Establishment of an efficient regeneration system of 'ZiKui' tea with hypocotyl as explants.

Zikui (Camellia sinensis cv. Zikui) is a recently discovered cultivar of local purple tea in Guizhou, China. It is a purple leaf bud mutation material of Meitan Taicha (Camellia sinensis cv. 'Meitan-taicha') 'N61' strain, which is an important local germplasm resource in Guizhou. It is also a model plant for the study of anthocyanins, but the limited germplasm resources and the limitation of traditional reproduction hinder its application. Here, an efficient regeneration system is established by using hypocotyl as explants for the first time. Different plant growth regulators (PGRs) are evaluated during different regeneration processes including callus and root induction. According to our findings, using the optimal disinfection conditions, the seed embryo contamination rate is 17.58%. Additionally, the mortality rate is 9.69%, while the survival rate is measured as 72.73%. Moreover, the highest germination rate of 93.64% is observed under MS + 2.40 mg/L GA3 medium conditions. The optimal callus induction rate is 95.19%, while the optimal adventitious bud differentiation rate is 20.74%, Medium with 1.6 mg/L IBA achieved 68.6% rooting of the adventitious shoots. The survival rate is more than 65% after 6 days growth in the cultivated matrix. In summary, our research aims to establish a regeneration system for Zikui tea plants and design a transformation system for tea plant tissue seedlings. This will enable transfer of the target gene and ultimately facilitate the cultivation of new tea varieties with unique characteristics.

The ERK inhibitor GDC-0994 selectively inhibits growth of BRAF mutant cancer cells.

BRAF or RAS mutation-induced aberrant activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is frequently observed in human cancers. As the key downstream node of MAPK pathway, ERK1/2 is as an important therapeutic target. GDC-0994 (ravoxertinib), an orally bioavailable, highly selective small-molecule inhibitor of ERK1/2, showed acceptable safety and pharmacodynamic profile in a recent phase I clinical trial. In this study, we investigated dependence of the anti-tumor effect of ERK inhibitor GDC-0994 on genetic alterations in the MAPK pathway. The results showed that GDC-0994 sharply inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation and induced remarkable G1 phase cell-cycle arrest in cancer cells harboring BRAF mutation but had little effect on cell behaviors in most RAS mutant or wild-type cell lines. The expression of a large number of genes, particularly the genes in the cell cycle pathway, were significantly changed after GDC-0994 treatment in BRAF mutant cells, while no remarkable expression change of such genes was observed in wild-type cells. Moreover, GDC-0994 selectively inhibited tumor growth in a BRAF mutant xenograft mice model. Our findings demonstrate a BRAF mutation-dependent anti-tumor effect of GDC-0994 and provide a rational strategy for patient selection for ERK1/2 inhibitor treatment.

Therapeutic targeting of PLK1 in TERT promoter-mutant hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hotspot mutations in the promoter of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene are the most common genetic variants in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and associated with poor prognosis of the disease. However, no drug was currently approved for treating TERT promoter mutation positive HCC patients. Here, we aim to explore the potential therapeutic strategy for targeting TERT promoter mutation in HCC. METHODS: The Liver Cancer Model Repository database was used for screening potential drugs to selectively suppress the growth of TERT promoter mutant HCC cells. RNA-seq, CRISPR-Cas9 technology and siRNA transfection were performed for mechanistic studies. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay and the xenograft tumour models were used for cell growth detection in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were analysed by Annexin V-FITC staining and/or propidium iodide staining. RESULTS: PLK1 inhibitors were remarkably more sensitive to HCC cells harbouring TERT promoter mutation than wild-type cells in vitro and in vivo, which were diminished after TERT promoter mutation was edited to the wild-type nucleotide. Comparing the HCC cells with wild-type promoter of TERT, PLK1 inhibitors specifically downregulated Smad3 to regulate TERT for inducing apoptosis and G2/M arrest in TERT mutant HCC cells. Moreover, knockout of Smad3 counteracted the effects of PLK1 inhibitors in TERT mutant HCC cells. Finally, a cooperative effect of PLK1 and Smad3 inhibition was observed in TERT mutant cells. CONCLUSIONS: PLK1 inhibition selectively suppressed the growth of TERT mutant HCC cells through Smad3, thus contributed to discover a novel therapeutic strategy to treat HCC patients harbouring TERT promoter mutations. KEY POINTS: TERT promoter mutation confers sensitivity to PLK1 inhibitors in HCC. The selective growth inhibition of TERT mutant HCC cells induced by PLK1 inhibitor was mediated by Smad3. Combined inhibition of PLK1 and Smad3 showed a cooperative anti-tumor effect in TERT mutant HCC cells.

FOXP4-mediated induction of PTK7 activates the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and promotes ovarian cancer development.

Ovarian cancer (OV) poses a significant challenge in clinical settings due to its difficulty in early diagnosis and treatment resistance. FOXP4, belonging to the FOXP subfamily, plays a pivotal role in various biological processes including cancer, cell cycle regulation, and embryonic development. However, the specific role and importance of FOXP4 in OV have remained unclear. Our research showed that FOXP4 is highly expressed in OV tissues, with its elevated levels correlating with poor prognosis. We further explored FOXP4's function through RNA sequencing and functional analysis in FOXP4-deficient cells, revealing its critical role in activating the Wnt signaling pathway. This activation exacerbates the malignant phenotype in OV. Mechanistically, FOXP4 directly induces the expression of protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7), a Wnt-binding receptor tyrosine pseudokinase, which causes abnormal activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Disrupting the FOXP4-Wnt feedback loop by inactivating the Wnt signaling pathway or reducing FOXP4 expression resulted in the reduction of the malignant phenotype of OV cells, while restoring PTK7 expression reversed this effect. In conclusion, our findings underscore the significance of the FOXP4-induced Wnt pathway activation in OV, suggesting the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway in OV treatment.

Lactococcus cremoris D2022 alleviates hyperuricemia and suppresses renal inflammation via potential gut-kidney axis.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a widespread metabolic disorder. Probiotics have drawn increasing attention as an adjunctive treatment with fewer side effects. However, thus far the effective strains are limited and the mechanisms for their serum uric acid (SUA)-lowering effect are not well understood. Along this line, we conducted the current study using a hyperuricemia mouse model induced by potassium oxonate and adenine. A novel strain of Lactococcus cremoris named D2022 was identified to have significant SUA-lowering capability. Lactococcus cremoris D2022 significantly reduced SUA levels by inhibiting uric acid synthesis and regulating uric acid transportation. It was also found that Lactococcus cremoris D2022 alleviated HUA-induced renal inflammatory injury involving multiple signaling pathways. By focusing on the expression of NLRP3-related inflammatory genes, we found correlations between the expression levels of these genes and free fatty acid receptors (FFARs). In addition, oral administration of Lactococcus cremoris D2022 increased short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in cecal samples, which may be one of the mechanisms by which oral probiotics alleviate renal inflammation. Serum untargeted metabolomics showed changes in a variety of serum metabolites associated with purine metabolism and inflammation after oral administration of Lactococcus cremoris D2022, further confirming its systemic bioactivity. Finally, it was proved that Lactococcus cremoris D2022 improved intestinal barrier function. In conclusion, Lactococcus cremoris D2022 can alleviate HUA and HUA-induced nephropathy by increasing the production of SCFAs in the gut and systemic metabolism.

Tertiary lymphoid structures in cancer: maturation and induction.

Tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) is an ectopic lymphocyte aggregate formed in peripheral non-lymphoid tissues, including inflamed or cancerous tissue. Tumor-associated TLS serves as a prominent center of antigen presentation and adaptive immune activation within the periphery, which has exhibited positive prognostic value in various cancers. In recent years, the concept of maturity regarding TLS has been proposed and mature TLS, characterized by well-developed germinal centers, exhibits a more potent tumor-suppressive capacity with stronger significance. Meanwhile, more and more evidence showed that TLS can be induced by therapeutic interventions during cancer treatments. Thus, the evaluation of TLS maturity and the therapeutic interventions that induce its formation are critical issues in current TLS research. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of the existing classifications for TLS maturity and therapeutic strategies capable of inducing its formation in tumors.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-Based Interventions for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Breast Cancer Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based interventions for functional rehabilitation of the upper limb in breast cancer patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases were systematically searched for relevant literature published from the establishment of the database to June 2023. Differences in the effectiveness of VR-based interventions and other intervention therapies were compared using random effects model meta-analysis and standard deviation (SMD). Results: Seven eligible articles were identified and included in the meta-analysis. The combined analysis found that VR-based interventions had a positive impact on patients' upper limb mobility in terms of flexion (SMD = 1.33, 95% confidence interval; CI [0.48-2.19], P = 0.002), abduction (SMD = 1.22, 95% CI [0.58-1.86], P = 0.0002), and external rotation (SMD = 0.94, 95% CI [0.48-1.40], P < 0.0001). In addition, VR-based interventions could significantly improve the postoperative pain of patients with breast cancer. However, in grip strength (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI [-3.05 to 3.92], P = 0.81), shoulder muscle strength in flexion strength (SMD = 0.05, 95% CI [-2.07 to 2.18], P = 0.96), abduction strength (SMD = -0.10, 95% CI [-1.32 to 1.12], P = 0.88), external rotation strength (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI [-1.96 to 2.88], P = 0.71), and lymphedema, VR was as effective as other intervention treatments. A subgroup analysis showed that patients younger than 55 years had more benefit with VR-based rehabilitation than with other interventions and showed improvements with the intervention within 2 weeks. The intervention effect of using auxiliary equipment such as robotic arms is better than VR exercise based solely on games. Conclusion: The results of meta-analysis show that the intervention measures based on VR have positive effects on the improvement of upper limb mobility and pain relief in breast cancer patients. However, considering the low quality of evidence and small sample size, more clinical studies should be conducted to improve the credibility of the results.

Win-win or lose-lose: Children prefer the form of equality.

In middle childhood, children's sense of fairness further develops, they are willing to pay a cost to maintain equality. Win-win and lose-lose are two forms of equality. Win-win equality refers to both parties maximizing benefits, while lose-lose equality means both parties incurring the maximum loss. Win-win equality allows third party upholding fairness to gain more reputational benefits without the violator being punished, embodying the principle of "benefiting oneself without harming others". On the other hand, lose-lose equality is a more deterrent form of fairness with the violator getting punished, and the third-party might experience a situation of "effort without appreciation." However, the specific form of equality which school-aged children prefer still requires further exploration. Therefore, adopting the dictator game paradigm of third-party punishment, we design two experiments to investigate the fairness preference of first to fourth-grade children when acting as a third party and to clarify patterns of age-related changes. Study 1 (N = 111) explored children's preferred form of fairness under advantageous inequity conditions. Study 2 (N = 122) further examined children's fairness preferences in disadvantageous inequity situations. The findings suggest that when confronted with inequitable distributions, whether rooted in disadvantageous or advantageous inequity, children display a notable tendency to utilize third-party punishment to achieve an equal allocation. Meanwhile, this tendency strengthens as they progress in grade levels. Notably, children consistently manifest a preference for win-win equality, highlighting their inclination towards mutually beneficial outcomes.

CENPK orchestrates ovarian cancer progression via GOLPH3-Mediated activation of mTOR signaling.

Ovarian cancer stands as a formidable clinical challenge, with limited therapeutic options. This investigation delves into the intricate molecular mechanisms governing ovarian cancer progression and uncovers Centromere Protein K (CENPK) as a central figure in disease pathogenesis. Elevated CENPK levels within ovarian cancer tissues conspicuously align with adverse clinical outcomes, positioning CENPK as a promising prognostic biomarker. Deeper exploration reveals a direct transcriptional connection between CENPK and the E2F1 transcription factor and clearly establishes E2F1's role as the master regulator of CENPK expression in ovarian cancer. Our inquiry revealing a suppression of tumor-promoting signaling pathways, most notably the mTOR pathway, upon CENPK silencing. Intriguingly, CENPK renders ovarian cancer cells more responsive to the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, introducing a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention. In summation, our study unravels the multifaceted role of CENPK in ovarian cancer progression. It emerges as a prognostic indicator, a pivotal mediator of cell proliferation and tumorigenicity, and a regulator of the mTOR pathway, shedding light on potential therapeutic avenues for this formidable disease.

Antitumor activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 inhibitor BVD-523 (ulixertinib) on thyroid cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate BVD-523 (ulixertinib), an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 inhibitor, for its antitumor potential in thyroid cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten thyroid cancer cell lines known to carry mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated mutations, including v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) and rat sarcoma virus (RAS) mutations, were examined. Cells were exposed to a 10-fold concentration gradient ranging from 0 to 3000 nM for 5 days. The half-inhibitory concentration was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Following BVD-523 treatment, cell cycle analysis was conducted using flow cytometry. In addition, the impact of BVD-523 on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)- dependent ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) activation and the expression of cell cycle markers were assessed through western blot analysis. RESULTS: BVD-523 significantly inhibited thyroid cancer cell proliferation and induced G1/S cell cycle arrest dose-dependently. Notably, cell lines carrying MAPK mutations, especially those with the BRAF V600E mutation, exhibited heightened sensitivity to BVD-523's antitumor effects. Furthermore, BVD-523 suppressed cyclin D1 and phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein expression, and it robustly increased p27 levels in an RSK-independent manner. CONCLUSION: This study reveals the potent antitumor activity of BVD-523 against thyroid cancer cells bearing MAPK-activating mutations, offering promise for treating aggressive forms of thyroid cancer.

CXXC5 drove inflammation and ovarian cancer proliferation via transcriptional activation of ZNF143 and EGR1.

CXXC5, a zinc-finger protein, is known for its role in epigenetic regulation via binding to unmethylated CpG islands in gene promoters. As a transcription factor and epigenetic regulator, CXXC5 modulates various signaling processes and acts as a key coordinator. Altered expression or activity of CXXC5 has been linked to various pathological conditions, including tumorigenesis. Despite its known role in cancer, CXXC5's function and mechanism in ovarian cancer are unclear. We analyzed multiple public databases and found that CXXC5 is highly expressed in ovarian cancer, with high expression correlating with poor patient prognosis. We show that CXXC5 expression is regulated by oxygen concentration and is a direct target of HIF1A. CXXC5 is critical for maintaining the proliferative potential of ovarian cancer cells, with knockdown decreasing and overexpression increasing cell proliferation. Loss of CXXC5 led to inactivation of multiple inflammatory signaling pathways, while overexpression activated these pathways. Through in vitro and in vivo experiments, we confirmed ZNF143 and EGR1 as downstream transcription factors of CXXC5, mediating its proliferative potential in ovarian cancer. Our findings suggest that the CXXC5-ZNF143/EGR1 axis forms a network driving ovarian cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, and highlight CXXC5 as a potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer treatment.

Reduced cold tolerance of viral-infected leafhoppers attenuates viral persistent epidemics.

Most arthropod-borne viruses produce intermittent epidemics in infected plants. However, the underlying mechanisms of these epidemics are unclear. Here, we demonstrated that rice stripe mosaic virus (RSMV), a viral pathogen, significantly increases the mortality of its overwintering vector, the leafhopper species Recilia dorsalis. Cold-stress assays indicated that RSMV reduces the cold tolerance of leafhoppers, a process associated with the downregulation of leafhopper cuticular protein genes. An RSMV-derived small RNA (vsiR-t00355379) was found to facilitate the downregulation of a leafhopper endocuticle gene that is mainly expressed in the abdomen (named RdABD-5) and is conserved across dipteran species. The downregulation of RdABD-5 expression in R. dorsalis resulted in fewer and thinner endocuticle lamellae, leading to decreased cold tolerance. This effect was correlated with a reduced incidence rate of RSMV in early-planted rice plants. These findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanism by which viral pathogens reduce cold tolerance in arthropod vectors and suggest an approach to managing the fluctuating prevalence of arboviruses. IMPORTANCE: Increasing arthropod vector dispersal rates have increased the susceptibility of crop to epidemic viral diseases. However, the incidence of some viral diseases fluctuates annually. In this study, we demonstrated that a rice virus reduces the cold tolerance of its leafhopper vector, Recilia dorsalis. This effect is linked to the virus-derived small RNA-mediated downregulation of a gene encoding a leafhopper abdominal endocuticle protein. Consequently, the altered structural composition of the abdominal endocuticle reduces the overwinter survival of leafhoppers, resulting in a lower incidence of RSMV infection in early-planted rice plants. Our findings illustrate the important roles of RNA interference in virus-vector insect-environment interactions and help explain the annual fluctuations of viral disease epidemics in rice fields.

An Unhealthy Dietary Pattern during Pregnancy is Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence.

Despite the high prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, there are a lack of clinical studies examining the impact of pregnancy diet on child neurodevelopment. This observational clinical study examined the associations between pregnancy dietary patterns and neurodevelopmental diagnoses, as well as their symptoms, in a prospective cohort of 10-year-old children (n=508). Data-driven dietary patterns were derived from self-reported food frequency questionnaires. An Unhealthy dietary pattern in pregnancy (per SD change) was significantly associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) OR 1.66 [1.21 - 2.27], p=0.002 and autism diagnosis OR 2.22 [1.33 - 3.74], p=0.002 and associated symptoms p<0.001. Findings for ADHD were validated in two large (n=656, n=348), independent mother-child cohorts via blood metabolome modelling. Objective metabolite scores, assessed at five timepoints in mothers and children in two independent mother-child cohorts, indicated that the strongest association with ADHD was during early-to mid-pregnancy. These results provide evidence for targeted prenatal dietary interventions to prevent neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

Metabolite signatures associated with microRNA miR-143-3p serve as drivers of poor lung function trajectories in childhood asthma.

BACKGROUND: Lung function trajectories (LFTs) have been shown to be an important measure of long-term health in asthma. While there is a growing body of metabolomic studies on asthma status and other phenotypes, there are no prospective studies of the relationship between metabolomics and LFTs or their genomic determinants. METHODS: We utilized ordinal logistic regression to identify plasma metabolite principal components associated with four previously-published LFTs in children from the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) (n = 660). The top significant metabolite principal component (PCLF) was evaluated in an independent cross-sectional child cohort, the Genetic Epidemiology of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) (n = 1151) and evaluated for association with spirometric measures. Using meta-analysis of CAMP and GACRS, we identified associations between PCLF and microRNA, and SNPs in their target genes. Statistical significance was determined using an false discovery rate-adjusted Q-value. FINDINGS: The top metabolite principal component, PCLF, was significantly associated with better LFTs after multiple-testing correction (Q-value = 0.03). PCLF is composed of the urea cycle, caffeine, corticosteroid, carnitine, and potential microbial (secondary bile acid, tryptophan, linoleate, histidine metabolism) metabolites. Higher levels of PCLF were also associated with increases in lung function measures and decreased circulating neutrophil percentage in both CAMP and GACRS. PCLF was also significantly associated with microRNA miR-143-3p, and SNPs in three miR-143-3p target genes; CCZ1 (P-value = 2.6 × 10-5), SLC8A1 (P-value = 3.9 × 10-5); and TENM4 (P-value = 4.9 × 10-5). INTERPRETATION: This study reveals associations between metabolites, miR-143-3p and LFTs in children with asthma, offering insights into asthma physiology and possible interventions to enhance lung function and long-term health. FUNDING: Molecular data for CAMP and GACRS via the Trans-Omics in Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

TERT promoter methylation is associated with high expression of TERT and poor prognosis in papillary thyroid cancer.

The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), the most common subtype of thyroid cancer. The overexpression of TERT in PTC was partially attributed to transcriptional activation by two hotspot mutations in the core promoter region of this gene. As one of the major epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression regulation, DNA methylation has been proved to regulate several tumor-related genes in PTC. However, the association of TERT promoter DNA methylation with TERT expression and PTC progression is still unclear. By treating PTC cell lines with demethylating agent decitabine, we found that the TERT promoter methylation and the genes' expression were remarkably decreased. Consistently, PTC patients with TERT hypermethylation had significantly higher TERT expression than patients with TERT hypomethylation. Moreover, TERT hypermethylated patients showed significant higher rates of poor clinical outcomes than patients with TERT hypomethylation. Results from the cox regression analysis showed that the hazard ratios (HRs) of TERT hypermethylation for overall survival, disease-specific survival, disease-free interval (DFI) and progression-free interval (PFI) were 4.81 (95% CI, 1.61-14.41), 8.28 (95% CI, 2.14-32.13), 3.56 (95% CI, 1.24-10.17) and 3.32 (95% CI, 1.64-6.71), respectively. The HRs for DFI and PFI remained significant after adjustment for clinical risk factors. These data suggest that promoter DNA methylation upregulates TERT expression and associates with poor clinical outcomes of PTC, thus holds the potential to be a valuable prognostic marker for PTC risk stratification.

Prevalence and risk factors of exposure keratopathy among critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To identify the incidence, prevalence and risk factors of exposure keratopathy (EK) among critically ill patients. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis, in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 Statement. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), Weipu Database (VIP) and WanFang Database were systematically searched from inception to June 2022. Observational studies that reported EK among paediatric and adult critically ill patients were screened and included original articles based on the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently completed data extraction and quality assessments. Subgroup analysis investigated potential causes of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of the 4508 studies identified, 23 studies involving 3519 subjects were included. The pooled prevalence of EK was 34.0%, and the pooled incidence rate of EK was 23.0%. Risk factors associated with EK in critically ill patients included lagophthalmos, chemosis, eye blinks <5 times per minute, mechanical ventilation, sedation, lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score. CONCLUSION: This review shows that EK rates are high in critically ill patients and are influenced by multiple factors. Medical staff should pay more attention to EK in critically ill patients, conduct professional evaluations and implement targeted eye care protocols to reduce its occurrence. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study shows the frequency of and multiple risk factors for EK in critically ill patients, which provides evidence-based guidance for nurses to evaluate the risk of EK in critically ill patients and take appropriate precautions to reduce the risk. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) (CRD42022346964). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

2023: A year of accomplishments for the 13 Science Citation Index Expanded- and Emerging Sources Citation Index-indexed Baishideng journals.

In 2023, Baishideng Publishing Group (Baishideng) routinely published 47 open-access journals, including 46 English-language journals and 1 Chinese-language journal. Our successes were accomplished through the collective dedicated efforts of Baishideng staffs, Editorial Board Members, and Peer Reviewers. Among these 47 Baishideng journals, 7 are included in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and 6 in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). With the support of Baishideng authors, company staffs, Editorial Board Members, and Peer Reviewers, the publication work of 2023 is about to be successfully completed. This editorial summarizes the 2023 activities and accomplishments of the 13 SCIE- and ESCI-indexed Baishideng journals, outlines the Baishideng publishing policy changes and additions made this year, and highlights the unique advantages of Baishideng journals.

Pediococcus pentosaceus MIANGUAN Enhances the Immune Response to Vaccination in Mice.

Increasing evidence shows that some probiotics can improve vaccine responses as adjuvants. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Pediococcus pentosaceus MIANGUAN (PPM) on SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-elicited immune response in mice. Six-week-old female ICR mice were primed and boosted with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine intramuscularly at weeks 0 and 4, respectively. Mice were gavaged with PPM (5 × 109 CFU/mouse) or PBS (control) for 3 days immediately after boosting vaccination. Compared to the control, oral PPM administration resulted in significantly higher levels of RBD-specific IgG binding antibodies (> 2.3-fold) and RBD-specific IgG1 binding antibodies (> 4-fold) in the serum. Additionally, PPM-treated mice had higher titers of RBD-specific IgG binding antibodies (> 2.29-fold) and neutralization antibodies (> 1.6-fold) in the lung compared to the control mice. The transcriptional analyses showed that the B cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway was upregulated in both splenocytes and BAL cells in the PPM group vs. the control group. In addition, the number of IFN-γ-producing splenocytes (mainly in CD4 + T cells as determined by flow cytometry) in response to restimulation of RBD peptides was significantly increased in the PPM group. RNA sequencing showed that the genes associated with T cell activation and maturation and MHC class II pathway (CD4, H2-DMa, H2-DMb1, H2-Oa, Ctss) were upregulated, suggesting that oral administration of PPM may enhance CD4 + T cell responses through MHC class II pathway. Furthermore, PPM administration could downregulate the expression level of proinflammatory genes. To conclude, oral administration of PPM could boost SARS-CoV-2 vaccine efficacy through enhancing the specific humoral and cellular immunity response and decrease the expression of inflammation pathways.

Sphingolipid classes and the interrelationship with pediatric asthma and asthma risk factors.

BACKGROUND: While dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism has been associated with risk of childhood asthma, the specific sphingolipid classes and/or mechanisms driving this relationship remain unclear. We aimed to understand the multifaceted role between sphingolipids and other established asthma risk factors that complicate this relationship. METHODS: We performed targeted LC-MS/MS-based quantification of 77 sphingolipids in plasma from 997 children aged 6 years from two independent cohorts (VDAART and COPSAC2010 ). We examined associations of circulatory sphingolipids with childhood asthma, lung function, and three asthma risk factors: functional SNPs in ORMDL3, low vitamin D levels, and reduced gut microbial maturity. Given racial differences between these cohorts, association analyses were performed separately and then meta-analyzed together. RESULTS: We observed elevations in circulatory sphingolipids with asthma phenotypes and risk factors; however, there were differential associations of sphingolipid classes with clinical outcomes and/or risk factors. While elevations from metabolites involved in ceramide recycling and catabolic pathways were associated with asthma and worse lung function [meta p-value range: 1.863E-04 to 2.24E-3], increased ceramide levels were associated with asthma risk factors [meta p-value range: 7.75E-5 to .013], but not asthma. Further investigation identified that some ceramides acted as mediators while some interacted with risk factors in the associations with asthma outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the differential role that sphingolipid subclasses may play in asthma and its risk factors. While overall elevations in sphingolipids appeared to be deleterious overall; elevations in ceramides were uniquely associated with increases in asthma risk factors only; while elevations in asthma phenotypes were associated with recycling sphingolipids. Modification of asthma risk factors may play an important role in regulating sphingolipid homeostasis via ceramides to affect asthma. Further function work may validate the observed associations.

Advances in the use of local anesthetic extended-release systems in pain management.

Pain management remains among the most common and largely unmet clinical problems today. Local anesthetics play an indispensable role in pain management. The main limitation of traditional local anesthetics is the limited duration of a single injection. To address this problem, catheters are often placed or combined with other drugs in clinical practice to increase the time that local anesthetics act. However, this method does not meet the needs of clinical analgesics. Therefore, many researchers have worked to develop local anesthetic extended-release types that can be administered in a single dose. In recent years, drug extended-release systems have emerged dramatically due to their long duration and efficacy, providing more possibilities for the application of local anesthetics. This paper summarizes the types of local anesthetic drug delivery systems and their clinical applications, discusses them in the context of relevant studies on local anesthetics, and provides a summary and outlook on the development of local anesthetic extended-release agents.