Role of hydrogen sulfide in dermatological diseases.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), together with carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO), is recognized as a vital gasotransmitter. H2S is biosynthesized by enzymatic pathways in the skin and exerts significant physiological effects on a variety of biological processes, such as apoptosis, modulation of inflammation, cellular proliferation, and regulation of vasodilation. As a major health problem, dermatological diseases affect a large proportion of the population every day. It is urgent to design and develop effective drugs to deal with dermatological diseases. Dermatological diseases can arise from a multitude of etiologies, including neoplastic growth, infectious agents, and inflammatory processes. The abnormal metabolism of H2S is associated with many dermatological diseases, such as melanoma, fibrotic diseases, and psoriasis, suggesting its therapeutic potential in the treatment of these diseases. In addition, therapies based on H2S donors are being developed to treat some of these conditions. In the review, we discuss recent advances in the function of H2S in normal skin, the role of altering H2S metabolism in dermatological diseases, and the therapeutic potential of diverse H2S donors for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

Efficacy of Combination Therapy (Hydrodilatation and Subdeltoid Bursa Injection With Corticosteroid, Mobilization, and Physical Therapy) vs Physical Therapy Alone for Treating Frozen Shoulder: A Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial, Phase I.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of combination therapy (hydrodilatation and subdeltoid bursa injection with corticosteroid, mobilization, and physical therapy [PT]) with that of PT alone for treating frozen shoulder. DESIGN: A prospective, 2-arm parallel, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation clinic of a private academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n=70) with frozen shoulder (freezing stage). INTERVENTIONS: Participants (n=35) in the combination group underwent hydrodilatation and subdeltoid bursa injection with corticosteroid twice, mobilization, and usual-care PT for 8 weeks; participants (n=35) in the PT group received only the usual-care PT for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) was the primary outcome measure. The secondary outcome measures were pain scores on a visual analog scale, range of motion (ROM), the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ), quality of life (evaluated using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]), and self-assessment of the treatment effect. RESULTS: Compared with the PT group, the combination group had significantly better pain (during activity), SPADI, SDQ, active and passive ROM, and self-assessment scores (all P<.001) as well as scores on some parts of the SF-36 (physical function and bodily pain, P<.05). Between-group differences were significant at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of hydrodilatation (with corticosteroid), bursal corticosteroid injection, and joint mobilization with PT was superior to PT alone for treating frozen shoulder, and the effects persisted for at least 6 months.

In vitro transdifferentiated signatures of goat preadipocytes into mammary epithelial cells revealed by DNA methylation and transcriptome profiling.

During mammary development, the transdifferentiation of mammary preadipocytes is one of the important sources for lactating mammary epithelial cells (MECs). However, there is limited knowledge about the mechanisms of dynamic regulation of transcriptome and genome-wide DNA methylation in the preadipocyte transdifferentiation process. Here, to gain more insight into these mechanisms, preadipocytes were isolated from adipose tissues from around the goat mammary gland (GM-preadipocytes). The GM-preadipocytes were cultured on Matrigel in conditioned media made from goat MECs to induce GM-preadipocyte-to-MEC transdifferentiation. The transdifferentiated GM-preadipocytes showed high abundance of keratin 18, which is a marker protein of MECs, and formed mammary acinar-like structures after 8 days of induction. Then, we performed transcriptome and DNA methylome profiling of the GM-preadipocytes and transdifferentiated GM-preadipocytes, respectively, and the differentially expressed genes and differentially methylated genes that play underlying roles in the process of transdifferentiation were obtained. Subsequently, we identified the candidate transcription factors in regulating the GM-preadipocyte-to-MEC transdifferentiation by transcription factor-binding motif enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes and differentially methylated genes. Meanwhile, the secretory proteome of GM-preadipocytes cultured in conditioned media was also detected. By integrating the transcriptome, DNA methylome, and proteome, three candidate genes, four proteins, and several epigenetic regulatory axes were further identified, which are involved in regulation of the cell cycle, cell polarity establishment, cell adhesion, cell reprogramming, and adipocyte plasticity. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of preadipocyte transdifferentiation and mammary development.

Comparison of corticosteroid injection, physiotherapy and combined treatment for patients with chronic subacromial bursitis - A randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether combination of corticosteroid subdeltoid injections and physiotherapy was more effective than either treatment alone in chronic subacromial bursitis. DESIGN: Prospective, three-arm randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation department of an academic hospital. SUBJECTS: Patients with chronic subacromial bursitis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were divided into corticosteroid injection (N = 36), physiotherapy (N = 40) and combined (N = 35) groups. Two corticosteroid subdeltoid injections in corticosteroid group, 8-week physical therapy emphasising on therapeutic exercise in physiotherapy group, and combined both treatments in combined group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were pain visual analogue scale and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index at 8 weeks after finishing treatment. The secondary outcome measures were active range of motion, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, patient's evaluation of treatment effect, and symptom recurrence. RESULTS: Group comparison showed significant statistical difference in shoulder flexion (P < 0.003) and patient's evaluation of treatment effect (P < 0.001). The time and group interactions comparison revealed significant statistical differences in pain score (P < 0.024), external rotation (P < 0.044) and patient's evaluation of treatment effect (P < 0.001). The above statistics were in favour of the corticosteroid and combined groups rather than physiotherapy group. The percentage of recurrence was 36.1, 7.5 and 17.1 in the corticosteroid, physiotherapy and combined groups, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Corticosteroid subdeltoid injection, or combined with physiotherapy, was superior to physiotherapy alone, but the recurrence rate was least in the physiotherapy group.

Genome-wide integrated analysis reveals functions of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions in Atlantic salmon challenged by Aeromonas salmonicida.

Aeromonas salmonicida (A. salmonicida) is a pathogenic bacterium that causes serious problems in the global Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs in gills of Atlantic salmon at high-dose A. salmonicida infection (3.06 × 108 CFU/mL), low-dose A. salmonicida infection (3.06 × 105 CFU/mL), and a PBS (100 µL) control. We identified 65 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 41 miRNAs, and 512 mRNAs between the control group and infection groups. Functional analysis showed that these genes were significantly enriched in the p53 signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. In addition, we predicted key genes in immune-related pathways and constructed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network based on whole transcriptomic analysis. We further predicted three lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axes as potential novel biomarkers in regulating the immune response of Atlantic salmon against A. salmonicida infection.

Ultrasonographic imaging findings of the shoulder in patients with Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder disorders, including frozen shoulder, bursitis, and rotator cuff lesions, are common musculoskeletal problems in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Because musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) can clearly image shoulder joints, we aimed to evaluate shoulder joints using US in patients with PD and healthy participants and correlation between US and PD severity. METHODS: This is a prospective case-control study. 50 patients with PD and 50 healthy subjects from the outpatient department were administered US for bilateral shoulders. For data analysis, we chose the more severely affected side in the PD group for matching with the corresponding shoulder in the control group according to age, sex, and body mass index. Pain and disability were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS: The PD group had higher VAS pain scores during activity (p = 0.003) and rest (p < 0.001), as well as the SPADI and SDQ scores (p < 0.001). In US findings, biceps long head tendon sheath effusion (p = 0.001), humeral head cortical irregularity (p = 0.012), and abnormality in the supraspinatus tendon (p = 0.003) were significantly greater in the PD group. Intra-group analysis in the PD group demonstrated a significant difference in passive flexion (p = 0.019) and supraspinatus tendinopathy (p = 0.033) on US examination during different disease stages. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PD had more supraspinatus tendinopathy on US findings than control subjects. The lesion was significantly associated with disease severity. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT02702232.

HSP70 gene expression responses to the temperature stress in pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes).

In this study, we isolated and characterized HSP70 cDNA from pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes). The 3053 bp full-length TrHSP70 sequence consisted of a 167 bp 5'-UTR (untranslated region), a 2535 bp open reading frame, and a 351 bp 3'-UTR. BLAST analysis revealed that the TrHSP70 shared high similarity with HSP70 sequences in other species. In our study, we set 3 experimental groups as H1 group (20 °C), H2 group (24 °C), and H3 group (28 °C) for checking the expression level of TrHSP70 in T. rubripes. Tissue-specific gene expression results showed that TrHSP70 had higher expression in the intestines than other tissues of the T. rubripes by RT-qPCR. In the experimental group, we found that the expression of TrHSP70 was upregulated in different tissues in the H3 group. The results show that TrHSP70 is a constitutively expressed gene, which plays an important role in maintaining normal physiological function and coping with stress.

Transcriptome analysis in Takifugu rubripes and Dicentrarchus labrax gills during Cryptocaryon irritans infection.

Takifugu rubripes and Dicentrarchus labrax are important commercial fish in China that are under serious threat from Cryptocaryon irritans. C. irritans is a ciliated obligate parasite that causes marine white spot disease and leads to heavy economic losses. We analysed the transcriptome in the gills of T. rubripes and D. labrax to compare differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways during infection with C. irritans. In total, we identified 6,901 and 35,736 DEGs from T. rubripes and D. labrax, respectively. All DEGs were annotated into GO terms; 6,901 DEGs from T. rubripes were assigned into 991 sub-categories, and 35,736 DEGs from D. labrax were assigned into 8,517 sub-categories. We mapped DEGs to the KEGG database and obtained 153 and 350 KEGG signalling pathways from T. rubripes and D. labrax, respectively. Immune-related categories included Toll-like receptors, MAPK, lysosome, C-type lectin receptor and NOD-like receptor signalling pathways were significantly enriched pathways. In immune-related signalling pathways, we found that AP-1, P38, IL-1ß, HSP90 and PLA were significantly up-regulated DEGs in T. rubripes, but P38 and PLA were significantly down-regulated in D. labrax. In this study, transcriptome was used to analyse the difference between scaly and non-scaly fish infection by C. irritans, which not only provided a theoretical basis for the infection mechanism of C. irritans, but also laid a foundation for effectively inhibiting the occurrence of this disease. Our work provides further insight into the immune response of host resistance to C. irritans.

Comparison of the effect of Western-made unloading knee brace with physical therapy in Asian patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis-A preliminary report.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of unloading knee brace with physical therapy (PT) in Asian patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHOD: This is a non-random, two-group comparative study. Patients with medial compartment knee OA (n = 41) were assigned to either the brace group (n = 20) or PT group (n = 21). Patients in the brace group were fitted with an unloading knee brace for three months and the PT group received a 60-min session of physiotherapy over the affected knee, three times a week, for three months. The primary outcome measures were the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC); the second outcome measures were the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and patient's satisfaction. The patients were evaluated at baseline, and at one month and three months. RESULTS: Group comparison showed no significant difference regarding pain VAS, WOMAC, SF-36, and patient's satisfaction, except stiffness in WOMAC (P = .006) and social functioning in SF-36 (P = .007). Time and group interaction revealed significant differences only in general health (P = .007) and mental health (P = .006) of SF-36. Within-group comparison found that pain VAS and WOMAC decreased significantly at one months and three months in both groups. CONCLUSION: The effect of brace fitting in patients with knee OA was similar to that of physical therapy. A Western-made unloading knee brace is acceptable in some Asian people with knee OA. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02712710.

Programmed Cell Death 1 (PD-1) Inhibitors in Renal Transplant Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Double-Edged Sword?

Given advancements in cancer immunity, cancer treatment has gained breakthrough developments. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, are the most promising drugs in the field and have been approved to treat various types of cancer, such as metastatic melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and urothelial carcinoma. However, whether PD-1 inhibitors should be administered to renal transplant patients with advanced cancer remains unclear because the T-cells produced after administration of these inhibitors act against not only tumor antigens but also donor alloantigens. Thus, the use of PD-1 inhibitors in kidney-transplanted patients with advanced cancer is limited on account of the high risk of graft failure due to acute rejection. Hence, finding optimal treatment regimens to enhance the tumor-specific T-cell response and decrease T-cell-mediated alloreactivity after administration of a PD-1 inhibitor is necessary. Thus far, no recommendations for the use of PD-1 inhibitors to treat cancer in renal transplant patients are yet available, and very few cases reporting kidney-transplanted patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors are available in the literature. Therefore, in this work, we review the published cases and suggest feasible approaches for renal transplant patients with advanced malignancy treated by a PD-1 inhibitor. Of the 22 cases we obtained, four patients maintained intact grafts without tumor progression after treatment with a PD-1 inhibitor. Among these patients, one maintained steroid dose before initiation of anti-PD1, two received immunosuppressive regimens with low-dose steroid and calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-elimination with sirolimus before initiation of anti-PD-1 therapy, and one received combined anti-PD-1, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and chemotherapy with unchanged immunosuppressive regimens. mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors and anti-VEGF may act as regulators of tumor-specific and allogenic T-cells. However, more studies are necessary to explore the optimal therapy and ensure the safety and efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in kidney-transplanted patients.

NCAPG2 promotes tumour proliferation by regulating G2/M phase and associates with poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma.

NCAPG2 is a component of the condensin II complex and contributes to chromosome segregation via microtubule-kinetochore attachment during mitosis. It is well known that NCAPG2 plays a critical role in cell mitosis; however, the role of altered NCAPG2 expression and its transcriptional regulatory function in cancer development remains mostly unknown. Here, for the first time we reported that NCAPG2 was evidently increased in non-small cell lung cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal lung tissues. Clinicopathological data analysis showed that NCAPG2 overexpression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and pathologic-Tumour Nodes Metastasen stages, and was an independent prognostic factor in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Moreover, siRNA-mediated knockdown of NCAPG2 could inhibit tumour cell growth of lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549 and H1299) in vitro and could significantly lead to cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase. Furthermore, we found that NCAPG2 silencing significantly decreased the expression levels of G2/M phase cell cycle-related protein expressions (Cyclin B1, Cdc2) and increased the expression levels of p27 and p21 through Western blot analysis. Taken together, we demonstrated that increased NCAPG2 expression could regulate cell proliferation and identified as a poor prognostic biomarker in lung adenocarcinoma.

PRC1 contributes to tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinoma in association with the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Protein regulator of cytokinesis-1 (PRC1) belongs to the microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) family, and is involved in cytokinesis. Recent investigations suggest PRC1 involvement in human carcinogenesis, including breast carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and etc. However, whether PRC1 contributes to lung adenocarcinoma tumorigenesis remains unknown. METHODS: Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting and Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) were used to evaluate and contrast the PRC1 expression profile in lung adenocarcinoma and adjacent normal lung tissues. We examined the clinical use of PRC1 in lung adenocarcinoma prognosis. Additionally, the tumorigenesis impact of PRC1 in lung adenocarcinoma cells was verified via in vitro and in vivo metastasis and tumorigenesis assays. Notably, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was performed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the oncogenic role of PRC1 in lung adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: PRC1 mRNA and protein expressions were upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues compared to adjacent normal lung tissues. PRC1 protein overexpression correlated with lymph node metastasis and was an independent poor prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma patients. Our data implied that PRC1 depletion limited the proliferation and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro and lowered tumor development and lung metastasis in vivo. Remarkably, limiting PRC1 substantially prompted G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Mechanistically, by conducting NGS on PRC1-depleted A549 cells and control cells, we discovered that PRC1 expression was significantly correlated with the Wnt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation offers confirmation that PRC1 is a prognostic and promising therapeutic biomarker for people with lung adenocarcinoma and takes on a key part in the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in lung adenocarcinoma development.

Chloroquine inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis in malignant pleural effusion.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is associated with a poor prognosis in lung cancer. Currently, no effective cure exists for MPE. Chloroquine (CQ) has been demonstrated to induce vascular normalization and inhibit tumor growth. The aim of this study was to assess whether CQ affects MPE. The xenografts mice were divided into normal saline (NS), CQ, or bevacizumab (BE) group. Tumor growth and microvascular density (MVD) were monitored. We explored the effect of CQ on the proliferation, survival, and proangiogenic signaling of tumor cells in vitro. We further evaluated the effects of CQ on the viability, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). A chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model was used to elucidate the effects of CQ on angiogenesis. Finally, an MPE mouse model were treated by CQ, BE, or NS. The volume of pleural effusion, tumor foci, and MVD was evaluated. CQ therapy group exhibited decreased tumor volume, tumor weight, and MVD in the mouse xenografts. CQ inhibited the proliferation of the tumor cells. However, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was not affected. Additionally, CQ inhibited the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs and also restrained angiogenesis in the CAM. Western blot showed that CQ might suppress angiogenesis by downregulating p-Akt, Jagged1, and Ang2 in HUVECs. In MPE mice, the volume of the pleural effusion, the number of pleural tumor foci, and the MVD were significantly reduced in the CQ group. Our work demonstrated that CQ played the role of an efficient treatment for MPE.

Restoration of Range of Motion in the Cervical Spine through Single-Segment Artificial Disc Replacement Using the Baguera®C Prosthesis.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a standard procedure for degenerative diseases of the cervical spine, providing nerve decompression and spinal stabilization. However, it limits cervical spine motility, restricts fused segment activity, and may lead to adjacent degeneration. Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an accepted alternative that preserves the structure and flexibility of the cervical spine. This study aimed to explore the dynamic changes in the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine after CDA using a viscoelastic artificial disc, as well as the factors affecting mobility restoration. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 132 patients who underwent single-level anterior cervical discectomy and CDA from January 2015 to June 2022. Result: Analysis of data from 132 patients revealed a significant improvement in clinical outcomes. The mean ROM of C2-C7 and functional spinal unit (FSU) segments significantly increased from 2 to 36 months post-operatively. Cervical spine flexibility was preserved and enhanced after prosthesis implantation. However, it took six months for the cervical spine motility to stabilize. In addition, sex and age were found to impact motility restoration, with female and younger patients exhibiting larger ROMs post-surgery. Additionally, CDA at the C5-C6 level resulted in the greatest increase in ROM, potentially improving overall kinematic ability. Conclusions: Single-segment artificial disc arthroplasty effectively restores the ROM in degenerative cervical spine conditions.

Ultrasound versus palpation-guided corticosteroid injection for de Quervain disease: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Corticosteroid injection effectively treats de Quervain disease, and due to the high prevalence of the intracompartmental septum in the first extensor compartment, ultrasound guidance improves injection accuracy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness, adverse events, and the recurrence rate between ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided injection in patients with de Quervain disease. DESIGN: Prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation department of a private teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled 49 patients, ≥20 years of age, clinically diagnosed with de Quervain disease based on their medical history and physical examination. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized into two groups: ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided injection. Both groups received a mixture of 10 mg triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/1 mL) and 0.3 mL 1% lidocaine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score at 1 week. The secondary outcome measures were visual analog scale for pain (pain VAS) score, patient satisfaction, and adverse events or complications from the interventions at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months. RESULTS: Both groups showed improvement over time in QuickDASH scores and pain VAS (p < .001); however, no statistically significant differences were noted between the groups for either QuickDASH scores (p = .22) or pain VAS (p = .30). In addition, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of patient satisfaction (p = .76) and adverse events (p = .47, .33, .58) at the 1-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: Both ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided injections effectively treated de Quervain disease. During a 6-month follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in pain relief, upper limb function, or patient satisfaction. However, the palpation-guided group showed a tendency for more recurrence and skin side effects.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Suprascapular Nerve Blocks and Intraarticular Corticosteroid Injections for Frozen Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The current mainstream treatment for frozen shoulder is a combination of physiotherapy and intraarticular corticosteroid injections (IACIs). Recently, the ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) has developed as a notable alternative option to the mainstream treatment. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare ultrasound-guided SSNBs' effectiveness to IACIs' as treatments for frozen shoulder. STUDY DESIGN: This study was conducted as a prospective single-blind, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. METHODS: Patients with frozen shoulder (n = 76) were enrolled as participants and allocated to either an SSNB group (n = 38) or an IACI group (n = 38). Both groups received 2 injections of 20 mg of triamcinolone and 3 mL of 1% lidocaine at 2-week intervals and underwent the same physiotherapy protocol for 3 months. The primary outcome measure was the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). The secondary outcome measures were the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ), the active and passive range of motion (ROM) of each patient's affected shoulder, and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Evaluations were performed at baseline and at 4 and 12 weeks after starting treatment. RESULTS: Both groups achieved significant improvements in all outcome measures, except the general health subscale of the SF-36 at 4 and 12 weeks after starting treatment. For time and group interaction, the results for the SDQ (P = .047) and SF-36 (bodily pain, P = .025) indicated significant differences that favored IACIs. Additionally, the IACI group achieved more favorable outcomes than did the SSNB group on the SPADI (P = .094) and in ROM (i.e., abduction [P = .190] and external rotation [P = .081]) as well as on 2 subscales of the SF-36: bodily pain (P = .059) and role-emotional (P = .072). LIMITATIONS: Our study is limited by the lack of participant stratification based on the stages of frozen shoulder and the 12-week follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of ultrasound-guided IACIs and physiotherapy should be attempted first as a frozen shoulder treatment.

Comparative long-term oncological outcomes of intraoperative radiotherapy vs. whole-breast irradiation in early breast cancer: a single institute study.

Background: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and whole breast irradiation (WBI) are both effective adjuvant radiotherapy methods for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS). We aim to evaluate the long-term oncological efficacy and refine patient selection criteria based on our findings. Methods: Female patients who underwent either IORT or WBI from January 2016 to December 2019, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were collected. IORT was administered as a single fraction of 20 Gray (Gy) to the lumpectomy cavity using the Axxent electronic brachytherapy system, while WBI consisted of a standard fractionation of 50 Gy in 25 fractions, along with a reduced boost of 10 Gy. The clinicopathologic characteristics and oncological outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 247 patients were enrolled, comprising 164 with BC and 83 with DCIS. Among them, 112 underwent IORT, and 135 received WBI after BCS. The median age was 62.2 years, with median tumor sizes of 1.5 cm for BC and 1.2 cm for DCIS. At a median follow-up of 64.6 months, IORT demonstrated 11 locoregional recurrences (LRR), 1 metastasis, and 1 death, compared to 4 LRR, 5 metastases, and 2 deaths in the WBI group. WBI yielded significantly higher locoregional control (97.0% vs. 90.2%, p = 0.033), although metastasis-free (96.3% vs. 99.1%, p = 0.166) and overall survival rates (98.4% vs. 99%, p = 0.688) did not differ. The LRR rate was significantly higher in the IORT group among the DCIS or BC patients (p = 0.043). The hazard ratio for locoregional recurrence significantly increased in estrogen-receptor-negative (ER-) patients in both univariate analysis (HR = 4.98, 95% CI = 1.76-14.09, p = 0.002) and multivariate analysis (HR = 40.88, 95% CI = 1.29-1297.84, p = 0.035). Additionally, IORT was associated with increased LRR in the multivariate analysis (HR = 4.71, 95% CI = 1.16-19.06, p = 0.030). Conclusion: At a long-term follow-up, the LRR rate was higher in the BCS followed by IORT, without significant differences in metastasis-free or overall survival rates. Our data confirmed the importance of exclusion ER- patients for IORT.

Emerging roles of hydrogen sulfide in colorectal cancer.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), an endogenous gasotransmitter, plays a key role in several critical physiological and pathological processes in vivo, including vasodilation, anti-infection, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and angiogenesis. In colorectal cancer (CRC), aberrant overexpression of H2S-producing enzymes has been observed. Due to the important role of H2S in the proliferation, growth, and death of cancer cells, H2S can serve as a potential target for cancer therapy. In this review, we thoroughly analyzed the underlying mechanism of action of H2S in CRC from the following aspects: the synthesis and catabolism of H2S in CRC cells and its effect on cell signal transduction pathways; the inhibition effects of exogenous H2S donors with different concentrations on the growth of CRC cells and the underlying mechanism of H2S in garlic and other natural products. Furthermore, we elucidate the expression characteristics of H2S in CRC and construct a comprehensive H2S-related signaling pathway network, which has important basic and practical significance for promoting the clinical research of H2S-related drugs.

Hydrogen Sulfide in Musculoskeletal Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities.

Significance: Musculoskeletal diseases seriously affect global health, but their importance is greatly underestimated. These diseases often afflict the elderly, leading to disability, paralysis, and other complications. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of musculoskeletal diseases, which may have potential therapeutic significance for these diseases. Recent Advances: Recently, it has been found that many musculoskeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis, periodontitis, muscle atrophy, muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury, muscle contraction under high fever, arthritis, and disc herniation, can be alleviated by treatment with H2S. H2S may be conducive to the development of multiple myeloma. The mechanism of action of H2S in the musculoskeletal system has been partly elucidated. A variety of H2S donors and nano-delivery systems provide promising prospects for H2S-based therapies. Critical Issues: Related research remains at the level of cell or animal experiments, but clinical research is lacking. The roles of H2S in more musculoskeletal disorders remain largely unknown. The serious consequences of musculoskeletal diseases have not been widely concerned. Targeted delivery of H2S remains a challenging task in musculoskeletal diseases. Future Directions: Develop therapeutic drugs for musculoskeletal diseases based on H2S and test their safety, efficacy, and tolerance. Explore the combination of current drugs for musculoskeletal diseases with H2S-releasing components to improve the therapeutic efficacy and avoid side effects. Carry out relevant clinical trials to verify the possibility of its widespread use. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000.

Role of hydrogen sulfide in health and disease.

In the past, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was recognized as a toxic and dangerous gas; in recent years, with increased research, we have discovered that H2S can act as an endogenous regulatory transmitter. In mammals, H2S-catalyzing enzymes, such as cystathionine-ß-synthase, cystathionine-γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, are differentially expressed in a variety of tissues and affect a variety of biological functions, such as transcriptional and posttranslational modification of genes, activation of signaling pathways in the cell, and metabolic processes in tissues, by producing H2S. Various preclinical studies have shown that H2S affects physiological and pathological processes in the body. However, a detailed systematic summary of these roles in health and disease is lacking. Therefore, this review provides a thorough overview of the physiological roles of H2S in different systems and the diseases associated with disorders of H2S metabolism, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. Meanwhile, this paper also introduces H2S donors and novel release modes, as well as the latest preclinical experimental results, aiming to provide researchers with new ideas to discover new diagnostic targets and therapeutic options.