Combined BET and MEK Inhibition synergistically suppresses melanoma by targeting YAP1.

The response rate to the MEK inhibitor trametinib in BRAF-mutated melanoma patients is less than 30%, and drug resistance develops rapidly, but the mechanism is still unclear. Yes1-associated transcriptional regulator (YAP1) is highly expressed in melanoma and may be related to MEK inhibitor resistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of YAP1 in MEK inhibitor resistance in melanoma and to screen YAP1 inhibitors to further determine whether YAP1 inhibition reverses MEK inhibitor resistance.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacological mechanism of Moluodan concentrated pill in the treatment of atrophic gastritis: A network pharmacological study and in vivo experiments.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Moluodan concentrated pill (MLD) is a traditional herbal formula used in China for the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). However, its pharmacological mechanism of action remains unclear.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of MLD in the treatment of CAG using network pharmacology and in vivo experiments.

The Clinical Characteristic and Management of Patients with Nocardiosis in a Tertiary Hospital in China.

Nocardiosis is an uncommon opportunistic bacterial infection which becomes a significant health problem due to its increasing incidence and high mortality rate. However, many nocardiosis patients are underdiagnosed by physicians. To summarize the clinical characteristics and management of nocardiosis would help with better diagnosis and prognosis of nocardiosis.

BRD4 inhibitor suppresses melanoma metastasis via the SPINK6/EGFR-EphA2 pathway.

BET inhibition or BRD4 depletion is a promising and attractive therapy for metastatic melanoma; however, the mechanism is still unclear. Here, we indicated that BET inhibition suppressed melanoma metastasis both in vitro and in vivo and identified a new mechanism by which BET inhibitors suppress melanoma metastasis by blocking the direct interaction of BRD4 and the SPINK6 enhancer. Moreover, we demonstrated that SPINK6 activated the EGFR/EphA2 complex in melanoma and the downstream ERK1/2 and AKT pathways.

Qu-Du-San-Jie decoction induces growth inhibition and vascular normalization in NF2-associated vestibular schwannoma.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a rare genetic syndrome that predisposes individuals to develop bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) causing a high risk of life-threatening neurological complications. Traditional treatment options for NF2-associated VS usually cause neurological damage, and to date, there are no FDA-approved pharmacotherapies for NF2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of Qu-Du-San-Jie (QDSJ) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, on NF2-associated VS and to investigate the potential underlying mechanisms.

Synergistic Effects between Ambient Air Pollution and Second-Hand Smoke on Inflammatory Skin Diseases in Chinese Adolescents.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), chronic hand eczema (CHE), and urticaria are common inflammatory skin diseases among adolescents and associated with air quality. However, the synergistic effects of ambient air pollution and second-hand smoke (SHS) have been unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study including 20,138 Chinese college students where dermatological examinations and a questionnaire survey were carried out.

eEF2K promotes PD-L1 stabilization through inactivating GSK3β in melanoma.

Background: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) targeting programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) pathway has become an attractive strategy for cancer treatment; however, unsatisfactory efficacy has limited its clinical benefits. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the regulation of PD-L1 expression is essential for developing more effective cancer immunotherapy. Recent studies have revealed the important roles of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, tumor cell migration and invasion; nevertheless, the exact role of eEF2K in the regulation of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remains largely unknown.

Preoperative Ultrasound-Guided Incisional Biopsy Enhances the Pathological Accuracy of Incisional Biopsy of Cutaneous Melanoma: A Prospective Clinical Trial in Chinese Patients.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of preoperative ultrasound (US)-guided incisional biopsy through a prospective controlled clinical trial.

Methods: This was a prospective, double-arm, single-center study of Chinese patients. Thirty patients were enrolled in the study.

First-line pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a United States-based cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: The clinical trial of Keynote-604 showed that pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy could generate clinical benefits for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). We aim to assess the efficacy and cost of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in the first-line treatment setting of ES-SCLC from the United States (US) payers' perspective.

Methods: A synthetical Markov model was used to evaluate cost and effectiveness of pembrolizumab plus platinum-etoposide(EP) versus EP in first-line therapy for ES-SCLC from the data of Keynote-604.

Distinguishing Hepatocellular Carcinoma From Hepatic Inflammatory Pseudotumor Using a Nomogram Based on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic iflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) share similar symptoms and imaging features, which makes it challenging to distinguish from each other in clinical practice. This study aims to develop a predictive model based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and clinical features to discriminate HCC from IPT.

Methods: Sixty-two IPT and 146 HCC patients were enrolled in this study, where pathological diagnosis served as the reference standard for diagnosis.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Durvalumab Plus Chemotherapy in the First-Line Treatment of Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: In the CASPIAN trial, durvalumab + chemotherapy demonstrated significant improvements in overall survival compared with chemotherapy alone in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of durvalumab in patients with extensive-stage SCLC from the US healthcare system perspective.

Patients And Methods: A comprehensive Markov model was adapted to evaluate cost and effectiveness of durvalumab combination versus platinum/etoposide alone in the first-line therapy of extensive-stage SCLC based on data from the CASPIAN study.

Childhood Circumstances and Mental Health in Old Age: A Life Course Survey in China.

Current evidence and research of the life course approach on the association between life experiences and health in old age are fragmentary. This paper empirically examines the "long arm" effect of the childhood circumstances on mental health in later life using a large longitudinal dataset (CHARLS) conducted in 2014 and 2015. We operationalize the childhood circumstances as family economic conditions, community environment, and peer network to include the meaningful content and understand their interaction.

The mechanisms of action of WeiChang'An Pill (WCAP) treat diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) using network pharmacology approach and in vivo studies.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: WeiChang'An Pill (WCAP) is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to clinically treat diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D); however, the underlying pharmacological mechanisms are unclear to date.

Aim Of The Study: To explore the mechanism underlying the therapeutic action of WCAP in IBS-D using a network pharmacology approach and in vivo experiments.

Materials And Methods: The active compounds of WCAP were selected from the TCM Systems Pharmacology Database and TCM Integrated Database, and the potential targets were identified using the Swiss Target Prediction and Similarity Ensemble Approach (SEA) databases.

Development and clinical application of a rapid SARS-CoV-2 antibody test strip: A multi-center assessment across China.

Background: The ongoing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is posing a threat to the public health globally. Serological test for SARS-CoV-2 antibody can improve early diagnosis of COVID-19 and serves as a valuable supplement to RNA detection.

Method: A SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM combined antibody test strip based on colloidal gold immunochromatography assay was developed, with both spike protein and nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 antigen used for antibody detection.

Prognostic Implications of Metabolism Related Gene Signature in Cutaneous Melanoma.

Metabolic reprogramming is closely related to melanoma. However, the prognostic role of metabolism-related genes (MRGs) remains to be elucidated. We aimed to establish a nomogram by combining MRGs signature and clinicopathological factors to predict melanoma prognosis.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab vs. Chemotherapy as First-Line Therapy in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

The CheckMate 227 trial has indicated that nivolumab plus ipilimumab compared with chemotherapy significantly increases long-term survival in the first-line setting of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A Markov model was built to estimate the cost and effectiveness of nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs. chemotherapy as the first-line therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC based on outcomes data from the CheckMate 227 trial.

A novel predictive model incorporating immune-related gene signatures for overall survival in melanoma patients.

Melanoma is the most invasive type of skin cancer, in which the immune system plays a vital role. In this study, we aimed to establish a prognostic prediction nomogram for melanoma patients that incorporates immune-related genes (IRGs). Ninety-seven differentially expressed IRGs between melanoma and normal skin were screened using gene expression omnibus database (GEO).

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Atezolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in the First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from the United States (US) payers' perspective in the first-line treatment.

Methods: A mathematical Markov model was developed to estimate cost and effectiveness of atezolizumab combination therapy versus carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel alone in the first-line therapy of metastatic non-squamous NSCLC from the data of IMpower130. Costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were analyzed, and model robustness was assessed by sensitivity analysis.

Laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Background: Compared with open gastrectomy (OG), laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer has achieved rapid development and popularities in the past decades. However, lack of comprehensive analysis in long-term oncological outcomes such as recurrence and mortality hinder its full support as a valid procedure. Therefore, there are still debates on whether one of these options is superior.

Nomogram based on inflammatory indices for differentiating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To establish nomogram based on inflammatory indices for differentiating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A cohort of 422 patients with HCC or ICC hospitalized at Xiangya Hospital between January 2014 and December 2018 was included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify the independent differential factors.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for chronic atrophic gastritis: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis protocol.

Background: The proportion of application of acupuncture for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is increasing over time. We will conduct this study to explore the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as a treatment method for CAG.

Methods: We will go through domestic and foreign databases until July 2019 to identify related randomized controlled trials that explored the effectiveness of acupuncture for CAG.