Metastatic dissemination is the major cause of death from breast-cancer (BC). Fusobacterium nucleatum (F.n) is widely enriched in BC and has recently been identified as one of the high-risk factors for promoting BC metastasis. Here, with an experimental model, we demonstrated that intratumoral F.n induced BC aggressiveness by transcriptionally activating Epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated genes. Therefore, the F.n may be a potential target to prevent metastasis. Given the fact that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant in BC and located near blood vessels, we report an optogenetic system that drives CAF to in situ produce human antibacterial peptide LL37, with the characteristics of biosafety and freely intercellular trafficking, for depleting intratumoral F.n, leading to a 72.1% reduction in lung metastatic nodules number without affecting the balance of the systemic flora. Notably, mild photothermal treatment was found that could normalize CAF, contributing to synergistically inhibiting BC metastasis. In addition, the system can also simultaneously encode a gene of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand to suppress the primary tumor. Together, our study highlights the potential of local elimination of tumor pathogenic bacteria to prevent BC metastasis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the value of serum cystatin C (CysC) levels in evaluating renal prognosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January, 2014 to December, 2018. Based on baseline serum CysC levels, the patients were divided into high serum CysC (>1.03 mg/L) group and normal serum CysC (≤1.03 mg/L) group. The composite endpoint for poor renal prognosis was defined as ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Lasso regression, multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to identify the risk factors and compare renal survival rates between the two groups. Smooth curves fitting and threshold effect analysis were used to explore the relationship between serum CysC levels and the outcomes. A nomogram model was constructed and its predictive performance was evaluated using concordance index, calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 356 IgAN patients were enrolled, who were followed up for 4.65±0.93 years. The composite endpoint occurred in 74 patients. High serum CysC was identified as an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis in IgAN (HR=2.142, 95% CI 1.222 to 3.755), and the patients with high serum CysC levels had a lower renal survival rate (Log-rank χ²=47.970, P<0.001). In patients with serum CysC below 2.12 mg/L, a higher CysC level was associated with an increased risk of poor renal prognosis (β=3.487, 95% CI: 2.561-4.413, P<0.001), while above this level, the increase of the risk was not significant (β=0.676, 95% CI: -0.642-1.995, P=0.315). The nomogram model based on serum CysC and 3 other independent risk factors demonstrated good internal validity with a concordance index of 0.873 (95% CI: 0.839-0.907) and an AUC of 0.909 (95% CI: 0.873-0.945). CONCLUSIONS Serum CysC levels are associated with renal prognosis in IgAN patients, and high serum CysC an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis.
Humans ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/diagnosis* ; Cystatin C/blood* ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Nomograms ; Middle Aged

Objective: To investigate whether TYRO protein tyrosine kinase-binding protein (TYROBP) affects the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( ERK) pathway. Methods: Key genes in DKD were identified through bioinformatics analysis . Immunohistochemical staining and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were used to validate the expression levels of TYROBP in a DKD mouse model and high glucose-stimulated NRK-52E cells . NRK-52E cell models with stable TYROBP overexpression/knockdown and their corresponding empty vector (ev) /scrambled sequence (ss) controls were established via lentiviral trans- fection . Cells were treated with 5 . 5 mmol/L or 30. 0 mmol/L glucose for 72 hours to mimic normal glucose (NG) and high glucose ( HG) conditions , respectively. High glucose medium containing 3 . 5 μmol/L FR180204 was used for ERK inhibitor intervention . The experiment included seven groups : ev + NG , ev + HG , oe-TYROBP + HG , ss + NG , ss + HG , sh-TYROBP + HG , and sh-TYROBP + HG + ERK inhibitor. Western blot was used to de- tect the expression levels of phosphorylated ERK/total ERK (p-ERK/ERK) , apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lym- phoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein ( Bax) , and epithelial-mesenchymal transition ( EMT)-related proteins E-cadherin and α-smooth muscle actin ( α-SMA) . Tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) staining and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (Annexin V-FITC/PI) flow cytometry were performed to as- sess mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis levels . Results: Bioinformatics analysis identified TYROBP as a key gene in DKD . In vivo and in vitro validation showed increased TYROBP mRNA levels in DKD models . The results from the HG model indicated that , compared to the ev + NG/ss + NG group , the ev + HG/ss + HG group demonstrated increased p-ERK/ERK expression , reduced mitochondrial membrane potential , elevated apoptosis , and enhanced EMT. In TYROBP-perturbed NRK-52E cells , compared to the ev + HG group , the oe-TYROBP + HG group showed decreased p-ERK/ERK expression (P < 0. 01) , increased mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0. 05) , reduced apoptosis (P < 0. 001) , and attenuated EMT; whereas compared to the ss + HG group , the sh- TYROBP + HG group exhibited increased p-ERK/ERK expression ( P < 0. 001) , decreased mitochondrial mem- brane potential (P < 0. 01) , elevated apoptosis (P < 0. 001) , and enhanced EMT. Furthermore , compared to the sh-TYROBP + HG group , the sh-TYROBP + HG + ERK inhibitor group displayed reduced p-ERK/ERK expression (P < 0. 01) , increased mitochondrial membrane potential ( P < 0. 001) , decreased apoptosis ( P < 0. 001) , and suppressed EMT. Compared with the scrambled sequence control + high glucose group , the TYROBP knockdown + high glucose group showed elevated p-ERK/ERK expression ( P < 0. 001) , reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0. 01) , increased apoptosis level (P < 0. 001) , and enhanced EMT. Compared with the TYROBP knockdown + high glucose group , the TYROBP knockdown + high glucose + ERK inhibitor group demonstrated decreased p-ERK/ERK expression (P < 0. 01) , restored mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0. 001) , reduced apoptosis level (P < 0. 001) , and suppressed EMT. Conclusion TYROBP may regulate the ERK signaling path- way to modulate apoptosis- and EMT-related proteins , thereby influencing mitochondrial membrane potential , apop- tosis , and EMT in renal tubular epithelial cells and contributing to DKD progression .

Objective:To establish a method via transfection of RNA to rescue coxsackievirus B3 B3 (CVB3).Methods:The efficiency of CVB3 genomic RNA extraction from three nucleic acid extraction reagents, Qiagen 57704, Qiagen 52904, and Trizol, and the transfection efficiency of viral RNA with two transfection reagents (Lipofectamine 2000 and Lipofectamine 3000) were compared. The efficiency of CVB3 rescue in Vero cells and HEK293T cells to determine the optimal conditions for rescuing CVB3.Results:The number of phagolysosomes for virus rescue by Qiagen 57704, Qiagen 52904, and Tizol kit extracted RNA was 13.33±1.53, 150±15.00, and 1.67±0.58, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference in the efficiency of the three method of extracting CVB3 RNA to rescue the viral RNA ( F=268.920, P<0.001); The number of phage spots formed by Lipofectamine3000 and Lipofectamine2000 transfected RNA was 74.50±3.00 and 22.00±5.00, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01); Qiagen 52904 reagent extracted CVB3 nucleic acid more efficiently than Qiagen 57704 and Trizol reagents; the transfection efficiency of transfection reagent Lipofectamine 3000 was 3 times more than than that of Lipofectamine 2000, and the efficiency of virus rescue of CVB3 in HEK293T cell culture was higher than that of HeLa and Vero cells, and the copy numbers of the three kinds of viruses rescuing the virus were 6.09×10 7±8.00×10 5, 5.18×10 3±6.17×10 2 and 0, the difference was statistically significant ( F=17 383.644, P<0.001), and it was also found that the efficiency of virus rescue could be improved by multiple elution when extracting RNA. Conclusions:In this study, we successfully established the method of transfecting RNA to rescue CVB3, which can effectively improve the efficiency of virus rescue by choosing Qiagen 52904 nucleic acid extraction kit, increasing the number of elution, using Lipofectamine 3000 transfection reagent, and transfection of HEK293T cells.

Objective To study the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms at loci rs4535211,rs75885714,and rs7653834 of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase 2 (PLCL2) gene and large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) ischemic stroke.Methods A total of 105 patients with newly diagnosed LAA ischemic stroke admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from July 2021 to July 2022 were selected as the observation group,and 103 patients with gender and age matching phys-ical examination in this hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. The clinical data and serum inflammatory markers were collected and compared between the two groups.Genotypes of PLCL2 gene rs4535211,rs75885714 and rs7653834 loci in the two groups were detected,and genotype and allele fre-quencies were calculated.Results The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP),interleukin-6 (IL-6),neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR),monocyte to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (MHR),platelet to lympho-cyte ratio (PLR) and D-dimer in the observation group were higher than those in the control group.The level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). rs7653834 locus was C/C,C/T,T/T genotypes,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).The levels of C/C,T/C and T/T genotypes NLR and PLR at rs7653834 locus were sta-tistically significant between the two groups (P<0.05).The analysis results of co-dominant model,dominant model and overdominant model showed that there was statistical significance in rs7653834 locus genotype be-tween the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion There may be a potential association between rs7653834 locus polymorphism of PLCL2 gene and LAA type ischemic stroke.

Objective:To compare and explore the diagnostic performance of adding value of transabdominal and transvaginal contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS US) risk stratification and management system in differential diagnosis of adnexal masses.Methods:A total of 180 adnexal masses with solid components in 175 women were enrolled retrospectively between September 2021 and November 2022. All patients underwent routine Doppler ultrasound examinations and CEUS examinations. Among these masses, 107 masses underwent with transabdominal CEUS, 58 masses underwent with transvaginal CEUS, and 15 masses underwent both transvaginal and transabdominal CEUS. All patients were scheduled for surgery and pathological results served as the reference standard. Routine Doppler ultrasound and CEUS images and video were reviewed by a subspecialty radiologist using Vuebox software. The O-RADS US was downgraded or upgraded according to the CEUS characteristics of the masses. The diagnostic accuracy was assessed using ROC curve analysis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to compare the diagnostic performance of adding value of transabdominal and transvaginal CEUS to O-RADS US.Results:The diagnostic performance of adding transabdominal and transvaginal CEUS to O-RADS US were both significantly higher than of O-RADS US alone (transabdominal CEUS: AUC 0.83 vs 0.76, P=0.018; transvaginal CEUS: AUC 0.92 vs 0.81, P=0.013). Combination of transvaginal CEUS and O-RADS US was superior to that of combination of transabdominal and O-RADS US in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses ( P=0.047). When the maximal diameter of adnexal masses ≤40 mm, transabdominal combined with O-RADS US presented the lowest diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.73. Conclusions:Combination of transvaginal CEUS and O-RADS US was superior to that of combination of transabdominal and O-RADS US in assessing adnexal masses with solid components. When the maximal diameter of adnexal masses ≤40 mm, transvaginal CEUS examination was recommended.

Objective:To explore the relationship between body composition and the risk of gestational diabe-tes mellitus(GDM)in pregnant women.Methods:90 pregnant women with spontaneous pregnancy of singleton who underwent routine prenatal examination in our hospital were selected as GDM group,and 219 pregnant women with normal singleton in the same period as control group(NGT).The body composition was determined by bioimpedance method at 24-28 weeks of gestation.The relationship between body mass index(BMI),per-centage of body fat(FMP),percentage of fat-free body weight(FFMP),extracellular/intracellular fluid(ECW/ICW),body fat index(FMI)and GDM were analyzed.The levels of circulating adiponectin,fatty acid binding pro-tein 4(FABP4),leptin and fasting insulin(FINS)were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method,and their relationship with various indicators of human body composition was analyzed.Results:①Adi-ponectin in GDM group was lower than that in NGT group,while leptin was higher than that in control group(P＜0.05).②The FMP,ECW/ICW and FMI in GDM group were significantly higher than those in control group(P＜0.05).Univariate regression analysis showed that BMI,FMP,FMI and ECW/ICW before pregnancy were the risk factorsof GDM(OR＞1,P＜0.05),FFMP,MP,PP and M/F was the protective factor of GDM(OR＜1,P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that only FMP was significantly correlated with the risk of GDM,which was an independent risk factor(OR＞1,P＜0.05).③In GDM group,HOMA-IR was positively correlated with FMI(r＞1,P＜0.05)and negatively correlated with PP(r＜1,P＜0.05).④The ROC curve showed that the diagnostic value of pre-pregnancy BMI、FMP、ECW/ICW and FMI in GDM was similar.There was no significant difference in pre-pregnancy BMI,FMP and FMI(P＞0.05),but they were slightly better than ECW/ICW(P＜0.001).Conclu-sions:Body composition during pregnancy is related to the risk of gestational diabetes.The increase in FMP is associated with an increased risk of developing GDM.The higher the FMP,the higher the risk of GDM.The diag nostic efficacy of BMI,FMP and FMI in GDM is Similar.

Objective:To study the risk factors of venous thromboembolism(VTE)and the predictive value of the improved VTE score model to identify the risk of VTE in gynecological surgery patients.Methods:From Janu-ary 1,2020 to December 31,2022,41 patients with VTE after gynecological surgery were selected as the VTE group,and a total of 164 patients with adjacent gynecological surgeries during the same period were selected as the non-VTE group with a ratio of 1 :4.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to ana-lyze the risk factors of VTE after gynecological surgery,and a modified VTE risk factor rapid assessment model(referred to as the improved VTE score model)was constructed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to study the predictive value for VTE for in gynecological surgery,and compared with the Caprini score model(Caprini table for short).Results:①Multivatiate Logistic regression analysis showed that there were independent risk factors for postoperative VTE in gynecology surgery(OR＞1,P＜0.05),including age≥60 years,BMI≥28 kg/m2,malignant tumors,surgery time＞3 hours,history of thrombosis,and the increased D-di-mer difference before and after surgery.②The Area under Curve(AUC)of ROC was 0.963 in the improved VTE score model with a Youden index 81.10％,sensitivity 87.80％and specificity 93.29％.The AUC of the Caprini score model was 0.888 with Youden index 63.41％,sensitivity 73.17％and specificity 90.24％.The improved VTE score model the Caprini score model identified 92.68％and 85.37％of VTE patients as high-risk or ex-tremely high-risk,respectively,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusions:More attention should be paid to the six independent risk factors for postoperative VTE in gynecology surgery.The two score models showed a similar identified level.However,the improved VTE score model is more simple and easier to operate,has better practicality,and has certain clinical promotion value.

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of kidney transplantation from donation after brain death(DBD)donors complicated with acute kidney injury(AKI).Methods Clinical data of 216 DBD donors were retrospectively analyzed,and they were divided into the AKI group(n=69)and control group(n=147)according to the Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes(KDIGO)guidelines.Donors in the AKI group were further divided into the KDIGO stage 1 and stage 2-3 subgroups.One hundred and thirty-five recipients were assigned into the AKI group and 288 recipients in the control group.Postoperative recovery of renal function and clinical outcomes of the recipients were recorded.The risk factors of delayed graft function(DGF)were identified.Results The highest serum creatinine(Scr)level,Scr level before procurement,the highest blood sodium level and blood sodium level before procurement in the AKI group were higher than those in the control group.The application duration of vasopressors in the AKI group was longer than that in the control group.In the AKI group,the amount of fluid resuscitation within 48 h was higher,the HCO3-level at admission was lower,and the incidence of diabetes insipidus and hypotension was higher than those in the control group.The highest Scr level and the Scr level before procurement in KDIGO stage 2-3 donors were significantly higher than those in KDIGO stage 1 counterparts(all P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the incidence of DGF and acute rejection was higher,the proportion of continuous renal replacement therapy was higher,the Scr level within postoperative 90 d was higher,and the urine amount within postoperative 3 d was less than those of recipients in the AKI group.Compared with KDIGO stage 1 recipients,KDIGO stage 2-3 recipients had higher Scr levels at postoperative 3,4,5 and 15 d,and less urine amount at postoperative 2 d(all P＜0.05).Univariate analysis showed that donor age,the highest Scr level,the highest blood sodium level and the amount of fluid resuscitation within 48 h were the risk factors for DGF in recipients after kidney transplantation.Multivariate analysis showed that donor age was the independent risk factor for DGF in recipients after kidney transplantation(all P＜0.05).Conclusions For the application of DBD donors complicated with AKI,active organ maintenance should be performed to alleviate AKI.It exerts no effect upon graft function and survival rate at postoperative 6 months,which may achieve equivalent efficacy as non-AKI donors and may be used as a source of extended criteria donor kidneys.

A 82-year-old man was admitted to hospital with fever,unresponsiveness,elevated hypersensitive C-reactive protein and neutrophile granulocyte.Ceftriaxone was administrated by intravenous dripping in the emergency room,but the effect was not satisfactory.Following his admission to the ward,cefoperazone sulbactam were given.Elizabethkingia meningoseptica was identified by blood culture and further confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing.The lumbar puncture showed that cerebrospinal fluid pressure was 80 mmH2O(1 mmH2O=0.0098 kPa)and biochemical results were normal.After 11 days of cefoperazone sulbactam treatment,the patient was discharged with negative blood culture.The hypersensitive C-reactive protein and neutrophile granulocyte had also declined.The patient received levofloxacin tablets for anti-infection treatment for 14 d after discharge.No signs of infection were observed in three months'following up.