Although cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, it is severely toxic and causes irreversible hearing loss, restricting its application in clinical settings. This study aimed to determine the molecular mechanism underlying cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Here, we established in vitro and in vivo ototoxicity models of cisplatin-induced hair cell loss, and our results showed that reducing STING levels decreased inflammatory factor expression and hair cell death. In addition, we found that cisplatin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction was accompanied by cytosolic DNA, which may act as a critical linker between the cyclic GMP-AMP synthesis-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway and the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced hearing loss. H-151, a specific inhibitor of STING, reduced hair cell damage and ameliorated the hearing loss caused by cisplatin in vivo. This study underscores the role of cGAS-STING in cisplatin ototoxicity and presents H-151 as a promising therapeutic for hearing loss.
Cisplatin/toxicity* ; Animals ; Nucleotidyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Membrane Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner/pathology* ; Antineoplastic Agents/toxicity* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Hearing Loss/metabolism* ; Male ; Ototoxicity/metabolism*

Objective: The impact of prophylactic salpingectomy on the prevention of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unclear, particularly in Asian populations where data is lacking. In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we sought to assess whether prophylactic salpingectomy could reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer in the general population of multiple ethnicities. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to assess the effectiveness of salpingectomy, bilateral salpingectomy (BS), and unilateral salpingectomy (US) in reducing the risk of EOC and evaluating postoperative outcomes. Results: The final analyses included 6 eligible trials (5,747,056 patients), including 1 cohort study and 5 case-control studies. The analyses of these studies demonstrated that women who underwent salpingectomy had a significantly reduced risk of EOC compared to those who did not receive salpingectomy (odds ratio [OR]=0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.45–0.89; p=0.007). Five studies (5,746,469 patients) indicated a significant reduction in EOC risk among patients who underwent BS (OR=0.48; 95% CI=0.33–0.69; p<0.001).On the other hand, in the analysis of 4 studies (5,745,887 patients) that examined US, the association with EOC risk was not significant despite the protective trend (OR=0.82; 95% CI=0.64–1.06; p=0.12). Conclusion Our results indicate BS is an effective strategy for reducing the risk of sporadic EOC, but the results did not lead to the same conclusion for patients who underwent US. When a candidate or patient is undergoing a hysterectomy or has other benign diseases, prophylactic BS may be a safe surgical procedure that carries future benefits in terms of EOC risk.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory dendritic cell (DCreg) subset exhibits a unique capacity for inducing immune tolerance among the variety subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) within gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs). Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L) is involved in the differentiation of DCregs and the subsequent expansion of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) mediated by DCregs, though the precise mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the expansion mechanism of Treg induced by DCreg and the role of FLT3L in this process. METHODS: DCregs were distinguished from other DC subsets isolated from GALTs of BALB/c mice through a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay. The functions and mechanisms by which FLT3L promoted Treg expansion via DCregs were investigated in vitro through co-culture experiments involving DCregs and either CD4 + CD25 - T-cells or CD4 + CD25 + T-cells. Additionally, an in vivo experiment was conducted using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model in mice. RESULTS: CD103 + CD11b + DC exhibited DCreg-like functionality and was identified as DCreg for subsequent investigation. Analysis of Foxp3 + Treg percentages within a co-culture system of CD4 + CD25 - T-cells and DCregs, with or without FLT3L, demonstrated the involvement of the FLT3/FLT3L axis in driving the differentiation of precursor T-cells into Foxp3 + Tregs induced by DCregs. Cell migration and co-culture assays revealed that the FLT3/FLT3L axis enhanced DCreg migration toward Tregs via the Rho pathway. Additionally, it was observed that DCregs could promote Treg proliferation through the Notch pathway, as inhibition of Notch signaling by DAPT (N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester) suppressed Treg expansion within the co-culture system of DCregs and CD4 + T-cells or CD4 + CD25 + T-cells. Furthermore, the FLT3/FLT3L axis influenced JAG1 expression in DCregs, indirectly modulating Treg expansion. In vivo experiments further established that FLT3L promoted DCreg expansion and restored Treg balance in DSS-induced colitis models, thereby ameliorating colitis symptoms in mice. CONCLUSION The FLT3/FLT3L axis is integral to the maintenance of DCreg function in Treg expansion.
Animals ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology* ; Dendritic Cells/immunology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Receptors, Notch/metabolism* ; Lymphoid Tissue/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Coculture Techniques ; Flow Cytometry

Objective: The impact of prophylactic salpingectomy on the prevention of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unclear, particularly in Asian populations where data is lacking. In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we sought to assess whether prophylactic salpingectomy could reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer in the general population of multiple ethnicities. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to assess the effectiveness of salpingectomy, bilateral salpingectomy (BS), and unilateral salpingectomy (US) in reducing the risk of EOC and evaluating postoperative outcomes. Results: The final analyses included 6 eligible trials (5,747,056 patients), including 1 cohort study and 5 case-control studies. The analyses of these studies demonstrated that women who underwent salpingectomy had a significantly reduced risk of EOC compared to those who did not receive salpingectomy (odds ratio [OR]=0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.45–0.89; p=0.007). Five studies (5,746,469 patients) indicated a significant reduction in EOC risk among patients who underwent BS (OR=0.48; 95% CI=0.33–0.69; p<0.001).On the other hand, in the analysis of 4 studies (5,745,887 patients) that examined US, the association with EOC risk was not significant despite the protective trend (OR=0.82; 95% CI=0.64–1.06; p=0.12). Conclusion Our results indicate BS is an effective strategy for reducing the risk of sporadic EOC, but the results did not lead to the same conclusion for patients who underwent US. When a candidate or patient is undergoing a hysterectomy or has other benign diseases, prophylactic BS may be a safe surgical procedure that carries future benefits in terms of EOC risk.

Objective: The impact of prophylactic salpingectomy on the prevention of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unclear, particularly in Asian populations where data is lacking. In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we sought to assess whether prophylactic salpingectomy could reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer in the general population of multiple ethnicities. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to assess the effectiveness of salpingectomy, bilateral salpingectomy (BS), and unilateral salpingectomy (US) in reducing the risk of EOC and evaluating postoperative outcomes. Results: The final analyses included 6 eligible trials (5,747,056 patients), including 1 cohort study and 5 case-control studies. The analyses of these studies demonstrated that women who underwent salpingectomy had a significantly reduced risk of EOC compared to those who did not receive salpingectomy (odds ratio [OR]=0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.45–0.89; p=0.007). Five studies (5,746,469 patients) indicated a significant reduction in EOC risk among patients who underwent BS (OR=0.48; 95% CI=0.33–0.69; p<0.001).On the other hand, in the analysis of 4 studies (5,745,887 patients) that examined US, the association with EOC risk was not significant despite the protective trend (OR=0.82; 95% CI=0.64–1.06; p=0.12). Conclusion Our results indicate BS is an effective strategy for reducing the risk of sporadic EOC, but the results did not lead to the same conclusion for patients who underwent US. When a candidate or patient is undergoing a hysterectomy or has other benign diseases, prophylactic BS may be a safe surgical procedure that carries future benefits in terms of EOC risk.

Objective:To identify the pathogenic gene in a family with cone-rod dystrophy (CRD).Methods:A pedigree study was conducted.Clinical data were collected from three generations of six people from a family with CRD who visited Henan Eye Hospital in December 2019, including one patient.After detailed collection of the patient's medical history, the proband and his family members underwent best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp microscope+ front-lens examination, optometry, non-mydriatic fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and full-field flash electroretinography (ff-ERG). Peripheral venous blood (5 ml) was collected from the proband, his parents and siblings, and the whole genome DNA was extracted.The proband's DNA was sequenced using whole exome sequencing.Hemizygous and potentially pathogenic mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing.Pathogenicity was assessed according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines.Tools such as SpliceAI and dbscSNV were used to predict the impact of mutations on mRNA splicing.This study strictly followed the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2019[15]). All subjects and guardians of minor subjects signed informed consent forms.Results:The proband (Ⅲ: 1), a 5-year-old boy, presented with recessive nystagmus in both eyes and a best corrected visual acuity of 0.2.Color vision examination revealed red-green color blindness without night blindness.SD-OCT showed the presence of neuroepithelial structures in both eyes, but the interdigitation zone was blurred in both eyes.ff-ERG showed a slight decrease in rod function and a moderate-severe decrease in cone function in the right eye, and a slight decrease in cone and rod function in the left eye.Gene sequencing results showed that the proband had the hemizygous splice site variant c. 1911-3C>A of the CACNA1F gene on the X chromosome.Sanger sequencing showed that neither his mother nor his younger sister carried the variant, suggesting it was novel.This variant site was not recorded in the normal population database (PM2). Bioinformatics tools SpliceAI and dbscSNV consistently predicted that this variation affects on splicing.According to the ACMG guidelines, this variation is pathogenic. Conclusions:A novel variant c. 1911-3C>A in the CACNA1F gene was found in a family with CRD, and this variant may be a pathogenic variant site in this CRD family.This discovery expands the spectrum of pathogenic variations in CRD.

Objective:To identify and observe the pathogenic genes and clinical phenotypes of a family with a special platelet phenotype, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 6 (HSP6).Methods:A retrospective clinical study. In November 2019, one proband and three family members from six HSP families who visited Henan Eye Hospital were included in the study. The child's medical history and family history were inquired in detail. The proband and all family members underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus color photography, frequency-domain optical coherence tomography, and general physical examination. The proband underwent platelet transmission electron microscopy (PTEM) and colonoscopy. Peripheral venous blood was collected from the proband, her parents and younger brother, and genomic DNA was extracted. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used to screen pathogenic genes and their loci. Bioinformatics analysis determines the pathogenicity of gene variation sites. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to verify the related variations.Results:The proband (Ⅱ-1) was a 7-year-old female. The BCVA in both eyes was 0.1, who exhibited mild horizontal nystagmus and iris depigmentation. Fundus examination revealed obvious depigmentation and an underdeveloped fovea centralis. At the age of 7, the patient underwent colonoscopy due to acute gastrointestinal bleeding. A polyp approximately 5 mm in size was found on the floor of the sigmoid colon, with erosion and mucosal leukoplakia on its surface. PTEM showed that the number of platelet dense granules was normal, but the nuclei were small or exhibited low compactness. The skin on both lower legs showed pigmentation. The clinical phenotypes of the proband’s parents (Ⅰ-1, Ⅰ-2) and younger brother (Ⅱ-2) showed no obvious abnormalities. WES revealed that the proband carried compound heterozygous variants in exon 1 of the HPS6 gene: c.60_64dup (p.L22fs) (M1) and c.1147_1148del (p.L383fs) (M2). The mother carried the M1 variant, while the father and younger brother carried the M2 variant. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that both variants were pathogenic. RT-qPCR results showed that, compared with the relative expression level of HPS6 wt mRNA, the relative expression levels of HPS6 L22fs and HPS6 L383fs mRNA were significantly decreased ( t = 3.549, 4.560; P<0.05). Western blot analysis demonstrated that the HPS6 L383fs protein was truncated, whereas the HPS6 L22fs protein was not detected. Conclusions:This family is a special HPS6 with a normal number of dense platelet granules. The compound heterozygous variations of M1 and M2 in the HPS6 gene are pathogenic genes in this family.

Objective:To identify the pathogenic gene in a family with cone-rod dystrophy (CRD).Methods:A pedigree study was conducted.Clinical data were collected from three generations of six people from a family with CRD who visited Henan Eye Hospital in December 2019, including one patient.After detailed collection of the patient's medical history, the proband and his family members underwent best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp microscope+ front-lens examination, optometry, non-mydriatic fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and full-field flash electroretinography (ff-ERG). Peripheral venous blood (5 ml) was collected from the proband, his parents and siblings, and the whole genome DNA was extracted.The proband's DNA was sequenced using whole exome sequencing.Hemizygous and potentially pathogenic mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing.Pathogenicity was assessed according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines.Tools such as SpliceAI and dbscSNV were used to predict the impact of mutations on mRNA splicing.This study strictly followed the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2019[15]). All subjects and guardians of minor subjects signed informed consent forms.Results:The proband (Ⅲ: 1), a 5-year-old boy, presented with recessive nystagmus in both eyes and a best corrected visual acuity of 0.2.Color vision examination revealed red-green color blindness without night blindness.SD-OCT showed the presence of neuroepithelial structures in both eyes, but the interdigitation zone was blurred in both eyes.ff-ERG showed a slight decrease in rod function and a moderate-severe decrease in cone function in the right eye, and a slight decrease in cone and rod function in the left eye.Gene sequencing results showed that the proband had the hemizygous splice site variant c. 1911-3C>A of the CACNA1F gene on the X chromosome.Sanger sequencing showed that neither his mother nor his younger sister carried the variant, suggesting it was novel.This variant site was not recorded in the normal population database (PM2). Bioinformatics tools SpliceAI and dbscSNV consistently predicted that this variation affects on splicing.According to the ACMG guidelines, this variation is pathogenic. Conclusions:A novel variant c. 1911-3C>A in the CACNA1F gene was found in a family with CRD, and this variant may be a pathogenic variant site in this CRD family.This discovery expands the spectrum of pathogenic variations in CRD.

Objective To explore the relationship between skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio(SVR)and cardiovascular disease(CVD)risk in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 144 T2DM patients who visited the Department of Geriatrics,the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from October 2022 to December 2023 were selected to evaluate SVR based on bioelectrical impedance measurements.The risk model of prediction for ASCVD risk in China(China-PAR)was used to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease in T2DM patients.Statistical analysis of the correlation between SVR and China-PAR risk scores.Results The CVD risk score of T2DM patients increased with the decrease of SVR(P＜0.001).The SVR of high-risk group patients was lower than that of low-risk group patients,and their waist circumference was higher than that of low-risk group patients,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in BMI between two groups of patients(P=0.1229).After adjusting for confounding factors,there was an independent correlation between SVR and China PAR risk scores(β=-2.744,P=0.007).Conclusion T2DM patients with lower SVR have a higher risk of developing CVD,and SVR levels are significantly negatively correlated with CVD risk in elderly T2DM patients.SVR may be a valuable parameter for assessing CVD risk in the elderly.

Objective To explore the relationship between skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio(SVR)and cardiovascular disease(CVD)risk in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 144 T2DM patients who visited the Department of Geriatrics,the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from October 2022 to December 2023 were selected to evaluate SVR based on bioelectrical impedance measurements.The risk model of prediction for ASCVD risk in China(China-PAR)was used to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease in T2DM patients.Statistical analysis of the correlation between SVR and China-PAR risk scores.Results The CVD risk score of T2DM patients increased with the decrease of SVR(P＜0.001).The SVR of high-risk group patients was lower than that of low-risk group patients,and their waist circumference was higher than that of low-risk group patients,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in BMI between two groups of patients(P=0.1229).After adjusting for confounding factors,there was an independent correlation between SVR and China PAR risk scores(β=-2.744,P=0.007).Conclusion T2DM patients with lower SVR have a higher risk of developing CVD,and SVR levels are significantly negatively correlated with CVD risk in elderly T2DM patients.SVR may be a valuable parameter for assessing CVD risk in the elderly.