Objective To investigate the expression characteristics, prognostic value, and correlation with immune infiltration of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 (VIPR2) in esophageal adenocarcinoma (ESAD). Methods Transcriptome data of 80 ESAD and 10 normal tissues were retrieved from the TCGA database. Immune-related differential genes were identified by integrating the ImmPort database. Cox regression analysis was applied to evaluate the prognostic significance of VIPR2. GSVA and ssGSEA were employed to assess the association between VIPR2 and immune-cell infiltration. Functional enrichment was performed using GO, KEGG, and GSEA. Results VIPR2 expression was significantly downregulated in ESAD tissues (P<0.05). High VIPR2 expression was associated with prolonged overall survival (HR=0.246, P=0.047), serving as an independent prognostic factor. Fifteen immune-cell types, including CD8⁺ T cells, NK cells, and dendritic cells, showed significantly higher infiltration in the VIPR2-high group, whereas Th17-cell abundance was decreased (P<0.05). Enrichment analyses revealed that VIPR2 participated in multiple tumor-immune pathways and was positively correlated with PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression (P<0.01). Conclusion VIPR2 may serve as a potential biomarker in the prognostic assessment and could modulate the tumor-immune microenvironment in ESAD.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of piceatannol against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) in fatty liver. Methods A mouse model of fatty liver combined with HIRI was established, and experimental animals were assigned into four groups: sham operation group, fatty liver HIRI group, fatty liver HIRI + piceatannol group, and fatty liver HIRI + piceatannol + ML385 group (n=5). Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were detected in each group. Hepatic tissue injury was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Biochemical assays were performed to measure the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified using the DHE fluorescent probe method, while the expression of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) was determined via immunohistochemical staining. Western blot was adopted to detect the protein expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Primary mouse hepatocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro. After treatment with palmitic acid, an hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model was established. Cellular experiments were divided into control group, steatosis H/R group, steatosis H/R + piceatannol group, and steatosis H/R + piceatannol + ML385 group. Calcein-AM/PI dual staining was used to observe cell viability, C11 BODIPY staining was used to determin lipid peroxidation levels, and DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was utilized to test intracellular ROS levels. Western blot was used to detect the protein abundances of GPX4, ACSL4, HO-1 and Nrf2, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to quantify their corresponding messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels. Results Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of ALT, AST and LDH, liver injury score, DHE positive rate, MDA level and 4-HNE level increased, the levels of GSH and SOD decreased, the relative expression level of ACSL4 protein increased, and the relative expression levels of GPX4, Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins decreased in the fatty liver HIRI group; compared with the fatty liver HIRI group, the levels of ALT, AST and LDH, liver injury score, DHE positive rate, MDA level and 4-HNE level decreased, the levels of GSH and SOD increased, the relative expression level of ACSL4 protein decreased, and the relative expression levels of GPX4, Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins increased in the fatty liver HIRI + piceatannol group; compared with the fatty liver HIRI + piceatannol group, the levels of ALT, AST and LDH, liver injury score, DHE positive rate, MDA level and 4-HNE level increased, the levels of GSH and SOD decreased, the relative expression level of ACSL4 protein increased, and the relative expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins decreased in the fatty liver HIRI + piceatannol + ML385 group (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the mean fluorescence intensity of DCFH-DA and MDA level increased, the levels of GSH and SOD decreased, the proportion of oxidized lipids increased, the protein and mRNA expression levels of ACSL4 increased, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of GPX4, HO-1 and Nrf2 decreased in the steatosis H/R group; compared with the steatosis H/R group, the mean fluorescence intensity of DCFH-DA and MDA level decreased, the levels of GSH and SOD increased, the proportion of oxidized lipids decreased, the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of ACSL4 decreased, and the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of GPX4, HO-1 and Nrf2 increased in the steatosis H/R + piceatannol group; compared with the steatosis H/R + piceatannol group, the mean fluorescence intensity of DCFH-DA and MDA level increased, the levels of GSH and SOD decreased, the proportion of oxidized lipids increased, the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of ACSL4 increased, and the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of GPX4, HO-1 and Nrf2 decreased in the steatosis H/R + piceatannol + ML385 group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Piceatannol relieves HIRI in fatty liver by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to suppress ferroptosis in hepatocytes.

Objective To explore the mechanism by which the early growth response protein 1(EGR1)/AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)pathway improves Neuro-2a cell injury via Mendelian randomization(MR),bioinformatics and in vitro models of ischemic stroke(IS).Methods The blood proteins associated with genetic susceptibility to IS were identified based on MR analysis.Then,the GSE22255 dataset was comprehensively analyzed,including GSEA,immunoinfiltration and differential expression analysis.The transcription factors closely related to the occurrence and development of IS were identified after joint analysis with MR results,and the biological functions of key genes were further verified by in vitro experiments.Results A total of 712 proteins related to IS susceptibility were identified by MR analysis.A total of 2357 differentially expressed genes were identified from the GSE22255 dataset,and 75 intersection genes and 34 transcription factors were identified after combined analysis with MR results.In vitro experiments showed that knockdown of EGR1 expression could significantly inhibit oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R)-induced Neuro-2a cell damage,and the mechanism might be related to the up-regulation of p-AMPK and Nrf2 protein expression.Conclusion This study integrates MR analysis,transcriptomics and in vitro experiments to reveal the potential role of 75 IS susceptibility genes and transcription factor EGR1 in the pathogenesis of IS,which provides theoretical basis for the development of therapeutic drugs for IS.

Objective To explore the mechanism by which the early growth response protein 1(EGR1)/AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)pathway improves Neuro-2a cell injury via Mendelian randomization(MR),bioinformatics and in vitro models of ischemic stroke(IS).Methods The blood proteins associated with genetic susceptibility to IS were identified based on MR analysis.Then,the GSE22255 dataset was comprehensively analyzed,including GSEA,immunoinfiltration and differential expression analysis.The transcription factors closely related to the occurrence and development of IS were identified after joint analysis with MR results,and the biological functions of key genes were further verified by in vitro experiments.Results A total of 712 proteins related to IS susceptibility were identified by MR analysis.A total of 2357 differentially expressed genes were identified from the GSE22255 dataset,and 75 intersection genes and 34 transcription factors were identified after combined analysis with MR results.In vitro experiments showed that knockdown of EGR1 expression could significantly inhibit oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R)-induced Neuro-2a cell damage,and the mechanism might be related to the up-regulation of p-AMPK and Nrf2 protein expression.Conclusion This study integrates MR analysis,transcriptomics and in vitro experiments to reveal the potential role of 75 IS susceptibility genes and transcription factor EGR1 in the pathogenesis of IS,which provides theoretical basis for the development of therapeutic drugs for IS.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of defocus incorporated soft contact lenses(DISC)and orthokeratology(Ortho-K)for myopia control in children aged 8～15 years,and to further investigate the influence of dif-ferent baseline age and spherical equivalent(SE)on the treatment effect.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted,involving 197 myopic children(197 eyes)aged 8～15 years who were fitted with contact lenses at the Depart-ment of Ophthalmology,Xi'an People's Hospital(Xi'an Fourth Hospital)from May to September 2023.They were divid-ed into the DISC group(97 cases)and the Ortho-K group(100 cases).After 12 months of continuous follow-up,the chan-ges in axial length(AL)at 3,6,and 12 months after lens wear were compared between the two groups.Subgroup analysis was then performed:participants were divided into a younger subgroup(8～10 years)and an older subgroup(11～15 years)based on pre-wear age,and into a low myopia subgroup(-1.00～-3.00 D)and a moderate myopia subgroup(-3.25～-6.00 D)based on pre-wear SE.The AL changes at 3,6,and 12 months after wearing DISC or Ortho-K were com-pared between groups within these subgroups.Meanwhile,the incidence of conjunctivitis,incidence of corneal staining,corneal endothelial cell density,and corneal thickness were compared between the two groups at 12 months after lens wear.Results Inter-group comparisons showed:The change in AL in the DISC group at 3 months after lens wear was significantly lower than that in the Ortho-K group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05);at 6 and 12 months after lens wear,the differences in AL change between the two groups were not statistically significant(both P＞0.05).Subgroup analysis by age and SE showed:In the younger subgroup and the low myopia subgroup,the AL change in the DISC group at 3 months after lens wear was significantly lower than that in the Ortho-K group,and the differences were statistically significant(both P＜0.05),but these differences disappeared at 6 and 12 months after lens wear(all P＞0.05);in the older subgroup and the moderate myopia subgroup,the differences in AL change between the two groups at 3,6,and 12 months after lens wear were not statistically significant(all P＞0.05).At 12 months after lens wear,there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of conjunctivitis,incidence of corneal staining,corneal endothe-lial cell density,or corneal thickness between the DISC and Ortho-K groups(all P＞0.05).Conclusion DISC demon-strates superior myopia control efficacy in the short term(3 months)for younger children and those with low myopia,but its medium-term(6 months)and long-term(12 months)efficacy converges with that of Ortho-K.Furthermore,the long-term safety of DISC is not significantly different from that of Ortho-K.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms through which Qinggan Yipi formula(QgYp)may alleviate liver fibrosis by integrating network pharmacology with experiments.Methods The active ingredients and gene targets of QgYp,associated with liver fibrosis,were sourced from several databases,including the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database(TCMSP),various professional chemical databases,the HERB database,the GeneCards database,and the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM)database.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were developed using the STRING database and visualized through Cytoscape software.Furthermore,GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were conducted with the Metascape database,alongside molecular docking studies using the CB-DOCK 2 platform.HSC-T6 cells were used as the research model,and the MTT assay along with Western blotting were applied to evaluate cell proliferation and protein expression levels,and the expression of related proteins was also detected in the animal experiment.Results A total of 22 bioactive components and 124 gene targets were identified within the formula.Enrichment analyses revealed 896 GO entries and 123 signaling pathways,notably including the IL-7,TNF,Toll-like receptor,and NF-kappa B pathways.Molecular docking indicated that the key components of the formula exhibited a strong binding affinity with proteins involved in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Additionally,experiments confirmed that QgYp effectively inhibited the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells induced by LPS,and the expression of α-SMA,COL-1,TLR4,IκB-α,and NF-κB p65 proteins in both HSC-T6 cells and rats with liver fibrosis decreased.Conclusion QgYp can effectively inhibit the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and has a suppressive effect on the fibrosis process in hepatic stellate cells,offering a theoretical basis for its clinical application in treating liver fibrosis.

AIM: To assess the consistency of the new anterior segment analyzer, MS-39, the Sirius and Pentacam in measuring corneal white-to-white(WTW)and central anterior chamber depth(ACD), and to compare their differences in guiding implantable collamer lens(ICL)size selection.METHODS: Retrospective case study. A total of 210 consecutive patients(420 eyes)who treated at the Ophthalmology Refractive Surgery Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between September 2019 and September 2020 were enrolled. Three anterior segment analysis systems, MS-39, Sirius, and Pentacam, were utilized to assess the WTW and ACD, with comparative analysis of the results. The sizing of the ICL V4c was simulated using the method recommended by the STAAR company. Data correlation and consistency were evaluated.RESULTS: The WTW measurement results obtained from MS-39, Sirius, and Pentacam were 11.39±0.35, 11.42±0.36, and 11.46±0.35 mm, respectively. Notably, the WTW measurement value from MS-39 was significantly lower than that from Pentacam(P=0.002), while no statistically significant differences were observed between MS-39 and Sirius, or between Sirius and Pentacam(all P>0.05). The WTW measurements from the three devices exhibited a strong positive correlation, with correlation coefficients(r)of 0.942 between MS-39 and Sirius, 0.925 between MS-39 and Pentacam, and 0.882 between Sirius and Pentacam(all P<0.0001). The ACD measurements values from the MS-39, Sirius and Pentacam were 3.28±0.22, 3.28±0.24, and 3.21±0.23 mm, respectively. While, no statistically significant difference was found between MS-39 and Sirius(P>0.05), both measurements were significantly higher than that of Pentacam(both P<0.0001). The ACD measurements also demonstrated a strong positive correlation, with r values of 0.959 between MS-39 and Sirius, 0.947 between MS-39 and Pentacam, and 0.932 between Sirius and Pentacam(all P<0.0001). In terms of ICL size selection based on the measurements from the three devices, the 12.6 mm size was the most frequently selected, while the 13.7 mm size was the least common, the distribution of size selections across the devices was similar.CONCLUSION: MS-39 demonstrated strong positive correlation with both Sirius and Pentacam for WTW and ACD measurements, indicating that the results can be considered clinically interchangeable. Furthermore, the outcomes derived from MS-39 for ICL size selection were closely aligned with those from Sirius and Pentacam, suggesting its clinical feasibility.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.019.].

COMPERA 2.0 risk stratification has been demonstrated to be useful in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, its suitability for patients at risk for post-capillary PH or PH associated with left heart disease (PH-LHD) is unclear. To investigate the use of COMPERA 2.0 in patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), who are at risk for post-capillary PH, a total of 327 eligible SAS patients undergoing TAVR at our institution between September 2015 and November 2020 were included in the study. Patients were classified into four strata before and after TAVR using the COMPERA 2.0 risk score. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression model. The study cohort had a median (interquartile range) age of 76 (70‒80) years and a pulmonary arterial systolic pressure of 33 (27‒43) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) before TAVR. The overall mortality was 11.9% during 26 (15‒47) months of follow-up. Before TAVR, cumulative mortality was higher with an increase in the risk stratum level (log-rank, both P<0.001); each increase in the risk stratum level resulted in an increased risk of death (hazard ratio (HR) 2.53, 95% confidential interval (CI) 1.54‒4.18, P<0.001), which was independent of age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin, albumin, and valve type (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.01‒3.07, P=0.047). Similar results were observed at 30 d after TAVR. COMPERA 2.0 can serve as a useful tool for risk stratification in patients with SAS undergoing TAVR, indicating its potential application in the management of PH-LHD. Further validation is needed in patients with confirmed post-capillary PH by right heart catheterization.
Humans ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/complications* ; Aged ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement ; Aged, 80 and over ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Retrospective Studies