Protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 2 (PTPN2) is a promising target for sensitizing solid tumors to immune checkpoint blockades. However, the highly polar active sites of PTPN2 hinder drug discovery efforts. Leveraging small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, we developed a novel glutathione-responsive nano-platform HPssPT (HA/PEIss@siPtpn2) to silence PTPN2 and enhance immunotherapy efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HPssPT showed potent transfection and favorable safety profiles. PTPN2 deficiency induced by HPssPT amplified the interferon γ signaling in HCC cells by increasing the phosphorylation of Janus-activated kinase 1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, resulting in enhanced antigen presentation and T cell activation. The nano-platform was also able to promote the M1-like polarization of macrophages in vitro. The unique tropism of HPssPT towards tumor-associated macrophages, facilitated by hyaluronic acid coating and CD44 receptor targeting, allowed for simultaneous reprogramming of both tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages, thereby synergistically reshaping tumor microenvironment to an immunostimulatory state. In HCC, colorectal cancer, and melanoma animal models, HPssPT monotherapy provoked robust antitumor immunity, thereby sensitizing tumors to PD-1 blockade, which provided new inspiration for siRNA-based drug discovery and tumor immunotherapy.

Objective:To study the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of neonatal-onset primary mitochondrial disease (PMD) caused by nuclear gene mutations.Methods:From May 2020 to March 2022, the clinical data, genetic results and follow-up information of neonates with PMD admitted to the Department of Neonatology of our two hospitals were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 4 patients were enrolled, all with hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis. In case 1, the fetal cranial MRI showed agenesis of corpus callosum. In case 2, echocardiography after birth indicated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Whole exome sequencing found the following mutations: EARS2 nuclear gene c.1294C>T and c.971G>T variants, COA6 nuclear gene c.411_412insAAAG variant, ACAD9 nuclear gene c.1278+1G>A and c.895A>T variants, FOXRED1 nuclear gene c.1054C>T and c.3dup variants. Mitochondrial second-generation sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification showed no abnormalities. Cases 1 and 3 died during the neonatal period. Case 2 died at 2-year-and-2-month of age. Case 4 was followed up to 1 year of age with developmental delay.Conclusions:The main phenotypes of neonatal-onset PMD caused by nuclear gene mutations are hyperlactatemia, refractory metabolic acidosis and cardiomyopathy, which have a poor prognosis. Proactive genetic tests are helpful for early diagnosis.

Abstract: Objective　To investigate the molecular characteristics and drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) isolated from wounds of paatients with orthopedic trauma, and analyze the molecular subtyping, virulence genes and drug resistance of SA in wounds of patients, so as to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of wound SA infection in patients. Methods　From January 2020 to June 2022, a total of 128 SA isolates were collected from wound specimens of orthopedic trauma patients at Wuxi 9th People's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) were differentiated using PCR. Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST), staphylococcal protein A (spa), staphylococcal chromatoidal cassette mec (SCCmec), and accessory gene regulator (agr) typing were performed to determine the molecular typing and presence of virulence genes and drug resistance profiles. Results　Among the 128 SA isolates, 76 (59.38%) were MRSA and 52 (40.62%) were MSSA. MRSA typing showed that, MLST was dominated by ST59 (46 strains, 60.53%), spa was dominated by t437 (52.63%), SCCmec was dominated by Ⅰ (42.11%) and Ⅳ (39.47%). MSSA typing showed that, MLST was dominated by ST188 (30.77%), spa was dominated by t189 (61.54%), agr was dominated by Ⅰ (53.85%). In MLST typing, ST59 of MRSA was higher than that of MSSA, and ST188 and ST6 of MRSA were lower than those of MSSA (χ2=36.207, 20.227, 9.984, P<0.05). In spa typing, the t437 of MRSA was higher than that of MSSA, and the t189 of MRSA was lower than that of MSSA (χ2=18.276, 32.781, P<0.05). The virulence genes showed that, the detection rates of hlb and seb in MRSA were higher than those in MSSA (χ2=47.838, 10.261, P<0.05), and the detection rates of cna and ebpS in MRSA were lower than those in MSSA (χ2=26.176, 8.305, P<0.05). Drug susceptibility test showed that, and the drug resistance rates of MRSA and MSSA to vancomycin (VAN) and linezolid (LNZ) were 0. The drug resistance rates of MRSA to oxacillin (OXA), ERY and CLI were 86.84%, 68.42% and 76.32%, which were higher than corresponding 7.69%, 42.31% and 46.15% of MSSA (χ2=78.055, 8.623, 12.200, P<0.05). The analysis of multi-drug resistant strains (MDR) showed that 76 MRSA strains were MDR strains, and 12 of 52 MSSA strains (23.08%) were MDR strains. Conclusions　The molecular characteristics of SA isolated from orthopedic trauma patients' wounds were predominantly associated with MRSA strains of ST59-t437-SCCmec Ⅰ/Ⅳ-MRSA and ST188/ST6-t189-agr Ⅰ. These strains showed higher resistance to oxacillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and higher susceptibility to vancomycin and linezolid. Such characteristics were closely related to the carriage of virulence genes. Clinicians should pay attention to the presence of MDR MSSA and develop appropriate antimicrobial strategies based on SA's molecular characteristics and antimicrobial resistance.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of artesunate on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and its mechanism in neonatal rats. Methods 7-day-old neonatal SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, artesunate 5 mg/kg group, artesunate 10 mg/kg group, artesunate 20 mg/kg group and dexamethasone 6 mg/kg group, with 18 rats in each group. HIBD models were established in groups except for the sham operation group. The sham operation group only needed to separate the left common carotid artery without ligation and nitrogen-oxygen mixed gas ventilation. Each group was injected with drug intraperitoneally right after surgery and the rats in the sham operation group and the model group were injected with an equal volume of normal saline (once a day for a total of 5 times). One hour after the last injection, the rats in each group were scored for neurological defects. After the rats were sacrificed, the brain water content was measured and the pathological changes of the brain tissues of rats were observed. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect the neuronal cell apoptosis, and ELISA was applied to detect the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in brain tissues and peripheral blood of each group of rats. Western blot analysis was adopted to detect the protein expression levels of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) and caspase-1 in the rats brain tissues of each group. Results Compared with the model group, the neurological deficit score was decreased; the pathological damage of brain tissues was relieved; the brain water content was significantly reduced; the apoptosis number of hippocampal neurons was decreased significantly; the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in brain tissues and peripheral blood were significantly reduced; the protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 were significantly lowered in the middle-dose and high-dose artesunate groups and the dexamethasone group. Conclusion Artesunate can improve the neurological function, relieve the brain damage, and alleviate the brain edema in neonatal rats with HIBD. It can protect the HIBD, which may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reduction of inflammatory cytokine secretion.
Animals ; Rats ; Animals, Newborn ; Artesunate/pharmacology* ; Brain/metabolism* ; Caspases/metabolism* ; Dexamethasone ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/pathology* ; Inflammasomes ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Water/metabolism*

【Objective】 Until now, most clinical and basic studies on Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) have focused on the visible deformed extremities, and there is a lack of reports concerning their spinal features, especially for the atlantoaxial joint. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and radiographic features of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) in KBD in adult patients. 【Methods】 The prevalence and radiographic features of AAD were determined by the basic information collected, clinical symptoms, and lateral and dynamic plain radiography in 111 KBD patient and 120 non-KBD participants. In the KBD group, AAD and non-AAD patients were compared in age, gender, height, weight, BMI, smoking history, chronic history, disease duration and grade of disease so as to identify the related factors of the occurrence of AAD. 【Results】 Symptoms at the neck or neurological manifestations were present in 17.5% (21/120) in the non-KBD population and 39.6% (44/111) patients with KBD. AAD case was not detected in the non-KBD population, while in 16.2% (18/111) of KBD patients in the endemic area. The prevalence was higher in the KBD patients than in the non-KBD population, and there was a significant difference in the detection rate of AAD between the two groups (χ²=21.10, P<0.001). Plain radiography demonstrated that there were 10 (55.6%) cases with separation of the odontoid process and the other 8 (44.4%) cases with hypoplasia of odontoid process. Anterior AAD was noted in 12 (66.7%) patients and posterior AAD in 6 (33.3%) cases based on the displacement direction, while 16 (88.9%) cases were reducible and 2 (11.1%) cases were irreducible on the basis of the reducibility. Comparing the 93 patients with non-AAD KBD patients and 18 patients with AAD patients, there was no significant difference in age, sex, BMI, history of medical disease or smoking (all P>0.05). There were significant differences in height, weight, disease duration and grade of disease between AAD and non-AAD patients (all P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 KBD can cause the occurrence of atlantoaxial dislocation by inducing separation or hypoplasia of the odontoid process. This research may provide clinical evidence for screening, earlier prevention and treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation in adult KBD patients.

Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) family is important for production of volatile aromatic compounds and synthesis of plant hormones. To explore the biological functions and gene expression patterns of CsCCD gene family in tea plant, genome-wide identification of CsCCD gene family was performed. The gene structures, conserved motifs, chromosome locations, protein physicochemical properties, evolutionary characteristics, interaction network and cis-acting regulatory elements were predicted and analyzed. Real time-quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the relative expression level of CsCCD gene family members under different leaf positions and light treatments during processing. A total of 11 CsCCD gene family members, each containing exons ranging from 1 to 11 and introns ranging from 0 to 10, were identified. The average number of amino acids and molecular weight were 519 aa and 57 643.35 Da, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed the CsCCD gene family was clustered into 5 major groups (CCD1, CCD4, CCD7, CCD8 and NCED). The CsCCD gene family mainly contained stress response elements, hormone response elements, light response elements and multi-factor response elements, and light response elements was the most abundant (142 elements). Expression analysis showed that the expression levels of CsCCD1 and CsCCD4 in elder leaves were higher than those in younger leaves and stems. With the increase of turning over times, the expression levels of CsCCD1 and CsCCD4 decreased, while supplementary LED light strongly promoted their expression levels in the early stage. The expression level of NCED in younger leaves was higher than that in elder leaves and stems on average, and the expression trend varied in the process of turning over. NCED3 first increased and then decreased, with an expression level 15 times higher than that in fresh leaves. In the late stage of turning over, supplementary LED light significantly promoted its gene expression. In conclusion, CsCCD gene family member expressions were regulated by mechanical force and light. These understandings may help to optimize tea processing techniques and improve tea quality.
Camellia sinensis/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/genetics* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Tea

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of Jianpi-Yishen Decoction in treating sarcopenia aged patients with syndrome of spleen-kidney deficiency and cold-dampness. Methods:Eighty-two sarcopenia aged patients admitted to Beijing Longfu hospital from January of 2018 to May of 2019 were selected and divided into the control group and the observation group with 41 patients in each group according to the random number table. Patients in the control group were given routine western treatment such as nutritional support. In the observation group, the patients were given Jianpi-Yishen Decoction based on the control group. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. Before and after the treatment, the upper limb muscle strength, scores of symptoms of syndrome of spleen-kidney deficiency and cold-dampness, the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome, and serum level of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were compared between the two groups. Results:During the treatment, one patient in the control group was dropped out. The total effective rate was 95.1% (39/41) in the observation group and 72.5% (29/40) in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=6.103, P=0.013). After the treatment, the scores of languid limbs, cold limbs, weak waist and knee, clear urine and loose stool in the observation group were obviously lower than those of the control group ( t values were 9.964, 12.510, 14.103, 13.415, 14.599, respectively, all Ps<0.01). The left hand grip strength (52.75±7.91 kg vs. 46.10 ± 7.22 kg, t=3.954) and the right hand grip strength (53.93 ± 8.09 kg vs. 48.55 ± 7.17 kg, t=3.169) were both higher than those of the control group ( P<0.01). Serum level of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (23.90 ± 3.34 ng/L vs. 19.44 ± 3.15 ng/L, t=6.184) were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Jianpi-Yishen Decoction in treating sarcopenia aged patients with syndrome of spleen-kidney deficiency and cold-dampness can effectively relieve the symptoms, up-regulate serum level of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with clinical efficacy.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most abundant modifications on mRNAs and plays important roles in various biological processes. The formation of m6A is catalyzed by a methyltransferase complex (MTC) containing a key factor methyltransferase-like 3 (Mettl3). How-ever, the functions of Mettl3 and m6A modification in hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism remain unclear. Here, we showed that both Mettl3 expression and m6A level increased in the livers of mice with high fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorders. Overexpression of Mettl3 aggravated HFD-induced liver metabolic disorders and insulin resistance. In contrast, hepatocyte-specific knockout of Mettl3 significantly alleviated HFD-induced metabolic disorders by slowing weight gain, reducing lipid accumulation, and improving insulin sensitivity. Mechanistically, Mettl3 depletion-mediated m6A loss caused extended RNA half-lives of metabolism-related genes, which consequently pro-tected mice against HFD-induced metabolic syndrome. Our findings reveal a critical role of Mettl3-mediated m6A in HFD-induced metabolic disorders and hepatogenous diabetes.

Objective To evaluate the reliability of the inhibitor enhanced carbapenem inactivation method (ieCIM) in the detection and preliminary classification of carbapenemase in gram-negative rods.Methods The carbapenem inactivation method (CIM) was modified by adding tazobactam or ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt as carbapenemase inhibitors into the reaction system.A total of 198 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and 35 strains of nonfermenters were collected,and their preliminary classification of carbapenemase was performed by the ieCIM.Meanwhile,their carbapenemase genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR),and the results were compared with that of the ieCIM.Results Among 198 strains of Enterobacteriaceae,101 were positive for carbapenemase genes,while 99 were detected by the CIM.Among the other 97 strains with negative carbapenemase gene,the results of the ieCIM were also negative.Among 35 strains of nonfermenters,25 were positive for carbapenemase genes,while 24 were detected by the CIM.Among the other 10 strains with negative carbapenemase gene,the results of the CIM were also negative.Using the ieCIM,97.7％ (85/87) of strains producing class A carbapenemase and 88.0％ (22/25) of strains producing class B carbapenemase were detected.Twelve strains producing class D carbapenemase and 2 strains producing both class A and class B carbapenemase were detected by the ieCIM.The total detection sensitivity and specificity of the ieCIM were 96％ and 100％,respectively.Conclusion The ieCIM has the consistent results with the detection method of carbapenemase genes,which may be used to detect and classify carbapenemase in clinical microbiology laboratories.

This case report focused on a patient with supraeruption of the first and second mandibular molars as a result of loss of the first and second maxillary molars for a long time. We adopted a combination of a vacuum-formed removable appliance and elastics to intrude the first and second mandibular molars by using a continuous, light force to acquire sufficient restoration space for maxillary molars. Thus, the dental-implant treatment was successful, and a good and stable occlusal relationship was established.