Objective: To investigate the expression and functional role of FK506 binding protein 10 (FKBP10) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to provide a research basis for the estimated prognosis and targeted therapy of OSCC. Methods: A total of 284 OSCC samples and 19 normal samples were selected from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and diagnostic analysis was performed to determine mRNA expression. Survival analysis for FKBP10 and OSCC was conducted on a gene expression profile interaction analysis website. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of FKBP10 in four OSCC cell lines and SAS and SCC9 cells transfected with siRNA. The cell proliferation ability of FKBP10-silenced cells was detected using the CCK8 method, and the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion ability were detected through wound healing and invasion experiments. The expression changes of total protein and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-serine/threonine kinase (AKT) after FKBP10 silencing were analyzed by proteomics and Western Blot. Results: According to the analysis of gene expression levels, the mRNA expression level of FKBP10 in OSCC was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P < 0.001). In terms of diagnosis, the expression level of FKBP10 has unique diagnostic value for OSCC (P < 0.05). The survival analysis of FKBP10 and OSCC showed that a high expression of FKBP10 led to a decrease in patient survival and poor prognosis (P < 0.05). The expression of FKBP10 mRNA and protein in OSCC cell lines was higher than that in normal oral keratinocytes (P < 0.001). Silencing FKBP10 can reduce the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of SAS and SCC9 (P < 0.001), and also block their cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase (P < 0.001), with a significant increase in apoptosis (P < 0.05). Protein mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis revealed that FKBP10 silencing significantly downregulated the expression of multiple proteins in the RAP1 signaling pathway, mainly RAP guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (RAPGEF1) (P < 0.05) and the phosphorylation of PI3K-AKT proteins (P < 0.05). Conclusion FKBP10 is highly expressed in OSCC, leading to poor prognosis for patients. Downregulated FKBP10 expression can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of OSCC cells, hinder cell cycle progression, and promote apoptosis via the RAP1-PI3K-AKT axis. FKBP10 is a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for OSCC.

OBJECTIVE: To screen anti-tumor drugs that improve antigen processing and presentation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. METHODS: A TCR-like or TCR mimic antibody that can specifically recognize HLA-A*0201:WT1_126-134 ( RMFPNAPYL) complex (hereafter referred to as HLA-A2:WT1) was synthesized to evaluate the function of antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM) in AML cells. AML cell line THP1 was incubated with increasing concentrations of IFN-γ, hypomethylating agents (HMA), immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD), proteasome inhibitors (PI) and γ-secretase inhibitors (GSI), followed by measuring of HLA-ABC, HLA-A2 and HLA-A2:WT1 levels by flow cytometry at consecutive time points. RESULTS: The TCR-like antibody we generated only binds to HLA-A*0201⁺WT1⁺ cells, indicating the specificity of the antibody. HLA-A2:WT1 level of THP-1 cells detected with the TCR-like antibody was increased significantly after co-incubation with IFN-γ, showing that the HLA-A2:WT1 TCR like antibody could evaluate the function of APM. Among the anti-tumor agents screened in this study, GSI (LY-411575) and HMA (decitabine and azacitidine) could significantly increase the HLA-A2:WT1 level. The IMiD lenalidomide and pomalidomide could aslo upregulate the expression of HLA-A2:WT1 complex under certain concentrations of the drugs and incubation time. As proteasome inhibitors, carfilzomib could significantly decreased the expression of HLA-A2:WT1, while bortezomib had no significant effect on HLA-A2:WT1 expression. CONCLUSION HLA-A2:WT1 TCR-like antibody can effectively reflect the APM function. Some of the anti-tumor drugs can affect the APM function and immunogenicity of tumor cells.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology* ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology* ; Antigen Presentation/drug effects* ; HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology* ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Interferon-gamma

Objective To comparatively evaluate the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)versus conventional microbial culture in spinal infections.Methods A cross-section design was conducted on 82 consecutive patients with suspected spinal infections treated between February 2022 and January 2024 at Jiangbei Branch of First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University(Third Military Medical University).Microbiological culture,histopathological examination,and mNGS results from infected specimens were analyzed.Clinical diagnosis,primarily based on clinical manifestations,laboratory tests and radiologic features combined with medical history,was defined as the gold standard,and then the diagnostic performance,including sensitivity and specificity,were compared between mNGS and microbial culture.Results Among the 82 patients,definitive microbiological evidence was identified in 70 cases,and mNGS demonstrated a significantly higher detection rate than microbial culture(64 vs 36 cases,78.05％vs 43.9％,P<0.05).mNGS also obtained obviously higher sensitivity,accuracy,and negative predictive value(NPV),and notably lower positive predictive value(PPV)when compared to conventional microbial culture(all P<0.05).When stratified by infection type,mNGS obtained significantly higher sensitivity and accuracy compared to microbial culture in tuberculous spinal infections(P<0.05).For non-tuberculous spinal infections,mNGS also showed superior sensitivity to microbial culture(P<0.05).Conclusion In patients with spinal infections,mNGS demonstrates a significantly higher pathogen detection rate than conventional microbial culture.This technique can provide early and broad-spectrum pathogenic microbiological evidence for spinal infection.

Liquiritigenin(LG)is a flavone of pharmacological importance,however,its application potential is severely limited due to its poor water solubility.LG could be disassociated slightly in water to form phenolate anion,therefore,better solubilization effect is expected by inclusion with cationic cyclodextrins(CCDs).In this work,four kinds of CCDs modified with amino groups at the primary face were synthesized,and their solid inclusion complexes with LG were successfully prepared by preparing their saturated solutions.The formation of the solid inclusion complexes was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and powder X-ray diffraction(PXRD),and their supramolecular binding behavior in solution was studied using multiple techniques.A 1∶1 inclusion stoichiometry of inclusion complexation was defined using Job plot by ultraviolet-visible(UV-vis)spectroscopy,and their binding stability constants(Ks)were determined as 2862.77,3494.70,6521.85 and 9599.48 L/mol using UV-vis spectroscopic titration,far more superior to that of nativeβ-CD(Ks=236.79 L/mol).This indicated that the amino side chains on CCDs could actively participate in the inclusion complexation through anion-cation interactions,significantly strengthening the host-guest binding between CCDs and LG.The inclusion modes were further elucidated based on proton and two-dimensional rotating-frame overhauser enhancement spectroscopy(2D-ROESY)nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)experiments and molecular docking.Water solubility of LG was dramatically promoted up to 4.9 mg/mL,which was 70-fold higher than that of native LG.This study could draw inspiration for the binding and solubilization of phenols such as flavones by design of cationic macrocyclic molecules.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Bairui Granules （百蕊颗粒） in the treatment of acute pharyngitis with wind-heat syndrome. MethodsA multicenter， double-blind， double-simulation， randomised controlled trial was conducted， in which 162 patients with acute pharyngitis and wind-heat syndrome from 7 centers were recruited， and each center was divided into trial group and control group on the ratio of 2∶1. In the trial group， 108 cases were orally administered with Bairui Granules plus Reyanning Granules （热炎宁颗粒） simulant， and in the control group， 54 cases were orally administered with Reyanning Granules plus Bairui Granules simulant for 5 days， with a follow-up visit on the 6th day. Full analysis set （FAS） analysis and per protocol set （PPS） were used for analysis， respectively. The primary efficacy index was the disappearance rate of sore throat after 5-day treatment； the secondary efficacy indexes were the disappearance rate of sore throat after 3-day treatment， as well as the visual analogue score （VAS） of sore throat before treatment， every day during the treatment， and follow-up on day 6， and the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score was performed before treatment and at the follow-up on day 6. The effectiveness on TCM syndrome was evaluated at the follow-up on day 6， and the changes of vital signs， blood routine， urine routine， liver functions， kidney function， the adverse events before and after the treatment were recorded， and safety analysis set （SS） was analysed. Results162 patients entered the FAS and SS analyses， and 158 cases （105 cases in the trial group and 53 cases in the control group） entered the PPS analysis. FAS analysis showed that the disappearance rate of sore throat after 5-day treatment was 80.56% （87/108） in the trial group and 64.81% （35/54） in the control group， and the difference between groups was statistically significant （χ² = 5.10， P = 0.0239）. PPS analysis showed that the disappearance rate of sore throat after 5-day treatment was 80.00% （84/105） in the trial group and 64.15% （34/53） in the control group， and the difference between groups was statistically significant （χ² =4.85， P = 0.0277）. FAS and SS analyses both showed that the difference in disappearance rate of sore throat between groups on 3-day treatment was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. Compared with those before treatment， the VAS scores of sore throat were lower in both groups during treatment on day 2， 3， 4， 5， and follow-up on day 6 （P＜0.01）， but the difference between groups at each time point was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. TCM syndrome scores of both groups at the follow-up were lower than that before treatment， and those of the trial group were lower than those of the control group （P＜0.01）. The cure rate and effective rate of TCM syndrome of the trial group were significantly higher than those of the control group （P＜0.01）. There was no significant difference in blood routine， urine routine， liver function， kidney function between groups before and after treatment （P＞0.05）， and no serious adverse events occured in both groups. ConclusionBairui Granules showed clinical effectiveness in the treatment of acute pharyngitis of wind-heat syndrome， and it could significantly improve the clinical symptoms， accelerate the disappearance time of sore throat with good safety.

Aim To study the neuroprotective effects of Herba siegesbeckiae extract on cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion rats and its mechanism. Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into model group, low, middle and high dose groups of Herba siegesbeckiae, and Sham operation group, and the drug was given continuously for seven days. The degree of neurologic impairment was evaluated by mNSS, and the infarct volume was measured by MRI. The number of Nissl-posi- tive cells was detected by Nissl staining, and the apop- tosis was accessed by Tunel staining. Furthermore, the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and NeuN was observed by Western blot, and the expression of NeuN was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The expression of IL- 1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA was performed by RT- qPCR. Results The mNSS score and the volume of ischemic cerebral infarction in the model group were significantly increased, and Herba siegesbeckiae extract treatment significantly decreased the mNSS score and infarct volume (P<0.05, P<0.01). Herba siegesbeckiae extract could increase the number of Nissl-pos- itive cells and the expression of NeuN (P<0.01), and reduce the number of Tunel-positive cells (P<0.01). Western blot showed that Herba siegesbeckiae extract inhibited the expression of Bax, increased Bcl-2 and NeuN in ischemic brain tissue (P<0.01). RT-qPCR showed that Herba siegesbeckiae extract inhibited the expression of IL-1 β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in the is-chemic brain tissue (P<0.01). Conclusions Herba siegesbeckiae extract can reduce the cerebral infarction volume, improve the neurological function damage, inhibit the apoptosis of nerve cells and the expression of inflammatory factors and promote the expression of NeuN, there by exerting protective effects on MCAO rats.

Background: Genetic defects in the human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) gene can cause congenital hypothyroidism (CH). However, the biological functions and comprehensive genotype–phenotype relationships for most TSHR variants associated with CH remain unexplored. We aimed to identify TSHR variants in Chinese patients with CH, analyze the functions of the variants, and explore the relationships between TSHR genotypes and clinical phenotypes. Methods: In total, 367 patients with CH were recruited for TSHR variant screening using whole-exome sequencing. The effects of the variants were evaluated by in-silico programs such as SIFT and polyphen2. Furthermore, these variants were transfected into 293T cells to detect their Gs/cyclic AMP and Gq/11 signaling activity. Results: Among the 367 patients with CH, 17 TSHR variants, including three novel variants, were identified in 45 patients, and 18 patients carried biallelic TSHR variants. In vitro experiments showed that 10 variants were associated with Gs/cyclic AMP and Gq/11 signaling pathway impairment to varying degrees. Patients with TSHR biallelic variants had lower serum TSH levels and higher free triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels at diagnosis than those with DUOX2 biallelic variants. Conclusions We found a high frequency of TSHR variants in Chinese patients with CH (12.3%), and 4.9% of cases were caused by TSHR biallelic variants. Ten variants were identified as loss-of-function variants. The data suggest that the clinical phenotype of CH patients caused by TSHR biallelic variants is relatively mild. Our study expands the TSHR variant spectrum and provides further evidence for the elucidation of the genetic etiology of CH.

This study was aimed at investigating the pathogenic and molecular characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae(KP)in fecal samples of diarrhea cases in a district of Beijing.Fecal samples from diarrhea cases in an outpatient department in a district of Beijing from 2018 to 2021 were collected,and used for isolation and culture of KP.The KP strains isolated strains were subjected to drug resistance phenotype testing and whole-genome sequencing.Multilocus sequence typing and whole-genome phyletic evolution analysis were performed on the sequencing results.The cases'epidemiological and clinical characteristics were analyzed.From 2018 to 2021,1 103 fecal samples were collected and detected.The total detection rate of KP was 10.43％(115/1 103),and the infection rate of KP mixed with other diarrhea-causing pathogens was 42.61％(49/115).The positivity rate was slightly high(12.47％,61/489)a-mong females and was highest in young adults 16-45 years of age.Small peaks were observed in January,April to May,and August to September.The gastrointestinal symptoms in cases were mainly nausea and watery stool,and the suspicious food was unknown.Ampicillin,tetracycline,and sulfafurazole were the top three antibiotics to which these 115 KP strains showed resistance,and 29 strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics.The strains were divided into 72 sequence types,among which ST23 was dominant.According to the phylogenetic tree,the strains were divided into four main branches,among which 14 ST23 strains had a very close genetic relationship with the highly virulent NTUH-K2044 reference strain.KP infection persisted in fecal samples from diarrhea cases in the district of Beijing.Women and young adults were particularly susceptible.The drug resistance of KP strains in this region was very serious,and the ST types were diverse.Moreover,the ST23 pathogenic strains were closely related to high virulence strains.

N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification involves the methylation of the sixth nitrogen atom on the base A of RNA molecules.It is the most common and abundant RNA epigenetic modification in eukaryotic organism.It could not only directly affect the transcriptional level of intracellular genome,but also regulate the expression level of oncogenes,tumor suppressor genes and some ncRNA genes.Additionally,some autophagy-related genes and ferroptosis metabolism pathway-related genes were also reported to be regulated by m6A.The abnormal regulation and dysfunction of target genes by m6A usually promote or inhibit the growth of tumor cells.Therefore,the regulation of cellular autophagy and ferroptosis by m6A to affect the growth of tumor was summarized in the study.It will be useful to demonstrate the mechanism of tumorigenesis and provide scientific basis for the development of a novel target on the treatment of tumor.

Objective To study the effects of intramedullary pressure on the fluid flow behavior in bones.Methods Multi-scale models of macro bone tissue and macro-meso osteon groups were established using the COMSOL Multiphysics software.Considering the interrelationship of different pore scales,such as the bone marrow cavity,Haversia canal,and bone lacunar-canaliculus,the pore pressure and flow rate of hollow bone tissues and bone tissues with intramedullary pressure were compared,and the effects of the amplitude and frequency of intramedullary pressure on the pressure and flow velocity of the liquid in the bone were analyzed.Results When intramedullary pressure was considered,the pore pressure in bone tissues with intramedullary pressure was 6.4 kPa higher than that in hollow bone tissues.The flow pressure increased significantly with an increase in the intramedullary pressure amplitude,but the flow velocity remained unchanged.The frequency of intramedullary pressure had little effect on pore pressure and flow velocity.Conclusions The multi-scale pore model established in this study can accurately analyze bone fluid flow behavior.These results are of great significance for an in-depth understanding of force conduction in the bone.