Camrelizumab in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous carcinoma cancer: Results from a retrospective study.

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy during preoperative neoadjuvant therapy in patients with locally advanced resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) of clinical Stages II and III. The patients received camrelizumab plus chemotherapy regimen on Day 1 for up to three to four cycles (3 weeks per cycle). The probabilities of overall survival (OS) were 55.6% at 12 months and 35.6% at 18 months (45 patients). The disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 70.0% at 12 months and 63.3% at 18 months (30 patients). The median OS and DFS were not reached. The proportion of patients at postneoadjuvant pathological tumor stages ypT0, ypT2, and ypT3 were 10 (33.3%), 14 (46.7%), and 6 (20.0%), respectively, and those at stages ypN0 and ypN1 were 19 (63.3%) and 11 (36.7%), respectively. Additionally, the pathological complete response rate was 33.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.154-0.512), and the major pathologic response rate was 46.7% (95% CI: 0.277-0.656). Grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) were reported in five patients (11.1%), with vomiting being the most common AE (three patients; 3.3%). Other common AEs of any grade included decreased lymphocyte count (48.9%), reactive capillary endothelial proliferation (46.7%), decreased white blood cell count (40.0%), anemia (31.1%), and vomiting (31.1%). The combination of camrelizumab and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced resectable ESCC demonstrated promising efficacy and acceptable safety.

Different percutaneous transhepatic biliary stent placements and catheter drainage in the treatment of middle and low malignant biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: For cases of middle and low biliary obstruction with left and right hepatic duct dilatation, the type of approach and whether different approaches affect the difficulty of puncture operation and intraoperative and postoperative complications have not been discussed in detail. AIM: To compare the efficacy of different percutaneous transhepatic biliary stent placements and catheter drainage in treating middle and low biliary obstruction. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 424 patients with middle and low biliary obstruction who underwent percutaneous liver puncture biliary stent placement and catheter drainage at the Department of Interventional Radiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital between March 2016 and March 2022. Based on the puncture path, patients were categorized into two groups: Subxiphoid left hepatic lobe approach group (Group A, 224 cases) and right intercostal, right hepatic lobe approach group (Group B, 200 cases). Liver function improvement, postoperative biliary bleeding incidence, postoperative pain duration, and abdominal effusion leakage around the drainage tube were compared between the two groups at 3 d and 1 wk after the surgery. Patient survival time was recorded during follow-up. RESULTS: All 424 surgeries were successful without adverse events. Group A comprised 224 cases, and Group B had 200 cases. There was no statistically significant difference in basic data between Group A and Group B (P > 0.05). No significant difference in postoperative biliary bleeding incidence was observed between the groups (P > 0.05). The decreased rates for total bilirubin (Group A: 69.23 ± 4.50, Group B: 63.79 ± 5.65), direct bilirubin (Group A: 79.30 ± 11.19, Group B: 63.62 ± 5.64), and alkaline phosphatase (Group A: 60.51 ± 12.23, Group B: 42.68 ± 23.56) in the 1st wk after surgery were significantly faster in Group A than in Group B. The decreased rate of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was also significantly faster in Group A at both 3 d (Group A: 40.56 ± 10.32, Group B: 32.22 ± 5.12) and 1 wk (Group A: 73.19 ± 7.05, Group B: 58.81 ± 18.98) after surgery (P < 0.05). Group A experienced significantly less peritoneal effusion leakage around the drainage tube than Group B (P < 0.05). The patient survival rate was higher in Group A compared to Group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In treating jaundice patients with middle and low biliary obstruction, a percutaneous left liver puncture demonstrated better clinical efficacy than a percutaneous right liver puncture.

Research progress on plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles and their applications / 中国中药杂志

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles(PELNs) are a class of membranous vesicles with diameters approximately ranging from 30 to 300 nm, isolated from plant tissues. They contain components such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. PELNs play an important role in the metabolism of plant substances and immune defense, and can also cross-regulate the physiological activities of fungi and animal cells, showing significant potential applications. In recent years, research on PELNs has significantly increased, highlighting three main issues:(1) the mixed sources of plant materials for PELNs;(2) the lack of a unified system for isolating and characterizing PELNs;(3) the urgent need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the cross-regulation of biological functions by PELNs. This article focused on these concerns. It began by summarizing the biological origin and composition of PELNs, discussing the techniques for isolating and characterizing PELNs, and analyzing their biomedical applications and potential future research directions., aiming to promote the establishment of standardized research protocols for PELNs and provide theoretical references for in-depth exploration of the mechanisms underlying PELNs' cross-regulatory effects.

Biological and neurological activities of astaxanthin (Review).

Astaxanthin is a lipid­soluble carotenoid produced by various microorganisms and marine animals, including bacteria, yeast, fungi, microalgae, shrimps and lobsters. Astaxanthin has antioxidant, anti­inflammatory and anti­apoptotic properties. These characteristics suggest that astaxanthin has health benefits and protects against various diseases. Owing to its ability to cross the blood­brain barrier, astaxanthin has received attention for its protective effects against neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cognitive impairment and neuropathic pain. Previous studies on the neurological effects of astaxanthin are mostly based on animal models and cellular experiments. Thus, the biological effects of astaxanthin on humans and its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. The present review summarizes the neuroprotective effects of astaxanthin, explores its mechanisms of action and draws attention to its potential clinical implications as a therapeutic agent.

Regulatory T cell is critical for interleukin-33-mediated neuroprotection against stroke.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is known to activate the regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs), which are negatively correlated with brain damage after ischemic stroke. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Tregs in IL-33-mediated neuroprotection and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. In vivo, male C57BL/6 N mice were subjected to 60 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), followed by daily administration of vehicle or IL-33 immediately after injury. Tregs were depleted by intraperitoneal administration of anti-CD25 antibody (anti-CD25Ab). Behavioral changes, brain edema, neuronal injury, Treg percentages, and cytokine expression levels were investigated in each group. In vitro experiments, primary mouse neuronal cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 3 h. Vehicle- or drug-conditioned Tregs were applied to the neurons at the time of induction of hypoxia. Neuronal apoptosis and cytokine expression were measured in each group. The results indicate that intraperitoneal administration of anti-CD25Ab reduced CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ Tregs, increased infarct volume, enhanced stroke-induced cell death, and decreased sensorimotor functions. Notably, IL-33 increased CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ Tregs in the spleen and brain. However, blockading ST2 attenuated these effects of IL-33. The supernatant of the IL-33-treated Treg culture reduced neuronal apoptosis and elevated the production of the Treg cytokines IL-10, IL-35, and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß). Anti-CD25Ab abrogated the neuroprotective effect of IL-33. Mechanistically, the neuroprotective effects of IL-33 were associated with reduction in apoptosis-related proteins and production of Tregs related cytokines. Overall, these findings showed that IL-33 afforded neuroprotection against ischemic brain injury by enhancing ST2-dependent regulatory T-cell expansion and activation via a mechanism involving anti-apoptosis proteins and cytokines, representing a promising immune modulatory target for the treatment of stroke.

Efficacy of High-intensity Statin Use for Transient Ischemic Attack Patients with Positive Diffusion-weighted Imaging.

To determine whether positive or negative DWI TIA patients could get benefits from HST we conducted a cohort study which data from the prospective, hospital-based, TIA database of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The end-point was 7-day and 90-day incidence of stroke. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze the association between end-points and high-intensity statin treatment in TIA patients with positive and negative DWI. A total of 987 eligible TIA patients were analyzed. The stroke risk of patients with positive DWI was about a four-fold increase compared to that with negative DWI (7 d, 10.9 versus 1.8, p < 0.001 and 90 d, 18.3 versus 4.2, p < 0.001). After adjusting confounding factors, HST significantly improved both 7-day (HR 0.331, 95% CI 0.165-0.663; p = 0.002) and 90-day (HR 0.480, 95% CI 0.288-0.799; p = 0.005) outcomes in positive DWI patients. As a conclusion, high-intensity statin use reduces the 90 days' recurrent stroke risk in DWI-positive TIA patients but not in DWI-negative patients.

The effects of rehabilitation training on amyloid-beta peptide and insulin-degrading enzyme levels in the hippocampus of rats with vascular dementia / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of rehabilitation training on hippocampal amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) levels in vascular dementia (VD).Methods Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a rehabilitation group (n =10),a model group (n =10) or a sham-operation group (n =10).An experimental VD model was established in the rats of the first 2 groups by bilateral common carotid artery permanent ligation.The rats in the rehabilitation group then received 1 h of rehabilitation training daily.Learning and memory were assessed at 4 weeks aftet the operation.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect Aβ and IDE expression in the hippocampus dentate gyrus (DG) area.Results The rats in the rehabilitation group showed significantly better learning ability compared with the model group.The expression of Aβ in the rehabilitation group was significantly less than in the model group.The expression of IDE in the rehabilitation group was significantly greater Conclusion Rehabilitation can accelerate the recovery of learning and memory in VD,at least in rats The mechanism is possibly related to decreased accumulation of Aβ in the hippocampus due to up-regulation of the expression of IDE.

Effect of exercise training on amyloid-beta peptide and β-secretase in the hippocampus of the rats with vascular dementia / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effect of exercise training on β-amyloid polypeptide (Aβ) and β-secretase(BACE) in the hippocampus of the rats with vascular dementia (VD).Methods 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were carried out to an exercise group (n =10 ),a model group (n =10 ),and a sham-operation group ( n =10 ).VD rat models were made by the ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries.Morris water maze test were carried out 4 weeks after the operation to assess the ability in learning and memory of the rats and Aβ and β-secretase (BACE)expression was detected in the hippocampus of the rats using immunohistochemical techniques.ResultsIn the Morris water maze test,the model group showed reduction in the learning and memorizing ability,with obvious longer escape latencies ( ( 101.34 ± 19.67 ) s,(95.42 ± 23.89 ) s,( 89.39 ± 22.67 ) s,( 90.12 ± 19.77 ) s,respective-ly) than that of sham-operation group ( ( 62.13 ± 11.38 ) s,( 24.84 ± 13.69 ) s,( 16.98 ± 12.51 )s,( 11.41 ± 8.93 ) s,correspond-dingly) (P ＜ 0.05 ),and the exercise group was improved in the learning and memorizing ability ( corresponding to ( 80.15 ± 21.56 ) s,( 51.24 ± 20.91 ) s,( 43.78 ± 22.36) s,( 45.67 ± 20.87 ) s ),compared with the model group(P＜0.05).The grey values of Aβ in the hippocampus of the rats for the exercise group was ( 130.12 ± 19.01 ),( 116.77 ± 23.67 ) for the model group and ( 148.44 ± 17.67 ) for the sham-operation group(P＜ 0.05).The grey values of BACE in the hippocampus of the ratsfor the exercise group were( 131.21± 25.25 ),( 120.53± 10.21 ) for the model group(P＜ 0.05 ) and ( 162.38 ± 28.11 ) for the sham-operation group (P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionExercise training can lower the expression of BACE and Aβ in the hippocampus of rats with VD,therefore improving the learning and memory ability of rats with VD.

Variation in STAT4 is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese Northern Han population / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recent studies have identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) as a susceptibility gene for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in different populations. In order to examine whether the allele distribution of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in gene STAT4 rs7574865 in patients with SLE is different from those of healthy controls in Chinese Northern Han population, we investigated whether the variants of STAT4 rs7574865 were associated with any specific clinical features of SLE.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We genotyped SNPs in STAT4 rs7574865 in 252 patients with SLE and 497 healthy controls. All subjects were from the Northern part of Chinese Han population. The genotypes in rs7574865 were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and consequence direct sequencing of PCR products in the DNA samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant difference in distribution of the SNPs in rs7574865 between the SLE patients and healthy controls. Compared with healthy controls, there was a significant correlation between TT genotypes in rs7574865 and the risk of SLE when GG genotype was used as a reference genotype after adjusting for gender and age. The frequency of T allele in the SLE patients was strongly significantly higher than that of healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the distribution of SNP in rs7574865 between male and female SLE patients, when compared with healthy controls. The frequency of T allele in rs7574865 in male patients was significantly higher than that of male healthy controls or female patients. There was no significant correlation between the frequencies of T allele in STAT4 rs7574865 and the clinical features of SLE.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The SNP rs7574865 in STAT4 is strongly associated with risk of SLE in the Chinese Northern Han population. The TT genotype and T allele in STAT4 rs7574869 are susceptibility factors for SLE, especially for male SLE patients.</p>