The interaction between m⁶A-methylated RNA and chromatin modification remains largely unknown. We found that targeted inhibition of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) by siRNA or its inhibitor (JQ1) significantly decreases mRNA m⁶A levels and suppresses the malignancy of breast cancer (BC) cells via increased expression of demethylase AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5). Mechanistically, inhibition of BRD4 increases the mRNA stability of ALKBH5 via enhanced binding between its 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) with RNA-binding protein RALY. Further, BRD4 serves as a scaffold for ubiquitin enzymes tripartite motif containing-21 (TRIM21) and ALKBH5, resulting in the ubiquitination and degradation of ALKBH5 protein. JQ1-increased ALKBH5 then demethylates mRNA of extra spindle pole bodies like 1 (ESPL1) and reduces binding between ESPL1 mRNA and m⁶A reader insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), leading to decay of ESPL1 mRNA. Animal and clinical studies confirm a critical role of BRD4/ALKBH5/ESPL1 pathway in BC progression. Further, our study sheds light on the crosstalks between histone modification and RNA methylation.

Objective In this study,we investigated the correlation between the scores for different Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale(LSAS)subscale models and the metabolic activity in specific regions of the brain using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG)positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT)(18F-FDG PET),thereby improving the understanding of the neurobiological characteristics of social anxiety.Methods A total of 39 cognitively normal participants(29 men and 10 women,aged 30-63 years)were enrolled.All participants underwent LSAS assessment and brain 18F-FDG PET scanning.Correlations between metabolic activities in various brain regions and scores from the different LSAS subscales were analyzed accordingly.Results LSAS subscale scores were significantly correlated with metabolic activity in specific brain regions.In the Safren model,the score for the observation by others subscale was positively correlated with the left fusiform gyrus(P<0.001,false discovery rate[FDR]-corrected)and the left caudate tail(P<0.001,FDR-corrected),suggesting a close association between mood states related to observation by others and the metabolic activity in these regions.In the Baker model,the score for the eating and drinking subscale was negatively correlated with the right precuneus(P<0.001,FDR-corrected),while the score for the assertiveness subscale was positively correlated with the left caudate nucleus(P<0.001,FDR-corrected).These findings revealed the complex associative patterns between various mood and behavioral dimensions and metabolic activities in specific brain regions.Conclusion Social anxiety symptoms are closely associated with metabolic changes in specific brain regions,including the left insula,left caudate tail,and right precuneus.Moreover,different social situations activate distinct brain regions.Compared with individuals with social anxiety disorder,normal individuals exhibit involvement of fewer brain regions when experiencing social anxiety.These findings provide new experimental evidence for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying social anxiety.

Objective:To assess the prevalence of exercise addiction among college students and explore its relationship with negative emotion and exercise frequency.Methods:A total of 837 college students were enrolled from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. The cross-sectional survey was administered using the exercise dependence scale revised(EDS-R) and the depression, anxiety, and stress scale 21 items (DASS-21). Data analysis was conducted with SPSS 26.0 software, including partial correlation analysis and hierarchical regression.Results:Among college students, the students in the group with risk and symptoms of exercise addiction accounted for 4.9%(EDS-R score (110.32±11.51), DASS-21-depression score 21.00(10.50, 25.00), DASS-21-anxiety score 21.00(11.50, 24.00), DASS-21-stress score 42.00(22.00, 47.50)). The students in the group without risk but with symptoms accounted for 42.53%(EDS-R score (60.02±12.91), DASS-21-depression score 8.00(1.00, 14.00), DASS-21-anxiety score 8.00(3.00, 14.00), DASS-21-stress score 15.00(4.00, 28.00)), and the students in the group without risk and symptoms accounted for 52.57%(EDS-R score (31.57±7.51), DASS-21-depression score 8.00(5.00, 12.00), DASS-21-anxiety score 7.00(3.00, 10.00), DASS-21-stress score 15.00(6.00, 21.00)). Exercise addiction scores were positively correlated with stress ( r=0.303, P<0.001), anxiety ( r=0.327, P<0.001), and depression ( r=0.259, P<0.001). The results of the hierarchical regression analysis also showed that the main risk variables were anxiety (△ R2=0.175, F=60.954) and exercise frequency (△ R2=0.044, F=21.401). Additionally, male college students had a higher risk of exercise addiction than female( P<0.01), but there was no gender difference in negative emotions( P>0.05). Conclusion:The college students were susceptible to developing an exercise addiction, especially among individuals with high exercise frequency and anxiety symptoms.It provides robust behavioral evidence in support of early detection and treatment of high-risk exercise addiction groups.

Trillions of microbes inhabit the human intestinal tract as a complex ecological community.They impact the host's normal physiological activities and disease susceptibility through their collective metabolic activities and interactions with the host.Gut microbes participate in immune regulation and nutrient metabolism and are closely related to aging.In recent years,the role of gut microbes in ophthalmic diseases has received much attention.This paper reviews the relation-ship between gut microbes and various ophthalmic diseases,aiming to provide new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmic diseases.

Objective:To analyze and evaluate the different methods in detecting anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) for the diagnostic performance of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).Methods:In this retrospective study, we collected serum samples of 37 PBC patients who were admitted to the Second Hospital of Jiaxing, from November 2022 to November 2023, 43 patients with other autoimmune diseases and 53 normal controls during the same time. The results of AMA were detected in parallel by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF), immunoblot tests (IB) and chemilluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CLIA). Fisher′s exact test was used to compare the count data between different groups, while a paired chi-square test was used to assess the results of the three test methods. We analyzed the performance of the three test methods; Venn diagram was used to show the consistency distribution of AMA results, the diagnostic performance of AMA for PBC were evaluated by area under receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).Results:The positive rate of AMA in PBC group was significantly higher than that in the other two groups, and AMA was detected by CLIA which had higher positive rate (86.5%, 32/37) than the other two methods. As shown in the Venn diagram, the proportion of consistent AMA results among the three methods was 74.4%(99/133), and between IB and CLIA methods which used for detecting AMA-M2, the consistent proportion was 86.5%(115/133). Among comparison of the performance of three methods, the highest specificity (92.7%)was IIF method, and the highest sensitivity (86.5%) was CLIA method. The respective AUC of IIF, IB and CLIA methods were 0.801, 0.800 and 0.875. In the combined detection, the AUC of IIF+CLIA method was 0.942, which was better than the other two or triple combined method detection.Conclusion:For highly suspected PBC patients with negative IIF screening test, combined IB or CLIA could be used to detect AMA-M2. We recommended that clinicians should refer to the AMA results conducted by two or three methods, and preferentially recommended the IIF method combined with CLIA method for the detection of AMA.

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is associated with significant neurotoxicity, high addiction potential, and behavioral abnormalities. Recent studies have identified a connection between the gut microbiota and METH-induced neurotoxicity and behavioral disorders. However, the underlying causal mechanisms linking the gut microbiota to METH pathophysiology remain largely unexplored. In this study, we employed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and antibiotic (Abx) intervention to manipulate the gut microbiota in mice administered METH. Furthermore, we supplemented METH-treated mice with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and pioglitazone (Pio) to determine the protective effects on gut microbiota metabolism. Finally, we assessed the underlying mechanisms of the gut-brain neural circuit in vagotomized mice. Our data provide compelling evidence that modulation of the gut microbiome through FMT or microbiome knockdown by Abx plays a crucial role in METH-induced neurotoxicity, behavioral disorders, gut microbiota disturbances, and intestinal barrier impairment. Furthermore, our findings highlight a novel prevention strategy for mitigating the risks to both the nervous and intestinal systems caused by METH, which involves supplementation with SCFAs or Pio.

Humans ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/epidemiology* ; Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Prognosis

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of modified Shishi Niubangzi Decoction combined with strengthening muscle-waist exercise on lumbar disc herniation (LDH).Methods:Randomized controlled trial. A total of 60 patients with LDH admitted to the Pinggu Hospital, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, were enrolled as the research objects between September 2020 and September 2021. According to the random number table, they were randomly divided into the treatment group and control group, 30 in each group. Both groups were given routine basic treatments (strengthening tendons-waist exercise and three-position six-step manipulation). On this basis, the treatment group was treated with modified Shishi Niubangzi Decoction, while the control group was treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen codeine sustained-release tablets). Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The responsive rates, back pain intensity, leg pain and numbness by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and lumbar function by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) were compared between the two groups.Results:The response rate of treatment group was significantly higher than that of control group (93.3% vs. 73.3%; χ2=4.32, P=0.038). After treatment, scores of JOA (subjective symptoms, signs, activities of daily living) in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t=3.86, 2.71, 2.21, P<0.05). After treatment, scores of back pain (2.12±0.21 vs. 3.02±0.32, t=12.88), leg pain (2.04±0.64 vs. 2.64±0.66, t=3.58), lower limb numbness (1.75±0.24 vs. 2.41±0.70, t=4.89) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). At 1 week and 1 month after treatment, ODI scores in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group ( t=10.22, 5.59; P<0.05). Conclusion:The modified Shishi Niubangzi Decoction combined with strengthening tendons-waist exercise can improve responsive rates, improve lumbar pain and function in LDH patients.

N ⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification is critical for mRNA splicing, nuclear export, stability and translation. Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), the first identified m⁶A demethylase, is critical for cancer progression. Herein, we developed small-molecule inhibitors of FTO by virtual screening, structural optimization, and bioassay. As a result, two FTO inhibitors namely 18077 and 18097 were identified, which can selectively inhibit demethylase activity of FTO. Specifically, 18097 bound to the active site of FTO and then inhibited cell cycle process and migration of cancer cells. In addition, 18097 reprogrammed the epi-transcriptome of breast cancer cells, particularly for genes related to P53 pathway. 18097 increased the abundance of m⁶A modification of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) mRNA, which recruited IGF2BP1 to increase mRNA stability of SOCS1 and subsequently activated the P53 signaling pathway. Further, 18097 suppressed cellular lipogenesis via downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), and C/EBPβ. Animal studies confirmed that 18097 can significantly suppress in vivo growth and lung colonization of breast cancer cells. Collectively, we identified that FTO can work as a potential drug target and the small-molecule inhibitor 18097 can serve as a potential agent against breast cancer.

Lung cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the world, among which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of the total number of lung cancers. The 5-year overall survial (OS) of radical surgery NSCLC patients ranged from 92% in stage Ia1 to 26% in stage IIIb, and the continuously decreasing survival time made it a strong clinical need for precise adjuvant therapy to eradicate molecular residual disease (MRD). At present, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a molecular indicator of MRD has gradually moved from the laboratory to the clinic. The latest consensus proposes that ctDNA with abundance ≥0.02% can be stably detected in the peripheral blood of perioperative NSCLC patients, which is based on the possibility of ctDNA as an MRD indicator. MRD detection technology supports the possibility of monitoring after radical treatment of NSCLC, and ctDNA can predict the recurrence of the disease earlier than the imaging monitoring after treatment of NSCLC, providing valuable time for timely adjustment of adjuvant therapy. In the studies on early postoperative adjuvant therapy of NSCLC, different guidelines differ on whether appropriate adjuvant therapy should be carried out, while MRD can be used as a more accurate predictor to guide postoperative adjuvant therapy, so that patients can benefit from the disease treatment.
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Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery* ; Circulating Tumor DNA ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma