication, hypertension and heart failure. Aortic intervention strategy should be applied for pediatric patients with severe heart failure or refractory hypertension as early as possible.

[Effect of stenting for the proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of stenting for proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis. Methods: A total of 204 proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis patients underwent stent implantation at Fuwai Hospital were enrolled consecutively between August 2007 and June 2014 prospectively. Medical records were collected and the clinical results were obtained through outpatient and telephone follow up. Results: (1) The patients were (64.1±7.9) years old, and 179 were male (87.7%). (2) Stent implantation was performed on 210 proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis lesions with 210 stents (156 on the left, 54 on the right), and 6 patients received both sides stent implantations. Technical success rate was 100%(210/210). The stenosis of the lesions was decreased from (85.1±6.4) % to (6.5±3.2) % after the stent implantation (P<0.01). (3) Three (1.5%) patients experienced transient ischemic attack during the procedure, and two (1.0%) patients suffered from minor posterior circulation ischemic strokes on the 2nd and 10th day after the procedure, respectively. (4)The median follow-up was 1.5 (0.8-2.5) years. Three(1.5%) patients died (two non-vacular deaths, and the other one due to sudden cardiac death). Three (1.5%) patients developed stroke (one case ipsilateral posterior circulation stroke, and two cases unrelated area stroke). Four (2.0%) patients experienced transient ischemic attack. One patient suffered nonfatal myocardial infraction. In-stent restenosis occurred in thirty nine (19.4%) patients, of which fourteen (35.9%) patients were totally occluded and four (10.3%) patients with symptomatic restenosis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the primary patency rate of the vertebral artery were 85.6%, 78.6%, 72.2% and 64.4% at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Conclusions: Stenting for proximal atherosclerotic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis is safe and feasible, with a good middle to long-term patency rate. However, further trials are required to validate the effective results found in this patients cohort.

[Sunitinib induces autophagy via suppressing Akt/mTOR pathway in renal cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanism of sunitinib-induced autophagy in renal cell carcinoma cells. METHODS: MTS assay was applied to detect the cell viability alteration under the treatment of sunitinib (2, 8 µmol/L). The sunitinib-induced autophagy as well as cell apoptosis was measured and compared after knocking down autophagy-related protein Beclin1 and microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 fusion protein (LC3) by RNA interference. The transmission electron microscope was used to observe the formation of autophagosomes in ACHN cells. The fluorescence microscope was used to monitor distribution and aggregation of endogenous LC3-II. The expressions of protein such as LC3-II, the autophagic regulation molecules protein kinase B/ mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR) and the symbol of apoptosis poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were capable to be detected by immunoblotting assay. RESULTS: Sunitinib was able to significantly trigger cell viability loss in the renal carcinoma cell ACHN, which was both in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner (P<0.05). After reducing the autophagy by knocking down Beclin1 and LC3, the number of cleavage of PARP was increased remarkably, whereas there was nearly not any cleavage in the mock group. By the transmission electron microscope, there were more autophagic vacuoles in ACHN cells after being administrated with sunitininb compared with the control. And the nuclear-to-cytosol translocation as well as aggregation of LC3-II was presented after sunitinib treatment by the fluorescence microscope, which was the proof of the enhanced autophagy. According to the immunoblotting, sunitinib was able to increase the accumulation of LC3-II . At the same time, the result of sunitinib combined with chloroquine, a drug which blocked the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes, demonstrated that the increasing amount of LC3-II was due to the enhanced autophagy flux by sunitinib treatment in ACHN cells. However, phosphorylation of Akt as well as mTOR was decreased at the same time. The rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) or knocking down Akt subunits could change the sunitinib-induced LC3 -II accumulation, whereas overexpression of Akt subunits decreased the autophagic flux, indicating that Akt/mTOR was the target of sunitinib in autophagy. CONCLUSION: Sunitinib induced autophagy via suppressing Akt/mTOR pathway, and the autophagy was involved in apopotosis.

[Sunitinib induces autophagy via suppressing Akt/mTOR pathway in renal cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanism of sunitinib-induced autophagy in renal cell carcinoma cells. METHODS: MTS assay was applied to detect the cell viability alteration under the treatment of sunitinib (2, 8 µmol/L). The sunitinib-induced autophagy as well as cell apoptosis was measured and compared after knocking down autophagy-related protein Beclin1 and microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 fusion protein (LC3) by RNA interference. The transmission electron microscope was used to observe the formation of autophagosomes in ACHN cells. The fluorescence microscope was used to monitor distribution and aggregation of endogenous LC3-II. The expressions of protein such as LC3-II, the autophagic regulation molecules protein kinase B/ mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR) and the symbol of apoptosis poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were capable to be detected by immunoblotting assay. RESULTS: Sunitinib was able to significantly trigger cell viability loss in the renal carcinoma cell ACHN, which was both in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner (P<0.05). After reducing the autophagy by knocking down Beclin1 and LC3, the number of cleavage of PARP was increased remarkably, whereas there was nearly not any cleavage in the mock group. By the transmission electron microscope, there were more autophagic vacuoles in ACHN cells after being administrated with sunitininb compared with the control. And the nuclear-to-cytosol translocation as well as aggregation of LC3-II was presented after sunitinib treatment by the fluorescence microscope, which was the proof of the enhanced autophagy. According to the immunoblotting, sunitinib was able to increase the accumulation of LC3-II . At the same time, the result of sunitinib combined with chloroquine, a drug which blocked the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes, demonstrated that the increasing amount of LC3-II was due to the enhanced autophagy flux by sunitinib treatment in ACHN cells. However, phosphorylation of Akt as well as mTOR was decreased at the same time. The rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) or knocking down Akt subunits could change the sunitinib-induced LC3 -II accumulation, whereas overexpression of Akt subunits decreased the autophagic flux, indicating that Akt/mTOR was the target of sunitinib in autophagy. CONCLUSION: Sunitinib induced autophagy via suppressing Akt/mTOR pathway, and the autophagy was involved in apopotosis.

[The clinical and pathological features of laryngeal tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and pathological features of laryngeal tuberculosis. METHODS: The clinical data of 75 patients with laryngeal tuberculosis from Jan 2010 to Jan 2013 in our hospital were studied retrospectively. There were 50 male and 25 female patients, aged from 18 to 91 years, with a median age of 44 years. The course of disease was 1 to 19 months. RESULTS: The prominent presenting symptoms were hoarseness (n=59, 79%), and sore throat (n=48, 64%). Systemic symptoms included fatigue with weight loss (n=26, 35%) and fever (n=17, 23%). Primary laryngeal tuberculosis was found in 23 patients (31%) while secondary laryngeal tuberculosis together with pulmonary tuberculosis in 52 patients (69%). There were 2 or less lesions in the larynx in 44 patients, while multiple lesions were found in 31 patients. Vocal cords were the most common sites affected(n=51, 68%), followed by epiglottis(n=41, 55%). Proliferation was the main type of lesions (n=34, 45%). After pathologic diagnosis, all patients received systemic anti-tuberculosis therapy, and the prognosis was good. CONCLUSIONS: Severe local symptoms of the larynx with slightly general symptoms are the clinical characteristics of laryngeal tuberculosis for the time being. Primary laryngeal tuberculosis often present with fewer (2 or less) lesions. Different morphology of laryngeal lesions can exist at the same time. The diagnosis of laryngeal tuberculosis depends on pathological biopsy. The treatment should be systemic anti-tuberculosis therapy.

[Impact of long-term continuous positive airway pressure treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: This case control study was performed among 154 patients with moderate or severe OSAS between September 2009 and September 2014. Patients were divided into treatment group (n=66, 53 patients with hypertension) and control group (n=88, 67 patients with hypertension). The long-term efficacy of CPAP treatment on clinical events and blood pressure was evaluated. RESULTS: The combined incidence of death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization and stroke events was 1.5% (1/66) in treatment group and 11.4% (10/88) in control group (P<0.05). CPAP treatment also led to more significant reduction in systolic blood pressure ((12.24±18.06) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (4.24±16.63) mmHg, P<0.05) in the patients with hypertension in these two groups. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP treatment could reduce the risk of cardiovascular and neurovascular events for patients with moderate or severe OSAS.

Comparative study of clinical efficacy of laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy versus open radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer.

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy (LARG) versus that of open radical gastrectomy (ORG). Clinical data of 355 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy (160 in the LARG group and 195 in the ORG group) were analyzed retrospectively. Efficacy indices were compared and analyzed between the two groups. The operating time of LARG was longer than that of ORG (228.43 ± 34.77 versus 207.59 ± 28.39 min). However, patients in the LARG group lost less blood than did those in the ORG group (169.46 ± 82.92 versus 193.86 ± 82.09 mL), and more lymph nodes were removed in the LARG group (19.84 ± 4.7 versus 18.04 ± 4.14 per case). The recovery of intestinal function was faster (3.72 ± 1.03 versus 4.41 ± 1.30 days) in the LARG group. Patients in the LARG group were administered a semi-fluid diet earlier (5.66 ± 2.27 versus 7.09 ± 2.33 days) and had a shorter hospital stay (9.44 ± 3.06 versus 11.07 ± 7.91 days) than did those in the ORG group, and these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the length of proximal and distal resection margin and the incidence of complications (P > 0.05) between the two groups. Thus, LARG is safe, feasible, and effective for treating advanced gastric cancer.

Cloning and expression analysis of a heat shock protein 90 ß isoform gene from the gills of Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala Yih) subjected to nitrite stress.

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a highly conserved and multi-functional molecular chaperone, plays an essential role in cellular metabolism and stress response. In this study, HSP90 cDNA named MaHSP90 was cloned from Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) gills by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The full-length MaHSP90 cDNA is 2674 bp and consists of a 3',5'-untranslated region and a 2250-bp open reading frame encoding a 750-amino acid long protein. Identity analysis revealed that the amino acid sequence of MaHSP90 is highly conserved. Homology analysis and structure comparison further indicated that MaHSP90 should be the ß isoform member of the HSP90 family. MaHSP90 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in the liver, heart, muscle, gill, intestine, kidney, and brain. The MaHSP90 mRNA levels under nitrite stress were analyzed using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR); the mRNA levels significantly increased at 3, 6, and 12 h after nitrite exposure in the gills and then stabilized between 24 and 48 h. Furthermore, a similar relationship between mRNA expression (qRT-PCR) and HSP90 protein levels (densitometric band analysis) was found. Transcriptional analysis of caspase-8 and caspase-9 expression in the gills of juvenile M. amblycephala after a 48-h exposure to nitrite suggested that MaHSP90 expression is related positively with nitrite-induced apoptosis. Fish exposed to nitrite also showed gill damage. Our results suggest that MaHSP90 mRNA is constitutively expressed in various tissues and inducible in the gills under nitrite stress, suggesting its important role in nitrite stress response.

Ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases: inhibitors as promising candidate mitigators.

OBJECTIVE: Ferroptosis is a new form of iron-dependent programmed cell death, characterized by intracellular iron overload and lipid peroxidation. Several studies have revealed that ferroptosis is associated with the occurrence and development of various neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Therefore, this paper reviews the mechanism and related genes of ferroptosis, focusing on the research of antiferroptosis drugs in NDs to provide theoretical support for future experimental research and clinical application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This work focuses on ferroptosis, and the authors searched the literature on PubMed related to ferroptosis using the keywords "neurodegenerative diseases" and "neurons". All articles were from August 2022 and earlier, excluding irrelevant or retracted articles, and articles from the last five years were used as the main inclusion criteria. RESULTS: After collection and summary, it was found that ferroptosis in NDs was not only related to iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism but also related to genes such as Nrf2, FSP1, VDACs, and p53. We also summarized drugs that inhibited ferroptosis in NDs and classified them according to their mechanism of action. CONCLUSIONS: Ferroptosis was involved in the progression of NDs through its production mechanism and related genes. Targeting ferroptosis might be a new strategy for treating NDs.

[A single-center study on the distribution and antibiotic resistance of pathogens causing bloodstream infection in patients with hematological malignancies].

Objective: To study the incidence of bloodstream infections, pathogen distribution, and antibiotic resistance profile in patients with hematological malignancies. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2021, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics, pathogen distribution, and antibiotic resistance profiles of patients with malignant hematological diseases and bloodstream infections in the Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Results: A total of 582 incidences of bloodstream infections occurred in 22,717 inpatients. From 2018 to 2021, the incidence rates of bloodstream infections were 2.79%, 2.99%, 2.79%, and 2.02%, respectively. Five hundred ninety-nine types of bacteria were recovered from blood cultures, with 487 (81.3%) gram-negative bacteria, such as Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Eighty-one (13.5%) were gram-positive bacteria, primarily Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterococcus faecium, whereas the remaining 31 (5.2%) were fungi. Enterobacteriaceae resistance to carbapenems, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam, and tigecycline were 11.0%, 15.3%, 15.4%, and 3.3%, with a descending trend year on year. Non-fermenters tolerated piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam, and quinolones at 29.6%, 13.3%, and 21.7%, respectively. However, only two gram-positive bacteria isolates were shown to be resistant to glycopeptide antibiotics. Conclusions: Bloodstream pathogens in hematological malignancies were broadly dispersed, most of which were gram-negative bacteria. Antibiotic resistance rates vary greatly between species. Our research serves as a valuable resource for the selection of empirical antibiotics.

Killing two birds with one stone: miR-126 involvement in both cancer and atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Both cancer and atherosclerosis are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world, and some patients even suffer from both of them. Several studies have shown an association between the pathogenesis of cancer and atherosclerosis. It has been reported that miR-126 may participate in the pathological process of cancer and atherosclerosis. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the role of miR-126 in cancer and atherosclerosis respectively, as well as a possible association between them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this paper, "miR-126" and "microRNA-126" are used as the first group of keywords, "atheromatosis" and "atherosclerosis" are used as the second group of keywords, and "tumor" and "cancer" are used as the third group of keywords. In PubMed, the authors selected one of the first group and the second group of keywords to search the literature related to miR-126 and cancer, and one of the first group and the third group of keywords was selected to search the literature on miR-126 and atherosclerosis. All collected articles are from 2021 and before. Irrelevant, withdrawn and review articles were excluded, and the included literature was mainly in the recent five years. RESULTS: After collection and summary, miR-126 is found involved in cell apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, and other processes in both cancer and atherosclerosis by negatively targeting PI3K, VEGF, VCAM-1, EGFL7, CXCL12-CXCR4 axis, and LRP6. Moreover, we briefly review the prospects of miR-126 as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and atherosclerosis in clinical applications. CONCLUSIONS: It has been demonstrated that miR-126 can influence cancer and atherosclerosis by affecting the same or different target genes. Therefore, it facilitates our understanding of the common prevention and treatment strategies of cancer and atherosclerosis by regulating the miR-126-target genes network.

[A descriptive analysis on type 2 diabetes in twins in China].

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of type 2 diabetes in twins in Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR), provide clues and evidence for revealing the influence of genetic and environmental factors for type 2 diabetes. Methods: Of all twins registered in the CNTR during 2010-2018, a total 18 855 twin pairs aged ≥30 years with complete registration information were included in the analysis. The random effect model was used to describe the population and area distribution characteristics and concordance of type 2 diabetes in twin pairs. Results: The mean age of the subjects was (42.8±10.2) years, the study subjects included 10 339 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs and 8 516 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs. The self-reported prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes was 2.2% in total population and there was no sighificant difference between MZ and DZ. Intra-twin pairs analysis showed that the concordance rate of type 2 diabetes was 38.2% in MZ twin pairs, and 16.0% in DZ twin pairs, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The concordance rate of type 2 diabetes in MZ twin parts was higher than that in DZ twin pairs in both men and women, in different age groups and in different areas (P<0.05). Further stratified analysis showed that in northern China, only MZ twin pairs less than 60 years old were found to have a higher concordance rate of type 2 diabetes compared with DZ twin pairs (P<0.05). In southern China, the co-prevalence rate in male MZ twin pairs aged ≥60 years was still higher than that in DZ twin pairs (P<0.05). Conclusion: The twin pairs in this study had a lower self-reported prevalence of type 2 diabetes than the general population. The study results suggested that genetic factors play a role in type 2 diabetes prevalence in both men and women, in different age groups and in different areas, however, the effect might vary.

[A descriptive analysis on coronary heart disease in adult twins in China].

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of coronary heart disease in adult twins recruited from Chinese Twin Registry (CNTR), and provide clues and evidence for the effect of genetic and environmental influences on coronary heart disease. Methods: By using the data of CNTR during 2010-2018, a total of 34 583 twin pairs aged ≥18 years who completed questionnaire survey and had related information were included in the current study to analyze the population and area distribution characteristics of coronary heart disease. Random effect models were used to compare the differences between groups. The concordane rate of coronary heart disease were calculated respectively in monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs to estimate the heritability. Results: The twin pairs included in this analysis were aged (34.2±12.4) years. The overall prevalence rate of coronary heart disease in twin pairs was 0.7%. Twin pairs who were women, older, obese and lived in northern China had higher prevalence of coronary heart disease (P<0.05). Intra-pair analysis in the same-sex twin pairs found that the concordane rate of coronary heart disease was higher in MZ twin pairs (25.3%) than in DZ twins (7.4%), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The overall heritability of coronary heart disease was 19.3% (95%CI: 11.8%-26.8%). Stratified by gender, age and area, the concordane rate was still higher in MZ twin pairs than in DZ pairs. Participants who were women, aged 18-30 years or ≥60 years and lived in northern China had a higher heritability of coronary heart disease. Conclusion: The distribution of coronary heart disease in twin pairs differed in populations and areas. The prevalence of coronary heart disease was affected by genetic factors, but the effect varied with age, gender and area.

[A descriptive analysis of tea consumption in adult twins in China].

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of tea consumption in adult twins recruited in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and provide clues to genetic and environmental influences on tea consumption. Methods: Enrolled in CNTR during 2010-2018, 25 264 twin pairs aged 18 years and above were included in subsequent analysis. Random effect models were used to estimate tea consumption in the population and regional distribution characteristics. The concordance rate of the behavior and difference in consumption volume of tea within pairs were also described. Results: The mean age of all subjects was (35.38±12.45) years old. The weekly tea consumers accounted for 17.0%, with an average tea consumption of (3.36±2.44) cups per day. The proportion of weekly tea consumers was higher among males, 50-59 years old, southern, urban, educated, and the first-born in the twin pair (P<0.05), and lower among unmarried individuals (P<0.001). Within-pair analysis showed that the concordance rate of tea consumption of monozygotic (MZ) twins was higher than that of dizygotic (DZ) twins and the overall heritability of tea consumption was 13.45% (11.38%-15.51%). Stratified by the characteristics mentioned above, only in males, the concordance rate of MZ showed a tendency to be greater than that of DZ (all P<0.05). The differences in consumption volume of tea within twin pairs were minor in MZ among males (P<0.05), while the differences were not significant in female twins. Conclusion: There were discrepancies in the distribution of tea consumption among twins of different demographic and regional characteristics. Tea consumption was mainly influenced by environmental factors and slightly influenced by genetic factors. The size of genetic factors varied with gender, age, and region, and gender was a potential modified factor.