PD-L2 Expression in Breast Cancer Promotes Tumor Development and Progression.

Background: This work focused on investigating the role of programmed death ligand 2 (PD-L2) in the progression of breast cancer by utilizing breast cancer specimens and cells. Materials and Methods: The serum levels of soluble PD-L2 (sPD-L2) in breast cancer patients and healthy individuals were analyzed by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the PD-L2 levels within 416 resected breast cancer specimens were assessed through immunohistochemistry. Concurrently, in vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal experiments were carried out to analyze the relationship between PD-L2 and the invasion and migration of breast cancer. Results: The concentration of sPD-L2 in breast cancer patients significantly increased compared to that in the control groups. Additionally, breast cancer patients with high concentrations of sPD-L2 had higher Ki67 values (≥30%) and tumor grades. PD-L2 was expressed in 79.09% of the cancer samples, which exhibited a positive correlation with the progesterone receptor (PR) and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Furthermore, we discovered that knockdown of PD-L2 inhibited the migratory and invasive abilities of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that knockdown of PD-L2 suppressed tumor growth, providing novel insights into important biological functions.

CNS-wide repopulation by hematopoietic-derived microglia-like cells corrects progranulin deficiency in mice.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can deliver therapeutic proteins to the central nervous system (CNS) through transplant-derived microglia-like cells. However, current conditioning approaches result in low and slow engraftment of transplanted cells in the CNS. Here we optimized a brain conditioning regimen that leads to rapid, robust, and persistent microglia replacement without adverse effects on neurobehavior or hematopoiesis. This regimen combines busulfan myeloablation and six days of Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX3397. Single-cell analyses revealed unappreciated heterogeneity of microglia-like cells with most cells expressing genes characteristic of homeostatic microglia, brain-border-associated macrophages, and unique markers. Cytokine analysis in the CNS showed transient inductions of myeloproliferative and chemoattractant cytokines that help repopulate the microglia niche. Bone marrow transplant of progranulin-deficient mice conditioned with busulfan and PLX3397 restored progranulin in the brain and eyes and normalized brain lipofuscin storage, proteostasis, and lipid metabolism. This study advances our understanding of CNS repopulation by hematopoietic-derived cells and demonstrates its therapeutic potential for treating progranulin-dependent neurodegeneration.

Comparison of vonoprazan bismuth-containing triple therapy with quadruple therapy in Helicobacter pylori-infected treatment-naive patients: a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori infection is linked to various gastrointestinal conditions, such as chronic active gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Traditional treatment options encounter difficulties due to antibiotic resistance and adverse effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a new treatment plan that combines vonoprazan (VPZ), amoxicillin, and bismuth for the eradication of H. pylori. METHODS: A total of 600 patients infected with H. pylori were recruited for this multicenter randomized controlled trial. Patients treated for H. pylori elimination were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive 14 days of vonoprazan-based triple therapy (vonoprazan + amoxicillin + bismuth, group A) or standard quadruple therapy (esomeprazole + clarithromycin + amoxicillin + bismuth, group B). Compliance and adverse effects were tracked through daily medication and side effect records. All patients underwent a 13C/14C-urea breath test 4 weeks after treatment completion. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses revealed no substantial differences in H. pylori eradication rates between groups A and B (ITT: 83.7% vs 83.2%; PP: 90.9% vs 89.7%). However, significant differences were observed in the assessment of side effects (13.7% vs 28.6%, P < 0.001). Specifically, group A had significantly fewer "bitter mouths" than group B did (3.7% vs 16.2%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Triple therapy comprising vonoprazan (20 mg), amoxicillin (750 mg), and bismuth potassium citrate (220 mg) achieved a PP eradication rate ≥90%, paralleling standard quadruple therapy, and had fewer adverse events and lower costs (¥306.8 vs ¥645.8) for treatment-naive patients.

Adults Ischium Age Estimation Based on Deep Learning and 3D CT Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a deep learning model for automated age estimation based on 3D CT reconstructed images of Han population in western China, and evaluate its feasibility and reliability. METHODS: The retrospective pelvic CT imaging data of 1 200 samples (600 males and 600 females) aged 20.0 to 80.0 years in western China were collected and reconstructed into 3D virtual bone models. The images of the ischial tuberosity feature region were extracted to create sex-specific and left/right site-specific sample libraries. Using the ResNet34 model, 500 samples of different sexes were randomly selected as training and verification set, the remaining samples were used as testing set. Initialization and transfer learning were used to train images that distinguish sex and left/right site. Mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) were used as primary indicators to evaluate the model. RESULTS: Prediction results varied between sexes, with bilateral models outperformed left/right unilateral ones, and transfer learning models showed superior performance over initial models. In the prediction results of bilateral transfer learning models, the male MAE was 7.74 years and RMSE was 9.73 years, the female MAE was 6.27 years and RMSE was 7.82 years, and the mixed sexes MAE was 6.64 years and RMSE was 8.43 years. CONCLUSIONS: The skeletal age estimation model, utilizing ischial tuberosity images of Han population in western China and employing the ResNet34 combined with transfer learning, can effectively estimate adult ischium age.

PLA2G15 is a Lysosomal BMP Hydrolase with Ester Position Specificity and its Targeting Ameliorates Lysosomal Disease.

Lysosomes catabolize lipids and other biological molecules, a function essential for cellular and organismal homeostasis. Key to lipid catabolism in the lysosome is bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP), a major lipid constituent of intralysosomal vesicles (ILVs) and a stimulator of lipid-degrading enzymes. BMP levels are altered in a broad spectrum of human conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases. Although BMP synthase was recently discovered, it has long been thought that BMP's unique stereochemistry confers resistance to acid phospholipases, a requirement for its role in the lysosome. Here, we demonstrate that PLA2G15, a major lysosomal phospholipase, efficiently hydrolyzes BMP with primary esters regardless of stereochemistry. Interestingly, we discover that BMP's unique esterification position is what confers resistance to hydrolysis. Purified PLA2G15 catabolizes most BMP species derived from cell and tissue lysosomes under acidic conditions. Furthermore, PLA2G15 catalytic activity against synthesized BMP stereoisomers with primary esters was comparable to its canonical substrates. Conversely, BMP with secondary esters is intrinsically stable in vitro and requires acyl migration for hydrolysis in lysosomes. Consistent with our biochemical data, PLA2G15-deficient tissues and cells accumulate multiple BMP species, a phenotype reversible by supplementing wildtype PLA2G15 but not its catalytically dead mutant. Increasing BMP levels by targeting PLA2G15 reverses the cholesterol accumulation phenotype in Niemann Pick Disease Type C (NPC1) patient fibroblasts and significantly ameliorate disease pathologies in NPC1-deficient mice leading to extended lifespan. Our findings establish the rules that govern the stability of BMP in the lysosome and identify PLA2G15 as a lysosomal BMP hydrolase and as a potential target for modulating BMP levels for therapeutic intervention.

Seasonal dynamics of the microbiota and nutritional composition in bee bread from Apis cerana and Apis mellifera colonies.

Bee bread is a product of honeybees, which collect and ferment pollen, that contains highly nutritious and easily digestible active substances. However, its nutritional composition varies significantly with fermentation strains and seasonal changes. To unveil the patterns of microbial community and nutritional component changes in bee bread across seasons, we employed high-throughput techniques to assess the diversity of bacteria and fungi in bee bread. The results indicated that the compositions of bacteria and fungi in bee bread undergo significant seasonal variation, with noticeable changes in the microbial diversity of bee bread from different bee species. Subsequently, metabolomic analysis revealed high activity of glycerophospholipid metabolism in bee bread. Furthermore, our analysis identifaied noteworthy differences in nutritional components, including pH values, sugar content, and free amino acid levels, in bee bread across different seasons.

Wnt5a-mediated autophagy contributes to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human bronchial epithelial cells during asthma.

BACKGROUND: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) is essential for airway remodeling during asthma. Wnt5a has been implicated in various lung diseases, while its role in the EMT of HBECs during asthma is yet to be determined. This study sought to define whether Wnt5a initiated EMT, leading to airway remodeling through the induction of autophagy in HBECs. METHODS: Microarray analysis was used to investigate the expression change of WNT5A in asthma patients. In parallel, EMT models were induced using 16HBE cells by exposing them to house dust mites (HDM) or interleukin-4 (IL-4), and then the expression of Wnt5a was observed. Using in vitro gain- and loss-of-function approaches via Wnt5a mimic peptide FOXY5 and Wnt5a inhibitor BOX5, the alterations in the expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and the mesenchymal marker protein were observed. Mechanistically, the Ca2+/CaMKII signaling pathway and autophagy were evaluated. An autophagy inhibitor 3-MA was used to examine Wnt5a in the regulation of autophagy during EMT. Furthermore, we used a CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 to determine whether Wnt5a induced autophagy overactivation and EMT via the Ca2+/CaMKII signaling pathway. RESULTS: Asthma patients exhibited a significant increase in the gene expression of WNT5A compared to the healthy control. Upon HDM and IL-4 treatments, we observed that Wnt5a gene and protein expression levels were significantly increased in 16HBE cells. Interestingly, Wnt5a mimic peptide FOXY5 significantly inhibited E-cadherin and upregulated α-SMA, Collagen I, and autophagy marker proteins (Beclin1 and LC3-II). Rhodamine-phalloidin staining showed that FOXY5 resulted in a rearrangement of the cytoskeleton and an increase in the quantity of stress fibers in 16HBE cells. Importantly, blocking Wnt5a with BOX5 significantly inhibited autophagy and EMT induced by IL-4 in 16HBE cells. Mechanistically, autophagy inhibitor 3-MA and CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 reduced the EMT of 16HBE cells caused by FOXY5, as well as the increase in stress fibers, cell adhesion, and autophagy. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates a new link in the Wnt5a-Ca2+/CaMKII-autophagy axis to triggering airway remodeling. Our findings may provide novel strategies for the treatment of EMT-related diseases.

Enhanced Enzymatic Performance of Immobilized Pseudomonas fluorescens Lipase on ZIF-8@ZIF-67 and Its Application to the Synthesis of Neryl Acetate with Transesterification Reaction.

In this study, hybrid skeleton material ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was synthesized by the epitaxial growth method and then was utilized as a carrier for encapsulating Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase (PFL) through the co-precipitation method, resulting in the preparation of immobilized lipase (PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67). Subsequently, it was further treated with glutaraldehyde to improve protein immobilization yield. Under optimal immobilization conditions, the specific hydrolytic activity of PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was 20.4 times higher than that of the free PFL. The prepared biocatalyst was characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Additionally, the thermal stability of PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 at 50 °C was significantly improved compared to the free PFL. After 7 weeks at room temperature, PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 retained 78% of the transesterification activity, while the free enzyme was only 29%. Finally, PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was applied to the neryl acetate preparation in a solvent-free system, and the yield of neryl acetate reached 99% after 3 h of reaction. After 10 repetitions, the yields of neryl acetate catalyzed by PFL@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 and the free PFL were 80% and 43%, respectively.

Relationship between human serum metabolites and angina pectoris: a Mendelian randomization study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to explore the causal relationship between human serum metabolites and angina pectoris. METHODS: This study used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the association between 486 serum metabolites and angina pectoris. The analytical methods employed to reduce study bias included inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, and weighted median method. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was performed using the leave-one-out method, while instrumental variable pleiotropy was tested with MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier. Metabolic pathways of angina-associated metabolites were analysed on the MetaboAnalyst metabolomics analysis tool platform. RESULTS: In this study, 42 serum metabolites were found to be strongly associated with angina pectoris. They mainly belonged to seven groups: amino acids, carbohydrates, cofactors and vitamins, lipids, nucleotides, unknown metabolites, and exogenous substances. Pipecolate posed the highest risk for the development of angina pectoris among the 42 serum metabolites. The main metabolic pathways associated with angina pectoris were glycine, serine, threonine metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and caffeine metabolism. CONCLUSION: We identified 25 high-risk and 17 protective human serum metabolites associated with angina pectoris. Their associated major metabolic pathways were also determined. The serum metabolite pipecolate was significantly and positively correlated with the risk of angina pectoris. This finding may serve as a valuable reference for testing serum markers associated with angina pectoris.

Exploring predictive markers for liver failure post-hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

This letter to the editor addresses the study titled "Predictive value of NLR, Fib4, and APRI in the occurrence of liver failure after hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma" by Kuang et al in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. The study acknowledges the comprehensive patient data analysis while suggesting that there is a need for further discussion on the clinical applicability of these markers across diverse patient populations. This letter recommends prospective studies for validation and considers the influence of confounding factors. This finding underscores the significance of this study in improving hepatocellular carcinoma management.

Discovery of Selective Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera Degraders Targeting PTP1B as Long-Term Hypoglycemic Agents.

PTP1B, a promising target for insulin sensitizers in type 2 diabetes treatment, can be effectively degraded using proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC). This approach offers potential for long-acting antidiabetic agents. We report potent bifunctional PROTACs targeting PTP1B through the E3 ubiquitin ligase cereblon. Western blot analysis showed significant PTP1B degradation by PROTACs at concentrations from 5 nM to 5 µM after 48 h. Evaluation of five highly potent PROTACs revealed compound 75 with a longer PEG linker (23 atoms), displaying remarkable degradation activity after 48 and 72 h, with DC50 values of 250 nM and 50 nM, respectively. Compound 75 induced selective degradation of PTP1B, requiring engagement with both the target protein and CRBN E3 ligase, in a ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent manner. It significantly reduced blood glucose AUC0-2h to 29% in an oral glucose tolerance test and activated the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in HepG2 cells, showing promise for long-term antidiabetic therapy.

Unraveling novel umami peptides from yeast extract (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) using peptidomics and molecular interaction modeling.

Yeast extract is increasingly becoming an attractive source for unraveling novel umami peptides that are healthier and more nutritious than traditional seasonings. In the present study, a strategy for screening novel umami peptides was established using mass spectrometry-based peptidomics combined with molecular interaction modeling, emphasizing on smaller peptides than previously reported. Four representative novel umami peptides of FE, YDQ, FQEY, and SPFSQ from yeast extract (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were identified and validated by sensory evaluation, with thresholds determined as 0.234 ± 0.045, 0.576 ± 0.175, 0.327 ± 0.057 and 0.456 ± 0.070 mmol/L, respectively. Hydrogen and ionic bonds were the main characteristic interactions between the umami peptides and the well-recognized receptor T1R1/T1R3, in which Asp 110, Thr 112, Arg 114, Arg 240, Lys 342, and Glu 264 were the key sites in ligand-receptor recognition. Our study provides accurate sequences of umami peptides and molecular interaction mechanism for the umami effect.

Effectiveness and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors monotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for endometrial cancer (EC) are limited. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as monotherapy for EC by conducting a meta-analysis. The predictive significance of MMR status, a biomarker for ICI response, also required further investigation. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in English databases until September 2023. The analysis included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), adverse events (AEs), and odds ratios (OR), along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: There were twelve trials totaling 685 individuals. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy resulted in an ORR for 34% (95% CI = 24-44%) of the pooled EC patients. Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly higher ORR in dMMR EC (45%) compared to pMMR EC (8%), with an OR of 6.36 (95% CI = 3.64-11.13). The overall DCR was 42%, with dMMR EC at 51% and pMMR EC at 30% (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.69-4.05). Grade three or higher adverse events (AEs) occurred in 15% of cases (95% CI = 9-24%) of the pooled incidence of AEs, which was 68% (95% CI = 65-72%). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides significant evidence for the effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as monotherapy for EC. Notably, dMMR EC patients demonstrated superior treatment efficacy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor immunotherapy. Further research is required to explore subclassifications of EC based on dMMR molecular subtypes, enabling improved treatment strategies and outcomes for EC patients.

Mendelian randomization analyses reveal causal relationships between brain functional networks and risk of psychiatric disorders.

Dysfunction of brain resting-state functional networks has been widely reported in psychiatric disorders. However, the causal relationships between brain resting-state functional networks and psychiatric disorders remain largely unclear. Here we perform bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to investigate the causalities between 191 resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) phenotypes (n = 34,691 individuals) and 12 psychiatric disorders (n = 14,307 to 698,672 individuals). Forward MR identified 8 rsfMRI phenotypes causally associated with the risk of psychiatric disorders. For example, the increase in the connectivity of motor, subcortical-cerebellum and limbic network was associated with lower risk of autism spectrum disorder. In adddition, increased connectivity in the default mode and central executive network was associated with lower risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Reverse MR analysis revealed significant associations between 4 psychiatric disorders and 6 rsfMRI phenotypes. For instance, the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder increases the connectivity of the attention, salience, motor and subcortical-cerebellum network. The risk of schizophrenia mainly increases the connectivity of the default mode and central executive network and decreases the connectivity of the attention network. In summary, our findings reveal causal relationships between brain functional networks and psychiatric disorders, providing important interventional and therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders at the brain functional network level.

Elucidating salt-reduction mechanisms of aroma-active compounds from yeast extracts through sensomics approaches and electroencephalography.

This study investigated the savory intensity of aroma-active compounds derived from yeast extract Maillard reaction models. Sensory evaluation results revealed that beef flavoring model (28.00 g) exhibited the highest savory perception intensity when the yeast extract FA34 (0.50 g) the added. Eleven aroma-active compounds associated with saltiness perception were identified via solid-phase microextraction and extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactory. The odorant-NaCl mixture model and saltiness intensity evaluation results revealed that thiazole and 4-methylpentanoic acid could significantly (p < 0.05) enhance the saltiness perception of salt solution (5.00 g/L), 2-methylpyrazine, 2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, furfuryl mercaptan, and methyl 2-methyl-3-furyl disulfide could significantly (p < 0.01) enhance the saltiness perception of a salt solution (5.00 g/L). Electroencephalography revealed that the main mechanisms underlying aroma-induced saltiness perception enhancement included the strengthening of the saltiness perception signal and prolonging signal stimulation time in the frontal regions of the cerebral cortex.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and auto-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel complex for treatment of intrauterine adhesion.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells generated from human umbilical cord (hUC-MSCs) when utilized in conjunction with auto-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel (HA-gel) for the management of intrauterine adhesion (IUA). The goal was to see how this novel therapy could enhance healing and improve outcomes for IUA patients. METHODS: In this study, models of intrauterine adhesion (IUA) were established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, which were then organized and divided into hUC-MSCs groups. The groups involved: hUC-MSCs/HA-gel group, control group, and HA-gel group. Following treatment, the researchers examined the uterine cavities and performed detailed analyses of the endometrial tissues to determine the effectiveness of the interventions. RESULTS: The results indicated that in comparison with to the control group, both HA-gel, hUC-MSCs, and hUC-MSCs/HA-gel groups showed partial repair of IUA. However, in a more notable fashion transplantation of hUC-MSCs/HA-gel complex demonstrated significant dual repair effects. Significant outcomes were observed in the group treated with hUC-MSCs and HA-gel, they showed thicker endometrial layers, less fibrotic tissue, and a higher number of endometrial glands. This treatment strategy also resulted in a significant improvement in fertility restoration, indicating a profound therapeutic effect. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that both HA-gel, hUC-MSCs, and hUC-MSCs/HA-gel complexes have the potential for partial repair of IUA and fertility restoration caused by endometrium mechanical injury. Nonetheless, the transplantation of the hUC-MSCs/HA-gel complex displayed exceptional dual healing effects, combining effective anti-adhesive properties with endometrial regeneration stimuli.

[Vertebral fractures combined with prolonged activated partial prothrombin time: A case report].

With the development of modern medical standards, autoimmune diseases and their associated successive osteoporosis have received increasing attention in recent years. Patients with autoimmune diseases, due to the characteristics of the disease and the prolonged use of glucocorticoid hormone therapy, may affect the bone formation and bone absorption of the patient, followed by severe successive osteoporosis, thereby increasing the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Vertebral compression fractures of the spine are common fracture types in patients with osteoporotic fractures. Osteoporosis is a common complication after glucocorticoid therapy in patients with autoimmune diseases. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) are minimally invasive operation and are commonly used surgical methods for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. However, due to the operation of spinal puncture during the operation, there are serious surgical risks such as bone cement leakage, spinal epidural hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in both PVP and PKP. As a result, it is necessary to evaluate the patient' s body before surgery carefully, especially in the case of blood coagulation. This article reports a case of autoimmune disease patient admitted to Peking University People' s Hospital due to lumbar 4 vertebral compression fracture combined with Sjögren' s syndrome. The patient' s preoperative examination showed that the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly prolonged. After completing the APTT extended screening experiment and lupus anticoagulant factor testing, the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of Peking University People' s Hospital jointly discussed the conclusion that the patient' s test results were caused by an abnormal self-immunity anti-copulant lupus (LAC). Based on the results of the laboratory examination, the patient was considered to be diagnosed with combined antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). For such patients, compared with the patient' s tendency to bleed, we should pay more attention to the risk of high blood clotting in the lower limbs of the patient, pulmonary clots and so on. With timely anti-coagulation treatment, the patient safely passed the peripheral period and was successfully discharged from the hospital. Therefore, for patients with autoimmune diseases with prolonged APTT in the perioperative period, doctors need to carefully identify the actual cause and carry out targeted treatment in order to minimize the risk of surgical and perioperative complications and bring satisfactory treatment results to the patients.

Nanomaterials in crossroad of autophagy control in human cancers: Amplification of cell death mechanisms.

Cancer is the result of genetic abnormalities that cause normal cells to grow into neoplastic cells. Cancer is characterized by several distinct features, such as uncontrolled cell growth, extensive spreading to other parts of the body, and the ability to resist treatment. The scientists have stressed the development of nanostructures as novel therapeutic options in suppressing cancer, in response to the emergence of resistance to standard medicines. One of the specific mechanisms with dysregulation during cancer is autophagy. Nanomaterials have the ability to specifically carry medications and genes, and they can also enhance the responsiveness of tumor cells to standard therapy while promoting drug sensitivity. The primary mechanism in this process relies on autophagosomes and their fusion with lysosomes to break down the components of the cytoplasm. While autophagy was initially described as a form of cellular demise, it has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in controlling metastasis, proliferation, and treatment resistance in human malignancies. The pharmacokinetic profile of autophagy modulators is poor, despite their development for use in cancer therapy. Consequently, nanoparticles have been developed for the purpose of delivering medications and autophagy modulators selectively and specifically to the cancer process. Furthermore, several categories of nanoparticles have demonstrated the ability to regulate autophagy, which plays a crucial role in defining the biological characteristics and response to therapy of tumor cells.

The Causal Relationship between Angina Pectoris and Gout Based on Two Sample Mendelian Randomization.

Purpose: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted to assess the causal relationship between angina pectoris and gout. Material and Methods. Based on genome-wide association studies, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were closely associated with gout were selected from the UK Biobank-Neale Lab (ukb-a-107) as genetic instrumental variables. Considering that gout is characterized by elevated blood uric acid levels, SNPs related to blood uric acid levels were screened from BioBank Japan (bbj-a-57) as auxiliary gene instrumental variables. SNPs closely associated with angina pectoris onset were screened from the FINN dataset (finn-b-I9_ANGINA) as outcome variables. Two-sample MR was conducted, with inverse variance weighting (IVW) of the random effects model as the primary result, along with the weighted median method (WME) and the MR-Egger regression method. To further confirm the causal relationship between angina and gout incidence, a meta-analysis was conducted on the IVW results of the ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57. Results: The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the IVW, WME, and MR-Egger results of ukb-a-107 were (OR = 33.72; 95% CI: 2.07∼550.38), (OR = 57.94; 95% CI: 2.75∼1219.82), and (OR = 96.38; 95% CI: 0.6∼15556.93), respectively. The P values of IVW and WME were 0.014 and 0.014 (both <0.05), respectively, indicating that the development of angina pectoris was significantly associated with the incidence of gout. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the IVW, WME, and MR-Egger about bbj-a-57 were (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07∼1.34), (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02∼1.38), and (OR = 1.30; 95% CI; 1.06∼1.60), respectively. The P values of IVW, WME and MR-Egger were 0.001, 0.027 and 0.017 (all <0.05), respectively, indicating a significant correlation between angina and blood uric acid levels. Scatter plots of ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57 showed that the causal association estimates of the IVW, MR-Egger, and weighted median methods were similar and that the MR results were accurate. Funnel plots and the MR-Egger intercept of ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57 showed the absence of horizontal pleiotropy. The leave-out sensitivity analysis results of ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57 are stable. The meta-analysis of IVW results for ukb-a-107 and bbj-a-57 showed (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07-1.34, P=0.02), confirming that gout characterized by high blood uric acid levels significantly increases the risk of angina attacks. Conclusions: This MR study found a clear causal relationship between angina pectoris and gout, which increases the risk of angina pectoris.