Objective: To reveal the molecular biological mechanism of a rare Dc-variant individual using PacBio third-generation sequencing technology. Methods: ABO and Rh blood type identification, DAT, unexpected antibody screening and D antigen enhancement test were conducted by serological testing. The absorption-elution test was used to detect the e antigen. RHCE gene typing was performed by PCR-SSP, and the 1-10 exons of RHCE were sequenced by Sanger sequencing. The full-length sequences of RHCE, RHD and RHAG were detected by PacBio third-generation sequencing technology. Results: Serological findings: Blood type O, Dc-phenotype, DAT negative, unexpected antibody screening negative; enhanced D antigen expression; no detection of e antigen in the absorption-elution test. PCR-SSP genotyping indicated the presence of only the RHCE c allele. Sanger sequencing results: Exons 5-9 of RHCE were deleted, exon 1 had a heterozygous mutation at c. 48G/C, and exon 2 had five heterozygous mutations at c. 150C/T, c. 178C/A, c. 201A/G, c. 203A/G and c. 307C/T. Third-generation sequencing results: RHCE genotype was RHCE 02N. 08/RHCE-D(5-9)-CE; RHD genotype was RHD 01/RHD 01; RHAG genotype was RHAG 01/RHAG 01 (c. 808G>A and c. 861G>A). Conclusion: This Dc-individual carries the allele RHCE 02N. 08 and the novel allele RHCE-D(5-9)-CE. The findings of this study provide data support and a theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying RhCE deficiency phenotypes.

Nutritional therapy is a core component of critically ill patient management,and the enteral route has become the preferred method due to its dual roles of nutrition and non-nutrition. The use of vasoactive medications makes enteral nutrition decisions more challenging for these patients. This review systematically examines the pathophysiological effects of vasoactive medications on gastrointestinal tract of critically ill patients,the current value and safety of enteral nutrition in this patient's population,summarizes the optimal strategies for implementing enteral nutrition in these patients for clinical reference.

Objective　To explore the clinical characteristics and drug resistance of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (EM) nosocomial infection, so as to provide evidence for prevention of EM nosocomial infection and guiding the rational use of antibiotics. Methods　A retrospective study was conducted of 67 patients with EM infection in a tertiary hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. The infective characteristics and drug resistance were analyzed. Results　The cohort of 67 EM-infected patients was predominantly males aged ≥60 years, with the most frequent source being the first district of the intensive care unit (ICU), followed by the respiratory medicine and emergency department (19.40%, 13/67). The specimens were mainly isolated from respiratory tract (86.57%, 58/67), of which sputum accounted for 49.25% (33/67), and alveolar lavage fluid accounted for 37.31% (25/67). The majority of EM infections occurred in patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions (49.25%, 33/67), who generally experienced prolonged hospital stays and underwent invasive procedures, such as mechanical ventilation 94.03% (63/67), urinary catheterization (95.52%, 64/67), and central venous catheterization (97.01%, 65/67). Post-treatment, the improved rate of the 67 patients was 40.30% (27/67). Susceptibility testing demonstrated a high resistance rate of EM to cefoperazone-sulbactam, 98.39% (61/62), contrasted by significant susceptibility to compound trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)/cotrimoxazole, doxycycline, minocycline, and piperacillin-tazobactam, with susceptibility rates exceeding 90%. Conclusions　The patients infected with EM were almost elderly men with certain underlying diseases, experienced prolonged hospital stays, and had a history of invasive operations. The specimens of EM were mainly from Intensive Care Unit and isolated from respiratory tract. The strain showed high resistance to cefoperazone-sulbactam, whereas it remained highly susceptible to cotrimoxazole, doxycycline, minocycline and piperacillin-tazobactam, which may be considered as first-line treatment options.

Objective To explore the cut-off value of three dimensional(3D)vena contracta area(VCA)in diagnosing severe tricuspid regrugitation(TR)under different etiologies and its accuracy and practicality in clinical application.Methods From Mar 2019 to May 2021,ninety-two patients with confirmed TR underwent two dimensional(2D)and 3D transthoracic echocardiography.The correlation and consistency between 3D VCA 3D calculated based on the proximal isokinetic surface area(PISA)effective regurgitant orifice area(EROA)was calculated.Comprehensive 2D multi-parameter method was used as a reference method to calculate the cut-off value of the diagnosis of severe TR.Results A total of 85 patients were ultimately included.3D VCA and 3D PISA EROA had similar and acceptable correlations in both primary TR and secondary TR(primary TR:r=0.831,P<0.01;secondary TR:r=0.806,P<0.01).Bland-Altman analysis showed that 3D VCA overestimated TR compared with 3D PISA EROA(62%overestimated in the total patient population,51%overestimated in primary TR,and 74%overestimated in secondary TR).In secondary TR,the cut-off value of 3D VCA for diagnosing severe TR was 0.45 cm2(sensitivity 89%,specificity 82%);combining clinical symptoms,positive 2D PISA EROA results and 3D VCA results for severe TR,the chi-square value was higher than those only included clinical symptoms or incorporated clinical symptoms and positive 2D PISA EROA results(42.168 vs.26.059 and 16.759,P<0.01).Conclusion 3D VCA would overestimate TR,and had high and incremental diagnostic value for evaluating severe TR in secondary TR.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a small, non enveloped circular double stranded DNA virus with special epitheliophilicity, which is one of the common sexually transmitted diseases in women. Currently, more than 200 different HPV genotypes have been discovered. Persistent high-risk HPV infection is closely related to cervical and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer, and lacks typical clinical symptoms in the early stages, seriously endangering women's health. The latest research uses HPV DNA quantification and HPV E6/E7 gene testing as diagnostic criteria and efficacy evaluation indicators for HPV infection. At present, the main methods for treating high-risk cervical HPV infections include physical therapy, drug therapy, surgical treatment, and HPV vaccine intervention. Due to the complex immune escape mechanism of HPV, traditional treatment methods have shortcomings such as long treatment cycles, high recurrence rates, multiple surgeries, and the possibility of complications such as cervical dysfunction and miscarriage. This study reviews the pathogenesis and treatment progress of high-risk cervical HPV in recent years, providing new diagnostic and therapeutic ideas for clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Low-density computed tomography (LDCT) improved early lung cancer diagnosis but introduces an excess of false-positive pulmonary nodules data. Hence, accurate diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer remains challenging. The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of using circulating tumour cells (CTCs) to differentiate malignant from benign pulmonary nodules. METHODS: 122 patients with suspected malignant pulmonary nodules detected on chest CT in preparation for surgery were prospectively recruited. Peripheral blood samples were collected before surgery, and CTCs were identified upon isolation by size of epithelial tumour cells and morphological analysis. Laser capture microdissection, MALBAC amplification, and whole-exome sequencing were performed on 8 samples. The diagnostic efficacy of CTCs counting, and the genomic variation profile of benign and malignant CTCs samples were analysed. RESULTS: Using 2.5 cells/5 mL as the cut-off value, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was of 0.651 (95% confidence interval: 0.538-0.764), with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.526 and 0.800, respectively, and positive and negative predictive values of 91.1% and 30.3%, respectively. Distinct sequence variations differences in DNA damage repair-related and driver genes were observed in benign and malignant samples. TP53 mutations were identified in CTCs of four malignant cases; in particular, g.7578115T>C, g.7578645C>T, and g.7579472G>C were exclusively detected in all four malignant samples. CONCLUSIONS CTCs play an ancillary role in the diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. TP53 mutations in CTCs might be used to identify benign and malignant pulmonary nodules.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Exome Sequencing ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Carcinoma ; DNA Repair

The twenty-first century has already recorded more than ten major epidemics or pandemics of viral disease, including the devastating COVID-19. Novel effective antivirals with broad-spectrum coverage are urgently needed. Herein, we reported a novel broad-spectrum antiviral compound PAC5. Oral administration of PAC5 eliminated HBV cccDNA and reduced the large antigen load in distinct mouse models of HBV infection. Strikingly, oral administration of PAC5 in a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 omicron (BA.1) infection significantly decreases viral loads and attenuates lung inflammation. Mechanistically, PAC5 binds to a pocket near Asp49 in the RNA recognition motif of hnRNPA2B1. PAC5-bound hnRNPA2B1 is extensively activated and translocated to the cytoplasm where it initiates the TBK1-IRF3 pathway, leading to the production of type I IFNs with antiviral activity. Our results indicate that PAC5 is a novel small-molecule agonist of hnRNPA2B1, which may have a role in dealing with emerging infectious diseases now and in the future.
Animals ; Mice ; Antiviral Agents/pharmacology* ; COVID-19 ; Hepatitis B virus ; Interferon Type I/metabolism* ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects* ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B/antagonists & inhibitors*

Approximately 140 million people worldwide are homozygous carriers of APOE4 (ε4), a strong genetic risk factor for late onset familial and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), 91% of whom will develop AD at earlier age than heterozygous carriers and noncarriers. Susceptibility to AD could be reduced by targeted editing of APOE4, but a technical basis for controlling the off-target effects of base editors is necessary to develop low-risk personalized gene therapies. Here, we first screened eight cytosine base editor variants at four injection stages (from 1- to 8-cell stage), and found that FNLS-YE1 variant in 8-cell embryos achieved the comparable base conversion rate (up to 100%) with the lowest bystander effects. In particular, 80% of AD-susceptible ε4 allele copies were converted to the AD-neutral ε3 allele in human ε4-carrying embryos. Stringent control measures combined with targeted deep sequencing, whole genome sequencing, and RNA sequencing showed no DNA or RNA off-target events in FNLS-YE1-treated human embryos or their derived stem cells. Furthermore, base editing with FNLS-YE1 showed no effects on embryo development to the blastocyst stage. Finally, we also demonstrated FNLS-YE1 could introduce known protective variants in human embryos to potentially reduce human susceptivity to systemic lupus erythematosus and familial hypercholesterolemia. Our study therefore suggests that base editing with FNLS-YE1 can efficiently and safely introduce known preventive variants in 8-cell human embryos, a potential approach for reducing human susceptibility to AD or other genetic diseases.
Humans ; Apolipoprotein E4/genetics* ; Cytosine ; Mutation ; Blastocyst ; Heterozygote ; Gene Editing ; CRISPR-Cas Systems

Objective:To study the therapeutic effect Tetrandrine (TET) on striatal injury caused by microwave radiation and underlying mechanism.Methods:C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into blank control group (C), radiation control group (R), TET group (TET) and TET combined with radiation group (TET+ R). The mice of radiation group were exposed to 2.856 GHz 8 mW/cm2 microwave on whole-body for 15 min. TET (60 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 3 consecutive days. The TET structure was verified by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The open field experiment was used to detect the change of anxiety in mice. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes of the striatum were observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TMT). Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to detect gene expression changes of voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) subtype in the striatum.Results:The open field experiments showed that the time and distance of mice to explore the central region after microwave radiation were significantly lower than that before radiation ( t=4.60, 5.18, P<0.01), and the TET administration significantly improved these changes ( F=1.43, 4.37, P < 0.05). 7 d after microwave radiation, some neuronal nuclei in the striatum of mice contracted and could be stained deeply, which was more obvious in the globus pallidus area. The partial neuronal apoptosis, swelling and cavitation of glial cell mitochondria, blurring of synaptic gaps, and widening of perivascular gaps in the striatum were observed by TMT. The above lesions were significantly rescued after TET administration. But both microwave radiation and TET administration had no significant effect on the gene expressions of striatal VGCC ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:TET has a therapeutic effect on anxiety-like behavior and structural damage of striatum caused by microwave radiation, which is independent of the expression of striatal VGCC genes.

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior stroke history have a high risk of cardiovascular events despite anticoagulation therapy. It is unclear whether catheter ablation (CA) has further benefits in these patients. METHODS: AF patients with a previous history of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) from the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study between August 2011 and December 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio to CA or medical treatment (MT) based on propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke (IS)/SE. RESULTS: During a total of 4.1 ± 2.3 years of follow-up, the primary outcome occurred in 111 patients in the CA group (3.3 per 100 person-years) and in 229 patients in the MT group (5.7 per 100 person-years). The CA group had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to the MT group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < 0.001]. There was a significant decreasing risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001), IS/SE (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97, P = 0.033), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.54, P < 0.001) and AF recurrence (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.37, P < 0.001) in the CA group compared to that in the MT group. Sensitivity analysis generated consistent results when adjusting for time-dependent usage of anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS In AF patients with a prior stroke history, CA was associated with a lower combined risk of all-cause death or IS/SE. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the benefits of CA in these patients.