Piceatannol protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via Nrf-2 signaling-mediated iron metabolism.

Myocardial tissue ischemia damages myocardial cells. Although reperfusion is an effective technique to rescue myocardial cell damage, it may also exacerbate myocardial cell damage. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, occurs following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Piceatannol (PCT) is a natural stilbene compound with excellent antioxidant properties that protect against I/R injury and exerts protective effects against ferroptosis-induced cardiomyocytes following I/R injury; however, the exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of PCT on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: An ischemia-reperfusion model was established via ligation of the left anterior descending branch of mice's hearts and hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) of cardiomyocytes. RESULTS: During ischemia-reperfusion, Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) expression was downregulated, the left ventricular function was impaired, intracellular iron and lipid peroxidation product levels were elevated, and cardiomyocytes underwent ferroptosis. Furthermore, ferroptosis was enhanced following treatment with an Nrf-2 inhibitor. After PCT treatment, Nrf-2 expression significantly increased, intracellular ferrous ions and lipid peroxidation products significantly reduced, Ferroportin1 (FPN1) expression increased, and transferrin receptor-1 (TfR-1) expression was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: PCT regulates iron metabolism through Nrf-2 to protect against myocardial cell ferroptosis induced by myocardial I/R injury.

Exploration of m6A methylation regulators as epigenetic targets for immunotherapy in advanced sepsis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to deeply explore the relationship between m6A methylation modification and peripheral immune cells in patients with advanced sepsis and mine potential epigenetic therapeutic targets by analyzing the differential expression patterns of m6A-related genes in healthy subjects and advanced sepsis patients. METHODS: A single cell expression dataset of peripheral immune cells containing blood samples from 4 patients with advanced sepsis and 5 healthy subjects was obtained from the gene expression comprehensive database (GSE175453). Differential expression analysis and cluster analysis were performed on 21 m6A-related genes. The characteristic gene was identified based on random forest  algorithm, and the correlation between the characteristic gene METTL16 and 23 immune cells in patients with advanced sepsis was evaluated using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. RESULTS: IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGF2BP1, and WTAP were highly expressed in patients with advanced sepsis and m6A cluster B. IGFBP1, IGFBP2, and IGF2BP1 were positively correlated with Th17 helper T cells. The characteristic gene METTL16 exhibited a significant positive correlation with the proportion of various immune cells. CONCLUSION: IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGF2BP1, WTAP, and METTL16 may accelerate the development of advanced sepsis by regulating m6A methylation modification and promoting immune cell infiltration. The discovery of these characteristic genes related to advanced sepsis provides potential therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

Effects of PC6 acupressure on acute and delayed nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy in patients with malignant neoplasm: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the intervention effect of PC6 acupressure on chemotherapy-induced acute, delayed nausea, and vomiting in malignant tumor patients. METHOD: Eleven databases had been retrieved from January 2010 through January 2022. The published meta-analysis literature was hand-searched, and the language was limited to English and Chinese. The protocol of this meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022323693). Two reviewers independently selected relevant eligible articles, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was statistically analyzed using software RevMan 5.3. RESULT: Ten randomized controlled trials with 975 patients were included. Only two studies were assessed as high quality; eight studies were evaluated as moderate. Meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, PC6 acupressure reduced the occurrence number of acute (SMD = -0.39,95CI (-0.73, -0.05) P = 0.02), delayed (SMD = -0.51, 95% CI (-0.96, -0.05) P = 0.03) nausea and acute (SMD = -0.42,95% CI (-0.79, -0.06) P = 0.02), delayed (SMD = -0.37, 95% CI (-0.77, 0.03) P = 0.07) vomiting; it reduced the severity of acute (SMD = -0.34, 95% CI (-0.57, -0.11) P = 0.004), delayed (SMD = -0.79, 95% CI (-1.33, -0.25) P = 0.004) nausea and acute (SMD = -0.51, 95% CI (-0.79, -0.23) P = 0.0004), delayed (SMD = -0.50, 95% CI (-0.84, -0.17) P = 0.003) vomiting, while it did not reduced the experience time on acute and delayed CINV. CONCLUSION: The meta-analysis shows the effectiveness of PC6 acupressure in preventing and treating nausea and vomiting. Large, high-quality, well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to determine the efficacy of PC6 acupressure on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Food Literacy Evaluation Questionnaire (Chinese version, FLEQ-Ch): a validity and cross-cultural adaptation.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a Food Literacy Evaluation Questionnaire Chinese Version (FLEQ-Ch) through a cross-cultural validation of the original questionnaire. DESIGN: This was an observational, cross-sectional study undertaken in two phases: (1) translation and cross-culture adaptation, and (2) psychometric evaluation. SAMPLE: A total of 509 residents in Yangzhou City, China were enrolled in this study. METHODS: A translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the FLEQ in Chinese was developed. The psychometric characteristics of FLEQ-Ch were analyzed for internal consistency, content validity, construct validity and discriminant validity. RESULTS: The KMO value of the questionnaire was 0.901 and the approximate chi-square value of Bartlett's sphericity test was 8132.538. The ranges of the Cronbach's α coefficient and the test-retest coefficient of the total questionnaire and three dimensions were 0.869-0.955 and 0.941-0.952, respectively. The value of content validity index of the total questionnaire was 0.945. Construct validity: (1) Aggregation coefficient was between 0.828 and 0.955; (2) Discrimination coefficient was between 0.004 and 0.227; (3) Correlation coefficient between each factor was between 0.046 and 0.188; the correlation coefficient between each factor and the total questionnaire ranged from 0.419 to 0.788. Discriminant validity: the standardized factor loadings of all items on the corresponding factors were 0.75-0.96. The results of the model-fit indices showed RMSEA was 0.08 and GFI was 0.91. CONCLUSIONS: The FLEQ-Ch can effectively evaluate the food literacy of the general public in terms of foods planning and management, foods selection, and foods-making attitudes. It covers the four areas of food literacy, and shows good practicability and operability.

Resveratrol Inhibition of Renal Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics and Modulation of the Sonic Hedgehog Pathway.

AIMS: Renal cell cancers typically exhibit high metastasis and recurrence, and this is thought to be due to renal cancer stem cells (CSCs). Meanwhile, aberrant activation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is linked with CSCs. Resveratrol has direct or indirect impacts on the pathological activities of CSCs. However, the effects of resveratrol on renal CSCs remain to be elucidated. METHODS: We cultured renal CSCs in serum-free medium. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression levels of related proteins. The mRNA changes were detected by qRT-PCR after resveratrol treatment. The CD133+ cells were quantified by flow cytometry analysis. Immunofluorescence staining images showed the changes in CD44 and Smoothened expression in the cell spheres. RESULTS: Renal CSCs were enriched by tumorsphere formation assays of ACHN and 786-O cells. Resveratrol treatments markedly decreased the size and number of cell spheres and downregulated the expression of the Shh pathway-related proteins and CSCs markers. Moreover, we observed that resveratrol inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis, while purmorphamine upregulated the Shh pathway and weakened the effects of resveratrol on renal CSCs. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that resveratrol is a potential novel therapeutic agent that targets inactivation of renal CSCs by affecting the function of the Shh pathway.

Modified vein clamping technique for renal cell carcinoma complicated with level I-II IVC thrombi: a study at a single centre.

OBJECTIVES: To share our initial experience with the modified vein clamping technique for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma complicated with level I-II IVC thrombi. METHODS: From March 2018 to April 2021, 11 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) involving an IVC tumour thrombus were admitted to our hospital. They all underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy (LRN-IVCTE) using a modified vein clamping technique. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. The median operative time was 185.00 min (145.00-216.00 min); the median estimated blood loss was 200.00 ml (155.00-300.00 ml), and four patients received an intraoperative transfusion. In addition, the median IVC clamping time was 18.00 min (12.00-20.00 min); the median postoperative hospital stay was 6.00 days (4.00-7.00 days), while the median follow-up period was 28.00 months (4.00-34.00 months). CONCLUSIONS: The modified vein clamping technique for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma complicated with level I-II IVC thrombi may be a safe and technically feasible alternative technique.

Selective Protein Separation Based on Charge Anisotropy by Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes.

Protein purification is of vital importance in the food industry, drug discovery, and other related fields. Among many separation methods, polyelectrolyte (PE)-based phase separation was developed and recognized as a low-cost purification technique. In this work, spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPBs) with a high specific surface area were utilized to study the protein accessibility and selective protein binding on highly charged nanoparticles (NPs) as well as the selective phase separation of proteins. The correlation between charge anisotropy, protein binding, and phase separation was investigated on various protein systems including those proteins with similar isoelectric points (pI) such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ß-lactoglobulin (BLG), proteins with similar molecular weights such as BSA and hemoglobin (HB), and even protein variants (BLG-A and -B) with a tiny difference of amino acids. The nonspecific electrostatic interaction studied by turbidimetric titrations and isothermal calorimetry titration (ITC) indicates a specific binding between proteins and SPBs arising from the charge anisotropy of proteins. An optimized output based on selective protein binding on SPBs could be correlated for efficient protein separation through tuning external conditions including pH and ionic strength. These findings, therefore, proved that phase separation based on selective protein adsorption by SPBs was an efficient alternative for protein separation compared with the traditional practice.

Analysis of morphology, nanostructure, and oxidation reaction of soot particulates from CI engines with dimethoxymethane-diesel blends under different loads and speeds.

Dimethoxymethane (DMM)-diesel blended fuels can simultaneously reduce exhaust emissions of soot and nitrogen oxide (NOX); several studies have been conducted in this regard. However, the influence of additive DMM on the production of inception and precursors of particulates, especially the relation between oxidation, morphology, and the nanostructure of soot particles has not been extensively investigated. In this study, a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and a thermogravimetric analyzer are introduced to acquire TEM images and conduct temperature-programmed-oxidation experiments. Aiming to study the influence of DMM addition on soot oxidation, morphology, and nanostructure, tests are conducted at different rotational speeds (1400 rpm and 2200 rpm), two engine loads (0.6 MPa and 1.2 MPa), and three fuels (D100, DMM6.4, and DMM13). The results show that the diameter distributions of all samples display a similar distribution, with the range of sample diameters being from 10 to 45 nm, and the addition of DMM reduces the dp (primary particle diameters) and the Df (fractal dimension), indicating a decreased structural compactness of aggregates, compared with diesel. Moreover, with increasing load and speed, La (the length of the fringe) increases and d (the distance between adjacent layer planes) decreases. Furthermore, with the addition of DMM, a more regular and higher degree of graphitization within soot particles can be observed in comparison to D100. The nanostructure influences the oxidation reaction of graphene segments with a line relation, leading to a difference in soot oxidation property.

Early Unclamping Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for Complex Renal Tumor: Data from a Chinese Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of early unclamping laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for complex renal tumor relative to the standard artery clamping technique (SCT). METHODS: Sixty-one patients with complex renal tumor (RENAL score ≥7) underwent LPN at our institution from January 2013 to April 2017. LPN was performed via SCT in 32 patients and via the early unclamping technique (EUT) in 29 patients. Operation time, warm ischemia time (WIT), blood loss, bleeding requiring transfusion, tumor volume, excisional volume loss (EVL), complications, and renal function before and after operation of the affected kidney were compared between the groups. RESULTS: All surgeries were successful without conversion to open or nephrectomy. EUT reduced the WIT (p < 0.001) but did not increase the complication rate (p = 0.322). Although the tumor volume and EVL were larger in the EUT than in the SCT group (p = 0.011, p = 0.001), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reduction in the affected kidney did not significantly differ between the groups (p = 0.120). CONCLUSION: Early unclamping LPN for complex renal tumor is safe and efficient. Additionally, the EUT could expand the application of LPN in complex renal tumors, and make this challenging surgery easier and safer.

Resveratrol relieves particulate matter (mean diameter < 2.5 µm)-induced oxidative injury of lung cells through attenuation of autophagy deregulation.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are critically implicated in ambient fine particulate matter (mean diameter < 2.5 µm; PM2.5 )-induced lung injury. Autophagy, playing a crucial role in various physiopathological conditions, modulates cellular homeostasis and stress adaptation. Resveratrol is a phytoalexin that exerts potent antioxidant effects on cardiopulmonary diseases. To date, the mechanisms by which resveratrol protects against PM2.5 remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effect of resveratrol on PM2.5 -induced oxidative injury. The potential role of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 and autophagy in this progress was explored. Human bronchial epithelial cells were treated with PM2.5 and the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress markers were determined. The results showed that PM2.5 decreased cell viability and elevated the level of lactate dehydrogenase. The levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species were increased by PM2.5 exposure. PM2.5 also induced a significant increase of the inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor α. Meanwhile, PM2.5 triggered autophagy formation and alteration of the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 pathway. Furthermore, human bronchial epithelial cells were co-treated with PM2.5 and resveratrol in the presence or absence of 3-methylamphetamine, an inhibitor of autophagic formation. It was revealed that resveratrol intervention abolished PM2.5 -induced oxidative injury partially through the suppression of autophagy deregulation. Findings from this study could provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of pulmonary intervention during PM2.5 exposure.

Curcumin inhibits bladder cancer stem cells by suppressing Sonic Hedgehog pathway.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) is responsible for the recurrence of human cancers. Thus, targeting CSCs is considered to be a valid way for human cancer treatment. Curcumin is a major component of phytochemicals that exerts potent anticancer activities. However, the effect of curcumin on bladder cancer stem cells (BCSCs) remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of curcumin suppressing bladder cancer stem cells. In this study, UM-UC-3 and EJ cells were cultured in serum-free medium (SFM) to form cell spheres that was characterized as BCSCs. Then cell spheres were separately treated with different concentrations of curcumin and purmorphamine. Cell cycle analysis were used to determine the percentage of cells in different phases. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR analysis were used to detect the expression of relative molecules. Immunofluorescence staining analysis were also utilized to measure the protein level of CD44. We found that CSC markers, including CD44, CD133, ALDH1-A1, OCT-4 and Nanog, were obviously highly expressed in cell spheres. Moreover, we observed that curcumin reduced the cell spheres formation, decreased the expression of CSC markers, suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. We also found that curcumin inhibited the activation of Shh pathway, while the inhibitory effects of curcumin on BCSCs could be weakened by upregulation of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway. Altogether, these data suggested that curcumin inhibited the activities of BCSCs through suppressing Shh pathway, which might be an effective chemopreventive agent for bladder cancer intervention.

Neuron-derived CCL2 contributes to microglia activation and neurological decline in hepatic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: CCL2 was up-regulated in neurons and involved in microglia activation and neurological decline in mice suffering from hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, no data exist concerning the effect of neuron-derived CCL2 on microglia activation in vitro. METHODS: The rats were pretreated with CCL2 receptor inhibitors (INCB or C021, 1 mg/kg/day i.p.) for 3 days prior to thioacetamide (TAA) administration (300 mg/kg/day i.p.) for inducing HE model. At 8 h following the last injection (and every 4 h after), the grade of encephalopathy was assessed. Blood and whole brains were collected at coma for measuring CCL2 and Iba1 expression. In vitro, primary neurons were stimulated with TNF-α, and then the medium were collected for addition to microglia cultures with or without INCB or C021 pretreatment. The effect of the medium on microglia proliferation and activation was evaluated after 24 h. RESULTS: CCL2 expression and microglia activation were elevated in the cerebral cortex of rats received TAA alone. CCL2 receptors inhibition improved neurological score and reduced cortical microglia activation. In vitro, TNF-α treatment induced CCL2 release by neurons. Medium from TNF-α stimulated neurons caused microglia proliferation and M1 markers expression, including iNOS, COX2, IL-6 and IL-1ß, which could be suppressed by INCB or C021 pretreatment. The medium could also facilitate p65 nuclear translocation and IκBα phosphorylation, and NF-κB inhibition reduced the increased IL-6 and IL-1ß expression induced by the medium. CONCLUSION: Neuron-derived CCL2 contributed to microglia activation and neurological decline in HE. Blocking CCL2 or inhibiting microglia excessive activation may be potential strategies for HE.

Biomass-Derived Porous Carbon with Micropores and Small Mesopores for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Biomass-derived porous carbon BPC-700, incorporating micropores and small mesopores, was prepared through pyrolysis of banana peel followed by activation with KOH. A high specific BET surface area (2741 m2 g-1 ), large specific pore volume (1.23 cm3 g-1 ), and well-controlled pore size distribution (0.6-5.0 nm) were obtained and up to 65 wt % sulfur content could be loaded into the pores of the BPC-700 sample. When the resultant C/S composite, BPC-700-S65, was used as the cathode of a Li-S battery, a large initial discharge capacity (ca. 1200 mAh g-1 ) was obtained, indicating a good sulfur utilization rate. An excellent discharge capacity (590 mAh g-1 ) was also achieved for BPC-700-S65 at the high current rate of 4 C (12.72 mA cm-2 ), showing its extremely high rate capability. A reversible capacity of about 570 mAh g-1 was achieved for BPC-700-S65 after 500 cycles at 1 C (3.18 mA cm-2 ), indicating an outstanding cycling stability.

RNA m5C methylation modification: a potential therapeutic target for SARS-CoV-2-associated myocarditis.

The Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has quickly spread worldwide and resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. Although most infections are mild, some patients can also develop severe and fatal myocarditis. In eukaryotic RNAs, 5-methylcytosine (m5C) is a common kind of post-transcriptional modification, which is involved in regulating various biological processes (such as RNA export, translation, and stability maintenance). With the rapid development of m5C modification detection technology, studies related to viral m5C modification are ever-increasing. These studies have revealed that m5C modification plays an important role in various stages of viral replication, including transcription and translation. According to recent studies, m5C methylation modification can regulate SARS-CoV-2 infection by modulating innate immune signaling pathways. However, the specific role of m5C modification in SARS-CoV-2-induced myocarditis remains unclear. Therefore, this review aims to provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of m5C methylation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the regulatory role of NSUN2 in viral infection and host innate immune response was also highlighted. This review may provide new directions for developing therapeutic strategies for SARS-CoV-2-associated myocarditis.

Prediction model of death risk in patients with sepsis and screening of biomarkers for prognosis of patients with myocardial injury.

This study aimed to create a robust prediction model for sepsis patient mortality and identify key biomarkers in those with myocardial injury. A retrospective analysis of 261 sepsis inpatients was conducted, with 44 deaths and 217 recoveries. Key factors were assessed via univariate and multivariate analyses, revealing myocardial injury, shock, and pulmonary infection as independent mortality risk factors. Using LASSO regression, a reliable prediction model was developed and internally validated. Additionally, procalcitonin (PCT) emerged as a sensitive biomarker for myocardial injury prediction in sepsis patients. In summary, this study highlights myocardial injury, shock, and pulmonary infection as independent risk factors for sepsis-related deaths. The LASSO-based prediction model effectively forecasts the prognosis of septic patients with myocardial injury, with PCT showing promise as a predictive biomarker.

RNA modifications in pulmonary diseases.

Threatening public health, pulmonary disease (PD) encompasses diverse lung injuries like chronic obstructive PD, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary infections due to pathogen invasion, and fatal lung cancer. The crucial involvement of RNA epigenetic modifications in PD pathogenesis is underscored by robust evidence. These modifications not only shape cell fates but also finely modulate the expression of genes linked to disease progression, suggesting their utility as biomarkers and targets for therapeutic strategies. The critical RNA modifications implicated in PDs are summarized in this review, including N6-methylation of adenosine, N1-methylation of adenosine, 5-methylcytosine, pseudouridine (5-ribosyl uracil), 7-methylguanosine, and adenosine to inosine editing, along with relevant regulatory mechanisms. By shedding light on the pathology of PDs, these summaries could spur the identification of new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies, ultimately paving the way for early PD diagnosis and treatment innovation.

Expression and diagnostic significance of integrin beta-2 in synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by synovial cartilage degeneration and is the leading cause of disability and pain worldwide. This study sought to investigate the expression of integrin beta-2 (ITGB2) in synovial fluid of OA patients and its clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 110 OA patients were enrolled, who were classified into grade I (N = 35), II (N = 42), and III (N = 33) according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification, with 110 healthy subjects as controls, and their clinical data were compared. ITGB2 level was detected by RT-qPCR. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the predictive value of ITGB2 on OA occurrence. The correlation between ITGB2 and bone metabolism indexes procollagen type I N-terminal peptide (PINP), bone glaprotein (BGP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and ß-collagen I telopeptide (ß-CTX) was analyzed by the Pearson method. Logistic regression model was performed to analyze the influencing factors of OA. RESULTS: The content of red blood cells, white blood cells, PINP, BGP, and BALP was lowered in OA patients, while ß-CTX was elevated. ITGB2 was highly-expressed in OA patients, negatively-correlated with PINP, BGP, and BALP, but positively-correlated with ß-CTX. ITGB2 level increased with the elevation of OA grade. The ITGB2 level >1.375 had certain diagnostic values for OA. ITGB2 level is related to OA severity and may be a biomarker for OA classification. ITGB2 was an independent risk factor for OA. CONCLUSION: High expression of ITGB2 in synovial fluid can assist OA diagnosis and may be a biomarker for OA grade.

A mast cell-related prognostic model for non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The immune microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) plays a critical role in its treatment. Mast cells (MCs) appear to play a key role in the tumor microenvironment, and studies are needed to further elucidate the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC. Methods: Data was collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Univariate Cox and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analyses constructed a resting mast cell related genes (RMCRGs) risk model. Differences in the immune infiltration levels of diverse immune infiltrating cells between the high- and low-risk groups were identified by CIBERSORT. We analyzed the enrichment terms in the entire TCGA cohort using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) software version 4.1.1. We used Pearson correlation analysis to identify the relationships between risk scores, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and tumor mutation burden (TMB). Finally, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for chemotherapy in the high- and low-risk populations were evaluated via the R "oncoPredict" package. Results: We found 21 RMCRGs that were significantly associated with resting MCs. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the 21 RMCRGs were enriched in regulating angiotensin blood levels and angiotensin maturation. An initial univariate Cox regression analysis was performed on the 21 RMCRGs, four of which were identified as significantly related to prognostic risk in NSCLC. Then, LASSO regression was carried out to construct a prognostic model. We found a positive correlation between the expression of the four RMCRGs with resting mast cell infiltration in NSCLC; the higher the risk score, the less resting mast cell infiltration and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) expression. A drug sensitivity analysis showed a difference in drug sensitivity between the high- and low-risk groups. Conclusions: We constructed a predictive prognostic risk model for NSCLC containing four RMCRGs. We hope this risk model will provide a theoretical basis for future investigations on NSCLC mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

m6A methylation: a potential key player in understanding and treating COVID-2019 infection.

Since its discovery in 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) spans a wide clinical spectrum from the asymptomatic stage, mild infection, to severe pneumonia. In patients with COVID-2019, factors such as advanced age, diabetes, or hypertension are associated with a significantly increased risk of severe diseases and death. Of note, the mechanisms underlying differences in the risk and symptoms of COVID-2019 among different populations are still poorly characterized. Accordingly, it is imperative to elucidate potential pathophysiological mechanisms and develop targeted therapeutic approaches for COVID-2019 infection. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most common modifications in mammalian RNA transcripts and is widely found in messenger RNAs and some non-coding RNAs. It has been reported that m6A methylation modifications are present in viral RNA transcripts, which are of great significance for the regulation of the viral life cycle. Furthermore, m6A methylation has recently been found to be strongly associated with COVID-2019 infection. Therefore, this article reviews recent advances in studies related to the role of m6A methylation in COVID-2019 infection.

Type III interferon exerts thymic stromal lymphopoietin in mediating adaptive antiviral immune response.

Previously, it was believed that type III interferon (IFN-III) has functions similar to those of type I interferon (IFN-I). However, recently, emerging findings have increasingly indicated the non-redundant role of IFN-III in innate antiviral immune responses. Still, the regulatory activity of IFN-III in adaptive immune response has not been clearly reported yet due to the low expression of IFN-III receptors on most immune cells. In the present study, we reviewed the adjuvant, antiviral, antitumor, and disease-moderating activities of IFN-III in adaptive immunity; moreover, we further elucidated the mechanisms of IFN-III in mediating the adaptive antiviral immune response in a thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)-dependent manner, a pleiotropic cytokine involved in mucosal adaptive immunity. Research has shown that IFN-III can enhance the antiviral immunogenic response in mouse species by activating germinal center B (GC B) cell responses after stimulating TSLP production by microfold (M) cells, while in human species, TSLP exerts OX40L for regulating GC B cell immune responses, which may also depend on IFN-III. In conclusion, our review highlights the unique role of the IFN-III/TSLP axis in mediating host adaptive immunity, which is mechanically different from IFN-I. Therefore, the IFN-III/TSLP axis may provide novel insights for clinical immunotherapy.