The elevated polyamines, amine-rich molecules with diverse functions in pathophysiology processes, are implicated in contributing to tumorigenesis and progression. Whether and how they affect the efficacy of chemotherapy is incompletely understood. Our screening assays reveal that the supplement with a low dose of spermidine (Spd), one of the polyamines, enhances ferroptosis in prostate cancer cells as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation and intracellular Fe²⁺ levels in vitro. Combination treatment with Spd and a low dose of ferroptosis inducer erastin synergistically augments anti-tumor efficacy with undetectable toxicity in mice. Analysis of RNA-seq data indicates that heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), an enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of heme to release Fe²⁺, is significantly upregulated in response to Spd and erastin cotreatment. Spd mediated the hypusine modification of the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (EIF5A) promotes the translation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), subsequently leading to elevation of HMOX1. Moreover, Spd and erastin significantly inhibit proteasome activity which results in a decrease in proteasomal degradation of NRF2, although many proteasome-related genes are induced either by Spd or Spd plus erastin. Thus, in addition to its pro-oncogenic activity, the supplement of Spd improves antitumor activity in combination with ferroptosis inducers and offers an optional approach to cancer treatment.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of combining low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation with Beckman oral muscle exercise training in relieving drooling among persons with Parkinson′s disease (PD).Methods:A random number table was used to divide 120 PD patients with drooling into a mouth muscle training group, an electrical stimulation group, and an observation group, with 40 patients in each group. In addition to routine medication, the oral muscle training group was given Beckman oral muscle exercise training, the electrical stimulation group underwent low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation treatment, while the observation group was provided with both. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, the severity of salivation, the frequency of repeated empty swallowing, oral motor function, saliva secretion, and life quality of the three groups were evaluated using the Saliva Rating Scale (DRS), the Repeated Saliva Swallowing Test (RSST), oral motor function grading, the Parkinson′s Disease Saliva Clinical Scale (SCS-PD), saliva weighing, and the PD Quality of Life Scale (PDQ-39).Results:After the treatment the average DRS, SCS-PD, saliva weighing and PDQ-39 results of the observation group were significantly better than those before treatment and better than the other 2 groups′ averages. That group′s average RSST and oral motor function scores had increased significantly compared to before treatment, and compared with the other 2 groups′ averages at the same time point.Conclusions:Combining low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation with Beckman oral muscle exercise can improve oral motor function, swallowing, and the life quality of PD patients who drool. It is more effective than electrical stimulation or oral muscle exercise training alone. Such combination therapy is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

BACKGROUND:Ankle inversion injuries frequently occur during landing,injuring the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments.Previous studies usually used indirect indicators,such as inversion angle,as an injury risk indicator,but epidemiological support is lacking.OBJECTIVE:To calculate anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament strains using a three-dimensional multi-body foot model during a drop-landing and to investigate whether increasing the foot toe-out angle for landing would reduce the risk of inversion sprains.METHODS:Thirty-five participants with high sports demands[15 males and 20 females,age:(21.0±0.9)years,height:(176.2±8.8)cm,body mass:(71.6±12.8)kg]were recruited to perform a drop-landing test using a trapdoor device to simulate ankle inversion sprains.Two landing conditions were tested,i.e.,natural landing and toe-out landing.Kinematic data were collected using a 12-camera motion analysis system,the strains of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments were calculated using a three-dimensional rigid-body foot model.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:From natural landing to toe-out landing conditions,the anterior talofibular ligament strain decreased[natural landing=(3.57±1.92)％,toe-out landing=(0.36±1.18)％,P＜0.001,Cohen's d=2.01),as was the calcaneofibular ligament strain[natural landing=(1.38±1.80)％,toe-out landing=(0.28±2.29)％,P=0.003,Cohen's d=0.81).It could be concluded that increasing foot toe-out angle reduces anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament strains during drop-landing with ankle inversion,thereby reducing the potential of ankle inversion sprains.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of combining low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation with Beckman oral muscle exercise training in relieving drooling among persons with Parkinson′s disease (PD).Methods:A random number table was used to divide 120 PD patients with drooling into a mouth muscle training group, an electrical stimulation group, and an observation group, with 40 patients in each group. In addition to routine medication, the oral muscle training group was given Beckman oral muscle exercise training, the electrical stimulation group underwent low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation treatment, while the observation group was provided with both. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment, the severity of salivation, the frequency of repeated empty swallowing, oral motor function, saliva secretion, and life quality of the three groups were evaluated using the Saliva Rating Scale (DRS), the Repeated Saliva Swallowing Test (RSST), oral motor function grading, the Parkinson′s Disease Saliva Clinical Scale (SCS-PD), saliva weighing, and the PD Quality of Life Scale (PDQ-39).Results:After the treatment the average DRS, SCS-PD, saliva weighing and PDQ-39 results of the observation group were significantly better than those before treatment and better than the other 2 groups′ averages. That group′s average RSST and oral motor function scores had increased significantly compared to before treatment, and compared with the other 2 groups′ averages at the same time point.Conclusions:Combining low-frequency pulsed electrical stimulation with Beckman oral muscle exercise can improve oral motor function, swallowing, and the life quality of PD patients who drool. It is more effective than electrical stimulation or oral muscle exercise training alone. Such combination therapy is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective To explore the association between dynamic indexes of maternal progesterone in early pregnancy and the average level and growth rate of fetal head circumference(HC)in mid-and late pregnancy.Methods This study adopted a retrospective cohort design and included 255 singleton pregnant women in the maternal and infant cohort of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2015 to December 2024.The progesterone levels of their early venous blood were detected and divided into two groups of progesterone trajectories,namely,fluctuating type and increasing type,by morphology.The dynamic indicators of progesterone in early pregnancy were constructed:cumulative dynamic deviation index in the first trimester(CDDI-P1T),gestational age at progesterone peak(GA-PP),and maximal relative progesterone decline in the first trimester(MRD-P1T).The average head circumference level and linear growth rate of the fetuses in the middle and late pregnancy were calculated.Generalized linear regression(GLM)was used to analyze the linear association between progesterone dynamic indicators and head circumference development.The key gestational weeks of progesterone affecting fetal head development were explored by linear regression of gestational weeks.Ordinary least squares(OLS)regression and restricted cubic spline(RCS)plots were used to draw the nonlinear association between progesterone dynamic indicators and head circumference.Results Among the 255 pregnant women included,92.5％of the progesterone trajectories in early pregnancy were fluctuating,and 7.5％were increasing.The growth rates of the increasing progesterone trajectory group were higher in the second and third trimesters than in the fluctuating group,but the differences were not statistically significant(all P＞0.05).GLM analysis showed that for every 1 unit increase in CDDI-P1T,the head circumference in the middle and late pregnancy increased significantly by 1.574 cm and 1.193 cm(Z=3.714,2.885,P＜0.01).The delay of GA-PP was negatively correlated with the head circumference in the middle pregnancy(β=-0.190 cm,95％CI:-0.339--0.041,P=0.010)but positively correlated with the head circumference growth rate in the late pregnancy(β=0.022 cm/week,95％CI:0.003-0.041,P=0.025).A 10％decrease in the decline of CDDI-P1T increased the head circumference in the middle pregnancy by 0.200 cm(95％CI:0.016-0.384,P=0.033),and a 100％decrease in the decline increased the head circumference growth rate in the late pregnancy by 0.201 cm/week(95％CI:0.002-0.399,P=0.048).The analysis of the key time window showed that for every 20 nmol/L increase in progesterone during 9.5-13 weeks of pregnancy,the mid-term head circumference increased by 0.035-0.166 cm(Z=2.452-3.517,allP＜0.05),and the late-term head circumference increased by 0.767 cm during 9-13 weeks of pregnancy(Z=2.452-3.517,all P＜0.05).When progesterone increased during 9.5-10.5 weeks of pregnancy,the growth rate of mid-term head circumference increased by 0.013-0.023 cm/week(Z=2.074-2.243,all P＜0.01).When progesterone increased during 8.5-10.5 weeks of pregnancy,the growth rate of late-term head circumference increased by 0.010-0.026 cm/week(Z=2.061-3.137,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Progesterone dynamic index is a new sensitive tool for evaluating fetal head circumference development.There is a stage-specific window period for progesterone regulation.9.5-13 weeks of pregnancy is the critical period for progesterone to affect head circumference growth,and 9.5-10.5 weeks of pregnancy is the core window for regulating the growth rate of head circumference.Therefore,it is necessary to combine progesterone dynamic index and time window for individualized intervention to promote the transformation of prenatal care from pregnancy maintenance to eugenics intervention.

Objective To explore the association between dynamic indexes of maternal progesterone in early pregnancy and the average level and growth rate of fetal head circumference(HC)in mid-and late pregnancy.Methods This study adopted a retrospective cohort design and included 255 singleton pregnant women in the maternal and infant cohort of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2015 to December 2024.The progesterone levels of their early venous blood were detected and divided into two groups of progesterone trajectories,namely,fluctuating type and increasing type,by morphology.The dynamic indicators of progesterone in early pregnancy were constructed:cumulative dynamic deviation index in the first trimester(CDDI-P1T),gestational age at progesterone peak(GA-PP),and maximal relative progesterone decline in the first trimester(MRD-P1T).The average head circumference level and linear growth rate of the fetuses in the middle and late pregnancy were calculated.Generalized linear regression(GLM)was used to analyze the linear association between progesterone dynamic indicators and head circumference development.The key gestational weeks of progesterone affecting fetal head development were explored by linear regression of gestational weeks.Ordinary least squares(OLS)regression and restricted cubic spline(RCS)plots were used to draw the nonlinear association between progesterone dynamic indicators and head circumference.Results Among the 255 pregnant women included,92.5％of the progesterone trajectories in early pregnancy were fluctuating,and 7.5％were increasing.The growth rates of the increasing progesterone trajectory group were higher in the second and third trimesters than in the fluctuating group,but the differences were not statistically significant(all P＞0.05).GLM analysis showed that for every 1 unit increase in CDDI-P1T,the head circumference in the middle and late pregnancy increased significantly by 1.574 cm and 1.193 cm(Z=3.714,2.885,P＜0.01).The delay of GA-PP was negatively correlated with the head circumference in the middle pregnancy(β=-0.190 cm,95％CI:-0.339--0.041,P=0.010)but positively correlated with the head circumference growth rate in the late pregnancy(β=0.022 cm/week,95％CI:0.003-0.041,P=0.025).A 10％decrease in the decline of CDDI-P1T increased the head circumference in the middle pregnancy by 0.200 cm(95％CI:0.016-0.384,P=0.033),and a 100％decrease in the decline increased the head circumference growth rate in the late pregnancy by 0.201 cm/week(95％CI:0.002-0.399,P=0.048).The analysis of the key time window showed that for every 20 nmol/L increase in progesterone during 9.5-13 weeks of pregnancy,the mid-term head circumference increased by 0.035-0.166 cm(Z=2.452-3.517,allP＜0.05),and the late-term head circumference increased by 0.767 cm during 9-13 weeks of pregnancy(Z=2.452-3.517,all P＜0.05).When progesterone increased during 9.5-10.5 weeks of pregnancy,the growth rate of mid-term head circumference increased by 0.013-0.023 cm/week(Z=2.074-2.243,all P＜0.01).When progesterone increased during 8.5-10.5 weeks of pregnancy,the growth rate of late-term head circumference increased by 0.010-0.026 cm/week(Z=2.061-3.137,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Progesterone dynamic index is a new sensitive tool for evaluating fetal head circumference development.There is a stage-specific window period for progesterone regulation.9.5-13 weeks of pregnancy is the critical period for progesterone to affect head circumference growth,and 9.5-10.5 weeks of pregnancy is the core window for regulating the growth rate of head circumference.Therefore,it is necessary to combine progesterone dynamic index and time window for individualized intervention to promote the transformation of prenatal care from pregnancy maintenance to eugenics intervention.

BACKGROUND:Ankle inversion injuries frequently occur during landing,injuring the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments.Previous studies usually used indirect indicators,such as inversion angle,as an injury risk indicator,but epidemiological support is lacking.OBJECTIVE:To calculate anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament strains using a three-dimensional multi-body foot model during a drop-landing and to investigate whether increasing the foot toe-out angle for landing would reduce the risk of inversion sprains.METHODS:Thirty-five participants with high sports demands[15 males and 20 females,age:(21.0±0.9)years,height:(176.2±8.8)cm,body mass:(71.6±12.8)kg]were recruited to perform a drop-landing test using a trapdoor device to simulate ankle inversion sprains.Two landing conditions were tested,i.e.,natural landing and toe-out landing.Kinematic data were collected using a 12-camera motion analysis system,the strains of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments were calculated using a three-dimensional rigid-body foot model.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:From natural landing to toe-out landing conditions,the anterior talofibular ligament strain decreased[natural landing=(3.57±1.92)％,toe-out landing=(0.36±1.18)％,P＜0.001,Cohen's d=2.01),as was the calcaneofibular ligament strain[natural landing=(1.38±1.80)％,toe-out landing=(0.28±2.29)％,P=0.003,Cohen's d=0.81).It could be concluded that increasing foot toe-out angle reduces anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament strains during drop-landing with ankle inversion,thereby reducing the potential of ankle inversion sprains.

Objective To analyze the efficacy and adverse reactions of donepezil in the treatment of patients with a continuous disease spectrum of Alzheimer's disease(AD)with pharmacogenomics.Methods Seventy-two patients who took donepezil therapy at the time of initial molecular pa-thology diagnosis of AD continuous disease spectrum in Chinese PLA General Hospital from Jan-uary 2022 to January 2023 were recruited.Cells from the oral buccal mucosa were collected,and MassARRAY nucleic acid mass spectrometry was applied to detect the genotypes of CYP2D6,the gene encoding cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme,and CHAT,the gene encoding acetylcholine trans-ferase.After 9 months of follow-up,drug efficacy was indirectly determined by neurological func-tion scales,caregiver evaluations,and drug prescribing behaviors,and thus,the 50 patients on donepezil alone were divide into effective group(n=28)and ineffective group(n=22).Seventy-two patients were divided into adverse reaction group(n=12)and no adverse reaction group(n=60).Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between donepezil efficacy and pharmacogenomics.Results The frequencies of CHAT rs3793790 locus carrying G allele and rs2177370 locus carrying A allele were significantly higher in the effective group than the ineffective group(35.71％vs 9.09％,P=0.029;42.86％vs 9.09％,P=0.008).Multivariate lo-gistic regression analysis showed that donepezil was more effective in those who carrying rs3793790 G allele and/or rs2177370 A allele in the CHAT gene than those who carrying neither of the alleles(95％CI:1.20-34.47,P=0.030).There were no statistical differences in the CYP2D6 gene-adjusted activity score and whether or not carrying*10 between the patients with and without adverse reactions(P＞0.0 5).Conclusion In patients with a continuous spectrum of AD,donepezil efficacy is associated with CHAT gene polymorphisms,but there is no correlation between donepezil adverse reactions and CYP2D6 genotype.

Objective To understand the changing distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Proteus,Morganella and Providencia in hospitals across China from January 1,2015 to December 31,2021 in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out following the unified CHINET protocol.The results were interpreted in accordance with the breakpoints in the 2021 Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)M100(31 st Edition).Results A total of 32 433 Enterobacterales strains were isolated during the 7-year period,including 24 160 strains of Proteus,6 704 strains of Morganella,and 1 569 strains of Providencia.The overall number of these Enterobacterales isolates increased significantly over the 7-year period.The top 3 specimen source of these strains were urine,lower respiratory tract specimens,and wound secretions.Proteus,Morganella,and Providencia isolates showed lower resistance rates to amikacin,meropenem,cefoxitin,cefepime,cefoperazone-sulbactam,and piperacillin-tazobactam.For most of the antibiotics tested,less than 10％of the Proteus and Morganella strains were resistant,while less than 20％of the Providencia strains were resistant.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE)was 1.4％in Proteus isolates,1.9％in Morganella isolates,and 15.6％in Providencia isolates.Conclusions The overall number of clinical isolates of Proteus,Morganella and Providencia increased significantly in the 7-year period from 2015 to 2021.The prevalence of CRE strains also increased.More attention should be paid to antimicrobial resistance surveillance and rational antibiotic use so as to prevent the emergence and increase of antimicrobial resistance.

Objective:To explore the value of tacrolimus blood concentration and other related indexes in evaluating early postoperative infection in patients with liver transplantation.Methods:Patients with complete medical records who underwent liver transplantation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2014 to December 2019 were screened. Cohort study was used, and demographic data, laboratory test results, tacrolimus blood concentration and other data of patients with liver transplantation were collected. All patients with postoperative infection were divided into four groups, inculding two to four weeks, five to 12 weeks, 13 to 52 weeks and >52 weeks groups, and uninfected patients in each group were matched 1∶1 according to age ± 3 years old. Independent sample t test and rank sum test were used to analyze the differences in clinical data between postoperative infected and uninfected patients with liver transplantation patients. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of infection in the early postoperative period (two to four weeks after operation). The relative safe value of tacrolimus blood concentration in the early postoperative period was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve. Results:A total of 150 patients with infection after liver transplantation were included, including 65 patients in the two to four weeks group, 31 patients in the five to 12 weeks group, 27 patients in the 13 to 52 weeks group, and 27 patients in the >52 weeks group. There were 52, 30, 32, and 39 uninfected patients in the four groups, respectively. There were 247 males (81.52%) in 303 patients with liver transplantation, and the age ranged from 10 to 78 years old. Hepatitis B cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were the main primary diseases, accounting for 41.91%(127/303) and 47.52%(144/303), respectively. The tacrolimus blood concentration and alanine aminotransferase in patients with infection in the two to four weeks group were (11.46±4.94) μg/L and 118.20(38.80, 215.80) U/L, respectively, which were both higher than those in the uninfected group ((7.12±2.33) μg/L and 39.40(23.40, 142.70) U/L, respectively). The differences were both statistically significant ( t=6.26, Z=2.66, respectively, both P<0.05). Sputum sources accounted for the largest number of samples, accounting for 61.6%(98/159). A total of 174 pathogens were isolated, of which gram-negative bacteria (55.2%(96/174)) were the majority, mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.1%(35/174)) and Acinetobacter baumannii (13.8%(24/174)). Multivariate analysis showed that tacrolimus blood concentration (odds ratio ( OR)=1.634, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.298 to 2.058, P=0.001) was a risk factor for infection at two to four weeks after liver transplantation, while lymphocyte count ( OR=0.165, 95% CI 0.057 to 0.474, P=0.010) was a protective factor. The area under the curve of tacrolimus blood concentration in evaluating the infection at two to four weeks after liver transplantation was 0.817. The cut-off value was 8.7 μg /L ( P<0.05), with the sensitivity of 0.708 and the specificity of 0.846. Conclusions:The main site of infection in patients with liver transplantation is respiratory system. Gram-negative bacilli are the main pathogens. When tacrolimus blood concentration is below 8.7 μg/L at two to four weeks after liver transplantation, the probability of infection in the early postoperative period may be reduced.