Objective To evaluate the protective effect of radiation protection safety education (RPSE) on patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) undergoing iodine-131 (¹³¹I) treatment. Methods The DTC patients who undergo ¹³¹I treatment were divided into the control group and the RPSE group using the convenience sampling method, with 142 patients in each group. Patients in the control group received routine health education, while the RPSE group received routine health education combined with RPSE. Dose equivalent rate (DER) on pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste of patients were compared between the two groups upon discharge. Results The median (M) DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers and household waste were 3.86, 3.63, 3.91 and 56.59 times higher in the control group compared with the environmental background level, respectively. The M DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers were 2.23, 2.18, and 2.55 times higher in the RPSE group compared with the environmental background level, while the M DER of household waste was equivalent to the environmental background level. The DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste in the RPSE group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The DERs of the above four items were lower in both male and female patients in RPSE group compared with same-gender patients in the control group (all P<0.001). The patients' DERs of the above indicators had no significant difference among different gender in both control group and RPSE group (all P>0.05), except for higher DER of household waste in female patients than that of male patients in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the DERs of pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste across subgroups, where patients received different treatment doses, of both the control group and the RPSE group (all P>0.05). Conclusion RPSE for DTC patients treated with ¹³¹I, reduces the DERs of pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and particularly household waste.

Extensive epigenetic reprogramming involves in memory CD8+ T-cell differentiation. The elaborate epigenetic rewiring underlying the heterogeneous functional states of CD8+ T cells remains hidden. Here, we profile single-cell chromatin accessibility and map enhancer-promoter interactomes to characterize the differentiation trajectory of memory CD8+ T cells. We reveal that under distinct epigenetic regulations, the early activated CD8+ T cells divergently originated for short-lived effector and memory precursor effector cells. We also uncover a defined epigenetic rewiring leading to the conversion from effector memory to central memory cells during memory formation. Additionally, we illustrate chromatin regulatory mechanisms underlying long-lasting versus transient transcription regulation during memory differentiation. Finally, we confirm the essential roles of Sox4 and Nrf2 in developing memory precursor effector and effector memory cells, respectively, and validate cell state-specific enhancers in regulating Il7r using CRISPR-Cas9. Our data pave the way for understanding the mechanism underlying epigenetic memory formation in CD8+ T-cell differentiation.
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation ; Chromatin/immunology* ; Animals ; Mice ; Immunologic Memory ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; SOXC Transcription Factors/immunology* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic

Epigenetic pathways play a critical role in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in the development of targeted epigenetic modulators (e.g., inhibitors). However, epigenetic inhibitors have faced multiple challenges, including limited clinical efficacy, toxicities, lack of subtype selectivity, and drug resistance. As a result, the design of new epigenetic modulators (e.g., degraders) such as PROTACs, molecular glue, and hydrophobic tagging (HyT) degraders has garnered significant attention from both academia and pharmaceutical industry, and numerous epigenetic degraders have been discovered in the past decade. In this review, we aim to provide an in-depth illustration of new degrading strategies (2017-2023) targeting epigenetic proteins for cancer therapy, focusing on the rational design, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical status, and crystal structure information of these degraders. Importantly, we also provide deep insights into the potential challenges and corresponding remedies of this approach to drug design and development. Overall, we hope this review will offer a better mechanistic understanding and serve as a useful guide for the development of emerging epigenetic-targeting degraders.

Background Atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) can disrupt the metabolic homeostasis of the liver and accelerate the progression of liver diseases, but there are few studies on the effects of sub-chronic PM_2.5 exposure on the liver metabolome. Objectives To investigate the effects of sub-chronic exposure to concentrated PM_2.5 on hepatic metabolomics in mice by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and to identify potentially affected metabolites and metabolic pathways. Methods Twelve male C57BL/6J (6 weeks old) mice were randomly divided into two groups: a concentrated PM_2.5 exposure group and a clean air exposure group. The mice were exposed to concentrated PM_2.5 using the "Shanghai Meteorological and Environmental Animal Exposure System" at Fudan University. The exposure duration was 8 h per day, 6 d per week, for a total of 8 weeks. The mice's liver tissues were collected 24 h after the completion of exposure. LC-MS was performed to assess changes in the hepatic metabolome. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis and t-test were employed to identify differentially regulated metabolites between the two groups under the conditions of variable important in projection (VIP)≥1.0 and P<0.05. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Results A total of 297 differentially regulated metabolites were identified between the concentrated PM_2.5 exposure group and the clean air group. Among these metabolites, 142 were upregulated and 155 were downregulated. A total of 38 metabolic pathways were altered, with 7 pathways showing significant perturbation (P<0.05). These pathways involved amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, as well as cofactor and vitamin metabolism. The 7 significant metabolic pathways were pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis; purine metabolism; amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism; aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis; and fructose and mannose metabolism. Conclusion The results from metabolomics analysis suggest that sub-chronic exposure to PM_2.5 may disrupt hepatic energy metabolism and induce oxidative stress damage. Aspartic acid, succinic acid, ornithine, fumaric acid, as well as purine and xanthine derivatives, were identified as potential early biomarkers of hepatic response to sub-chronic PM_2.5 exposure.

Patients infected the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present with asymptomatic or non-specific symptoms, such as fever, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, myalgia, headache, painful swallowing, diarrhea, loss of smell or taste disturbance. Some patients develop serious complications, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac injury and secondary infections. PET/CT plays an important role in the evaluation, follow-up and monitoring of the outcome of oncological and inflammatory diseases. This article mainly summarizes the clinical applications of PET/CT in predicting the prognosis of COVID-19 infection, early detection of myocardial involvement, diagnosis of neurological complications by multiple molecular imaging, and identification of tumor axillary lymph node metastasis and inflammatory response after vaccination.

Objective To explore the difference in efficacy of metoprolol versus ivabradine in the treatment of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome(POTS)in the elderly after COVID-19 infection.Methods A total of 110 patients diagnosed with POTS at our department from Decem-ber 1,2022 to January 31,2023 were included.According to their drug regimen,they were divided into metoprolol group(62 patients)and ivabradine group(48 patients).On the 28th day of out-patient follow-up,the resting heart rate,heart rate of 10 min of standing,symptom disappearance rate,hospitalization rate,and mortality rate were compared between the two groups.Results On the 28th day of treatment,the resting heart rate and postural heart rate for 10 min were decreased in both groups when compared with the levels at initial diagnosis(P＜0.01).And there were no significant differences in the two types of heart rate between the two groups on the 28th day(71.0±7.0 vs 72.1±7.0,P=0.401;76.5±7.2 vs 77.4±7.6,P=0.573).No obvious differences were observed between the two groups in symptom disappearance rate,hospitalization rate,or mortality rate(88.7％vs 89.6％,3.2％vs2.1％,0％vs 0％,P＞0.05).Conclusion Metoprolol and ivabradine can effectively treat POTS in the elderly patients after COVID-19 infection.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of resveratrol on intestinal barrier in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease(PD)mouse models and its mechanism for regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling to protect dopaminergic neurons.Methods Fifty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control group(n= 12),MPTP group(n=14),MPTP+resveratrol(30 mg/kg)group(n=13),and MPTP+resveratrol(90 mg/kg)group(n=13),and mouse models were established by intraperitoneal MPTP(30 mg/kg)injection for 7 days in the latter 3 groups.Behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on motor symptoms of the mice.Western blotting was used to detect the expression of TH,α-syn,ZO-1,Claudin-1,TLR4,MyD88,and NF-κB in the brain tissues of the mice.Immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence,ELISA and transmission electron microscopy were used to verify the effect of resveratrol for suppressing inflammation and protecting the intestinal barrier.Results Compared with those in the normal control group,the mice in MPTP group showed significant changes in motor function,number of dopaminergic neurons,neuroinflammation,levels of LPS and LBP,and expressions of tight junction proteins in the intestinal barrier.Resveratrol treatment significantly improved motor function of the PD mice(P<0.01),increased the number of neurons and TH protein expression(P<0.05),down-regulated the expressions of GFAP,Iba-1,and TLR4,lowered fecal and plasma levels of LPS and LBP(P<0.05),restored the expression levels of ZO-1 and Claudin-1(P<0.01),and down-regulated the expressions of TLR4,MyD88,and NF-κB in the colon tissue(P<0.05).The mice with resveratrol treatment at 30 mg/kg showed normal morphology of the tight junction complex with neatly and tightly arranged intestinal villi.Conclusion Resveratrol repairs the intestinal barrier by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway-mediated inflammatory response,thereby improving motor function and neuropathy in mouse models of MPTP-induced PD.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of resveratrol on intestinal barrier in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease(PD)mouse models and its mechanism for regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling to protect dopaminergic neurons.Methods Fifty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control group(n= 12),MPTP group(n=14),MPTP+resveratrol(30 mg/kg)group(n=13),and MPTP+resveratrol(90 mg/kg)group(n=13),and mouse models were established by intraperitoneal MPTP(30 mg/kg)injection for 7 days in the latter 3 groups.Behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on motor symptoms of the mice.Western blotting was used to detect the expression of TH,α-syn,ZO-1,Claudin-1,TLR4,MyD88,and NF-κB in the brain tissues of the mice.Immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence,ELISA and transmission electron microscopy were used to verify the effect of resveratrol for suppressing inflammation and protecting the intestinal barrier.Results Compared with those in the normal control group,the mice in MPTP group showed significant changes in motor function,number of dopaminergic neurons,neuroinflammation,levels of LPS and LBP,and expressions of tight junction proteins in the intestinal barrier.Resveratrol treatment significantly improved motor function of the PD mice(P<0.01),increased the number of neurons and TH protein expression(P<0.05),down-regulated the expressions of GFAP,Iba-1,and TLR4,lowered fecal and plasma levels of LPS and LBP(P<0.05),restored the expression levels of ZO-1 and Claudin-1(P<0.01),and down-regulated the expressions of TLR4,MyD88,and NF-κB in the colon tissue(P<0.05).The mice with resveratrol treatment at 30 mg/kg showed normal morphology of the tight junction complex with neatly and tightly arranged intestinal villi.Conclusion Resveratrol repairs the intestinal barrier by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway-mediated inflammatory response,thereby improving motor function and neuropathy in mouse models of MPTP-induced PD.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism by which curcumin activates the PINK1/Parkin pathway to enhance mitophagy and ameliorate endothelial cell damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R).Methods:An OGD/R injury model was established in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells(BMECs).En-dothelial cells were treated with different concentrations of curcumin.The effects of curcumin on mitophagy in BMECs were assessed using immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy.Cell proliferation,injury,and barrier integrity were evaluated using a Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)assay,and transendothe-lial electrical resistance(TEER)measurement,respectively.Western Blot was used to detect the effects of curcumin on the expression of PINK1/Parkin pathway proteins(LC-3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ,PINK1,Parkin and p62).Additionally,cells were co-treated with Mdivi-1 to further confirm the role of mitophagy in curcumin's protective effects against OGD/R injury.Results:Curcumin treatment significantly promoted mitophagy,increased the expression of LC-3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ,PINK1,and Par-kin proteins(P＜0.001),and decreased the expression of p62 protein(P＜0.001).In the OGD/R model,curcumin significantly enhanced cell proliferation rates(P＜0.001),reduced LDH release(P＜0.001),and improved TEER values(P＜0.001).However,these protective effects of curcumin were reversed by the mitophagy inhibitor Mdivi-1.Conclusion:Curcumin effectively alleviates cell damage in BMECs under OGD/R conditions by enhancing mitophagy through the activation of the PINK1/Parkin pathway.