Objective:To investigate ferroptosis-related genes in pterygium tissue by using bioinformatic analysis.Methods:The pterygium gene expression profile dataset GSE2513 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus Database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to ferroptosis.Functional annotation and enrichment analysis of the DEGs were performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG).Hub genes were identified from the DEGs using LASSO logistic regression analysis and a support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-REF).Single-gene GSEA analysis was performed on hub genes and a competitive endogenous RNA interaction network was constructed to determine the RNA regulatory relationships of the hub genes.Pterygium tissue samples from 9 patients (9 eyes) undergoing pterygium surgery and conjunctival tissue samples from 9 patients (9 eyes) undergoing strabismus surgery who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were collected from 2022 to 2023 during surgery, and the expression of hub genes and ferroptosis-related marker genes was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (No.2022-KY-0006-001).Results:In the dataset, there were 37 ferroptosis-related genes with significant expression differences, including 16 upregulated genes and 21 downregulated genes.GO analysis revealed significant enrichment in responses to external stimuli, responses to nutritional levels, responses to extracellular stimuli, responses to oxidative stress and starvation, transcription regulatory complexes, and RNA polymerase Ⅱ transcription regulatory complexes, RNA polymerase Ⅱ-specific transcription, and DNA-binding transcription.KEGG analysis showed that the DEGs were primarily enriched in ferroptosis and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways.LASSO regression analysis identified DUOX2, ATF3, NDRG1, EGR1, and ALDH3A2 as hub genes, and SVM-REF analysis identified NDRG1, NF2, IDH2, DUOX2, CHP1, ATF3, and SREBF1 as hub genes. DUOX2, ATF3, and NDRG1 were identified as the intersection hub genes.Single-gene GSEA analysis revealed that DUOX2 was enriched in the cell adhesion molecule CAMs pathway, the heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis pathway, and the glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis ganglioside series pathway. ATF3 and NDRG1 were enriched in the PPAR signaling pathway and other pathways.Compared with normal conjunctival tissue, the relative expression levels of the ferroptosis markers PTGS2 and TFRC mRNA were increased in pterygium tissue, while the relative expression levels of FTH1, GPX4, SLC40A1, HSPB1, and NFE2L2 mRNA were decreased, with statistically significant differences ( t=12.220, 16.580, 5.664, 6.455, 8.691, 9.883, 17.590; all P<0.01). Conclusions:Ferroptosis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pterygium. DUOX2, ATF3, and NDRG1 may be the hub genes affecting this complicated process.

Objective:To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) and its inhibitor in alkali burn-induced corneal neovascularization (CNV).Methods:Seventy-two SPF-grade C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a normal group and 1 day post-modeling, 4 days post-modeling, and 7 days post-modeling groups to establish an alkali burn-induced CNV model and determine the optimal time point for analysis.Another 90 mice were randomly assigned to five groups: alkali burn group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, PRMT1 inhibitor group, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) inhibitor group, and PRMT1 inhibitor combined with FGF2 group to evaluate the role of PRMT1 in CNV.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells were used to establish a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced in vitro model to mimic the ischemic microenvironment.Cells were assigned to the following groups: control group, H/R group, H/R+ DMSO group, H/R+ si-NC group, H/R+ si-PRMT1 group, H/R+ si-FGF2 group, H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group.Corneal opacity and CNV areas were assessed by slit-lamp microscopy.Corneal structural changes and inflammatory cell count were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining.PRMT1-positive cell count was determined by immunohistochemistry and the expression of PRMT1, CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), F4/80, CD206, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was assessed by immunofluorescence staining.The expression levels of macrophage markers, including F4/80, iNOS, CD206, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and arginase-1 (Arg-1), were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.Cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenic capacity were evaluated by functional assays including the CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, Transwell migration assay, and tube formation assay.The research process followed the relevant regulations of the Visual and Ophthalmology Association, and the research plan was approved by the Laboratory Animal Committee of Wuhan University (No.20220504A). Results:Compared with the normal group, the 7 days post-modeling group showed significantly increased corneal opacity scores and CNV area, upregulated VEGF expression, and increased inflammatory cells (all P<0.05).The number of PRMT1-positive cells in the alkali burn group was (39.67±3.51) cells/visual field, which was significantly higher than (3.33±0.58) cells/visual field in the normal group ( t=17.68, P<0.01).Both mRNA and protein expression levels of PRMT1 and FGF2 were significantly elevated in the alkali burn group compared with the normal group (all P<0.01).Compared with the alkali burn group, the PRMT1 inhibitor group showed reduced corneal opacity scores, decreased CNV area, fewer inflammatory cells, and lower expression levels of PRMT1, FGF2, VEGF, Arg-1, IL-10 proteins, as well as CD206 mRNA (all P<0.05).Cell viability, migration distance, migration number, and tubes formed were significantly increased in the H/R group compared with the control group, significantly reduced in the H/R+ si-PRMT1 and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor groups compared with the H/R group and significantly increased in H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the H/R group, the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group exhibited reduced expression of FGF2, VEGFA, p-PI3K, and p-Akt, while those were upregulated in the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group compared with the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).The proportions of CD206-positive cells in the H/R, H/R+ DMSO, H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups were all significantly higher than those in the control group, and significantly higher in the H/R, H/R+ DMSO, and H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups compared with the H/R+ PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the alkali burn group, the FGF2 inhibitor group, PRMT1 inhibitor group, and PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group all showed reduced corneal opacity scores, CNV area, and decreased number of VEGFA-, CD206-, and F4/80-positive cells, with the above indicators being lower in the PRMT1 inhibitor group compared with the FGF2 inhibitor and PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 groups and higher in PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in the FGF2 inhibitor group (all P<0.05).Compared with the alkali burn group, the PRMT1 inhibitor group had decreased protein expression levels of FGF2, p-PI3K, p-Akt, CD31, VEGFA and Arg-1, with higher protein expression levels in the PRMT1 inhibitor+ FGF2 group than in the PRMT1 inhibitor group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:PRMT1 may regulate macrophage activation and anti-inflammatory polarization via the FGF2/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby promoting the occurrence and development of CNV.Targeted inhibition of PRMT1 may serve as an effective therapeutic strategy for CNV.

Organ fibrosis is a chronic tissue injury caused by multiple causes,and the continuous dynamic progression will lead to abnormal organ structure and function.Recent studies have shown that Chinese materia medica can inhibit organ fibrosis by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway,which holds potential significance for developing anti-fibrosis strategies.This article systematically reviewed the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the entire process of fibrosis,and summarized the potential mechanisms of Chinese materia medica monomers,drug pairs and compounds that can target and intervene in PI3K/Akt signaling transduction in preventing and treating organ fibrosis,in order to provide reference for the intervention of Chinese materia medica in the PI3K/Akt pathway for the treatment of organ fibrosis.

Adjuvants as essential ingredients amplify the magnitude and durability of immune responses in various vaccine strategies. Polysaccharides with potent immunoenhancing effects are widely applied as promising vaccine adjuvants, however, they have rarely been licensed for use in human vaccines due to the limitation of their efficacy and safety. Moreover, nanoparticles not only act as antigen drug delivery vectors but also possess intrinsic adjuvant functions, revealing the dual effects of nanoparticles in augmenting antigen-specific immune responses. Intriguingly, nanoparticle forms can enhance the immunostimulatory potency of polysaccharide adjuvants, since polysaccharide nanoparticles exert more excellent adjuvant effects than polysaccharides in initiating humoral, cellular and mucosal immune responses. Emerging evidence has also suggested that multiple immune-related signaling pathways including cGAS-STING, NLRP3, TLRs, cell death or metabolism signaling probably participate in the immunomodulation of polysaccharide nanoparticles, but systemic investigations into the adjuvant mechanism are still inadequate. This review aims to give an updated summary and discussion on the adjuvant function and mechanism of polysaccharide nanoparticles for understanding their superior adjuvant property and effectively utilizing them as potent immune adjuvants in vaccine development.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the potential mediating role of plasma phosphorylated tau217 (p-tau217) in the association between periodontitis and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: In this case-control study, patients diagnosed with MCI in the Neurology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University from November 2023 to May 2024 were selected as the case group (MCI group). Cognitively normal (CN) volunteers, matched for age and education level and recruited from the physical examination center during the same period, served as the control group (CN group). The general demographic data of the study participants were collected. The Beijing versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), clinical dementia rating (CDR), and activities of daily living scale (ADL) were used to assess neuropsychological functions. Clinical periodontal examinations were conducted, the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) was calculated, and the periodontitis stage was determined in accordance with the 2018 classification. Fasting elbow venous blood samples were collected in the morning, and blood biochemical indicators were measured. Plasma p-tau217 levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analyses were performed using t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, partial correlation analysis, multivariate Logistic regression analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression analysis, and mediation effect analysis. RESULTS: Among the 192 participants, 96 belong to the MCI group and 96 to the CN group. The prevalence of periodontitis was 63.5% in the MCI group and 43.8% in the CN group, with a statistically significant difference (χ²=7.561, P=0.006). The plasma p-tau217 levels in the MCI group were significantly higher than those in the CN group [7.00 (4.27-9.65) ng/mL versus 2.02 (0.80-3.81) ng/mL, Z=-8.108, P<0.001]. Partial correlation analysis revealed that plasma p-tau217 levels were positively correlated with all the clinical periodontal indices (all P<0.001). After adjustments for baseline covariates, multivariate Logistic regression indicated that periodontitis was an independent risk factor for MCI. Patients with periodontitis had a 1.977-fold higher MCI risk than those without periodontitis (OR=1.977, 95%CI: 1.088-3.594, P=0.025). Moreover, the MCI risk for stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ periodontitis and stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ periodontitis was 1.878 times (OR=1.878, 95%CI: 1.029-3.425, P=0.040) and 2.625 times (OR=2.625, 95%CI: 1.073-6.246, P=0.035) higher than that for patients without periodontitis, respectively. Trend test showed that the MCI risk increased with periodontitis severity (P_trend=0.016). After adjustments for baseline covariates, multiple linear regression analysis showed that periodontitis was an independent risk factor for increased plasma p-tau217 levels (β=3.309, 95%CI: 2.363-4.254, P<0.001). Compared with patients without periodontitis, those with stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ periodontitis (β=1.838, 95%CI: 0.869-2.806, P<0.001) and stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ periodontitis (β=5.539, 95%CI: 4.442-6.636, P<0.001) had significantly higher plasma p-tau217 levels. In addition, trend test indicated that plasma p-tau217 levels increased with periodontitis severity (P_trend<0.001). After adjustments for baseline covariates, RCS regression analysis further revealed that PISA had a positive linear dose-response relationship with MCI risk (P_overall=0.002, P_nonlinear=0.344) and plasma p-tau217 levels (P_overall<0.001, P_nonlinear=0.140). After adjustments for baseline covariates, mediation analysis showed that plasma p-tau217 mediated the association between periodontitis and MCI, with a mediation proportion of 13.99% (95% Bootstrap CI: 0.38%-49.39%, P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS Periodontitis was independently positively associated with MCI risk, and plasma p-tau217 plays a mediating role in this association.
Humans ; Cognitive Dysfunction/complications* ; tau Proteins/blood* ; Periodontitis/complications* ; Case-Control Studies ; Male ; Female ; Phosphorylation ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Activities of Daily Living

Objective:To investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and 24-h urinary calcium excretion (24-h UCaE) and hypercalciuria in Chinese adults.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to March 2023 in nine cities in China and included 1 239 residents. Demographic characteristics were collected through questionnaires and physical examinations, fasting blood samples were assessed for bone metabolism indicators, and 24-h urine samples were used to determine the 24-h UCaE. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and 24-h UCaE and bone metabolism indexes. The relationship between serum 25(OH)D and hypercalciuria was analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model combined with restricted cubic spline modeling.Results:The mean participant age was (47.9±18.1) years, of which 453 (36.6%) were male. The percentages of vitamin D sufficiency, insufficiency, and deficiency were 7.6% (94/1 239), 29.0% (359/1 239), and 63.4% (786/1 239), respectively. The multiple linear regression model showed that after adjusting for the covariates the 24-h UCaE gradually increased with higher levels of 25(OH)D ( P overall <0.001, P nonlinear <0.001). The logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with the vitamin D deficient group, the OR for the prevalence of hypercalciuria in the vitamin D sufficient and vitamin D insufficient groups were 3.290 (95% CI 1.745 to 6.202) and 3.742 (95% CI 2.458 to 5.697), respectively. The results of the restricted cubic spline modeling showed a positive nonlinear relationship between 25(OH)D and the prevalence of hypercalciuria ( P overall <0.001, P nonlinear <0.001). The prevalence of hypercalciuria increased when 25(OH)D was >17.00 μg/L and peaked at 26.71 μg/L, after which there was a decreasing trend in the prevalence of hypercalciuria with increasing 25(OH)D. Conclusion:Associations between serum 25(OH)D levels and urinary calcium excretion and the prevalence of hypercalciuria were observed in the Chinese adult population.

Objective:To investigate the longitudinal stability of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL).Methods:The longitudinal cognitive assessment results of 68 dementia patients admitted to the Dementia and Leukoencephalopathy Outpatient Clinic, Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, from January 2021 to January 2024, were retrospectively analyzed, including the total and sub-items scores of the MMSE, MoCA, and ADL. Two different rules were applied to analyze the abnormality rates: rule 1, where the current test result being better than the previous one was considered an abnormality; rule 2, where the current test result being better than the previous average score was considered an abnormality (If a patient had only 2 cognitive assessments, rule 2 was considered the same as rule 1). Two rules were used to analyze the abnormality rates of the scales. The statistical analyses were repeated after excluding patients with possible anxiety and depression status.Results:In assessing the total score stability, MMSE showed the lowest abnormality rates [27.2% (31/114) under rule 1 and 29.8% (34/114) under rule 2], while MoCA had the highest abnormality rates [41.3% (26/63) and 46.0% (29/63), respectively]. The ADL abnormality rates were 27.7% (23/83) and 33.7% (28/83), respectively. Among MoCA sub-items, category cue, multiple choice cue, second memory trial, orientation, and clock showed higher abnormality rates [31.7%(20/63), 30.2%(19/63), 23.8%(15/63), 22.2%(14/63), 22.2%(14/63), respectively]. After excluding population with possible anxiety and depression status, the relative abnormality rates of MMSE and ADL sub-items did not significantly change, while the abnormality rate of orientation in MoCA sub-items decreased relatively.Conclusion:The MMSE and ADL exhibit good stability in long-term monitoring of dementia patients, serving as essential tools for assessing and following up cognitive changes.

Objective:To analyze the effect of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) on the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells and explore its regulatory role in the miR-455-3p/ nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway.Methods:The expression levels of lncRNA SNHG16 and miR-455-3p in human normal cervical epithelial cells H8, human cervical cancer cells SiHa, and radioresistant cervical cancer cells SiHa-R were detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. SiHa-R cells were transfected separately, and then given a single dose of 4 Gy X-ray irradiation and continued to be cultured for subsequent experiments. The cells in each group were named siRNA-NC, siRNA-SNHG16 (interfering lncRNA SNHG16), NC mimic, miR-455-3p mimic (overexpressing miR-455-3p), siRNA-SNHG16+inhibitor NC, and siRNA-SNHG16+miR-455-3p inhibitor groups, respectively. The survival fraction of SiHa-R cells was detected by clone formation assay. The apoptosis rate of SiHa-R cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression levels of apoptotic proteins [cysteine-containing aspartate-specific protease (Caspase)-3, Caspase-9, Bax] and NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins [NF-κB p65, phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB p65, p-IκB (inhibitory protein of NF-κB)] were measured by Western blot. The targeting relationship between lncRNA SNHG16 and miR-455-3p was determined by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Comparison among different groups was conducted by one-way ANOVA, and paired comparison was carried out by LSD t-test. Comparison between two groups was performed by t-test. Results:Compared with H8 cells, the expression levels of lncRNA SNHG16 were increased in SiHa and SiHa-R cells, and SiHa-R cells had a higher level than SiHa cells. The expression levels of miR-455-3p were decreased in SiHa and SiHa-R cells, and SiHa-R cells had a lower level than SiHa cells (all P<0.001). Compared with the siRNA-NC group, the survival fraction of SiHa-R cells in the siRNA-SNHG16 group was decreased, the radiosensitization ratio (SER) was 1.571 (>1), the apoptosis rate and levels of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and Bax proteins were increased, while the levels of p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκB proteins were decreased (all P<0.001). lncRNA SNHG16 could target miR-455-3p. Compared with the NC mimic group, miR-455-3p level in the miR-455-3p mimic group was increased, cell survival fraction was decreased, the SER was 1.826 (>1), the apoptosis rate and the levels of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax proteins were increased, and the levels of p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκB proteins were decreased (all P<0.001). Inhibition of miR-455-3p expression could weaken the effect of interfering with lncRNA SNHG16 expression on SiHa-R cell apoptosis, radiotherapy sensitivity, and NF-κB signaling pathway (all P<0.001). Conclusions:Interference with lncRNA SNHG16 expression could induce the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells and enhance their radiation sensitivity by regulating the miR-455-3p/NF-κB signaling pathway.