Research on immune checkpoints such as programmed death protein-1(PD-1)and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4(CTLA-4)has provided new directions for tumor treatment.V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation(VISTA)is an emerging immune checkpoint within the B7 family.Functioning as both a ligand and a receptor,VISTA is an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule expressed in tumor cells,myeloid cells and T lymphocytes.It plays a crucial role in regulating autoimmunity,inflammatory response and tumor immunity.The non-redundant interactions between VISTA and other immune checkpoints,such as PD-1,may offer new therapeutic strategies and serve as a new target for overcoming immunotherapy resistance.This review summarizes the recent research progress on VISTA in hematological tumors,aiming to provide new insights into its application in the treatment of these malignancies.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for pneumonia complicating infectious mononucleosis(IM)in adults and construct a nomogram prediction model.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 198 IM patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2015 to December 2021.Patients were divided into pneumonia group(n=52)and non-pneumonia group(n=146)based on whether pulmonary infection occurred during hospitalization.The baseline data(age,gender,place of onset,etc.),clinical manifestations(maximum body temperature,lymph node enlargement,splenomegaly,etc.),and inflammatory indicators[white blood cell count(WBC),C-reactive protein(CRP),etc.]were compared between the two groups.Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to analyze the key indicators affecting the hospital stay of IM patients.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for pneumonia complicating IM in adults and construct a nomogram prediction model based on the identified risk factors.The predictive efficacy of the model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and the consistency of the model was assessed using the calibration curve.The fit of the model was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.Additionally,the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of the model were assessed using confusion matrix.Results Compared with non-pneumonia group,the pneumonia group had a significantly higher proportion of patients from rural areas,with body mass index(BMI)≥24 kg/m2,smoking history,hepatomegaly,fever duration of≥7 d,as well as increased total hospitalization costs and average daily hospitalization costs,and prolonged hospital stay(P<0.05).The proportion of patients with a history of antibiotic use was lower in the pneumonia group(P<0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients from rural areas,with BMI≥24 kg/m2,smoking history,no prophylactic use of antibiotics,fever duration≥7 d,and hepatomegaly had significantly prolonged hospital stays(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that living in a rural area(OR=4.089,P<0.05),hepatomegaly(OR=4.082,P<0.05),and elevated WBC(OR=1.205,P<0.05)were independent risk factors for pneumonia complicating IM in adults,while the prophylactic use of antibiotics(OR=0.142,P<0.05)was an independent protective factor.The area under the ROC curve of the constructed nomogram prediction model was 0.827(95%CI 0.762-0.892),and the slope of the calibration curve was close to 1,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed χ2=5.299,P=0.725,indicating good consistency and fit of the prediction model.The results of the confusion matrix assessment showed that the sensitivity of the model was 0.669(0.624-0.773),the specificity was 0.827(0.724-0.930),and the accuracy was 0.732(0.665-0.793).Conclusion The nomogram prediction model based on place of onset,hepatomegaly,the prophylactic use of antibiotics and WBC has excellent fit and discrimination,providing an effective quantitative tool for prognosis assessment of IM.

Neonatal sepsis is a global health problem that seriously affects the body health and life safety of newborns. It has a higher incidence in preterm infants,especially for early-onset sepsis (EOS) within 72 hours of birth. The diagnosis of neonatal EOS requires a series of examinations,and early and accurate diagnosis can improve clinical outcomes and reduce antibiotic overuse in a timely manner. At present,the commonly used biomarkers and traditional blood culture methods for EOS diagnosis have certain shortcomings,so it is urgent to find new molecular diagnostic methods. This article summarizes and compares the early and novel diagnostic methods of neonatal EOS,in order to provide a reference for clinical practice.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

Objective To explore the protective effect of resveratrol on myocardial damage caused by sepsis in rats.Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,experimental group and combined group,with 10 rats in each group.Except the control group,the other rats were intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg·kg-1 lipopolysaccharide,while the control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline.Two hours before modeling,the experimental group and combinated group were given 50 mg·kg-1 resveratrol by gavage,and the control group and model group were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage.The combined group was injected with 10 nmol of micro RNA-155(miR-155)agomir through the tail vein,and the other group was injected with equal volume of normal saline through the tail vein.Left ventricular function parameters of rats were measured by echocardiography.The level of myocardial injury markers was detected by colorimetry.Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of miR-155.The expression of sirtuin 1(SIRT1)and related proteins of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway were detected by Western blot.Results The left ventricular ejection fraction of control group,model group and experimental group were(80.78±12.85)％,(55.92±7.86)％and(71.55±10.71)％,respectively;left ventricular fractional shortening were(34.08±5.75)％,(22.92±2.96)％,(28.72±4.25)％,respectively;left ventricular end disatolic diameter were(3.12±0.46),(6.34±0.69),(4.95±0.57)mm,respectively;the left ventricular end systolic diameter were(5.98±0.65),(7.24±0.80),(6.16±0.78)mm,respectively;the fractional shortening were(38.91±5.38)％,(22.67±3.53)％,(30.74±3.97)％,and the expression levels of creatine kinase-MB were(661.56±85.44),(1181.41±142.14),(915.02±105.19)U·L-1,respectively;the expressions levels of cardiac troponin Ⅰ were(148.17±28.48),(448.17±60.34)and(375.44±49.01)ng·mL-1,respectively.The expression of miR-155 in control group,model group,experimental group and combined group were 1.00±0.12,3.79±0.45,1.87±0.23 and 4.03±0.49,respectively;the protein relative expression levels of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)were 1.00±0.08,5.04±0.59,2.73±0.35,5.58±0.63,respectively;the protein relative expression levels of inhibitor of NF-κB-β were 1.00±0.11,3.03±0.37,1.35±0.15 and 2.89±0.34,respectively;the protein relative expressions of inhibitor of NF-κB-α were 1.00±0.13,0.86±0.08,1.21±0.18,0.77±0.09,respectively;the protein relative expression levels of SIRT1 were 1.00±0.16,0.66±0.07,0.93±0.14,0.54±0.06,respectively.The above indicators of the model group were compared with the control group,the experimental group were compared with the model group,and the above indicators of the combined group were compared with the experimental group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Resveratrol can alleviate myocardial injury and improve cardiac function in sepsis rats,which may be achieved by down-regulating the expression of miR-155,up-regulating the level of SIRT1,and inhibiting the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the protective effect of resveratrol on myocardial damage caused by sepsis in rats.Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,experimental group and combined group,with 10 rats in each group.Except the control group,the other rats were intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg·kg-1 lipopolysaccharide,while the control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline.Two hours before modeling,the experimental group and combinated group were given 50 mg·kg-1 resveratrol by gavage,and the control group and model group were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage.The combined group was injected with 10 nmol of micro RNA-155(miR-155)agomir through the tail vein,and the other group was injected with equal volume of normal saline through the tail vein.Left ventricular function parameters of rats were measured by echocardiography.The level of myocardial injury markers was detected by colorimetry.Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of miR-155.The expression of sirtuin 1(SIRT1)and related proteins of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway were detected by Western blot.Results The left ventricular ejection fraction of control group,model group and experimental group were(80.78±12.85)％,(55.92±7.86)％and(71.55±10.71)％,respectively;left ventricular fractional shortening were(34.08±5.75)％,(22.92±2.96)％,(28.72±4.25)％,respectively;left ventricular end disatolic diameter were(3.12±0.46),(6.34±0.69),(4.95±0.57)mm,respectively;the left ventricular end systolic diameter were(5.98±0.65),(7.24±0.80),(6.16±0.78)mm,respectively;the fractional shortening were(38.91±5.38)％,(22.67±3.53)％,(30.74±3.97)％,and the expression levels of creatine kinase-MB were(661.56±85.44),(1181.41±142.14),(915.02±105.19)U·L-1,respectively;the expressions levels of cardiac troponin Ⅰ were(148.17±28.48),(448.17±60.34)and(375.44±49.01)ng·mL-1,respectively.The expression of miR-155 in control group,model group,experimental group and combined group were 1.00±0.12,3.79±0.45,1.87±0.23 and 4.03±0.49,respectively;the protein relative expression levels of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)were 1.00±0.08,5.04±0.59,2.73±0.35,5.58±0.63,respectively;the protein relative expression levels of inhibitor of NF-κB-β were 1.00±0.11,3.03±0.37,1.35±0.15 and 2.89±0.34,respectively;the protein relative expressions of inhibitor of NF-κB-α were 1.00±0.13,0.86±0.08,1.21±0.18,0.77±0.09,respectively;the protein relative expression levels of SIRT1 were 1.00±0.16,0.66±0.07,0.93±0.14,0.54±0.06,respectively.The above indicators of the model group were compared with the control group,the experimental group were compared with the model group,and the above indicators of the combined group were compared with the experimental group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Resveratrol can alleviate myocardial injury and improve cardiac function in sepsis rats,which may be achieved by down-regulating the expression of miR-155,up-regulating the level of SIRT1,and inhibiting the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

Neonatal sepsis is a global health problem that seriously affects the body health and life safety of newborns. It has a higher incidence in preterm infants,especially for early-onset sepsis (EOS) within 72 hours of birth. The diagnosis of neonatal EOS requires a series of examinations,and early and accurate diagnosis can improve clinical outcomes and reduce antibiotic overuse in a timely manner. At present,the commonly used biomarkers and traditional blood culture methods for EOS diagnosis have certain shortcomings,so it is urgent to find new molecular diagnostic methods. This article summarizes and compares the early and novel diagnostic methods of neonatal EOS,in order to provide a reference for clinical practice.

The multiple systemic symptoms appearing during the convalescence of novel coronavirus infection(COVID-19)are called long-term symptoms after COVID-19,also named as long COVID.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has unique advantages in the treatment of long COVID.In the view of Professor ZHANG Zhong-De,the novel coronavirus infection belongs to the category of damp-toxin pestilence in TCM.During the convalescence of novel coronavirus infection,the damp-toxin pathogen causes the dysfunction of qi,blood,yin and yang of zang-fu organs,and then results in the consumption of yang qi or the depletion of fluid and blood.Damp-turbidity obstructing qi movement and entering collaterals and then developing into blood stasis is the key pathogenesis of long COVID.Therefore,the therapeutic principle of harmonizing yin,yang,qi and blood of the five zang-organs is proposed,and the methods for transporting and transforming damp-toxin and phlegm-turbidity,regulating qi,activating blood and removing stasis should be adopted.According to the exuberance or decline of qi,blood and body fluid,and yin and yang of the five zang-organs,the Fuzheng Series Formulas(series formulas for supporting healthy qi)were recommended for the specific syndrome types:Fuzheng Shengbai Formula can be used for the syndrome of deficiency of original qi;Fuzheng Yifei Formula can be used for lung-spleen-kidney deficiency syndrome;Fuzheng Anshen Formula can be used for the syndrome of liver qi stagnation and heart-spleen deficiency.During the treatment,Professor ZHANG Zhong-De makes the modification of drugs indicated for the retention sites of damp-toxin and turbid qi,and addresses the importance of spleen and stomach in the whole treatment process by protecting spleen and stomach,so as to promote the rehabilitation of patients after novel coronavirus infection and improve their quality of life.

Interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase 4(IRAK4)plays a crucial role in signal transduction and regulation in the TLRs/IL-1R signaling pathway,coordinating multiple inflammatory pathways involving immune system activation,cytokine production,and cell proliferation and differentiation.IRAK4 is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of hematological malignancies,including myelodysplastic syndrome,acute myeloid leukemia,chronic lymphocytic leukemia,and lymphoma.Therefore,IRAK4 may serve as an effective therapeutic target for hematologic malignancies.This review summarizes the research advances in the structure and function of IRAK4,as well as its mechanism of action and therapeutic implications in hematological malignancies,aiming to provide insights into pathogenesis of related diseases and targeted therapy research.

In infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia(sBPD),severe pulmonary lobar emphysema may occur as a complication,contributing to significant impairment in ventilation.Clinical management of these infants is extremely challenging and some may require lobectomy to improve ventilation.However,prior to the lobectomy,it is very difficult to assess whether the remaining lung parenchyma would be able to sustain adequate ventilation postoperatively.In addition,preoperative planning and perioperative management are also quite challenging in these patients.This paper reports the utility of selective bronchial occlusion in assessing the safety and efficacy of lobectomy in a case of sBPD complicated by severe right upper lobar emphysema.Since infants with sBPD already have poor lung development and significant lung injury,lobectomy should be viewed as a non-traditional therapy and be carried out with extreme caution.Selective bronchial occlusion test can be an effective tool in assessing the risks and benefits of lobectomy in cases with sBPD and lobar emphysema.However,given the technical difficulty,successful application of this technique requires close collaboration of an experienced interdisciplinary team.