Contribution of m5C RNA Modification-Related Genes to Prognosis and Immunotherapy Prediction in Patients with Ovarian Cancer.

Background: 5-Methylcytosine (m5C) RNA modification is closely implicated in the occurrence of a variety of cancers. Here, we established a novel prognostic signature for ovarian cancer (OC) patients based on m5C RNA modification-related genes and explored the correlation between these genes with the tumor immune microenvironment. Methods: Methylated-RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing helped us to identify candidate genes related to m5C RNA modification at first. Based on TCGA database, we screened the differentially expressed candidate genes related to the prognosis and constructed a prognostic model using LASSO Cox regression analyses. Notably, the accuracy of the model was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and receiver operator characteristic curves. Independent prognostic risk factors were investigated by Cox proportional hazard model. Furthermore, we also analyzed the biological functions and pathways involved in the signature. Finally, the immune response of the model was visualized in great detail. Results: Totally, 2,493 candidate genes proved to be involved in m5C modification of RNA for OC. We developed a signature with prognostic value consisting of six m5C RNA modification-related genes. Specially, samples have been split into two cohorts with low- and high-risk scores according to the model, in which the low-risk OC patients exhibited dramatically better overall survival time than those with high-risk scores. Besides, not only was this model a prognostic factor independent of other clinical characteristics but it predicted the intensity of the immune response in OC. Significantly, the accuracy and availability of the signature were verified by ICGC database. Conclusions: Our study bridged the gap between m5C RNA modification and the prognosis of OC and was expected to provide an effective breakthrough for immunotherapy in OC patients.

Research on the mechanisms of Shu Yu wan in the treatment of cervical cancer based on network pharmacology analyses and molecular docking technology.

Combining network pharmacology with molecular docking, our study revealed the candidate targets and mechanisms of Shu Yu Wan (SYW) for treating cervical cancer (CC). The targets associated with CC and active compounds in SYW were identified through TCGA, GeneCards and TCMSP databases. Consequently, a total of 16 active compounds in SYW and 38 common targets related to CC were predicted. Genes TP53 and CDK2 are among the hub genes in the PPI network. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that SYW exerted pharmacological effects on CC by regulating cellular senescence, p53 signaling pathway, cell cycle, apoptosis, viral carcinogenesis and human papillomavirus infection (HPV) signaling pathway. Finally, molecular docking confirmed a strong binding affinity between the main active compounds of SYW with the core target proteins.

Prediction of Prognosis in Patients With Endometrial Carcinoma and Immune Microenvironment Estimation Based on Ferroptosis-Related Genes.

Background: Ferroptosis, a form of non-apoptotic cell death, has aroused worldwide interest in cancer researchers. However, the current study about the correlation between ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) and endometrial cancer (EC) remains limited. Methods: First, the transcriptome profiling and clinical data of EC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) program as the training group and testing group, respectively. FRGs were acquired through literature mining. Then, we used R 4.1.1 software to screen the differently expressed FRGs from TCGA, which was also connected with the prognosis of EC patients. Subsequently, the risk score of each tumor sample was identified by LASSO regression analysis, and we classified these samples into the high- and low-risk groups in the light of the median risk score. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to assess the accuracy of this signature. Significantly, the data from CPTAC was used to validate the prediction model externally. Furthermore, we evaluated the immune microenvironment in this model via single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Results: Among the 150 FRGs, 6 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on TCGA had a relationship with the prognosis of EC patients, namely, TP53, AIFM2, ATG7, TLR4, PANX1 and MDM2. The survival curve indicated a higher survival probability in the low-risk group. Moreover, the FRGs-based signature acted well in the prediction of overall survival (OS). The results of external verification confirmed the prediction model we established. Finally, ssGSEA revealed significant differences in the abundance of 16 immune cells infiltration and the activity of 13 immune functions between different risk groups. Conclusion: We identified a novel ferroptosis-related gene signature which could concisely predict the prognosis and immunotherapy in EC patients.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia with atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension during advanced pregnancy: a case report and literature review.

Pregnancy complicated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare condition. This case report presents an extremely rare case with the co-occurrence of HHT and congenital heart disease. In this report, a 43-year-old woman at 36 + 4 weeks of gestation experienced haemoptysis with a volume of approximately 300 ml for the first time. Uncommonly, her transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a previously unrecognized atrial septal defect (ASD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) for the first time at 36 + 1 weeks of gestation. Chest computed tomography revealed an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the right lower lobe of the lung. Due to concerns of rebleeding of ruptured pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs), the patient underwent a caesarean section at 36 + 6 weeks of gestation. A healthy male infant weighing 2800 g was delivered. To the best of our knowledge, there have been few reports about HHT with ASDs and PH during advanced pregnancy. This current case report highlights the necessity for clinicians to pay considerable attention to cardiac structural abnormalities, which can worsen PAVM in patients with HHT during pregnancy, for whom terminating the pregnancy in time may reduce the risk of PAVM rupture.

Modified balloon vaginoplasty for high position vaginal atresia.

INTRODUCTION: The first-line approach for the management of distal vaginal atresia involves a pull-through vaginoplasty. If the proximal vagina is 3 cm or more from the introitus, the risk of stenosis is high, and an interposition graft may be necessary. We describe a safe, low-cost, and accessible approach for distal vaginal atresia ≥ 3 cm that we call the "modified balloon vaginoplasty" and validate the technical feasibility and anatomical outcomes. METHODS: Ten patients who underwent modified balloon vaginoplasty were retrospectively evaluated. Age, symptoms at presentation, length of atresia, operation time, and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: All the cases were successfully performed without any intraoperative morbidity. The postoperative complications included one case of stenosis ring in the distal vagina because not right used vagina model. All the girls had regular menstruation and were satisfied with the surgical outcome. CONCLUSION: Modified balloon vaginoplasty allows further distention of the distal vagina or thinning of the septum, which may decrease the risk of stenosis, is a beneficial choice for patients with distal vaginal atresia ≥ 3 cm.