Objective To predict and preliminarily validate potential shared key genes involved in cardiac complications caused by influenza A virus(IAV)and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infections.Methods Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)associated with cardiac complications were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.A hierarchical intersection strategy was applied.First,cardiac complication related DEGs were overlapped with 2 independent virus related gene sets:3 454 human genes linked to IAV infection in GeneCards and 333 human protein-coding genes interacting with SARS-CoV-2 in the Human Protein Atlas.The 2 overlap results were then intersected to yield 22 hub genes.Lasso regression,random forest(RF)and support vector machine algorithms(SVM)were employed to refine this list.Predicted genes were validated in vitro in H1N1-infected human cardiomyocyte AC16 cells and in vivo in IFITM3 knockout mice challenged with H1N1,assessing transcriptional changes.Results A total of 22 hub genes were identified through integrative bioinformatics analysis.Application of the 3 machine learning algorithms resulted in 5 common key genes:ACE2,TBK1,NUP210,PUSL1,and MEPCE.In vitro infection of AC16 cells with H1N1 revealed dynamic transcriptional changes in all 5 genes post-infection(P<0.05).In vivo experiments using H1N1-infected IFITM3 knockout mice confirmed the dynamic mRNA expression changes of these 5 genes,consistent with the in vitro results(P<0.05).Conclusion By combining multilayered bioinformatics analysis with 3 machine learning approaches,5 common key genes are identified:ACE2,TBK1,NUP210,PUSL1 and MEPCE.Validation in H1N1 infection models confirms their relevance to IAV-induced cardiac complications.

Objective To evaluate narrow band imaging (NBI) assisted argon plasma coagulation (APC) in treatment of Barrett's esophagus (BE). Methods Suspected BE lesion was observed under white light, NBI and magnification, biopsies were taken at the site with characteristic pit pattern and capillary architecture of BE. A total of 86 patients with pathologically confirmed BE were randomly divided into NBI group (n= 42) to receive APC under NBI, or control group (n= 44) to receive APC under whit light. For APC procedure, the probe was inserted through biopsy channel to reach 1 cm beyond the endoscope tip, and was located 1-2 cm from the lesion to assure safe use. All patients were followed up with endoscopy and biopsy at 3 and 6 months after APC, respectively. Results There was no significant difference between 2 groups in effective rate of BE mucosal eradication at 3 and 6 months after APC procedure (P > 0.05). Conclusion NBI assisted APC is safe and effective in eradication of BE epithelium, in reducing procedure time and in relieving of functional gastrointestinal symptoms related with BE.