Homo- or heterodimeric compounds that affect dimeric protein function through interaction between monomeric moieties and protein subunits can serve as valuable sources of potent and selective drug candidates. Here, we screened an in-house dimeric natural product collection, and panepocyclinol A (PecA) emerged as a selective and potent STAT3 inhibitor with profound anti-tumor efficacy. Through cross-linking C712/C718 residues in separate STAT3 monomers with two distinct Michael receptors, PecA inhibits STAT3 DNA binding affinity and transcription activity. Molecular dynamics simulation reveals the key conformation changes of STAT3 dimers upon the di-covalent binding with PecA that abolishes its DNA interactions. Furthermore, PecA exhibits high efficacy against anaplastic large T cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo, especially those with constitutively activated STAT3 or STAT3^Y640F. In summary, our study describes a distinct and effective di-covalent modification for the dimeric compound PecA to disrupt STAT3 function.

Schizophrenia (SZ) stands as a severe psychiatric disorder. This study applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data in conjunction with graph neural networks to distinguish SZ patients from normal controls (NCs) and showcases the superior performance of a graph neural network integrating combined fractional anisotropy and fiber number brain network features, achieving an accuracy of 73.79% in distinguishing SZ patients from NCs. Beyond mere discrimination, our study delved deeper into the advantages of utilizing white matter brain network features for identifying SZ patients through interpretable model analysis and gene expression analysis. These analyses uncovered intricate interrelationships between brain imaging markers and genetic biomarkers, providing novel insights into the neuropathological basis of SZ. In summary, our findings underscore the potential of graph neural networks applied to multimodal DTI data for enhancing SZ detection through an integrated analysis of neuroimaging and genetic features.
Humans ; Schizophrenia/pathology* ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Brain/metabolism* ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; White Matter/pathology* ; Gene Expression ; Nerve Net/diagnostic imaging* ; Graph Neural Networks

BACKGROUND:Early identification of patients requiring ventilator support will be beneficial for the outcomes of botulism.The present study aimed to establish a new scoring system to predict mechanical ventilation(MV)for botulism patients. METHODS:A single-center retrospective study was conducted to identify risk factors associated with MV in botulism patients from 2007 to 2022.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen out risk factors for constructing a prognostic scoring system.The area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was calculated. RESULTS:A total of 153 patients with botulism(66 males and 87 females,with an average age of 43 years)were included.Of these,49 patients(32.0%)required MV,including 21(13.7%)with invasive ventilation and 28(18.3%)with non-invasive ventilation.Multivariate analysis revealed that botulinum toxin type,pneumonia,incubation period,degree of hypoxia,and severity of muscle involvement were independent risk factors for MV.These risk factors were incorporated into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to establish a prognostic scoring system.Each risk factor was scored by allocating a weight based on its regression coefficient and rounded to whole numbers for practical utilization([botulinum toxin type A:1],[pneumonia:2],[incubation period≤1 day:2],[hypoxia<90%:2],[severity of muscle involvement:grade II,3;grade III,7;grade IV,11]).The scoring system achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.82(95%CI 0.75-0.89,P<0.001).At the optimal threshold of 9,the scoring system achieved a sensitivity of 83.7%and a specificity of 70.2%. CONCLUSION:Our study identified botulinum toxin type,pneumonia,incubation period,degree of hypoxia,and severity of muscle involvement as independent risk factors for MV in botulism patients.A score≥9 in our scoring system is associated with a higher likelihood of requiring MV in botulism patients.This scoring system needs to be validated externally before it can be applied in clinical settings.

Objective To investigate the incidence and severity of symptoms in patients with gastric cancer who received chemotherapy,we constructed a symptom network to explore core symptoms and bridge symptoms.Furthermore,the study explores the association between core symptoms and Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)constitutions.Methods Patients with gastric cancer who received chemotherapy in the medical oncology and surgical oncology department from March to August 2023 were selected for the study using a convenience sampling method.The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Gastrointestinal Cancer was used for evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms and their severity among patients receiving chemotherapy for gastric cancer,as well as assessing the classification of TCM constitution among patients.The symptom network model was constructed using the R programming language,and the central index was analyzed to determine the core symptoms and bridge symptoms.Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between different physical conditions and the occurrence of core symptoms.Results A total of 346 electronic questionnaires were collected,with 340 valid ones,and the effective recovery rate was 98.3％.The 3 most prevalent and severe symptoms among the 340 patients with gastric cancer were fatigue(85.59％),lack of appetite(82.35％),and taste alteration(81.18％).The centrality index results indicated that grief exhibited the highest intensity,medium,and compactness centrality values(rs=8.23,rb=2.00,rc=0.03),making it the core symptom of this condition.Sleep disorders,lack of appetite,drowsiness,and taste alteration were identified as bridging symptoms with bridge intensities of 0.74,0.76,0.99,and 0.94 respectively.The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between sadness and qi-deficiency constitution,phlegm-dampness constitution(P＜0.05).The phlegm-dampness constitution was positively correlated with the taste alterations(P＜0.05).Conclusion In patients with gastric cancer,fatigue emerges as the most prominent symptom,while sadness assumes the core symptom.Additionally,sleep disorder,lack of appetite,drowsiness,and taste alteration are bridge symptoms.According to the principles of TCM constitution,qi-deficiency and phlegm-dampness are constitutions associated with a higher risk of experiencing sadness,and phlegm-dampness is a constitution associated with a higher risk of taste changes.Nurses can integrate core symptoms and TCM constitutions characteristics to optimize the strategies for symptom intervention.

Objective To establish the drug use evaluation(DUE)criteria for aspirin enteric-coated tablets and provide a reference for the rationally clinical application of aspirin enteric-coated tablets.Methods DUE criteria for aspirin enteric-coated tablets were established from three aspects of indications,medications and medication results with reference to drug instructions of aspirin enteric-coated tablets,related guidelines,expert consensus and literature,and through Delphi method.A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the medical records of patients who took aspirin enteric-coated tablets from January 2021 to June 2022 in Fuqing Hospital affiliated to Fujian Medical University.Results A total of 1 071 medical records were included.683 cases fully met the DUE criteria,with a rational rate of 63.77％.Irrational drug use mainly included inappropriate indications(6.26％),off-label drug use without approval(28.48％),contraindications(1.03％),inappropriate usage and dosage(1.68％),drug interactions with potential clinical significance(0.65％)and other inappropriate drug use(2.71％).Conclusion The established DUE standard for aspirin enteric-coated tablets has strong scientific practicability and feasibility.The irrational rate of aspirin enteric-coated tablets in this hospital is high.Corresponding intervention measures should be formulated to ensure the safety of clinical medication.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of oropharyngeal aspiration on reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia,in order to provide a basis for clinical operation and practice.Methods:CNKI, Wanfang, China Biology Medicine Disc, VIP, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and CINAHL databases were searched for relevant studies on the effects of oropharyngeal attraction on ventilators associated pneumonia. At the same time, the included references were screened, and the search time limit was from the establishment of the database to January 1, 2023. The quality of the included literature was strictly evaluated and data extracted by two researchers with evidence-based training, and Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.4 software.Results:The results of meta-analysis showed that oropharyngeal aspiration could reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia ( OR=0.30, 95% CI 0.22-0.40, P<0.01) and shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation ( MD=-2.39, 95% CI -3.59--1.20, P<0.01) and reduced length of stay in ICU ( MD=-2.62, 95% CI -2.99--2.26, P<0.01). Conclusions:Strengthening oropharyngeal aspiration can reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with mechanical ventilation. In clinical practice, oropharyngeal aspiration should be performed when the position changes, and continuous aspiration can be performed if conditions are met.

Objective:To describe and analyze suicide risk of patients with schizophrenia,major depressive disorder,and bipolar disorder.Methods:A total of 2 016 patients with schizophrenia,903 patients with major de-pressive disorder,and 381 patients with bipolar disorder from inpatients,clinics,or communities who met the diag-nostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition were recruited.All patients were interviewed by psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview to diagnose mental disor-ders and assess suicide risk,as well as Clinical-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity(CRDPSS)to as-sess symptoms.Differences and risk factors of suicide risk among three types of mental disorders were explored u-sing multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:In the past one month,37 patients with schizophrenia(1.8％),516 patients with major depressive disorder(57.1％),and 102 patients with bipolar disorder(26.8％)had suicide risk.Compared with patients with schizophrenia,suicide risk in patients with major depressive disorder(OR=36.50)and bipolar disorder(OR=20.10)increased.Female(OR=1.87),smoking(OR=1.76),family history of suicide(OR=5.09),higher score of CRDPSS hallucination(OR=1.80),and higher score of CRDPSS depression(OR=1.54)were risk factors of suicide risk of patients.Conclusions:Suicide risk of patients with ma-jor depressive disorder and bipolar disorder is higher than that of patients with schizophrenia.In clinical practice,it is important to regularly assess suicide risk of patients.Patients who experience symptoms of hallucination and de-pression should be paid more attention to.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and related socio-demographic factors of schizo-phrenia patients with different ages of onset.Methods:Totally 2 016 patients with schizophrenia aged 15 to 70 were selected according to the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition.All of the patients were interviewed by psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsy-chiatric Interview to diagnose schizophrenia,Clinical-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity(CRDPSS)and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS)to assess symptoms.The cut-off points were 18 and 25 years old for three age groups,i.e.early onset(EOS),youth onset(YOS)and adult onset(AOS).Statistical analy-ses were performed by analysis of variance Pearson correlation analysis,and multivariate linear regression.Results:The early-onset patients had the highest total PANSS score(73.8±28.0)and CRDPSS score(11.7±5.4).Fe-male gender,high education level,Han ethnicity,early onset age,and slower onset of illness were negatively corre-lated with the total and dimension score of PANSS scale and CRDPSS scale(standardized regression coefficient:0.04-0.47),and income level and smoking were negatively correlated with those score(standardized regression coefficient:-0.04--0.14).Conclusion:Early-onset schizophrenia patients have more severe symptoms,and fe-male,high education level,early-onset disease,and chronic onset are the risk factors of symptom severity in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective:To evaluate the role of the SIRT1/FoxO1 signaling pathway in trilobatin-induced reduction of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods:Eighty clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 230-280 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=20 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (group S), cerebral I/R group (group CIR), trilobatin+ cerebral I/R group (group T) and trilobatin+ cerebral I/R+ SIRT1/FoxO1 signaling pathway inhibitor EX527 group (group E). The model of focal cerebral I/R injury was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion in anesthetized animals. Trilobatin 15 mg/kg was given by gavage twice a day for 3 consecutive days starting from 3 days before ischemia in T and E groups. EX527 5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected before each gavage in group E. Modified Longa scoring scale was used to assess neurological function at 24 h of reperfusion, then the rats were sacrificed and whole brain tissues were obtained for determination of cerebral infarct size (using TTC staining), apoptosis rate and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the hippocampus (by flow cytometry), expression of SIRT1 and acetylated FOXO1 (Ac-FOXO1) (by Western blot) and contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and for microscopic examination of pathological changes in the hippocampal CAI area after HE staining. Results:Compared with group S, Longa score, cerebral infarct size, apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons, and levels of ROS and MDA were significantly increased, the content of SOD was decreased, the expression of SIRT1 was down-regulated, and the expression of Ac-FOXO1 was up-regulated in group CIR ( P<0.05). Compared with group CIR, Longa score, cerebral infarct size, apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons, and levels of ROS and MDA were significantly decreased, the content of SOD was increased, the expression of SIRT1 was up-regulated, and the expression of Ac-FOXO1 was down-regulated in group T ( P<0.05). Compared with group T, Longa score, cerebral infarct size, apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons, and levels of ROS and MDA were significantly increased, the content of SOD was decreased, the expression of SIRT1 was down-regulated, and the expression of Ac-FOXO1 was up-regulated in group E ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Trilobatin may inhibit oxidative stress responses and neuronal apoptosis in hippocampi by activating the SIRT1/FoxO1 signaling pathway, thus alleviating cerebral I/R injury in rats.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of ZKY001 eye drops with different concentrations in the treatment of corneal epithelial defects(CED)after primary pterygium excision.METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial. From March 15, 2022 to November 14, 2022, patients with primary pterygium who had undergone surgery were recruited from 12 tertiary hospitals across China. Using block randomization, 178 patients(178 eyes)were randomly assigned to 3 groups in a 1:1:1 ratio: 0.002% ZKY001 group(n=59), 0.004% ZKY001 group(n=59), and placebo group(n=60, receiving ZKY001 sham eye drops). Subjects in each group received 1 drop of the study drug 4 times per day for 4 d. The percentage of CED area recovery from baseline, the first complete healing time of CED area, the number of first complete healing cases of CED, and changes in visual analogue scale(VAS)scores for eye discomfort including eye pain, foreign body sensation, tearing and photophobia were observed.RESULTS: In terms of improvement in CED, there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups including the first healing time of CED, the percentage improvement in CED area compared to baseline, and the percentage of first healing cases at different follow-up visits(all P>0.05). Numerically, the first healing time of CED was shorter in the test groups compared to the placebo group(67.87±21.688 h for the 0.002% ZKY001 group, 61.48±22.091 h for the 0.004% ZKY001 group, and 68.85±20.851 h for the placebo group). On D1 morning, the percentage improvement in CED area compared to baseline was maximally different from the placebo group, and the numerical difference advantage was maintained at subsequent follow-up visits. The number of first healing cases in the CED area at different follow-up visits was higher in the test groups than the placebo group. In terms of improvement in ocular discomfort, the total VAS scores were lower in the test groups compared to the placebo group, mainly due to reductions in foreign body sensation and pain scores. At D3, the 0.004% ZKY001 group showed statistically significant improvement in foreign body sensation(P<0.017). In terms of safety, the overall incidence of adverse events was low(9.0%)and similar among groups.CONCLUSION: The use of ZKY001 eyedrops after primary pterygium surgery can safely improve the CED repair, and alleviate postoperative symptoms caused by CED.