BACKGROUND:Immunosuppression leads to impaired body immune function and aggravates the disease.Herb-partitioned moxibustion can effectively regulate immune function and improve immunity in the body,but its regulatory mechanism has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE:To sequence immunosuppressed model rats treated with herb-partitioned moxibustion using bioinformatics techniques based on transcriptomics and to explore the mechanisms by which it regulates immunity. METHODS:Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups:control,model,and herb-partitioned moxibustion groups,with eight rats in each group.The model and herb-partitioned moxibustion groups were subjected to establishment of an immune suppression model by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 35 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days.No interventions were administered to the control and model groups after modeling.In contrast,the herb-partitioned moxibustion group received moxibustion treatment at Zhongwan,Shenque,Guanyuan,and Zusanli acupoints using a combination of moxa and herbal cakes,once a day,for 10 consecutive days,with samples being collected the day after the end of the intervention.Peripheral blood was collected from all groups of rats to measure their white blood cell count.RNA-seq was performed on the Illumina sequencing platform,and differentially expressed genes were selected for bioinformatics analysis using the GO and KEGG databases. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the model group exhibited a significant decrease in white blood cell count(P<0.001).RNA-seq analysis identified 3 026 differentially expressed genes between the model and control groups,with 1 565 upregulated and 1 461 downregulated.There were 535 differentially expressed genes identified between the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the model group,with 280 upregulated and 255 downregulated.The Venn diagram analysis revealed that 159 genes were downregulated in the model group compared with the control group.However,after moxibustion with herbal cakes,these genes were upregulated.Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 10 core targets,including Oasl,Oas2,Isg15,Herc6,Mx2,Helz2,Mx1,Syk,Hspa1a,and Ret.According to GO and KEGG analyses,moxibustion with herbal cakes regulated the body through pathways related to immune response,viruses,angiogenesis,and the autoimmune system.To conclude,there is a significant association between herbal cake-separated moxibustion intervention and immune suppression targets,including Oasl,Oas2,Isg15,Herc6,Mx2,Helz2,and Mx1.The intervention exhibits regulatory effects in the pathways related to immune responses,viral activities,and angiogenesis.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops in promoting ocular surface recovery following pterygium excision combined with autologous corneal limbal stem cell transplantation.METHODS:This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial, selecting 104 cases(104 eyes)of primary pterygium with monocular onset admitted to Baoding First Central Hospital from September 2023 to September 2024 as the initial sample. The patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group using a random number table method, with 52 eyes in each group. Both groups underwent pterygium excision and autologous corneal limbal stem cell transplantation performed by the same surgeon. The control group received tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops combined with 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops, while the experimental group was additionally treated with 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops. The corneal epithelial repair status, ocular surface function [corneal fluorescein staining(FL)score, Schirmer I test(SIt), break-up time of tear film(BUT)] at preoperative and postoperative time points(1 and 3 mo), and dry eye symptoms [ocular surface disease index(OSDI), standard patient evaluation of eye dryness(SPEED)scores]. Additionally, the recurrence rate and postoperative complications were recorded.RESULTS: During the follow-up period, there was 1 case of loss to follow-up in both the experimental group and the control group, with lost to follow-up rate of 1.9%. Finally, 51 cases in each group completed all followed-up. No statistically significant difference was observed in preoperative general characteristics of patients between the two groups(P>0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in corneal epithelial repair time or suture removal time(all P>0.05). At 1 mo postoperatively, the SIt and BUT decreased in both groups compared to preoperative levels, with the experimental group showing higher values than the control group(all P<0.05). FL scores increased compared to preoperative levels but were lower in the experimental group(all P<0.05). By 3 mo, the SIt, BUT and FL score of the control group were not statistically different from preoperative levels(all P>0.05), whereas the experimental group showed increased SIt and BUT, which were higher than the control group, and reduced FL scores, and decreased FL scores, which was lower than the control group(all P<0.05). At 3 mo postoperatively, both groups showed increased SIt and BUT compared to 1-month values, with the experimental group outperforming the control group(all P<0.05). FL scores decreased in both groups compared to 1-month values, with the experimental group maintaining lower scores(P<0.05). At 1 mo postoperatively, OSDI and SPEED scores were higher than preoperative levels, with the experimental group higher than the control group(all P<0.05); at 3 mo postoperatively, the scores returned to preoperative level(all P>0.05), and the OSDI and SPEED scores of the control group increased and higher than those of the experiment group(all P<0.05); at 3 mo postoperatively, the OSDI and SPEED scores decreased when compared with 1-month preoperative level, and the experiment group was lower than the control group(all P<0.05). There was no difference in the total incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups(P>0.05). According to the statistics of 6 mo follow-up after operation, there was no recurrence in the experimental group, and the recurrence rate was 11.8% in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Adjunctive use of 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops after pterygium excision with limbal stem cell transplantation enhances ocular surface recovery, reduces dry eye symptoms, and lowers recurrence rates without compromising corneal epithelial healing or safety.

Targeting drug delivery systems mediated by nanoparticles has shown great potential in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. However, influences of different tumor progressions on the accumulation of nanoparticles, especially the ligand-modified active targeting nanoparticles are seldom exploited. In this work, the accumulation and penetration of RGD-modified gold nanoparticles (active AuNPs) with different sizes were investigated in orthotopic breast cancer with different tumor progressions. The results showed that the smallest active AuNPs had better accumulation and permeation effects in early tumor tissues with the relatively looser extracellular matrix, larger gaps, lower interstitial fluid pressure, and less receptor expression, which was due to size effects. However, the larger active AuNPs had better accumulation and penetration effects in late tumor tissues with highly expressed target receptors integrin α _v β ₃ because of the multivalent interactions between larger active nanoparticles and integrin α _v β ₃. In the midterm, tumor accumulation of active AuNPs was equally influenced by size effects and multivalent interactions. Therefore, RGD-modified nanoparticles with sizes of 7 and 90 nm accumulated more in tumors. This study will guide a rational design of active targeting nanoparticles for enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of tumors based on their progressions.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, cancer relapse remains a significant challenge, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we engineered nanobody-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cells targeting cadherin 17 (CDH17) for the treatment of GI tumors. In addition, to enhance the efficacy of CAR-NK cells, we also incorporated CV1, a CD47-SIRPα axis inhibitor, to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of this combination. We found that CDH17-CAR-NK cells effectively eliminated GI cancers cells in a CDH17-dependent manner. CDH17-CAR-NK cells also exhibit potent in vivo anti-tumor effects in cancer cell-derived xenograft and patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Additionally, the anti-tumor activity of CDH17-CAR-NK cells is synergistically enhanced by CD47-signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) axis inhibitor CV1, likely through augmented macrophages activation and an increase in M1-phenotype macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Collectively, our findings suggest that CDH17-targeting CAR-NK cells are a promising strategy for GI cancers. The combination of CDH17-CAR-NK cells with CV1 emerges as a potential combinatorial approach to overcome the limitations of CAR-NK therapy. Further investigations are warranted to speed up the clinical translation of these findings.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and clinical therapeutic effect of in-line mechanical in-exsufflation to assist sputum clearance in patients with invasive mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted at the department of critical care medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from April 2022 to May 2023. Patients who were invasively ventilated and treated with in-line mechanical in-exsufflation to assist sputum clearance were enrolled. Baseline data were collected. Sputum viscosity, oxygenation index, parameters of ventilatory function and respiratory mechanics, clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) and vital signs before and after day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 of use of the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation were assessed and recorded. Statistical analyses were performed by using generalized estimating equation (GEE). RESULTS: A total of 13 invasively ventilated patients using in-line mechanical in-exsufflation were included, all of whom were male and had respiratory failure, with the main cause being cervical spinal cord injury/high-level paraplegia (38.46%). Before the use of the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation, the proportion of patients with sputum viscosity of grade III was 38.46% (5/13) and decreased to 22.22% (2/9) 7 days after treatment with in-line mechanical in-exsufflation. With the prolonged use of the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation, the patients' CPIS scores tended to decrease significantly, with a mean decrease of 0.5 points per day (P < 0.01). Oxygenation improved significantly, with the oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂) increasing by a mean of 23.3 mmHg (1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa) per day and the arterial partial pressure of oxygen increasing by a mean of 12.6 mmHg per day (both P < 0.01). Compared to baseline, the respiratory mechanics of the patients improved significantly 7 days after in-line mechanical in-exsufflation use, with a significant increase in the compliance of respiratory system (Cst) [mL/cmH₂O (1 cmH₂O ≈ 0.098 kPa): 55.6 (50.0, 58.0) vs. 40.9 (37.5, 50.0), P < 0.01], and both the airway resistance and driving pressure (DP) were significantly decreased [airway resistance (cmH₂O×L^-1×s^-1): 9.6 (6.9, 10.5) vs. 12.0 (10.0, 13.0), DP (cmH₂O): 9.0 (9.0, 12.0) vs. 11.0 (10.0, 15.0), both P < 0.01]. At the same time, no new lung collapse was observed during the treatment period. No significant discomfort was reported by patients, and there were no substantial changes in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure before and after the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation treatment. CONCLUSIONS The combined use of the in-line mechanical in-exsufflation to assist sputum clearance in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation can effectively improve sputum characteristics, oxygenation and respiratory mechanics. The in-line mechanical in-exsufflation was well tolerated by the patients, with no treatment-related adverse events, which demonstrated its effectiveness and safety.
Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial/methods* ; Respiratory Insufficiency/therapy* ; Sputum

AIM: To explore the clinicopathological and immunohistochemistry(IHC)characteristics of meibomian gland carcinoma(MGC).METHODS: Patients who were pathologically diagnosed as MGC from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020 in our hospital were enrolled, and their clinicopathological information was retrospectively analyzed. Cancer tissues from all the cases were IHC stained. En Vision two-step method, DAB staining, as well as hematoxylin re-staining were applied in the IHC assay.RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with 21 males and 29 females(1:1.38)were enrolled in the study, ranging from 26 to 80 years old, with a median age of 60 years. The upper eyelid, which was the predilection site, accounting for 66%(33/50). Histopathologically, moderately or poorly differentiated was in the majority(35/50, 70%). The expression rates of IHC parameters of MGC patients were as follows: GATA-3(49/50, 98%), EMA(49/50, 98%), CAM5.2(42/50, 84%), AR(41/50, 82%), MSH2(50/50, 100%), MSH6(50/50, 100%), MLH1(50/50, 100%), PMS2(50/50, 100%), Ki67(positive, 50%-90%). All the patients were followed up for 12 to 72 mo, with 5 cases of recurrence and 0 deaths.CONCLUSION: Pathological diagnosis of MGC should focus on observing cancer cells' cytoplasm to find relevant clues for cortical gland differentiation. Comprehensive analysis of multiple indicators is required when using IHC to assist diagnosis. For most MGC cancer cells, positive expressions of GATA-3, EMA, AR, CAM5.2 and a high Ki67 proliferation index could be always found. In addition, screening for Muir-Torre syndrome related IHC indicators could be also performed in diagnosing MGC simultaneously.

Objective:To assess the diagnostic value of anti-salivary gland protein-1(SP1)antibody combined with anti-parotid secretory protein(PSP)antibody for Sj?gren's syndrome(SS).Methods:A total of 60 patients with primary SS(pSS)who were treated in the outpatient and inpatient department of Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022 were collected.Thirty patients with other autoimmune diseases accompa-nied by dry mouth and/or dry eyes were collected as disease control group.Thirty healthy subjects from the physical examination center were collected for healthy control group,serum samples were obtained from all of them.Their general features and clinical information including clinical manifestations,labora-tory examinations and other examinations were recorded.The 2016 American College of Rheumatology(ACR)/European League against Rheumatism(EULAR)classification criteria were adopted as the diag-nostic standard of pSS.Immunoglobulin G(IgG)subtype of anti-SP1 antibody and anti-PSP antibody were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of anti-SP1 antibody and anti-PSP antibody in diagnosing pSS.The cli-nical characteristics of anti-SP1 antibody and anti-PSP antibody positive patients and negative patients in pSS group were further compared.Independent samples t test,Mann-Whitney U test,variance analysis,Kruskal-Wallis test,Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and Spearman correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results:There was no significant difference in age(F=1.406,P=0.495)and gender(x2=2.105,P=0.349)among pSS group,disease control group and healthy control group.The expression levels of anti-SP1 antibody(H=16.73,P＜0.001)and anti-PSP antibody(H=26.09,P＜0.001)were statistically different among the three groups.An intergroup comparison of anti-SP1 antibody expression levels showed that there was a statistically significant difference between pSS and healthy con-trol group(P＜0.001),but no statistically significant difference between the other groups.Comparison of anti-PSP antibody expression levels between the groups showed that there were statistically significant differences between pSS and healthy control group(P＜0.001),and between disease control group and healthy control group(P=0.009),while no statistically significant differences between the other groups.The positive rate of anti-SP1 antibody in pSS group was significantly higher than that in disease control group and healthy control group(58.33％vs.40.00％vs.13.33％,P＜0.001).The positive rate of anti-PSP antibody in pSS group was significantly higher than that in disease control group and healthy control group(75.00％vs.56.17％vs.16.67％,P＜0.001).The area under the curve for anti-SP1 antibody was 0.688(P＜0.001).The sensitivity and specificity of anti-SP1 antibody were 58.33％(35/60)and 70.00％(42/60)respectively,the positive predictive value was 66.04％(35/53)and the negative predictive value was 54.55％(42/77)of anti-SP1 antibody.The area under the curve of anti-PSP antibody was 0.720(P＜0.001),with a sensitivity was 75.00％(45/60),and spe-cificity was 63.33％(38/60).The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of anti-PSP an-tibody were 67.16％(45/67)and 71.70％(38/53)respectively.All the 13 pSS patients were negative for anti-Sjogren's syndrome A(SSA,including SSA52 and SSA60)antibody and anti-Sjogren's syn-drome B(SSB)antibody.Among them,11 patients were positive for both anti-SP1 antibody and anti-PSP antibody,1 patient was positive for anti-SP1 antibody and 1 patient was positive for anti-PSP anti-body.The clinical features of anti-SP1 antibody and anti-PSP antibody positive and negative groups were compared in pSS patients.The duration of disease in anti-SP1 antibody positive group was shorter(Z=-2.277,P=0.023)when compared with the negative patients.The patients with positive anti-PSP an-tibody were younger than those in the negative group(t=2.598,P＜0.05),the positive rate of rheuma-toid factor(P=0.002)and the serum level of IgG(t=3.806,P=0.003)in anti-PSP antibody positive group were higher than in the negative group.Analysis of the correlation between anti-SP1 antibody and anti-PSP antibody in the pSS patients showed that there was significant correlation between them(r=0.801,P＜0.001).Conclusion:Both anti-SP1 antibody and anti-PSP antibody are valuable in the diag-nosis of SS,and anti-SP1 antibody is helpful for the early diagnosis of pSS.The combined detection of anti-SP1 antibody and anti-PSP antibody is helpful for the early diagnosis of pSS patients with negative anti-SSA antibody and anti-SSB antibody.

Objective To explore the influencing factors of visual acuity recovery in patients with high myopia after posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens(ICL)implantation.Methods A prospective study was conducted on 210 pa-tients(420 eyes)with high myopia who underwent ICL implantation at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou Univer-sity from May 2021 to March 2023.The patients were divided into a good recovery group[best corrected visual acuity(BC-VA)recovery ≥0.3 D]and a poor recovery group(BCVA recovery＜0.3 D)based on their visual acuity recovery status three months after surgery.The baseline data of patients in the two groups were compared,and the factors affecting visual acuity recovery were analyzed using Logistic regression.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to an-alyze the predictive value of the Logistic regression model for poor visual acuity recovery in patients with high myopia after ICL implantation.Results Three months after surgery,149 patients(298 eyes)were in the good recovery group,and 61 patients(122 eyes)were in the poor recovery group.There were no significant differences in gender,age,years of myopi-a,body mass index,and academic performance between the two groups(all P＞0.05).The proportions of patients with corneal astigmatism＜1.30 D(55.74％),corneal diopter＜45 D(59.02％),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)＜7 points(63.93％),and average central radius of curvature[(7.82±0.27)mm]in the poor recovery group were lower than those in the good recovery group[83.89％,81.88％,85.91％,and(7.90±0.24)mm,respectively].The central flat me-ridian curvature(k1)of the anterior corneal surface[(43.27±1.43)D],steep meridian curvature(k2)of the anterior corneal surface[(44.84±1.53)D],and arch height[(628.49±67.28)μm]in the poor recovery group were higher than those in the good recovery group[(42.73±1.42)D,(44.12±1.47)D],and[(417.56±80.14)pm],with significant differences(all P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that corneal astigmatism,corneal diopter,k1,k2,arch height,and PSQI score were independent influencing factors of poor visual acuity recovery after ICL implantation in pa-tients with high myopia(all P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve for predicting poor visual acuity recovery after ICL implantation in patients with high myopia by Logistic regression model was 0.938(95％CI:0.896-0.966),the sensitivity was 83.61％,and the specificity was 91.95％(P＜0.05).Conclusion The visual acuity recovery after ICL implantation in patients with high myopia is affected by corneal astigmatism,corneal diopter,k1,k2,arch height,and PSQI score.The Logistic regression model based on these factors has high predictive value for visual acui-ty recovery after ICL implantation.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in China. The integration of Chinese and Western medicine is an important feature of Chinese COVID-19 prevention and treatment. According to a series of evidence-based studies, TCM can reduce the infection rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in high-risk groups. For patients with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19, TCM can relieve the related signs and symptoms, shorten the period of nucleic-acid negative conversion, and reduce conversion rate to the severe form of the disease. For COVID-19 patients with severe and critical illnesses, TCM can improve inflammatory indicators and blood oxygen saturation, shorten the hospital stay, and reduce the mortality rate. During recovery, TCM can improve patients' symptoms, promote organ function recovery, boost the quality of patients' life, and reduce the nucleic-acid repositive conversion rate. A series of mechanism research studies revealed that capability of TCM to treat COVID-19 through antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, immune regulation, and protection of organ function via a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway approach.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Epidemics

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)-induced cytokine storms constitute the primary cause of coronavirus disease 19(COVID-19)progression,severity,criticality,and death.Gluco-corticoid and anti-cytokine therapies are frequently administered to treat COVID-19,but have limited clinical efficacy in severe and critical cases.Nevertheless,the weaknesses of these treatment modalities have prompted the development of anti-inflammatory therapy against this infection.We found that the broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory agent inosine downregulated proinflammatory interleukin(IL)-6,upregulated anti-inflammatory IL-10,and ameliorated acute inflammatory lung injury caused by mul-tiple infectious agents.Inosine significantly improved survival in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.It indirectly impeded TANK-binding kinase 1(TBK1)phosphorylation by binding stimulator of interferon genes(STING)and glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK3β),inhibited the activation and nuclear trans-location of the downstream transcription factors interferon regulatory factor(IRF3)and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB),and downregulated IL-6 in the sera and lung tissues of mice infected with lipopoly-saccharide(LPS),H1N1,or SARS-CoV-2.Thus,inosine administration is feasible for clinical anti-inflammatory therapy against severe and critical COVID-19.Moreover,targeting TBK1 is a promising strategy for inhibiting cytokine storms and mitigating acute inflammatory lung injury induced by SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious agents.