OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Mitoxantrone liposomes （Lipo-MIT） on the proliferation， migration and cancer stem cell （CSCs） stemness of ovarian cancer cells， as well as to explore its mechanism of action based on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （AKT） pathway. METHODS The effects of Lipo-MIT on cell proliferation， migration and the stemness characteristics of CSCs were investigated through in vitro experiments. A human ovarian cancer A2780 cells xenograft tumor model of nude mouse was established to explore the effects of Lipo-MIT at doses of 2 and 5 mg/kg on the safety of tumor-bearing mice， as well as in vivo tumor growth and the pathological characteristics of tumor tissues. The influence of Lipo-MIT on the expression levels of PI3K/AKT pathway-related proteins， epithelial-mesenchymal transition related proteins， and stemness related proteins in both cells and tumor tissues was also investigated. RESULTS The half maximal inhibitory concentrations of Lipo-MIT against A2780， SK-OV3， and OV-CAR5 cells were 0.72， 5.41， and 2.77 μmol/L， respectively. Compared with solvent control （0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide）， 0.5-2.5 μmol/L Lipo-MIT significantly reduced the cell colony formation rate， shortened the cell migration distance， decreased the number of migrated cells， down-regulated the protein expression of N-cadherin， up-regulated the protein expression of E-cadherin （P＜0.05）， and also decreased the stem cell sphere formation frequency and down-regulated the protein expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 （ALDH1A1） （P＜0.05）. Additionally， 1.0 and 2.5 μmol/L Lipo-MIT significantly reduced the stem cell sphere formation probability and down-regulated the protein expression of sex determining region Y box protein 2 in cells （P＜0.05）. In vivo experimental results demonstrated that 2， 5 mg/kg Lipo-MIT had no significant effects on the body weight， food intake， water intake， and organ （heart， liver， spleen， lung， and kidney） indices of tumor-bearing nude mice （P＞0.05）， but could significantly improve the pathological changes of tumor tissues and remarkably inhibit the protein expressions of N-cadherin， CD133 and ALDH1A1（ only at 5 mg/kg Lipo-MIT）， up-regulate the expression of E- cadherin （only at 5 mg/kg Lipo-MIT） in tumor tissues （P＜0.05）. Lipo-MIT at different concentrations/doses significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT proteins in cells/tumor tissues （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Lipo-MIT can inhibit the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells and the stemness by suppressing the activity of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Objective To establish a standardized quality criterion for the formula of the Liuwei Runfu oil recipe. Methods The qualitative identification of the components, such as Cannabis sativa, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Angelica sinensis, Coix lacryma-jobi, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, was conducted by thin layer chromatography （TLC）. The concentration of Senkyunolide A, ligustilide, and linoleic acid was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）. Results The TLC identification results demonstrated excellent differentiation and high selectivity, without any disruption from the negative samples. The reference standard for Senkyunolide A exhibited excellent linearity in the range of 25 to 300 µg （r=0.9999）, with an average recovery rate of 102.3% and a relative standard deviation （RSD） of 2.3%. The ligustilide reference standard exhibited strong linearity between the concentrations of 0.6875 and 8.25 µg （r=0.9993）, with an average recovery rate of 100.1% and a relative standard deviation （RSD） of 2.8%. The linoleic acid reference standard demonstrated strong linear correlation within the range of 2.8125 to 33.75 µg （r=0.9990）, with an average spiking recovery rate of 102.7% and a relative standard deviation （RSD） of 1.7%. Conclusion The established method with strong specificity was simple，accurate，reliable，which coulod provide a reference for the quality control of the Liuwei Runfu oil recipe.

AIM: To compare the clinical efficacy of Conbercept 3+pro re nata(PRN)and 5+PRN regimens in the treatment of macular edema secondary to ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was adopted. Patients with macular edema secondary to ischemic BRVO admitted to our hospital from June 2021 to March 2024 were selected and divided into the 3+PRN group and the 5+PRN group. Both groups received intravitreal injections of Conbercept(0.5 mg per dose). The 3+PRN group received three consecutive monthly loading injections followed by PRN treatment, while the 5+PRN group received five consecutive monthly loading injections followed by PRN treatment. The best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central foveal retinal thickness(CRT), mean macular sensitivity(MS), number of injections, and adverse reactions were observed before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo after treatment in both groups.RESULTS:Totally 97 patients(97 eyes)were included. There were 49 cases(49 eyes)in 3+PRN group(26 males and 23 females, aged 58.61±8.67 y)and 48 cases(48 eyes)in 5+PRN group(23 males and 25 females, aged 59.18±8.54 y)(all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in BCVA and MS between the two groups before and after treatment(all P>0.05). CRT in 5+PRN group was smaller than that in 3+PRN group at 6 and 12 mo after treatment(all P<0.05). BCVA, CRT, and MS were improved after treatment compared with before treatment in both groups(all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total number of injections during the whole follow-up between the 5+PRN group(6.24±0.94 injections)and the 3+PRN group(6.41±0.88 injections)(P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups during follow-up(10% vs 13%, P=0.721).CONCLUSION: Both the Conbercept 3+PRN and 5+PRN regimens are safe and effective for treating macular edema secondary to ischemic BRVO. The 5+PRN regimen is characterized by “more injections in the early loading phase and fewer injections in the later PRN phase”, while the 3+PRN regimen features “fewer injections in the early loading phase and more injections in the later PRN phase”. The two regimens show comparable efficacy in long-term visual function improvement, while the 5+PRN regimen has greater advantages in macular edema resolution.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with pregnancy-related chronic pain visiting the pain clinic.Methods:The number of pregnant patients who completed a pregnancy registration at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from 2022 to 2024 was collected. The medical records were reviewed to identify the patients who visited the department of pain of our hospital due to chronic pain related to pregnancy. The clinical characteristics such as the visiting situation, gestational weeks, age and types of pain were analyzed.Results:From 2022 to 2024, the total number of registered pregnant patients was 64, 818, of which, 2, 224 cases visited the pain clinic, and the annual proportions of pregnancy-related chronic pain visits were 2.540%, 3.836% and 3.889% respectively. Among the patients who attended the clinic, 77.97% were pregnant (5.82% in early pregnancy, 41.93% in mid-pregnancy, and 52.25% in late pregnancy), and 21.03% were postpartum patients. A total of 83.72% were aged 20-34 yr. The types of pain were pelvic girdle pain (40.96%), limb joint pain (28.82%), low back pain (14.16%), cervical spondylosis (3.64%), peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome (3.42%), headache (2.97%), chest and back pain (2.79%), pelvic and perineal pain (1.66%), neuralgia (0.94%) and other pains (0.63%).Conclusions:From 2022 to 2024, the proportion of registered pregnant women at our hospital who visited to the pain clinic due to pregnancy-related chronic pain increases year by year. The common types of pain are pelvic girdle pain, limb joint pain and low back pain.

6-Thioguanine(6-TG)is an antineoplastic agent used in treatment of acute leukemia.However,significant interindividual variability in dosing regimens and frequent clinical manifestations of hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression as adverse effects have affected its therapeutic efficacy.Consequently,the development of rapid analytical methods for 6-TG in clinical samples,enabling continuous therapeutic drug monitoring of plasma concentrations,holds substantial significance in optimizing dosage regimens,mitigating adverse reactions,and investigating drug metabolism mechanisms.In this study,multi-tipped gold nanostars(AuNSs)were prepared.With bis-(p-sulfonylphenyl)phenylphosphine molecule as the protecting agent and internal standard molecule,the AuNSs were assembled onto a highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman(SERS)substrate for developing a ratio-based SERS quantitative analysis method for 6-TG in serum.The AuNSs containing multiple tips and gaps exhibited strong local surface plasmon resonance effect and SERS activity,ensuring the sensitivity of the analytical method.Furthermore,the introduction of internal standard molecules could improve the reproducibility,which guaranteed this method suitable for rapid analysis of drug molecules in complex samples.Quantitative analysis of 6-TG was achieved with linear detetion range of 1.0×10?4-1.0 mmol/L.In the spiked recovery experiments of serum,the RSD was less than 5.32%,and the recoveries were 94%-104%,which proved that this method could be used for rapid quantitative determination of 6-TG in serum.This method provided a powerful tool for studying drug pharmacokinetics,which could promote the optimization of the usage methods of anti-cancer drugs,and it was expected to further enhance the clinical efficacy and safety of 6-TG,enabling it to achieve the best therapeutic effect.

In this study,a sensitive lateral flow immunoassay(LFIA)platform based on carbon dots-mesoporous silica nanocomposite(CD-MSNs)fluorescent probes was constructed for high-performance detection of inflammatory marker interleukin-6(IL-6).Green fluorescent carbon dots(CDs)were prepared by hydrothermal method with 3,9-perylenic acid and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane(APTES)as raw materials,and highly fluorescent CD-MSNs composites were then constructed by encapsulating the prepared CDs in mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSNs).Fluorescent probes were prepared by covalent coupling of CD-MSNs with IL-6 antibody.Fluorescent immunochromatographic test strips were constructed by spraying IL-6 capture antibody and goat anti-mouse IgG on nitrocellulose membrane as detection line(T-line)and quality control line(C-line),respectively.The fluorescence immunoassay analyzer was used to quantitatively detect the fluorescence intensity of T-line,and the experimental results showed that the LFIA platform based on this probe had a good linear relationship in IL-6 concentration range of 102-106 pg/mL,and the detection limit was 64 pg/mL,which was two orders of magnitude more sensitive than that of the traditional colloidal gold test strips.This method effectively solved the issue of insufficient sensitivity of traditional LFIA technique,and provided a rapid and highly sensitive detection method for early diagnosis of inflammatory diseases.

The syndrome of multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is one of the most serious kinds of sperm defects, leading to asthenoteratozoospermia and male infertility. In this study, we use whole-exome sequencing to identify genetic factors that account for male infertility in a patient born from a consanguineous Pakistani couple. A homozygous frameshift mutation (c.1399_1402del; p.Gln468ArgfsTer2) in axonemal dynein light chain domain containing 1 ( AXDND1 ) was identified in the patient. Sanger sequencing data showed that the mutation was cosegregated recessively with male infertility in this family. Papanicolaou staining and scanning electron microscopy analysis of the sperm revealed severely abnormal flagellar morphology in the patient. Immunofluorescence and western blot showed undetectable AXDND1 expression in the sperm of the patient. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed disorganized sperm axonemal structure in the patient, particularly missing the central pair of microtubules. Immunofluorescence staining showed the absence of sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6) and dynein axonemal light intermediate chain 1 (DNALI1) signals in the sperm flagella of the patient. These findings indicate that AXDND1 is essential for the organization of flagellar axoneme and provide direct evidence that AXDND1 is a MMAF gene in humans, thus expanding the phenotypic spectrum of AXDND1 frameshift mutations.
Humans ; Male ; Sperm Tail/ultrastructure* ; Frameshift Mutation ; Infertility, Male/pathology* ; Pakistan ; Pedigree ; Consanguinity ; Axonemal Dyneins/genetics* ; Adult ; Spermatozoa ; Exome Sequencing

The patient, a 20-day-old male, was admitted due to respiratory distress that had persisted for 20 days after birth. The main clinical manifestations included gradually worsening respiratory distress and edema. The patient received treatment including mechanical ventilation and diuretics. Echocardiography indicated cardiomegaly, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure. A comprehensive systemic examination revealed a significant blowing vascular murmur upon auscultation over the anterior fontanelle and bilateral temporal regions. Further imaging studies including cranial magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and magnetic resonance venography showed marked dilation of the superior sagittal sinus, transverse sinus, and sigmoid sinus, leading to a definitive diagnosis of dural arteriovenous fistula. After a multidisciplinary consultation, the patient underwent cerebral angiography and partial embolization of the left parietal arteriovenous fistula. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with positive inotropes, diuretics, and fluid restriction. Ultimately, the patient was weaned off the ventilator and discharged in improved condition. This article reports a case of neonatal dural arteriovenous fistula presenting with respiratory distress and discusses the multidisciplinary approach to managing this condition, which aids in early disease recognition and guides clinical decision-making.
Humans ; Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations/diagnosis* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/etiology* ; Embolization, Therapeutic

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, curative effect and prognostic factors of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) complicated with light chain myocardial amyloidosis (AL-CA). METHODS: The data of 38 patients diagnosed with MM complicated with AL-CA in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, and the data were comprehensively screened by multiple methods such as positive two-dimensional spot tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression models were used to screen for independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: Among the 38 MM patients with AL-CA, 23 were male and 15 were female, with a median age of 60(50,75) years. The 1-year survival rate was 71.05%. Patients who underwent transplantation had significantly better survival outcomes than those who did not (P < 0.01). Additionally, the median survival time of patients with all-negative FISH results at the first visit was statistically different compared to patients with other mutations (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that all negative FISH results at the first visit and the absence of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) were not independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with MM and AL-CA (P >0.05). CONCLUSION ASCT may improve the prognosis of MM patients with AL-CA, and negative FISH results may indicate poor prognosis, but the results still need to be verified by larger samples.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Amyloidosis/complications* ; Survival Rate ; Proportional Hazards Models

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and efficacy of high-dose etoposide (VP-16) combined with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) as salvage mobilization for peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. METHODS: From April 2021 to May 2023, eight NDMM patients who had failed to yield sufficient PBSC during initial mobilization with high-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) combined with rhG-CSF underwent salvage mobilization with 1.2 g/m2 etoposide combined with rhG-CSF 10 μg/(kg·d). The effects and adverse reactions of initial mobilization and salvage mobilization were analyzed. RESULTS: For salvage mobilization and initial mobilization, the numbers of PBSC collections were 16 and 18, respectively. The mean value of total collected CD34⁺ cells were (11.90±5.75)×10⁶/kg and (1.67±0.75)×10⁶/kg (P =0.0010) in salvage mobilization group and initial mobilization group, respectively. The proportion of patients with a total collection of CD34⁺ cell count≥2×10⁶/kg were 100% and 37.5% (P =0.0625), and the proportion of patients with a total collection of CD34⁺ cell count≥5×10⁶/kg were 87.5% and 0% (P =0.0156) in salvage mobilization group and initial mobilization group, respectively. For five patients who underwent high-dose CTX initial mobilization but had a total CD34⁺ cell count < 2×10⁶/kg, successful collection was achieved through salvage mobilization with high-dose VP-16. Salvage mobilization with high-dose VP-16 was scheduled 2-3 weeks after failure of CTX mobilization. Adverse reactions of high-dose VP-16 mobilization did not increase compared to the initial mobilization with high-dose CTX. CONCLUSION As a salvage mobilization regimen, VP-16 1.2 g/m² combined with rhG-CSF is safe and highly effective in NDMM patients who failed to initial mobilization with high-dose CTX combined with rhG-CSF.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/therapy* ; Etoposide/therapeutic use* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization/methods* ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Salvage Therapy ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cells ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation