AZGP1 Aggravates Macrophage M1 Polarization and Pyroptosis in Periodontitis

Periodontal tissue destruction in periodontitis is a consequence of the host inflammatory response to periodontal pathogens, which could be aggravated in the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Accumulating evidence highlights the intricate involvement of macrophage-mediated inflammation in the pathogenesis of periodontitis under both normal and T2DM conditions. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (AZGP1), a glycoprotein featuring an MHC-I domain, has been implicated in both inflammation and metabolic disorders. In this study, we found that AZGP1 was primarily colocalized with macrophages in periodontitis tissues. AZGP1 was increased in periodontitis compared with controls, which was further elevated when accompanied by T2DM. Adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression of Azgp1 in the periodontium significantly enhanced periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss, accompanied by elevated M1 macrophages and pyroptosis in murine models of periodontitis and T2DM-associated periodontitis, while Azgp1-/- mice exhibited opposite effects. In primary bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or LPS and palmitic acid (PA), overexpression or knockout of Azgp1 markedly upregulated or suppressed, respectively, the expression of macrophage M1 markers and key components of the NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3)/caspase-1 signaling. Moreover, conditioned medium from Azgp1-overexpressed macrophages under LPS or LPS+PA stimulation induced higher inflammatory activation and lower osteogenic differentiation in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). Furthermore, elevated M1 polarization and pyroptosis in macrophages and associated detrimental effects on hPDLSCs induced by Azgp1 overexpression could be rescued by NLRP3 or caspase-1 inhibition. Collectively, our study elucidated that AZGP1 could aggravate periodontitis by promoting macrophage M1 polarization and pyroptosis through the NLRP3/casapse-1 pathway, which was accentuated in T2DM-associated periodontitis. This finding deepens the understanding of AZGP1 in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and suggests AZGP1 as a crucial link mediating the adverse effects of diabetes on periodontal inflammation.

Comparison of fascia iliaca block with quadratus lumborum block for hip arthroplasty: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of fascia iliaca block (FIB) versus quadratus lumborum block (QLB) remains controversial for pain management of hip arthroplasty. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of FIB versus QLB on the postoperative pain intensity of hip arthroplasty.

METHODS

We have searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases through July 2023 for randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of FIB versus QLB on pain control of hip arthroplasty. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model or fixed-effect model based on the heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Four randomized controlled trials and 234 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with QLB for hip arthroscopy, FIB was associated with substantially lower pain scores at 2 hours (mean difference [MD] = -0.49; 95% CI = -0.63 to -0.35; P < .00001) and pain scores at 12 hours (MD = -0.81; 95% CI = -1.36 to -0.26; P = .004), but showed no impact on pain scores at 24 hours (MD = -0.21; 95% CI = -0.57 to 0.15; P = .25), time to first rescue analgesia (standard mean difference = 0.70; 95% CI = -0.59 to 1.99; P = .29), analgesic consumption (MD = -4.80; 95% CI = -16.57 to 6.97; P = .42), or nausea and vomiting (odd ratio = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.32-1.35; P = .25).

CONCLUSIONS

FIB may be better than QLB for pain control after hip arthroplasty, as evidenced by the lower pain scores at 2 and 24 hours.

[Application of bridging study design in preventive vaccine clinical trials]

Bridging study in vaccine clinical trials means a series of small-scale additional tests on the basis that the original safety and effectiveness of a vaccine have been confirmed in clinical trials, to prove that the characteristics of safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness of a vaccine are similar or consistent after component, population and immunization procedure change to other types which can extrapolate data from existing clinical trials. Compared with traditional vaccine clinical trials, bridging trials can promote the approval of vaccines to the market, accelerate the expansion of vaccine application, and promote the use of vaccines across regions and populations. In recent years, the application of bridge study design in vaccine clinical research has become more and more common. In order to better guide and promote the application of bridging trial design in the field of vaccine clinical research, we reviewed the design characteristics and application examples of bridging study design in vaccine clinical trials, and systematically elaborated the design ideas, key points and statistical evaluation methods of bridging study.

Preliminary view of the distribution and spread of the plasmid-mediated resistance genes in Glaesserella parasuis

Introduction. Various plasmid-mediated resistance genes have been reported in Glaesserella parasuis, but little is known about their global distribution features, evolution pattern and spread.Gap Statement. The potential mobilization mechanisms of resistance plasmids in G. parasuis have been poorly explored.Aim. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and diversity of plasmid-mediated resistance genes among G. parasuis isolates, and focus on the analysis of the features of the resistance plasmids from G. parasuis.Method. The plasmids tested were sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq platform in conjunction with PCR and inverted PCR. The susceptibility of the host strains was determined by broth microdilution. The transfer of plasmids tested was conducted by electroporation. The sequence data were compared using bioinformatics tools and the data from our laboratory and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database.Results. Nineteen plasmids were identified from our laboratory and these resistance plasmids were functional and transferable. Moreover, we clustered five types of genetic backbones of plasmids from G. parasuis and revealed the global distribution features of the plasmid-mediated resistance genes.Conclusions. This is the first report of the coexistence of tet(H)-bearing type I plasmid and lnu(C)-bearing type II plasmid in one G. parasuis clinical isolate. In addition, this study provides the first view of the global distribution of plasmid-mediated resistance genes and classifies the plasmids in G. parasuis according to their backbone regions.

Accelerating the Design of Multishell Upconverting Nanoparticles through Bayesian Optimization

The photon upconverting properties of lanthanide-doped nanoparticles drive their applications in imaging, optoelectronics, and additive manufacturing. To maximize their brightness, these upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are often synthesized as core/shell heterostructures. However, the large numbers of compositional and structural parameters in multishell heterostructures make optimizing optical properties challenging. Here, we demonstrate the use of Bayesian optimization (BO) to learn the structure and design rules for multishell UCNPs with bright ultraviolet and violet emission. We leverage an automated workflow that iteratively recommends candidate UCNP structures and then simulates their emission spectra using kinetic Monte Carlo. Yb3+/Er3+- and Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+-codoped UCNP nanostructures optimized with this BO workflow achieve 10- and 110-fold brighter emission within 22 and 40 iterations, respectively. This workflow can be expanded to structures with higher compositional and structural complexity, accelerating the discovery of novel UCNPs while domain-specific knowledge is being developed.

Antimicrobial Peptide MPX with Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Activity Promotes Proper Abscess Formation and Relieves Skin Inflammation

Bacteria have developed antibiotic resistance during the large-scale use of antibiotics, and multidrug-resistant strains are common. The development of new antibiotics or antibiotic substitutes has become an important challenge for humankind. MPX is a 14 amino acid peptide belonging to the MP antimicrobial peptide family. In this study, the antibacterial spectrum of the antimicrobial peptide MPX was first tested. The antimicrobial peptide MPX was tested for antimicrobial activity against the gram-positive bacterium S. aureus ATCC 25923, the gram-negative bacteria E. coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium CVCC541, and the fungus Candida albicans ATCC 90029. The results showed that MPX had good antibacterial activity against the above four strains, especially against E. coli, for which the MIC was as low as 15.625 μg/mL. The study on the bactericidal mechanism of the antimicrobial peptide revealed that MPX can destroy the integrity of the cell membrane, increase membrane permeability, and change the electromotive force of the membrane, thereby allowing the contents to leak out and mediating bacterial death. A mouse acute infection model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of MPX after acute infection of subcutaneous tissue by S. aureus. The study showed that MPX could promote tissue repair in S. aureus infection and alleviate lung damage caused by S. aureus. In addition, skin H&E staining showed that MPX treatment facilitated the formation of appropriate abscesses at the subcutaneous infection site and facilitated the clearance of bacteria by the skin immune system. The above results show that MPX has good antibacterial activity and broad-spectrum antibacterial potential and can effectively prevent the invasion of subcutaneous tissue by S. aureus, providing new ideas and directions for the immunotherapy of bacterial infections.

Preparation of a Stable Superhydrophobic Mortar Surface Using a One-Step Method

Research efforts have intensified on developing superhydrophobic surfaces on concrete structures to limit the damage caused by the natural porosity and hydrophilicity of cementitious materials. However, the feasibility idea is impeded by the complex preparation process and weak adhesion/stability performance. Therefore, superhydrophobic coatings were rapidly prepared on mortar surfaces by a straightforward and effective one-step method using zinc oxide (ZnO) modified with stearic acid and epoxy resin. The microstructure, physical/chemical properties, hydrophobic properties, and stability of the coatings were systematically investigated. The experimental results showed that the water contact angle of the samples reached a maximum value of 164.2° and a sliding angle of 4.6° when the stearic acid content was 0.5 g. The water absorption of the coated superhydrophobic mortar was reduced by approximately 61% compared to that of ordinary mortar, and neither particulate pollutants nor liquid pollutants could contaminate the superhydrophobic mortar. The coating maintained a superhydrophobic state and exhibited good physical durability after sandpaper abrasion, tape peeling, and high-temperature resistance tests. The water cluster diffusion coefficient on surface of the ordinary coating was 0.1645 × 10-4 and 0.0328 × 10-4 cm2/s on surface of the modified coating after molecular dynamics simulation.

Coexpression analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs identifies potential regulatory long noncoding RNAs involved in the inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide on bovine mammary epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

The infection of bovine mammary glands by pathogenic microorganisms not only causes animal distress but also greatly limits the development of the dairy industry and animal husbandry. A deeper understanding of the host's initial response to infection may increase the accuracy of selecting drug-resistant animals or facilitate the development of new preventive or therapeutic intervention strategies. In addition to their functions of milk synthesis and secretion, bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) play an irreplaceable role in the innate immune response. To better understand this process, the current study identified differentially expressed long noncoding lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs) and mRNAs (DE mRNAs) in BMECs exposed to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and further explored the functions and interactions of these lncRNAs and mRNAs.

RESULTS

In this study, transcriptome analysis was performed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and the functions of the DE mRNAs and DE lncRNAs were predicted by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Next, we constructed a modulation network to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions and roles of these lncRNAs and mRNAs in the context of LPS-induced inflammation. A total of 231 DE lncRNAs and 892 DE mRNAs were identified. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that pathways related to inflammation and the immune response were markedly enriched in the DE genes. In addition, research results have shown that cell death mechanisms, such as necroptosis and pyroptosis, may play key roles in LPS-induced inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the current study identified DE lncRNAs and mRNAs and predicted the signaling pathways and biological processes involved in the inflammatory response of BMECs that might become candidate therapeutic and prognostic targets for mastitis. This study also revealed several possible pathogenic mechanisms of mastitis.

Comprehensive bibliometric research in neuroscience: focusing on ophthalmology

Background

This study aimed to comprehensively summarize the knowledge structure and research hotspots of ophthalmology in the field of neuroscience through bibliometric and visual analysis.

Methods

We searched the Web of Science Core Collection database for articles from 2002 to 2021 related to ophthalmology in the field of neuroscience. Using VOSviewer and CiteSpace, bibliometric analysis was conducted on the number of annual ophthalmology publications, authors, organizations, countries, journals, cited references, keywords, and burst keywords.

Results

A total of 9,179 articles were published from 34,073 authors, 4,987 organizations, and 87 countries. The cited references in these articles were published in 23,054 journals. Moreover, there were 30,864 keywords among the 9,179 articles. Notably, scholars have increasingly begun paying attention to ophthalmology in the field of neuroscience in the past 20 years. Claudio Babiloni published the most articles. The University of Washington had the greatest number of articles. The United States, Germany, and England led in the number of articles published. The Journal of Neuroscience was the most cited. The article with the highest outbreak intensity was an article published by Maurizio Corbetta in Nature Reviews Neuroscience in 2002 entitled "Control of goal-directed and stimulus-driven attention in the brain." The most important keyword was the brain, and the top burst keyword was functional connectivity.

Conclusion

This study visualized ophthalmology research in the field of neuroscience through bibliometric analysis and predicted potential research trends in future to help clinicians and basic researchers provide diversified perspectives and further carry out in-depth research on ophthalmology.

The role of mitochondrial fission in intervertebral disc degeneration

Low back pain (LBP) is an extremely common disorder and is a major cause of disability globally. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the main contributor to LBP. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of IVDD remain unclear. Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that continuously undergo fusion and fission, known as mitochondrial dynamics. Accumulating evidence has revealed that aberrantly activated mitochondrial fission leads to mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction, which are involved in the development and progression of IVDD. To date, research into mitochondrial dynamics in IVDD is at an early stage. The present narrative review aims to summarize the most recent findings about the role of mitochondrial fission in the pathogenesis of IVDD.

Current progress in immunotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the highly prevalent malignant tumors and the most common type of ear, nose, and throat cancer. The exact cause of various cancer is still unclear; however, a diversity of risk factors for the development of nasopharyngeal cancer have been reported, including genetic changes, viral infection, and environmental factors, among which, Epstein-Barr-Virus plays an important role in the oncogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is highly malignant and prone to metastasis, while most of them are moderately sensitive to radiation therapy; hence, radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy is currently the standard treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, this combination therapy tends to cause more complications and tumor recurrence, which not only increases the financial burden to patients, but also adversely affects their physical and mental health. In recent years, immunotherapy has been emerging as a new strategy to treat malignant tumors including nasopharyngeal carcinoma and has achieved favorable results. The immunotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma can control or even eliminate tumor cells by inducing and enhancing the collective immune function. Currently, the main immunotherapeutic approaches for nasopharyngeal carcinoma include successive immune cell therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and tumor vaccines. However, the efficacy of immunotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma still require improvement. In this review, we summarized the current progress and efficacy of immunotherapy, particularly by targeting EVB, in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Comprehensive Analysis of lncRNA and mRNA Expression Profile of Macrophage RAW264.7 Stimulated by Antimicrobial Peptide BSN-37

BACKGROUND

BSN-37, a novel antimicrobial peptide (AMP) containing 37 amino acid residues isolated from the bovine spleen, has not only antibacterial activity but also immunomodulatory activity. Recent evidence shows that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in regulating the activation and function of immune cells. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the lncRNA and mRNA expression profile of mouse macrophages RAW264.7 stimulated by bovine antimicrobial peptide BSN-37.

METHODS

The whole gene expression microarray was used to detect the differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNA between antimicrobial peptide BSN-37 activated RAW264.7 cells and normal RAW264.7 cells. KEGG pathway analysis and GO function annotation analysis of differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNA were carried out. Eight kinds of lncRNAs and nine kinds of mRNA with large differences were selected for qRT-PCR verification, respectively.

RESULTS

In the current study, we found that 1294 lncRNAs and 260 mRNAs were differentially expressed between antibacterial peptide BSN-37 treatment and control groups. Among them, Bcl2l12, Rab44, C1s, Cd101 and other genes were associated with immune responses and were all significantly up-regulated. Mest and Prkcz are related to cell growth, and other genes are related to glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. In addition, some immune-related terms were also found in the GO and KEGG analyses. At the same time, real-time quantitative PCR was used to verify selected lncRNA and mRNA with differential expression. The results of qRT-PCR verification were consistent with the sequencing results, indicating that our data were reliable.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated by antimicrobial peptide BSN-37 and helps to provide a reference value for subsequent studies on lncRNA regulation of antimicrobial peptide BSN-37 immune function.

Testing alternative hypotheses on the origin and speciation of Hawaiian katydids

Background

Hawaiian Islands offer a unique and dynamic evolutionary theatre for studying origin and speciation as the islands themselves sequentially formed by erupting undersea volcanos, which would subsequently become dormant and extinct. Such dynamics have not been used to resolve the controversy surrounding the origin and speciation of Hawaiian katydids in the genus Banza, whose ancestor could be from either the Old-World genera Ruspolia and Euconocephalus, or the New World Neoconocephalus. To address this question, we performed a chronophylogeographic analysis of Banza species together with close relatives from the Old and New Worlds.

Results

Based on extensive dated phylogeographic analyses of two mitochondrial genes (COX1 and CYTB), we show that our data are consistent with the interpretation that extant Banza species resulted from two colonization events, both by katydids from the Old World rather than from the New World. The first event was by an ancestral lineage of Euconocephalus about 6 million years ago (mya) after the formation of Nihoa about 7.3 mya, giving rise to B. nihoa. The second colonization event was by a sister lineage of Ruspolia dubia. The dating result suggests that this ancestral lineage first colonized an older island in the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain before the emergence of Hawaii Islands, but colonized Kauai after its emergence in 5.8 mya. This second colonization gave rise to the rest of the Banza species in two major lineages, one on the older northwestern islands, and the other on the newer southwestern islands.

Conclusion

Chronophylogeographic analyses with well-sampled taxa proved crucial for resolving phylogeographic controversies on the origin and evolution of species colonizing a new environment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-02037-2.

The role and mechanisms of long non-coding RNA LINC00662 in promoting the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of BGC-823 and HGC-27 cells and the subsequent effect on the progression of gastric cancer

A large body of evidence indicates that long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) is widely involved in various cellular processes and tumor progression. LINC00662, an lncRNA, has been reported to play a role in lung cancer. However, the biological function of LINC00662 in gastric cancer (GC) has not yet been explored. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanisms of LINC00662 in promoting the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of BGC-823 and HGC-27 cells and the subsequent effect on the progression of GC. The expression level of LINC00662 in GC tissues and cells was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Small interfering RNA was used to silence LINC00662 in BGC-823 and HGC-27 GC cells in vitro for an MTT assay, a colony formation assay, and a transwell assay to determine cell proliferation and invasion ability. LINC00662-silenced BGC-823 and HGC-27 cells were also injected into zebrafish to detect the proliferation and invasion ability of the cells. Co-cultures in vitro of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with silenced LINC00662 and in vivo experiments were also performed. The upregulation of LINC00662 was observed in GC tissues and cell lines. Functional studies in vitro showed that knocking down LINC00662 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of GC cells. In vivo experiments in zebrafish also confirmed that knocked-down LINC00662 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of GC cells, and in vitro angiogenesis experiments showed that the supernatant of GC with knocked-down LINC00662 inhibited the angiogenesis of HUVECs. LINC00662 promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of GC cells and promoted angiogenesis. These findings suggest that LINC00662 may be a potential therapeutic target for GC.

Prospects and hot spots for mammalian target of rapamycin in the field of neuroscience from 2002 to 2021

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important molecule that regulates cell metabolism, growth, and proliferation in the nervous system. This study aimed to present the current study hot spots and predict the future development trend of the mTOR pathway in neurologic diseases using bibliometrics. We referred to the publications in the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewer and CiteSpace programs were used to evaluate countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and citations showing the current study focus and predicting the future trend of mTOR in neuroscience. The search date ended on 19 June 2022, and there were 3,029 articles on mTOR in neuroscience from 2002 to 2021. Visual analysis showed that although the number of publications declined slightly in some years, the number of publications related to mTOR generally showed an upward trend, reaching its peak in 2021. It had the largest number of publications in the United States. Keywords and literature analysis showed that protein synthesis regulation, ischemia, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation may be hot spots and future directions of the nervous system in mTOR studies. Recently, the most studied neurological diseases are Alzheimer’s disease (AD), tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), and depression, which are still worthy of further studies by researchers in the future. This can provide a useful reference for future researchers to study mTOR further in the field of neuroscience.

[Suppression of HMGB1 inhibits neuronal autophagy and apoptosis to improve neurological deficits in rats following intracerebral hemorrhage]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of suppressing high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on neuronal autophagy and apoptosis in rats after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats.

METHODS

Rat models of ICH induced by intracerebral striatum injection of 0.2 U/mL collagenase Ⅳ were treated with 1 mg/kg anti-HMGB1 mAb or a control anti-IgG mAb injected via the tail immediately and at 6 h after the operation (n=5). The rats in the sham-operated group (with intracranial injection of 2 μL normal saline) and ICH model group (n=5) were treated with PBS in the same manner after the operation. The neurological deficits of the rats were evaluated using modified neurological severity score (mNSS). TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis of the striatal neurons, and the expressions of HMGB1, autophagy-related proteins (Beclin-1, LC3-Ⅱ and LC3-Ⅰ) and apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved caspase-3) in the brain tissues surrounding the hematoma were detected using Western blotting. The expression of HMGB1 in the striatum was detected by immunohistochemistry, and serum level of HMGB1 was detected with ELISA.

RESULTS

The rat models of ICH showed significantly increased mNSS (P < 0.05), which was markedly lowered after treatment with anti- HMGB1 mAb (P < 0.05). ICH caused a significant increase of apoptosis of the striatal neurons (P < 0.05), enhanced the expressions of beclin-1, LC3-Ⅱ, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.05), lowered the expressions of LC3-Ⅰ and Bcl-2 (P < 0.05), and increased the content of HMGB1 (P < 0.05). Treatment with anti-HMGB1 mAb obviously lowered the apoptosis rate of the striatal neurons (P < 0.05), decreased the expressions of Beclin-1, LC3-Ⅱ, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.05), increased the expressions of LC3-Ⅰ and Bcl-2 (P < 0.05), and reduced the content of HMGB1 in ICH rats (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Down- regulation of HMGB1 by anti-HMGB1 improves neurological functions of rats after ICH possibly by inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis of the neurons.

P-380 Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveales that expression changes of the endometrium in repeated implantation failure are altered by HPV-mediated CXCL chemokine secretion

Study question

What are the mechanisms and molecular expression patterns of reduced endometrial receptivity in repeated implantation failure (RIF) after human papillomavirus (HPV) infection?

Summary answer

The single-cell transcriptomic analysis identifies the expression changes of endometrium in RIF via HPV-mediated CXCL chemokines secretion in single-cell resolution.

What is known already

Regardless of the advance of in vitro fertilization (IVF), RIF is still a formidable challenge for couples and physicians in clinical treatment. In infertile couples, a reduction in natural and assisted cumulative pregnancy rate and an increase in miscarriage rate are related to the HPV infection.

Study design, size, duration

Cross-sectional clinical studies with 322 infertile couples undergoing IVF were integrated to demonstrate the associations between HPV infection and reproductive outcomes (pregnancy rate and miscarriage). Descriptive analysis of single-cell transcriptome data of uteruses, and transcriptome profiles of mid-secretory endometrium from 16 healthy fertile women and 38 repeated IVF failure women were analyzed to identify the expression patterns of endometrium in RIF. In vitro assays were used to validate the expression patterns in endometrium.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

322 infertile couples, single-cell transcriptome data of uteruses (human and mouse), and transcriptome profiles of endometrium (16 normal vs. 38 RIF) were used to analyze the association between HPV infection and reduced endometrial receptivity. HPV genes (E1, E2, E4, and E5) were transfected into a human normal endometrial epithelial cell line (hEM3), and immunohistochemistry, Westerns, quantitative PCR were used to validate the changes of CXCL chemokines in the endometrium in vitro.

Main results and the role of chance

Integrated cross-sectional studies demonstrate that HPV+ women exhibit a decreased pregnancy rate (83.09%) as compared with HPV- women (55.17%, P &lt;0.001), and a higher miscarriage rate (62.5% vs. 16.7%, P &lt;0.001) and the relative risk of spontaneous abortion (odd ratio=2.84, P &lt;0.0001) were observed in HPV+ women. Transcriptome profiling analysis identified the enrichment of the processes related to viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, especially in the CXCL chemokine family. Further analysis of single-cell transcriptome demonstrated that the changed expression patterns were associated with endometrial epithelial cells and immune cells, including macrophage dendritic cells, monocytes, and granulocytes. Moreover, in vitro assays validated the HPV-mediated CXCL chemokines secretion, which played the role in recruiting immune cells.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The current findings are based on the single-cell profiling analysis in normal endometrium. In addition, the in vivo response of the HPV infection may differ from the in vitro assay, which should be validated in the HPV infection couples.

Wider implications of the findings

Our study demonstrated the expression changes of endometrium in RIF via HPV-mediated CXCL chemokines secretion, which provided insight into the mechanisms of HPV-induced reduced endometrial receptivity in single-cell resolution.

Trial registration number

not applicable

The Antimicrobial Peptide MPX Can Kill Staphylococcus aureus, Reduce Biofilm Formation, and Effectively Treat Bacterial Skin Infections in Mice

Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen that can cause pneumonia and a variety of skin diseases. Skin injuries have a high risk of colonization by S. aureus, which increases morbidity and mortality. Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, antimicrobial peptides are considered to be among the best alternatives to antibiotics due to their unique mechanism of action and other characteristics. MPX is an antibacterial peptide extracted from wasp venom that has antibacterial activity against a variety of bacteria. This study revealed that MPX has good bactericidal activity against S. aureus and that its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is 0.08 μM. MPX (4×MIC) can kill 99.9% of bacteria within 1 h, and MPX has good stability. The research on the bactericidal mechanism found that MPX could destroy the membrane integrity, increase the membrane permeability, change the membrane electromotive force, and cause cellular content leakage, resulting in bactericidal activity. Results from a mouse scratch model experiment results show that MPX can inhibit colonization by S. aureus, which reduces the wound size, decreases inflammation, and promotes wound healing. This study reports the activity of MPX against S. aureus and its mechanism and reveals the ability of MPX to treat S. aureus infection in mice, laying the foundation for the development of new drugs for bacterial infections.

Regulated lytic cell death in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a very common cancer among women and one of the primary causes of death in women worldwide. Because BC has different molecular subtypes, the challenges associated with targeted therapy have increased significantly, and the identification of new therapeutic targets has become increasingly urgent. Blocking apoptosis and inhibiting cell death are important characteristics of malignant tumours, including BC. Under adverse conditions, including exposure to antitumour therapy, inhibition of cell death programmes can promote cancerous transformation and the survival of cancer cells. Therefore, inducing cell death in cancer cells is fundamentally important and provides new opportunities for potential therapeutic interventions. Lytic forms of cell death, primarily pyroptosis, necroptosis and ferroptosis, are different from apoptosis owing to their characteristic lysis, that is, the production of cellular components, to guide beneficial immune responses, and the application of lytic cell death (LCD) in the field of tumour therapy has attracted considerable interest from researchers. The latest clinical research results confirm that lytic death signalling cascades involve the BC cell immune response and resistance to therapies used in clinical practice. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the various forms of LCD, placing a special emphasis on signalling pathways and their implications in BC, which may facilitate the development of novel and optimal strategies for the clinical treatment of BC.

Increased antitumor efficacy of ginsenoside Rh2 via mixed micelles: in vivo and in vitro evaluation

The aim of this work is to apply Solutol^® HS15 and TPGS to prepare self-assembled micelles loading with ginsenoside Rh₂ to increase the solubility of ginsenoside Rh₂, hence, improving the antitumor efficacy. Ginsenoside Rh₂-mixed micelles (Rh₂-M) were prepared by thin film dispersion method. The optimal Rh₂-M was characterized by particle size, morphology, and drug encapsulation efficiency. The enhancement of in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of Rh₂-M was evaluated by nude mice bearing tumor model. The solubility of Rh₂ in self-assembled micelles was increased approximately 150-folds compared to free Rh₂. In vitro results demonstrated that the particle size of Rh₂-M is 74.72 ± 2.63 nm(PDI = 0.147 ± 0.15), and the morphology of Rh₂-M is spherical or spheroid, and the EE% and LE% are 95.27 ± 1.26% and 7.68 ± 1.34%, respectively. The results of in vitro cell uptake and in vivo imaging showed that Rh₂-M could not only increase the cell uptake of drugs, but also transport drug to tumor sites, prolonging the retention time. In vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor results showed that the anti-tumor effect of Rh₂ can be effectively improved by Rh₂-M. Therefore, Solutol^® HS15 and TPGS could be used to entrapping Rh₂ into micelles, enhancing solubility and antitumor efficacy.

Analysis of risk factors of PICC-related bloodstream infection in newborns: implications for nursing care

Background

It is necessary to analyze the characteristics and risk factors of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) in newborns with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC).

Methods

Newborns undergoing PICC catheterization in the neonatal department of our hospital from January 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021 were included. The characteristics of newborns with and without CRBSI newborns were compared and analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors of CRBSI in newborns with PICC.

Results

Three hundred eighty-six newborns with PICC were included, of whom 41 newborns had the CRBSI, the incidence of CRBSI in newborns with PICC was 10.62%. There were significant differences regarding the birth weight, durations of PICC stay, 5-min Apgar score, site of PICC insertion of PICC between CRBSI and no CRBSI group (all P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences regarding the gender, gestational age, cesarean section, mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay between CRBSI and no CRBSI group (all P > 0.05). Escherichia coli (26.08%) and Staphylococcus aureus (23.92%) were the most common CRBSI pathogens in newborns with PICC. Logistic regression analysis indicated that birth weight ≤ 1500 g (OR 1.923, 95% CI 1.135–2.629), durations of PICC stay ≥ 21 days (OR 2.077, 95% CI 1.024–3.431), 5-min Apgar score ≤ 7 (OR 2.198, 95% CI 1.135–3.414) and femoral vein insertion of PICC (OR 3.044, 95% CI 1.989–4.306) were the independent risk factors of CRBSI in neonates with PICC (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

For newborns with low birth weight, longer durations of PICC stay and femoral vein PICC insertion, they may have higher risks of CRBSI, and medical staff should take targeted measures to reduce the development of CRBSI.

The Antimicrobial Peptide Mastoparan X Protects Against Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection, Inhibits Inflammation, and Enhances the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier

Escherichia coli can cause intestinal diseases in humans and livestock, destroy the intestinal barrier, exacerbate systemic inflammation, and seriously threaten human health and animal husbandry development. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the antimicrobial peptide mastoparan X (MPX) was effective against E. coli infection. BALB/c mice infected with E. coli by intraperitoneal injection, which represents a sepsis model. In this study, MPX exhibited no toxicity in IPEC-J2 cells and notably suppressed the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released by E. coli. In addition, MPX improved the expression of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin and enhanced the wound healing of IPEC-J2 cells. The therapeutic effect of MPX was evaluated in a murine model, revealing that it protected mice from lethal E. coli infection. Furthermore, MPX increased the length of villi and reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the jejunum. SEM and TEM analyses showed that MPX effectively ameliorated the jejunum damage caused by E. coli and increased the number and length of microvilli. In addition, MPX decreased the expression of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, p-p38, and p-p65 in the jejunum and colon. Moreover, MPX increased the expression of ZO-1, occludin, and MUC2 in the jejunum and colon, improved the function of the intestinal barrier, and promoted the absorption of nutrients. This study suggests that MPX is an effective therapeutic agent for E. coli infection and other intestinal diseases, laying the foundation for the development of new drugs for bacterial infections.

Toward improved human health: efficacy of dietary selenium on immunity at the cellular level

Selenium, an essential trace element in the body, participates in various biological processes in the form of selenoproteins. In humans, a suitable concentration of selenium is essential for maintaining normal cellular function. Decreased levels of selenoproteins can lead to obstruction of the normal physiological functions of tissues and cells and even death. In addition, the level of selenium in the body affects cellular immunity, humoral immunity, and the balance between type 2 and type 1 helper T cells. Selenium can affect the immune function of the body through the reactive oxygen species (ROS), NF-κB, ferroptosis and NRF2 pathways. This paper reviews the immune effect of selenium on the body and the process of signal transduction and aims to serve as a reference for follow-up studies of immune function and research on the development of new selenium compounds and active targets.

Quantum Point Defects for Solid-State Laser Refrigeration

Herein, the role that point defects have played over the last two decades in realizing solid-state laser refrigeration is discussed. A brief introduction to the field of solid-state laser refrigeration is given with an emphasis on the fundamental physical phenomena and quantized electronic transitions that have made solid-state laser-cooling possible. Lanthanide-based point defects, such as trivalent ytterbium ions (Yb³⁺ ), have played a central role in the first demonstrations and subsequent development of advanced materials for solid-state laser refrigeration. Significant discussion is devoted to the quantum mechanical description of optical transitions in lanthanide ions, and their influence on laser cooling. Transition-metal point defects have been shown to generate substantial background absorption in ceramic materials, decreasing the overall efficiency of a particular laser refrigeration material. Other potential color centers based on fluoride vacancies with multiple potential charge states are also considered. In conclusion, novel materials for solid-state laser refrigeration, including color centers in diamond that have recently been proposed to realize the solid-state laser refrigeration of semiconducting materials, are discussed.

Therapeutic efficacy of zoledronic acid combined with calcitriol in elderly patients receiving total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty for osteoporotic femoral neck fracture

Zoledronic acid could improve the clinical outcome in elderly patients receiving total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty for osteoporotic femoral neck fracture in the 1-year prospective study.

INTRODUCTION

To validate the therapeutic efficacy of zoledronic acid (ZOL) in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture who received total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hemiarthroplasty (HA).

METHODS

Included in this study were 95 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures who received THA/HA between August 2015 and June 2018. They were randomized into a ZOL group and a control group. Patients in ZOL group received a yearly single dose of 5 mg ZOL intravenous injection plus 0.5 μg/day calcitriol and 1000 mg/day calcium carbonate 2 days before THA or HA. Patients in the control group were treated with the same dose of calcitriol and calcium carbonate only without ZOL. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bone metabolism markers including the total extension of the peptide type I collagen amino end (P1NP) and beta collagen degradation product (β-CTX) were obtained by serum examination. The postoperative functional outcome was assessed using Harris Hip Score (HHS).

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, BMD in the ZOL group was improved and significantly higher than that in the control group at 6 and 12 months post-operation. Bone metabolism markers P1NP and β-CTX in ZOL group remained at a relatively low level as compared with that in the control group at 6 months after treatment. No significant difference in the mean HHS and the excellent/good rate of joint function was observed during the follow-up period between the two groups. The occurrence of adverse events in the ZOL group was significantly higher than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

A single infusion of ZOL shows promise in improving BMD of the healthy side of the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and total hip and decreasing the level of bone markers, which may improve the clinical outcome of patients with osteoporotic femoral neck fractures receiving THA/HA.