Leflunomide versus azathioprine for maintenance therapy of lupus nephritis: a prospective, multicentre, randomised trial and long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have compared mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine as maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis (LN). Leflunomide is an immunosuppressant widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this investigator-initiated study was to compare the efficacy and safety of leflunomide versus azathioprine as maintenance therapy for LN. METHODS: 270 adult patients with biopsy-confirmed active LN from 7 Chinese Rheumatology Centres were enrolled. All patients received induction therapy with 6-9 months of intravenous cyclophosphamide plus glucocorticoids. Patients who achieved complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) were randomised to receive prednisone in combination with leflunomide or azathioprine as maintenance therapy for 36 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was the time to kidney flare. Secondary outcomes included clinical parameters, extrarenal flare and adverse effects. RESULTS: A total of 215 patients were randomly allocated to the leflunomide group (n=108) and azathioprine group (n=107). Kidney flares were observed in 17 (15.7%) leflunomide-treated patients and 19 (17.8%) azathioprine-treated patients. Time to kidney flare did not statistically differ (leflunomide: 16 months vs azathioprine: 14 months, p=0.676). 24-hour proteinuria, serum creatinine, serum albumin, serum C3 and serum C4 improved similarly. Extrarenal flare occurred in two patients from the azathioprine group and one patient from the leflunomide group. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the 2 groups: leflunomide 56.5% and azathioprine 58.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety profile of leflunomide are non-inferior to azathioprine for maintenance therapy of LN. Leflunomide may provide a new candidate for maintenance therapy in patients with LN. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01172002.

Effect of an external electric field, aqueous solution and specific adsorption on segregation of PtML/MML/Pt(111) (M = Cu, Pd, Au): a DFT study.

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) that occurs on the outermost layer of electrocatalysts is significantly affected by the composition and structure of the electrocatalysts. During the preparation of PtM alloy electrocatalysts, high-temperature annealing in an inert or reducing atmosphere could promote the segregation of M toward the core, forming a highly active Pt-skin structure. However, under fuel cell operating conditions, the adsorption of oxygen-containing groups could stimulate the easily dissolved M to segregate to the surface, reducing the activity and stability of the electrocatalysts. In this work, we conducted segregation energy calculation of PtM (M = Cu, Pd, Au) electrocatalysts under specific adsorption (SA), aqueous solution (AS) and an external electric field (EEF) with a density functional theory method. It was found that different factors have different effects on the segregation energy: ΔΔESA ≫ ΔΔEEEF > ΔΔEAS. The coupling effects have also been considered and compared: ΔΔESA+EEF > ΔΔESA+AS > ΔΔEEEF+AS. When including all three factors, the change of segregation energy could reach 1.63 eV. Therefore, operating conditions have a noteworthy influence on the segregation behavior of PtM ORR electrocatalysts, which should be considered in the further design of PtM ORR electrocatalysts.

HIF-1α forms regulatory loop with YAP to coordinate hypoxia-induced adriamycin resistance in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Despite the improvement in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatments, most patients had a poor prognosis and suffered from chemoresistance and disease relapse. Therefore, there is an urgent need for elucidation of mechanism(s) underlying drug resistance in AML. In the present study, we found that AML cells showed less susceptibility to adriamycin (ADR) in the presence of hypoxia, while inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) by CdCl2 can make AML cells re-susceptibile to ADR even under hypoxia. Moreover, HIF-1α is overexpressed and plays an important role in ADR-resistance maintenance in resistant AML cells. We further found hypoxia or induction of HIF-1α can significantly upregulate yes-associated protein (YAP) expression in AML cells, and resistant cells express a high level of YAP. Finally, we found that YAP may not only enhance HIF-1α stability but also promote HIF-1α's activity on the target gene pyruvate kinase M2. In conclusion, our data indicate that HIF-1α or YAP may represent a therapeutic target for overcoming resistance toward adriamycin-based chemotherapy in AML.

Rectal Indomethacin and Spraying of Duodenal Papilla With Epinephrine Increases Risk of Pancreatitis Following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Rectal indomethacin and spraying of the duodenal papilla with epinephrine might reduce the incidence of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We performed a randomized trial to compare the effects of the combination of indomethacin and epinephrine (IE) vs indomethacin plus saline (IS) in prophylaxis of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). METHODS: We performed a double-blind trial at 10 centers in China, from February 2017 to October 2017, of 1158 patients with native papilla undergoing ERCP. The patients were assigned randomly to groups given IE (n = 576) or IS (n = 582). All patients received a single dose of rectal indomethacin within 30 minutes before ERCP; 20 mL of dilute epinephrine (IE group) or saline (IS group) then was sprayed on the duodenal papilla at the end of ERCP. The primary outcome was the incidence of overall PEP. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: The study was terminated at the interim analysis for safety concerns and futility. The groups had similar baseline characteristics. PEP developed in 49 patients in the IE group (8.5%) and in 31 patients in the IS group (5.3%) (relative risk, 1.60, 95% CI, 1.03-2.47; P = .033). There were no significant differences between groups in proportions of patients with postsphincterotomy bleeding (2.1% in the IE group and 1.5% in the IS group) and biliary infection (1.2% in the IE group and 2.2% in the IS group). CONCLUSIONS: In a randomized trial, we found the combination of rectal indomethacin with papillary epinephrine spraying increased the risk of PEP compared with indomethacin alone. Spray epinephrine should not be used with rectal indomethacin for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis. ClincialTrials.gov no: NCT03057769.

A Role for Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase-1 in Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: a Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play an important role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by triggering innate and adaptive immune responses. The molecular mechanisms responsible for their formation in SLE are still unclear. In this study, we aim to characterize the role of the receptor-interacting protein kinase-1 (RIPK1), a homologous serine/threonine kinase previously implicated in the regulation of necroptosis and tissue injury, in decreasing neutrophil death and formation of NETs, and to investigate the clinical implications of RIPK1 in SLE. METHODS: Patients with SLE (n = 50) and healthy donors (n = 35) were enrolled in in vitro studies. Management of SLE patients was evaluated using the SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score and laboratory variables. The mRNA level of RIPKs was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Intracellular RIPK1 and RIPK3 production by peripheral blood leukocytes was detected by four-color flow cytometry and confirmed by automatic western blotting. TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-8, IL-18, and RIPK1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell death was assayed by Sytox green dye from peripheral neutrophils stimulated by RIPK-1-stabilizer necrostatin-1 (nec-1) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy were used to detect NET formation ex vivo. Quantification of NETs was determined by fluorescence spectrometry. RESULTS: IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-8, and IL-18 levels in serum were increased in SLE patients compared to controls. However, the expression of TNF-α, IL-2, and RIPK1 were decreased. In addition, we observed significant differences in the expression of RIPK1 in peripheral blood leukocytes. Of all the leukocytes, RIPK1 expression was significantly lower in neutrophils. Furthermore, we studied NETs formation in neutrophils of SLE with decreased RIPK1 expression, and these show increased susceptibility to NETosis, when stimulated with PMA and/or nec-1. Importantly, RIPK1 expression in neutrophils negatively correlated with ESR, CRP, 24-hour urine total protein, and the disease activity index in SLE. CONCLUSION: These data represent the first report of decreased RIPK1 expression in neutrophils of SLE patients and imply that RIPK1 may be involved in neutrophil death and NET formation. We suggest that RIPK1 is a potential biomarker to predict disease activity.

Electrochemical Dynamics of a Single Platinum Nanoparticle Collision Event for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Chronoamperometry was used to study the dynamics of Pt nanoparticle (NP) collision with an inert ultramicroelectrode via electrocatalytic amplification (ECA) in the hydrogen evolution reaction. ECA and dynamic light scattering (DLS) results reveal that the NP colloid remains stable only at low proton concentrations (1.0 mm) under a helium (He) atmosphere, ensuring that the collision events occur at genuinely single NP level. Amperometry of single NP collisions under a He atmosphere shows that each discrete current profile of the collision event evolves from spike to staircase at more negative potentials, while a staircase response is observed at all of the applied potentials under hydrogen-containing atmospheres. The particle size distribution estimated from the diffusion-controlled current in He agrees well with electron microscopy and DLS observations. These results shed light on the interfacial dynamics of the single nanoparticle collision electrochemistry.

Multiresidue analysis of glucocorticoids in milk by LC-MS/MS with low-temperature purification and dispersive solid-phase extraction.

A multiresidue method for the determination of 12 glucocorticoids (clobetasol propionate, budesonide, triamcinolone, triamcinolone acetonide, fludrocortisone acetate, flumethasone, beclomethasone, prednisone acetate, 6-α-methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone, cortisone, and prednisone) in bovine milk was developed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Isoflupredone was used as an internal standard. Milk samples were treated with ethyl acetate to extract glucocorticoids and were frozen at -20°C for 6 h to precipitate fat. The extract was dried under nitrogen, and residues were dissolved in an acetonitrile/water solution. A further clean-up step was used by dispersive solid-phase extraction, with octadecyl silica and primary secondary amine as the absorbents. The recoveries of glucocorticoids spiked at 0.5, 1.0, 10.0 µg/kg ranged from 75.7 to 117.3%, except for clobetasol propionate and budesonide (16.1-49.5%). The limits of quantification were 0.01-0.5 µg/kg in milk. This method has been successfully applied in real samples. The results demonstrated that this method is simple, robust, and suitable for identification of glucocorticoid residues in milk.

NFATC1 promotes cell growth and tumorigenesis in ovarian cancer up-regulating c-Myc through ERK1/2/p38 MAPK signal pathway.

It has been reported that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATC1) was up-regulated in cancers mediating malignant behaviors. However, the role of NFATC1 in ovarian cancer has not been elucidated. In the present study, we undertook to explore the clinicopathological significance of NFATC1 expression and the mechanism by which NFATC1 works in ovarian cancer. Expression status of NFATC1 was examined using immunohistochemistry. Both knockdown and re-expression of NFATC1 on ovarian cancer cells were employed to observe the effect overgrowth. It was found that NFATC1 was significantly overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues in comparison with paired normal control tissues and that overexpression of NFATC1 was significantly associated with metastasis and poor prognosis on clinical tissue level. In in vitro ovarian cancer cell lines, we found that NFATC1 can promote proliferation up-regulating c-myc through activation of ERK1/2/p38/MAPK signal pathway. Together, the results we obtained demonstrated that NFATC1 played oncogenic role in ovarian cancer. Mechanistically, NFATC1 promoted growth of ovarian cancer cells up-regulating c-myc through activation of ERK1/2/p38/MAPK signal pathway, suggesting that NFATC1 might be used as a therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Docosahexaenoic Acid Modulates Invasion and Metastasis of Human Ovarian Cancer via Multiple Molecular Pathways.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells (A2780, HO8910, and SKOV-3). METHODS: Cytotoxicity assay was performed to determine the optimal doses of DHA in this experiment. The effects of DHA on invasion ability were assessed by invasion assay. The expressions of messenger RNA and/or proteins associated with invasion or metastasis were detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction or Western blot. The effect of DHA on cell metastasis was assessed in xenograft model of zebrafish. RESULTS: Docosahexaenoic acid and α-linolenic acid could reduce the cell vitalities in dose-dependent manner. However, DHA inhibited the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells, but α-linolenic acid did not (**P < 0.01). Docosahexaenoic acid could downregulate the expressions of WAVE3, vascular endothelial cell growth factor, and MMP-9, and upregulate KISS-1, TIMP-1, and PPAR-γ, which negatively correlated with cell invasion and metastasis (*P < 0.05). Docosahexaenoic acid restrained the development of subintestinal vessels and cancer cell metastasis in xenograft model of zebrafish (**P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Docosahexaenoic acid inhibited the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through the modulation of NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that DHA is a promising candidate for ovarian cancer therapy.

Silymarin improved diet-induced liver damage and insulin resistance by decreasing inflammation in mice.

CONTEXT: Silymarin is the main flavonoid extracted from milk thistle, which has been used to treat liver diseases. OBJECTIVE: The in vivo effect of silymarin on HFD-induced insulin resistance and fatty liver in mice was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity and insulin resistance and treated with 30, 60 mg/kg silymarin for 18 days. Food intake, body weight and the content/histology of epididymal fat and liver tissue were examined; the content of lipids, AST, ALT and inflammatory cytokines in serum were estimated. RESULTS: Administration of silymarin caused bodyweight loss in diet induced obesity (DIO) mice (HFD group: 47.7 g, 60 mg/kg group: 43.0 g) while the food intake remain unchanged. Silymarin (60 mg/kg) significantly reduced the epididymal fat mass (from 1.75 g to 1.12 g). Elevated plasma lipids (TC 6.1 mM, TG 1.3 mM, LDL 1.2 mM) in DIO mice were all suppressed by silymarin (TC 4.5 mM, TG 0.89 mM, LDL 0.9 mM), as well as insulin (5.1 ng/ml in HFD group to 2.0 ng/ml (60 mg/kg silymarin). Examination of cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6) in each group proved that silymarin treatment significantly decreased inflammation in DIO mice. Finally, silymarin effectively protected liver from HFD-induced injury as evidenced by decreasing histological damage and reducing ALT and AST levels, as follows: ALT; 47.4 U/L in HFD group to 28.4 U/L (60 mg/kg silymarin); AST; 150.1 U/L in HFD group to 88.1 U/L (60 mg/kg silymarin) in serum. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that silymarin-induced alleviation of inflammatory response could be a mechanism responsible for its benefits against liver damage and insulin resistance.

Liraglutide reduces the body weight and waist circumference in Chinese overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients.

AIM: To investigate the effects of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor activator, on body weight and waist circumference in Chinese overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: A total of 328 Chinese overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients were included in this multi-center, open-labeled and self-controlled clinical study. The patients were subcutaneously injected with liraglutide once daily for 24 weeks as add-on therapy to their previous hypoglycemic treatments. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software package version 11.5 for Windows. RESULTS: Liraglutide treatment caused significant reduction of the mean body weight (from 86.61±14.09 to 79.10±13.55 kg) and waist circumference (from 101.81±13.96 to 94.29±14.17 cm), resulting in body weight lose of 5%-10% in 43.67% patients, and body weight loss above 10% in 34.06% patients, who had significant lower plasma creatinine levels. Baseline waist circumference, BMI and HOMA-IR were independently correlated with the body weight loss. Furthermore, liraglutide treatment significantly decreased HbA1c levels (from 8.66%±2.17% to 6.92%±0.95%) with HbA1c<7.0% in 35.37% patients, who had a significantly lower baseline level of HbA1c, but higher baseline levels of C peptide and glucagon. Moreover, liraglutide treatment resulted in greater body weight loss in patients with a long duration of diabetes, and better glycemic control in patients with a short duration of diabetes. CONCLUSION: Liraglutide significantly reduces body weight and waist circumference in Chinese overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients. Patients with apparent visceral obesity, insulin resistance and a long duration of diabetes may have greater body weight loss; whereas patients with high insulin-secreting ability, hyperglucagonemia, and short-duration diabetes may obtain better glycemic control with liraglutide.

Development and validation of an alternative to conventional pretreatment methods for residue analysis of butachlor in water, soil, and rice.

A rapid and effective alternative analytical method for residues of butachlor in water, soil, and rice was established. The operating variables affecting performance of this method, including different extraction conditions and cleanup adsorbents, were evaluated. The determination of butachlor residues in soil, straw, rice hull, and husked rice was performed using GC/MS after extraction with n-hexane and cleanup with graphite carbon black. The average recoveries ranged from 81.5 to 102.7%, with RSDs of 0.6-7.7% for all of the matrixes investigated. The limits of quantitation were 0.05 mg/kg in water and rice plant, and 0.01 mg/kg in soil, straw, rice hull, and husked rice. A comparison among this proposed method, the conventional liquid-liquid extraction, the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe method, and Soxhlet extraction indicated that this method was more suitable for analyzing butachlor in rice samples. The further validation of the proposed method was carried out by Soxhlet extraction for the determination of butachlor residues in the husked rice samples, and the residue results showed there was no obvious difference obtained from these two methods. Samples from a rice field were found to contain butachlor residues below the maximum residue limits set by China (0.5 mg/kg) and Japan (0.1 mg/kg). The proposed method has a strong potential for application in routine screening and processing of large numbers of samples. This study developed a more effective alternative to the conventional analytical methods for analyzing butachlor residues in various matrixes.

The role of CXCL2-mediated crosstalk between tumor cells and macrophages in Fusobacterium nucleatum-promoted oral squamous cell carcinoma progression.

Dysbiosis of the oral microbiota is related to chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis. Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), a significant component of the oral microbiota, can perturb the immune system and form an inflammatory microenvironment for promoting the occurrence and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated the impacts of Fn on OSCC cells and the crosstalk between OSCC cells and macrophages. 16 s rDNA sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization verified that Fn was notably enriched in clinical OSCC tissues compared to paracancerous tissues. The conditioned medium co-culture model validated that Fn and macrophages exhibited tumor-promoting properties by facilitating OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Besides, Fn and OSCC cells can recruit macrophages and facilitate their M2 polarization. This crosstalk between OSCC cells and macrophages was further enhanced by Fn, thereby amplifying this positive feedback loop between them. The production of CXCL2 in response to Fn stimulation was a significant mediator. Suppression of CXCL2 in OSCC cells weakened Fn's promoting effects on OSCC cell proliferation, migration, macrophage recruitment, and M2 polarization. Conversely, knocking down CXCL2 in macrophages reversed the Fn-induced feedback effect of macrophages on the highly invasive phenotype of OSCC cells. Mechanistically, Fn activated the NF-κB pathway in both OSCC cells and macrophages, leading to the upregulation of CXCL2 expression. In addition, the SCC7 subcutaneous tumor-bearing model in C3H mice also substantiated Fn's ability to enhance tumor progression by facilitating cell proliferation, activating NF-κB signaling, up-regulating CXCL2 expression, and inducing M2 macrophage infiltration. However, these effects were reversed by the CXCL2-CXCR2 inhibitor SB225002. In summary, this study suggests that Fn contributes to OSCC progression by promoting tumor cell proliferation, macrophage recruitment, and M2 polarization. Simultaneously, the enhanced CXCL2-mediated crosstalk between OSCC cells and macrophages plays a vital role in the pro-cancer effect of Fn.

Dissipation and residue of bifenthrin in wheat under field conditions.

Field trials were carried out to investigate the dissipation and residue levels of bifenthrin in wheat. After extraction with acetonitrile, the samples were cleaned up by dispersive solid-phase extraction and detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The half-lives of bifenthrin in wheat seedlings ranged from 2.4 to 10.5 days. At harvest time, the terminal residues of bifenthrin were below the maximum residue limit (0.5 mg/kg) set by Codex Alimentarius Committee or European Union in wheat grain, which suggested that the use of this pesticide was safe for humans. However, the relatively high residue levels of bifenthrin in wheat straw should be paid attention to.

Peptidomics analysis of human breast milk from women with postpartum depression reveals its potential pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder during the postnatal period, and it exerts adverse impacts not only on mothers but also on infants, impairing the well-being of the whole family. However, the role of peptides in the breast milk of mothers with PPD has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to unveil the peptidomic profile of PPD from breast milk samples. METHODS: We performed comparative peptidomic profiling of human breast milk from PPD and control mothers using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology with iTRAQ-8 labelling. GO and KEGG pathway analyses of precursor proteins were used to predict the underlying biological functions of differentially expressed peptides (DEPs). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was further performed to explore the interactions and involved pathways of DEPs. RESULTS: A total of 294 peptides from 62 precursor proteins were identified to be differentially expressed in the breast milk of PPD mothers compared with the control group. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that these DEPs were associated with ECM-receptor interaction, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cell adhesion molecule binding and oxidative stress in macrophages. These results indicate that DEPs from human breast milk may play a part in PPD and become promising noninvasive biomarkers.

Structure evolution and durability of Metal-Nitrogen-Carbon (M = Co, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir) based oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst: A theoretical study.

Developing low-cost, high activity and stability oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is significantly important but still challenging for water electrolyzers. In this work, we calculated the OER activity and stability of Metal-Nitrogen-Carbon (MNC, M = Co, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir) based electrocatalyst with different structures (MN4C8, MN4C10, MN4C12) using density functional theory (DFT) method. These electrocatalysts were divided into three groups based on the value of ΔG*OH, that is ΔG*OH > 1.53 eV (PdN4C8, PdN4C10, PdN4C12), ΔG*OH < 1.23 eV (RuN4C8, RuN4C10, RuN4C12, CoN4C8, CoN4C10) and 1.23 eV < ΔG*OH < 1.53 eV (RhN4C8, RhN4C10, RhN4C12, IrN4C8, IrN4C10, IrN4C12, CoN4C12), and ΔG*OH determine whether the structure evolution will appear. The results proved that MNC (M = Rh, Ir) with 1.23 eV < ΔG*OH < 1.53 eV shows higher OER activity due to moderate binding energy between reaction intermediates and MNC. Furthermore, these catalysts could maintain MNC structure without further oxidation and structural evolution under working conditions (high temperature, dynamic condition, local electric field and strong specific adsorption), therefore show excellent stability. However, MNC electrocatalyst with ΔG*OH > 1.53 eV or ΔG*OH < 1.23 eV revealed less stability under working conditions, due to their low intrinsic stability or structural evolution under working conditions, respectively. In conclusion, we proposed a comprehensive evaluation method for MNC electrocatalysts by taking ΔG*OH as the screening criterion for OER activity and stability, as well as ΔEb under working condition as descriptor of stability. This is of great significance for the design and screening of ORR, OER and HER electrocatalysts under working conditions.

Clinical characteristics of and risk factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (Anti-MDA5) antibody-positive dermatomyositis patients: a single-center retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a serious opportunistic infection mainly diagnosed in patients with rheumatic conditions. However, PJP in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5-positive dermatomyositis (MDA5 + DM) patients remains poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the 6-month PJP risk in newly diagnosed MDA5 + DM patients. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 105 inpatients with newly diagnosed MDA5 + DM was conducted at Renji Hospital from January 2018 to November 2019. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, and treatment data were recorded. The primary outcome was PJP incidence within 6 months after a MDA5 + DM diagnosis. RESULTS: The analysis included 105 patients, including 13 patients diagnosed with PJP during the observation period. The median time from the MDA5 + DM diagnosis to PJP was 89 ± 38 days. Compared with the PJP - patients, the PJP + patients had a significantly greater risk of mortality (69.2% vs. 13.0% P < 0.001). Regarding the baseline comorbidities, hypertension (P = 0.013) and cancer (P = 0.02) were more common in the PJP + group. Additionally, a larger proportion of the PJP + patients received prolonged high-dose steroid therapy (≥ 60 mg/day and ≥ 1 month) (P = 0.022) and double or triple immunosuppressant therapy (P = 0.013). The multivariate analysis showed that PJP was independently associated with lymphopenia (ALC < 500 cells/µl) (OR: 5.434, 95% CI: 2.074-55.155; P = 0.012) and the combined use of cyclophosphamide (CTX) and tacrolimus (TAC) (OR: 10.695, 95% CI: 1.440-20.508; P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: There was a high incidence and mortality in the MDA5 + DM patients with PJP, with patients on combined immunosuppressive treatments, particularly CTX and TAC, being at a higher risk. Prolonged high-dose steroid therapy (≥ 60 mg/day and ≥ 1 month) was another risk factor for PJP. Key Points • There was a high incidence and mortality in the MDA5 + DM patients with PJP. • Most PJP cases occurred within 3 months after the MDA5 + DM diagnosis. • The 6-month infection risk of PJP increased with the administration of multiagent immunosuppression, especially the combination of CTX and TAC. • Prolonged high-dose steroid therapy (≥ 60 mg/day and ≥ 1 month) was another risk factor for PJP.

Transfusion-dependent non-severe aplastic anemia: characteristics and outcomes in the clinic.

Transfusion-dependent non-severe aplastic anemia (TD-NSAA) is a rare condition of bone marrow failure that can persist for a long time or develop into severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Little is known about the clinical and laboratory characteristics, and disease prognosis and outcomes in TD-NSAA patients. The clinical and laboratory data of 124 consecutive TD-NSAA patients in the Chinese Eastern Collaboration Group of Anemia from December 2013 and January 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. In 124 TD-NSAA patients, the median age was 32 years (range: 3-80) and the median disease course was 38 months (range: 3-363). Common complications were iron overload (53/101, 52.5%), liver and kidney dysfunction (42/124, 33.9%), diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose tolerance (24/124, 19.4%), and severe infection (29 cases, 23.4%). 58% of patients (57/124) developed severe aplastic anemia with a median progression time of 24 months (range: 3-216). Patients with absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <0.5×109/L, severe infection, or iron overload had a higher probability of progression to SAA (P=0.022, P=0.025, P=0.001). Patients receiving antithymocyte globulin (ATG) plus Cyclosporin A (CsA) had a higher overall response rate compared to those receiving CsA alone (56.7% vs 19.3%, P < 0.001). The addition of ATG was the favorable factor for efficacy (P=0.003). Fourteen patients developed secondary clonal hematologic disease: eleven patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, two patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, and one patient with acute myeloid leukemia, respectively. Ten patients (8.1%) died with a median follow-up of 12 months (range: 3- 36 months). Patients with TD-NSAA usually have a prolonged course of disease, and are prone to be complicated with important organ damage and disease progression to SAA. Intensive immunosuppressive therapy based on ATG might be an appropriate approach for TD-NSAA. Clinical trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=125480&htm=4, identifier ChiCTR2100045895.

Uneven phosphoric acid interfaces with enhanced electrochemical performance for high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

Ultrahigh mass transport resistance and excessive coverage of the active sites introduced by phosphoric acid (PA) are among the major obstacles that limit the performance of high-temperature polymer fuel cells, especially compared to their low-temperature counterparts. Here, an alternative strategy of electrode design with fibrous networks is developed to optimize the redistribution of acid within the electrode. Via structural tailoring with varied electrospinning parameters, uneven migration of PA with dispersed droplets is observed, subverting the immersion model of conventional porous electrode. Combining with experimental and calculation results, the microscaled uneven PA interfaces could not only provide extra diffusion pathways for oxygen but also minimize the thickness of PA layers. This electrode architecture demonstrates enhanced electrochemical performance of oxygen reduction within the PA phase, resulting in a 28% enhancement of the maximum power density for the optimally designed electrode as cathode compared to that of a conventional one.

Steroid-loaded reconstituted high-density lipoprotein nanocarrier: A new treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the most effective and commonly used drugs for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a large number of side effects occur after long-term or high-dose glucocorticoid treatment, which severely restricts the use of glucocorticoids. Reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (rHDL), an emerging nanocarrier, is promising for targeted delivery to sites of inflammation and macrophages. Here, we prepared a steroid-loaded recombinant high-density lipoprotein and evaluated its therapeutic efficacy in a murine macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) and a lupus (MRL/lpr mice) mouse model. The obtained corticosteroid-loaded nanomedicine, named PLP-CaP-rHDL, exhibited desirable characteristics. Pharmacodynamics studies revealed that the nanoparticles could significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the macrophages in vitro and also effectively alleviate lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice without causing obvious side effects at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg. Thus, our newly developed steroid-loaded rHDL nanocarriers hold a great potential for anti-inflammatory therapy with reduced side effects and may provide a precise targeted therapy for SLE.