BACKGROUND: Disease-modifying therapies have been approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The present study aims to examine the safety of teriflunomide in Chinese patients with RMS. METHODS: This non-randomized, multi-center, 24-week, prospective study enrolled RMS patients with variant (c.421C>A) or wild type ABCG2 who received once-daily oral teriflunomide 14 mg. The primary endpoint was the relationship between ABCG2 polymorphisms and teriflunomide exposure over 24 weeks. Safety was assessed over the 24-week treatment with teriflunomide. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were assigned to variant ( n  = 42) and wild type groups ( n  = 40), respectively. Geometric mean and geometric standard deviation (SD) of pre-dose concentration (variant, 54.9 [38.0] μg/mL; wild type, 49.1 [32.0] μg/mL) and area under plasma concentration-time curve over a dosing interval (AUC tau ) (variant, 1731.3 [769.0] μg∙h/mL; wild type, 1564.5 [1053.0] μg∙h/mL) values at steady state were approximately similar between the two groups. Safety profile was similar and well tolerated across variant and wild type groups in terms of rates of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE), treatment-related TEAE, grade ≥3 TEAE, and serious adverse events (AEs). No new specific safety concerns or deaths were reported in the study. CONCLUSION: ABCG2 polymorphisms did not affect the steady-state exposure of teriflunomide, suggesting a similar efficacy and safety profile between variant and wild type RMS patients. REGISTRATION NCT04410965, https://clinicaltrials.gov .
Humans ; Crotonates/adverse effects* ; Toluidines/adverse effects* ; Nitriles ; Hydroxybutyrates ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/genetics* ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult ; Neoplasm Proteins/genetics* ; East Asian People

The accurate and timely detection of biochemical coagulation indicators is pivotal in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Despite their reliability, traditional laboratories often lag in terms of rapid diagnosis. Point-of-care testing (POCT) has emerged as a promising alternative, which is awaiting rigorous validation. We assessed 226 samples from patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University using a Beckman Coulter AU5821 and a PUSHKANG POCT Biochemistry Analyzer MS100. Furthermore, 350 samples were evaluated with a Stago coagulation analyzer STAR MAX and a PUSHKANG POCT Coagulation Analyzer MC100. Metrics included thirteen biochemical indexes, such as albumin, and five coagulation indices, such as prothrombin time. Comparisons were drawn against the PUSHKANG POCT analyzer. Bland-Altman plots (MS100: 0.8206‒0.9995; MC100: 0.8318‒0.9911) evinced significant consistency between methodologies. Spearman correlation pinpointed a potent linear association between conventional devices and the PUSHKANG POCT analyzer, further underscored by a robust correlation coefficient (MS100: 0.713‒0.949; MC100: 0.593‒0.950). The PUSHKANG POCT was validated as a dependable tool for serum and whole blood biochemical and coagulation diagnostics. This emphasizes its prospective clinical efficacy, offering clinicians a swift diagnostic tool and heralding a new era of enhanced patient care outcomes.
Humans ; Point-of-Care Testing ; Critical Care ; Blood Coagulation Tests/methods* ; Male ; Blood Coagulation ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Prothrombin Time ; Aged ; Adult ; Point-of-Care Systems

The elevated polyamines, amine-rich molecules with diverse functions in pathophysiology processes, are implicated in contributing to tumorigenesis and progression. Whether and how they affect the efficacy of chemotherapy is incompletely understood. Our screening assays reveal that the supplement with a low dose of spermidine (Spd), one of the polyamines, enhances ferroptosis in prostate cancer cells as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation and intracellular Fe²⁺ levels in vitro. Combination treatment with Spd and a low dose of ferroptosis inducer erastin synergistically augments anti-tumor efficacy with undetectable toxicity in mice. Analysis of RNA-seq data indicates that heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), an enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of heme to release Fe²⁺, is significantly upregulated in response to Spd and erastin cotreatment. Spd mediated the hypusine modification of the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (EIF5A) promotes the translation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), subsequently leading to elevation of HMOX1. Moreover, Spd and erastin significantly inhibit proteasome activity which results in a decrease in proteasomal degradation of NRF2, although many proteasome-related genes are induced either by Spd or Spd plus erastin. Thus, in addition to its pro-oncogenic activity, the supplement of Spd improves antitumor activity in combination with ferroptosis inducers and offers an optional approach to cancer treatment.

Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) plays an essential role in regulating the necroptosis and apoptosis in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the regulation of RIPK1 kinase activity after cerebral I/R injury remains largely unknown. In this study, we found the downregulation of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) was induced by cerebral I/R injury, which negatively correlated with the activation of RIPK1. Mechanistically, we proved that PRMT1 directly interacted with RIPK1 and catalyzed its asymmetric dimethylarginine, which then blocked RIPK1 homodimerization and suppressed its kinase activity. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of PRMT1 aggravated I/R injury by promoting RIPK1-mediated necroptosis and apoptosis, while PRMT1 overexpression protected against I/R injury by suppressing RIPK1 activation. Our findings revealed the molecular regulation of RIPK1 activation and demonstrated PRMT1 would be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Objective:The study investigated the full-time Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) working in hospitals on their current working situation and explored affecting factors to provide suggestions for a professional and systemic clinical research workforce establishment in municipal medical institutions.Methods:A questionnaire survey was designed for CRCs in municipal hospitals in Shanghai, descriptive and one-way cross-tabulation analysis were conducted, using t-test for continuous numerical variables, rank-sum test for count variables and chi-square test for categorical variables.Results:Totaling 177 CRCs in 9 municipal hospitals in Shanghai answered the questionnaire. The average age of the respondents was 28.56±7.299 years old. Their professional background was mainly nursing and pharmacy (139/177, 87.53%), and bachelor degree (114/177, 64.41%). Averagely worked 2.50±1.632 years, the average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. The CRCs employed by hospitals mainly undertook Investigator-Initiated clinical Trial/Research projects (IITs) (26/36, 72.22%), while the CRCs employed by SMO companies mainly undertook Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trial (IST) projects (96/141, 68.09%). 85.88% (152/117) of CRCs held GCP certificates valid within three years, and the proportion of CRCs employed by hospitals held GCP certificates was lower than that of SMO companies ( P<0.05). Among the CRCs employed by hospitals, 23 (63.89%) said they had no position or were not clear about their position; The CRCs in SMO companies were mainly primary and intermediate (χ 2=84.119, P<0.05). The average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. Conclusions:With the development of clinical research, the full-time specialized CRCs in medical institutions mainly have 2 sources: from SMO/CRO companies or self-employment by medical institutions. In general, there are still problems in the CRC talent team as unclear entry standards, insufficient, lack career positioning planning, large mobility, imperfect training system, and imperfect promotion mechanism. It is suggested to unify occupational access standards and set specialty in colleges or universities. Strengthen post-service education and training system, establish multi-party collaborative training mechanism, standardize the assessment and evaluation, improve the job title promotion system, to promote the rapid development of CRC team.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are common and critically important diseases of preterm infants. The common feature of both conditions is altered angiogenesis and pathological changes in the case of incomplete organ development. The interaction of multiple factors leads to abnormal angiogenesis, which not only increases the possibility of comorbidity of BPO and ROP, but also reveals the potential co-pathogenesis between the two. However, the specific mechanism of this angiogenic balance in the occurrence and development of BPD or ROP is still unclear, and there are no animal models to explore the pathogenesis of both diseases. At present, effective prevention measures for BPO and ROP are still lacking, and treatment methods mainly rely on drug therapy and surgery. In the future, more studies should be conducted to find common therapeutic targets for factors affecting angiogenesis, so as to provide better treatment options for BPD and ROP and improve the effectiveness of treatment.

Objective:To observe and analyze thyroxine levels in children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its effect on severe ROP.Methods:A retrospective clinical study. From January 2022 to December 2023, a total of 64 premature infants with severe ROP (ROP group), hospitalized in the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University and with a gestational age ≤32 weeks, were included. According to a 1:2 ratio, 128 premature infants without ROP, matched for sex and gestational age, were selected as the control group. Thyroid function tests were performed 7 to 14 d after birth. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine, thyroxine (T4), and free T4 (FT4) were compared and observed between the two groups. The quantitative data between groups were compared by independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test; the count data were compared by χ2 test. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between various variables and the occurrence of severe ROP. The predictive efficacy of the differential indicators was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:Compared with the control group, T4 and FT4 levels were significantly lower in children in the ROP group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.572, 2.704; P=0.011, 0.008). The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, as well as sepsis, T4, FT4, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), were significantly associated with the occurrence of severe ROP ( P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that FT4 and BPD are independent risk factors for the occurrence of severe ROP ( P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis revealed that T4 had a sensitivity of 80.9% and specificity of 43.3%, while FT4 showed a sensitivity of 46.8% and specificity of 75.0%, with abnormal cutoff values set at 98.4 nmol/L for T4 and 15.65 pmol/L for FT4. Conclusions:The T4 and FT4 level of children with severe ROP are lower than that of children without ROP in the early postnatal period. The T4 and FT4 level in the early postnatal period may have a certain correlation with the occurrence of severe ROP.

Objective:The study investigated the full-time Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) working in hospitals on their current working situation and explored affecting factors to provide suggestions for a professional and systemic clinical research workforce establishment in municipal medical institutions.Methods:A questionnaire survey was designed for CRCs in municipal hospitals in Shanghai, descriptive and one-way cross-tabulation analysis were conducted, using t-test for continuous numerical variables, rank-sum test for count variables and chi-square test for categorical variables.Results:Totaling 177 CRCs in 9 municipal hospitals in Shanghai answered the questionnaire. The average age of the respondents was 28.56±7.299 years old. Their professional background was mainly nursing and pharmacy (139/177, 87.53%), and bachelor degree (114/177, 64.41%). Averagely worked 2.50±1.632 years, the average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. The CRCs employed by hospitals mainly undertook Investigator-Initiated clinical Trial/Research projects (IITs) (26/36, 72.22%), while the CRCs employed by SMO companies mainly undertook Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trial (IST) projects (96/141, 68.09%). 85.88% (152/117) of CRCs held GCP certificates valid within three years, and the proportion of CRCs employed by hospitals held GCP certificates was lower than that of SMO companies ( P<0.05). Among the CRCs employed by hospitals, 23 (63.89%) said they had no position or were not clear about their position; The CRCs in SMO companies were mainly primary and intermediate (χ 2=84.119, P<0.05). The average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. Conclusions:With the development of clinical research, the full-time specialized CRCs in medical institutions mainly have 2 sources: from SMO/CRO companies or self-employment by medical institutions. In general, there are still problems in the CRC talent team as unclear entry standards, insufficient, lack career positioning planning, large mobility, imperfect training system, and imperfect promotion mechanism. It is suggested to unify occupational access standards and set specialty in colleges or universities. Strengthen post-service education and training system, establish multi-party collaborative training mechanism, standardize the assessment and evaluation, improve the job title promotion system, to promote the rapid development of CRC team.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are common and critically important diseases of preterm infants. The common feature of both conditions is altered angiogenesis and pathological changes in the case of incomplete organ development. The interaction of multiple factors leads to abnormal angiogenesis, which not only increases the possibility of comorbidity of BPO and ROP, but also reveals the potential co-pathogenesis between the two. However, the specific mechanism of this angiogenic balance in the occurrence and development of BPD or ROP is still unclear, and there are no animal models to explore the pathogenesis of both diseases. At present, effective prevention measures for BPO and ROP are still lacking, and treatment methods mainly rely on drug therapy and surgery. In the future, more studies should be conducted to find common therapeutic targets for factors affecting angiogenesis, so as to provide better treatment options for BPD and ROP and improve the effectiveness of treatment.

Objective:To observe and analyze thyroxine levels in children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its effect on severe ROP.Methods:A retrospective clinical study. From January 2022 to December 2023, a total of 64 premature infants with severe ROP (ROP group), hospitalized in the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University and with a gestational age ≤32 weeks, were included. According to a 1:2 ratio, 128 premature infants without ROP, matched for sex and gestational age, were selected as the control group. Thyroid function tests were performed 7 to 14 d after birth. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine, thyroxine (T4), and free T4 (FT4) were compared and observed between the two groups. The quantitative data between groups were compared by independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test; the count data were compared by χ2 test. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between various variables and the occurrence of severe ROP. The predictive efficacy of the differential indicators was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:Compared with the control group, T4 and FT4 levels were significantly lower in children in the ROP group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.572, 2.704; P=0.011, 0.008). The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, as well as sepsis, T4, FT4, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), were significantly associated with the occurrence of severe ROP ( P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that FT4 and BPD are independent risk factors for the occurrence of severe ROP ( P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis revealed that T4 had a sensitivity of 80.9% and specificity of 43.3%, while FT4 showed a sensitivity of 46.8% and specificity of 75.0%, with abnormal cutoff values set at 98.4 nmol/L for T4 and 15.65 pmol/L for FT4. Conclusions:The T4 and FT4 level of children with severe ROP are lower than that of children without ROP in the early postnatal period. The T4 and FT4 level in the early postnatal period may have a certain correlation with the occurrence of severe ROP.