OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and adverse reactions of CAG regimen combined with venetoclax, chidamide, and azacitidine in the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: 15 elderly AML patients aged≥60 years old who were admitted to the Hematology Department of our hospital from May 2022 to October 2023 were treated with the CAG regimen combined with venetoclax, chidamide and azacitidine, and the efficacy, treatment-related adverse events, overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: After one course of treatment, 11 out of 15 patients achieved complete response (CR), 3 patients achieved CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), and 1 patient died due to prior infection before efficacy evaluation, and the overall response rate (ORR) was 93.3% (14/15). The median follow-up time was 131 (19-275) days, with median OS and EFS both remaining unreached. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis showed that among the 15 patients, 13 were detected with gene mutations, and there were 7 genes with mutation frequencies of more than 10%, including ASXL1 (4 cases), RUNX1 (4 cases), BCOR (3 cases), DNMT3A (3 cases), STAG2 (2 cases), IDH1/2 (2 cases), and TET (2 cases). Among the 13 patients with detectable mutations, 12 patients achieved composite response (CR+CRi). The average recovery time of white blood cell count was 14.6 days after chemotherapy, and the average recovery time of platelets was 7.7 days after chemotherapy. The main adverse event was myelosuppression, with 10 patients accompanied by infection. Except for 1 patient who died due to septic shock during chemotherapy, no patients experienced serious complications such as heart, liver, or kidney damage during the treatment process. CONCLUSION The CACAG+V regimen, which combines the CAG regimen with venetoclax, chidamide, and azacitidine, can be applied in the treatment of elderly AML patients, demonstrating good safety and induction remission rate.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use* ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use* ; Aminopyridines/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Azacitidine/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Benzamides/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Treatment Outcome ; Middle Aged ; Cytarabine ; Aclarubicin ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

OBJECTIVE: Cigarette smoking exacerbates the progression of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in chronic lung diseases has gained attention; however, it remains unclear whether smoking-exacerbated lung damage in TB is associated with TLS. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of pulmonary TLS in smokers with TB and to explore the possible role of TLS in smoking-related lung injury in TB. METHODS: Lung tissues from 36 male patients (18 smokers and 18 non-smokers) who underwent surgical resection for pulmonary TB were included in this study. Pathological and immunohistological analyses were conducted to evaluate the quantity of TLS, and chest computed tomography (CT) was used to assess the severity of lung lesions. The correlation between the TLS quantity and TB lesion severity scores was analyzed. The immune cells and chemokines involved in TLS formation were also evaluated and compared between smokers and non-smokers. RESULTS: Smoker patients with TB had significantly higher TLS than non-smokers ( P < 0.001). The TLS quantity in both the lung parenchyma and peribronchial regions correlated with TB lesion severity on chest CT (parenchyma: r = 0.5767; peribronchial: r = 0.7373; both P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased B cells, T cells, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) expression in smoker patients with TB ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Smoker TB patients exhibited increased pulmonary TLS, which was associated with exacerbated lung lesions on chest CT, suggesting that cigarette smoking may exacerbate lung damage by promoting TLS formation.
Humans ; Male ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/immunology* ; Middle Aged ; Tertiary Lymphoid Structures/pathology* ; Adult ; Lung/pathology* ; Smoking/adverse effects* ; Smokers ; Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The core of theory of visceral manifestation of spleen is about'spleen in charge of transportation and transformation,spleen qi dispersing the essence'.Middle-jiao spleen-earth has the functions of digesting food and transporting food essence,and maintaining the homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism in the body.'Spleen in charge of transportation and transformation,spleen qi dispersing the essence'functions like the glucose and lipid metabolism at physiological state.The deficiency of spleen results in the dysfunction of food in-take and digestion and the susceptibility to external pathogens;qi deficiency and blood stasis lead to the interior damp-heat,and the long-term accumulation of damp-heat develops into stasis and then turns into toxins,which eventually induces inflammation-to-tumor transition.The pathogenesis of'spleen deficiency being the root cause and stasis blended with toxins'is correlated with the pathological changes of inflammation-to-tumor transition.The therapy of strengthening the spleen,dispersing essence and removing turbidity is effective on improving the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism,and the therapy of strengthening the spleen,resolving stasis and removing toxin is effective on restraining the process of inflammation-to-tumor transition in the stomach.It has become a new direction in the field of spleen-stomach research to expound the scientific connotation of the essence of spleen function of'spleen in charge of transportation and transformation,spleen qi dispersing the essence'from the perspective of glucose and lipid metabolism,to focus on the inflammation-to-tumor transition process of major diseases of digestive system,to explore the evolution of the traditional Chinese medicine syndromes of inflammatory diseases and precancerous lesions of the digestive tract,and to reveal the pharmacological mechanism of treatment from the perspective of spleen,which will enrich the scientific connotation of theory of visceral manifestation of spleen and promote the modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine.

Cells not only contain membrane-bound organelles (MBOs), but also membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed by condensation of many biomacromolecules. Examples include RNA-protein granules such as nucleoli and PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) in the nucleus, as well as stress granules and P-bodies in the cytoplasm. Phase separation is the basic organizing principle of the form of the condensates or membraneless organelles (MLOs) of biomacromolecules including proteins and nucleic acids. In particular, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) compartmentalises and concentrates biological macromolecules into liquid condensates. It has been found that phase separation of biomacromolecules requires some typical intrinsic characteristics, such as intrinsically disordered regions, modular domains and multivalent interactions. The phase separation of biomacromolecules plays a key role in many important cell activities. In recent years, the phase separation of biomacromolecules phase has become a focus of research in gene transcriptional regulation. Transcriptional regulatory elements such as RNA polymerases, transcription factors (TFs), and super enhancers (SEs) all play important roles through phase separation. Our group has previously reported for the first time that long-term inactivation or absence of assembly factors leads to the formation of condensates of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) subunits in the cytoplasm, and this process is reversible, suggesting a novel regulatory model of eukaryotic transcription machinery. The phase separation of biomacromolecules provides a biophysical understanding for the rapid transmission of transcriptional signals by a large number of TFs. Moreover, phase separation during transcriptional regulation is closely related to the occurrence of cancer. For example, the activation of oncogenes is usually associated with the formation of phase separation condensates at the SEs. In this review, the intrinsic characteristics of the formation of biomacromolecules phase separation and the important role of phase separation in transcriptional regulation are reviewed, which will provide reference for understanding basic cell activities and gene regulation in cancer.

The ICR(Institute of Cancer Research)mouse infection model was constructed to study the pathogenicity of Sal-monella Telelkebir serotype,and the pathogenic identification of mouse isolates was carried out.Observe the bacterial excretion cycle,evaluate the pathogenicity of Salmonella serotype to mice,and calculate the LD50 by the changes in clinical characteris-tics,histopathology and tissue bacterial load of infected mice;by flight mass spectrometry,biochemical identification,serotype identification,molecular typing and other experiments,compared with human isolates;virulence gene analysis was carried out by PCR experiment and whole genome sequencing.The LD50 of Salmonella Telelkebir is 2.67 × 108 CFU/mL;curling and fluffing may occur 0.5 h after infection;autopsy of dead mice showed that the small intestine was severely congested,with more bubbles and fluid accumulation,cecal necrosis,liver apical degeneration and necrosis,necrotic foci on the surface of the kidney and spleen atrophy;the bacterial load of spleen,kidney,lung,liver and jejunum in mice reached its peak at 3 days after infection,while that of heart at 6 days;the bacterial excretion time of the high-dose group exceeded 100 days;The level of CD3 in tissues increased with increasing dose,with inflammatory cell infiltration,myocardial capillary dilation and hyperemia,large area of vacuoles,degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes,obvious enlargement of splenic sinus,blurred zoning,thickening of glomerular basement membrane,partial exfoliation of ciliated epithelium,atrophy and exfoliation of jejunal villi;PCR and whole genome sequencing revealed Salmonella-related virulence genes such as cdtB,plt A and pltB.This study was the first to successfully establish the ICR mouse model of Salmonella Telelkebir,demonstrating that this serotype of Salmonella has some pathogenicity.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of alveolar lavage combined with montelukast in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and its effect on oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in patients.Methods:A prospective study was conducted involving 90 patients with AECOPD who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Shan County Central Hospital from December 2021 to December 2022. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 45 patients in each group, using the random number table method. The control group received conventional treatment, while the observation group was additionally treated with alveolar lavage combined with montelukast. Symptom score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, overall response rate, serum levels of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, and superoxide dismutase), and serum levels of inflammatory factors (C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results:After treatment, the symptom scores for both groups decreased significantly compared with their respective scores before treatment ( t = 6.68, 11.32, both P < 0.05). After treatment, the symptom score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group [(8.69 ± 0.84) points vs. (15.39 ± 1.18) points, t = 8.75, P < 0.05]. After treatment, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group ( t = 9.19, P < 0.05). The overall response rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [93.33% (42/45) vs. 75.56% (34/45), t = 4.56, P < 0.05]. After treatment, serum levels of 4-hydroxynonenal and malondialdehyde in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 4.20, 5.15, both P < 0.05), while serum level of superoxide dismutase in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( t = 5.23, P < 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 6.86, 5.60, 8.75, 4.89, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Alveolar lavage combined with montelukast can reduce clinical symptoms in patients with AECOPD, promote recovery, enhances clinical efficacy, decreases oxidative stress responses, increases the body's antioxidant capacity, lowers the expression of inflammatory factors, and reduces inflammatory responses.

This study was aimed at understanding the genomic characteristics of the Vibrio cholerae O1 group isolated from humans in Fujian Province,to provide essential data for the molecular epidemiological study of cholera.From 2008 to 2022,16 strains of the V.cholerae O1 group from patients and carriers were collected,and antibiotic sensitivity was determined accord-ing to the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC).The whole genome sequences obtained through second generation sequen-cing were analyzed in open source software,including snippy,Roary,and Prokka,as well as online analysis websites,inclu-ding NCBI and BacWGSTdb,for core-genome multilocus sequence typing(cgMLST),core-genome single nucleotide polymor-phism analysis(cgSNP),virulence gene analysis,drug resistance gene prediction,and pan-genomic diversity analysis.The whole genome sequences of V.cholerae were divided into five sequence types(STs),among which the newly discovered ST182 and ST1480 were the evolutionary branches of the current dominant clonal group ST75 in China,and were highly related to two strains isolated from Taiwan in 2010 and 2013,respectively.Both toxigenic strains and non-toxigenic strains carried a variety of virulence factors and showed gene variation to varying degrees.Thirteen drug resistance genes in seven categories were predicted,among which the distribution of colistin and tetracycline resistance genes was consistent with the drug resistance phenotype.Pan-ge-nomic analysis indicated that V.cholerae had an open pan-genome,and Roary cluster analysis showed higher resolution than cgMLST.In summary,V.cholerae O1 group isolates from humans in Fujian Province have polymorphisms in genome structure and function,and the newly discovered ST1480 clone group has epidemic potential.Therefore,the monitoring of such strains must be strengthened.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of Venetoclax combined with CACAG regimen in treatment of patients with refractory/relapse acute myeloid leukemia(R/R AML).Methods:The study was a singlecenter prospective clinical trial.The enrolled patients met the criteria for R/R AML.Treatment included Azacidine(75mg/m2,d1-7),Ara-C(75-100 mg/m2,q12h,d1-5),Aclacinomycin(20 mg d1,d3,d5),Chidamide(30 mg d1,d4),Venetoclax(100 mg d1,200 mg d2,400 mg d3-d14,in combination with Triazole Drug,reduced to 100 mg/d),and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(300 μg/d until neutrophil recovery).The primary endpoint of observation was overall response rate after 1 course of treatment.Results:A total of 19 patients were enrolled from January 2022 to April 2023.After 1 course of treatmen,the overall response rate was 81.3％(13/16),the CR rate was 68.8％(11/16),and the PR was 12.5％(2/16).Among the 11 patients who got CR/CRi,8 cases achieved CRm(minimal residual disease negative CR)and 3 cases did not.As of March 27,2023,the median follow-up time was 111(19-406)days.The six-month overall survival and progression-free survival rates were both 55.7％,the 1-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 46.4％and 47.7％,respectively.In addition,compared with the non-CRm group,CRm patients had a better PFS(377 days vsi11 days,P=0.046).Treatment-related adverse events were mainly 3-4 degrees of bone marrow suppression,complicated by various degrees of infection(n=12),hypokalemia(n=12)and hypocalcemia(n=10)and elevated liver enzymes(n=8),of which 3/4 degrees accounted for 47.4％(9/19).Conclusion:The Venetoclax combined with CACAG regimen is an effective salvage therapy for patients with R/R AML,with high remission rate and safety profile.

Tripterifordin and neotripterifordin are important ent-kaurane diterpenoids in the Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii, possessing significant anti-HIV(human immunodeficiency virus) activity. On the basis of elucidating the natural biosynthetic pathways of these compounds, heterologous production with microbial cell factories can help to alleviate the reliance on plant resources and provide abundant raw materials for sustainable production. TwKO is the first CYP450 enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of tripterifordin and neotripterifordin. This study aimed to enhance the catalytic activity of TwKO by site-directed mutagenesis to benefit the production of tripterifordin and neotripterifordin in yeast. The AlphaFold DB established based on the AlphaFold 2 was employed to obtain the protein model of TwKO. According to multiple sequence alignments and principles of natural evolution, the key residues influencing the binding of TwKO to the substrate were identified. Subsequently, functional characterization of the mutants were conducted in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A total of 71 mutants were obtained, among which 11 and 11 mutants had the abilities of enhancing the production of 16α-hydroxy-ent-kaurenol and 16α-hydroxy-ent-kaurenoic acid, respectively. In addition, 10 mutants could increase the proportion of the oxidation product of 16α-hydroxy-ent-kaurenol. In particular, R304 was identified as a key residue affecting the catalytic specificity of TwKO, the mutation of which led to the specific prodiction of 16α-hydroxy-ent-kaurenol. This study was the first to reveal the key residue affecting the catalytic activity of TwKO and obtained the mutants with increased TwKO activity, lay a foundation for the biosynthesis of tripterifordin and neotripterifordin.
Tripterygium/chemistry* ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Diterpenes, Kaurane/chemistry* ; Plant Proteins/chemistry* ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/chemistry* ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism*

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is highly responsible for cerebral homeostasis and its dysfunction emerges as a critical contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Hence, rescuing NVU dysfunction might be a viable approach to AD treatments. Here, we fabricated a self-regulated muti-functional nano-modulator (siR/PIO@RP) that can intelligently navigate to damaged blood-brain barrier and release therapeutical cargoes for synergetic AD therapy. The resulting siR/PIO@RP enables self-regulation of its distribution in accordance with the physio/pathological state (low/high RAGE expression) of the target site via a feedback loop. siR/PIO@RP is capable of performing intricate tasks and goes beyond the capabilities of single-target therapeutic agents utilized in AD therapy, such as reducing cerebral Aβ load, relieving neuroinflammation, and alleviating the dysfunction of NVU. Overall, the current study provides proof of concept that normalizing NVU holds promise as a means of alleviating AD symptoms.