Resveratrol Attenuates Rheumatoid Arthritis Induce Neutrophil Extracellular Traps via TLR-4 Mediated Inflammation in C57BL/6 Mice

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether RSV inhibits neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that induce joint hyperalgesia in C57BL/6 mice after adjuvant-induced arthritis. A subplantar injection of Freund's complete adjuvant was administered to C57BL/6 mice on day 0 for immunization in the AIA model. Resveratrol (RSV, 25 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally once daily starting on day 22 and continuing for two weeks. The effects of mechanical hyperalgesia and edema formation have been assessed in addition to histopathological scoring. Mice were sacrificed on day 35 to determine cytokine levels and PADI4 and COX-2 expression levels. ELISA was used to quantify neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) along with neutrophil elastase-DNA and myeloperoxidase-DNA complexes in neutrophils. An immunohistochemical stain was performed on knee joints to determine the presence of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-kappaB p65). AIA mice were found to have higher levels of NET in joints and their joint cells demonstrated an increased expression of the PADI4 gene. Treatment with RSV in AIA mice (25 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly (P<0.05) inhibited joint hyperalgesia, resulting in a significant increase in mechanical threshold, a decrease in articular edema, a decrease in the production of inflammatory cytokines, increased COX-2 expression, and a decrease in the immunostaining of NF-kappaB. Furthermore, treatment with RSV significantly reduced the amount of neutrophil elastase (NE)-DNA and MPO-DNA complexes, which were used as indicators of NET formation (P<0.05). This study indicates that RSV reduces NET production and hyperalgesia by reducing inflammation mediated by PADI4 and COX-2. According to these data, NETs contribute to joint pain and resveratrol can be used to treat pain in RA through this pathway.

Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis Reveals Diagnostic Biomarkers and Immune Cell Infiltration Characteristics of Solar Lentigines

Background

Solar lentigines (SLs), serving as a prevalent characteristic of skin photoaging, present as cutaneous aberrant pigmentation. However, the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear and there is a dearth of reliable diagnostic biomarkers.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify diagnostic biomarkers for SLs and reveal its immunological features.

Methods

In this study, gene expression profiling datasets (GSE192564 and GSE192565) of SLs were obtained from the GEO database. The GSE192564 was used as the training group for screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and subsequent depth analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was employed to explore the biological states associated with SLs. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify the significant modules and hub genes. Then, the feature genes were further screened by the overlapping of hub genes and up-regulated differential genes. Subsequently, an artificial neural network was constructed for identifying SLs samples. The GSE192565 was used as the test group for validation of feature genes expression level and the model's classification performance. Furthermore, we conducted immune cell infiltration analysis to reveal the immune infiltration landscape of SLs.

Results

The 9 feature genes were identified as diagnostic biomarkers for SLs in this study. And an artificial neural network based on diagnostic biomarkers was successfully constructed for identification of SLs. GSEA highlighted potential role of immune system in pathogenesis of SLs. SLs samples had a higher proportion of several immune cells, including activated CD8 T cell, dendritic cell, myeloid-derived suppressor cell and so on. And diagnostic biomarkers exhibited a strong relationship with the infiltration of most immune cells.

Conclusion

Our study identified diagnostic biomarkers for SLs and explored its immunological features, enhancing the comprehension of its pathogenesis.

Antifungal Activity and Potential Action Mechanism of Allicin against Trichosporon asahii

Trichosporon asahii is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that causes potentially fatal disseminated trichosporonosis. The global prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses an increasing fungal infection burden caused by T. asahii. Allicin is the main biologically active component with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in garlic. In this study, we performed an in-depth analysis of the antifungal characteristics of allicin against T. asahii based on physiological, cytological, and transcriptomic assessments. In vitro, allicin inhibited the growth of T. asahii planktonic cells and biofilm cells significantly. In vivo, allicin improved the mean survival time of mice with systemic trichosporonosis and reduced tissue fungal burden. Electron microscopy observations clearly demonstrated damage to T. asahii cell morphology and ultrastructure caused by allicin. Furthermore, allicin increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, leading to oxidative stress damage in T. asahii cells. Transcriptome analysis showed that allicin treatment disturbed the biosynthesis of cell membrane and cell wall, glucose catabolism, and oxidative stress. The overexpression of multiple antioxidant enzymes and transporters may also place an additional burden on cells, causing them to collapse. Our findings shed new light on the potential of allicin as an alternative treatment strategy for trichosporonosis. IMPORTANCE Systemic infection caused by T. asahii has recently been recognized as an important cause of mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Invasive trichosporonosis remains a significant challenge for clinicians, due to the limited therapeutic options. The present work suggests that allicin holds great potential as a therapeutic candidate for T. asahii infection. Allicin demonstrated potent in vitro antifungal activity and potential in vivo protective effects. In addition, transcriptome sequencing provided valuable insights into the antifungal effects of allicin.

Specific microRNA/mRNA expression profiles and novel immune regulation mechanisms are induced in THP-1 macrophages by in vitro exposure to Trichosporon asahii

BACKGROUND

Trichosporon asahii is considered the most prominent species associated with invasive trichosporonosis, but little is known about the pathogenesis of T. asahii infection in the host. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding endogenous small RNAs that play vital roles by manipulating immune responses against pathogenic microorganisms. Nevertheless, the exact functions of miRNAs in T. asahii infection are still unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the interactions involved in the miRNA immune response in THP-1 macrophages following in vitro exposure to T. asahii.

METHODS

We utilized next-generation sequencing to detect differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs and mRNAs in THP-1 cells after 24 h of in vitro exposure to T. asahii. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the sequencing results. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed with the DE miRNAs and DE mRNAs. We performed Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of the predicted targeting mRNAs in the miRNA-mRNA network. A dual-luciferase reporter assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were utilized to demonstrate the reliability of the miR-342-3p/Dectin-1 pair.

RESULTS

A total of 120 DE miRNAs and 588 DE mRNAs were identified after 24 h of in vitro exposure to T. asahii. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed with 39 DE miRNAs and 228 DE mRNAs. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the up-regulated DE mRNAs in the complex interaction network were mainly involved in immune-related pathways. In addition, we verified the target relationship between miR-342-3p and Dectin-1 and found that miR-342-3p could promote the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 by negatively regulating Dectin-1.

CONCLUSIONS

This study evaluated the expression profiles of miRNA/mRNA and revealed the immunological consequences of THP-1 macrophages in response to T. asahii exposure. Moreover, our data suggest that miR-342-3p can indirectly promote inflammatory responses and may be a potential therapeutic target against trichosporonosis.

Impaired hypoxic ventilatory response following neonatal sustained and subsequent chronic intermittent hypoxia in rats

Neonatal chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) enhances the ventilatory sensitivity to acute hypoxia (acute hypoxic ventilatory response, HVR), whereas sustained hypoxia (SH) can have the opposite effect. Therefore, we investigated whether neonatal rats pre-treated with SH prior to CIH exhibit a modified HVR. Rat pups were exposed to CIH (5% O2/5min, 8h/day) between 6 and 15 days of postnatal age (P6-15) after pre-treatment with either normoxia or SH (11% O2; P1-5). Using whole-body plethysmography, the acute (5min, 10% O2) HVR at P16 (1 day post-CIH) was unchanged following CIH (67.9±6.7% above baseline) and also SH (58.8±10.5%) compared to age-matched normoxic rats (54.7±6.3%). In contrast, the HVR was attenuated (16.5±6.0%) in CIH exposed rats pre-treated with SH. These data suggest that while neonatal SH and CIH alone have little effect on the magnitude of the acute HVR, their combined effects impose a synergistic disturbance to postnatal development of the HVR. These data could provide important insight into the consequences of not maintaining adequate levels of oxygen saturation during the early neonatal period, especially in vulnerable preterm infants susceptible to frequent bouts of hypoxemic events (CIH) that are commonly associated with apnea of prematurity.

Disseminated trichosporonosis in China

A 20-year-old female patient presented with erythematous plaques on the nose which were progressively spreading to the trunk and the extremities, sometimes with erosions and scars. The patient was misdiagnosed as having seborrhoeic dermatitis and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The histopathological biopsy revealed mycotic infectious granuloma. Samples taken from skin lesions and other locations grew Trichosporon asahii in cultures. The identification was confirmed by molecular biological methods. The patient was treated successfully with liposomal amphotericin B in combination with fluconazole orally.

[Acoustic densitometry for quantification of renal allografts microcirculation and microstructure]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a new method for observing renal allografts microcirculation and microstructure with acoustic densitometry (integrated backscatter, contrast, second harmonics).

METHODS

27 patients with renal allografts were investigated by Doppler, IBS, contrast and second harmonics. Renal allografts failed age in 5 patients 20-61 years. Intravenous injection of SHU-508A was given, compared with pre-injection by quantitative assessment of acoustic densitometry (AD) of renal microstructure.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the peak intensity, the area under the curve and the half-time of wash-out between pre-injection and injection contrast agent. The wish-in and wish-out curve was shown in a peak shape. The renal allografts with acute rejection were significantly lower than the control group in AD (P < 0.05). No contrast opacification of renal microstructure was present in 5 failed renal allografts and the wish-in and wish-out curve appeared in a straight line shape.

CONCLUSION

AD is safe, and efficient in assessing renal allografts microstructure. It more sensitive in detecting allograft complication such as rejection than Doppler.

[Survival analysis after kidney transplantation in 1,180 cadaveric graftings]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the outcome of twenty-two years of cadaveric kidney transplantation and the predict factors impacting on graft survival.

METHODS

The data of 1,180 cadaveric kidney graftings in 1,039 patients between October of 1977 and June of 1999 were summarized by calculation of patient and graft survival rates using Kaplan-Meier product limit estimates. 13 factors that may influence on graft survival were analyzed by the log-rank and Cox model.

RESULTS

The total of 1-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year patient survival rates were 93.02%, 80.25%, 67.86%, 65.34% and 65.34%, and the corresponding graft survival rates 88.6%, 68.3%, 43.8%, 43.8%, and 32.8%, respectively. Graft half-life was (13.98 +/- 0.96) years. The longest survivor was 22 years after cadaveric kidney transplantation. The quality of life after grafting in 835 alive patients was improved apparently; 95% of them had a normal graft function and 85% returned to work. The result of multivariable analysis using Cox model showed that 8 factors of patient's age, grafting time, pretransplant blood transfusion, cold ischemia time, delayed graft function, time of normal graft function, immunosuppressive regimen, and acute rejection were very important to affect the graft survival.

CONCLUSION

Cadaveric kidney transplantation is a successful and effective method to rescue the patients with end-stage renal disease.

[Clinical research of trabeculectomy on outpatients]

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of Trabeculectomy on outpatients.

METHODS

Postspectively compared and discussed the surgery effect and complications of trabeculectomy on 38 eyes of 27 outpatients with those on 38 eyes of 30 inpatients. All the surgeries were performed by the same surgeon in the same period.

RESULT

The IOP of outpatients' group after one week, one month, three months or more are respectively 1.4800 +/- 0.5977 kPa, 1.8379 +/- 0.5517 kPa, 1.9650 +/- 0.4879 kPa, while the inpatients' group are 1.3468 +/- 0.5994 kPa, 1.7737 +/- 0.5177 kPa, 2.0144 +/- 0.5447 kPa. t-test has shown that the differences of the IOP after the surgery, the surgery effect and complications of trabeculectomy between the outpatients and the inpatients had no significance.

CONCLUSION

Trabeculectomy on outpatients in hospital with satisfied facility would be effective, safe and feasible.

[Analysis of clinicopathologic changes of infection in dead patients after renal transplantation]

OBJECTIVE

To prevent renal transplantation patients from infection.

METHOD

Autopsies of 24 patients who had died after renal transplantation were studied.

RESULT

The incidence of infection was 66.7% and the lethal infective complications amounted for 50%. The most infectious agents were bacteria, fungi, tuberculosis, virus and actinomyces.

CONCLUSION

Pathological features and clinical manifestations of lesions were caused by aforementioned agents. Some management can prevent renal transplantation recipients from infection.

[The clinical effect of ATG and OKT3 on the treatment of refractory rejection after cadavaric kidney transplantation]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of ATG and OKT3 on the treatment of refractory rejection, including acute and chronic rejection after cadaveric kidney transplantation.

METHOD

87 patients with refractory rejection after cadaveric kidney transplantation were treated by using ATG (13 patients) and OKT3 (74). A total dose of 1 000 mg for ATG group or 45 mg for OKT3 group was administered for each patient.

RESULT

Two accelerating rejection and acute rejection were reversed and 7 in the ATG group, 90.00% (27/30) and 90.47% (38/42) in the OKT3 group respectively. A significant difference of total reverse rates was seen between the ATG and OKT3 groups (69.23% verse 90.28%, P < 0.05). In retransplant patients, the reverse rate of acute rejection by OKT3 was 91.67% (11/12). But OKT3 did not show any effect in patients with chronic rejection.

CONCLUSION

OKT3 is better than ATG for reversing the refractory rejection, especially in retransplant patients, but it has no any effect on chronic rejection.

[Vision change and quality of life in the patients with cataract]

PURPOSE

We tried to assess the relationship between quality of life and visual impairment and restoring of patients with cataract and explore the factors which affect quality of life of patients with cataract.

METHODS

The 142 cases of cataract with different visual impairment and the 33 cases of cataract prior to surgery and at 3 months after cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation were measured by the scale of quality of life for diseases with visual impairment.

RESULTS

The scores of quality of life and their subscores were significantly associated with the visual acuity of patients with cataract. The scores of quality of life between preoperation and after surgery had significantly difference. The factors which affect quality of life of patients with cataract included visual impairment, age and occupations.

CONCLUSION

Visual impairment that caused by cataract would cause decline in quality of life. Cataract surgery was effective in improving visual acuity and quality of life of the patients. Measuring quality of life would afford a new method for evaluating visual impairment of cataract.

Development of the scale of quality of life for diseases with visual impairment

PURPOSE

To describe the development of the of scale quality of life which can measure the quality of life of Chinese patients with visual impairment.

METHODS

Based on a thorough literature search and consultation with ophthalmologists and public health professionals, 20 items were selected to create a scale. Fifty-seven cataract patients with vision impairment and 60 glaucoma patients with vision impairment and visual field loss were measured by the scale to evaluate the validity, reliability and responsiveness of the scale.

RESULTS

The scale covered four domains of the quality of life (QOL). The criterion related validity of the scale: r = 0.6865 (P = 0.001). The test-retest reliability of the scale: r = 0.8959 (P = 0.001). Coronback's alpha was 0.9359. The variance ratio (VR) of intra-individual variance to inter-individual variance was 0.0551 for overall scores. The correlation coefficient of split-half method was 0.9553. The responsiveness: T-test, T = 5.95 (P = 0.001), effect size statistic was 1.533.

CONCLUSIONS

The result demonstrates that the scale has a satisfactory validity, reliability and responsiveness. It suggests that the scale can be applied to clinical trials.

Analysis of prognostic factors affecting renal allograft survival

A total of 201 consecutive cadaveric kidney transplantations were performed in 188 patients at the Chinese Great Wall Hospital, Beijing, from October 1977 to May 1990. The overall 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-year graft survival rates were 75.5%, 64.5%, 37.0%, and 32.9%, respectively. In the last 5 years, these figures have risen to 83.7% at 1 year, 69.5% at 2 years, and 40.8% at 5 years, respectively. The 14 variables correlating to graft survival in the present study were analyzed using the log rank test for univariate analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model for multivariate analysis. The results show that immunosuppressive drug therapy, cold ischemia time, acute tubular necrosis, and infection were significant factors affecting the survival of cadaveric kidney grafts. Triple therapy with low-dose cyclosporin, as compared to conventional immunosuppressive drug therapy, significantly increased the 1-year graft survival rate (90.3% vs 31.3%) but did not influence the long-term graft survival rate after 3 years. The incidence of acute tubular necrosis significantly correlated to the cold ischemia time and influenced the 1-year graft survival. Analysis showed that the lymphocytotoxic crossmatch affected graft survival after 3 years and that most late graft losses were due to chronic rejection, suggesting that histocompatibility is the strongest factor affecting long-term graft survival. A beneficial effect of pretransplant blood transfusions on long-term graft survival was seen in patients treated with conventional immunosuppressive drugs but not in cyclosporin-treated patients.