AIM: To develop a novel gene-delivery therapeutic based on CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology capable of specifically targeting and knocking out the VEGFA gene, thereby achieving sustained suppression of VEGFA expression in retinal pigment epithelial(RPE)cells and providing a new strategy for gene therapy in retinal neovascular diseases.METHODS:Single guide RNAs targeting the human VEGFA gene for knockout were designed, and corresponding recombinant plasmids were constructed. A novel polymer(PTEE)was used to encapsulate the plasmids to prepare a PTEE-loaded anti-VEGFA plasmid(PLAP)gene delivery system. PTEE materials at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 μg/μL were co-incubated with ARPE-19 cells, and the biocompatibility of PTEE was evaluated using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay. Recombinant plasmids expressing green fluorescent protein(GFP)were constructed. Lipofectamine 3000 and jetOPTIMUS®DNA transfection reagents were used as control groups, and PTEE nanomaterials were used as the experimental group to encapsulate the plasmids. When the cell confluence reached 80%, the formulations were transfected into ARPE-19 and 293T cells. GFP expression was observed under light microscopy, and the transfection efficiencies of each group were compared. ARPE-19 cells were induced under hypoxia, and PLAP was transfected into the cells. The expression level of VEGFA was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)to evaluate the efficacy of this novel gene delivery system.RESULTS: After co-incubation of ARPE-19 cells with different concentrations of PTEE for 24 h and 48 h, no significant effect on cell viability was observed in any group. The transfection efficiency of PLAP in ARPE-19 cells was higher than that in the Lipo3000 and jetOPTIMUS groups, with statistically significant differences(P<0.01). Hypoxia for 6 h significantly induced the upregulation of VEGFA mRNA expression in ARPE-19 cells, and under hypoxic conditions, the PTEE group exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on VEGFA expression(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:PLAP exhibits favorable biocompatibility and prominent VEGFA inhibitory effects in vitro, making it a potential candidate drug for gene therapy of retinal neovascular diseases.

Objective:To investigate the etiology, clinical manifestations, clinicopathological features of cystic neutrophil granulomatous mastitis (CNGM).Methods:From Jan 2019 to Dec 2020, 95 CNGM cases diagnosed by biopsy pathology at Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chongqing Liangping District Hospitol of Traditional Chinese Medicine were reviewed.Results:There were 95 female patients, aged 21 to 50 years, with a median age of 32 years. Laboratory examination showed that 56% (53/95) cases had elevated rheumatoid antibody level, 27 % (26/95) had increased level of serum thyroid antibody, 15% (14/95) had elevated antineutrophil antibody, 35% (33/95) had increased ESR, 38% (36/95) had increased C-reactive protein. The positive rate of Gram-stained bacilli was 82% (78/95). Histology: pyogenic granuloma with lobule of breast as the center, the center of granuloma was cystic vacuole.Immunohistochemistry showed that the inflammatory cells in and around granuloma were mainly CD3 + cells, and CD4 + cells were more than CD8 + cells. Conclusions:The cystic neutrophilie granulo matous mastitis is a rare type of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. The diagnosis of CNGM is dependent on its specific pathological features.

Objective    To investigate the effectiveness and safety of totally endoscopic transmitral myectomy (TETM) for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), comparing with traditional sternotomy modified Morrow procedure (SMMP). Methods    Thirty-eight patients with HOCM who needed surgical intervention were selected from our hospital in 2019, including 14 males and 24 females, with an average age of 56 (44-68) years. According to the operation method, they were divided into a TETM group (n=18) and a SMMP group (n=20). Appropriate patients  were screened by propensity matching scores. Finally, the clinical data of two matched groups were compared and