BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Deoxyshikonin (DSK) has been reported to inhibit tumor growth in various types of cancers, but its roles and action mechanisms in breast cancer (BC) are unclear. This study examined the anti-cancer function and mechanism of DSK in BC.MATERIALS/METHODS: MDA-MB-231 and BT549, human BC cells, were used. The cell viability and apoptosis levels were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 experiments and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of apoptosis-related factors (Ki-67, Bax, and Bcl-2), CD206, CD168, and proteins involved in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)uclear factor (NF)-κB pathway was evaluated by Western blot analysis. The cell invasion ability was determined using the Transwell experiment. The levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The in vivo functions of DSK were assessed using a xenograft mouse model. RESULTS: DSK inhibited cell proliferation, enhanced cell apoptosis, and reduced the cell invasion of MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells. DSK also reduced the levels of CD206 and CD168 proteins, as well as IL-10 and TGF-β in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced THP-1 cells.DSK downregulated the expression of the phosphorylated (p)-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-NF-κB proteins in cells. These effects were reversed by 740 Y-P (PI3K/AKT activator). In addition, DSK significantly reduced the tumor volume and weight in a xenograft mouse model. DSK increased the level of cell apoptosis and decreased the expression of Ki-67 and CD206 in subcutaneous tumor tissue. DSK also inactivated the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway proteins. CONCLUSION DSK inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and tumor immune microenvironment of BC cells by inactivating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, indicating that DSK may be a potential therapeutic option for BC treatment.

We propose a strategy to reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies in Chinese patients with total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) >10 ng ml -1 and Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) scores between 1 and 3. Clinical data derived from 517 patients of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Hefei, China) from January 2020 to December 2023 who met the screening criteria for the study were retrospectively collected. Independent predictors were identified via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The diagnostic capacity of clinical variables was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC). A prostate biopsy strategy was developed via risk stratification. Of the 517 patients, 17/348 (4.9%) with PI-RADS 1-2 were diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), and 27/169 (16.0%) patients with PI-RADS 3 were diagnosed with csPCa. The appropriate prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) cut-off values were 0.45 ng ml -2 for PI-RADS 1-2 patients and 0.3 ng ml -2 for PI-RADS 3 patients. The appropriate prostate volume (PV) cut-off values were 40 ml for PI-RADS 1-2 patients and 50 ml for PI-RADS 3 patients. The prostate biopsy strategy based on PSAD and PV developed in this study can reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies in patients with tPSA >10 ng ml -1 and PI-RADS 1-3. In the study, 66.5% (344/517) patients did not need to undergo prostate biopsy, at the expense of missing only 1.7% (6/344) patients with csPCa.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Prostate/diagnostic imaging* ; Unnecessary Procedures/statistics & numerical data* ; Biopsy/statistics & numerical data* ; China ; ROC Curve

Objective:To explore the impact of a three-dimensional management based on a perinatal one-day clinic on pregnancy outcomes in overweight and obese pregnant women.Methods:It was a randomized controlled trial. A simple random sampling method was used to select 460 singleton pregnant women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index≥24 kg/m2 who had regular prenatal check-ups at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from June 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022. The women were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group (230 cases each) using a computer-generated random number table. The control group received regular prenatal check-ups according to the pregnancy care guidelines (once every 4 weeks during mid-pregnancy, once every 2 weeks during late pregnancy, with additional frequency as needed based on the condition). The control group also received a one-time body composition analysis and dietary guidance from a nutritionist at the time of registration. In addition to the control group′s interventions, the experimental group received three-dimensional management based on a perinatal one-day clinic. It included an intensive one-day clinic session, a traditional plus internet-based re-education model (as needed based on the condition), individualized guidance from obstetrics and clinical nutrition clinics (once every 2 weeks), a free body composition test at 24 weeks of pregnancy, and weekly WeChat group push of health care knowledge during pregnancy. A total of 55 cases dropped out, leaving 200 cases in the experimental group and 205 cases in the control group for analysis. General information, pregnancy-related, and postpartum indicators were collected in the two groups. The effect of three-dimensional management based on a perinatal one-day clinic on pregnancy outcomes in overweight and obese pregnant women was analyzed using t-tests and chi-square tests. Results:There was no significant differences in baseline age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, initial blood glucose, initial glycated hemoglobin, or initial gestational age between the two groups (all P>0.05). The experimental group showed significantly lower gestational weight gain, neonatal weight, and proportion of excessive pregnancy weight gain compared to those in the control group [(11.41±5.23) vs (13.22±4.51) kg, (3 352.1±465.3) vs (3 489.5±464.0) g, 48.00% vs 73.17%] (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in hospitalization days, gestational age at delivery, incidence of gestational diabetes, incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, incidence of premature rupture of membranes, incidence of preterm birth, incidence of macrosomia, vaginal delivery rate and rate of neonatal transfer to the pediatric department between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Early intervention with the three-dimensional management based on the one-day perinatal clinic can effectively control gestational weight gain and neonatal weight in overweight and obese pregnant women.

Objective To report a rare clinical case of Rickettsia sibirica infection complicated with left ventricular apical thrombus,and to explore its pathogenesis,diagnosis and treatment strategies,as well as the significance of anticoagulant intervention.Methods Clinical analysis was performed on a 71-year-old female patient.The patient presented with fever,coma,and multiple organ damage.Combined with the presence of eschar on the left ankle and a history of contact with pet dogs,the diagnosis of Rickettsia sibirica infection was confirmed by blood metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS).The patient was treated with doxycycline combined with vancomycin for anti-infection,and rivaroxaban for anticoagulation.Inflammatory indicators,coagulation function,cardiac ultrasound,and organ function were dynamically monitored.Results Blood mNGS detected Rickettsia sibirica(11 sequences,relative abundance 29.73%).The diagnosis was confirmed in combination with eschar,skin rash,and shock manifestations.After 4 days of anti-rickettsial treatment,the patient regained consciousness,body temperature and blood pressure returned to normal,and inflammatory and coagulation indicators improved significantly.Cardiac ultrasound showed a left ventricular apical thrombus(3.8 cm×2.4 cm).The thrombus persisted but remained asymptomatic after anticoagulant treatment.Rickettsia-induced vascular endothelial damage,hypercoagulable state,and reduced left ventricular systolic function[ejection fraction(EF)was 0.40]collectively contributed to the formation of the apical thrombus.Conclusions Rickettsia sibirica infection can lead to intracardiac thrombus(the first reported case),with mechanisms related to endothelial damage,hypercoagulable state,and cardiac insufficiency.mNGS has key value in the rapid identification of pathogens in patients with fever of unknown origin accompanied by shock.Doxycycline is a core effective drug for rickettsial infections,and early anticoagulant intervention is required for patients with complicated thrombus.A history of pet contact and skin eschar are important epidemiological clues,which need to be strengthened in clinical identification.

Objective To investigate the expression of serum tumor-associated antigens(TAAs)in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and analyze their clinical significance for RA.Methods A total of 214 RA patients were enrolled in the RA group,while 198 age-and gender-matched healthy individuals were included in the HC group.Rheumatoid factor(RF),anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody(Anti-CCP),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),interleu-kin-6(IL-6),ferritin levels,as well as gender,age,disease duration,disease activity score(DAS28)and clinical manifestations were collected from the RA group.The expression of TAAs in RA patients and the clinical characteristics of TAA-positive patients were analyzed.Spearman correla-tion analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between TAAs and clinical indicators in RA pa-tients.Results The positive rate of carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125)in the RA group was 8.88％,which was significantly higher than 1.01％ in the HC group(P＜0.001).Serum CA125 and cytok-eratin fragment 19(CYFRA21-1)levels in the RA group were significantly higher than those in the HC group,whereas alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate anti-gen 199(CA199)and neuron-specific enolase(NSE)levels were significantly lower(P＜0.001).TAA-positive patients had significantly older age and higher rates of pulmonary interstitial lesions compared to TAA-negative patients(P＜0.05).Patients with DAS28 scores＞5.1 had significantly higher CA125 levels than those with DAS28 scores ≤5.1(P＜0.05).CA125 levelswere positively corre-lated with DAS28 scores,ESR,RF,and anti-CCP antibodies(r=0.142,0.140,0.268,0.183;P＜0.05).Conclusion In RA patients,the positivity rate and levels of some serum TAAs are ele-vated,and TAA-positive patients tend to be older and have higher incidence of pulmonary interstitial lesions.CA125 levels are positively correlated with RA disease activity.

Objective To study the spatial distribution of the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Hubei Province and its influencing factors, so as to improve the theoretical basis for scientific development of tuberculosis prevention and control measures in the future. Methods The data of reported incidence of tuberculosis and related influencing factors in various counties and districts of Hubei Province in 2020 were collected. Global Moran's I index, hotspot analysis and geographically weighted regression (GWR) model analysis were used to calculate the spatial autocorrelation of the incidence of tuberculosis, and to analyze the influencing factors affecting the incidence rate of tuberculosis. Results There were obvious regional differences in the space distribution of the incidence rate of tuberculosis. Hot spot analysis showed positive spatial correlation and obvious clustering. The GWR model (AICc=784.251) in this study had higher AICc value compared to the ordinary least squares regression (OLS) model (AICc=804.2585). The GWR model showed that the increase in the proportion of the population aged 65 and above and the proportion of the ethnic minority population had a significant promoting effect on the increase of the incidence rate of tuberculosis, and there was significant spatial heterogeneity. The effect of PM_2.5 concentration on the incidence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis varied in different regions, and the degree of effect was also different. Conclusion The proportion of people aged 65 and above and the proportion of ethnic minorities may significantly influence the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. The effect of PM_2.5 concentration varies in different regions, so targeted measures should be formulated according to the situation in different regions.

Objective To examine the effect of temperature on the risk of varicella in Jiangjin District, Chongqing, and to provide reference for formulating varicella prevention and control strategies. Methods Data on varicella cases from 2015 to 2020 were collected through the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, while meteorological data for the same period were collected through the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service Network. A distributed lag non-linear model was employed to analyze the correlation between different lag days (lag) and temperature and the incidence of varicella, as well as their impact on sensitive population. Using the lowest risk temperature as a reference, the relative risk of extreme low temperature 8°C (P5) and extreme high temperature 31.5°C (P95) on the onset of varicella was estimated. Results Over the six-year period, Jiangjin District reported 7 547 varicella cases, predominantly among children aged 5-9, accounting for 40.64% (3 067 cases) of the total. The incidence of varicella exhibited obvious seasonality and a bimodal distribution pattern. The exposure-response curve between daily varicella cases and temperature was U-shaped. At a low temperature of 8°C with a 3-day lag, the general population exhibited the highest risk, with a relative risk (RR) of 1.43 (95% CI: 1.22-1.67). After a 7-day lag, the cumulative relative risk (CRR) escalated to 2.79 (95% CI: 1.95-3.98). Conversely, at a high temperature of 31.5°C with no lag, the peak risk yielded an RR of 1.77 (95% CI: 1.23-2.37), and a 7-day lag resulted in a CRR of 2.05 (95% CI: 1.47-2.86). The temperature had the greatest impact on the incidence of varicella in preschool children. At 8°C with a 7-day lag, the CRR of varicella incidence in preschool children was 2.34 (95% CI: 1.89-2.91), with an attributable fraction (AF) of temperature reaching 38.49% (95% CI: 34.45%-42.06%). Conclusion Exposure to both low and high temperature in Jiangjin District, Chongqing can increase the risk of varicella, and the effect is more pronounced in preschool children.

The Ebola virus (EBOV), a member of the Filoviridae family, is a highly pathogenic agent responsible for severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing its replication is critical for developing effective antiviral strategies. VP35-TurboID immunosuppression coupled with quantitative mass spectrometry identified Septin9, the host GTP-binding protein which played a role in cytoskeletal regulation, as a novel interactor of VP35. Western blotting and Far-Western blotting confirmed the direct interaction and demonstrated that the C-terminal region of VP35 was the critical binding domain. Functionally, EBOV replication as well as the formation of viral inclusion bodies (VIBs) was demonstrated to be significantly suppressed by Septin9 knockdown and depletion, as shown by the EBOV minigenome (EBOV MG) and the transcription- and replication-competent virus-like particles (trVLPs) system. This study reveals that VP35 engages in a specific interaction with the GTP-binding protein Septin9, thereby impeding EBOV replication through the disruption of inclusion bodies. The overarching objective of this study is to significantly enhance our understanding about the pathogenic mechanism of EBOV and offer a robust theoretical foundation and solid empirical support for the formulation of innovative therapeutic strategies against EBOV.
Virus Replication/physiology* ; Septins/physiology* ; Humans ; Ebolavirus/physiology* ; Inclusion Bodies, Viral/metabolism* ; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins/metabolism* ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/virology*

Objective:To investigate the multiple mediating effects of anxiety and depression on the relationship between dietary nutri-tion and perimenopausal symptoms in middle-aged and elderly women.Methods:A total of 1129 middle-aged and older women were surveyed using a dietary nutrition status questionnaire,the modified Kupperman Index,the Patient Health Questionnaire-9,and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale.The multiple mediating effect analysis was performed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS.Results:Dietary nutrition,anxiety,and depression were all significantly associated with perimenopausal symptoms(P<0.01).Dietary nutrition had a significant direct impact on perimenopausal symptoms(β=0.06,95%CI=0.002-0.119),and also exerted indirect nega-tive effects through three pathways:anxiety(β=0.059,95%CI=0.031-0.091),accounting for 29.65%of the total effect;depression(β=0.034,95%CI=0.017-0.054),accounting for 17.29%of the total effect;and anxiety-depression(β=0.045,95%CI=0.024-0.073),accounting for 22.76%of the total effect.Conclusion:Dietary nutrition not only directly affects perimenopausal symptoms,but also influences them through the mediating effects of anxiety and depression.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of CD19/CD73 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and its correlation with clinical features. METHODS: The clinical data of 60 CLL patients and 40 healthy volunteers (control group) from January 2022 to November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The levels of CD19 and CD73 in peripheral blood of CLL patients were measured by flow cytometry. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: The hemoglobin (Hb) and CD19/CD73 levels in CLL group were significantly lower than those in control group, while CD19, CD73 and β₂-MG were significantly higher (all P <0.001). According to ROC curve analysis, the AUC value of CD19/CD73 for CLL diagnosis was 0.980 (95%CI : 0.949-1.000, P <0.05), the specificity was 92.50%, and the sensitivity was 98.30%. The CD19/CD73 level of CLL patients with splenomegaly was significantly lower than those without splenomegaly (P <0.01). There was no significant correlation between CD19/CD73 and Hb in CLL patients ( r =0.056, P >0.05). CD19/CD73 was positively correlated with β₂-MG ( r =0.837, 95%CI : 0.740 2-0.899 6, P <0.01). According to the median value (12.84) of CD19/CD73, the patients were divided into high and low expression groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate at 18^th month in the low expression group were 87.08% and 93.25%, while those in the high expression group were 96.41% and 99.90%, respectively (both P <0.05). CONCLUSION The level of CD19/CD73 is low in CLL patients, which can be used as an auxiliary index for clinical diagnosis of CLL. CD19/CD73 is closely related to splenomegaly in CLL patients. Low expression of CD19/CD73 predicts poor prognosis.
Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism* ; 5'-Nucleotidase/metabolism* ; Antigens, CD19/metabolism* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Prognosis ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Adult ; GPI-Linked Proteins