As a unique gene in the genome,FLASH(FADD-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme asso-ciated huge protein)/CASP8AP2 is involved in multiple cellular processes,including apoptosis,histone gene pre-mRNA processing,transcriptional regulation,and cell cycle progression.Clinical studies have shown that FLASH is a valuable prognostic marker for acute lymphoblastic leukemia,and a crucial factor for the survival of various cancer cells.Therefore,in-depth research into the function of FLASH may offer new perspectives for the treatment of related diseases.Our previous research identified FLASH as a bind-ing partner of p53,demonstrating that FLASH enhances the transcriptional activity of p53.Here we fur-ther investigate the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between FLASH and p53,revealing that the p53-K386R mutation(SUMOylation residue)attenuated its interaction with FLASH(aa 51-200)and FLASH-SIM(SUMO-interacting motif)(aa 1 534-1 806)significantly.However,SUMO can bind to FLASH-SIM directly,instead of FLASH(aa 51-200).Subsequent research shows that overexpression of FLASH in cells enhances global SUMO1 conjugation and p53-SUMO1 conjugation,therefore providing a plausible explanation for the underlying mechanism of FLASH enhancing the transcriptional activity of p53.Since promyelocytic leukemia protein nuclear body(PML NB)serves as subcellular reactors for SUMO conjugation within the cell,and the PML Ⅳ isoform can specifically enhance the SUMO modifica-tion of p53,we have investigated the interaction between FLASH and PML Ⅳ,and elucidated the struc-tural basis of their interaction:both FLASH-N3A(501-802)and FLASH-C2(1 807-1 981)bind to PML Ⅳ(aa 228-633).Further investigations reveal that they can synergistically enhance global SUMO1 modification as well as SUMO1 modification of p53.The interaction between FLASH and tumor suppres-sors p53 or PML Ⅳ enriches our understanding of its function and reveals the potential mechanism of FLASH in tumor development,therefore offering novel insights into cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Background/Aims: The histological characteristics and natural history of precirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with portal hypertension (PH) are unclear. Our aim was to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and histological characteristics of precirrhotic PBC patients with PH. Methods: This retrospective study compared the clinical features, histological characteristics, and response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) between the PH and non-PH groups of precirrhotic PBC patients. Results: Out of 165 precirrhotic PBC patients, 40 (24.2%) also had PH. According to histological stage 1, 2 and 3 disease, 5.3% (1/19), 17.3% (17/98), and 45.8% (22/48) of patients also had PH, respectively. Precirrhotic PBC with PH was significantly positively correlated with bile duct loss, degree of cytokeratin 7 positivity, and degree of fibrosis in the portal area, but significantly negatively correlated with lymphoid follicular aggregation. Compared to the non-PH group, patients in the PH group showed a higher prevalence of obliterative portal venopathy, incomplete septal fibrosis, portal tract abnormalities and non-zonal sinusoidal dilatation (p<0.05). In addition, patients with PH were more likely to present with symptoms of jaundice, ascites, epigastric discomfort, a poorer response to UDCA, and more decompensation events (p<0.05). High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values were risk factors for precirrhotic PBC with PH. Conclusions Approximately 24.2% of precirrhotic PBC patients have PH, which is histologically related to the injury of bile ducts. High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values are associated with increased risk of precirrhotic PBC with PH.

Humans ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; Chronic Disease ; Biofilms ; Otitis Media

Humans ; Aneurysm, False/etiology* ; Heart Aneurysm/complications* ; Heart Ventricles/surgery*

Humans ; Aneurysm, False/etiology* ; Heart Aneurysm/complications* ; Heart Ventricles/surgery*

Aim To study the protective effect of eplerenone on the contralateral kidney in pregnant rats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its mechanism. Methods Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, sham-operation pregnancy group, model group and eplerenone group. The rats in the model group and eplenone group had ligation unilateral ureter, and the rats in the eplenone group were treated with 100 mg • kg

A boy, aged 11 years, was admitted due to intermittent fever for 15 days, cough for 10 days, and "hemoptysis" for 7 days. The boy had fever and cough with left neck pain 15 days ago, and antibiotic treatment was effective. During the course of disease, the boy developed massive "hemoptysis" which caused shock. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed a left pyriform sinus fistula with continuous bleeding. In combination with neck and vascular imaging examination results, the boy was diagnosed with internal jugular vein injury and thrombosis due to congenital pyriform sinus fistula infection and neck abscess. The boy was improved after treatment with temperature-controlled radiofrequency ablation for the closure of pyriform sinus fistula, and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up for one year and six months. No reports of massive hemorrhage and shock due to pyriform sinus fistula infection were found in the searched literature, and this article summarizes the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of this boy, so as to provide a reference for the early diagnosis of such disease and the prevention and treatment of its complications.
Abscess/surgery* ; Cough ; Fever/complications* ; Fistula/surgery* ; Hemoptysis/complications* ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Shock

ObjectiveTo study the pathological process and changes of metabolites in myocardial tissue of heart failure induced by transverse aortic constriction （TAC） in rats. MethodRats were treated with TAC operation and divided into TAC-30 d group and TAC-60 d group， and sham operation group at the same period was set up as control. Echocardiography and pathological staining of myocardial tissue were performed on rats in each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the expression of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） and adenosine triphosphate （ATP） in serum. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to observe the changes of metabolites and related pathways in myocardial tissue， the mobile phase consisted of 25 mmol·L^-1 ammonium acetate and 25 mmol·L^-1 ammonia hydroxide in water （A） and acetonitrile （B） for gradient elution （0-0.5 min， 95%B； 0.5-7 min， 95%-65%B； 7-8 min， 65%-40%B； 8-9 min， 40%B； 9-9.1 min， 40%-95%B； 9.1-12 min， 95%B）， electrospray ionization was used under positive and negative ion detection modes， acquisition range was m/z 70-1 050. ResultCompared with the sham-30 d group， the left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole （LVIDs） in TAC-30 d group was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， fraction shortening （FS）， left ventricular end-diastolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWd）， left vebtricular end-systolic posterior wall thickness （LVPWs） were significantly increased （P<0.01）， there were cardiomyocyte arrangement disorder， edema， collagen fibre hyperplasia， the content of NT-probNP was significantly increased， while the content of ATP was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and 15 metabolites with abnormal expression were involved in pyrimidine metabolic pathway， pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis pathway. Compared with the sham-60 d group， LVEF and FS in the TAC-60 d group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole （LVIDd）， LVIDs and LVPWd were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， the edema of myocardial cells increased obviously， myocardium fibers degenerated， coagulation necrosis appeared， and a large amount of collagen fibers were deposited， the expression of NT-proBNP increased and the expression of ATP decreased （P<0.01）， there were 21 metabolites with abnormal expression， involving pyrimidine metabolic pathway， and starch and sucrose metabolic pathway. ConclusionAt 30 d after TAC， there are myocardial hypertrophy， lipid metabolism disorder， pyrimidine metabolism disorder and energy imbalance. At 60 d after TAC， there are heart failure， aggravation of lipid metabolism disorder， excessive activation of glucose metabolism， and continuous disorder of pyrimidine metabolism.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in autophagy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from patients with ankylosing spondylitis and explore the mechanism for decreased autophagy in ASMSCs. METHODS: MSCs collected from 14 patients with AS (ASMSCs) and from 15 healthy donors (HDMSCs) were cultured in the absence or presence of 25 ng/mL TNF-α for 6 h. Autophagy of the cells was determined by immunofluorescence staining of GFP-LC3B, and the results were confirmed by detecting the protein expressions of autophagy markers LC3 II/LC3 I and P62. The mRNA expressions of the related genes were detected using qRT-PCR, and the protein expressions of the autophagy markers and signaling pathway-related molecules were determined with Western blotting. TG100713 was used to block the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway, and its effect on autophagy of ASMSCs was evaluated. RESULTS: ASMSCs showed significantly weaker GFP-LC3B puncta staining and lower protein expression levels of LC3 II/LC3 I but higher levels of P62 protein (P < 0.05), indicating a decreased autophagy capacity as compared with HDMSCs. TNF-α-induced ASMSCs showed significantly higher protein expressions of p-PI3K/ PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR than HDMSCs (P < 0.05), suggesting hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in ASMSCs. Blocking PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling with TG100713 eliminated the difference in TNF-α-induced autophagy between HDMSCs and ASMSCs. CONCLUSION In patients with AS, hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway results in decreased autophagy of the MSCs and potentially contributes to chronic inflammation.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*