Objective To investigate whether the pyroptosis-related Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)signaling pathway influences the malignant transformation of actinic keratosis(AK)into cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma(SCC).Methods A total of 6 lesion tissue samples each from patients with AK and SCC,as well as 5 normal skin tissue samples from healthy subjects as controls,were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between August 2020 and August 2021.Quantitative PCR(qPCR)and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4 pathway-related factors,including TLR4,CPB1,NLRP3,IL-1β,and IL-18.TLR4/TUNEL double immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate TLR4 expression and the level of cellular pyroptosis in tissue samples.In addition,Western blotting was performed to analyze the expression differences of pyroptosis-related core proteins(pro-caspase-1,cleaved caspase-1/p20,GSDMD,and cleaved N-terminal GSDMD)and TLR4 among the normal keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and SCC cell lines A431 and SCL-1.Results Quantitative PCR and Western blot results showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4,CPB1,NLRP3,IL-1β,and IL-18 were significantly higher in SCC tissues than in AK and normal skin tissues(P<0.05).TLR4/TUNEL double immunofluorescence results revealed a progressive increasing trend in TLR4 expression and pyroptosis levels from normal skin to AK and further to SCC(P<0.05).Furthermore,in SCL-1 cells,the expression levels of pro-caspase-1,cleaved caspase-1/p20,cleaved N-terminal GSDMD,and TLR4 were significantly upregulated(P<0.05),whereas in A431 cells,only TLR4 expression was increased(P<0.05),and the levels of other pyroptosis-related proteins were downregulated compared to HaCaT cells(P<0.05).Conclusion The expression of the TLR4 signaling pathway gradually increased from AK to SCC,and its activation status varied among different cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a structurally diverse group of plant metabolites renowned for their pharmacological properties. However, sustainable sources for these compounds remain limited. Consequently, researchers are focusing on elucidating BIA biosynthetic pathways and genes to explore alternative sources using synthetic biology approaches. CYP80B, a family of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, plays a crucial role in BIA biosynthesis. Previously reported CYP80Bs are known to catalyze the 3'-hydroxylation of (S)-N-methylcoclaurine, with the N-methyl group essential for catalytic activity. In this study, we successfully cloned a full-length CYP80B gene (StCYP80B) from Stephania tetrandra (S. tetrandra) and identified its function using a yeast heterologous expression system. Both in vivo yeast feeding and in vitro enzyme analysis demonstrated that StCYP80B could catalyze N-methylcoclaurine and coclaurine into their respective 3'-hydroxylated products. Notably, StCYP80B exhibited an expanded substrate selectivity compared to previously reported wild-type CYP80Bs, as it did not require an N-methyl group for hydroxylase activity. Furthermore, StCYP80B displayed a clear preference for the (S)-configuration. Co-expression of StCYP80B with the CYP450 reductases (CPRs, StCPR1, and StCPR2), also cloned from S. tetrandra, significantly enhanced the catalytic activity towards (S)-coclaurine. Site-directed mutagenesis of StCYP80B revealed that the residue H205 is crucial for coclaurine catalysis. Additionally, StCYP80B exhibited tissue-specific expression in plants. This study provides new genetic resources for the biosynthesis of BIAs and further elucidates their synthetic pathway in natural plant systems.
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/chemistry* ; Benzylisoquinolines/chemistry* ; Hydroxylation ; Plant Proteins/chemistry* ; Alkaloids/metabolism* ; Stephania tetrandra/genetics*

Objective:To apply patent metrics to analyze the distribution, development trends, and characteristics of patents related to orthokeratology lenses for assisted wearing, providing a reference for the research and development of such patents.Methods:Patents related to orthokeratology lenses for assisted wearing were retrieved by computer from the China National Intellectual Property Administration database, incopat, Derwent Innovations Index, Free Patents Online, Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, and IP Australia. The search timeframe was from the establishing of these databases until March 8, 2024. Patent metrics methods, word frequency analysis, and high-frequency word co-occurrence analysis were used for data analysis.Results:A total of 60 relevant patents were selected. The development of orthokeratology lens-assisted wearing patents began relatively late but has shown a strong growth trend, reaching a peak around 2015. Chinese patents accounted for the largest share (91.7%, 55/60) , with Zhejiang Province, Beijing City, Jiangsu Province, Guangdong Province, and Shanghai City having the highest number of patents. The majority of the applicants were enterprises. The research focus in this field is on mechanical assistance patents for lens wearing, with cutting-edge technologies focusing on monitoring the displacement of lenses relative to the pupil and providing timely feedback and guidance.Conclusions:This study, using patent metrics, word frequency analysis, and high-frequency word co-occurrence analysis, provides a reference for patent applications and product development in orthokeratology lens-assisted wearing in nursing.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of a workshop-driven interactive teaching model in clinical alarm training for undergraduate nursing interns in the intensive care unit (ICU).Methods:A total of 120 undergraduate nursing students who interned in the ICU from November 2023 to April 2024 were enrolled and randomly assigned using a random number table into a control group ( n=60, traditional teaching) and an intervention group ( n=60, workshop-driven interactive teaching). Clinical alarm knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP); perception of patient safety culture; and training satisfaction were assessed before and after the training using validated questionnaires. Differences between groups were analyzed using independent sample t-test, paired sample t-test, chi-square test, and the Mann-Whitney U test with SPSS 22.0. Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in clinical alarm KAP scores or patient safety culture perception scores before the training ( P>0.05). After the training, the intervention group showed significantly higher scores in clinical alarm KAP [(127.58±6.45) vs. (123.48±7.61), t=3.17, P=0.002] and patient safety culture perception [(99.44±9.17) vs. (95.45±12.03), t=-2.04, P=0.044] compared with the control group. Satisfaction with training content, teaching quality, and overall instructional design was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group ( P<0.05). Within-group comparisons showed that the intervention group had significant improvements in clinical alarm KAP [(127.58±6.45) vs. (120.10±10.25), t=-5.10, P<0.001] and patient safety culture perception [(99.44±9.17) vs. (94.46±12.12), t=-2.65, P=0.010] after training. No significant changes were observed in the control group after training ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The workshop-driven interactive teaching model can effectively enhance the clinical alarm KAP levels and patient safety culture perception among undergraduate nursing interns in the ICU. This teaching approach provides a scientific basis for optimizing clinical alarm education and cultivating high-quality nursing professionals.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic intestinal inflammatory condition with chronic and relapsing manifestations and is characterized by a disturbance in the interplay between the intestinal microbiota, the gut, and the brain. The microbiota-gut-brain axis involves interactions among the nervous system, the neuroendocrine system, the gut microbiota, and the host immune system. Increasing published data indicate that psychological stress exacerbates the severity of IBD due to its negative effects on the microbiota-gut-brain axis, including alterations in the stress response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the balance between the sympathetic nervous system and vagus nerves, the homeostasis of the intestinal flora and metabolites, and normal intestinal immunity and permeability. Although the current evidence is insufficient, psychotropic agents, psychotherapies, and interventions targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis show the potential to improve symptoms and quality of life in IBD patients. Therefore, further studies that translate recent findings into therapeutic approaches that improve both physical and psychological well-being are needed.
Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/metabolism* ; Stress, Psychological/microbiology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology* ; Brain/metabolism* ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; Animals

AIM:To examine the impact of the transcription factor 7 analogue 2(TCF7L2)gene polymorphism on the hypoglycaemic effect of ex-enatide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS:A total of 100 newly diagnosed Han Chinese patients with T2DM who had not re-ceived any drug treatment were selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and treated with exenatide monotherapy for 6 months.The TCF7L2 rs290487 was genotyped by SnaPshot method,and blood glucose levels,lipids profiles and pancreatic function evaluation indica-tors were measured at baseline,3 months and 6 months after exenatide treatment.Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to assess the cor-relation between each indicator and the reduction in glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)levels after 6 months of exenatide treatment.The expression of TCF7L2 protein in the plasma of T2DM patients was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kit.Furthermore,western blotting was con-ducted to ascertain TCF7L2 expression in pancreat-ic tissues obtained from db/db mice and INS-1 cells cultured under high glucose conditions.Lentivirus transfection was used to overexpress or knock down TCF7L2 in insulinoma cell line(INS-1)cells,followed by measurement of KSIS activity and insu-lin content after a 24-hour intervention with exena-tide.RESULTS:The distribution pattern of TCF7L2 rs290487 was found to be in accordance with Har-dy-Weinberg equilibrium(P＞0.05).Following 6 months of exenatide treatment,there was a nota-ble reduction in blood glucose levels and an im-provement in lipid profiles when compared to base-line values.Additionally,there was a significant in-crease in the homeostasis model assessment of be-ta-cell function(HOMA-B)values.Patients with the TT genotype exhibited significantly lower postpran-dial plasma glucose(PPG)levels and HbA1c values compared to those with the CC or CT genotypes(P＜0.05).After adjusting for age,gender,body mass in-dex(BMI),and waist to hip ratio(WHR)in the mul-tiple linear regression model,a significant associa-tion was observed between the rs290487 TT geno-type,baseline HbA1c levels,and family history of diabetes with the reduction in HbA1c after six months of exenatide treatment(P＜0.05).Further-more,individuals with the rs290487 TT genotype demonstrated a notable elevation in TCF7L2 expres-sion in plasma among T2DM patients in comparison to those with the CC genotype(P＜0.05).In particu-lar,pancreatic tissue from db/db mice exhibited markedly elevated TCF7L2 expression compared to db/m mice.However,this up-regulation was re-versed by exenatide treatment.Similarly,INS-1 cells cultured under high glucose conditions dem-onstrated an increase in TCF7L2 expression,which was ameliorated upon exenatide administration.The knockdown of TCF7L2 using shRNA enhanced the KSIS function of pancreatic β cells and aug-mented the insulinotropic effect of exenatide.Con-versely,the upregulation of TCF7L2 impaired the KSIS function of pancreatic β cells and attenuated the insulinotropic effect of exenatide.CONCLU-SION:The TCF7L2 rs290487 gene polymorphism is closely associated with the hypoglycaemic efficacy of exenatide therapy.The risk allele C may diminish the effectiveness of exenatide by impacting the lev-els of PPG and HbA1c in T2DM patients.The muta-tion at TCF7L2 rs290487 site(C→T)influenced the expression of TCF7L2 protein.By exerting its regula-tory effect,exenatide may be capable of regulating the impact of TCF7L2 on the function of pancreaticβ cells.

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including AF, which is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias globally. AF is strongly associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure (HF), and cardiovascular mortality. Although intensive blood pressure lowering has been shown to reduce adverse cardiovascular events, its effect on the risk of AF remains debated. Some studies suggest a beneficial effect, whereas others are inconclusive. Therefore, a comprehensive review and meta-analysis are needed to clarify these effects. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of intensive blood pressure lowering on the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in hypertensive patients. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to September 2, 2024, for randomized controlled trials comparing intensive blood pressure lowering with standard treatment in hypertensive patients. Studies were included if participants were 40 year or older with systolic blood pressure between 130 and 180 mm Hg (1 mm Hg≈0.133 kPa). Data extraction was conducted by 2 independent researchers, and statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. A random-effects model was applied if heterogeneity was detected (I > 50%). Results: A total of 6 randomized controlled trials involving 34,824 participants were included in the analysis. Intensive blood pressure lowering significantly reduced the risk of new-onset AF compared with standard treatment (RR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.62-0.93, p < 0.01, I = 0%). Reductions were also observed in stroke (RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.58-0.87, p < 0.005, I = 7%), HF (RR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.45-0.99, p = 0.05, I = 53%), and nonfatal coronary events (RR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.70-0.92, p < 0.005, I = 39%). However, intensive blood pressure lowering had no significant effect on cardiovascular mortality or all-cause mortality compared with standard treatment. Discussion: Intensive blood pressure lowering significantly reduces the risk of AF and other cardiovascular events, such as stroke, HF, and nonfatal coronary events, particularly among high-risk hypertensive patients. These findings support the potential benefits of intensive blood pressure management in reducing AF incidence and improving overall cardiovascular outcomes, but the evidence is limited.

The etiology of tumors is complex and influenced by multiple factors, including the host and environmental conditions. Allergy is primarily driven by the immune response of helper T cell 2 (Th2). Research has shown that the Th2 immune response is closely related to tumors, which is specifically manifested through Th2 antibodies, allergy-related effector cells and mediators within the tumors, as well as tumor immune-related functions. This internal interaction mechanism will increase the complexity and challenges associated with the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors and allergy. The formation of allergic constitution is shaped by both congenital and acquired factors, and its physical state is closely linked to the occurrence and progression of allergic diseases. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the relationship between tumors and allergic reactions from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution theory. Based on the four basic principles of the TCM constitution, including endowment inheritance theory, environment constraint theory, body-spirit composition theory, and life process theory, this exploration will focus on four aspects: genetic factors and internal disease causes, inflammatory environments and functional regulation, psychological disorders and emotional pathogenesis, as well as age structure and disease risk. Furthermore, from the perspective of constitution-disease relation of chronic disease prevention, this paper will discuss the significant importance of adjusting allergic constitution to improve both subjective symptoms and objective indicators of allergic reactions in tumor patients.

Medical imaging technology plays a crucial role in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Image compression technology provides robust technical support for the storage and transmission of massive medical imaging data, serving as an effective safeguard for hospital data backup and telemedicine. The technology holds broad application prospects in the medical field, enabling the processing of various imaging modalities, multidimensional imaging, and medical video imaging. This study elaborates on general image and video compression algorithms, the application of compression algorithms in the medical field, and the performance metrics of medical image compression, thereby providing critical technical support for enhancing clinical diagnostic efficiency and data management security.

Tumor ribonucleic acid(RNA)vaccines,which are emerging as promising cancer immunotherapies,have achieved significant technological breakthroughs during the COVID-19 pandemic.These vaccines activate immune responses through precise antigen expression.However,they face challenges such as suboptimal delivery efficiency and insufficient immunogenicity.Current studies focus on three design strategies:conventional messengerribonucleic acid(mRNA),self-amplifying mRNA,and circular RNA(circRNA)vaccines coupled with lipid nanoparticles(LNP)and polyethylene glycol(PEG)optimization for enhanced delivery.Clinical trials have demonstrated the synergistic effic-acy of RNA vaccines in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors,chemotherapy,or oncolytic viruses.However,clinical translation is hindered by the complexity of antigen selection and storage stability limitations.In this review,we systematically summarize the recent clin-ical advancements in tumor RNA vaccines,analyze their technical challenges,and propose innovative strategies to address the current thera-peutic bottlenecks to guide future research and clinical applications.