POEMS syndrome is a rare condition associated with plasma cell disorders， and it often involves multiple systems and has diverse clinical manifestations. This article reports two cases of POEMS syndrome with hepatosplenomegaly as the initial manifestation. During the course of the disease， the patients presented with lower limb weakness， hepatosplenomegaly， lymph node enlargement， ascites， hypothyroidism， positive M protein， and skin hyperpigmentation， and ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT imaging revealed bone lesions mainly characterized by osteolytic changes and plasma cell tumors. There was an increase in the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor. The patients were finally diagnosed with POEMS syndrome， and the symptoms were relieved after immunomodulatory treatment.

BACKGROUND: Double-stranded RNA-specific adenosine deaminase 1 (ADAR1) binds to double-stranded RNA and catalyzes the deamination of adenosine (A) to inosine (I). The functional mechanism of ADAR1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of ADAR1 in NSCLC and to elucidate its potential role in regulating tumor cell proliferation and migration. METHODS: Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and cBioPortal were analyzed to assess the correlation between high ADAR1 expression and clinicopathological features as well as prognosis in lung cancer. We performed Western blot (WB), cell proliferation assays, Transwell invasion/migration assays, and nude mouse xenograft modeling to examine the phenotypic changes and molecular mechanisms induced by ADAR1 knockdown. Furthermore, the ADAR1 p150 overexpression model was utilized to validate the proposed mechanism. RESULTS: ADAR1 expression was significantly elevated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) tissues compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues (LUAD: P=3.70×10-15, LUSC: P=0.016). High ADAR1 expression was associated with poor prognosis (LUAD: P=2.03×10-2, LUSC: P=2.81×10-2) and distant metastasis (P=0.003). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) indicated that elevated ADAR1 was associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway activation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression, and cell adhesion. ADAR1 and MMP-9 levels showed a strongly positive correlation (P=6.45×10-34) in 10 lung cancer cell lines, highest in H1581. Knockdown of ADAR1 in H1581 cells induced a rounded cellular morphology with reduced pseudopodia. Concomitantly, it suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and in vivo tumorigenesis. It also suppressed ERK phosphorylation and downregulated cellular Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog (c-FOS), MMP-9, N-cadherin, and Vimentin. Conversely, ADAR1 p150 overexpression in PC9 cells enhanced ERK phosphorylation and increased c-FOS and MMP-9 expression. CONCLUSIONS High ADAR1 expression is closely associated with poor prognosis and distant metastasis in NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, ADAR1 may promote proliferation, invasion, migration, and tumorigenesis in lung cancer cells via the ERK/c-FOS/MMP-9 axis.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Adenosine Deaminase/genetics* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/physiopathology* ; Cell Movement ; Animals ; Mice ; RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Female ; Male ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Mice, Nude ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/genetics*

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is a multifunctional protein involved in diverse cellular functions, notably DNA damage repair. Pharmacological inhibition of PARP1 has therapeutic benefits for various pathologies. Despite the increased use of PARP inhibitors, challenges persist in achieving PARP1 selectivity and effective blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. The development of a PARP1-specific positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand is crucial for understanding disease biology and performing target occupancy studies, which may aid in the development of PARP1-specific inhibitors. In this study, we leverage the recently identified PARP1 inhibitor, AZD9574, to introduce the design and development of its ¹⁸F-isotopologue ([¹⁸F]AZD9574). Our comprehensive approach, encompassing pharmacological, cellular, autoradiographic, and in vivo PET imaging evaluations in non-human primates, demonstrates the capacity of [¹⁸F]AZD9574 to specifically bind to PARP1 and to successfully penetrate the BBB. These findings position [¹⁸F]AZD9574 as a viable molecular imaging tool, poised to facilitate the exploration of pathophysiological changes in PARP1 tissue abundance across various diseases.

ObjectiveTo identify the active components in Maimendong decoction (MMDD) against pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and validate their molecular effects in vitro, while focusing on the role of methylophiopogonanone B in regulating fibrosis.MethodsData on MMDD components and targets were gathered from databases including BATMAN-TCM and PubMed, whereas the PF gene data were sourced from GeneCards, OMIM, and TTD. Shared targets were determined using the STRING database, and molecular docking was used to analyze the essential molecules associated with fibrosis. To simulate PF conditions, human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HPF) and A549 cells were exposed to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Various assays were used to determine the effects of MMDD and methylophiopogonanone B on signaling pathways, apoptosis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition.ResultsWe identified 11 active components from MMDD extracts that targeted 511 shared proteins associated with PF, revealing 10 key targets in network analysis. Gene ontology analysis indicated that processes and pathways such as apoptosis regulation and PI3K/Akt signaling were involved. In vitro experiments revealed that MMDD downregulated the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen type I (COL-I), and collagen type III and regulated Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathways to promote apoptosis. The flow cytometry apoptosis assay revealed that MMDD promoted the TGF-β1-induced apoptosis of myofibroblasts. The primary active ingredient in MMDD, methylophiopogonanone B, reduced α-SMA, COL-I, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR-related protein levels in TGF-β1-treated HPF cells, decreased Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase 3, and increased Bax. Moreover, methylophiopogonanone B increased E-cadherin levels and reduced α-SMA, fibronectin, N-cadherin, vimentin, and snail in TGF-β1-treated A549 cells.ConclusionMethylophiopogonanone B demonstrated the potential to treat PF by inducing myofibroblast apoptosis and inhibiting EMT. However, despite encouraging initial results, further clinical research is warranted to verify the safety and efficacy of methylophiopogonanone B in the management of PF

BACKGROUND: The choice of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) vs . total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the surgical treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remains controversial. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the clinical results of UKA and TKA for treating unicompartmental KOA. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for articles published up to January 2, 2023. The literature was rigorously screened to include only RCTs comparing UKA and TKA for unicompartmental KOA. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to calculate the mean difference (MD), relative risk (RR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) according to the Cochrane standards. RESULTS: Thirteen publications involving 683 UKAs and 683 TKAs were analyzed. Except for one study with a follow-up period of 15 years, all outcome measures reported were within 5 years of follow-up. Meta-analysis showed better knee recovery (MD: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.01-1.45; P  <0.001), greater knee function (MD: 1.78; 95% CI: 0.34-3.22; P  = 0.020), less pain (MD: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.43-1.06; P  <0.001), and better health status (MD: 3.75; 95% CI: 0.81-6.69; P  = 0.010) after UKA than TKA. However, considering the minimal clinically important difference values for these variables, the findings were not clinically relevant. Moreover, UKA patients had fewer complications (RR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.45-0.78; P  <0.001) and shorter hospital stays (MD: -0.89; 95% CI: -1.57 to -0.22; P  = 0.009) than did TKA patients. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of postoperative range of movement, revision, failure, operation time, and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS In terms of clinical efficacy, there was no obvious advantage of UKA over TKA in the surgical treatment of knee OA when considering the minimal clinically important difference. The main advantage of UKA over TKA is that it leads to fewer complications and a shorter length of hospital stay. It is ideal to perform prospective studies with longer follow-up periods to fully evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of the two procedures in the future.
Humans ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To explore the effects and safety of Qigong Pills in IVF-ET outcome of PCOS infertility patients with phlegm-dampness type.Methods:A randomized controlled trial study was carried out. In the Reproductive and Genetic Medicine Center of Dalian Women and Children Medical Center (Group) from January 2021 to December 2023, 60 patients with sputum and damp-induced PCOS infertility assisted by in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups by block randomization method, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in both groups took ethinylestradiol cyproterone tablets orally on the 2nd to 5th day of the 1st menstrual cycle before IVF-ET cycle, and received down-regulation treatment on the 18th to 20th day of menstruation. After confirming that the down-regulation standard was reached, Qigong Pills was added to the treatment group, and placebo was taken orally until the trigger day. Two groups of patients underwent transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovarian aspiration after injection of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for 24-36 h. The total amount of Gn, the days of Gn, the endometrial thickness of HCG, the number of eggs obtained, the rate of diprokaryotic (2PN) fertilization, the number of transferable embryos, the number of high-quality embryos, the rate of high-quality embryos, the incidence of OHSS and the clinical pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups.Results:Among the 60 patients, 28 cases in the final treatment group and 27 cases in the control group were included in the outcome index evaluation. During controlled hyperstimulation (COH), the total Gn [2 025 (1 575, 2 325) U vs. 2 700 (2 025, 3 150) U, Z=-3.67] and the number of Gn days of the treatment group [10 (8,11) d vs. 11 (9,13) d, Z=-2.31] were lower than those in control group ( P<0.001 or P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in endometrial thickness between 2 groups on HCG day ( P>0.05); the number of high-quality embryos [3 (3, 4) vs. 2 (2, 3), Z=0.11] and the rate of high-quality embryos [46.28% (87/188) vs. 35.19% (57/162), Z=4.42] in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group ( P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the number of eggs obtained, the fertilization rate of 2PN and the number of transferable embryos between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of OHSS was 3.6% (1/28) in the treatment group and 11.1% (3/27) in the control group, without statistical significance ( P=0.352). The clinical pregnancy rate was 53.6% (15/28) in the treatment group and 37.0% (10/27) in the control group, without statistical significance ( P=0.218). There was no significant difference in the safety indexes of liver and kidney function between 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Qigong Pills combined with IVF-ET can effectively reduce the total amount of Gn and the number of days of treatment in PCOS infertility patients with phlegm-dampness type, increase the number and rate of high-quality embryos, and improve the outcome of IVF-ET, and it is safe and effective.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the application value of narrow-band CE-Chirp ASSR(NB CE-Chirp ASSR)and modulated acoustic ASSR in the assessment of hearing threshold in children with hearing impairment.METHODS Forty-eight children with sensorineural hearing loss were tested by pure tone audiometry(PTA),NB CE-Chirp ASSR and modulated acoustic ASSR.According to the results of pure tone audiometry,they were divided into mild to moderate group(48 ears)and severe to profound group(48 ears).The difference and correlation between pure tone hearing threshold and ASSR response threshold of different stimuli were compared between 500-4 000 Hz.RESULTS The absolute differences between the NB CE-Chirp ASSR response threshold and the PTA threshold in 48 children were all smaller than the differences between the modulated acoustic ASSR response threshold and the PTA threshold,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.001).Under the same stimulus sound,the absolute difference between ASSR response threshold and pure tone hearing threshold in the mild to moderate group was higher than that in the severe to very severe group.The correlation coefficients between NB CE-Chirp ASSR threshold and pure tone hearing threshold are higher than those between modulated sound ASSR threshold and pure tone hearing threshold at 500-4 000 Hz.The test time of NB CE-Chirp ASSR[(20.92±9.33)min]was significantly shorter than that of modulated acoustic ASSR[(33.68±10.97)min](P=0.004).CONCLUSION NB CE-Chirp ASSR can more accurately assess the hearing threshold of children with different degrees of hearing loss than modulated acoustic ASSR.

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture on the motor function of Parkinson disease(PD)model mice and to investigate the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture on PD from the perspective of cellular senescence.Methods:C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal control(NC)group,a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)group,an acupuncture(ACU)group,and a rasagiline(RAS)group,with 6 mice in each group.Except for the mice in the NC group,all mice were injected intraperitoneally with MPTP[30 mg/(kg·bw)]to establish a PD mouse model.After the models were successfully established,mice in the ACU group received acupuncture at Baihui(GV20)and bilateral Yanglingquan(GB34)for 15 min,once a day for 14 consecutive days.Mice in the RAS group were treated with gavage of rasagiline mesylate[0.5 mg/(kg·bw)],once daily for 14 d.Mouse balance and motor functions were detected using the mouse fatigue rotating rod apparatus.Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the number of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)-positive neurons and the protein expression levels of special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1(SATB1),p21,and p53 in the substantia nigra(SN)region of the mouse brain in each group.The glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity of mouse brain SN tissue was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The protein expression levels of interleukin(IL)-6 and senescence-associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-gal)in the SN tissue of mice in each group were detected by Western blotting.The relative expression of SATB1,p21,and p53 mRNA in the SN of each group was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:Compared to the NC group,the overall rod performance(ORP)score,the number of TH-positive neurons,and GSH-Px activity in the SN region were significantly lower in the mice in the MPTP group(P<0.01);compared to the MPTP group,the ORP score,the number of TH-positive neurons,and GSH-Px activity were significantly increased in the ACU group and the RAS group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared to the NC group,the protein levels of IL-6 and SA-β-gal in the SN tissue,the protein and mRNA expression levels of p21 and p53 were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared to the MPTP group,the protein levels of IL-6 and SA-β-gal in the SN tissue,the protein and mRNA expression levels of p21 and p53 were significantly decreased in the ACU group and the RAS group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared to the NC group,the relative expression of SATB1 protein and mRNA in the SN of mice in the MPTP group was significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared to mice in the MPTP group,mice in the ACU group and the RAS group showed significant increases in the relative expression of SATB1 protein and mRNA(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture can improve motor function and increase the number of TH-positive neurons in the SN of PD model mice.Its neuroprotective effect may relate to the regulation of the SATB1/p21 signaling pathway and the inhibition of cellular senescence-related biomarker expression in the SN.

Objective:To identify proteins associated with the risk of gastric cancer (GC) and build a protein risk score for risk prediction of GC based on proteomic analysis.Methods:Gastric mucosal proteomics data were used to construct Dataset One, comprising 94 GC cases and 230 individuals with different stages of gastric mucosal lesions. The GC cases were recruited from the National Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Early Detection (UGCED) Program in Linqu, Shandong Province, as well as clinical patients from the Fifth Medical Center, General Hospital of PLA, and Peking University Cancer Hospital. Non-cancer individuals were enrolled from the National UGCED Program in Linqu and community screening programs at the Dongfang Hospital. All participants were pathologically confirmed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify gastric mucosal proteins significantly associated with GC risk. Subsequently, plasma proteomics data from the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project (UKB-PPP) were used to construct Dataset Two, including 40 baseline GC cases and 47 933 non-cancer individuals, and Dataset Three, comprising 138 incident GC cases and 47 933 non-cancer individuals during a prospective follow-up period. In Dataset Two, multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess associations between plasma protein levels and baseline GC risk. In Dataset Three, multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to examine associations with the risk of incident GC. A poly-protein risk score (PRS) was developed using a weighted summation method based on protein effect sizes from Dataset Two. Its associations with GC risk and the progression of gastric mucosal lesions were evaluated using linear regression trend tests.Results:A total of 324, 47 973 and 48 071 participants were included in Datasets One, Two, and Three, respectively. Across the three datasets, the proportions of males and individuals aged>60 years were higher in the GC group than in the non-GC group (all P values<0.05). The follow-up period in Dataset Three had a M ( P 25, P 75) of 14.47 (13.7, 15.2) years, with a median of 7.4 (4.6, 11.3) years for those who progressed to GC. Based on Dataset One, 2 524 tissue-differential proteins associated with GC risk were identified through multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex. Among these, seven proteins were consistently associated with GC risk across tissue and plasma levels in Datasets Two and Three, with consistent directions of association. Five proteins (MRC1, APOL1, BST2, PON2, and GGH) were positively associated with GC risk, while two (GSN and CLEC3B) were negatively associated. Analysis of the PRS based on these seven proteins showed that for each standard deviation increase in the tissue-derived PRS, the risk of GC increased by 6.26 times (95% CI: 4.02-9.75). In Dataset Two, each standard deviation increase in the plasma-derived PRS was associated with a 2.13-fold increase in GC risk (95% CI: 1.68-2.69). In the prospective cohort of Dataset Three, individuals in the high PRS group had a 2.27-fold higher risk of GC compared to the low PRS group (95% CI: 1.50-3.45). Moreover, each standard deviation increase in the plasma PRS was associated with a 57% higher risk of GC ( HR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.34-1.84). Additionally, the tissue-derived PRS showed an increasing trend with the progression of gastric mucosal lesions. Conclusion:The tissue and plasma proteomics identified seven individual proteins that may indicate the risk of developing gastric cancer, showing the potential as biomarkers for aiding in the screening of gastric cancer.