Background Asthma poses a serious threat to children's growth, development, and mental health, thus there has been an increasing focus on the control of asthma morbidity in children and the assessment of its risk factors. A growing body of research has found that exposure to ambient air pollutants an significatly increase the risk of childhood asthma. Objective To understand the changes of ambient air pollutant concentrations in Nanjing and asthma outpatient visits to Nanjing Children's Hospital, and to quantitatively analyze the effects of exposure to different ambient air pollutants on children's asthma outpatient visits. Methods Daily data of ambient air pollutants fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), inhalable particle (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), meteorological factors (air temperature & relative humidity), and outpatient visits due to asthma in the hospital from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023 were collected, and a generalized additive model based on quasi poisson distributions was used to quantitatively analyze the short-term effects of ambient air pollutant exposure on outpatient visits due to asthma in the hospital. Results The annual average concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO₂ in Nanjing from 2019 to 2023 did not exceed the national limits. For single-day lagged effects, the single-pollutant model showed that the effects of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and CO on children's asthma outpatient visits were greatest for every 10 units increase at lag0, with excess risk (ER) of 1.39% (95%CI: 0.65%, 2.14%), 1.46% (95%CI: 0.97%, 1.95%), 5.46% (95%CI: 4.36%, 6.57%), and 0.18% (95%CI: 0.11%, 0.26%), respectively, and SO₂ reached the maximum effect at lag1, with an ER of 23.15% (95%CI: 13.57%, 33.53%) for each 10 units increase in concentration. Different pollutants reached their maximum cumulative lag effects at different time. The PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂, NO₂, and CO showed the largest cumulative lag effects at lag01, lag01, lag02, lag02, and lag03, respectively, with ERs of 1.35% (95%CI: 0.77%, 1.92%), 0.96% (95%CI: 0.10%, 1.83%), 28.50% (95%CI: 15.49%, 42.98%), 6.92% (95%CI: 5.53%, 8.33%), and 0.31% (95%CI: 0.20%, 0.42%), respectively. The influences of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ on outpatient visits due to asthma in the hospital became more pronounced with advancing age, while the associations with NO₂, SO₂, and CO were weakened as children grew older. Conclusion Ambient air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO) can increase childhood asthma visits, and different pollutants have varied effects on the number of asthmatic children's visits at different ages.

Background Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type II (PTPN2) is essential for the regulation of inflammation and immunity, but the specific mechanism of action of Ptpn2 in silicosis is unknown. Objective To investigate the regulatory role of overexpression of Ptpn2 in SiO₂-mediated inflammatory response in alveolar type II epithelial cells based on transcriptome sequencing. Methods This study was an in vitro study. A negative control group (vector transferred) and an overexpression of Ptpn2 group of mouse lung epithelial cell line MLE-12 cells were firstly constructed. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed mRNAs, and differentially expressed ncRNAs in the two groups of MLE-12 cells, and then the DEGs were analyzed by the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Constructed MLE-12 cells and A549 cells were stimulated using SiO₂ suspension, and divided into a negative control group (vector transferred), an overexpression of Ptpn2 group, a negative control + SiO₂ group, and an overexpression of Ptpn2 + SiO₂ group, respectively. Protein expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-2, IL-1β were detected by Western blot. Positive TNF-α expression was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression level of PTPN2 was up-regulated in the overexpressed Ptpn2 group compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05). The volcano plot and clustering heat map showed that there were 1122 DEGs, 3681 differentially expressed mRNAs, and 474 differentially expressed ncRNAs in the overexpressed Ptpn2 group compared with the negative control group. The results of GO enrichment showed that, in terms of the biological process, the DEGs were mainly related to the regulation of metal ion transport, extracellular matrix organization, and extracellular structural organization; in terms of cellular composition, the DEGs were mainly related to collagen-containing extracellular matrix, receptor complexes, and basement membranes; in terms of molecular function, the DEGs were mainly related to the extracellular matrix structural constituents, glycosaminoglycan binding, and semaphorin receptor binding. The results of KEGG enrichment showed that the DEGs were closely related to cytokin-cytokine receptor interaction, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway. In MLE-12 and A549 cells, the results of Western blot showed that the protein expression levels of TNF-α , IL-17A, IL-2, and IL-1β were up-regulated in the negative control + SiO₂ group compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05), and the protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-2, and IL-1β were down-regulated in the overexpression of Ptpn2 + SiO₂ group compared with the negative control + SiO₂ group (P < 0.05). The immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of TNF-α was increased in the negative control + SiO₂ group compared with the negative control group, and decreased in the overexpression of Ptpn2 + SiO₂ group compared with the negative control + SiO₂ group. Conclusion Overexpression of Ptpn2 inhibits SiO₂-mediated inflammatory response in MLE-12 cells and A549 cells.

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of valve surgeries for infective endocarditis and the affecting factors, and compare the early- and long-term postoperative outcomes of different surgery approaches. Methods The patients with infective endocarditis who underwent valve replacement/valvuloplasty in our hospital from 2010 to 2022 were retrospectively collected. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed. Results A total of 343 patients were enrolled, including 197 patients with mechanical valve replacement, 62 patients with bioprosthetic valve replacement, and 84 patients with valvuloplasty. There were 238 males and 105 females with an average age of (44.2±14.8) years. Single-valve endocarditis was present in 200 (58.3%) patients, and multivalve involvement was present in 143 (41.7%) patients. Sixty (17.5%) patients had suffered thrombosis before surgery, including cerebral embolisms in 32 patients. The mean follow-up time was (60.6±43.8) months. Early mortality within one month after the surgery occurred in 17 (5.0%) patients, while later mortality occurred in 19 (5.5%) patients. Eight (2.3%) patients underwent postoperative dialysis, 13 (3.8%) patients suffered postoperative stroke, 6 patients underwent reoperation, and 3 patients suffered recurrence of infective endocarditis. Smoking (P=0.002), preoperative embolisms (P=0.001), duration of surgery (P=0.001), and postoperative dialysis (P=0.001) were risk factors for early mortality, and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥60% (P=0.022) was protective factor for early mortality. New York Heart Association classification Ⅲ-Ⅳ (P=0.010) and ≥3 valve procedures (P=0.028) were risk factors for late mortality. The rate of composite endpoint events was significantly lower in the valvuloplasty group than that in the valve replacement group. Conclusion For patients with infective endocarditis, smoking and preoperative embolisms are associated with high postoperative mortality, multiple-valve surgery is associated with a poorer prognosis, and valvuloplasty has advantages over valve replacement and should be attempted in the surgical management of patients with infective endocarditis.

Triple-negative breast cancer is therapeutically challenging due to the low expression of tumor markers and 'cold' tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here, we present a dual-targeting peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) for tumor inhibition. Our PDC efficiently and selectively delivers cytotoxic Monomethyl Auristatin E (MMAE) into tumor cells via C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) for synergistic inhibition of growth and metastasis. Our results show that the dual-targeting PDC has potent antitumor activity in cultured human cells and several murine transplanted tumor models without apparent toxicity. The combination of dual-targeting PDC and radiotherapy modulates the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment by increasing CD8⁺ T cell infiltration and attenuating the proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor and regulatory T cells. Therefore, our dual-targeting PDC represents a promising new strategy for cancer therapy that rebalances the immune system and promotes tumor regression.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of Guizhi Fuling (GZFL) Pellets against cervical cancer. METHODS: Publicly available databases were used to identify the targets of GZFL Pellets and cervical cancer to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, followed by GO biological process and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the hub genes. The "Traditional Chinese Medicine-Active Ingredients-Targets-Pathways" network for GZFL Pellets in cervical cancer treatment was generated using Cytoscape v10.0.0, and molecular docking of the drug and potential targets was performed to predict the specific targets of active components in Guizhi Fuling Pellets. The inhibitory effects of hederagenin, an active ingredient in GZFL Pellets, was tested in cultured cervical cancer cells and in nude mice bearing cervical cancer xenografts. RESULTS: GZFL Pellets contain 338 active components targeting 247 action sites. A total of 10127 cervical cancer-related targets were obtained, and among them 195 were identified as potential therapeutic targets of GZFL Pellets for cervical cancer treatment, including the key targets of GABRA1, PTK2, JAK2, HTR3A, GSR, and IL-17. Molecular docking study showed low binding energies of the active components such as hederagenin, campesterol, and stigmasterol for protein-molecule interaction. GO enrichment analysis suggested that GZFL Pellets inhibited cervical cancer primarily by regulating responses to steroid hormones, oxidative stress, and lipopolysaccharides. Among the active components of GZFL Pellets, hederagenin was found to inhibit cervical cancer cells in vitro and significantly reduced STAT3 phosphorylation level in the cancer cells. In nude mice bearing cervical cancer xenografts, hederagenin effectively inhibited tumor growth rate without causing obvious adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS GZFL Pellets inhibit cervical cancer cell growth through its multiple active components that target different pathways. Among these components, hederagenin inhibits tumor cell growth possibly by directly binding to JAK2 protein to inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation.
Female ; Animals ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathology* ; Mice, Nude ; Humans ; Mice ; Oleanolic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Cell Line, Tumor ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Janus Kinase 2/metabolism*

[Objective] To establish a real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR nucleic acid detection method of human parvovirus B19 and validate the method systematically. [Methods] Specific primers and probes for the highly conserved regions of the three genotypes of B19 virus were designed, and B19 quantitative amplification standard curves were established. The accuracy, precision (repeatability and intermediate precision), linear range, quantification limit, detection limit, specificity, anti cross contamination, genotyping and anti-interference ability of this method were verified. [Results] When the quantitative reference range for B19 virus was 2.0×10¹ to 1.0×10⁸ IU/mL, a double logarithmic regression analysis was performed between the measured values and the theoretical values, and the regression equation R²≥0.98 showed good linear correlation. The quantification limit was 20 IU/mL, with a detection rate of 100%. The detection limit was 10 IU/mL, and the detection rate is 95.23%. Three genotypes of B19 virus samples can be effectively detected. The plasma of seven non B19 pathogens, including hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immuno-deficiency virus, human cytomegalovirus, hepatitis E virus and Treponema pallidum, was non reactive and has good species specificity. Simultaneously, in the presence of seven other concurrent pathogens, positive samples with a weak positive concentration of E3 IU/mL could be stably detected, and the B19 nucleic acid testing method was not interfered with. When the hemoglobin concentration was 431 mg/dL, triglycerides (1 269 turbidity) and unconjugated bilirubin concentration was 20 mg/dL, this method was non reactive for all three common plasma interfering substances. In the presence of three common plasma interfering substances, positive samples with a weak positive concentration of E3 IU/mL could be stably detected, and the B19 nucleic acid testing method was not interfered with. The deviation between the detection values of standard substances at two concentration levels of S1 (E5 IU/mL) and S2 (E4 IU/mL) and the target values were≤±0.5 log value. The CV values of positive sample 1 (concentration level E5 IU/mL) and positive sample 2 (concentration level E4 IU/mL) for daily precision confirmation and continuous 5-day intra-day precision confirmation were both≤5%. [Conclusion] This method has strong specificity, high sensitivity, wide linear range, stability, reliability and high accuracy, and can be used for the detection of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid in plasma.

BACKGROUND:We aimed to observe the dynamic changes in glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters and their ability to predict neurological prognosis and all-cause mortality in cardiac arrest patients after the restoration of spontaneous circulation(ROSC). METHODS:Adult cardiac arrest patients after ROSC who were admitted to the emergency or cardiac intensive care unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from August 1,2017,to May 30,2021,were enrolled.According to 28-day survival,the patients were divided into a non-survival group(n=82)and a survival group(n=38).Healthy adult volunteers(n=40)of similar ages and sexes were selected as controls.The serum levels of glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters(lactate dehydrogenase[LDH],lactate and pyruvate),neuron-specific enolase(NSE)and interleukin 6(IL-6)were measured on days 1,3,and 7 after ROSC.The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score were calculated.The Cerebral Performance Category(CPC)score was recorded on day 28 after ROSC. RESULTS:Following ROSC,the serum LDH(607.0 U/L vs.286.5 U/L),lactate(5.0 mmol/L vs.2.0 mmol/L),pyruvate(178.0 μmol/L vs.70.9 μmol/L),and lactate/pyruvate ratio(34.1 vs.22.1)significantly increased and were higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors on admission(all P＜0.05).Moreover,the serum LDH,pyruvate,IL-6,APACHE Ⅱ score,and SOFA score on days 1,3 and 7 after ROSC were significantly associated with 28-day poor neurological prognosis and 28-day all-cause mortality(all P＜0.05).The serum LDH concentration on day 1 after ROSC had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.904[95％confidence interval[95％CI]:0.851-0.957])with 96.8％specificity for predicting 28-day neurological prognosis and an AUC of 0.950(95％CI:0.911-0.989)with 94.7％specificity for predicting 28-day all-cause mortality,which was the highest among the glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters tested. CONCLUSION:Serum parameters related to glucose metabolic reprogramming were significantly increased after ROSC.Increased serum LDH and pyruvate levels,and lactate/pyruvate ratio may be associated with 28-day poor neurological prognosis and all-cause mortality after ROSC,and the predictive efficacy of LDH during the first week was superior to others.

Cryoablation therapy with explicit anti-tumor mechanisms and histopathological manifestations has a long history.A large number of clinical practice has shown that cryoablation therapy is safe and effective,making it an ideal tumor treatment method in theory.Previously,its efficacy and clinical application were constrained by the limitations of refrigerants and refrigeration equipment.With the development of the new generation of cryoablation equipment represented by argon helium knives,significant progress has been made in refrigeration efficien-cy,ablation range,and precise temperature measurement,greatly promoting the progression of tumor cryoablation technology.This consensus systematically summarizes the mechanism of cryoablation technology,indications for oral mucosal melanoma(OMM)cryotherapy,clinical treatment process,adverse reactions and management,cryotherapy combination therapy,etc.,aiming to provide reference for carrying out the standardized cryoablation therapy of OMM.

BACKGROUND:We aimed to observe the dynamic changes in glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters and their ability to predict neurological prognosis and all-cause mortality in cardiac arrest patients after the restoration of spontaneous circulation(ROSC). METHODS:Adult cardiac arrest patients after ROSC who were admitted to the emergency or cardiac intensive care unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from August 1,2017,to May 30,2021,were enrolled.According to 28-day survival,the patients were divided into a non-survival group(n=82)and a survival group(n=38).Healthy adult volunteers(n=40)of similar ages and sexes were selected as controls.The serum levels of glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters(lactate dehydrogenase[LDH],lactate and pyruvate),neuron-specific enolase(NSE)and interleukin 6(IL-6)were measured on days 1,3,and 7 after ROSC.The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score were calculated.The Cerebral Performance Category(CPC)score was recorded on day 28 after ROSC. RESULTS:Following ROSC,the serum LDH(607.0 U/L vs.286.5 U/L),lactate(5.0 mmol/L vs.2.0 mmol/L),pyruvate(178.0 μmol/L vs.70.9 μmol/L),and lactate/pyruvate ratio(34.1 vs.22.1)significantly increased and were higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors on admission(all P＜0.05).Moreover,the serum LDH,pyruvate,IL-6,APACHE Ⅱ score,and SOFA score on days 1,3 and 7 after ROSC were significantly associated with 28-day poor neurological prognosis and 28-day all-cause mortality(all P＜0.05).The serum LDH concentration on day 1 after ROSC had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.904[95％confidence interval[95％CI]:0.851-0.957])with 96.8％specificity for predicting 28-day neurological prognosis and an AUC of 0.950(95％CI:0.911-0.989)with 94.7％specificity for predicting 28-day all-cause mortality,which was the highest among the glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters tested. CONCLUSION:Serum parameters related to glucose metabolic reprogramming were significantly increased after ROSC.Increased serum LDH and pyruvate levels,and lactate/pyruvate ratio may be associated with 28-day poor neurological prognosis and all-cause mortality after ROSC,and the predictive efficacy of LDH during the first week was superior to others.

BACKGROUND:We aimed to observe the dynamic changes in glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters and their ability to predict neurological prognosis and all-cause mortality in cardiac arrest patients after the restoration of spontaneous circulation(ROSC). METHODS:Adult cardiac arrest patients after ROSC who were admitted to the emergency or cardiac intensive care unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from August 1,2017,to May 30,2021,were enrolled.According to 28-day survival,the patients were divided into a non-survival group(n=82)and a survival group(n=38).Healthy adult volunteers(n=40)of similar ages and sexes were selected as controls.The serum levels of glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters(lactate dehydrogenase[LDH],lactate and pyruvate),neuron-specific enolase(NSE)and interleukin 6(IL-6)were measured on days 1,3,and 7 after ROSC.The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score were calculated.The Cerebral Performance Category(CPC)score was recorded on day 28 after ROSC. RESULTS:Following ROSC,the serum LDH(607.0 U/L vs.286.5 U/L),lactate(5.0 mmol/L vs.2.0 mmol/L),pyruvate(178.0 μmol/L vs.70.9 μmol/L),and lactate/pyruvate ratio(34.1 vs.22.1)significantly increased and were higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors on admission(all P＜0.05).Moreover,the serum LDH,pyruvate,IL-6,APACHE Ⅱ score,and SOFA score on days 1,3 and 7 after ROSC were significantly associated with 28-day poor neurological prognosis and 28-day all-cause mortality(all P＜0.05).The serum LDH concentration on day 1 after ROSC had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.904[95％confidence interval[95％CI]:0.851-0.957])with 96.8％specificity for predicting 28-day neurological prognosis and an AUC of 0.950(95％CI:0.911-0.989)with 94.7％specificity for predicting 28-day all-cause mortality,which was the highest among the glucose metabolic reprogramming-related parameters tested. CONCLUSION:Serum parameters related to glucose metabolic reprogramming were significantly increased after ROSC.Increased serum LDH and pyruvate levels,and lactate/pyruvate ratio may be associated with 28-day poor neurological prognosis and all-cause mortality after ROSC,and the predictive efficacy of LDH during the first week was superior to others.