The study aims to explore the methods for preparing nanocomplexes of Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) with UNO peptide (UNO-PBNPs) and the functions of the nanocomplexes targeting M2-type macrophages in vitro. PBNPs were prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis method. Subsequently, the peptide UNO (CSPGAKVRC) targeting the mannose receptor was modified on their surface by a heterobifunctional coupling approach. The morphological characteristics of nanoparticles were observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, their particle size, Zeta potential, and dispersion stability were assessed. The structural characteristics of nanoparticles were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and other techniques. The biological safety of the nanoparticles was evaluated by the CCK-8 assay and hemolysis experiments. Moreover, the targeting performance of UNO-PBNPs towards M2-type macrophages was assessed in vitro. The results showed that the synthesized UNO-PBNPs exhibited uniform cubic morphology, with an average particle size of (202.00±4.21) nm. They were negative charged, well dispersed, and stable. At concentrations ≤ 200 μg/mL, the synthesized UNO-PBNPs led to the hemolysis rate below 5%, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility. The laser confocal imaging results showed that after co-incubation with M2-type macrophages, the FITC-labeled UNO-PBNPs were effectively accumulated in the cells, presenting a distinct fluorescence signal. Quantitative analysis by flow cytometry showed that the intracellular mean fluorescence intensity (6 019.00±346.04) of UNO-PBNPs was higher than that (4 054.00±379.14) of unmodified PBNPs (P < 0.001). In summary, the UNO-PBNPs prepared in this study exhibited a targeting effect on M2-type macrophages, providing a potential method for targeted delivery of PBNPs in the tumor microenvironment and laying a foundation for the remodeling of the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment.
Ferrocyanides/chemistry* ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Macrophages/drug effects* ; Peptides/chemistry* ; Particle Size ; Animals ; Mannose Receptor ; Mice ; Lectins, C-Type ; Mannose-Binding Lectins ; Receptors, Cell Surface

Objective To investigate the relationship between intestinal flora metabolites and adverse reac-tions of chemotherapy in patients with digestive tract tumors undergoing chemotherapy.Methods From Jan-uary 2022 to June 2023,179 patients with digestive tract tumors undergoing chemotherapy in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were selected as the study objects.The intestinal flora metab-olites of patients were analyzed,and the adverse reactions of chemotherapy were evaluated.According to the severity of adverse reactions of chemotherapy,patients were divided into

Objective:To analyze overall survival (OS), influential factors, and causes of death in patients with newly diagnosed non-transplant multiple myeloma (NDMM) at grassroots hospitals.Methods:The clinical data of 56 patients with NDMM admitted to the Department of Hematology, Wuwei People's Hospital from January 2018 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression survival analysis models, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors affecting the OS of patients with NDMM.Results:The median OS of patients with NDMM was 27 months. Univariate analysis indicated that whether or not to receive chemotherapy was a risk factor affecting OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that age ( HR: 2.215, 95% CI 1.056-4.648, P < 0.05), renal dysfunction ( HR: 3.482, 95% CI 1.359-8.923, P < 0.05), and whether or not to receive chemotherapy ( HR: 0.83, 95% CI 0.021-0.331, P < 0.001) were all significant risk factors affecting OS (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The median survival time of patients with NDMM is short. Age, renal dysfunction, and not receiving chemotherapy are unfavorable factors affecting OS. Pulmonary infection, renal failure, and disease progression are the main causes of death in patients with NDMM.

Aim To explore the potential mechanism of metformin on ATP-binding cassette transport A1(ABCA1)expression.Methods J774A.1 macrophages were treated with metformin and cycloheximide,and ABCA1 expression was determined by Western blot.His-tagged ABCA1 and HA-tagged Ub plasmids were co-transferred into HEK293 cells and stimulated with metformin.Co-immunoprecipitation(Co-IP)was used to test the binding ability of ABCA1 and ubiquitin.Candidate E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases(CE3)of ABCA1 were identified through Co-IP-based pro-teomics.The MIB1 plasmid was constructed and transferred into HEK293 cells,and Western blot was used to determine the effect of metformin and MIB1 on ABCA1 expression.Results Metformin increased the expression of ABCA1 in J774A.1 cells(P<0.01),and inhibited ABCA1 degradation(P<0.05).Metformin disrupted the binding of ABCA1 to ubiquitin(P<0.05).The proteins regulated by metformin in ABCA1 expression were primarily enriched in pathways re-lated to cell development,inflammation and immune defense.Metformin may upregulate ABCA1 protein expression via MIB1(P<0.05).Conclusion Metformin inhibits the degradation of ABCA1 by blocking the ubiquitin-proteasome system(UPS),and MIB1 might act as a candidate E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase(CE3)for ABCA1.

Objective:To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of pediatric and adolescent mediastinal T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and to evaluate their predictive value for early treatment response.Methods:A retrospective, multicenter case series study was conducted on 49 pediatric and adolescent patients diagnosed with mediastinal T-LBL between September 2020 and May 2024 at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital, and Henan Cancer Hospital.All patients underwent chest MRI, including conventional MRI sequences and diffusion-weighted imaging.Tumor imaging characteristics were analyzed, and quantitative parameters such as minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmin), maximum ADC (ADCmax), and mean ADC (ADCmean) were measured.Treatment response was evaluated 15 days post-treatment.The patients were divided into a response group (complete or partial response, 26 cases) and a non-response group (progressive disease or minor response, 23 cases).The relationship between MRI features and treatment response was analyzed.The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess inter-reader agreement, and independent sample t-tests and chi-square tests were employed to compare differences between groups.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the predictive performance of imaging parameters. Results:Significant differences were observed between the response and non-response groups in ADC values [ADCmin (0.80±0.41)×10 -3 mm 2/s vs.(1.23±0.70)×10 -3 mm 2/s, ADCmax (1.14±0.48)×10 -3 mm 2/s vs.(1.92±0.77)×10 -3 mm 2/s, ADCmean (0.98±0.42)×10 -3 mm 2/s vs.(1.56±0.74)×10 -3 mm 2/s] and the maximum tumor diameter was [(11.92±3.61) cm vs.(8.17±2.46) cm] (all P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that ADCmax had the highest predictive efficiency for treatment response, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.853 (95% CI: 0.790-0.910), sensitivity of 92.3%, and specificity of 65.2%.The AUC for the maximum tumor diameter was 0.814, demonstrating its excellent predictive performance. Conclusions:MRI features, particularly ADC values and the maximum tumor diameter, can effectively predict treatment response in pediatric and adolescent mediastinal T-LBL.

Adenosine, a critical molecule regulating cellular function both inside and outside cells, is controlled by two human adenosine deaminases: ADA1 and ADA2. While ADA1 primarily resides in the cytoplasm, ADA2 can be transported to lysosomes within cells or secreted outside the cell. Patients with ADA2 deficiency (DADA2) often suffer from systemic vasculitis due to elevated levels of TNF-α in their blood. Monocytes from DADA2 patients exhibit excessive TNF-α secretion and differentiate into pro-inflammatory M1-type macrophages. Our findings demonstrate that ADA2 localizes to endolysosomes within macrophages, and its intracellular concentration decreases in cells secreting TNF-α. This suggests that ADA2 may function as a lysosomal adenosine deaminase, regulating TNF-α expression by the cells. Interestingly, pneumonia patients exhibit higher ADA2 concentrations in their bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), correlating with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Conversely, cord blood has low ADA2 levels, creating a more immunosuppressive environment. Additionally, secreted ADA2 can bind to apoptotic cells, activating immune cells by reducing extracellular adenosine levels. These findings imply that ADA2 release from monocytes during inflammation, triggered by growth factors, may be crucial for cell activation. Targeting intracellular and extracellular ADA2 activities could pave the way for novel therapies in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
Humans ; Adenosine Deaminase/deficiency* ; Monocytes/cytology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Pneumonia/metabolism*

Objective To explore the palliative care needs of peritoneal dialysis patients and their care-givers,providine a scientific basis for the targeted implementation of palliative care intervention programs.Methods A semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted on 14 patients and 6 caregivers at a peritoneal dialysis center in a third-class hospital in Beijing.We used the Colaizzi seven-step data analysis method and the phenomenological method of qualitative research to analyze the data and refine the theme.Results Through the analysis,5 theme groups were summarized,including the need to alleviate physiological and psychological symptoms,the need for family support and help,the need for social help,the lack of understanding of pallia-tive care,and the lack of scientific view of death.Conclusions Peritoneal dialysis patients and their caregiv-ers have a strong need for palliative care.Medical staff should fully respect the uniqueness of peritoneal dialysis patients and implement targeted palliative care interventions based on their needs and preferences,so as to ef-fectively improve their quality of life.

Objective:To observe the pregnancy outcomes of patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) after interventional treatment or expectant treatment.Methods:This prospective study followed up 398 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion from March 2017 to September 2022 in seven hospitals. Among them, 267 patients were diagnosed with URSA, including 124 patients who were initially diagnosed in the interventional treatment hospital and 143 patients who were initially diagnosed in the expectant treatment hospital. All URSA patients were followed up for 33 months. Ongoing pregnancy rates were observed as main outcome indicators.Results:A total of 127 patients became pregnant, and 107 of them had sustained pregnancies, the ongoing pregnancy rate was 84.25% (107/127). The ongoing pregnancy rate was 86.11% (31/36) in the interventional treatment group and 83.52% (76/91) in the expectant treatment group, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, the ongoing pregnancy rates in the interventional treatment hospital and the expectant treatment hospital were 75.71% (53/70) and 94.74% (54/57), respectively, with a significant difference ( P<0.05). The ongoing pregnancy rate after interventional treatment in the interventional treatment hospital was 82.76% (24/29), which was similar to the 94.00% (47/50) after expectant treatment in the expectant treatment hospital ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The ongoing pregnancy rate of interventional treatment for URSA patients has not been significantly improved, suggesting that it may not be necessary to carry out this treatment.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2％)and gram-negative organisms(60.8％).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6％,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0％,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9％,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1％,19.4％,8.8％,30.9％,67.4％,and 28.8％,respectively.Overall,more than 50％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80％of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3％in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique on the relative protein expression of the signaling pathway of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (NOD1)/ receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the rats with primary dysmenorrhea (PD), so as to explore the underlying mechanism of this acupuncture technique for pain alleviation in PD. METHODS: Thirty female SD rats of SPF grade with normal estrous cycle were randomized into a blank group, a model group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each one. Using the intraperitoneal injection with estradiol benzoate combined with oxytocin, PD model was prepared in the model group and the acupuncture group. In the acupuncture group, during model preparation, the intervention with "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique was delivered simultaneously, 20 min each time, once daily for consecutive 10 days. On day 11, within 30 min after the intraperitoneal injection with oxytocin, the writhing reaction (latency, frequency and score) was recorded; the morphology of uterine tissue was observed with HE staining, the contents of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the serum were detected using ELISA method; the relative protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65, phosphorylation-NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) was detected in the uterine tissue using Western blot method; and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 was detected with the quantitative real-time PCR employed. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the writhing latency was prolonged (P<0.01), the writhing frequency and score increased (P<0.01) in the rats; the endometrial epithelial cells showed massive degeneration and necrosis, with severe endometrial edema and widespread shedding, combined with neutrophil infiltration; the serum PGE₂ content was dropped (P<0.01), while those of PGF_2α, IL-1β, IL-18, COX-2, and TNF-α elevated (P<0.01); the protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65, and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 in uterine tissue increased (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the writhing latency was prolonged (P<0.01), the writhing frequency and score were reduced (P<0.01) in the rats; there was less degeneration and necrosis of endometrial epithelial cells, with mild endometrial edema and very little neutrophil infiltration; the serum PGE₂ content increased (P<0.01), while those of PGF_2α, IL-1β, IL-18, COX-2, and TNF-α decreased (P<0.01); the protein expression of NOD1, RIP2, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 and the mRNA expression of NOD1, RIP2 and NF-κB p65 in uterine tissue were dropped (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION "Zhibian" (BL54)-toward-"Shuidao" (ST28) needling technique can alleviate the pain symptom of PD rats, and its action mechanism may be related to inhibiting the active expression of NOD1/RIP2/NF-κB signaling pathway in the uterine tissue, thereby reducing the inflammatory response.
Animals ; Female ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Dysmenorrhea/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Acupuncture Analgesia ; Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein/metabolism* ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy