OBJECTIVES: Neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the most common forms of chronic pain, yet current treatment options are limited in effectiveness. Peripheral nerve injury activates spinal microglia, altering their inflammatory response and phagocytic functions, which contributes to the progression of NP. Most current research on NP focuses on microglial inflammation, with relatively little attention to their phagocytic function. Early growth response factor 2 (EGR2) has been shown to regulate microglial phagocytosis, but its specific role in NP remains unclear. This study aims to investigate how EGR2 modulates microglial phagocytosis and its involvement in NP, with the goal of identifying potential therapeutic targets. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to establish a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of the sciatic nerve. Pain behaviors were assessed on days 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 post-surgery to confirm successful model induction. The temporal and spatial expression of EGR2 in the spinal cord was examined using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) was used to overexpress EGR2 in the spinal cord, and behavioral assessments were performed to evaluate the effects of EGR2 modulation of NP. CCI and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) models were established in animals and microglial cell lines, respectively, and changes in phagocytic activity were measured using RT-qPCR and fluorescent latex bead uptake assays. After confirming the involvement of microglial phagocytosis in NP, AAV was used to overexpress EGR2 in both in vivo and in vitro models, and phagocytic activity was further evaluated. Finally, eukaryotic transcriptome sequencing was conducted to screen differentially expressed mRNAs, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses to identify potential downstream effectors of EGR2. RESULTS: The CCI model successfully induced NP. Following CCI, EGR2 expression in the spinal cord was upregulated in parallel with NP development. Overexpression of EGR2 via spinal AAV injection enhanced microglial phagocytic activity and increased pain hypersensitivity in rats. Both animal and cellular models showed that CCI or LPS stimulation enhanced microglial phagocytosis, which was further amplified by EGR2 overexpression. Transcriptomic analysis of spinal cord tissues from CCI rats overexpressing EGR2 revealed upregulation of numerous genes associated with microglial phagocytosis and pain regulation. Among them, Lag3 emerged as a potential downstream target of EGR2. CONCLUSIONS EGR2 contributes to the maintenance of NP by enhancing microglial phagocytosis in the spinal dorsal horn.
Animals ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Phagocytosis/physiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Neuralgia/physiopathology* ; Early Growth Response Protein 2/metabolism* ; Male ; Rats ; Spinal Cord/metabolism* ; Sciatic Nerve/injuries*

Probiotics are natural systems bridging synthetic biology, physical biotechnology, and immunology, initiating innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune activity. We previously constructed an all-in-one engineered food-grade probiotic Lactococcus lactis (FOLactis) which could boost the crosstalk among different immune cells such as dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer cells, and T cells. Herein, considering the limited clinical efficacy of naked personalized neoantigen peptide vaccines, we decorate FOLactis with tumor antigens by employing a Plug-and-Display system comprising membrane-inserted peptides. Intranodal injection of FOLactis coated with neoantigen peptides (Ag-FOLactis) induces robust DCs presentation and neoantigen-specific cellular immunity. Notably, Ag-FOLactis not only triggers a 45-fold rise in the quantity of locally reactive neoantigen-specific T cells but also induces epitope spreading in both subcutaneous and metastatic tumor-bearing models, leading to potent inhibition of tumor growth. These findings imply that Ag-FOLactis represents a powerful platform to rapidly and easily display antigens, facilitating the development of a bio-activated platform for personalized therapy.

Myocardial fibrosis is a serious cause of heart failure and even sudden cardiac death. However, the mechanisms underlying myocardial ischemia-induced cardiac fibrosis remain unclear. Here, we identified that the expression of sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1 (SARM1), was increased significantly in the ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, dilated cardiomyopathy patients (GSE116250) and fibrotic heart tissues of mice. Additionally, inhibition or knockdown of SARM1 can improve myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function of myocardial infarction (MI) mice. Moreover, SARM1 fibroblasts-specific knock-in mice had increased deposition of extracellular matrix and impaired cardiac function. Mechanically, elevated expression of SARM1 promotes the deposition of extracellular matrix by directly modulating P4HA1. Notably, by using the Click-iT reaction, we identified that the increased expression of ZDHHC17 promotes the palmitoylation levels of SARM1, thereby accelerating the fibrosis process. Based on the fibrosis-promoting effect of SARM1, we screened several drugs with anti-myocardial fibrosis activity. In conclusion, we have unveiled that palmitoylated SARM1 targeting P4HA1 promotes collagen deposition and myocardial fibrosis. Inhibition of SARM1 is a potential strategy for the treatment of myocardial fibrosis. The sites where SARM1 interacts with P4HA1 and the palmitoylation modification sites of SARM1 may be the active targets for anti-fibrosis drugs.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism by which salidroside inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer(GC)cells through upregulation of miR-1343-3p.Methods RNA databases were used to screen for mRNAs associated with tumor proliferation and with miR-1343-3p,and exhibiting significant changes in their expression levels after salidroside treatment of human GC cells.Gene matching and immunoprecipitation of RNA-binding proteins were conducted to analyze the association between miR-1343-3p and SOX18.Immunocytochemistry was performed to determine the localization of SOX18 protein.The effect of salidroside on the proliferation of human GC cells(MGC-803 and AGS)was determined by CCK-8 assay.Human GC cells were divided into a blank control group and low-and high-dose salidroside groups.The expression of miR-1343-3p and SOX18 mRNA was measured by real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR(qPCR).The protein expression of SOX18 was measured by Western blot.GC cells were co-transfected with miR-1343-3p mimic and miR-1343-3p inhibitor,respectively,via LipofectamineTM 2000 liposomes.The expression of miR-1343-3p and SOX18 mRNA was measured by qPCR,and the protein expression of SOX18 was measured by Western blot.Results Through bioinformatic analysis,SOX18 was identified as a downstream target of miR-1343-3p.Gene alignment confirmed the presence of specific binding sites between the two genes,and immunoprecipitation of RNA-binding proteins validated the targeting relationship between them(P<0.05).Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the nuclear localization of SOX18 protein.CCK-8 assay findings demonstrated that salidroside significantly inhibited the proliferation of GC cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner.Compared with the blank control group,salidroside-treated GC cells showed decreased expression of both SOX18 mRNA and protein(P<0.05)and an increased miR-1343-3p expression(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,GC cells in the miR-1343-3p mimic group exhibited increased expression of miR-1343-3p and decreased expression of SOX18 mRNA and protein.In contrast,GC cells in the miR-1343-3p inhibitor group showed decreased expression of miR-1343-3p and increased expression of SOX18 mRNA and protein(all P<0.05).Conclusion Salidroside may inhibit the proliferation of GC cells by regulating the miR-1343-3p/SOX18 signaling axis and these regulators may present new potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers for gastric cancer.

Obesity during childhood not only increases the risk of various chronic diseases,but also may affect a child's intelligence level and executive function,and even lead to mental and psychological problems.The impact of childhood obesity on health can persist into adulthood,leading to a series of obesity-related complications,such as type 2 diabetes,dyslipidemia,metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease,hypertension,heart fail-ure,cardiomyopathy,obstructive sleep apnea,asthma,precocious puberty,and hypogonadism.Paying attention to the issue of childhood obesity,early identification and relevant intervention are expected to reduce the harm caused by obesity.

OBJECTIVE To correctly identify and deal with the adverse drug reaction as pancytopenia caused by isavuconazonium and to provide reference for the safe use of isavuconazonium. METHODS Clinical pharmacists analyzed a case of severe infection and renal insufficiency who experienced pancytopenia after using isavuconazonium. Clinical pharmacists screened the drugs used during hospitalization and evaluated the relationship between this adverse drug reaction and isavuconazonium， as well as the possible mechanisms， based on the half-life of the drugs and relevant literature. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The relationship between pancytopenia and isavuconazonium was assessed as “possibly related”. When using isavuconazonium， attention should be paid to avoiding the combination of drugs with the same mechanism or potential interaction. For patients who have a course of treatment for more than 2 weeks， have hematological abnormalities or complicated with liver and renal insufficiency， or should use it combined with other drug with same mechanism， it may be considered to increase the frequency of blood routine monitoring.

Based on the domestic and foreign research on the application of self-disclosure in gynecological cancer patients, the relevant concepts, main modes of self-disclosure, measuring tools, research status and influencing factors of self-disclosure in gynecological cancer patients are reviewed. In order to provide a reference for the research on self-disclosure of gynecological cancer population, and promote the development of self-disclosure.

Objective:To explore the application effect of breakthrough series (BTS) quality improvement model in the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infection in hospitalized patients with indwelling non-cuffed catheter (NCC).Methods:Using a non synchronous pre and post control study method, convenience sampling was used to select NCC patients from four hospitals in Tianjin from January to September 2022 who received conventional nursing plans as the control group, and NCC patients from February to October 2023 who received nursing plans based on the BTS quality improvement model as the observation group. Compared the incidence of NCC related bloodstream infections between two groups of patients, the implementation of key preventive measures for NCC related bloodstream infections by nursing staff, and patient satisfaction.Results:Among the 984 patients included in the control group, there were 687 males and 297 females, aged (62.43 ± 13.77) years old; among the 959 patients included in the observation group, there were 651 males and 308 females, aged (61.96 ± 13.89) years old. After applying the improved model, the incidence of NCC related bloodstream infections in the observation group was 0.12‰ (1/8 676), lower than the control group′s 0.71‰ (7/9 827), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=4.37, P<0.05) ;the implementation rate of key measures for preventing NCC related bloodstream infections in the observation group was 90.00% (54/60) for catheter outlet care and 91.67% (55/60) for maximizing sterile barrier, both higher than 70.37% (38/54) and 75.93% (41/54) in the control group, with statistical significance ( χ2=7.03, 5.30, both P<0.05); the total satisfaction rate of patients in the observation group was 92.91% (891/959), which was higher than 58.64% (577/984) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=15.28, P<0.05). Conclusions:The implementation of BTS quality improvement model is helpful to improve the nursing quality of patients with indwelling NCC dialysis and improve the patient outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the risk factors for pulmonary embolism in patients with spinal injury.Methods:Literature on risk factors for pulmonary embolism after spinal injury was searched on CNKI, Wanfang database, VIP Chinese Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Up to Date databases from inception through November 2023. A Meta-analysis was performed with the software of RevMan 5.4 after two researchers screened the literature independently according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data and evaluated their quality. Correlations of gender, age, surgical duration, intervertebral disc fusion, body mass index, comorbidity, medicine prophylaxis, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) history, and length of hospital stay with the incidence of pulmonary embolism in patients with spinal injury were evaluated.Results:A total of 10 studies were enrolled, including 2 prospective cohort studies and 8 cross-sectional studies. The total sample size was 401 698 patients, with 525 in the pulmonary embolism group and 401 173 in the non-pulmonary embolism group. The Meta analysis showed that gender ( OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.20, 1.97), age ( OR=1.58, 95% CI 1.19, 2.10), surgical duration ( OR=2.56, 95% CI 1.84, 3.56), DVT history ( OR=15.84, 95% CI 1.88, 133.25) and length of hospital stay ( OR=1.08, 95% CI 1.07, 1.09) were statistically significantly correlated with the incidence of pulmonary embolism in patients with spinal injury ( P<0.01), while intervertebral fusion, body mass index, comorbidity, and medicine prophylaxis were not correlated with the incidence of pulmonary embolism ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Gender, age, surgical duration, DVT history and length of hospital stay are risk factors for pulmonary embolism in patients with spinal injury.