The combination of single-cell and RNA sequencing analysis decodes the melanoma tumor microenvironment and identifies novel T cell-associated signature genes.

Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM), a malignant melanocyte-derived skin cancer, potentially leads to fatal outcomes without effective treatment. The variability in immunotherapy responses among melanoma patients is significantly influenced by the intricate immune microenvironment, particularly due to the status of tumor T cells, encompassing their activity, exhaustion levels, and antigen recognition capabilities. This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze 34 melanoma samples from two public datasets (GSE215120 and GSE115978). Herein, we extracted 706 marker genes associated with immune checkpoint (ICP) therapy from these T cells, 509 markers of T cells from 11 melanoma tissues, and eventually identified 33 candidate genes. These genes underwent LASSO and COX regression analyses to identify the signature genes. Of the initial 33 candidate genes, we successfully isolated six distinct T cell-associated immunotherapy-related genes (IRTGs). Additionally, the computation of each patient risk score proved beneficial in evaluating the immune cell infiltration level and functions as an independent prognostic factor for melanoma patient survival. The risk score results revealed promising predictive outcomes in determining the response of melanoma patients to immunotherapy. Notably, our study is the first to reveal the potential correlation between signature gene PEB4B and the immune microenvironment in melaoma, which was explored with multiple immunofluorescence (IF) and Immune Infiltration Assessment. In a conclusion, our findings demonstrate the potential utility of a risk score dependent on signature genes as a predictive tool for assessing the prognosis and response to immunotherapeutic interventions in melanoma patients.

The association between telomere length and diabetes mellitus: accumulated evidence from observational studies.

OBJECTIVE: In order to assess the associations between telomere length (TL) and diabetes mellitus (DM), especially type 2 diabetes (T2DM), we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were thoroughly searched up to July 11, 2023. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were evaluated using the random-effects model. Age, sex, study design, duration of diabetes, region, sample size, and body mass index (BMI) were used to stratify subgroup analyses. RESULTS: A total of 37 observational studies involving 18,181 participants from 14 countries were included in the quantitative meta-analysis. In this study, patients with diabetes had shorter TL than the non-diabetic, whether those patients had T1DM (-2.70; 95% CI: -4.47, -0.93; P<0.001), T2DM (-3.70; 95% CI: -4.20, -3.20; P<0.001), or other types of diabetes (-0.71; 95% CI: -1.10, -0.31; P<0.001). Additionally, subgroup analysis of T2DM showed that TL was significantly correlated with age, sex, study design, diabetes duration, sample size, detection method, region, and BMI. CONCLUSION: A negative correlation was observed between TL and DM. To validate this association in the interim, more extensive, superior prospective investigations and clinical trials are required.

Unveiling the detrimental vicious cycle linking skeletal muscle and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Skeletal muscle catabolism supports multiple organs and systems during severe trauma and infection, but its role in COVID-19 remains unclear. This study investigates the interactions between skeletal muscle and COVID-19. METHODS: The PubMed, EMbase, and The Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched from January 2020 to August 2023 for cohort studies focusing on the impact of skeletal muscle on COVID-19 prevalence and outcomes, and longitudinal studies examining skeletal muscle changes caused by COVID-19. Skeletal muscle quantity (SMQN) and quality (SMQL) were assessed separately. The random-effect model was predominantly utilized for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Seventy studies with moderate to high quality were included. Low SMQN/SMQL was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.62, p < 0.001). Both the low SMQN and SMQL predicted COVID-19-related mortality (OR = 1.53, p = 0.016; OR = 2.18, p = 0.001, respectively). Mortality risk decreased with increasing SMQN (OR = 0.979, p = 0.009) and SMQL (OR = 0.972, p = 0.034). Low SMQN and SMQL were also linked to the need for intensive care unit/mechanical ventilation, increased COVID-19 severity, and longer hospital stays. Significant skeletal muscle wasting, characterized by reduced volume and strength, was observed during COVID-19 infection and the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a detrimental vicious circle between skeletal muscle and COVID-19. Effective management of skeletal muscle could be beneficial for treating COVID-19 infections and addressing the broader pandemic. These findings have important implications for the management of future virus pandemics. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023395476.

Research Progress of Vagal Nerve Regulation Mechanism in Acupuncture Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice. It has a high prevalence and poor prognosis. The application of antiarrhythmic drugs and even surgery cannot completely treat the disease, and there are many sequelae. AF can be classified into the category of "palpitation" in Chinese medicine according to its symptoms. Acupuncture has a significant effect on AF. The authors find that an important mechanism of acupuncture in AF treatment is to regulate the cardiac vagus nerve. Therefore, this article intends to review the distribution and function of vagus nerve in the heart, the application and the regulatroy effect for the treatment of AF.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate protects vascular relaxation in ApoE-knockout mice by inhibiting the SYK-NLRP3 inflammasome-MMP2/9 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia damages vascular wall and serves as a foundation for diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and stiffness. The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is implicated in vascular dysfunction associated with hyperlipidemia-induced vascular injury. Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS), a well-established cardiovascular protective drug with recognized anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilatory properties, is yet to be thoroughly investigated for its impact on vascular relaxant imbalance induced by hyperlipidemia. METHODS: In this study, we treated ApoE-knockout (ApoE-/-) mouse with STS and assessed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, expression of MMP2/9, integrity of elastic fibers, and vascular constriction and relaxation. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that STS intervention effectively preserves elastic fibers, significantly restores aortic relaxation function in ApoE-/- mice, and reduces their excessive constriction. Furthermore, STS inhibits the phosphorylation of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces MMP2/9 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that STS protects vascular relaxation against hyperlipidemia-induced damage through modulation of the SYK-NLRP3 inflammasome-MMP2/9 pathway. This research provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying vascular relaxation impairment in a hyperlipidemic environment and uncovers a unique mechanism by which STS preserves vascular relaxation, offering valuable foundational research evidence for its clinical application in promoting vascular health.

Cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19 infection at a university hospital in eastern China.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects different organ systems, including the skin. A retrospective analysis of skin manifestations in Chinese outpatient and inpatient settings is lacking. The study aims to analyze cutaneous manifestations in COVID-19 patients and the recurrence or aggravation of previous skin diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to July 2023 in a university hospital in eastern China. It involved reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive COVID-19 patients, documenting various skin manifestations and the recurrence or aggravation of pre-existing skin conditions. The pattern of skin lesions and other variables were assessed. RESULTS: The study included 303 patients, with 127 males and 176 females. Maculopapular rash was the predominant new cutaneous manifestation (54.92%), mainly in middle-aged individuals. Other findings included urticaria (16.39%), herpes zoster (11.89%), and herpes simplex (4.10%), vesicular rashes (2.46%), purpura (2.05%), erythema multiforme (1.64%), livedo reticularis (0.41%) and so on. Severe disease was associated with herpes zoster and livedo reticularis. Critical COVID-19 cases were linked to vesicular rashes, purpura, and erythema multiforme. The mean time for skin lesion emergence post-infection varied from 3 days for seborrheic dermatitis to 17.48 days for herpes zoster. Vasculitic manifestations correlated with elevated D-dimer levels. A total of 59 cases (19.47%) of recurrent or aggravated skin diseases were reported following infection with COVID-19, with dermatitis being the most common, followed by acne and folliculitis, psoriasis, urticaria, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, tinea corporis and androgenetic alopecia. CONCLUSION: The cutaneous phenotypes delineated in this study expand the dermatologic spectrum associated with COVID-19. Cutaneous manifestations may result from overactive immune responses, complement activation, and microvascular damage. Herpes zoster typically occurs in elderly COVID-19 patients with weaker immune systems or more severe diseases. Purpura and livedo reticularis, although rare, may indicate disease severity. It is possible to predict the course of COVID-19 with different severity through cutaneous manifestations. Recognizing these skin manifestations could aid in predicting COVID-19 severity and guide dermatologists in managing the pandemic response.

Establishing self-concordant goals: a longitudinal study on the influence of ego identity on goal self-concordance.

Introduction: Self-concordant goals are those that align closely with an individual's intrinsic interests and values, driving autonomous motivation, and resulting in higher satisfaction and goal achievement. The relevance of studying the link between ego identity and goal self-concordance lies in understanding how a well-defined ego identity can foster the pursuit of authentic and fulfilling goals. Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between ego identity and goal self-concordance, focusing on how individuals' sense of identity influences their alignment with personal goals. Methods: Data were gathered through a cross-sectional analysis of 292 students and a longitudinal follow-up with 98 participants over two intervals. Results: Results confirmed significant correlations between ego identity status and various dimensions of goal self-concordance. Notably, different ego identity statuses exhibited distinct levels of goal self-concordance, ranked from highest to lowest as follows: identity achievement, achievement-foreclosure intermediate, moratorium, foreclosure, moratorium-diffusion intermediate, and diffusion. Cross-lagged analysis revealed a causal relationship where ego identity influences goal self-concordance, providing insights into the cognitive and behavioral processes involved in goal setting. Discussion: This study extends the implications of the goal self-concordance model and reveals a causal relationship between ego identity status and goal self-concordance. From a practical perspective, our findings suggest that educational and developmental interventions aimed at supporting identity development and commitment could lead to more self-concordant goal setting. Such programs could ultimately promote greater well-being and personal growth among students.

Acupuncture for stroke: A bibliometric analysis of global research from 2000 to 2022.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the global and future research trends in acupuncture interventions for stroke between 2000 and 2022 using bibliometric analysis. Method: A bibliometric analysis of literature from 2000 to 2022 in the Web of Science Core Collection was conducted in this study. The analysis utilized CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica software to identify the major contributors to publications, including authors, countries, institutions, journals, references, and keywords. Results: The bibliometric analysis yielded a total of 860 publications. There was a gradual increase in the number of publications over the study period. China published the most articles. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine was the journal with the greatest number of publications. The most frequently used keywords were "acupuncture," "stroke," and "electroacupuncture." Conclusion: These analysis uncovers the research trends in acupuncture for stroke spanning 2000 to 2022 and points to prospective research frontiers. This study provides a deeper and more thorough understanding of the connotations of acupuncture for stroke and guidance and support for future research in this field.

Identification and characterization of TM4SF1+ tumor self-seeded cells.

Tumor self-seeding is a process whereby circulating tumor cells (CTCs) recolonize the primary tumor, which promotes tumor growth, angiogenesis, and invasion. However, the detailed nature and functions of tumor self-seeded cells (TSCs) have not been well defined due to challenges in tracking and isolating TSCs. Here, we report an accurate animal model using photoconvertible tagging to recapitulate the spontaneous process of tumor self-seeding and identify TSCs as a subpopulation of primary tumor cells with enhanced invasiveness and survival. We demonstrate transmembrane-4-L-six-family-1 (TM4SF1) as a marker of TSCs, which promotes migration, invasion, and anchorage-independent survival in cancer cells. By analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing datasets, we identify a potential TSC population with a metastatic profile in patients with cancer, which is detectable in early-stage disease and expands during cancer progression. In summary, we establish a framework to study TSCs and identify emerging cell targets with diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic potential in cancers.

Local Gate Enhanced Correlated Phases in Twisted Monolayer-Bilayer Graphene.

Manipulating the flat band degeneracy and thus getting the correlated insulating phases has been an ideal thread for realizing the exotic quantum phenomenon in the moiré system. To achieve this goal, the delicately tuned twist angle and a substantial displacement field (D) are rigorously requested. Here, we report our scanning tunneling microscope (STM) work on reaching these correlated insulating states in twisted monolayer-bilayer graphene through a decorated tip. It acts as a local top gate, leading to an enhanced local D, and enables us to fully lift the 8-fold degeneracy of the flat bands. With the aid of this technique, we further expand the correlated insulating states into a more tolerant twist angle that is down to 0.92°. Moreover, the correlated insulating phases in the hole-doping regime are realized. Our tip decoration method allows us to integrate the STM study with the high displacement field for the correlated phases in the twisted moiré systems.

Application of multimodal standardized analgesia under the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery in laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery.

Aims: To observe the efficacy and safety of multimodal standardized analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery. Methods: A prospective, double-blind, randomized study of patients who were admitted to our hospital between December 2020 and March 2022 with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer and who intended to undergo elective laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery was conducted. The participants were randomly divided into two intervention groups, namely, a multimodal standardized analgesia group and a routine analgesia group. In both groups, the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores while resting at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h and during movement at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h; the number of patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) pump button presses and postoperative recovery indicators within 3 days after surgery; the interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on the 1st and 4th days after surgery; and the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions and complications were recorded. Results: Compared with the control group, the multimodal standardized analgesia group had significantly lower VAS pain scores at different time points while resting and during movement (P<0.05), significantly fewer PCIA pump button presses during the first 3 postoperative days (P<0.05), and significantly lower IL-6 and CRP levels on the 1st postoperative day (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the time to out-of-bed activity, the time to first flatus, the IL-6 and CRP levels on the 4th postoperative day or the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions and complications between the two groups (P >0.05). Conclusion: For patients undergoing laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery, multimodal standardized analgesia with ropivacaine combined with parecoxib sodium and a PCIA pump had a better analgesic effect, as it effectively inhibited early postoperative inflammatory reactions and promoted postoperative recovery and did not increase the incidence of adverse reactions and complications. Therefore, it is worthy of widespread clinical practice.

Humidity-Responsive Liquid Metal Core-Shell Materials for Enduring Heat Retention and Insulation.

High humidity in extremely cold weather can undermine the insulation capability of the clothing, imposing serious life risks. Current clothing insulation technologies have inherent deficiencies in terms of insulation efficiency and humidity adaptability. Here, we report humidity-stimulated self-heating clothing using aluminum core-liquid metal shell microparticles (Al@LM-MPs) as the filler. Al@LM-MPs exhibit a distinctive capability to react to water molecules in the air to generate heat, exhibiting remarkable sensitivity across a broad temperature range. This ability leads to the creation of intelligent clothing capable of autonomously responding to extreme cold and wet weather conditions, providing both enduring heat retention and insulation capabilities. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and lipid metabolism: Novel targets and therapeutic strategies.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an increasingly prevalent disease that is associated with high and continually rising mortality rates. Lipid metabolism holds a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HCC, in which abnormalities pertaining to the delicate balance of lipid synthesis, breakdown, and storage, predispose for the pathogenesis of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disease precursor to HCC. If caught early enough, HCC treatment may be curative. In later stages, treatment is only halting the inevitable outcome of death, boldly prompting for novel drug discovery to provide a fighting chance for this patient population. In this review, we begin by providing a summary of current local and systemic treatments against HCC. From such we discuss hepatic lipid metabolism and highlight novel targets that are ripe for anti-cancer drug discovery. Lastly, we provide a targeted summary of current known risk factors for HCC pathogenesis, providing key insights that will be essential for rationalizing future development of anti-HCC therapeutics.

Polymer-based cascaded waveguide Bragg grating for blood glucose sensing.

Waveguide Bragg grating (WBG) blood glucose sensing, as a biological sensing technology with broad application prospects, plays an important role in the fields of health management and medical treatment. In this work, a polymer-based cascaded WBG is applied to glucose detection. We investigated photonic devices with two different grating structures cascaded-a crossed grating and a bilateral grating-and analyzed the effects of the crossed grating period, bilateral grating period, and number of grating periods on the sensing performance of the glucose sensor. Finally, the spectral reflectance characteristics, response time, and sensing specificity of the cascaded WBG were evaluated. The experimental results showed that the glucose sensor has a sensitivity of 175 nm/RIU in a glucose concentration range of 0-2 mg/ml and has the advantages of high integration, a narrow bandwidth, and low cost.

Smad2/3/4 complex could undergo liquid liquid phase separation and induce apoptosis through TAT in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents one of the most significant causes of mortality due to cancer-related deaths. It has been previously reported that the TGF-ß signaling pathway may be associated with tumor progression. However, the relationship between TGF-ß signaling pathway and HCC remains to be further elucidated. The objective of our research was to investigate the impact of TGF-ß signaling pathway on HCC progression as well as the potential regulatory mechanism involved. METHODS: We conducted a series of bioinformatics analyses to screen and filter the most relevant hub genes associated with HCC. E. coli was utilized to express recombinant protein, and the Ni-NTA column was employed for purification of the target protein. Liquid liquid phase separation (LLPS) of protein in vitro, and fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) were utilized to verify whether the target proteins had the ability to drive force LLPS. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were utilized to assess gene expression levels. Transcription factor binding sites of DNA were identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) qPCR. Flow cytometry was employed to examine cell apoptosis. Knockdown of target genes was achieved through shRNA. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation assays, and nude mice tumor transplantation were utilized to test cell proliferation ability in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: We found that Smad2/3/4 complex could regulate tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) expression, and this regulation could relate to LLPS. CHIP qPCR results showed that the key targeted DNA binding site of Smad2/3/4 complex in TAT promoter region is -1032 to -1182. In addition. CCK-8, colony formation, and nude mice tumor transplantation assays showed that Smad2/3/4 complex could repress cell proliferation through TAT. Flow cytometry assay results showed that Smad2/3/4 complex could increase the apoptosis of hepatoma cells. Western blot results showed that Smad2/3/4 complex would active caspase-9 through TAT, which uncovered the mechanism of Smad2/3/4 complex inducing hepatoma cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: This study proved that Smad2/3/4 complex could undergo LLPS to active TAT transcription, then active caspase-9 to induce hepatoma cell apoptosis in inhibiting HCC progress. The research further elucidate the relationship between TGF-ß signaling pathway and HCC, which contributes to discover the mechanism of HCC development.

Metabolomic profile of plasma approach to investigate the mechanism of Poria cocos oligosaccharides attenuated LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice.

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (PCW) are the dried sclerotia of Poaceae fungus Poria cocos that contain many biological activity ingredients such as polysaccharides and triterpenoids. The carbohydrates from Poria cocos have been proven to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study aimed to investigate the impact and mechanism of Poria cocos oligosaccharides (PCO) protecting mice against acute lung injury (ALI). We examined the histopathological analysis of lung injury, inflammatory, and edema levels to evaluate the benefits of PCO during ALI. As a result, PCO improved the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced lung injury and decreased the inflammatory cytokines of lung tissue. Simultaneously, PCO alleviated lung edema by regulating the expression of aquaporin5 (AQP5) and epithelial Na+ channel protein (ENaC-α). Additionally, untargeted metabolomics was performed on the plasma of ALI mice via HUPLC-Triple-TOF/MS. The results indicated that linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, carnosine, glutamic acid, and 1-methylhistamine were the biomarkers in ALI mice. Besides, metabolic pathway analysis suggested PCO affected the histidine and fatty acid metabolism, which were closely associated with inflammation and oxidative reaction of the host. Consequently, the effects of PCO inhibiting inflammation and edema might relate to the reducing pro-inflammatory mediators and the reverse of abnormal metabolic pathways.

Elucidating the changes in the heterogeneity and function of radiation-induced cardiac macrophages using single-cell RNA sequencing.

Purpose: A mouse model of irradiation (IR)-induced heart injury was established to investigate the early changes in cardiac function after radiation and the role of cardiac macrophages in this process. Methods: Cardiac function was evaluated by heart-to-tibia ratio, lung-to-heart ratio and echocardiography. Immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry analysis were used to evaluate the changes of macrophages in the heart. Immune cells from heart tissues were sorted by magnetic beads for single-cell RNA sequencing, and the subsets of macrophages were identified and analyzed. Trajectory analysis was used to explore the differentiation relationship of each macrophage subset. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were compared, and the related enriched pathways were identified. Single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering (SCENIC) analysis was performed to identify the potential transcription factors (TFs) which participated in this process. Results: Cardiac function temporarily decreased on Day 7 and returned to normal level on Day 35, accompanied by macrophages decreased and increased respectively. Then, we identified 7 clusters of macrophages by single-cell RNA sequencing and found two kinds of stage specific macrophages: senescence-associated macrophage (Cdkn1ahighC5ar1high) on Day 7 and interferon-associated macrophage (Ccr2highIsg15high) on Day 35. Moreover, we observed cardiac macrophages polarized over these two-time points based on M1/M2 and CCR2/major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII) expression. Finally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses suggested that macrophages on Day 7 were characterized by an inflammatory senescent phenotype with enhanced chemotaxis and inflammatory factors, while macrophages on Day 35 showed enhanced phagocytosis with reduced inflammation, which was associated with interferon-related pathways. SCENIC analysis showed AP-1 family members were associated with IR-induced macrophages changes. Conclusion: We are the first study to characterize the diversity, features, and evolution of macrophages during the early stages in an IR-induced cardiac injury animal model.

Discovery of Antifungal Norsesquiterpenoids from a Soil-Derived Streptomyces microflavus: Targeting Biofilm Formation and Synergistic Combination with Amphotericin B against Yeast-like Fungi.

Thirty-five norsesquiterpenoids were isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces microflavus from the forest soil of Ailaoshan in China. The structures of new compounds (1-5, 10-26) were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including data from experimental and calculated ECD spectra, as well as Mosher's reagent derivatives method. Norsesquiterpenoids showed different levels of antifungal activity with MIC80 values ranging from 25 to 200 µg/mL against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The combining isolated norsesquiterpenoids with amphotericin B resulted in a synergistic interaction against test yeast-like fungi with a fractional inhibitory concentration index < 0.5. Compound 33 significantly inhibited biofilm formation and destroyed the preformed biofilm of fungi. Moreover, 33 downregulated the expression of adhesion-related genes HWP1, ALS1, ALS3, ECE1, EAP1, and BCR1 to inhibit the adhesion of C. albicans. Findings from the current study highlight the potential usage of norsesquiterpenoids from soil-derived Streptomyces for antifungal leads discovery.

Relationship Between Family History and Quality of Life in Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study from China.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the comprehensive impact of family history of psoriasis, lesion size, disease severity, and the possibility of joint involvement on patients' quality of life(QoL). Patients and Methods: Data from 5961 patients with psoriasis recruited from 440 hospitals throughout China were analyzed. The effects of family history of psoriasis, Body Surface Area(BSA), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index(PASI), and Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool(PEST) on their Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI) were studied using a moderated chained mediated effects test. Results: A total of 912 patients (15.30%) had a family history of psoriasis, and 5071 patients (85.10%) had plaque psoriasis. In patients with plaque psoriasis, the variables of family history, PASI, PEST, and DLQI were positively correlated with each other. Additionally, in patients with other types of psoriasis, PASI was positively correlated with PEST and DLQI. Age was positively correlated with PASI and PEST and negatively correlated with DLQI in patients with plaque psoriasis; their Body Mass Index(BMI) and disease duration were in positive correlation with PASI and PEST. The mediation effect of PASI and PEST between family history and DLQI was remarkable in patients with plaque psoriasis and not in those with other types of psoriasis. BSA moderated the association between family history and PASI in patients with plaque psoriasis. Conclusion: PASI and PEST play a chain mediating role in the relationship between family history and DLQI in patients with plaque psoriasis, and high levels of BSA increase the ability of family history to positively predict PASI in plaque psoriasis, thereby affecting the patient's QoL.

Efficacy and safety of perioperative therapy for locally resectable gastric cancer: A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide, with over 1 million new cases per year, and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. AIM: To determine the optimal perioperative treatment regimen for patients with locally resectable GC. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted, focusing on phase II/III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing perioperative chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in treating locally resectable GC. The R0 resection rate, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and incidence of grade 3 or higher nonsurgical severe adverse events (SAEs) associated with various perioperative regimens were analyzed. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to compare treatment regimens and rank their efficacy. RESULTS: Thirty RCTs involving 8346 patients were included in this study. Neoadjuvant XELOX plus neoadjuvant radiotherapy and neoadjuvant CF were found to significantly improve the R0 resection rate compared with surgery alone, and the former had the highest probability of being the most effective option in this context. Neoadjuvant plus adjuvant FLOT was associated with the highest probability of being the best regimen for improving OS. Owing to limited data, no definitive ranking could be determined for DFS. Considering nonsurgical SAEs, FLO has emerged as the safest treatment regimen. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights for clinicians when selecting perioperative treatment regimens for patients with locally resectable GC. Further studies are required to validate these findings.