Single-cell sequencing reveals lung cell fate evolution initiated by smoking to explore gene predictions of correlative diseases

Continuous smoking leads to adaptive regulation and physiological changes in lung tissue and cells, and is an inductive factor for many diseases, making smokers face the risk of malignant and nonmalignant diseases. The impact of research in this area is getting more and more in-depth, but the stimulant effect, mechanism of action and response mechanism of the main cells in the lungs caused by smoke components have not yet been fully elucidated, and the early diagnosis and identification of various diseases induced by smoke toxins have not yet formed a systematic relationship method. In this study, single-cell transcriptome data were generated from three lung samples of smokers and nonsmokers through scRNA-seq technology, revealing the influence of smoking on lung tissue and cells and the changes in immune response. The results show that: through UMAP cell clustering, 16 intermediate cell states of 23 cell clusters of the four main cell types in the lung are revealed, the differences of the main cell groups between smokers and nonsmokers are explained, and the human lung cells are clarified. Components and their marker genes, screen for new marker genes that can be used in the evolution of intermediate-state cells, and at the same time, the analysis of lung cell subgroups reveals the changes in the intermediate state of cells under smoke stimulation, forming a subtype intermediate state cell map. Pseudo-time ordering analysis, to determine the pattern of dynamic processes experienced by cells, differential expression analysis of different branch cells, to clarify the expression rules of cells at different positions, to clarify the evolution process of the intermediate state of cells, and to clarify the response of lung tissue and cells to smoke components mechanism. The development of this study provides new diagnosis and treatment ideas for early disease detection, identification, disease prevention and treatment of patients with smoking-related diseases, and lays a theoretical foundation based on cell and molecular regulation.

Monoclonal antibody therapy for Alzheimer's disease focusing on intracerebral targets

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the complexity of the disorder and the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), its drug discovery and development are facing enormous challenges, especially after several failures of monoclonal antibody (mAb) trials. Nevertheless, the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the mAb aducanumab has ushered in a new day. As we better understand the disease's pathogenesis and identify novel intracerebral therapeutic targets, antibody-based therapies have advanced over the past few years. The mAb drugs targeting β-amyloid or hyperphosphorylated tau protein are the focus of the current research. Massive neuronal loss and glial cell-mediated inflammation are also the vital pathological hallmarks of AD, signaling a new direction for research on mAb drugs. We have elucidated the mechanisms by which AD-specific mAbs cross the BBB to bind to targets. In order to investigate therapeutic approaches to treat AD, this review focuses on the promising mAbs targeting intracerebral dysfunction and related strategies to cross the BBB.

Glucose metabolism reprogramming in gynecologic malignant tumors

The incidence and mortality of gynecological tumors are progressively increasing due to factors such as obesity, viral infection, unhealthy habits, as well as social and economic pressures. Consequently, it has emerged as a significant threat to women's health. Numerous studies have revealed the remarkable metabolic activity of tumor cells in glycolysis and its ability to influence malignant biological behavior through specific mechanisms. Therefore, it is crucial for patients and gynecologists to comprehend the role of glycolytic proteins, regulatory molecules, and signaling pathways in tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment. This article aims to review the correlation between abnormal glucose metabolism and gynecologic tumors including cervical cancer (CC), endometrial carcinoma (EC), and ovarian cancer (OC). The findings from this research will provide valuable scientific insights for early screening, timely diagnosis and treatment interventions while also aiding in the prevention of recurrence among individuals with gynecological tumors.

[Research progress on pathological mechanism and clinical correlation between medial meniscus posterior root tear and tibial rotation]

Objective

To summarize the current research progress on the concept, clinical presentation, diagnosis, biomechanical changes, and pathological mechanisms of the medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT), and its clinical correlations with tibial rotation.

Methods

The research literature on MMPRT and its relationship with tibial rotation at home and abroad in recent years was extensively consulted and summarized.

Results

MMPRT is a specific and common type of medial meniscus injury of the knee joint. The occurrence of posterior medial pumping pain events following low-energy trauma in patients provides important clues for the diagnosis of this injury, with MRI being the preferred imaging modality. The biomechanical effects generated by MMPRT are similar to those caused by total removal of the medial meniscus. And this injury is usually associated with tibial rotation. MMPRT induces pathological external rotation of the tibia, which can be restored by timely medial meniscus posterior root repair. Furthermore, changes in tibial rotation are related to the healing status after medial meniscus posterior root repair.

Conclusion

MMPRT is closely related to tibial rotation. Understanding the biomechanics, pathological mechanisms, and clinical correlations between the two is of great significance for improving the diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Research progress on ferroptosis in the pathogenesis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Globally, millions of individuals are impacted by neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although a great deal of energy and financial resources have been invested in disease-related research, breakthroughs in therapeutic approaches remain elusive. The breakdown of cells usually happens together with the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanism that triggers neuronal loss is unknown. Lipid peroxidation, which is iron-dependent, causes a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis, and there is evidence its involvement in the pathogenic cascade of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the specific mechanisms are still not well known. The present article highlights the basic processes that underlie ferroptosis and the corresponding signaling networks. Furthermore, it provides an overview and discussion of current research on the role of ferroptosis across a variety of neurodegenerative conditions.

Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: Mechanism and Targeted Treatment for Ferroptosis

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) is a pathophysiological process connected to the onset of numerous heart disorders. The pathogenesis of MIRI is complex, and it mainly involves calcium overload, classic oxidative stress, mitochondrial disorder, inflammation, microvascular disorder, and cell death. The clinical treatment options for MIRI are presently constrained, making it imperative to develop new treatment modalities. Recent studies have demonstrated that ferroptosis is the main cause of MIRI. Ferroptosis is a new type of regulated iron-dependent cell death whose mechanism and targeted therapy are anticipated to be novel therapeutic techniques for MIRI. Herein, the primary mechanism underlying ferroptosis (the 3 major metabolic routes involving iron, amino acids, and lipids, and in MIRI, the specific mechanism and therapeutic target of ferroptosis) are discussed to determine the potential therapeutic approach for MIRI.

The Impact of Microglia on Neurodevelopment and Brain Function in Autism

Microglia, as one of the main types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), are widely distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord. The normal number and function of microglia are very important for maintaining homeostasis in the CNS. In recent years, scientists have paid widespread attention to the role of microglia in the CNS. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, and patients with ASD have severe deficits in behavior, social skills, and communication. Most previous studies on ASD have focused on neuronal pathological changes, such as increased cell proliferation, accelerated neuronal differentiation, impaired synaptic development, and reduced neuronal spontaneous and synchronous activity. Currently, more and more research has found that microglia, as immune cells, can promote neurogenesis and synaptic pruning to maintain CNS homeostasis. They can usually reduce unnecessary synaptic connections early in life. Some researchers have proposed that many pathological phenotypes of ASD may be caused by microglial abnormalities. Based on this, we summarize recent research on microglia in ASD, focusing on the function of microglia and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. We aim to clarify the essential factors influenced by microglia in ASD and explore the possibility of microglia-related pathways as potential research targets for ASD.

Atopic March or Atopic Multimorbidity-Overview of Current Research

The atopic march encompasses a sequence of allergic conditions, including atopic dermatitis, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, that frequently develop in a sequential pattern within the same individual. It was introduced as a conceptual framework aimed at elucidating the developmental trajectory of allergic conditions during childhood. Following the introduction of this concept, it was initially believed that the atopic march represented the sole and definitive trajectory of the development of allergic diseases. However, this perspective evolved with the emergence of new longitudinal studies, which revealed that the evolution of allergic diseases is far more intricate. It involves numerous immunological pathological mechanisms and may not align entirely with the traditional concept of the atopic march. The objective of our review is to portray the atopic march alongside other patterns in the development of childhood allergic diseases, with a specific emphasis on the potential for a personalized approach to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of atopic conditions.

Preclinical study of diabetic foot ulcers: From pathogenesis to vivo/vitro models and clinical therapeutic transformation

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), a common intractable chronic complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), has a prevalence of up to 25%, with more than 17% of the affected patients at risk of amputation or even death. Vascular risk factors, including vascular stenosis or occlusion, dyslipidemia, impaired neurosensory and motor function, and skin infection caused by trauma, all increase the risk of DFU in patients with diabetes. Therefore, diabetic foot is not a single pathogenesis. Preclinical studies have contributed greatly to the pathogenesis determination and efficacy evaluation of DFU. Many therapeutic tools are currently being investigated using DFU animal models for effective clinical translation. However, preclinical animal models that completely mimic the pathogenesis of DFU remain unexplored. Therefore, in this review, the preparation methods and evaluation criteria of DFU animal models with three major pathological mechanisms: neuropathy, angiopathy and DFU infection were discussed in detail. And the advantages and disadvantages of various DFU animal models for clinical sign simulation. Furthermore, the current status of vitro models of DFU and some preclinical studies have been transformed into clinical treatment programs, such as medical dressings, growth factor therapy, 3D bioprinting and pre-vascularization, Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment. However, because of the complexity of the pathological mechanism of DFU, the clinical transformation of DFU model still faces many challenges. We need to further optimize the existing preclinical studies of DFU to provide an effective animal platform for the future study of pathophysiology and clinical treatment of DFU.

Metabolic phenotyping of pilomotor seizures in autoimmune encephalitis

OBJECTIVES

Ictal piloerection (IP) is an uncommon symptom in focal epilepsy and is associated with autoimmune encephalitis (AE). However, the networks involved in AE-associated IP are still unclear. To have a better understanding of IP underlying mechanisms, the current study investigated whole-brain metabolic networks for the analysis of AE-associated IP.

METHODS

Patients with AE and IP diagnosed at our Institute between 2018 and 2022 were selected. We then investigated the brain regions associated with AE-associated IP using positron emission tomography (PET). Anatomometabolic changes (interictal 18 F fluorodeoxyglucose PET) in AE patients with IP were compared with those of AE patients of similar age without IP (p-voxel <0.001, uncorrected).

RESULTS

Sixteen patients showed significant IP. The overall IP prevalence was 4.09% of patients with AE and 12.9% of patients with limbic encephalitis. The most common autoantibodies were against LGI1 (68.8%) followed by GAD65 (6.3%), NMDA (6.3%), GABAb (6.3%), CASPR2 (6.3%), and antibodies recognizing both GAD65 and mGLUR5 (6.3%). Most patients responded well to immunotherapy. Analysis of the imaging results at the voxel level showed that patients with IP had hypermetabolic changes in the right inferior temporal gyrus, suggesting involvement of this brain region in IP.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that IP as an uncommon AE-associated manifestations should be recognized. We observed that the metabolic pattern of IP was conspicuous in the right inferior temporal gyrus.

Exercise-mediated macrophage polarization modulates the targeted therapeutic effect of NAFLD: a review

PURPOSE

This review aims to explore the exercise-mediated hepatic macrophage polarization mechanism and its effect on improving and regulating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by analyzing the pathogenesis of NAFLD and the cause of the influence of hepatic macrophage polarization. In addition to exploring the varied effects of different exercise types on macrophage polarization regulation in NAFLD, to provide a direction and basis for the treatment of NAFLD.

METHODS

The research methodology involved a comprehensive search of the PubMed database using specific keywords such as "NAFLD", "macrophage polarization", and "exercise", to retrieve relevant literature published.

RESULTS

(1) The main factors inducing NAFLD were high-fat diet, obesity, insulin resistance (IR), changes in gut microbiota, and genetic variation in susceptibility. (2) Drug treatment, nutrient induction, microfactor induction, physiological environment induction, and other factors can induce the polarization of hepatic macrophages and affect NAFLD. (3) Different intensities, types, and frequencies of exercise have different effects on polarization macrophages, and may also differently effects improving liver inflammation, fibrosis, and NAFLD. Curently, regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is the most effective therapy for treating NAFLD.

CONCLUSION

Approaches to ameliorate NAFLD with exercise involve strategies to alter macrophage polarization by inhibiting M1 or driving M2 activation. However, research on the different types of exercise-mediated macrophage polarization mechanisms and differences in therapeutic effects is not yet sufficient. Future research is necessary to explore the exact mechanisms and differences in the effects of different exercises on the treatment of NAFLD.

Primary biliary cholangitis: molecular pathogenesis perspectives and therapeutic potential of natural products

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic immune liver disease characterized by persistent cholestasis, interlobular bile duct damage, portal inflammation, liver fibrosis, eventual cirrhosis, and death. Existing clinical and animal studies have made a good progress in bile acid metabolism, intestinal flora disorder inflammatory response, bile duct cell damage, and autoimmune response mechanisms. However, the pathogenesis of PBC has not been clearly elucidated. We focus on the pathological mechanism and new drug research and development of PBC in clinical and laboratory in the recent 20 years, to discuss the latest understanding of the pathological mechanism, treatment options, and drug discovery of PBC. Current clinical treatment mode and symptomatic drug support obviously cannot meet the urgent demand of patients with PBC, especially for the patients who do not respond to the current treatment drugs. New treatment methods are urgently needed. Drug candidates targeting reported targets or signals of PBC are emerging, albeit with some success and some failure. Single-target drugs cannot achieve ideal clinical efficacy. Multitarget drugs are the trend of future research and development of PBC drugs.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in dermatomyositis: a case series report and literature review

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) in adult dermatomyositis (DM) is rarely described. This report aimed to describe the clinical features and prognosis of PCI in six adult patients with DM (four with anti-MDA5 antibodies, one with anti-SAE antibodies, and one with anti-TIF-1γ antibodies). Except for one patient with transient abdominal pain, the remaining five patients were asymptomatic. PCI occurred in the ascending colon in all patients, of whom five had free gas in the abdominal cavity. No patients received excessive treatment, and PCI disappeared in four patients during the follow-up. Additionally, we reviewed previous studies on this complication.

HMGB1, angel or devil, in ischemic stroke

INTRODUCTION

High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is extensively involved in causing ischemic stroke, pathological damage of ischemic brain injury, and neural tissue repair after ischemic brain injury. However, the precise role of HMGB1 in ischemic stroke remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

Comprehensive literature search and narrative review to summarize the current field of HMGB1 in cerebral ischemic based on the basic structure, structural modification, and functional roles of HMGB1 described in the literature.

RESULTS

Studies have exhibited the crucial roles of HMGB1 in cell death, immunity and inflammation, thrombosis, and remodeling and repair. HMGB1 released after cerebral infarction is extensively involved in the pathological injury process in the early stage of cerebral infarction, whereas it is involved in the promotion of brain tissue repair and remodeling in the late stage of cerebral infarction. HMGB1 plays a neurotrophic role in acute white matter stroke, whereas it causes sustained activation of inflammation and plays a damaging role in chronic white matter ischemia.

CONCLUSIONS

HMGB1 plays a complex role in cerebral infarction, which is related to not only the modification of HMGB1 and bound receptors but also different stages and subtypes of cerebral infarction. future studies on HMGB1 should investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of HMGB1 after cerebral infarction. Moreover, future studies on HMGB1 should attempt to integrate different stages and infarct subtypes of cerebral infarction.

Exploring the relationship between intestinal flora and the pathological mechanism of myopia in adolescents from the perspective of Chinese and Western medicine: A review

The etiology of adolescent myopia involves genetic and environmental factors. The pathological mechanism of modern medicine includes blood perfusion, changes in blood molecules, neurotransmitters, and sclera remodeling. Chinese medicine believes that myopia is mainly related to the deficiency of liver blood and spleen and stomach disorders. The prevention and treatment of myopia in adolescents are very important, but in terms of the current incidence of myopia in adolescents and the level of clinical diagnosis and treatment, its prevention and treatment are insufficient. Modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine both pay attention to integrity, so adolescent myopia should not only pay attention to eye changes but also pay attention to other body systems and other aspects of change. Intestinal flora has become a research hotspot in recent years, and it has been found that it is closely associated with multi-system and multi-type diseases. No studies have directly investigated the link between Intestinal flora and myopia in adolescents. Therefore, by summarizing the pathological mechanism of adolescent myopia and the connection between intestinal flora and the pathological mechanism of adolescent myopia, this paper analyzes the possible pathological mechanism of the influence of intestinal flora on adolescent myopia, providing a theoretical basis for future studies on the correlation between changes of intestinal flora and its metabolites and the incidence of adolescent myopia, which is of great significance for the study on the risk prediction of adolescent myopia.

Localized activity alternations in periventricular nodular heterotopia-related epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is a common type of heterotopia usually characterized by epilepsy. Previous studies have identified alterations in structural and functional connectivity related to this disorder, but its local functional neural basis has received less attention. The purpose of this study was to combine univariate analysis and a Gaussian process classifier (GPC) to assess local activity and further explore neuropathological mechanisms in PNH-related epilepsy.

METHODS

We used a 3.0-T scanner to acquire resting-state data and measure local regional homogeneity (ReHo) alterations in 38 patients with PNH-related epilepsy and 38 healthy controls (HCs). We first assessed ReHo alterations by comparing the PNH group to the HC group using traditional univariate analysis. Next, we applied a GPC to explore whether ReHo could be used to differentiate PNH patients from healthy patients at an individual level.

RESULTS

Compared to HCs, PNH-related epilepsy patients exhibited lower ReHo in the left insula extending to the putamen as well as in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) extending to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) [p < 0.05, family-wise error corrected]. Both of these regions were also correlated with epilepsy duration. Furthermore, the ReHo GPC classification yielded a 76.32% accuracy (sensitivity = 71.05% and specificity = 81.58%) with p < 0.001 after permutation testing.

INTERPRETATION

Using the resting-state approach, we identified localized activity alterations in the left insula extending to the putamen and the sgACC extending to the OFC, providing pathophysiological evidence of PNH. These local connectivity patterns may provide a means to differentiate PNH patients from HCs.

Dynamic local metrics changes in patients with toothache: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Objective

To study the dynamic changes of local metrics in patients with toothache (TA, Toothache) in the resting state, in order to further understand the changes of central neural mechanism in patients with dental pain and its effect on cognition and emotion.

Methods

Thirty patients with TA and thirty matched healthy (HC) control volunteers were recruited, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance (rs-MRI) scans were performed on all subjects, and data were analyzed to compare group differences in three dynamic local indices: dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHO), dynamic low-frequency fluctuation amplitude (dALFF) and dynamic fractional low-frequency fluctuation amplitude (dfALFF). In addition, the association between dynamic local metrics in different brain regions of TA patients and scores on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was investigated by Pearson correlation analysis.

Results

In this study, we found that The local metrics of TA patients changed with time Compared with the HC group, TA patients showed increased dReHo values in the left superior temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, precuneus, angular gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, postcentral gyrus and middle frontal gyrus, increased dALFF values in the right superior frontal gyrus, and increased dfALFF values in the right middle temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and right superior occipital gyrus (p < 0.01, cluster level P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that dReHo values of left precuneus and left angular gyrus were positively correlated with VAS scores in TA group. dReHo value of right posterior central gyrus was positively correlated with HADS score (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

There are differences in the patterns of neural activity changes in resting-state brain areas of TA patients, and the brain areas that undergo abnormal changes are mainly pain processing brain areas, emotion processing brain areas and pain cognitive modulation brain areas, which help to reveal their underlying neuropathological mechanisms. In the hope of further understanding its effects on cognition and emotion.

[Mechanism of Impaired Cognitive Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease]

Each stage of chronic kidney disease has a high risk of cognitive dysfunction.The decline of cognitive function will affect the daily life and treatment compliance of the patients with chronic kidney disease and increase the patients' risk of death and public health burden,which has aroused widespread concern.However,the specific mechanism of cognitive impairment in the patients with chronic kidney disease remains unclear.This paper summarizes the possible association mechanisms,related indicators,and impaired cognitive domains,aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and slow down the progression of the cognitive impairment associated with chronic kidney disease.

Exploring the relationship between novel Coronavirus pneumonia and Parkinson's disease

The hypothesis is that there is 0a relationship between Parkinson's disease and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). By summarizing the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on the central nervous system, the relationship between Parkinson's disease and COVID-19 was analyzed, including whether Parkinson's disease is a predisposition factor for COVID-19 and whether COVID-19 causes the occurrence of Parkinson's disease. Discuss the impact of COVID-19 on patients with Parkinson's disease, including symptoms and life impact. To summarize the principles, goals and methods of home rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease patients during COVID-19. Through the analysis of this paper, it is believed that COVID-19 may cause Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease has the condition of susceptibility to COVID-19, but this conclusion is still controversial.

Emerging pharmaceutical therapeutics and delivery technologies for osteoarthritis therapy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint degenerative diseases in the world. At present, the management of OA depends on the lifestyle modification and joint replacement surgery, with the lifespan of prosthesis quite limited yet. Effective drug treatment of OA is essential. However, the current drugs, such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen, as well as glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, are accompanied by obvious side effects, with the therapeutic efficacy to be enhanced. Recently, novel reagents such as IL-1 antagonists and nerve growth factor inhibitors have entered clinical trials. Moreover, increasing evidence demonstrated that active ingredients of natural plants have great potential for treating OA. Meanwhile, the use of novel drug delivery strategies may overcome the shortcomings of conventional preparations and enhance the bioavailability of drugs, as well as decrease the side effects significantly. This review therefore summarizes the pathological mechanisms, management strategies, and research progress in the drug molecules including the newly identified active ingredient derived from medicinal plants for OA therapy, with the drug delivery technologies also summarized, with the expectation to provide the summary and outlook for developing the next generation of drugs and preparations for OA therapy.

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Neuroimaging Features, Biochemical Markers, Influencing Factors, Pathological Mechanism and Treatment

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is the most common chronic vascular disease involving the whole brain. Great progress has been made in clinical imaging, pathological mechanism, and treatment of CSVD, but many problems remain. Clarifying the current research dilemmas and future development direction of CSVD can provide new ideas for both basic and clinical research. In this review, the risk factors, biological markers, pathological mechanisms, and the treatment of CSVD will be systematically illustrated to provide the current research status of CSVD. The future development direction of CSVD will be elucidated by summarizing the research difficulties.

Risk Factors and Brain Metabolic Mechanism of Sleep Disorders in Autoimmune Encephalitis

Background

Sleep disorders (SDs) in autoimmune encephalitis (AE) have received little attention and are poorly understood. We investigated the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and cerebral metabolic mechanism of SD in AE.

Methods

Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were retrospectively reviewed in 121 consecutively patients with definite AE. The risk factors for SD in AE were estimated by logistic regression analysis. Group comparisons based on ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG-PET) data were made between patients with and without SD, to further analyze potential brain metabolic mechanism of SD in AE.

Results

A total of 52.9% patients (64/121) with SD were identified. The multivariate logistic model analysis showed that smoking [odds ratio (OR), 6.774 (95% CI, 1.238-37.082); p = 0.027], increased Hamilton Depression scale (HAMD) score [OR, 1.074 (95% CI, 1.002-1.152); p = 0.045], hyperhomocysteinemia [OR, 2.815 (95% CI, 1.057-7.496); p = 0.038], elevated neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level [OR, 1.069 (95% CI, 1.007-1.135); p = 0.03] were independently correlated with higher risk of SD in AE patients. Contrastingly, high MoCA score [OR, 0.821 (95% CI, 0.752-0.896); p < 0.001] was associated with lower risk of SD in AE subjects. Compared to controls, AE patients had less total sleep time, less sleep efficiency, longer sleep latency, more wake, higher percent of stage N1, lower percent of stage N3 and rapid eye movement, and more arousal index in non-rapid eye movement sleep (p < 0.05 for all). Voxel-based group comparison analysis showed that, compared to patients without SD, patients with SD had increased metabolism in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, brainstem, median temporal lobe, thalamus, and hypothalamus [p < 0.05, false discovery rate (FDR) corrected]; decreased metabolism in superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, and posterior cingulate cortex (p < 0.001, uncorrected). These results were confirmed by region of interest-based analysis between PET and sleep quality.

Conclusion

Smoking, increased HAMD score, hyperhomocysteinemia, and elevated NSE level were correlated with higher risk of SD. High MoCA score was associated with lower risk of SD in AE subjects. Moreover, a widespread metabolic network dysfunction may be involved in the pathological mechanism of SD in AE.

Hydrogen sulfide therapy: a narrative overview of current research and possible therapeutic implications in future

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most important comorbidities in the diabetic population. In China, more and more young patients are showing an increasing prevalence of diabetes. As a gas molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has some unique chemical and physiological functions. In recent years, it has been studied in various fields. These effects are manifested in the induction of renal vasodilation and anti-renal vascular fibrosis. The ball clearing function is improved. Therefore, increasing prospective studies have focused on how H₂S protects diabetic nephropathy and how to obtain H₂S by modern means to treat diabetic nephropathy.

Single cell sequencing technology and its application in Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy research

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the common etiology of neonatal morbidity and mortality, which exerts a negative seriously influence for the growth and development of children, and even threatens their life. Therapeutic methods are timely not adopted, it will cause serious irreversible damage to the neonatal nervous system. As no promising therapeutic strategies exist currently, it is important to elucidate the pathological mechanism for HIE, which requires us to explore the nucleic acid molecules, protein, and cell function in HIE patients, and to understand the process of the onset and progression, then research and invent better treatment methods and therapeutic drugs. Single cell sequencing (SCS) exhibits an distinctive advantages in cells research because of the particularity of each cell. This method solves an puzzle about heterogeneit, which could not be solved with multi cell sample research, and provides a new idea and perspective for the un-elucidated and events further analyzed, such as the behaviors, mechanisms and the relationship between single cell and organism in cell population. It also plays an extremely significant role in the basic research and precision medicine. Some studies have suggested that SCS serves a vital function in the study of HIE. Therefore, this review is aim to elaborate SCS and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, and trace the role of microglia in HIE, and prospect its unknown and undiscovered mechanism by SCS.

Risk Factors, Mechanisms and Treatments of Thromboangiitis Obliterans: An Overview of Recent Research

BACKGROUND

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is a nonatherosclerotic thromboticocclusive vasculitis that affects the vessels of the small and medium-sized extremities. No explicit etiology or pathogenesis of TAO has been proven, and more effective treatments are needed.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to summarize and present an overview of recent advances regarding the risk factors, mechanisms and treatments of TAO and to organize the related information in figures to provide a comparatively complete reference.

METHODS

We searched PubMed for English-language literature about TAO without article type limits, including articles about the risk factors, pathological mechanisms and treatments of TAO in the last 10 years with essential supplements (references over ranges and English abstracts of Russian literature).

RESULTS

After screening content of works of literature, 99 references were evaluated. We found that risk factors of TAO include smoking, gene factors and periodontal diseases. The underlying mechanism of TAO involves oxidative stress, immunity, hemodynamic changes, inflammation and so on. Moreover, similarities in genetic factors and cigarette relevance existed between periodontal diseases and TAO, so further study of relationship was required. For TAO treatment, medicine, endovascular intervention and revascularization surgery, autologous cell therapy and novel therapies were also mentioned. Besides, a hypothesis that infection triggers autoimmunity in TAO could be speculated, in which TLR4 plays a key role.

CONCLUSION

1. A hypothesis is put forward that infections can trigger autoimmunity in TAO development, in which TLR4, as a key agent, can activate immune signaling pathways and induce autoimmune cytokines expression. 2. It is suggested to reconsider the association between periodontal diseases and TAO, as they share the same high-risk population. Controlling periodontal disease severity in TAO studies may provide new clues. 3. For TAO treatment, endovascular intervention and autologous cell therapy both showed promising long-term therapeutic effectiveness, in which autologous cell therapy is becoming more popular, although more clinical comparisons are needed.

Pathological Mechanism of Photodynamic Therapy and Photothermal Therapy Based on Nanoparticles

The ultimate goal of phototherapy based on nanoparticles, such as photothermal therapy (PTT) which generates heat and photodynamic therapy (PDT) which not only generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also induces a variety of anti-tumor immunity, is to kill tumors. In addition, due to strong efficacy in clinical treatment with minimal invasion and negligible side effects, it has received extensive attention and research in recent years. In this paper, the generations of nanomaterials in PTT and PDT are described separately. In clinical application, according to the different combination pathway of nanoparticles, it can be used to treat different diseases such as tumors, melanoma, rheumatoid and so on. In this paper, the mechanism of pathological treatment is described in detail in terms of inducing apoptosis of cancer cells by ROS produced by PDT, immunogenic cell death to provoke the maturation of dendritic cells, which in turn activate production of CD4+ T cells, CD8+T cells and memory T cells, as well as inhibiting heat shock protein (HSPs), STAT3 signal pathway and so on.

WISP-2, an upregulated gene in hip cartilage from the DDH model rats, induces chondrocyte apoptosis through PPARγ in vitro

Chondrocyte apoptosis plays an important role in the developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) development. It has been found that WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 2 (WISP-2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) are involved in cell apoptosis. In this study, we performed the straight-leg swaddling DDH rat model and we found that cartilage degradation and chondrocyte apoptosis were remarkably increased in DDH rats in vivo. Moreover, we found that WISP-2 was upregulated in hip acetabular cartilage of DDH rats compared to control rats. Next, the effects of WISP-2 on chondrocyte apoptosis and its possible underlying mechanism were examined in vitro. The lentivirus-mediated gain- and loss-of-function experiments of WISP-2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) for cell viability and apoptosis were performed in primary rat chondrocytes. The results showed that the overexpression of WISP-2 induced chondrocyte apoptosis, and knockdown of WISP-2 could suppress the chondrocyte apoptosis induced by advanced glycation end products (AGE). Additionally, WISP-2 could negatively regulate the expression of PPARγ in chondrocytes. Moreover, the knockdown of PPARγ promoted chondrocyte apoptosis and overexpression of PPARγ abated the increased apoptosis and decreased cell viability of chondrocytes induced by WISP-2. This study demonstrated that WISP-2 might contribute to chondrocyte apoptosis of hip acetabular cartilage through regulating PPARγ expression and activation, which may play an important role in the development of DDH.

Compound heterozygous mutations identified in severe type I protein S deficiency impaired the secretion of protein S

AIMS

Hereditary protein S (PS) deficiency is one of the natural anticoagulant deficiencies causing thrombophilia. We herein described a young male with recurrent deep venous thrombosis, who was diagnosed as type I PS deficiency with compound heterozygous mutations of PROS1 gene. We aimed to analyse the relationship between the genotype and phenotype detection and investigate the pathological mechanisms of PROS1 mutations causing PS deficiency.

METHODS

Genetic analysis of PROS1 gene was carried out by direct sequencing. Thrombin generation potential and the inhibition function of thrombin generation by plasma PS were detected by thrombin generation test (TGT). The mRNA transcription level of mutant PS in vitro was measured by real-time PCR, while the protein level was evaluated by western blot and ELISA. Cellular distribution of the protein was further analysed by immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Compound heterozygous mutations (PROS1 c.1551_1552delinsG, p.Thr518Argfs*39 and PROS1 c.1681C>T, p.Arg561Trp) were identified in the propositus, and the former one was a novel small indel mutation. TGT results showed impaired inhibition of thrombin generation with the addition of activated protein C in his parents with certain heterozygous mutations. In vitro expression study, p.Thr518Argfs*39 mutant produced truncated protein retained in the cytoplasm, while p.Arg561Trp mutant partially affected the secretion of PS. Both mutations are located in C-terminal sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)-like domain of PS.

CONCLUSIONS

Compound heterozygous mutations identified in the study have strong detrimental effect, causing severe type I PS deficiency in the propositus. SHBG-like domain of PS might play an important role in PS secretion system.

Dynamic changes in intramedullary pressure 72 hours after spinal cord injury

Intramedullary pressure increases after spinal cord injury, and this can be an important factor for secondary spinal cord injury. Until now there have been no studies of the dynamic changes of intramedullary pressure after spinal cord injury. In this study, telemetry systems were used to observe changes in intramedullary pressure in the 72 hours following spinal cord injury to explore its pathological mechanisms. Spinal cord injury was induced using an aneurysm clip at T10 of the spinal cord of 30 Japanese white rabbits, while another 32 animals were only subjected to laminectomy. The feasibility of this measurement was assessed. Intramedullary pressure was monitored in anesthetized and conscious animals. The dynamic changes of intramedullary pressure after spinal cord injury were divided into three stages: stage I (steep rise) 1–7 hours, stage II (steady rise) 8–38 hours, and stage III (descending) 39–72 hours. Blood-spinal barrier permeability, edema, hemorrhage, and histological results in the 72 hours following spinal cord injury were evaluated according to intramedullary pressure changes. We found that spinal cord hemorrhage was most severe at 1 hour post-spinal cord injury and then gradually decreased; albumin and aquaporin 4 immunoreactivities first increased and then decreased, peaking at 38 hours. These results confirm that severe bleeding in spinal cord tissue is the main cause of the sharp increase in intramedullary pressure in early spinal cord injury. Spinal cord edema and blood-spinal barrier destruction are important factors influencing intramedullary pressure in stages II and III of spinal cord injury.

Drugs and Targets in Fibrosis

Fibrosis contributes to the development of many diseases and many target molecules are involved in fibrosis. Currently, the majority of fibrosis treatment strategies are limited to specific diseases or organs. However, accumulating evidence demonstrates great similarities among fibroproliferative diseases, and more and more drugs are proved to be effective anti-fibrotic therapies across different diseases and organs. Here we comprehensively review the current knowledge on the pathological mechanisms of fibrosis, and divide factors mediating fibrosis progression into extracellular and intracellular groups. Furthermore, we systematically summarize both single and multiple component drugs that target fibrosis. Future directions of fibrosis drug discovery are also proposed.

Diagnosis of an aneurysmal bone cyst of the cricoid cartilage: A case report

An aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a type of reactive reparative bone neoplasm that rarely occurs in the head and neck. To date, only a small number of cases have been previously reported. The present study reports the case of a 58-year-old male who presented with a tumor in the laryngeal cricoid cartilage, a rare position for a tumor, who subsequently underwent treatment by surgical resection. Based on the observations of the present study and a literature review, it was concluded that an ABC of the larynx can be identified based on a combination of radiology and postoperative histopathology examinations. However, following a tracheotomy and excision, the difficulty of performing tracheal cannula removal is inevitable. The present study described in detail a rare disease, ABC, occurring in the larynx. More cases are required for follow-up studies.

Changes in matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels during progression of atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES

To observe levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and evaluate their significance in various stages of idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS

Patients with idiopathic AF were recruited into this prospective study and classified into one of three groups according to stage of disease progression: paroxysmal AF; persistent AF; permanent AF. Healthy individuals were enrolled as control subjects. Serum levels of MMP-9 in all four groups were determined using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Each AF group included 25 patients; 40 healthy individuals were included as controls. MMP-9 levels in the three AF groups were significantly higher than in the control group: 168.72 ± 25.970, 201.36 ± 31.26 and 253.20 ± 22.99 ng/ml for the paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF groups respectively, versus 76.80 ± 14.90 ng/ml for the control group. MMP-9 levels increased with idiopathic AF disease progression (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

An elevated MMP-9 level appears to be associated with a diagnosis of AF. MMP-9 levels appear to increase in relation to the stage of idiopathic AF progression.

Establishing a protein expression profile database for the normal human pituitary gland using two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography combined with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry

In this study, we selected adult normal pituitary gland tissues from six patients during operations for pituitary microadenomas via the transsphenoidal approach for extended normal pituitary tissue resection around the tumor, and analyzed the protein expression of human normal pituitary using two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography combined with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry proteomics technology. The ten most highly expressed proteins in normal human pituitary were: alpha 3 type VI collagen isoform 5 precursor (abundance among tall pituitary proteins, 1.30%), fibrinogen beta chain preproprotein (0.99%), vimentin (0.73%), prolactin (0.69%), ATP synthase, H+ transporting and mitochondrial F1 complex beta subunit precursor (0.52%), keratin I (0.49%), growth hormone (0.45%), carbonic anhydrase I (0.40%), heat shock protein 90 kDa I (0.31%), and annexin V (0.30%). Based on the biological function classifications of these proteins, the top three categories by content were neuroendocrine proteins (abundance among all pituitary proteins, 40.1%), catalytic and metabolic proteins (28.3%), and cell signal transduction proteins (9.8%). Based on cell positioning classification, the top three categories were cell organelle (24.5%), membrane (20.8%), and cytoplasm (13.0%). Based on biological process classification, the top three categories of proteins are involved in physiological processes (42.9%), cellular processes (40.4%), and regulation of biological processes (9.1%). Our experimental findings indicate that a protein expression profile database of normal human pituitary can be precisely and efficiently established by proteomics technology.