CT-based radiomics predicts CD38 expression and indirectly reflects clinical prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) has been found to be highly expressed in various solid tumours, and its expression level may be associated with patient prognosis and survival. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of CD38 expression for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and construct two computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics models for predicting CD38 expression. Methods: A total of 333 cases of EOC were enrolled from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database for CD38-related bioinformatics and survival analysis. A total of 56 intersection cases from TCGA and The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) databases were selected for radiomics feature extraction and model construction. Logistic regression (LR) and support vector machine (SVM) models were constructed and internally validated using 5-fold cross-validation to assess the performance of the models for CD38 expression levels. Results: High CD38 expression was an independent protective factor (HR = 0.540) for overall survival (OS) in EOC patients. Five radiomics features based on CT images were selected to build models for the prediction of CD38 expression. In the training and internal validation sets, for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the LR model reached an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.739 and 0.732, while the SVM model achieved AUC values of 0.741 and 0.700, respectively. For the precision-recall (PR) curve, the LR and SVM models demonstrated an AUC of 0.760 and 0.721. The calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) provided evidence supporting the fitness and net benefit of the models. Conclusions: High levels of CD38 expression can improve OS in EOC patients. CT-based radiomics models can be a new predictive tool for CD38 expression, offering possibilities for individualised survival assessment for patients with EOC.

Compound heterozygous variants in SLC45A1 might cause syndromic intellectual disability by localization failure and activity attenuation in cells.

Intellectual disability (ID) is a kind of nervous developmental disorder and affects more than 1% of people worldwide. SLC45A1 as a transmembrane protein is implicated in the regulation of glucose homoeostasis. Through trio-based exome sequencing, the missense mutations of SLC45A1 c.103G>A (p.V35M) and c.1211T>G (p.F404C) were identified in the proband with syndromic ID. The distribution, expression and activity of SLC45A1 wild-type (WT) and variants were assayed in transfected COS7 cells. In SLC45A1 variants, the hydrogen bonds surrounding the 35th and 404th amino acid were changed, location on the cytomembrane was failed, their activity to transport glucose was also significantly decreased to contrast with SLC45A1-WT. No difference was observed at the mRNA and protein level. In conclusion, the compound heterozygous variants of SLC45A1 might be the genetic etiology for syndromic ID. These novel mutations probably attenuated its activity to transport glucose by the alteration of tertiary structure and failure of intracellular location.

Exosomes From Muscle-Derived Stem Cells Repair Peripheral Nerve Injury by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via the Keap1-Nrf2-Ho-1 Axis.

Currently, the clinical outcomes of peripheral nerve injuries are suboptimal, highlighting the urgent need to understand the mechanisms of nerve injury to enhance treatment strategies. Muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) are a diverse group of multipotent cells that hold promise for peripheral nerve regeneration due to their strong antioxidant and regenerative properties. Our research has revealed that severe ferroptosis occurs in the sciatic nerve and ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion following sciatic nerve injury. Interestingly, we have observed that MDSC-derived exosomes effectively suppress cell ferroptosis and enhance cell viability in Schwann cells and dorsal root ganglion cells. Treatment with exosomes led to increased expression of BDNF and P62 in Schwann cells, decreased expression of Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 in Schwann cells, and upregulated dorsal root ganglion cells. Rats treated with exosomes exhibited improvements in sciatic nerve function, sensitivity to stimuli, and reduced muscle atrophy, indicating a positive impact on post-injury recovery. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the occurrence of ferroptosis in the sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglion post-injury, with MDSC exosomes offering a potential therapeutic strategy by inhibiting ferroptosis, activating the Keap1-Nrf2-HO-1 pathway, and optimizing the post-injury repair environment.

Effectiveness of the acute stroke care map program in reducing in-hospital delay for acute ischemic stroke in a Chinese urban area: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background: Timely intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is crucial for improving outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Acute Stroke Care Map (ASCaM) initiative in Shenyang, aimed at reducing door-to-needle times (DNT) and thus improving the timeliness of care for AIS patients. Methods: An retrospective cohort study was conducted from April 2019 to December 2021 in 30 hospitals participating in the ASCaM initiative in Shenyang. The ASCaM bundle included strategies such as EMS prenotification, rapid stroke triage, on-call stroke neurologists, immediate neuroimaging interpretation, and the innovative Pre-hospital Emergency Call and Location Identification feature. An interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was used to assess the impact of ASCaM on DNT, comparing 9 months pre-intervention with 24 months post-intervention. Results: Data from 9,680 IVT-treated ischemic stroke patients were analyzed, including 2,401 in the pre-intervention phase and 7,279 post-intervention. The ITSA revealed a significant reduction in monthly DNT by -1.12 min and a level change of -5.727 min post-ASCaM implementation. Conclusion: The ASCaM initiative significantly reduced in-hospital delays for AIS patients, demonstrating its effectiveness as a comprehensive stroke care improvement strategy in urban settings. These findings highlight the potential of coordinated care interventions to enhance timely access to reperfusion therapies and overall stroke prognosis.

Catalytic Dual-Mode Immunotherapy: Anisotropic AuPt Heterostructure Decorated with Starry Pt Nanoclusters for Robust Cancer Photometalloimmunotherapy.

To overcome current limitations in photoimmunotherapy, such as insufficient tumor antigen generation and a subdued immune response, a novel photo-/metallo dual-mode immunotherapeutic agent (PMIA) is introduced for potent near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered cancer therapy. PMIA features a dumbbell-like AuPt heterostructure decorated with starry Pt nanoclusters, meticulously engineered for enhancing plasmonic catalysis through multi-dimensional regulation of Pt growth on Au nanorods. Under NIR laser exposure, end-tipped Pt nanoclusters induce efficient electron-hole spatial separation along the longitudinal axis, resulting in radial and axial electron distribution polarization, conferring unique anisotropic properties to PMIA. Additionally, starry Pt nanoclusters on the sides of Au nanorods augment the local electron enrichment field. Validated through finite-difference time-domain analysis and Raman scattering, this configuration fosters local electron enrichment, facilitating robust reactive oxygen species generation for potent photoimmunotherapy. Moreover, Pt nanoclusters facilitate Pt2+ ion release, instigating intranuclear DNA damage and inducing synergistic immunogenic cell death (ICD) for metalloimmunotherapy. Consequently, PMIA elicits abundant danger-associated molecular patterns, promotes T cell infiltration, and triggers systemic immune responses, effectively treating primary and distant tumors, inhibiting metastasis in vivo. This study unveils a pioneering dual-mode ICD amplification strategy driven by NIR light, synergistically integrating photoimmunotherapy and metalloimmunotherapy, culminating in potent cancer photometalloimmunotherapy.

Exploring the factors influencing nutritional literacy based on the socioecological model among patients with age-related macular degeneration: a qualitative study from China.

OBJECTIVES: Although nutritional support is beneficial to the visual rehabilitation of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a large gap continues to exist between the relevant guidelines and the actual practices of AMD patients; this gap can be attributed to a lack of nutritional literacy. Therefore, this study explored the factors affecting nutritional literacy among AMD patients. DESIGN: A qualitative study was carried out based on individual in-person interviews with 15 AMD patients; a semistructured interview guide was used for data collection. The socioecological model (SEM) was employed for data analysis. SETTING: The Southwest Hospital in Chongqing Province, China. PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample of 15 AMD patients was recruited between May and June 2023. RESULTS: The social ecosystem of patients with AMD has not been positive. At the intrapersonal level, the factors affecting the nutritional literacy of such patients are lack of knowledge, nutrition self-efficacy, economic burdens, dietary preferences and health status. At the interpersonal level, the factors that can influence patients' nutritional literacy are social support and social roles. At the institutional level, the relevant factors are doctor-patient trust and interdisciplinary-team consistency. Finally, at the policy level, a powerful factor is the large gap between policy and implementation. DISCUSSION: Nutritional literacy focuses on the changes in an individual's knowledge and behaviour concerning nutrition. To inform the development of nutritional-literacy interventions for people with AMD, medical staff should consider multiple perspectives that can remove the barriers to the SEM at all levels.

Selective eradication of venetoclax-resistant monocytic acute myeloid leukemia with iron oxide nanozymes.

The clinical treatment of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is rapidly progressing from chemotherapy to targeted therapies led by the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN). Despite its unprecedented success, VEN still encounters clinical resistance. Thus, uncovering the biological vulnerability of VEN-resistant AML disease and identifying effective therapies to treat them are urgently needed. We have previously demonstrated that iron oxide nanozymes (IONE) are capable of overcoming chemoresistance in AML. The current study reports a new activity of IONE in overcoming VEN resistance. Specifically, we revealed an aberrant redox balance with excessive intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in VEN-resistant monocytic AML. Treatment with IONE potently induced ROS-dependent cell death in monocytic AML in both cell lines and primary AML models. In primary AML with developmental heterogeneity containing primitive and monocytic subpopulations, IONE selectively eradicated the VEN-resistant ROS-high monocytic subpopulation, successfully resolving the challenge of developmental heterogeneity faced by VEN. Overall, our study revealed an aberrant redox balance as a therapeutic target for monocytic AML and identified a candidate IONE that could selectively and potently eradicate VEN-resistant monocytic disease.

Bone health and awareness of osteoporosis in women aged 40 to 60 years in Jiaxing City, China.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the pattern of bone mineral density (BMD) in native Jiaxing women, and to investigate their awareness of osteoporosis. A total of 538 native Jiaxing women aged 40 to 60 years were recruited from January 2022 to December 2023 when they had routine examinations in the physical examination center of Jiaxing Maternal and Child Health Hospital. The Chinese version of Osteoporosis Prevention and Cognition Tool was used to evaluate participants' cognitive level of osteoporosis. BMD of participants' lumbar spine (L1-L4) and left hip (Neck/Troch/Ward) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The mean total score of the awareness about osteoporosis (general knowledge, complications, and prevention) was 22.08 ±â€…2.74, which was suboptimal. The higher the education level, the higher the score of awareness (P < .01). Medical staff had the highest awareness rate of osteoporosis and the farmer had the lowest. Lumber spine and hip BMD of all sites was significantly decreased with increasing age (P < .001). Premenopausal women had higher BMD than postmenopausal women at all lumbar spine and hip sites (P < .01). The overall frequency of osteoporosis was 10.8% in the lumbar spine, 8.6% in the total hip, and 17.7% in either site. Osteoporosis and osteopenia are highly prevalent among native Jiaxing women but their awareness of osteoporosis is inadequate. To reduce the prevalence of osteoporosis, especially among the unemployed, we should carry out effective health education through multimedia to raise their awareness of osteoporosis. In addition, menopausal hormone therapy should also be considered in menopausal women.

Fluorescent sensing platform based on polyethyleneimine-protected copper nanoclusters for detection of chromium(VI) in real samples.

A new type of polyethyleneimine-protected copper nanoclusters (PEI-CuNCs) is favorably developed by a one-pot method under mild conditions. The obtained PEI-CuNCs is characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and other techniques. It is worth noting that the proposed PEI-CuNCs demonstrate a selective response to chromium(VI) over other competitive species. Fluorescence quenching of PEI-CuNCs is determined to be chromium(VI) concentrations dependence with a low limit of detection of 8.9 nM. What is more, the as-developed PEI-CuNCs is further employed in building a detection platform for portable recognition of chromium(VI) in real samples with good accuracy. These findings may offer a distinctive strategy for the development of methods for analyzing and monitoring chromium(VI) and expand their application in real sample monitoring.

Baicalin enhances proliferation and reduces inflammatory-oxidative stress effect in H2O2-induced granulosa cells apoptosis via USP48 protein regulation.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and inflammation can lead to apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), resulting in ovulation disorders and infertility. Baicalin (BAI) promotes cell proliferation and reduces inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the mechanisms by which BAI treatment affects oxidative stress and inflammation in GCs remain incompletely understood. METHODS: KGN cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to analyze the effect of oxidative stress on GCs in vitro. Subsequently, H2O2-stimulated KGN cells were treated with BAI. The levels of GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD were measured using an activity assay kit. The levels of MDA, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Proliferation, apoptosis, and mRNA and protein levels were measured using the CCK8, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. RESULTS: H2O2 treatment inhibited KGN cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis, accompanied by increased oxidative stress and inflammation. BAI promoted proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in H2O2-stimulated KGN cells. BAI treatment promoted USP48 protein expression, and USP48 knockdown abrogated the protective effects of BAI, indicating that USP48 is a downstream mediator of BAI. CONCLUSION: BAI treatment enhanced cell proliferation and ameliorated oxidative stress and inflammation by enhancing USP48 protein expression. BAI, which is used clinically and as a dietary supplement, may alleviate oxidative stress-induced GC injury and ovarian disorders.

3-aminophenylboronic acid modified carbon nitride quantum dots as fluorescent probe for selective detection of dopamine and cell imaging.

Dopamine (DA) is the most abundant catecholamine neurotransmitter in the brain and plays an extremely essential role in the physiological activities of the living organism. There is a critical need for accurately and efficiently detecting DA levels in organisms in order to reflect physiological states. Carbon nitride quantum dots (C3N4) were, in recent years, used enormously as electrochemical and fluorescence probes for the detection of metal ions, biomarkers and other environmental or food impurities due to their unique advantageous optical and electronic properties. 3-Aminophenylboronic acid (3-APBA) can specifically combine with DA through an aggregation effect, providing an effective DA detection method. In this work, 3-APBA modified carbon nitride quantum dots (3-APBA-CNQDs) were synthesized from urea and sodium citrate. The structure, chemical composition and optical properties of 3-APBA-CNQDs were investigated by XRD, TEM, UV-visible, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The addition of DA could induce fluorescence quenching of 3-APBA-CNQDs possibly through the inner filter effect (IFE). 3-APBA-CNQDs shows better selectivity and sensitivity to DA than other interfering substances. By optimizing the experiment conditions, good linearity was obtained at 0.10-51µM DA with a low detection limit of 22.08 nM. More importantly, 3-APBA-CNQDs have been successfully applied for the detection of DA in human urine and blood samples as well as for bioimaging of intracellular DA. This study provides a promising novel method for the rapid detection of DA in real biological samples.

miRNA-137-5p improves spatial memory and cognition in Alzheimer's mice by targeting ubiquitin-specific peptidase 30.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder causing progressive dementia. Research suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AD. Reduced levels of miR-137 have been observed in the brains of AD patients, but its specific role and downstream mechanisms remain unclear. This study sought to examine the therapeutic potential of miR-137-5p agomir in alleviating cognitive dysfunction induced in AD models and explore its potential mechanisms. METHODS: This study utilized bioinformatic analysis and a dual-luciferase reporter assay to investigate the relationship between miR-137-5p and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 30 (USP30). In vitro experiments were conducted using SH-SY5Y cells to assess the impact of miR-137-5p on Aß1-42 neurotoxicity. In vivo experiments on AD mice evaluated the effects of miR-137-5p on cognition, Aß1-42 deposition, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuronal apoptosis, as well as its influence on USP30 levels. RESULTS: It was discovered that miR-137-5p mimics efficiently counteract Aß1-42 neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, a protective effect that is negated by USP30 overexpression. In vivo experiments demonstrated that miR-137-5p enhances the cognition and mobility of AD mice, significantly reducing Aß1-42 deposition, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuronal apoptosis within the hippocampus and cortex regions. Mechanistically, miR-137-5p significantly suppresses USP30 levels in mice, though USP30 overexpression partially buffers against miR-137-5p-induced AD symptom improvement. CONCLUSION: Our study proposes that miR-137-5p, by instigating the downregulation of USP30, has the potential to act as a novel and promising therapeutic target for AD.

METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation induces the differentiation of lung resident mesenchymal stem cells into myofibroblasts via the miR-21/PTEN pathway.

BACKGROUND: The accumulation of myofibroblasts is the key pathological feature of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Aberrant differentiation of lung-resident mesenchymal stem cells (LR-MSCs) has been identified as a critical source of myofibroblasts, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. In recent years, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification has been implicated in fibrosis development across diverse organs; however, its specific role in promoting the differentiation of LR-MSCs into myofibroblasts in PF is not well defined. METHODS: In this study, we examined the levels of m6A RNA methylation and the expression of its regulatory enzymes in both TGF-ß1-treated LR-MSCs and fibrotic mouse lung tissues. The downstream target genes of m6A and their related pathways were identified according to a literature review, bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification. We also assessed the expression levels of myofibroblast markers in treated LR-MSCs and confirmed the involvement of the above-described pathway in the aberrant differentiation direction of LR-MSCs under TGF-ß1 stimulation by overexpressing or knocking down key genes within the pathway. RESULTS: Our results revealed that METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation was significantly upregulated in both TGF-ß1-treated LR-MSCs and fibrotic mouse lung tissues. This process directly led to the aberrant differentiation of LR-MSCs into myofibroblasts by targeting the miR-21/PTEN pathway. Moreover, inhibition of METTL3 or miR-21 and overexpression of PTEN could rescue this abnormal differentiation. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that m6A RNA methylation induced aberrant LR-MSC differentiation into myofibroblasts via the METTL3/miR-21/PTEN signaling pathway. We indicated a novel mechanism to promote PF progression. Targeting METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation and its downstream targets may present innovative therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of PF.

Machine learning-based prediction of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after intravenous thrombolysis for stroke: a large multicenter study.

Background: This study aimed to compare the performance of different machine learning models in predicting symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) after thrombolysis treatment for ischemic stroke. Methods: This multicenter study utilized the Shenyang Stroke Emergency Map database, comprising 8,924 acute ischemic stroke patients from 29 comprehensive hospitals who underwent thrombolysis between January 2019 and December 2021. An independent testing cohort was further established, including 1,921 patients from the First People's Hospital of Shenyang. The structured dataset encompassed 15 variables, including clinical and therapeutic metrics. The primary outcome was the sICH occurrence post-thrombolysis. Models were developed using an 80/20 split for training and internal validation. Performance was assessed using machine learning classifiers, including logistic regression with lasso regularization, support vector machine (SVM), random forest, gradient-boosted decision tree (GBDT), and multilayer perceptron (MLP). The model boasting the highest area under the curve (AUC) was specifically employed to highlight feature importance. Results: Baseline characteristics were compared between the training cohort (n = 6,369) and the external validation cohort (n = 1,921), with the sICH incidence being slightly higher in the training cohort (1.6%) compared to the validation cohort (1.1%). Among the evaluated models, the logistic regression with lasso regularization achieved the highest AUC of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-0.95; p < 0.001), followed by the MLP model with an AUC of 0.766 (95% CI: 0.637-0.894; p = 0.04). The reference model and SVM showed AUCs of 0.575 and 0.582, respectively, while the random forest and GBDT models performed less optimally with AUCs of 0.536 and 0.436, respectively. Decision curve analysis revealed net benefits primarily for the SVM and MLP models. Feature importance from the logistic regression model emphasized anticoagulation therapy as the most significant negative predictor (coefficient: -2.0833) and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator as the principal positive predictor (coefficient: 0.5082). Conclusion: After a comprehensive evaluation, the MLP model is recommended due to its superior ability to predict the risk of symptomatic hemorrhage post-thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients. Based on decision curve analysis, the MLP-based model was chosen and demonstrated enhanced discriminative ability compared to the reference. This model serves as a valuable tool for clinicians, aiding in treatment planning and ensuring more precise forecasting of patient outcomes.

Indicators and medical tests to identify lower limb swelling causes after total knee arthroplasty: a Delphi study with multidisciplinary experts.

BACKGROUND: Lower limb swelling after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) hinders surgical effectiveness. The poor results of studies on swelling interventions are due to the lack of a classification of swelling causes through appropriate medical tests. A gold standard is missing. This study aimed to clarify the causes of TKA postoperative swelling and how to identify them through indicators and medical tests by consulting a wide range of experts from multiple disciplines. METHOD: The Delphi method was used. A first draft of the index was prepared based on a systematic search of the literature. A total of 11 experts from several disciplines were invited to evaluate the rationality of the indicators and suggest modifications. After two rounds of consultation, the experts reached a consensus, and the consultation was stopped. RESULTS: The response rate of the 11 experts was 100%, and the authoritative Cr was 0.896. Kendall's W values for opinion coordination of the two rounds of consultation were 0.262 and 0.226, respectively (P < 0.001). Among the final indicators, there were 4 primary indicators for swelling cause classification (inflammatory response, poor venous return, joint hematoma, muscle damage, and healing), 19 secondary and 19 tertiary indicators. CONCLUSION: The indications obtained by systematic literature review and multidisciplinary expert consultation are reliable and scientific. Multiple causes of lower extremity swelling after TKA were identified. Blood test indicators can reflect an inflammatory response, suggest poor venous return, and reflect muscle damage and healing progress. Ultrasound scans are needed to identify underlying thrombotic or valvular problems, joint hematomas, and muscle damage. These tests help clinicians and researchers determine the cause of swelling after TKA and take appropriate management.

Evaluation of bi-directional causal association between periodontal disease and erectile dysfunction: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: The association between periodontal disease (PD) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been well-documented in observational studies. However, observational studies are vulnerable to reverse causality and confounding factors, making the inference of causal-effect relationships challenging. Contrary to the current belief, Mendelian randomization (MR) can be applied to comprehensively assess the bi-directional causal effects between PD and ED. METHODS: A two-sample MR analysis was performed using pooled statistics from genome-wide association studies involving European populations with PD (12,289 patients with PD and 22,326 controls) and ED (6,175 patients with clinically diagnosed ED and 217,630 controls). In this MR analysis, three methods--the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) average, weighted median, and MR-Egger regression methods--were used to evaluate the causal relationships between PD and ED. RESULTS: According to the IVW analysis results, genetically predicted PD did not have a causal effect on ED (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval 0.96-1.20, p = 0.22). Furthermore, there was no clear indication of a significant causal effect of ED on PD in the reverse MR analysis (odds ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.90-1.08, p = 0.74). The results of the MR-Egger regression and weighted median methods were consistent with those of the IVW method. Based on the sensitivity analysis results, a major bias from genetic pleiotropy was unlikely to distort the causal estimates. CONCLUSION: The present study does not support a causal effect between PD and ED. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: From the perspective of genetics, PD does not appear to be a risk factor for the development of ED.

Muscle-derived stem cell exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 promote the regeneration and repair of rat sciatic nerve after crush injury to activate the JAK2/STAT3 pathway by targeting PTEN.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effect of muscle-derived stem cell (MDSC) exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 on the regeneration and repair of rat sciatic nerve after crush injury and its molecular mechanism. Methods: First, primary MDSCs, Schwann cells (SCs) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were isolated and cultured, and the characteristics of MDSCs-derived exosomes were identified by molecular biology and immunohistochemistry. NC mimics and miR-214 mimics were transfected to obtain exo-NC and exo-miR-214. An in vitro co-culture system was established to determine the effect of exo-miR-214 on nerve regeneration. The restoration of sciatic nerve function of rats by exo-miR-214 was evaluated by walking track analysis. Immunofluorescence for NF and S100 was used to detect the regeneration of axon and myelin sheath in injured nerve. The Starbase database was used to analyze the downstream target genes of miR-214. QRT-PCR and dual luciferase reporter assays were used to validate the miR-214 and PTEN interaction relationship. And the expression of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway-related proteins in sciatic nerve tissues were detected by western blot. Results: The above experiments showed that MDSCs-derived exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 was found to promote the proliferation and migration of SCs, increase the expression of neurotrophic factors, promote axon extension of DRG neurons and positively affect the recovery of nerve structure and function. In addition, PTEN was a target gene of miR-214. Exo-miR-214 can significantly inhibit the expression level of PTEN, increase the protein expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 and the ratio of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3, also MDSCs-derived exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 can reduce the occurrence of denervated muscle atrophy. Conclusion: In summary, the MDSCs-derived exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 is involved in peripheral nerve regeneration and repair in rats after sciatic nerve crush injury to activate the JAK2/ STAT3 pathway by targeting PTEN.

[Effects of Microplastic Exposure on the Community Structure and Function of Symbiotic Bacteria in Sinularia microclavata].

Microplastics are widely distributed in the marine environment and are harmful to the health of marine organisms (including corals). However, studies on the impact of microplastics on coral have been very limited, and the specific mechanism of their impact is not clear. Therefore, in this study, microplastic PA, which is common in the marine environment, was selected to conduct a 7-day microplastic exposure experiment on Sinularia microclavata. The effects of microplastic exposure at different times on the diversity, community structure, and function of the symbiotic bacterial community of coral were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. The α-diversity of the symbiotic bacterial community of coral first decreased and then increased with the exposure time of microplastics. The analysis of ß-diversity and microbial community composition showed that microplastic exposure caused significant changes in the symbiotic bacterial community of coral, and the bacterial community composition also changed with the exposure time. A total of 49 phyla, 152 classes, 363 orders, 634 families, and 1390 genera were detected. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria was the dominant taxa in all samples, but the relative abundance varied among samples. Microplastic exposure increased the abundance of Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Acidobacteriota. At the genus level, Ralstonia, Acinetobacter, and Delftia were the dominant taxa of symbiotic bacteria of coral after microplastic exposure. PICRUSt functional prediction indicated that functions of the coral symbiotic bacterial community, including signal transduction, cellular community prokaryotes, xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, and cell motility, decreased after microplastic exposure on coral. BugBase phenotype predictions indicated that microplastic exposure altered three phenotypes (pathogenic, anaerobic, and oxidative stress-tolerant) of the coral symbiotic bacterial community. FAPROTAX functional predictions indicated that microplastic exposure caused significant changes in functions such as the symbiotic relationship between coral symbiotic bacteria and the host, carbon and nitrogen cycling, and photosynthesis. This study provided basic data on the mechanism of microplastic impacts on corals and microplastics ecotoxicology.

Exploring expectations of Chinese patients for total knee arthroplasty: once the medicine is taken, the symptoms vanish.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative expectations of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes are important determinants of patient satisfaction. However, expectations of patients in different countries are affected by cultural background. The general goal of this study was to describe Chinese TKA patients' expectations. METHODS: Patients scheduled for TKA were recruited in a quantitative study(n = 198). The Hospital for Special Surgery Total Knee Replacement Expectations Survey Questionnaire was used for survey TKA patients' expectations. Descriptive phenomenological design was used for the qualitative research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 TKA patients. Colaizzi's method was used for interview data analysis. RESULTS: The mean expectation score of Chinese TKA patients was 89.17 points. The 4 highest score items were walk short distance, remove the need for walker, relieve pain and make knee or leg straight. The 2 lowest score items were employed for monetary reimbursement and sexual activity. Five main themes and 12 sub-themes emerged from the interview data, including multiple factors raised expectations, expectations of physical comfort, expect various activities back to normal, hope for a long joint lifespan, and expect a better mood. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese TKA patients reported a relatively high level of expectations, and differences across cultures result in different expectation points than other national populations, requiring adjustment of items when using assessment tools across cultures. Strategies for expectation management should be further developed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with atherosclerotic risk among patients with PsA. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 165 consecutive PsA patients receiving carotid ultrasonography with integrated TyG index, calculated as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dl) × fasting glucose (mg/dl)/2]. Logistic regression models were applied to analyse the association of TyG index as continuous variables and tertiles with carotid atherosclerosis and carotid artery plaque. Fully adjusted model included sex, age, smoking, BMI, comorbidities and psoriatic-related variables. RESULTS: Overall, PsA patients with carotid atherosclerosis had substantially higher TyG index than those without [8.82 (0.50) vs 8.54 (0.55), P = 0.002]. The frequency of carotid atherosclerosis was increased with increases in TyG index tertiles, showing 14.8%, 34.5%, 44.6% for tertile 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P = 0.003). Multivariate logistic analyses showed that each 1-unit increase in TyG index was significantly associated with prevalent carotid atherosclerosis [unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.65 (1.39-5.05); fully adjusted OR 2.69 (1.02-7.11)]. Compared with patients in tertile 1 of TyG index, the unadjusted and fully adjusted OR for occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis were 4.64 (1.85-11.60) and 5.10 (1.54-16.93) in patients in tertile 3. Similarly, higher prevalent carotid artery plaque was observed with increasing TyG index [unadjusted OR 3.11 (1.54-6.26); fully adjusted OR 3.61 (1.15-11.38)] or in tertile 3 vs tertile 1 [unadjusted OR 10.20 (2.83-36.82); fully adjusted OR 17.89 (2.88-111.11)]. Additionally, TyG index provided incremental predictive capacity beyond established risk factors, shown by an increase in discrimination ability (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TyG index was positively correlated with the burden of atherosclerosis in PsA patients, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and psoriatic-related factors. These findings suggest that TyG index may be a promising atherosclerotic marker for the PsA population.