Exploring the clinical significance of IL-38 correlation with PD-1, CTLA-4, and FOXP3 in colorectal cancer draining lymph nodes.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a substantial challenge characterized by unacceptably high mortality and morbidity, primarily attributed to delayed diagnosis and reliance on palliative care. The immune response of the host plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis, with IL-38 emerging as a potential protective factor in CRC. However, the precise involvement of IL-38 among various leucocytes, its interactions with PD-1/PD-L1, and its impact on metastasis require further elucidation. Results: Our investigation revealed a significant correlation between IL-38 expression and metastasis, particularly concerning survival and interactions among diverse leucocytes within draining lymph nodes. In the mesentery lymph nodes, we observed an inverse correlation between IL-38 expression and stages of lymph node invasions (TNM), invasion depth, distance, and differentiation. This aligns with an overall survival advantage associated with higher IL-38 expression in CRC patients' nodes compared to lower levels, as well as elevated IL-38 expression on CD4+ or CD8+ cells. Notably, a distinct subset of patients characterized by IL-38high/PD-1low expression exhibited superior survival outcomes compared to other combinations. Discussion: Our findings demonstrate that IL-38 expression in colorectal regional nodes from CRC patients is inversely correlated with PD-1/PD-L1 but positively correlated with infiltrating CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. The combined assessment of IL-38 and PD-1 expression in colorectal regional nodes emerges as a promising biomarker for predicting the prognosis of CRC.

IL-38 promotes the development of prostate cancer.

Introduction: Prostate Cancer (PCa) remains a significant concern in male cancer-related mortality. Tumour development is intricately regulated by the complex interactions between tumour cells and their microenvironment, making it essential to determine which is/are key factor(s) that influence the progression of PCa within the tumour microenvironment. Materials and methods: The current study utilised histopathology and immunohistochemistry to determine the expression of IL-38 in PCa and analysed the correlation between the expression level of IL-38 within PCa and clinical pathological characteristics. Results: There was a significant increase in IL-38 expression in PCa tissues compared to adjacent non-PCa tissues (P < 0.0001). In addition, IL-38 expression was significantly higher in tumour cells with a high proliferation index compared to those with a low value-added index. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that IL-38 has high specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of PCa (AUC=0.76). Moreover, we Probed the cellular source of IL-38 in prostate cancer tissue by immunofluorescence double staining. Additionally, within PCa, the expression of IL-38 was inversely correlated with the expression levels of CD8 and PD-1. Survival analysis revealed a significantly lower overall survival rate for PCa patients with high IL-38 expression (P=0.0069), and when IL-38 was co-expressed with CD8, the survival rate of the IL-38high/CD8low group was decreased significantly. Multivariate analysis indicated that the expression level of IL-38 and TNM staging were independent predictors of survival in PCa patients. Conclusion: These findings suggest that IL-38 plays a crucial role in the development of PCa, and the exploration of the correlation between IL-38 and various immune factors in the tumour microenvironment further reveals its mechanism of action, making it a potential target for immunotherapy in PCa.

CD64 plays a key role in diabetic wound healing.

Introduction: Wound healing poses a clinical challenge in diabetes mellitus (DM) due to compromised host immunity. CD64, an IgG-binding Fcgr1 receptor, acts as a pro-inflammatory mediator. While its presence has been identified in various inflammatory diseases, its specific role in wound healing, especially in DM, remains unclear. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the involvement of CD64 in diabetic wound healing using a DM animal model with CD64 KO mice. Methods: First, we compared CD64 expression in chronic skin ulcers from human DM and non-DM skin. Then, we monitored wound healing in a DM mouse model over 10 days, with or without CD64 KO, using macroscopic and microscopic observations, as well as immunohistochemistry. Results: CD64 expression was significantly upregulated (1.25-fold) in chronic ulcerative skin from DM patients compared to non-DM individuals. Clinical observations were consistent with animal model findings, showing a significant delay in wound healing, particularly by day 7, in CD64 KO mice compared to WT mice. Additionally, infiltrating CD163+ M2 macrophages in the wounds of DM mice decreased significantly compared to non-DM mice over time. Delayed wound healing in DM CD64 KO mice correlated with the presence of inflammatory mediators. Conclusion: CD64 seems to play a crucial role in wound healing, especially in DM conditions, where it is associated with CD163+ M2 macrophage infiltration. These data suggest that CD64 relies on host immunity during the wound healing process. Such data may provide useful information for both basic scientists and clinicians to deal with diabetic chronic wound healing.

Physical exercise/sports ameliorate the internet addiction from college students during the pandemic of COVID-19 in China.

The rapid advancement of modern technology has significantly driven progress in various IT-related activities, resulting in a substantial increase in internet penetration rates, particularly among college students. The utilization of the internet has become one of the most essential tools in our modern society. However, internet addiction (IA) has emerged as a serious concern, particularly among college students, adversely affecting academic performance and having significant psychological and psychiatric implications. The aim of the current study was to determine the impact of physical exercise, gender and academic year on IA among college students. In the present study, we investigated internet usage, engagement in sports activities, and academic performance among college students from Western, Middle, and Eastern regions of Chinese universities. It's noteworthy that most of the respondents were freshmen. Our findings indicate that freshmen students were more susceptible to experiencing IA. Approximately 75% of students engaged in leisure sports activities, revealing an inverse correlation between sports activity and IA. This correlation aligns with the level of sports involvement, emphasizing the potential benefits of physical activity in mitigating IA. However, our study did not uncover any correlation between geographic location and the occurrence of IA, nor did it find differences between medical and non-medical students. Furthermore, our study revealed no significant variations in IA among students from different ethnic backgrounds. The underlying mechanism of IA is being currently determined. Our data suggest that physical exercise, gender, and academic year have a significant impact on IA among college students.