Real-world effectiveness of Azvudine versus nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study.

Chinese guidelines prioritize the use of Azvudine and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in COVID-19 patients. Nevertheless, the real-world effectiveness of Azvudine versus nirmatrelvir-ritonavir is still lacking, despite clinical trials showing their effectiveness compared with matched controls. To compare the effectiveness of Azvudine versus nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatments in real-world clinical practice, we identified 2118 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with a follow-up of up to 38 days. After exclusions and propensity score matching, we included 281 Azvudine recipients and 281 nirmatrelvir-ritonavir recipients who did not receive oxygen therapy at admission. The lower crude incidence rate of composite disease progression outcome (7.83 vs. 14.83 per 1000 person-days, p = 0.026) and all-cause death (2.05 vs. 5.78 per 1000 person-days, p = 0.052) were observed among Azvudine recipients. Azvudine was associated with lower risks of composite disease progression outcome (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.32-0.94) and all-cause death (HR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.16-1.04). In subgroup analyses, the results of composite outcome retained significance among patients aged <65 years, those having a history of disease, those with severe COVID-19 at admission, and those receiving antibiotics. These findings suggest that Azvudine treatment showed effectiveness in hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in terms of composite disease progression outcome.

Ferroptosis in cancer: From molecular mechanisms to therapeutic strategies.

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death characterized by the lethal accumulation of iron-dependent membrane-localized lipid peroxides. It acts as an innate tumor suppressor mechanism and participates in the biological processes of tumors. Intriguingly, mesenchymal and dedifferentiated cancer cells, which are usually resistant to apoptosis and traditional therapies, are exquisitely vulnerable to ferroptosis, further underscoring its potential as a treatment approach for cancers, especially for refractory cancers. However, the impact of ferroptosis on cancer extends beyond its direct cytotoxic effect on tumor cells. Ferroptosis induction not only inhibits cancer but also promotes cancer development due to its potential negative impact on anticancer immunity. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the role of ferroptosis in cancer is crucial for the successful translation of ferroptosis therapy from the laboratory to clinical applications. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent advancements in understanding ferroptosis in cancer, covering molecular mechanisms, biological functions, regulatory pathways, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. We also summarize the potential applications of ferroptosis induction in immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy, as well as ferroptosis inhibition for cancer treatment in various conditions. We finally discuss ferroptosis markers, the current challenges and future directions of ferroptosis in the treatment of cancer.

A case of progressive crossed hemiatrophy mistaken as panniculitis.

Progressive crossed hemiatrophy is an extremely rare clinical type of facial hemiatrophy that presents primarily as unilateral facial atrophy and contralateral trunk or limb involvement. The undistinguishable clinical manifestation and pathological changes complicate diagnosis, especially at the onset of the disease when presenting with less clinical evidence. Here, we report a case of a 9-year-old boy started with left scalp induration, following with subcutaneous tissues atrophy on the right trunk. He was mistaken as panniculitis based on the pathologic findings and treated with topical tacrolimus without any improvement. Immune-related tests were implemented to exclude connective tissues. Imaging examinations such as magnetic resonance was conducted to evaluate the range and degree of the involvement of the skin, soft tissue, and cranial changes. Although no effective treatment to hold back the progress has been reported so far, surgeries might work to restore the appearance to some extent or improve central nerves symptoms if they exist.

Spending and Hospital Stay for Melanoma in Hunan, China.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the economic burden of Chinese patients with melanoma in Hunan province of China, and to investigate the factors for hospitalization spending and length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing melanoma surgery. Methods: Data was extracted from the Chinese National Health Statistics Network Reporting System database in Hunan province during 2017-2019. Population and individual statistics were presented, and nonparametric tests and quantile regression were used to analyze the factors for spending and LOS. Result: A total of 2,644 hospitalized patients with melanoma in Hunan were identified. During 2017-2019, the total hospitalization spending was $5,247,972, and out-of-pocket payment (OOP) was $1,817,869, accounting for 34.6% of the total expenditure. The median spending was $1,123 [interquartile range (IQR): $555-2,411] per capita, and the median LOS was 10 days (IQR: 5-18). A total of 1,104 patients who underwent surgery were further analyzed. The non-parametric tests and quantile regression showed that women were associated with less spending and LOS than men. In general, patients aged 46-65 and those with lesions on the limbs had higher hospitalization costs and LOS than other subgroups. Conclusion: Melanoma causes heavy economic burdens on patients in Hunan, such that the median spending is close to 60% of the averagely annual disposable income. Middle-aged men patients with melanoma on the limbs present the highest financial burden of melanoma.

Myogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells for Skeletal Muscle Regeneration.

Stem cells have become a hot research topic in the field of regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal and differentiation capabilities. Skeletal muscle tissue is one of the most important tissues in the human body, and it is difficult to recover when severely damaged. However, conventional treatment methods can cause great pain to patients. Stem cell-based tissue engineering can repair skeletal muscle to the greatest extent with little damage. Therefore, the application of stem cells to skeletal muscle regeneration is very promising. In this review, we discuss scaffolds and stem cells for skeletal muscle regeneration and put forward our ideas for future development.