Pan-cancer analysis of CLDN18.2 shed new insights on the targeted therapy of upper gastrointestinal tract cancers.

Background: CLDN18.2 is a widely researched drug target. However, previous research has primarily been based on immunohistochemistry results and focused on gastric cancer.

Inter-eye asymmetry of microvascular density in patients on hydroxychloroquine therapy by optical coherence tomography angiography.

Aims: To explore the inter-eye retinal microvascular density asymmetry of patients on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy through optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: 40 subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, including 20 systemic lupus erythematasus patients currently treated with HCQ (40 eyes) and 20 age- and sex-matched normal controls (NCs, 40 eyes). OCTA images were obtained to measure macular and peripapillary mircrovasculatures and microstructures, including vessel density, retinal nerver fiber layer thickness, and peripapillary ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness.

Prediction of mechanical ventilation outcome by early abdominal-visceral-blood-flow-and-function score in critically ill patients after cardiopulmonary bypass in the ICU: A prospective observational study.

Background: Abdominal organs are important organs that sense and respond to ischemia and hypoxia, but there are few evaluation methods.We use ultrasonography to evaluate abdominal organ function and blood flow in patients with mechanical ventilation (MV) after cardiopulmonary bypass and to obtain a semiquantitative score for abdominal organ function and blood flow.

Methods: Patients with cardiopulmonary bypass in the Critical Care Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China from March to July 2021 were enrolled in this prospective observational study.

A novel method for diaphragm-based electrode belt position of electrical impedance tomography by ultrasound.

Background: This aim of study was to introduce a diaphragm-based EIT-belt placement method based on diaphragm position by ultrasound, and to evaluate the difference between diaphragm-based EIT-belt placement and conventional EIT-belt placement.

Method: The diaphragm position (L) determined by ultrasound was taken as zero reference level. The direction of headward is defined as positive, and toward feet is negative.

Investigating the effect of exercise on the expression of genes related to cardiac physiological hypertrophy.

Physiological hypertrophy of the heart is associated with an increase in the normal function of the heart, and it directly relates to regular exercise, especially among elite athletes. Researches about special signaling pathways that create physiological hypertrophy have recently received more attention. As a result, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise intensity on the expression of genes involved in heart physiological hypertrophy.

Reduced expression of miR-30c-5p promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by targeting RAB32.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains among the most lethal of human cancers, despite recent advances in modern medicine. miR-30c-5p is frequently dysregulated in different diseases. However, the effects and the underlying mechanism of miR-30c-5p in HCC are still elusive.

The worldwide seroprevalence of DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: As the three major arthropod-borne viruses, dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and zika virus (ZIKV) are posing a growing threat to global public health and socioeconomic development. Our study aimed to systematically review the global seroprevalences of these arboviruses from existing publications.

Methods: Articles published between Jan 01, 2000 and Dec 31, 2019 in the databases of Embase, Pubmed and Web of Science were searched and collected.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Attenuate Acute Lung Injury Induced by Ischemia Reperfusion via Suppressing the High Mobility Group Box-1.

Pulmonary endothelial cell injury is a hallmark of acute lung injury. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) can modulate the inflammatory response via endothelial cell activation and release of inflammatory molecules. Thus, we tested whether induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can alleviate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced lung injury, and, if so, whether HMGB1 mediates the effect in a male C57BL/6 mouse model.

Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Shenzhen, China: comparison between imported and local cases.

Introduction: An unprecedented outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has swept across the globe since the end of 2019. Shenzhen confirmed its first imported case from Wuhan on 19 January 2020. However, little is known regarding the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in these imported cities.

Tocilizumab-Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for NIR-II Photoacoustic-Imaging-Guided Therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The progressive debilitating nature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) combined with its unknown etiology and initial similarity to other inflammatory diseases makes early diagnosis a significant challenge. Early recognition and treatment of RA is essential for achieving effective therapeutic outcome. NIR-II photoacoustic (PA) molecular imaging (PMI) is emerging as a promising new strategy for effective diagnosis and treatment guidance of RA, owing to its high sensitivity and specificity at large penetration depth.

Genistein inhibits angiogenesis developed during rheumatoid arthritis through the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3/VEGF signalling pathway.

Background: Angiogenesis plays an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which increases the supply of nutrients, cytokines, and inflammatory cells to the synovial membrane. Genistein (GEN), a soy-derived isoflavone, has been validated that can effectively inhibit the angiogenesis of several tumours. We thus carried out a study in vitro to investigate the effect of GEN in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and angiogenesis induced by the inflammatory environment of RA.

Downregulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α by RNA Interference Alleviates the Development of Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Rats.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) as a transcription factor in response to hypoxia suggests that it could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of RA. In this study, we assessed whether the HIF pathway blockade attenuates the manifestations of RA in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model.

Impact of body characteristics on ultrasound-measured inferior vena cava parameters in Chinese children.

Ultrasound-measured inferior vena cava (IVC) and abdominal aorta (Ao)-associated parameters have been used to predict volume status for decades, yet research focusing on the impact of individual physical characteristics, including gender, height/weight, body surface area (BSA), and age, assessed simultaneously on those parameters in Chinese children is lacking. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of individual characteristics on maximum IVC diameter (IVCmax), Ao, and IVCmax/Ao in healthy Chinese children. From September to December 2015, 200 healthy children from 1 to 13 years of age were enrolled.

Heparin and aspirin combination therapy restores T-cell phenotype in pregnant patients with antiphospholipid syndrome-related recurrent pregnancy loss.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is the most common manifestation of anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS), and activated CD4 T cells are involved in its pathogenesis. Treatment with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and aspirin combination improves pregnancy outcome, however, its mechanism of action is unclear. We investigated the effect of this therapy on Th1/Th2 cells in 89 patients with APS-RPL.

Risk factors for cutaneous warts and the influence factors of curative effect of 5-flurouracil therapy in southern China.

Background: To systematically explore the risk factors of cutaneous warts and influence factor for the effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

Methods: This is a case-control study of 408 cutaneous warts patients and 408 controls of Chinese Han population in southern China. In addition, 244 patients who presented with an initial episode of warts without treatment were treated with intralesional 5-FU.

Prevalence of and factors associated with major depressive disorder among HIV-positive individuals in Guangdong, China.

Background: People living with HIV may suffer from mental disorders. We aimed to explore the prevalence of and factors associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) among HIV-positive individuals in Guangdong, China, about which little is known.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit HIV-positive individuals from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control of Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Yangjiang from September 2007 to September 2008.

The role of CKIP-1 in osteoporosis development and treatment.

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mass and deterioration of bone microarchitecture, which results in increased bone fragility and fracture risk. Casein kinase 2-interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1) is a protein that plays an important role in regulation of bone formation. The effect of CKIP-1 on bone formation is mainly mediated through negative regulation of the bone morphogenetic protein pathway.

[Clinical Studies of Abdominal Acupuncture Combined with Warm Needling on Knee Osteoarthritis].

Objective: To explore the clinical effects of abdominal acupuncture combined with warm needling on knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Eighty-six patients with KOA were divided into a treatment group and a control group according to the digital random table, 43 cases in each one. In the treatment group, patients were treated with abdominal acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Huaroumen (ST 24), Wailing (ST 26) and Xiafengshidian (Extra) on the affected side, as well as warm needling at Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Heding (EX-LE 2), Liangqiu (ST 34) and Xuehai (SP 10) of the affected side.

Curcumin modulation of the activation of PYK2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with lupus nephritis.

Introduction: Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) provides important signals during the activation of lymphocytes, which is essential in autoimmune diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a representative autoimmune disease, and lupus nephritis (LN) is one of its most severe complications. Although glucocorticoid-binding immuno-suppression is the first-line therapy for patients with LN, the common and severe side effects of such treatment call for new strategies to improve long-term prognosis and life quality for these patients.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts provide a suitable microenvironment for tumor development and progression in oral tongue squamous cancer.

Background: Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is still associated with a poor prognosis due to local recurrence and metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the complex processes of cancer stroma interaction and tumorigenesis. This study aims to determine the role of CAFs in the development and progression of OTSCC.

Rapamycin ameliorates neuropathic pain by activating autophagy and inhibiting interleukin-1β in the rat spinal cord.

Autophagy acts as an important homoeostatic mechanism by degradation of cytosolic constituents and plays roles in many physiological processes. Recent studies demonstrated that autophagy can also regulate the production and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. In the present study, the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were significantly decreased after spinal nerve ligation (SNL), and the changes were accompanied by inhibited autophagy in the spinal microglia and increased mRNA and protein levels of IL-1β in the ipsilateral spinal cord.