Pyroptosis-Inducing Biomaterials Pave the Way for Transformative Antitumor Immunotherapy.

Pyroptosis can effectively overcome immunosuppression and reactivate antitumor immunity. However, pyroptosis initiation is challenging. First, the underlying biological mechanisms of pyroptosis are complex, and a variety of gasdermin family proteins can be targeted to induce pyroptosis.

Work stress and professional quality of life among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: the chain mediating role of self-compassion and benefit finding.

Background: Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), front-line nurses have faced not only daily work stress but also a high risk of infection and excessive workload, leading to unsatisfactory professional quality of life (ProQOL). This study aimed to explore whether self-compassion (SC) and benefit finding (BF) play a chain mediating role between work stress and ProQOL among Chinese nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: From March to April 2022, a sample of 13,936 Chinese nurses was recruited through snowball sampling.

Sirt1 Deficiency Promotes Age-Related AF Through Enhancing Atrial Necroptosis by Activation of RIPK1 Acetylation.

Background: Aging is one of the most potent risk determinants for the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF). Sirts (sirtuins) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, and their expression declines with aging. However, whether Sirts involved in age-related AF and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Silk-Fabric Reinforced Silk for Artificial Bones.

Bone implants for different body parts require varying mechanical properties, dimensions, and biodegradability rates. Currently, it is still challenging to produce artificial bones with perfect compatibility with human bones. In this study, a silk-fabric reinforced silk material (SFS) composed of pure silk with exceptional biocompatibility, osteogenesis, and biodegradability is reported, and demonstrates its outstanding performance as a bone implant material.

[Retracted] KIF4A promotes the development of bladder cancer by transcriptionally activating the expression of CDCA3.

Following the publication of the above paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that certain of the tumour images in Fig. 3A and the immunohistochemistry data in Fig. 3C on p.

Copper decorated TiC nanosystem with NIR-II-induced GSH-depletion and reactive oxygen species generation for efficient nanodynamic therapy.

Nanodynamic therapy (NDT) based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been envisioned as an effective cancer treatment. However, the efficacy is limited by the hypoxia, insufficient hydrogen peroxide conversion, and high glutathione (GSH) levels in the tumor microenvironment (TME). To solve these issues, we proposed and designed a biocompatible, oxygen resistant Cu-modified TiC nanocomposite (TiC-Cu-PEG), which can efficiently deplete the endogenous GSH in tumor cells, smartly respond to NIR-II light irradiation with in-depth tissue penetration to achieve photothermally enhanced tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) and catalytic therapy.

An Effective Protocol for Management of International Arrivals at Risk in COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience From the Pre-Hospital Covid-19 Response Teams at Xi'an, China.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak within China has been well controlled and stabilized since early April 2020. Therefore, the current major focus in China is to prevent the introduction of COVID into China from international arrivals. To achieve this, pre-Hospital COVID-19 Response Teams (pHCRTs) have been established.

Sanguinarine Reverses Pulmonary Vascular Remolding of Hypoxia-Induced PH Survivin/HIF1α-Attenuating Kv Channels.

Similarities in the biology of pulmonary hypertension and cancer suggest that anticancer therapies, such as sanguinarine, may also be effective in treating pulmonary hypertension. This, along with underlying biochemical pathways, is investigated in this study. Rats were subjected to 4-week hypoxia (or control) with or without sanguinarine treatment.

Genomic analysis uncovers prognostic and immunogenic characteristics of ferroptosis for clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

In this study, the characteristic patterns of ferroptosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) were systematically investigated with the interactions between ferroptosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME). On the mRNA expression profiles of 57 ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs), three ferroptosis patterns were constructed, with distinct prognosis and immune cell infiltrations (especially T cells and dendritic cells). The high ferroptosis scores were characterized by poorer prognosis, increased T cell infiltration, higher immune and stromal scores, elevated tumor mutation burden, and enhanced response to anti-CTLA4 immunotherapy.

Effect of different initial anticoagulant strategies on short-term outcome of patients with symptomatic DVT in China.

Purpose: In ambulant patients with lower limb DVT managed with Warfarin, there is a need for initial treatment and short time "bridging" with a rapidly acting anticoagulant until there is a stable therapeutic INR. In this study, results from bridging with subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or oral Rivaroxaban were compared.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-four patients received LMWH and 98 patients received Rivaroxaban, both in addition to Warfarin.

KIF4A promotes the development of bladder cancer by transcriptionally activating the expression of CDCA3.

Bladder cancer (BC) is among the most common urinary system tumors with a high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite advancements being made in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer, targeted therapy remains the most promising treatment, and novel therapeutic targets are urgently required in to improve the outcomes of patients with BC. Kinesin family member 4A (KIF4A) is a plus‑end directed motor protein involved in the regulation of multiple cellular processes, such as mitosis and axon growth.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis promotes age-related atrial fibrillation by lipopolysaccharide and glucose-induced activation of NLRP3-inflammasome.

Aims: Ageing is the most significant contributor to the increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The gut microbiota dysbiosis is involved in age-related diseases. However, whether the aged-associated dysbiosis contributes to age-related AF is still unknown.

Erratum to development and formulation of the classification criteria for osteoarthritis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-4673.].

Development and formulation of the classification criteria for osteoarthritis.

Background: The classification criteria of osteoarthritis (OA) is lack of the support of relevant research evidence and there is no standardized protocol for detailed steps of the development or clinical verification of classification criteria has yet been established. This study aims to describe the development process of the Categorization of Osteoarthritis CHecklist (COACH), which is designed to choose the precise treatment option for patients with OA.

Methods: A multidisciplinary panel was established to gather opinions.

IL-1B rs2853550 polymorphism contributes to esophageal cancer susceptibility in Chinese Han population of Northwest China.

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common human cancers, with a particularly aggressive behavior and increased incidence worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-1B with the risk of EC in a northwest Chinese Han population.

Methods: In order to evaluate the correlations between IL-1B polymorphisms and EC risk, an Agena MassARRAY platform was used to determine the genotype of the candidate SNPs among 384 EC patients and 499 controls.

Rivaroxaban in the Treatment of PICC-associated Upper Extremity Venous Thrombosis.

Purpose: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are frequently used for prolonged drug administration, but their use is commonly complicated by the development of upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) requiring anticoagulation. Here, we compared the efficacy and safety profile of rivaroxaban (20 mg/d) with low molecular weight (LMW) heparin and vitamin K antagonists in the treatment of PICC-associated UEDVT.

Methods: Patients (N = 84) with PICC-associated UEDVT were studied.

Circularly permuted TRAIL plus thalidomide and dexamethasone versus thalidomide and dexamethasone for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a phase 2 study.

Purpose: Circularly permuted TRAIL (CPT) has exhibited promising efficacy as a mono-therapy or in combination with thalidomide for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). In this phase 2 study, the safety and efficacy of CPT in combination with thalidomide and dexamethasone (CPT + TD) was evaluated in patients with pretreated relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM).

Methods: Patients who received at least two previous therapies for MM were randomly assigned at a 2:1 ratio to receive treatment with CPT + TD or thalidomide and dexamethasone (TD).

Pretreatment with Ginseng Fruit Saponins Affects Serotonin Expression in an Experimental Comorbidity Model of Myocardial Infarction and Depression.

We previously demonstrated that serotonin (5-HT) and 5-HT receptor (5-HTR) levels in platelets were up- or down-regulated after myocardial infarction (MI) associated with depression. In this study, we further evaluated the effects of pretreatment with ginseng fruit saponins (GFS) on the expression of 5-HT and 5-HTR in MI with or without depression. Eighty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with saline and GFS (n=40 per group).

Association of CXCR4 expression with coronary collateralization in patients with chronic total coronary occlusion: A nested case-control study.

Objective: CXCR4 signaling contributes to the development and progression of neovascularization. The objective of this study was to investigate whether CXCR4 expression in peripheral CD34+ cells associated with the coronary collateralization (CC) in patients with chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO).

Methods And Results: We measured CXCR4 expression in peripheral CD34+ cells and assessed its relation with CC in a nested case-control study including 78 cases and 78 matched controls aged 38-69years, assessed in January 2011 to December 2012 and with at least 1year of follow-up before the index date.

Krüppel-like factor 5 promotes apoptosis triggered by tumor necrosis factor α in LNCaP prostate cancer cells via up-regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7.

Objectives: Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) modulates multiple cell processes in different cancers. It is frequently deleted and inactivated in prostate cancer and may exert a tumor suppressor function. However, how KLF5 inhibits the progression of prostate cancer is still not clear.

Semi-quantitative assessment of brain maturation by conventional magnetic resonance imaging in neonates with clinically mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Background: Mild hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) injury is becoming the major type in neonatal brain diseases. The aim of this study was to assess brain maturation in mild HIE neonatal brains using total maturation score (TMS) based on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Totally, 45 neonates with clinically mild HIE and 45 matched control neonates were enrolled.

Metformin sensitizes human bladder cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through mTOR/S6K1-mediated downregulation of c-FLIP.

Metformin, an oral antidiabetic agent, has been reported to potentiate chemotherapeutic-induced cytotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of metformin in sensitizing tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells. Metformin alone did not induce apoptosis, but markedly potentiated TRAIL-induced apoptosis in 253J and RT4 bladder cancer cells.

Evodiamine induces apoptosis and enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells through mTOR/S6K1-mediated downregulation of Mcl-1.

The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), either alone or in combination with other anti-cancer agents, has been considered as a new strategy for anti-cancer therapy. In this study, we demonstrated that evodiamine, a quinolone alkaloid isolated from the fruit of Evodia fructus, induced apoptosis and enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we found that evodiamine significantly reduced the protein levels of Mcl-1 in 253J and T24 bladder cancer cells, and overexpression of this molecule attenuated the apoptosis induced by evodiamine alone, or in combination with TRAIL.