[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.012.].

OBJECTIVE: In order to enhance the efficacy of anti-breast cancer, paclitaxel nanoparticles (PTX NPs) and polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy NPs) were combined with photothermal therapy and chemotherapy. At the same time, the two dosage forms of PTX NPs and PTX NPs gel were compared. METHODS: PTX NPs were prepared by self-assembly method, and then the cytotoxicity in vitro was investigated by Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and other methods, and the efficacy and side effects in vivo were further investigated. RESULTS: The average hydrated diameter, PDI and electric potential of PTX NPs were (210.20 ± 1.57) nm, (0.081 ± 0.003) mV and (15.80 ± 0.35) mV, respectively. MTT results showed that the IC₅₀ value of PTX NPs on 4 T1 cells was 0.490 μg/mL, while that of PTX injection was 1.737 μg/mL. The cell inhibitory effect of PTX NPs was about 3.5 times higher than that of PTX injection. The tumor inhibition rates of PTX NPs and gel were 48.64% and 56.79%, respectively. Together with local photothermal stimulation, the tumor inhibition rate of the PTX NPs reached 91.05%, surpassing that of the gel under the same conditions (48.98%), moreover, the organ index and H&E staining results of PTX NPs showed a decrease in toxicity. CONCLUSION This combination therapy can significantly enhance the effect of anti-breast cancer, and the synergistic effect of chemotherapy and light and heat provides a feasible and effective strategy for the treatment of tumor.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a medical condition characterized by cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload in cardiomyocytes have been recognized as biological hallmarks in DCM; however, the specific factors underlying these abnormalities remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of a cardiac-specific long noncoding RNA, D830005E20Rik (Trdn-as), in DCM. Our results revealed the remarkably upregulation of Trdn-as in the hearts of the DCM mice and cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose (HG). Knocking down Trdn-as in cardiac tissues significantly improved cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in the DCM mice. Conversely, Trdn-as overexpression resulted in cardiac damage resembling that observed in the DCM mice. At the cellular level, Trdn-as induced Ca²⁺ overload in the SR and mitochondria, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses identified calsequestrin 2 (Casq2), a primary calcium-binding protein in the junctional SR, as a potential target of Trdn-as. Further investigations revealed that Trdn-as facilitated the recruitment of METTL14 to the Casq2 mRNA, thereby enhancing the m⁶A modification of Casq2. This modification increased the stability of Casq2 mRNA and subsequently led to increased protein expression. When Casq2 was knocked down, the promoting effects of Trdn-as on Ca²⁺ overload and mitochondrial damage were mitigated. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of DCM and suggest Trdn-as as a potential therapeutic target for this condition.
Animals ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies/pathology* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Mice ; Calsequestrin/genetics* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Male ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism* ; Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitochondria, Heart/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mitochondria/metabolism*

Chronic, unresolved inflammation correlates with persistent hepatic injury and fibrosis, ultimately progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) demonstrates therapeutic potential against HCC, yet its mechanism in preventing hepatic "inflammation-carcinoma transformation" remains incompletely understood. In the current research, clinical HCC specimens underwent analysis using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to evaluate the expression of fibrosis markers, M2 macrophage markers, and CXCL12. In vitro, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced LX-2 cells and a co-culture system of LX-2, THP-1, and HCC cells were established. Cell functions underwent assessment through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting and immunofluorescence evaluated the differential expression of molecules. The interaction between β-catenin/TCF4 and CXCL12 was examined using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), dual luciferase, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. A DEN-induced rat model was developed to investigate BDMC's role in liver fibrosis-associated HCC (LFAHCC) development in vivo. Our results showed that clinical HCC tissues exhibited elevated fibrosis and enriched M2 macrophages. BDMC delayed liver fibrosis progression to HCC in vivo. BDMC inhibited the inflammatory microenvironment induced by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Furthermore, BDMC suppressed M2 macrophage-induced fibrosis and HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. Mechanistically, BDMC repressed TCF4/β-catenin complex formation, thereby reducing CXCL12 transcription in LX-2 cells. Moreover, CXCL12 overexpression reversed BDMC's inhibitory effect on macrophage M2 polarization and its mediation of fibrosis, as well as HCC proliferation and metastasis. BDMC significantly suppressed LFAHCC development through CXCL12 in rats. In conclusion, BDMC inhibited LFAHCC progression by reducing M2 macrophage polarization through suppressing β-catenin/TCF4-mediated CXCL12 transcription.
Animals ; Liver Neoplasms/etiology* ; Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology* ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications* ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Male ; Rats ; Chemokine CXCL12/genetics* ; Diarylheptanoids/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta Catenin/genetics*

Objective:To explore the current situation of nurses′growth mindset ability and study its related influencing factors, so as to serve as a reference for improving nurses′ growth mindset ability.Methods:This was a cross-sectional survey, and 310 nurses from 5 tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province, Shanghai City, and Guangdong Province were selected as the survey subjects from April to June 2022 using convenience sampling method. The General Information Questionnaire, the Nurses′ Growth Mindset Assessment Scale, the Psychological Adaptability Self-Assessment Scale, the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version and the Team Psychological Safety Atmosphere Scale were used to investigate the growth mindset ability of nurses and its influencing factors.Results:Finally, 307 valid questionnaires were collected. There were 46 males and 261 females, aged 20-50 years old. The scores of the Nurses′ Growth Mindset Assessment Scale were (108.89 ± 29.32) points, the scores of the Psychological Adaptability Self-Assessment Questionnaire were 10.0(0.0, 20.0) points, the scores of the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Scale were (162.37±43.82) points, and the scores of the Team Psychological Safety Atmosphere Scale were (55.84 ± 15.12) points. The highest education level ( B = 0.028, P = 0.040), professional title ( B = 0.033, P = 0.032), family economic support ( B = 0.025, P = 0.048), Chinese big five personality ( B = 0.039, P = 0.037), team psychological safety atmosphere ( B = 0.600, P<0.001) and psychological adaptability ( B = 0.313, P<0.001) had a significant effect on nurses′ growth mindset ability. Conclusions:The growth mindset ability of nurses is at the upper middle level, and the educational background, professional title, family economic support, personality characteristics, team psychological safety atmosphere and psychological adaptability of nurses are the significant influencing factors. Hospitals, social and health education systems can combine influencing factors to provide a harmonious working atmosphere for nurses, focusing on the improvement of nurses′ academic qualifications and the promotion of professional titles, cultivating nurses′ psychological adaptability, improving nurses′growth mindset ability, and improving the overall quality of the nursing service team.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum Actinin-4 and N-myc downscream regu-lated gene 4(NDRG4)for recurrence and metastasis in early stage lung cancer patients.Methods A total of 110 patients who underwent early lung cancer radical surgery in the hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were collected as the study subjects.They were separated into a recurrence group of 62 patients and a non recurrence group of 48 patients based on whether they experienced recurrence or metastasis during a one-year follow-up.Enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay(ELISA)method was applied to detect serum Actinin-4 and NDRG4 levels.Pearson and Spearman methods were used for correlation analysis.Logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of recurrence and metastasis in early stage lung cancer patients after radical surgery.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the predictive value of serum Actinin-4 and NDRG4 levels for recurrence and metastasis in early stage lung cancer patients after radi-cal surgery.Results Compared with the non recurrence group,the serum Actinin-4 level in the recurrence group was obviously increased,while the NDRG4 level was obviously reduced,and there was a obvious differ-ence in TNM staging and lymph node metastasis between the two groups(P＜0.05).Pearson analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between serum Actinin-4 and NDRG4 levels in the recurrence group(r=-0.566,P＜0.05).Spearman analysis showed that Actinin-4 was positively correlated with lymph node me-tastasis and clinical staging(r=0.429,0.396,P＜0.05),while NDRG4 was negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical staging(r=-0.411,-0.431,P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that lymph node metastasis,clinical staging,Actinin-4,and NDRG4 levels could all be used as influencing fac-tors for postoperative recurrence and metastasis in early stage lung cancer patients after radical surgery(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of serum Actinin-4 and NDRG4 in predicting postoperative recurrence and metastasis in early stage lung cancer patients after radical surgery was 0.857 and 0.848,respectively,and the AUC of combined prediction was 0.950,which was better than those of the two single predictions(P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum Actinin-4 level increases and NDRG4 level decrea-ses in early stage lung cancer patients with postoperative recurrence and metastasis after radical surgery.The combined detection of the two could serve as an auxiliary indicator for predicting postoperative recurrence and metastasis in early stage lung cancer patients after radical surgery.

Objective:To conduct a nationwide physician survey to better understand clinicians’ disease awareness, treatment patterns, and experience of Waldenstr?m macroglobulinemia (WM) in China.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2022 to July 2022 by recruiting clinicians with WM treatment experience from hematology, hematology-oncology, and oncology departments throughout China. Quantitative surveys were designed based on the qualitative interviews.Results:The study included 415 clinicians from 219 hospitals spread across thirty-three cities and twenty-two provinces. As for diagnosis, the laboratory tests prescribed by physicians for suspected WM patients were relatively consistent (92% -99% recommendation for laboratory, 79% -95% recommendation for pathology, 96% recommendation for gene testing, and 63% -83% recommendation for imaging examination). However, from a physician's perspective, there was 22% misdiagnosis occurred in clinical practice. The rate of misdiagnosis was higher in lower-level hospitals than in tertiary grade A hospitals (29% vs 21%, P<0.001). The main reasons for misdiagnosis were that WM was easily confused with other diseases, and physicians lacked the necessary knowledge to make an accurate diagnosis. In terms of gene testing in clinical practice, 96% of participating physicians believed that WM patients would require gene testing for MYD88 and CXCR4 mutations because the results of gene testing would aid in confirming diagnosis and treatment options. In terms of treatment, 55% of physicians thought that the most important goal was to achieve remission, while 54% and 51% of physicians wanted to improve laboratory and/or examination results and extend overall survival time, respectively. Among patients with treatment indications, physicians estimated that approximately 21% of them refused to receive treatment, mainly owing to a lack of affordable care and disease awareness. When selecting the most appropriate treatment regimens, physicians would consider patient affordability (63% ), comorbidity (61% ), and risk level (54% ). Regimens containing Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) were most widely recommended for both treatment-na?ve and relapsed/refractory patients (94% for all patients, 95% for treatment-na?ve patients, and 75% for relapsed/refractory patients), and most physicians recommended Ibrutinib (84% ). For those patients who received treatment, physicians reported that approximately 23% of patients did not comply with the treatment regimen due to a lack of affordability and disease awareness. Furthermore, 66% of physicians believe that in the future, increasing disease awareness and improving diagnosis rates is critical. Conclusions:This study is the first national physician survey of WM conducted in China. It systematically describes the issues that exist in WM diagnosis and treatment in China, such as a high rate of misdiagnosis, limited access to gene testing and new drugs, and poor patient adherence to treatment. Chinese doctors believe that improving doctors’ and patients’ understanding of WM is one of the most urgent issues that must be addressed right now.

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO)is an autoimmune disease whose etiology and pathogenesis have not yet been clarified.It is generally believed that its occurrence is the result of a combination of immune,genetic,envi-ronmental,and other factors.In recent years,scholars have paid more attention to the influence of microorganisms on TAO,and they found that alterations of the ocular surface and intestinal flora can stimulate the immune system to generate a series of immune responses,which induces autoimmune responses to TAO.The"gut-eye axis"may be an important fac-tor involved in the development of TAO.The intestinal flora and its metabolites may affect ocular tissues through blood cir-culation and the lymphatic system.This interaction between the gut and eye axis may affect the occurrence and develop-ment of TAO through various pathways,including migration of immune cells,cross immune reactions,and metabolite cir-culation.This article reviews the research progress on the correlation between alterations of the ocular surface and intesti-nal flora and TAO and explores the possible mechanisms of the flora involvement in the development of TAO,providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of TAO.

Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor characterized by a propensity for early metastasis and high mortality rates. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved the prognosis for melanoma patients, however, some individuals remain unresponsive to immunotherapy, primarily due to the immunosuppressive characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. This review summarizes recent research on the melanoma tumor microenvironment and analyzes how dynamic changes in its components influence melanoma development and the efficacy of immunotherapy. Additionally, it outlines immunotherapy strategies focused on immune checkpoint inhibitors, examines their mechanisms of action and limitations, and further investigates the effects of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with various therapeutic modalities, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. This study aims to provide new insights into the melanoma tumor microenvironment and the advancement of personalized precision immunotherapy.

Background::The potential impact of pre-existing coronary artery stenosis (CAS) on acute pulmonary embolism (PE) episodes remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between pre-existing CAS and the elevation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels in patients with PE.Methods::In this multicenter, prospective case-control study, 88 cases and 163 controls matched for age, sex, and study center were enrolled. Cases were patients with PE with elevated hs-cTnI. Controls were patients with PE with normal hs-cTnI. Coronary artery assessment utilized coronary computed tomographic angiography or invasive coronary angiography. CAS was defined as ≥50% stenosis of the lumen diameter in any coronary vessel >2.0 mm in diameter. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between CAS and hs-cTnI elevation.Results::The percentage of CAS was higher in the case group compared to the control group (44.3% [39/88] vs. 30.1% [49/163]; P = 0.024). In multivariable conditional logistic regression model 1, CAS (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.680; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.243–5.779), heart rate >75 beats/min (OR, 2.306; 95% CI, 1.056–5.036) and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) >420 pg/mL (OR, 12.169; 95% CI, 4.792–30.900) were independently associated with elevated hs-cTnI. In model 2, right CAS (OR, 3.615; 95% CI, 1.467–8.909) and NT-proBNP >420 pg/mL (OR, 13.890; 95% CI, 5.288–36.484) were independently associated with elevated hs-cTnI. Conclusions::CAS was independently associated with myocardial injury in patients with PE. Vigilance towards CAS is warranted in patients with PE with elevated cardiac troponin levels.