Characterization of Pancreatic Collagen-Expressing Fibroblasts in Mouse Acute Pancreatitis.

Background And Aims: Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are critical mediators in chronic pancreatitis with an undefined role in acute pancreatitis (AP). PSCs consist of a heterogenous group of cells and are considered interchangeable with pancreatic fibroblasts. This study explored the heterogeneous nature of PSCs by characterizing pancreatic collagen-expressing fibroblasts (PCFs) via lineage tracing in mouse normal and AP pancreas and determining the effect of PCF depletion in AP.

Nerve graft for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy: animal study and clinical data-a narrative review.

Introduced in the late 1990s, nerve grafting, particularly with sural and genitofemoral nerves, aims to enhance erectile function recovery when neurovascular bundles cannot be preserved following radical prostatectomy. Over the past three decades, researchers have conducted numerous animal and clinical studies to explore the application and clinical effectiveness of this method, with the hope of benefiting patients suffering from erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy. Animal studies have demonstrated the potential of various grafting materials, including autologous nerve and vein grafts, and bioengineered grafts, in promoting nerve regeneration and erectile function recovery.

Single-cell RNA-seq reveals the transcriptional program underlying tumor progression and metastasis in neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common childhood malignancies. Sixty percent of patients present with widely disseminated clinical signs at diagnosis and exhibit poor outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms triggering NB metastasis remain largely uncharacterized.

Aging- and alcohol-associated spatial transcriptomic signature in mouse acute pancreatitis reveals heterogeneity of inflammation and potential pathogenic factors.

The rapidly aging population is consuming more alcohol, leading to increased alcohol-associated acute pancreatitis (AAP) with high mortality. However, the mechanisms remain undefined, and currently there are no effective therapies available. This study aims to elucidate aging- and alcohol-associated spatial transcriptomic signature by establishing an aging AAP mouse model and applying Visium spatial transcriptomics for understanding of the mechanisms in the context of the pancreatic tissue.

N6-methyladenosine-mediated overexpression of long noncoding RNA ADAMTS9-AS2 triggers neuroblastoma differentiation via regulating LIN28B/let-7/MYCN signaling.

Neuroblastomas have shed light on the differentiation disorder that is associated with spontaneous regression or differentiation in the same tumor at the same time. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) actively participate in a broad spectrum of biological processes. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNA regulation of differentiation in neuroblastomas remain largely unknown.

Overexpression of Gremlin1 in Crohn's Disease-Associated Bowel Strictures.

Objective: One of the most serious complications of Crohn's disease is intestinal strictures that may lead to bowel obstruction. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of stricture formation is essential in order to develop more effective nonsurgical prevention and treatment modalities. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether Gremlin1, a protein implicated in fibrogenesis and smooth muscle proliferation, is overexpressed in Crohn's-associated bowel strictures.

Novel compound heterozygous variants in the gene associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa without hearing loss.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of progressive inherited retinal dystrophies characterized by the primary degeneration of rod photoreceptors and the subsequent loss of cone photoreceptors because of cell death. It is caused by different mechanisms, including inflammation, apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy. Variants in the usherin gene () have been reported in autosomal recessive RP with or without hearing loss.

Analysis of the efficacy of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in high-risk neuroblastoma.

This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for high-risk neuroblastoma in China. The data of 90 high-risk neuroblastoma patients treated with the CCCG-NB 2015 regimen were reviewed. The baseline clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were analyzed and compared.

The application and value of radiotherapy at the primary site in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze radiotherapy (RT) regimens for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) at the primary site after surgery, and to further analyze the characteristics of patients who would benefit more from RT.

Methods: 98 pediatric patients with HRNB were analyzed for local control (LC), RT dose, extent of excision and prognostic factors. Among them, 69 children received RT.

The Role of Long Term Label-Retaining Cells in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction by Vacuum Erectile Device.

Introduction: Vacuum erectile device (VED) therapy is commonly used for penile rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy, however, the underlying mechanism of this effect is not fully understood.

Aim: To evaluate the presence of label-retaining cells (LRCs), cells with long-term retention of 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling and recognized as adult stem cells or progenitor-like cells, in cavernous tissue after VED treatment using a BCNC rat model.

Methods: Postnatal pups (1 day old) of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were intraperitoneally injected with EdU (50 ug/g, BID for 3 days) and BCNC surgery was conducted at 6 weeks old (designated as natal-labeled rats).

Neuroprotective role of epigallocatechin-3-gallate in acute glaucoma via the nuclear factor-κB signalling pathway.

Glaucoma is a disease involving impaired visual function accompanied by degeneration and necrosis of the optic nerve. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) exerts a neuroprotective effect against the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. However, whether EGCG can relieve glaucoma and the possible mechanisms remain unclear.

Novel Variants in a Chinese Family with Nonsyndromic Macular Dystrophy.

Purpose: To identify the molecular etiology of a Chinese family with nonsyndromic macular dystrophy.

Methods: Ophthalmic examinations were performed, and genomic DNA was extracted from available family members. Whole exome sequencing of two members (the proband and her unaffected mother) and Sanger sequencing in available family members were performed to screen potential pathogenic variants.

Early Decline of Neuron-Specific Enolase during Neuroblastoma Chemotherapy is a Predictive Factor of Clinical Outcome.

High risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) remains one of the most difficult-to-treat pediatric cancers. However, although current risk-stratification is based on multiple pretreatment criteria, HR-NB remains a significant heterogeneity. We examined 60 patients with HR-NB for a median follow-up time of 28 months.

Distinct Murine Pancreatic Transcriptomic Signatures during Chronic Pancreatitis Recovery.

We have previously demonstrated that the pancreas can recover from chronic pancreatitis (CP) lesions in the cerulein-induced mouse model. To explore how pancreatic recovery is achieved at the molecular level, we used RNA-sequencing (seq) and profiled transcriptomes during CP transition to recovery. CP was induced by intraperitoneally injecting cerulein in C57BL/6 mice.

Novel compound heterozygous mutations in the gene cause macular corneal dystrophy in a Han Chinese family.

Background: Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD), a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is caused by pathogenic mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene () and is characterized by bilateral progressive stromal clouding and vision loss. Corneal transplantation is often necessary. This study aimed to identify disease-causing mutations in a Han-Chinese MCD patient.

Value of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT in prognosis and the reflection of tumor burden: a study in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma.

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT has been commonly used in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma (NB) for diagnosis. We retrospectively reviewed 40 pediatric patients with newly diagnosed NB who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT. Clinicopathological factors and metabolic parameters including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) on PET/CT were evaluated as predictive factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Characteristic pancreatic and splenic immune cell infiltration patterns in mouse acute pancreatitis.

Background: A systemic evaluation of immune cell infiltration patterns in experimental acute pancreatitis (AP) is lacking. Using multi-dimensional flow cytometry, this study profiled infiltrating immune cell types in multiple AP mouse models.

Methods: Three AP models were generated in C57BL/6 mice via cerulein (CAE) injection, alcohol and palmitoleic acid (EtOH + POA) injection, and alcohol diet feeding and cerulein (EtOH + CAE) injection.

Sex-Related Differences of Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis in Adults.

The incidence of acute and chronic pancreatitis is increasing in the United States. Rates of acute pancreatitis (AP) are similar in both sexes, but chronic pancreatitis (CP) is more common in males. When stratified by etiology, women have higher rates of gallstone AP, while men have higher rates of alcohol- and tobacco-related AP and CP, hypercalcemic AP, hypertriglyceridemic AP, malignancy-related AP, and type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).

Pancreatic stromal Gremlin 1 expression during pancreatic tumorigenesis.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a major risk factor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). How CP promotes pancreatic oncogenesis remains unclear. A characteristic feature of PDAC is its prominent desmoplasia in the tumor microenvironment, composed of activated fibroblasts and macrophages.

Identification of Fibrinogen as a Key Anti-Apoptotic Factor in Human Fresh Frozen Plasma for Protecting Endothelial Cells In Vitro.

Resuscitation with human fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in hemorrhagic shock (HS) patients is associated with improved clinical outcomes. Our group has demonstrated that the beneficial effect of FFP is due to its blockade on endothelial hyperpermeability, thereby improving vascular barrier function. The current study aimed to investigate HS-induced endothelial cell apoptosis, a potential major contributor to the endothelial hyperpermeability, and to determine the effect and the key components/factors of FFP on protecting endothelial cells from apoptosis.

Antithrombin III Contributes to the Protective Effects of Fresh Frozen Plasma Following Hemorrhagic Shock by Preventing Syndecan-1 Shedding and Endothelial Barrier Disruption.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction during hemorrhagic shock (HS) is associated with loss of cell-associated syndecan-1 (Sdc1) and hyperpermeability. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) preserves Sdc1 and reduces permeability following HS, although the key mediators remain unknown. Antithrombin III (ATIII) is a plasma protein with potent anti-inflammatory and endothelial protective activity.

Identification of a Heterozygous Mutation in the Gene in a Hui-Chinese Family with Corneal Dystrophy.

Background/aims: Corneal dystrophies (CDs) belong to a group of hereditary heterogeneous corneal diseases which result in visual impairment due to the progressive accumulation of deposits in different corneal layers. So far, mutations in several genes have been responsible for various CDs. The purpose of this study is to identify gene mutations in a three-generation Hui-Chinese family associated with granular corneal dystrophy type I (GCD1).

Comparable Responses in Male and Female Mice to Cerulein-Induced Chronic Pancreatic Injury and Recovery.

Objective: The cerulein-induced mouse pancreatitis model is a well-established, commonly used representation of human chronic pancreatitis pathology. Although studies report sex-dependent differences in human chronic pancreatitis, there are no studies in this model directly comparing sex response to pancreatic injury and recovery. Therefore, we designed a study to investigate whether sex- dependent differences in chronic pancreatitis injury and recovery exist in the cerulein-induced pancreatitis model.