Objective To investigate the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)and hypothyroidism using bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)method.Methods The Genome-Wide Association Study data of SLE and hypothyroidism were obtained online.Independent single nucleotide polymorphisms closely related to SLE were screened as instrumental variable(Ⅳ),and outlier values were tested and eliminated by MR-PRESSO tool of R 4.3.1 software.The inverse variance weighted(IVW),MR-Egger,weighted mode(WM),weighted median(WME)and simple mode(SM)were used for MR analysis,and the values of odds ratio(OR)and 95％confidence interval(95％CI)were used to evaluate whether there was an association between SLE and hypothyroidism.The Cochran's Q heterogeneity test was performed for the results of IVW and MR-Egger,the pleiotropy test was performed by Egger-intercept method,and the sensitivity analysis was performed by elimination test one by one.F value was calculated to evaluate whether there was a weak Ⅳ bias.Results MR analysis results showed that there was a positive causal relationship between SLE and hypothyroidism in the overall population,and the results calculated by IVW,MR-Egger,WM and WME were statistically significant,with OR(95％CI)being 1.004(1.002-1.005),1.004(1.001-1.008),1.004(1.002-1.007),and 1.004(1.002-1.006),respectively.The heterogeneity test results for IVW and MR-Egger were P=0.086 and P=0.098,respectively,indicating no heterogeneity;the Egger-intercept result was P=0.295,indicating no pleiotropy;sensitivity analysis showed MR results were stable;and all F values were greater than 10,indicating no weak Ⅳ bias.Conclusion Compared with healthy people,the risk of hypothyroidism in patients with SLE is significantly higher.

ObjectiveUltra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS） coupled with network pharmacology and molecular docking was utilized to explore the efficacy and mechanism of action of Ermiao Situ decoction on rats with damp-heat eczema. MethodsA rat model of damp-heat eczema was established by artificial climate chamber intervention combined with sensitization induction by dinitrochlorobenzene （DNCB）， and it was randomly divided into the normal group， the model group， the medium- and high-dose groups of Ermiao Situ decoction （3.40 g·kg^-1 and 6.80 g·kg^-1）， and the prednisone acetate group （2.51 mg·kg^-1）， with eight rats in each group， totalling 46 rats， of which six rats were tested with the drug-containing serum. The chemical analysis of drug-containing serum from rats was carried out by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS， combined with network pharmacology for the prediction of key components， core targets， and signaling pathways， and molecular docking experiments were performed by CB-Dock2 online website. The pharmacological effects of Ermiao Situ decoction in the treatment of damp-heat eczema were investigated by epitaxial indexes combined with the pathologic tissue staining method. The serum levels of gastrin （GAS）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， and interleukin-13 （IL-13） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Interleukin-6 （IL-6）， Janus kinase 1 （JAK1）， phosphorylated （p）-JAK1， signal transduction and activation of transcription factor 3 （STAT3）， and p-STAT3 protein expression level was determined by Western bolt. ResultsA total of 19 active ingredients were detected in drug-containing serum samples of rats， which were predicted to act on 198 targets for the treatment of damp-heat eczema， among which the key ingredients included rhodopsin， huangpai alkaloids， and quercetin， and the main core targets included STAT3， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， and IL-6， which were mainly involved in the cancer signaling pathway， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase （Akt） signaling pathway， T helper 17 （Th17） cell differentiation signaling pathway， and JAK/STAT signaling pathway. The molecular docking results suggested that the key components had strong binding activities with the core targets IL-6， JAK1， and STAT3 in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. The results of animal experiments showed that compared with those in the normal group， rats in the model group were depressed. They had loose hair， loose stools， epidermal oozing， vesiculation， and generation of thick scabs in the form of scales， decreased body weight， increased anus temperature and water intake， and increased indexes of the spleen， thymus gland， and stomach （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the lesion tissue could be seen to be hyperkeratotic， with the aggregation of inflammatory cells and nonsignificant separation of epidermis and dermis. The gastric mucosa was thinned， deficient， and structurally disorganized， and obvious inflammatory cell aggregation was seen. The levels of GAS， IL-4， and IL-13 in serum were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of IL-6， JAK1， p-JAK1， and p-STAT3 in the lesion tissue were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， rats in each administration group had stable mental states， formed feces， a clean perianal area， and basically normal epidermis. Only a small amount of scaly scabs existed， and the rats had body weight increased， with decreased anal temperature and water intake， as well as decreased spleen， thymus， and gastric indexes （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Epidermal thickness was decreased， and epidermal and dermal separation boundaries were obvious， but hyperkeratotic and accumulation of inflammatory cells could still be seen. The thickness of gastric mucosa increased， and the structure was restored to varying degrees. The levels of GAS， IL-4， and IL-13 content in the serum of rats were increased to varying degrees， and the protein expression levels of IL-6， JAK1， p-JAK1， and p-STAT3 in the dermal lesion tissue were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionErmiao Situ decoction may exert therapeutic effects on rats with damp-heat eczema by modulating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

INTRODUCTION: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) has revolutionised treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). While effective, its high cost and toxicities, such as fatigue and nausea, pose challenges. METHOD: Medical records from the Joint Breast Cancer Registry in Singapore were used to study MBC patients treated with T-DXd (February 2021-June 2024). This study was conducted to address whether reducing dose intensity and density may have an adverse effect on treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-seven MBC patients were treated with T-DXd, with a median age of 59 years. At the time of data cutoff, 32.1% of patients were still receiving T-DXd. Over half (54%) of the patients received treatment with an initial relative dose intensity (RDI) of <;85%. Overall median real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) was 8.1 months. rwPFS was similar between RDI groups (<85%: 8.7 months, <85%: 8.1 months, P=0.62). However, human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2)-positive patients showed significantly better rwPFS outcomes compared to HER2-low patients (8.8 versus 2.5 months, P<0.001). Only 16% with central nervous system (CNS) involvement had CNS progressive disease on treatment. No significant progression-free survival (PFS) differences were found between patients with or without CNS disease, regardless of RDI groups. Five patients (5.7%) developed interstitial lung disease (ILD), with 3 (3.4%) having grade 3 events. Two required high-dose steroids and none were rechallenged after ILD. There were no fatalities. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that reduced dose intensity and density had no significant impact on rwPFS or treatment-related toxicities. Furthermore, only 5.7% of patients developed ILD. T-Dxd provided good control of CNS disease, with 82% of patients achieving CNS disease control.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/mortality* ; Middle Aged ; Trastuzumab/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Adult ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/adverse effects* ; Camptothecin/adverse effects* ; Immunoconjugates/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Progression-Free Survival ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Treatment Outcome ; Registries

Objective:To explore the differences between the Phoenix sepsis scoring system including Phoenix sepsis score (PSS) and Phoenix-8 organ dysfunction score (hereinafter referred to as Phoenix-8) and the commonly used pediatric sepsis scores in evaluating clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of pediatric patients with severe sepsis diagnosed under traditional standards, namely the diagnostic criteria from the 2005 International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From December 2020 to March 2023, 202 pediatric patients with severe sepsis meeting the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Based on the sepsis diagnostic criteria outlined in the International Consensus Criteria for Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock (2024), the pediatric patients were categorized into a sepsis group and a non-sepsis group. Sepsis group was further subdivided into a death subgroup and a survival subgroup based on the outcomes. The age, hospitalization costs, disease outcome indicators (e.g., mortality rate and incidence of septic shock), major organ (e.g., heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys) damage and their correlations, as well as PSS, Phoenix-8 and commonly used pediatric sepsis scores (e.g., pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA), pediatric risk of mortality score Ⅲ (PRISM Ⅲ), pediatric logistic organ dysfunction-2 score (PELOD-2), pediatric multiple organ dysfunction score (P-MODS), pediatric critical illness score (PCIS), and pediatric early warning score (PEWS)) were collected and compared. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and precision-recall curve were plotted to evaluate the predictive ability of PSS, Phoenix-8, and commonly used pediatric sepsis scores for mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis under traditional standards. Predictive performance was quantified using the area under the ROC curve (AUROC). Univariate logistic regression analysis was employed to quantify the odds ratios of PSS and Phoenix-8 for predicting mortality risk. Patients with severe sepsis under traditional standards were further stratified into subgroups based on complications and comorbidities, including central nervous system (CNS) diseases, multiple infections, cardiovascular system diseases, shock, and malignancies. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to assess calibration of PSS and Phoenix-8, and the DeLong test was used to compare whether there were statistically significant differences in the AUROC of PSS and Phoenix-8 for predicting mortality risk among different subgroups of pediatric patients. Results:Compared with those in non-sepsis group, pediatric patients in sepsis group were significantly older ( Z=-2.92, P<0.05) with higher incidences of septic shock and mortality, hospitalization costs, PRISM Ⅲ, PEWS, pSOFA, PELOD-2, PSS, and Phoenix-8 (with χ2 values of 21.28 and 13.64, respectively, Z values of -1.99, -5.33, -5.10, -8.55, -6.91, -10.98, and -9.93, respectively, P<0.05), and lower PCIS ( Z=-3.34, P<0.05). Compared with those in survival subgroup, hospitalization costs, PSS, Phoenix-8, PRISM Ⅲ, PEWS, pSOFA, PELOD-2, and P-MODS of pediatric patients in death subgroup was significantly higher (with Z values of -2.50, -3.50, -2.47, -5.11, -3.84, -2.94, -3.61, and -3.04, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those in survival subgroup, the incidences of lung damage and liver damage of pediatric patients in death subgroup were also significantly higher (with χ2 values of 6.20 and 10.94, respectively, P<0.05), and 64.7% (97/150) of patients exhibited two or more concurrent organ damage. For predicting mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis under traditional standards, the AUROC values for PRISM Ⅲ, PCIS, PEWS, pSOFA, PELOD-2, P-MODS, PSS, and Phoenix-8 were approximately 0.70, with optimal cutoff values of 17.5, 91.0, 5.5, 4.5, 2.5, 4.5, 3.5, and 4.5, respectively; PELOD-2 demonstrated the highest sensitivity (0.83); while PRISM Ⅲ, PSS, and Phoenix-8 showed high specificity (>0.80). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that for every 1-point increase in the PSS within 24 hours of pediatric intensive care unit admission, the relative risk of mortality increased by 63.7% (with odds ratio of 1.64, 95% confidence interval of 1.34-1.99, P<0.05). Similarly, for every 1-point increase in the Phoenix-8, the relative risk of mortality increased by 37.5% (with odds ratio of 1.38, 95% confidence interval of 1.18-1.60, P<0.05). The AUROC values (around 0.80) of PSS and Phoenix-8 for predicting mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis combined with CNS diseases, multiple infections, and cardiovascular system diseases were relatively high. In contrast, the AUROC values (0.60-0.80) for predicting mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis combined with shock or malignant tumors were moderate. All models passed the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test ( P>0.05). The DeLong test indicated no statistically significant differences in predictive ability between PSS and Phoenix-8 across subgroups of pediatric patients ( P>0.05). Conclusions:PSS and Phoenix-8 exhibited higher specificity than most of the commonly used pediatric sepsis scores in predicting mortality risk under traditional standards. Both scores performed much better in predicting the mortality risk in pediatric patients with severe sepsis combined with CNS diseases, multiple infections, and cardiovascular system diseases.

The co-occurrence of epilepsy and arrhythmia is an increasingly concerned research area, but the underlying biological mechanism is still not fully understood. In recent years, many studies have focused on how mutations in ion channel genes affect the electrophysiological properties of neurons and heart muscle cells, revealing a possible intersection between epilepsy and arrhythmia. Mutations in ion channel genes (such as SCN1A, KCNQ2, and RYR2) may simultaneously affect the electrophysiological properties of neurons and cardiomyocytes, leading to the comorbidity of epilepsy and arrhythmia. During epileptic seizures, activation of the autonomic nervous system may cause abnormal cardiac electrical activity, increasing risks of arrhythmia and sudden death resulting from epilepsy. In addition, the potential effects of antiepileptic drugs on cardiac ion channels can further increase the arrhythmia risk. This article reviews the research progress on the electrophysiological characteristics of ion channels in neurons and cardiomyocytes, the relations of ion channel gene mutations with epilepsy, arrhythmia, and their comorbidity, with the aim of providing new ideas for clinical diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE To quantify pulmonary vascular endothelial subpopulations during bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.METHODS Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups(n=12 per group)corresponding to distinct observation timepoints:0,1,2,3,and 4 weeks.A model was established via intratracheal instillation of bleomycin(3 mg·kg-1).Lung tissues were harvested at 0,1,2,3 and 4 weeks post-bleomycin induction.Pathological staining was performed to assess lung histoarchitecture and collagen fiber deposition.Single-cell suspensions were analyzed by flow cytometry to quantify temporal changes in pulmonary vascular endothelial subpopulations,including pulmonary macrovascular endothelial cells,general capillaries,and aerocyte capillaries.Immunofluo-rescence staining was performed to validate the expressions of endothelial markers(CD31,APLN,APLNR,CD93).Single-cell transcriptomic data from the Tabula Muris database was analyzed to evalu-ate gene expression profiles of vascular endothelial subpopulations.RESULTS Pathological staining revealed progressive destruction of lung histoarchitecture and collagen deposition during bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.Flow cytometry demonstrated three-phase dynamics in vascular endothelial cells(CD45-CD31+CD90.2-):a significant decrease during the acute inflammatory phase,stabilization in the fibrotic phase,and partial recovery during the resolution phase.The proportion of von Willebrand factor-positive(VWF+)vascular endothelial cells significantly decreased during the resolution phase,whereas VWF-vascular endothelial cells increased.Single-cell transcriptomics identified Cd93 asa specific gene for general capillary endothelial cells,with a negative correlation with"aerocyte"genes enriched in gas-exchange alveolar capillary endothelial cells.Immunofluorescence confirmed CD93 localization to general capillary endothelial cells.A flow sorting strategy based on CD45-CD31+CD90.2-VWF-CD93-effectively enriched alveolar capillary endothelial cells.This subpopulation trended upward in pulmonary vascular endothelial composition during bleomycin induction.CONCLUSION During bleo-mycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice,pulmonary vascular endothelial subpopulations exhibit dynamic compositional heterogeneity across fibrotic injury and repair phases.

Objective To explore the anti-inflammatory properties of the ethyl acetate extract(ETCB)derived from Trollius chinensis Bge.using in vitro RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and an in vivo mouse auricle model induced by xylene.Utilizing UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS(LC-MS)and network pharmacology,the components of ETCB were analyzed,and its anti-inflammatory mechanisms were preliminarily explored.Methods The anti-inflammatory activity of various solvent extracts of Trollius chinensis Bge.was assessed through the Griess assay.The impact of ETCB on the production of TNF-α and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide was evaluated using ELISA.Real-time qPCR was conducted to determine the effect of ETCB on the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α,IL-6,and iNOS in cells.The anti-inflammatory efficacy was further validated in a xylene-induced ear inflammation mouse model by measuring ear swelling and tissue levels of IL-6 and TNF-α.The composition of ETCB was analyzed using LC-MS.Network pharmacology was employed to screen for effective components,targets,and pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of Trollius chinensis Bge.,followed by molecular docking verification between core components and targets.Results ETCB demonstrated the most potent inhibitory effect on NO production in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide,indicating its primary role in the anti-inflammatory activity of Trollius chinensis Bge..ETCB significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels in inflammatory cells(P<0.01)and inhibited the mRNA expression of TNF-α,IL-6,and iNOS.In the xylene-induced mouse ear inflammation model,ETCB effectively alleviated ear swelling and decreased tissue levels of TNF-α and IL-6.LC-MS analysis identified 30 chemical components in ETCB,including 21 flavonoids,7 organic acids,1 polysaccharide,and 1 anthocyanin.Network pharmacology prediction and screening revealed TNF,Akt1,PTGS2,EGFR,SRC,and MMP9 as core targets,with hydroxyquercetin,lignin from fragrant leaves,zeaxanthin from willows,plantain,thistle,and sophora flavins as key anti-inflammatory active ingredients.The molecular docking analysis revealed positive interactions,characterized by favorable binding energy,between the active components and key targets.Conclusion ETCB demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory properties both inside and outside the body,functioning through various targets and pathways.This establishes a basis for deeper understanding of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Trollius chinensis Bge.

To construct a recombinant fowl adenovirus 4(FAdV-4)expressing the Cap protein of goose astrovirus genotype 2(GoAstV-2),the expression cassette of Cap gene was inserted into the natural 1 966 bp deletion region of the FAdV-4 genome in the infectious clone p15A-cm-FAdV4-HNJZ.The resulted recombinant plasmid p15A-cm-FAdV4-HNJZ-Cap/GoAstV-2 was linearized with restriction enzyme and transfected into chicken hepatoma cell line(LMH)to rescue the recombinant FAdV-4 expressing the Cap protein of GoAstV-2,rF Ad V4-Cap/GoAstV-2.After 15 passages in LMH cells,the recombinant rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 was identified by PCR using primers flanking the insertion site of the Cap gene expression cassette and using viral genome DNA extracted from rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 infected LMH cells as template.LMH cells were in-fected with 15th passage rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 and indirect immunofluorescence was performed with a polyclonal antibody against Cap protein as the primary antibody.Western blot was carried out with lysates of rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 infected LMH cells.The in vitro replication dynamic of the 15th passage of the rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 was also investigated in LMH cells.The results demonstrated that the Cap gene of GoAstV-2 was presented in the genome of the recombinant vi-rus rF AdV4-Cap/Go Ast V-2,and could be expressed stably.The prepared recombinant virus in this study will lay a foundation for developing inactivated bivalent vaccine candidate against co-in-fection of FAdV-4 and GoAstV-2 in goose.

Objective·To comprehensively evaluate the efficiency of different kits and methods for DNA and RNA extraction from blood samples.Methods·A total of 145 blood samples were collected,including those from patients with Alzheimer's disease(20 cases),fibrosis(5 cases),colorectal cancer(108 cases),and healthy individuals(12 cases).A column-based kit(Kit A)and a nucleic acid extraction instrument were used to extract genomic DNA(gDNA)from leukocytes in the blood.Cell-free DNA(cfDNA)and cell-free RNA(cfRNA)in plasma were extracted using five different kits(Kit B?F),which employed either column-based(Kit B,E)or magnetic bead-based methods(Kit C,D,F).The extraction process of Kit B was optimized by increasing the plasma sample volume and extending the elution incubation time.Furthermore,this protocol was applied to extracting cfDNA from plasma samples of 100 colorectal cancer patients.Quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR)was used to quantify the extracted DNA and RNA,and the molecular yields were compared to evaluate the extraction efficiency.A comprehensive assessment was conducted,considering factors such as cost and operation time.Results·In gDNA extraction,although the the operation time was shortened by using the nucleic acid extraction instrument,the median number of DNA molecules extracted using Kit A(column-based method)was 25.36-fold higher than that obtained with the instrument(P<0.05).For cfDNA extraction,while the overall efficiency of the three kits(Kit B?D)was similar,Kit B(column-based method)showed superior performance in low-concentration samples,with average DNA yields 4.24-fold and 1.18-fold higher than those of Kit D and Kit C(both magnetic bead-based).Optimization of Kit B's extraction protocol further improved cfDNA yield.When comparing three samples,the cfDNA yields from larger plasma input volumes was 3.98-fold,2.38-fold,and 3.82-fold higher than those from smaller input volumes,respectively.The results of cfDNA extraction from 100 colorectal cancer patients indicated that this extraction protocol reliably extracted sufficient amounts of cfDNA from clinical samples.For cfRNA extraction,Kit E(column-based method)was widely recommended due to its high efficiency,convenience,and cost-effectiveness.The median RNA content extracted using Kit E was 5.01-fold higher than that of Kit F(magnetic bead-based method).Lastly,a comparison of the copy numbers of cfDNA and cfRNA in plasma revealed that the average copy number of cfRNA per milliliter of plasma was 27.65-fold higher than that of cfDNA.Conclusion·Kit A,Kit B,and Kit E show outstanding performance in leukocyte gDNA extraction,plasma cfDNA extraction,and plasma cfRNA extraction,respectively.However,although Kit E has advantages in extraction efficiency and cost,its safety requires further evaluation.

To construct a recombinant fowl adenovirus 4(FAdV-4)expressing the Cap protein of goose astrovirus genotype 2(GoAstV-2),the expression cassette of Cap gene was inserted into the natural 1 966 bp deletion region of the FAdV-4 genome in the infectious clone p15A-cm-FAdV4-HNJZ.The resulted recombinant plasmid p15A-cm-FAdV4-HNJZ-Cap/GoAstV-2 was linearized with restriction enzyme and transfected into chicken hepatoma cell line(LMH)to rescue the recombinant FAdV-4 expressing the Cap protein of GoAstV-2,rF Ad V4-Cap/GoAstV-2.After 15 passages in LMH cells,the recombinant rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 was identified by PCR using primers flanking the insertion site of the Cap gene expression cassette and using viral genome DNA extracted from rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 infected LMH cells as template.LMH cells were in-fected with 15th passage rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 and indirect immunofluorescence was performed with a polyclonal antibody against Cap protein as the primary antibody.Western blot was carried out with lysates of rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 infected LMH cells.The in vitro replication dynamic of the 15th passage of the rFAdV4-Cap/GoAstV-2 was also investigated in LMH cells.The results demonstrated that the Cap gene of GoAstV-2 was presented in the genome of the recombinant vi-rus rF AdV4-Cap/Go Ast V-2,and could be expressed stably.The prepared recombinant virus in this study will lay a foundation for developing inactivated bivalent vaccine candidate against co-in-fection of FAdV-4 and GoAstV-2 in goose.