Core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals: consensus statement.

BACKGROUND: Scientific editors are responsible for deciding which articles to publish in their journals. However, we have not found documentation of their required knowledge, skills, and characteristics, or the existence of any formal core competencies for this role. METHODS: We describe the development of a minimum set of core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals. RESULTS: The 14 key core competencies are divided into three major areas, and each competency has a list of associated elements or descriptions of more specific knowledge, skills, and characteristics that contribute to its fulfillment. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that these core competencies are a baseline of the knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed to perform competently the duties of a scientific editor at a biomedical journal.

Importance of sample size determination for randomized controlled clinical trials for coronavirus disease 2019 antiviral therapies.

For the calculation of sample size for a randomized controlled clinical trial, choosing a proper, medium clinically meaningful difference in the size of the effect of the test and control interventions is important for avoiding too small or too large sample sizes.

Gastric cancer metastasis-related NT5DC2 indicates unfavorable prognosis of patients.

PURPOSE: Approximately 80 to 90% of patients with gastric cancer (GC) eventually develop into metastatic GC nowadays,because GC is difficult to be diagnosed at an early stage. GC patients with metastases typically have a poor prognosis. It is necessary to explore a potential prognostic marker in metastatic GC. METHODS: All GC data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. The metastasis-related candidate gene and its role in GC were analyzed by comprehensive analysis. RESULTS: Totally 1049 metastasis-related genes were identified in GC. Univariate Cox regression analysis screened the top 10 genes (PDHX, SLC43A1, CSAG2, NT5DC2, CSAG1, FMN1, MED1, HIVEP2, FNDC3A, and PPP1R2) that were closely correlated with prognosis of GC patients. Among which, NT5DC2 was screened as the target gene for subsequent study. The NT5DC2 expression were increased in primary GC and metastatic GC samples. Moreover, GC patients with high NT5DC2 expression exhibited shorter overall survival and post progression survival, and the NT5DC2 was metastatic GC patients' independent prognostic factor. Totally 29 pathways were activated in metastatic GC samples with high NT5DC2 expression. Four immune cells' infiltration were significantly different between NT5DC2 high and low expressed metastatic GC patients. NT5DC2 showed significantly negative correlations with 6 types of immune cells' critical marker genes and 5 types of immune cell infiltration. The 10 immune checkpoint expressions were decreased in high NTDC2 expression metastatic GC patients. CONCLUSIONS: NT5DC2 plays a prognostic role in metastatic GC. GC patients with high NT5DC2 expression indicates unfavorable prognosis.

Plantamajoside modulates immune dysregulation and hepatic lipid metabolism in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via AMPK/Nrf2 elevation.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic metabolic syndrome with a rapidly increasing prevalence globally. Plantamajoside (PMS), a phenylethanoid glycoside component extracted from Plantago asiatica, has various biological properties. However, its effect on NAFLD remains unknown. The study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of PMS on NAFLD in the high-fat diet (HFD)-feeding rats. PMS induced a decrease in body and liver weight, and the amelioration in the blood lipid parameters and pathological symptoms in HFD-feeding rats. The increase in the serum concentrations and the relative protein expressions of proinflammatory factors was decreased by the PMS treatment in HFD-induced NAFLD rats. Additionally, PMS reduced the excessive lipid vacuoles, and modified the relative expressions of proteins involved in the fatty acid synthesis and uptake in HFD-feeding rats. Mechanically, the downregulation of AMPK/Nrf2 pathway in HFD-feeding rats was restored by the PMS treatment. Inhibition of AMPK pathway reversed the PMS-induced the increase in the level of inflammatory factors, pathological symptoms, excessive lipid vacuoles, and the relative expression of proteins involved in the fatty acid synthesis and uptake. Collectively, PMS ameliorated immune dysregulation and abnormal hepatic lipid metabolism by activating AMPK/Nrf2 pathway in rats with NAFLD.

Severe acute hepatitis of unknown causes in children - Current findings, questions, opinions, and recommendations, a mini-review.

Since October 2021 in Alabama, the United States, and March 2022 in central Scotland, the United Kingdom, the number of cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology/causes in children was found to increase, and the total number of cases has reached 920 worldwide by June 22 this year, 45 cases (5%) required liver transplantation, and 18 cases (2%) died according to World Health Organization (WHO). To understand the basic characteristics of this disease/syndrome, a literature search was performed at PubMed, websites of WHO, UK Health Security Agency, and US and European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than 20 reports were enrolled as references for this review. The main clinical manifestations are anorexia, vomiting, fatigue, jaundice, and so forth. Most of the cases seemed to have a self-limited course of the disease, about 6% of cases may develop life-threatening acute liver failure. The disease seems to be transmissible from person to person. Human adenovirus was detected in up to 75% of cases, but this virus seems not to be the only and major etiologic agent, other cofactors probably are involved. Researchers proposed many hypotheses concerning the etiology and pathogenesis, and many important works and studies are ongoing. This mini-review is aimed at summarizing, reviewing, and further understanding the characteristics of the disease, raising some clinically relevant questions, and trying to discuss some questions that may be related to the treatment of the disease for consideration.

Potential clinical applications of siRNA technique: benefits and limitations.

BACKGROUND: RNA interference (RNAi) has become the method of choice for researchers wishing to target specific genes for silencing and has provided immense potential as therapeutic tools. This narrative review article aimed to understand potential benefits and limitations of RNAi technique for clinical application and in vivo studies through reading the articles published during the recent 3 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medline database was searched by using 'siRNA' or 'RNAi' and 'in vivo' with limits of dates 'published in the last 3 years', language 'English' and article type 'clinical trial' for obtaining articles on in vivo studies on the use of RNAi technique. Characteristics of clinical trials on siRNA registered at the http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov were analysed. RESULTS: The only three clinical studies published so far and many in vivo studies in animals showed that the RNAi technique is safe and effective in treatment of cancers of many organ/systems and various other diseases including viral infection, arterial restenosis and some hereditary diseases with considerable benefits such as high specificity, many possible routes of administration and possibility of silencing multiple genes at the same time. Limitations and uncertainty include efficiency of cellular uptake, specific guidance to the target tissue or cell, long-term safety, sustained efficacy and rapid clearance from the body. CONCLUSIONS: RNAi technique will become an important and potent weapon for fighting against various diseases. RNAi technique has benefits and limitations in its potential clinical applications. Overcoming the obstacles is still a formidable task.

Progresses in clinical studies on antiviral therapies for COVID-19-Experience and lessons in design of clinical trials.

Antiviral therapy with antiviral agents is a very important component of treatment for the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is important to clarify how to evaluate efficacy and safety of antiviral agents in treatment of COVID-19 during the pandemic of this disease. We need to answer the following questions: do we still need to use rigorously designed randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs)? Or, will it be enough if we use loosened criteria, observational studies or even retrospective case series and case reports? The answer is "No, we still need to use the strictly designed preferably blinded multicenter RCTs to evaluate the antiviral agents." In this article, we reviewed almost all the RCT reports on monotherapies and combined therapies with antiviral agents for COVID-19, and found that among the reports on monotherapies, only remdesivir, and among combined antiviral agents, only the combined regimen with interferon-ß1b, lopinavir-ritonavir and ribavirin were effective and safe based on evidences from RCTs. The results of five RCTs for chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine consistently showed that they were ineffective and unsafe in the treatment of COVID-19, especially at larger doses. Many aspects in the design of the clinical trials may be related to success or failure of a trial and the relevant factors need to be analyzed, discussed and emphasized from the specific requirements and considerations of antiviral therapies. We hope such discussions be of certain use in designing clinical trials for pediatric antiviral therapies.

The solvothermal synthesis and characterization of quaternary arsenic chalcogenides CsTMAsQ3 (TM = Hg, Cd; Q = S, Se) using Cs+ as a structure directing agent: from 1D anionic chains to 2D anionic layers.

Four new quaternary transition metal arsenic chalcogenide Cs-TM-As-Q compounds (TM = Hg, Cd; Q = S, Se) were synthesized using different mixed solvents. A 1,4-diaminobutane(1,4-dab)/water mixed solvent system was used to solvothermally synthesize the selenoarsenates CsTMAsSe3 (TM = Hg (1), Cd (2)). In 1, the eight-membered ring anion chain consists of trigonal-planar [HgSe3] and trigonal-pyramid [AsSe3]. Compound 2 is similar to the eight-membered ring chain anion of compound 1, and [CdAsSe3]- further joins, through µ3-Se and Cd, to form the layer anions [CdAsSe3]-. A 2-diaminopropane (1,2-dap) and water mixed solvent system was used to synthesize two thioarsenates, Cs2TM2As2S6 (TM = Cd (3), Hg (4)). Compounds 3, 4 and 2 are isostructural; the Cd and Hg atoms are four coordinated. Compounds 1-4 utilize Cs+ cations as a structural directing agent. Finally, the structural and optical properties of the novel series of arsenic chalcogenides were characterized.

[Status of diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis in 2017: a national multi-center retrospective study].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current status of diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis (AA) in China. METHODS: Questionnaire survey was used to retrospectively collect data of hospitalized patients with AA from 43 medical centers nationwide in 2017 (Sort by number of cases provided: Jinling Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Lu'an People's Hospital, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital, Dalian Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Dongying People's Hospital, Jinjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huangshan Shoukang Hospital, Xuyi People's Hospital, Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital, Lanzhou 940th Hospital of PLA, Heze Municipal Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University, Affiliated Jiujiang Hospital of Nanchang University, The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shandong Zaozhuang Mining Group, The Third People's Hospital of Kunshan City, Xuzhou First People's Hospital, The 81st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Linyi Central Hospital, The General Hospital of Huainan Eastern Hospital Group, The 908th Hospital of PLA, Liyang People's Hospital, The 901th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, The Fourth Hospital of Jilin University, Harbin Acheng District People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Nanjing Luhe People's Hospital, Taixing Municipal People's Hospital, Baotou Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Linyi People's Hospital, The 72st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital, People's Hospital of Dayu County, Taixing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Beijing Guang'anmen Hospital, Langxi County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Central Hospital, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University).The diagnosis and management of AA were analyzed through unified summary. Different centers collected and summarized their data in 2017 and sent back the questionnaires for summary. RESULTS: A total of 8 766 AA patients were enrolled from 43 medical centers, including 4 711 males (53.7%) with median age of 39 years and 958 (10.9%) patients over 65 years old. Of 8 776 patients, 5 677 cases (64.6%) received one or more imaging examinations, and the other 3 099 (35.4%) did not receive any imaging examination. A total of 1 858 (21.2%) cases received medical treatment, mainly a combination of nitroimidazoles (1 107 cases, 59.8%) doublet regimen, followed by a single-agent regimen of non-nitroimidazoles (451 cases, 24.4%), a nitroimidazole-free doublet regimen (134 cases, 7.2%), a triple regimen of combined nitroimidazoles (116 cases, 6.3%), nitroimidazole alone (39 cases, 2.1%) and nitroimidazole-free triple regimen (3 cases, 0.2%). Of the 6 908 patients (78.8%) who underwent surgery, 4 319 (62.5%) underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and 2589 (37.5%) underwent open surgery. Ratio of laparotomy was higher in those patients under 16 years old (392 cases) or over 65 years old (258 cases) [15.1%(392/2 589) and 10.0%(258/2 589), respectively, compared with 8.5%(367/4 316) and 8.0%(347/4 316) in the same age group for laparoscopic surgery, χ²=91.415, P<0.001; χ²=15.915,P<0.001]. Patients with complicated appendicitis had higher ratio of undergoing open surgery as compared to those undergoing laparoscopic surgery [26.7%(692/2 589) vs. 15.6%(672/4 316), χ²=125.726, P<0.001].The cure rates of laparoscopic and open surgery were 100.0% and 99.8%(2 585/2 589) respectively without significant difference (P=0.206). Postoperative complication rates were 4.5%(121/2 589) and 4.7%(196/4 316) respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ²=0.065, P=0.799). The incidence of surgical site infection was lower (0.6% vs. 1.7%, χ²=17.315, P<0.001), and hospital stay was shorter [6(4-7) days vs. 6(5-8) days, U=4 384 348.0, P<0.001] in the laparoscopic surgery group, while hospitalization cost was higher (median 12 527 yuan vs. 9 342 yuan, U=2 586 809.0, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is still clinically based, supplemented by imaging examination. Appendectomy is still the most effective treatment at present. Laparoscopic appendectomy has become the main treatment strategy, but anti-infective drugs are also very effective.

RNAi technique, how far is it from pediatrics?

The new technology of ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) or small/short interfering RNA (siRNA) can be used to reduce expression of genes in a sequence specific manner, and thereby can treat various diseases caused by expression or overexpression of genes. Phase 1 and phase 2 clinical studies on application of this technology to treat diseases have demonstrated efficacy and safety of this approach in a few specialties/subspecialties. However, no clinical trials have been reported in the fields of pediatrics. This article aimed to describe very briefly what the RNAi technique is, examples of demonstration of the efficacy and safety of RNAi techniques in a few different fields of clinical medicine, and to encourage pediatricians and pediatric researchers to actively participate in studies on this new therapeutic approach for treatment of various pediatric diseases.