T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Exosomes represent a class of nanoscale extracellular vesicles that facilitate the exchange of genetic information among various cells.Alzheimer's disease(AD)stands as a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by its subtle and advan-cing onset,representing the foremost form of dementia lacking effective therapeutic interventions.Notably,investigations have illuminated the involvement of exosomes in the pathogenesis of AD,attributing diagnostic and therapeutic significance to their role,particularly concerning exosomal microRNAs(miRNA).The miRNAs carried by exosomes serve as potential biomarkers for AD,while also exhibiting potential benefits in ameliorating cognitive dysfunction in individuals afflicted by AD.This article aims to comprehensively review the origins of exosomes(encom-passing both mesenchymal cell-derived exosomes and brain-de-rived exosomes)and their potential as therapeutic agents targe-ting AD.

Panax notoginseng is the dried root and rhizome of Panax notoginseng(Burk.)F.H.Chen,a perennial erect herb of the genus Ginseng of the family Wujiaceae.As a traditional Chinese medicine in our country,Panax notoginseng has a good tonic effect,and the Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicines has the words that Panax notoginseng is used to tonify the blood,remove the blood stasis and damage,and stop epistaxis.It can also be used to pass the blood and tonify the blood with the best efficacy,and it is the most precious one of the prescription med-icines.Eaten raw,it removes blood stasis and generates new blood,subdues swelling and stabilizes pain,stops bleeding with-out leaving stasis,and promotes blood circulation without hurting the new blood;taken cooked,it can be used to replenish and strengthen the body.Notoginsenoside R1 is a characteristic com-pound in the total saponin of Panax ginseng.In recent years,China's aging has been increasing,and the incidence of neuro-logical disorders has been increasing year by year.Meanwhile,reports on notoginsenoside R1 in the treatment of neurological disorders are increasing,and its neuroprotective effects have been exerted with precise efficacy.The purpose of this paper is to review the treatment of neurological diseases and the mecha-nism of action of notoginsenoside R1,so as to provide a certain theoretical basis for clinical use and new drug development.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer, and to develop a risk prediction model which providing a theoretical basis for the early detection of depression in high-risk groups by clinical staff.Methods:From September 2022 to March 2023, at the South Campus of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 269 hospitalized patients with esophageal cancer (191 in depression group, 78 in non-depression group) were selected as the model construction set. From March to May 2023, at the South Campus of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 78 hospitalized patients with esophageal cancer were selected as the external validation set. The patients with Beck depression inventory-Ⅱ score ≥5 and depression diagnosed by two experts (chief psychiatrists of the Department of Psychiatry of Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University) were considered as depression and included in the depression group, and the other patients were enrolled in the non-depression group. The general data, blood routine examination, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), blood electrolytes, blood lipids, clinical symptoms (gastroesophageal reflux, sleep disturbance, appetite, etc.) and depression score were compared between the depression group and the non-depression group. Independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Multiple logistic regression model was performed to analyze the independent risk factors of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer, and a risk warning model was constructed. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were used to evaluate the fitting degree and predictive efficiency of the model, and the cross-validation method was used to verify the effectiveness of the model. Results:The incidence of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer was 71.0% (191/269). The total white blood cell count, hs-CRP, blood phosphorus β 2 microglobulin and the proportion of sleep disorders of the depression group were higher than those of the non-depression group (1.3 (1.1, 5.4) ×10 9/L vs. 0.9 (0.3, 1.1) ×10 9/L, 75.8 (54.8, 102.1) mg/L vs. 60.8 (3.6, 61.5) mg/L, (1.33±0.32) mmol/L vs. (1.02±0.19) mmol/L, (2.17±0.72) mg/L vs.(2.12±0.49) mg/L, 84.3% (161/191) vs. 33.3% (26/78), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=9.24, 7.88, t=9.24, χ2=67.87 t=1.98; all P<0.001); hemoglobin, total platelet count, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the proportion of poor appetite were lower than those of the non-depression group ((119.91±24.51) g/L vs. (122.09±22.97) g/L, (203.43±58.45)×10 9/L vs. (311.55±83.54)×10 9/L, (1.04±0.30) mmol/L vs. (1.43±0.23) mmol/L, 73.3% (140/191) vs. 84.6% (66/78)), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-2.00, -8.42 and -8.48, χ2=3.96; P=0.047, <0.001, <0.001, =0.047). The results of multifactorial logistic regression model analysis showed that sleep disorder ( OR=3.976, 95% confidence interval (95% CI 1.601 to 9.872)), loss of appetite ( OR=0.271, 95% CI 0.092 to 0.791), white blood cell count ( OR=31.808, 95% CI 2.879 to 351.401), hs-CRP ( OR=1.031, 95% CI 1.017 to 1.044), platelet count ( OR=0.990, 95% CI 0.982 to 0.997), and HDL ( OR=0.017, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.242) were independent influencing factors of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer. The formula of risk warning model was probability of depression=1-1/{1+ exp[1.544+ 1.380×sleep disturbance (yes=1, no=0)-1.307×loss of appetite (yes=1, no=0)-0.010×platelet count (×10 9/L)-4.063×HDL (mmol/L)+ 0.030×hs-CRP (mg/L)+ 3.460×white blood cell count (×10 9/L)]}. The results of Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the model has a good fit ( χ2=2.01, P=0.981), with an area under the ROC of 0.949, a sensitivity of 0.874, and a specificity of 0.872. The cross-validation of the external validation set showed that the accuracy of the risk warning model was 67.9%. Conclusion:This study is a preliminary study on the risk warning model of postoperative depression in patients with esophageal cancer, which provides a novel approach for screening depression in patients with esophageal cancer after surgery.

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of plasma scaffold protein SEC16A level and related models in the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC). Methods: Patients with HBV-LC and HBV-HCC and a healthy control group diagnosed by clinical, laboratory examination, imaging, and liver histopathology at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between June 2017 and October 2021 were selected. Plasma SEC16A level was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was detected using an electrochemiluminescence instrument. SPSS 26.0 and MedCalc 15.0 statistical software were used to analyze the relationship between plasma SEC16A levels and the occurrence and development of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. A sequential logistic regression model was used to analyze relevant factors. SEC16A was established through a joint diagnostic model. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the model for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of novel diagnostic biomarkers. Results: A total of 60 cases of healthy controls, 60 cases of HBV-LC, and 52 cases of HBV-HCC were included. The average levels of plasma SEC16A were (7.41 ± 1.66) ng/ml, (10.26 ± 1.86) ng/ml, (12.79 ± 1.49) ng /ml, respectively, with P < 0.001. The sensitivity and specificity of SEC16A in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were 69.44% and 71.05%, and 89.36% and 88.89%, respectively. SEC16A, age, and AFP were independent risk factors for the occurrence of HBV-LC and HCC. SAA diagnostic cut-off values, sensitivity, and specificity were 26.21 and 31.46, 77.78% and 81.58%, and 87.23% and 97.22%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for HBV-HCC early diagnosis were 80.95% and 97.22%, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that AFP level was positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) with P < 0.01, while the serum SEC16A level was only slightly positively correlated with ALT and AST in the liver cirrhosis group (r = 0.268 and 0.260, respectively, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Plasma SEC16A can be used as a diagnostic marker for hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. SEC16A, combined with age and the AFP diagnostic model with SAA, can significantly improve the rate of HBV-LC and HBV-HCC early diagnosis. Additionally, its application is helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the progression of HBV-related diseases.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; alpha-Fetoproteins/metabolism* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism* ; Golgi Apparatus/metabolism* ; Vesicular Transport Proteins ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications* ; Hepatitis B/complications* ; ROC Curve ; Hepatitis B virus/metabolism* ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Objective:To explore the status and correlates of sleep quality in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia.Methods:A total number of 269 schizophrenia inpatients were recruited from 7 hospitals including Peking University Sixth Hospital, Zhumadian Second People′s Hospital and Liaocheng Fourth People′s Hospital from August 2019 to March 2021. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and the suicide module of Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview were evaluated. Poor sleep quality was determined by the score of more than 5 according to PSQI, all patients were divided into groups of poor and normal sleep quality. The general demographic data and clinical characteristics of two groups were compared, and the correlates of sleep quality were obtained by Spearman correlations and multiple logistic regression.Results:The prevalence of poor sleep quality in schizophrenia inpatients was up to 44.6% (120/269). Compared with normal sleep quality group, inpatients with poor sleep quality had higher rates of alcohol consumption history, use of benzodiazepines (BZDs) and current suicide risk, and BPRS total score, factor scores (thinking disorders, anxious-depression, hostile-suspiciousness and activation), PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores were also higher (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analyses showed that PSQI total score were significantly positively correlated with BPRS total score ( r=0.323), PHQ-9 score ( r=0.553), GAD-7 score ( r=0.456) and current suicide risk level ( r=0.320) (all P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression showed that history of alcohol consumption ( OR=2.897, 95% CI: 1.002-8.372), use of BZDs ( OR=3.181, 95% CI: 1.548-6.534), thinking disorders ( OR=1.563, 95% CI: 1.015-2.406), comorbidity with depression ( OR=4.968, 95% CI: 1.869-13.202), and current suicide risk ( OR=2.496, 95% CI: 1.360-4.581) were independently correlated with poor sleep quality (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Poor sleep quality is common in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia, and history of alcohol consumption, use of BZDs, thinking disorders, comorbidity with depression and current suicide risk are independent correlates of poor sleep quality.

Enzalutamide (ENZ) is a second-generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonist used for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and reportedly prolongs survival time within a year of starting therapy. However, CRPC patients can develop ENZ resistance (ENZR), mainly driven by abnormal reactivation of AR signaling, involving increased expression of the full-length AR (ARfl) or dominantly active androgen receptor splice variant 7 (ARv7) and ARfl/ARv7 heterodimers. There is currently no efficient treatment for ENZR in CRPC. Herein, a small molecule LLU-206 was rationally designed based on the ENZ structure and exhibited potent inhibition of both ARfl and constitutively active ARv7 to inhibit PCa proliferation and suppress ENZR in CRPC. Mechanically, LLU-206 promoted ARfl/ARv7 protein degradation and decreased ARfl/ARv7 heterodimers through mouse double minute 2-mediated ubiquitination. Finally, LLU-206 exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties with poor permeability across the blood-brain barrier, leading to a lower prevalence of adverse effects, including seizure and neurotoxicity, than ENZ-based therapies. In a nutshell, our findings demonstrated that LLU-206 could effectively inhibit ARfl/ARv7-driven CRPC by dual-targeting of ARfl/ARv7 heterodimers and protein degradation, providing new insights for the design of new-generation AR inhibitors to overcome ARfl/ARv7-driven CRPC.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid protein (HCFP) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) in mice. Methods Twenty-four BALB/c mice at ages of 8 to 10 weeks, each weighing approximately 20 g, were randomly divided into four groups, including groups A (blank control group), B (blank intervention group), C (AR model group) and D (AR+HCFP intervention group), with 6 mice in each group. On days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, mice in groups A, B, C and D were injected with 200 μL sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS), 200 μL sterile PBS containing 20 μg HCFP, 200 μL sterile PBS containing 50 μg OVA and 5 mg Al(OH)₃ gel, and 200 μL sterile PBS containing 50 μg OVA, 5 mg Al(OH)₃ gel and 20 μg HCFP, respectively. On days 14 to 20, mice in groups A, B, C and D were administered with 40 μL sterile PBS, 40 μL sterile PBS containing 20 μg HCFP, 40 μL sterile PBS containing 2 mg OVA and 40 μL sterile PBS containing 2 mg OVA and 20 μL HCFP by nasal drop, respectively. Mouse behavioral changes were observed and behavioral scores were estimated. The serum levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and OVA-specific IgE antibody (OVA-sIgE) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the pathological changes of mouse nasal mucosa were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Results The mean behavioral score was significantly greater in Group C (6.83 ± 0.50) than in groups A (1.17 ± 0.52) and B (1.33 ± 0.52) (P < 0.05), while a lower mean behavioral score was estimated in Group D (3.50 ± 0.50) than in Group C (P < 0.05). There were significant differences among the groups in terms of serum IFN-γ (F = 4.08, P < 0.05), IL-4 (F = 275.90, P < 0.05), IL-5 (F = 96.82, P < 0.05), IL-10 (F = 77.67, P < 0.05), TGF-β (F = 9.98, P < 0.05) and OVA-sIgE levels (F = 44.69, P < 0.05). The serum IFN-γ level was significantly lower in Group C than in groups A, B and C (P < 0.05), and the serum levels of IL-4, IL-5 and OVA-sIgE were significantly higher in Group C than in groups A, B and C (P < 0.05), while the serum IL-10 and TGF-β levels were significantly greater in Group D than in Group C (P < 0.05). Microscopy showed apparent loss of nasal mucosa cilia, increased number and enlargement of goblet cells, interstitial edema and submucous vascular dilation in Group C, while the pathological changes of nasal mucosa were alleviated in Group D relative to Group C. Conclusions E. granulosus HCFP has a protective activity against OVA-induced allergic rhinitis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of high dose methotrexate (HD-MTX), temozolomide (TMZ), and rituximab (R) in the treatment of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). METHODS: Clinical data of patients with PCNSL diagnosed and treated in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from February 2010 to May 2017 were collected. First, patients were given 6-8 cycles of MTX (3.5 g/m RESULTS: There were 42 patients enrolled in the study, 17 cases in HD-MTX+TMZ group and 25 cases in HD-MTX+TMZ+R group. The median PFS and OS times in HD-MTX+TMZ+R group were 56.7 months and N/A, respectively, while, 7.3 months and 34.7 months in HD-MTX+TMZ group, respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference in median survival between patients who received TMZ maintenance therapy and those who were only actively monitored. During the induction period, all the patients had grade 1-2 nausea and vomiting, while in the consolidation treatment period, no grade 3/4 toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION The combination of HD-MTX+TMZ+R in the treatment of PCNSL patients shows a definite short-term effect, which can increase the survival rate of the patients. The side effects are mild, and the patients can generally tolerate.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Central Nervous System ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/drug therapy* ; Methotrexate/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab/therapeutic use* ; Temozolomide/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the regulatory role of recombinant Trichinella spiralis cysteine protease inhibitors (rTs-Cys) in induction of polarization of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in vitro. Methods BMDMs were captured and cultured in conditioned medium for 7 days. Then, mature BMDMs were harvested and assigned into four groups. Cells in Group A (negative control) were given 10 ng/mL IFN-γ combined with 100 ng/mL LPS, cells in Group B (positive control) were treated with IL-4 and IL-10 (at 10 ng/mL both), and cells in Group C (recombinant protein alone) were stimulated with 1 μg/mL rTs-Cys, while cells in Group D (protein co-culture) were simultaneously treated with 1 μg/mL rTs-Cys, 10 ng/mL IFN-γ and 100 ng/mL LPS. Cells and culture supernatant were collected 24 hour post-treatment, and the proportions of F4/80⁺, CD11b⁺, CD206⁺ and CD11c⁺ cells were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of interleukin IL-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the cell culture supernatant were measured by ELISA and the CD86⁺ and CD206⁺ phenotypes were identified by immunofluorescent staining. Results Flow cytometry detected no significant difference in the proportion of F4/80⁺ CD11b⁺ CD11c⁺ cells among the four groups (F = 46.184, P < 0.001), and a lower proportion of F4/80⁺ CD11b⁺ CD11c⁺ cells was seen in groups C and D than in group A (all P values < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the proportion of F4/80⁺ CD11b⁺ CD206⁺ cells among the four groups (F = 11.032, P < 0.001), and a greater proportion of F4/80⁺ CD11b⁺ CD206⁺ cells was seen in groups C and D than in group A (all P values < 0.01). Immunofluorescent staining showed higher CD206⁺ expression and lower CD86⁺ expression in groups C and D than in Group A. There were significant differences in the IL-6 and (F = 3.950, P < 0.001) and TNF-α (F = 205.827, P < 0.001) levels in the cell culture supernatants among the four groups, and significantly lower IL-6 and TNF-α levels were measured in groups C and D than in Group A (both P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the IL-10 and (F = 8.274, P < 0.001) and TGF-β (F = 13.559, P < 0.01) levels in the cell culture supernatants among the four groups, and greater IL-10 and TGF-β levels were measured in Group C than in Group A (both P values < 0.01). In addition, the TGF-β level was significantly higher in Group D than in Group A (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the IL-10 level between groups D and A (P > 0.05). Conclusion rTs-Cys may induce the polarization of BMDMs to antiinflammatory M2 macrophages in vitro and inhibit the activation of M1 macrophages.