OBJECTIVES: Pyroptosis plays a critical role in tubulointerstitial lesions of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion and may be closely related to DKD, but its specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of ANXA2 in high glucose-induced pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, providing new targets for DKD prevention and treatment. METHODS: Human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells were divided into a normal glucose group (5.5 mmol/L), a high glucose group (30.0 mmol/L), and a osmotic control group (24.5 mmol/L mannitol+5.5 mmol/L glucose). ANXA2 expression was modulated by overexpression of plasmids and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Cell proliferation was measured by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry, and ANXA2, p50, and p65 subcellular localization by immunofluorescence. Western blotting was employed to detect α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), and collagen type IV (Col-IV). Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to analyze nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) subunits p50/p65 and the pyroptosis pathway factors NLR family Pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, inferleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18. Protein interactions between ANXA2 and p50/p65 were examined by co-immunoprecipitation, while chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to examine NF-κB binding to the ANXA2 promoter. RESULTS: High glucose upregulated ANXA2 expression and promoted its nuclear translocation (P<0.01). High glucose reduced cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and elevated α-SMA, FN, and Col-IV expression (all P<0.05); ANXA2 overexpression aggravated these effects (all P<0.05), while ANXA2 knockdown reversed them (all P<0.05). High glucose activated NF-κB and increased NLRP3, caspase-1, L-1β, and IL-18 mRNA and protein expression (all P<0.05); ANXA2 overexpression further enhanced this, whereas knockdown suppressed NF-κB activation and downstream factors (all P<0.05). Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed ANXA2 directly binds the NF-κB subunit p65. ChIP assays revealed p65 binds specifically to ANXA2 promoter regions (ChIP-2, ChIP-4, and ChIP-6), and luciferase activity in corresponding mutant constructs (M2, M4, and M6) was significantly increased versus controls (all P<0.05), confirming positive transcriptional regulation of ANXA2 by p65. CONCLUSIONS ANXA2 and NF-κB form a positive feedback loop that sustains NLRP3 inflammasome activation, promotes pyroptosis pathway activation, and aggravates high glucose-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury. Targeting ANXA2 or blocking its interaction with p65 may be a novel strategy to slow DKD progression.
Humans ; Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Annexin A2/physiology* ; Epithelial Cells/cytology* ; Kidney Tubules/cytology* ; Glucose/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Feedback, Physiological

The unique characteristics of the deep space environment, microgravity, cosmic radiation, and extreme temperature fluctuations, are emerging as major driving forces for pharmaceutical innovation. These factors provide new avenues for optimizing drug formulations, improving crystal structure quality, and accelerating the discovery of therapeutic targets. Advances in deep space research not only help overcome critical bottlenecks in terrestrial drug development but also promote progress in structure-based drug design and deepen understanding of cellular stress-response mechanisms. Current progress in space-based pharmaceutical research primarily includes the study of disease mechanisms under microgravity, protein crystallization in microgravity, and drug development utilizing deep space radiation and resources. However, the operational complexity, high costs, and limited data reproducibility of space experiments remain key challenges hindering widespread application. Looking ahead, with the integration of automation, artificial intelligence analysis, and on-orbit manufacturing, deep space drug development is expected to achieve greater scalability and precision, opening a new frontier in biopharmaceutical science.
Drug Design ; Drug Development/methods* ; Humans ; Weightlessness ; Space Flight ; Artificial Intelligence ; Extraterrestrial Environment

Transcatheter left ventricular assist pump (LVAP) is widely used in cardiogenic shock, post-circulatory hypoperfusion syndrome and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and its application scenarios cover various complex environments such as ICU, operating room, emergency department and catheterization room. It is important to quickly and accurately implant the transcatheter LVAP and monitor its position in real time. This paper reported 2 male patients with high-risk PCI, aged 47 and 45 years, both with triple coronary artery disease and reduced ejection fraction (<35%). The domestically produced transcatheter LVAP was implanted using an echocardiography guidance technology system, and PCI treatment was performed under the assistance of the interventional pump. The operation was smooth, and the interventional pump assisted for 1 h in 2 patients, and the pump was successfully removed. There were no obvious complications related to the pump and PCI after the operation, and the patients were discharged smoothly.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of unilateral arytenoid chondroplasty combined with minimally invasive mucosal flap plasty in the management bilateral vocal cord paralysis.Methods:A total of 66 patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis hospitalized in the First Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2018 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, among whom there were 8 males and 58 females, with ages ranging from 35 to 86 years old(mean age (57.8±11.6) years). All patients underwent suspension laryngoscopic CO 2 laser unilateral arytenoid chondroplasty and mucosal flap under general anesthesia. Postoperative follow-up period extended from 6 months to 6 years, with a median duration of 28 months. The study compared the degree of dyspnea and voice quality (subjective and objective evaluation) of the patients pre- and post-operatively, and analyzed the clinical differences between patients with and without preoperative or intraoperative tracheotomy, the extubation rate of tracheotomized patients, the recurrence rate, and the complication rate. Continuous variables conforming to normal distribution were tested by t-test and categorical variables by χ2 test,the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to analyze the improvement in dyspnea before and after surgery. Results:Compared with the preoperative period, 59 patients showed improvement in postoperative dyspnea ( U=161.5, P<0.01); there was no significant difference in voice disorder index 10, subjective auditory-perceptual assessment, and maximal vocalization time ( P>0.05), all of which remained within the relative normal range. Tracheotomy was performed in 32 out of 66 patients, with predominantly degree Ⅲ- dyspnea (46.9%, 15/32), including 26 patients with preoperative tracheotomy and 6 patients with intraoperative tracheotomy. Among the 34 patients who did not undergo tracheotomy, the majority presented with degree Ⅱ-dyspnea (82.4%, 28/34). All patients achieved successful extubation following surgery, with a mean median time to extubation of 1 month. Conclusions:The combination of unilateral arytenoid chondroplasty and minimally invasive mucosal flap plasty represents a refined and effective therapeutic approach for bilateral vocal cord paralysis. This minimally invasive technique has the potential to reduce the rate of tracheotomy.

Objective To investigate the value of combining preoperative magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and postoperative pathological assessment of lymph node metastasis in predicting overall survival in rectal cancer patients.Methods This retrospective study collected clinical,pathological and image information of 2610 patients histopathologically confirmed with rectal adenocarcinoma at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2016 and December 2021.All patients underwent MRI scans and were divided into three groups according to lymph node status assessed by preoperative MRI(MRIN)and postoperative pathology(PN):MRIN+but PN-(MRIN+group),PN+but MRIN-(PN+group),MRIN+and PN+(MRI-PN+group).Inverse probability weighting(IPW)was used to adjust for confounding factors.Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate overall survival and log-rank tests were used to compare the difference.Univariate Cox regression models were used to analyze the correlation between tumor characteristics and overall survival,and bidirectional stepwise Cox regression models were used to identify independent risk factors for overall survival.Results The MRI-PN+group showed higher tumor staging,more frequent perineural invasion,more distant metastases,and a higher risk of death compared to the P N+group and MRIN+group(all P＜0.05).Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the 3-year survival rates for the MRIN+group,PN+group,and MRI-PN+group were 90.5%,79.1%,and 76.4%,respectively;the 5-year survival rates were 85.7%,71.5%,and 59.2%,respectively.Stepwise Cox regression showed that age,tumor location,carcino-embryonic antigen,carbohydrate antigen 19-9,lymph nodes number,pathological tumor stage,lymphovascular invasion,perineural invasion,distant metastasis,neoadjuvant therapy and adjuvant therapy,and MRI-pathology lymph node status were independent risk factors for overall survival in rectal cancer(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Evaluating the lymph node status by combining preoperative MRI and postoperative pathology helps predict overall survival in rectal cancer patients more accurately.

Objective:To investigate the early clinical characteristics of elderly patients with severe burns and the risk factors on prognosis.Methods:This study was a retrospective case series study. Clinical data of 124 elderly patients with severe burns who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the 12 hospitals from January 2015 to December 2020 were collected, including 4 patients from the Fourth People's Hospital of Dalian, 5 patients from Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 22 patients from Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, 5 patients from Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, 27 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, 9 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 10 patients from Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 9 patients from Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University & Wuhan Third Hospital, 12 patients from the 924 th Hospital of PLA, 6 patients from Zhangjiagang First People's Hospital, 4 patients from Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, and 11 patients from Zhengzhou First People's Hospital. The patients' overall clinical characteristics, such as gender, age, body mass index, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, inhalation injury, causative factors, whether combined with underlying medical diseases, and admission time after injury were recorded. According to the survival outcome within 28 days after injury, the patients were divided into survival group (89 cases) and death group (35 cases). The following data of patients were compared between the two groups, including the basic data and injuries (the same as the overall clinical characteristics ahead); the coagulation indexes within the first 24 hours of injury such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time, D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), international normalized ratio (INR), and fibrinogen; the blood routine indexes within the first 24 hours of injury such as white blood cell count, platelet count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit; the organ function indexes within the first 24 hours of injury such as direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, urea, serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, albumin, globulin, blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, electrolyte indexes (potassium, sodium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in blood), uric acid, myoglobin, and brain natriuretic peptide; the infection and blood gas indexes within the first 24 hours of injury such as procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, pH value, oxygenation index, base excess, and lactate; treatment such as whether conducted with mechanical ventilation, whether conducted with continuous renal replacement therapy, whether conducted with anticoagulation therapy, whether applied with vasoactive drugs, and fluid resuscitation. The analysis was conducted to screen the independent risk factors for the mortality within 28 days after injury in elderly patients with severe burns. Results:Among 124 patients, there were 82 males and 42 females, aged 60-97 years, with body mass index of 23.44 (21.09, 25.95) kg/m 2, total burn area of 54.00% (42.00%, 75.00%) total body surface area (TBSA), and full-thickness burn area of 25.00% (10.00%, 40.00%) TBSA. The patients were mainly combined with moderate to severe inhalation injury and caused by flame burns. There were 43 cases with underlying medical diseases. The majority of patients were admitted to the hospital within 8 hours after injury. There were statistically significant differences between patients in the 2 groups in terms of age, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, and inhalation injury, and PT, APTT, D-dimer, FDP, INR, white blood cell count, platelet count, urea, serum creatinine, blood glucose, blood sodium, uric acid, myoglobin, and urine volume within the first 24 hours of injury (with Z values of 2.37, 5.49, 5.26, 5.97, 2.18, 1.95, 2.68, 2.68, 2.51, 2.82, 2.14, 3.40, 5.31, 3.41, 2.35, 3.81, 2.16, and -3.82, respectively, P<0.05); there were statistically significant differences between two groups of patients in whether conducted with mechanical ventilation and whether applied with vasoactive drugs (with χ2 values of 9.44 and 28.50, respectively, P<0.05). Age, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, serum creatinine within the first 24 hours of injury, and APTT within the first 24 hours of injury were the independent risk factors for the mortality within 28 days after injury in elderly patients with severe burns (with odds ratios of 1.17, 1.10, 1.10, 1.09, and 1.27, 95% confidence intervals of 1.03-1.40, 1.04-1.21, 1.05-1.19, 1.05-1.17, and 1.07-1.69, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusions:The elderly patients with severe burns had the injuries mainly from flame burns, often accompanied by moderate to severe inhalation injury and enhanced inflammatory response, elevated blood glucose levels, activated fibrinolysis, and impaired organ function in the early stage, which are associated with their prognosis. Age, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, and serum creatinine and APTT within the first 24 hours of injury are the independent risk factors for death within 28 days after injury in this population.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the central foveal thickness(CFT),ellipsoid zone(EZ)interruption ratio and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes(iERM).Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted.The cluster sampling method was used to select 336 iERM patients(500 eyes)who underwent physical examinations in 9 community hospitals of the Kailuan Group from 2014 to 2018.Among them,215 were male(64.0％)and 121 were female(36.0％),with an average age of 31-89(66.4±8.8)years.According to the gass classification,these patients were divided into three groups:gass 0 group(201 patients,305 eyes),gass 1 group(75 patients,101 eyes),and gass 2 group(60 patients,94 eyes).Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between BCVA(converted to logMAR visual acuity)and gass classification,EZ interruption ratio,CFT.Results The average BCVA(logMAR)and CFT of 500 eyes were 0.45±0.28 and(337.6±101.8)μm,re-spectively,with EZ interruption in 86 eyes(17.2％).There were statistically significant differences in BCVA(logMAR)(0.62±0.29,0.48±0.23,0.26±0.32),CFT[(283.20±79.30)μm,(335.50±84.50)μm,(394.00±135.60)μm],and EZ interruption ratio(2.6％,20.8％,60.6％)among gass 0,gass 1 and gass 2 groups(all P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between age and BCVA among different groups(r2=0.021,P=0.314);BCVA was positively correlated with CFT(r2=0.531,P=0.000),EZ interruption ratio(r2=0.304,P=0.000),and gass classification(r2=0.587,P=0.000).Conclusion The EZ interruption may occur in the early stage of iERM.BCVA is correlated with CFT,EZ interruption ratio and gass classification;the incidence of EZ interruption in gass 2 iERM signifi-cantly increases.

Immunotherapy has made breakthrough in the field of tumor treatment. How to accurately predict the response of tumor patients to immunotherapy in the early stage is currently a clinical challenge. Nuclear medicine molecular imaging provides a new technological means for early accurate diagnosis, treatment monitoring, early warning of recurrence and metastasis, and guidance for personalized treatment of diseases. Therefore, it plays an irreplaceable role in precise diagnosis and treatment of tumors and patient stratification. This article reviews the progress of molecular imaging research on immune cells and related targets within the tumor microenvironment.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between hearing loss and microvascular complications in diabetes.Methods:This cross-sectional study conducted the data from 572 patients with diabetes hospitalized in the Endocrinology Department of the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command from September 2022 to July 2023. All participants underwent electrical audiometry and acoustic immittance in the ENY department. Based on the audiometric results, participants were categorized into normal hearing group and hearing loss group. Additionally, 572 non-diabetic patients from the outpatient department were enrolled as the non-diabetic group. The general information and laboratory results were collected and compared using t test, rank sum test or χ2 test. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of diabetic hearing loss with diabetic kidney disease(DKD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Results:Among 572 patients with diabetes, 429 suffered from hearing loss and 143 were normal. χ2 test showed significant differences in combined DKD and DPN between two groups, but not in DR. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis identified DKD and DPN as risk factors for hearing loss, but no correlation was found with DR. Conclusion:Diabetic patients with DKD or DPN should be monitored for potential hearing loss. Early screening and treatment are crucial to prevent severe hearing impairment.

Objective:To use pan-genomics and subtractive proteomics techniques to screen the new antibacterial targets from the Staphylococcus aureus genome,and to lay the foundation for the development of anti-Staphylococcus aureus drugs.Methods:The genome sequencing data of 50 strains with sequencing level Complete were collected by searching the whole genome sequencing data in the National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI)Database with Staphylococcus aureus as the keyword;BPGA tool was used to conduct the pan-genomics analysis on the genomic data to obtain the core genes of Staphylococcus aureus;subtractive proteomics technique was used to screen the potential antibacterial targets from the core genes.These potential antibacterial targets were used as the receptors;LibDock software was used to screen the potential anti-Staphylococcus aureus drugs from the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA)-approved drug library;molecular docking technology was used to analyze the binding abilities of the drugs and targets.Results:There were 14 379 gene families in the 50 Staphylococcus aureus genomes,of which 1 620 were the core genes.The subtractive proteomics analysis results showed that tyrosine autokinase 1335 was the potential anti-Staphylococcus aureus target.LibDock software screened out nine compounds,including balofloxacin,tenofovir disoproxil fumarate,and adefovir,that may exert anti-Staphylococcus aureus effects on this target protein.The molecular docking results showed there was good binding abilities between the targets and the compounds.Conclusion:Tyrosine autokinase may be the potential target for antii-Staphylococcus aureus.