Exosomes are double phospholipid membrane vesicles that are synthesized and secreted by a variety of cells, including T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, immune cells, are extracellular vesicles. Recent studies have revealed that exosomes can play a significant role in under both physiological and pathological conditions. They have been implicated in regulation of inflammatory responses, immune response, angiogenesis, tissue repair, and antioxidant activities, particularly in modulating immunity in autoimmune diseases (AIDs). Moreover, variations in the expression of exosome-related substances, such as miRNA and proteins, may not only offer valuable perspectives for the early warning, and prognostic assessment of various AIDs, but may also serve as novel markers for disease diagnosis. This article examines the impact of exosomes on the development of AIDs and explores their potential for therapeutic application.

Objective:To study the effect and mechanism of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AGTR1) blocker olmesartan (OMS) on the apoptosis of human Tenon capsule fibroblasts (HTF).Methods:Tenon capsule tissues were obtained from patients during strabismus surgery in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.Primary HTF were cultured by explant culture.Primary cells were identified by vimentin immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry.The fibrosis model of HTF was established using 10 ng/ml transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2). The cells were divided into normal control group cultured in culture medium, TGF-β2 group in culture medium containing TGF-β2, TGF-β2+ OMS group in culture medium containing TGF-β2 and OMS, and OMS group in culture medium containing OMS, and were cultured for 48 hours.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V/PI staining.The early apoptosis, late apoptosis, and total apoptosis rates were analyzed.The protein expression of procaspase-9, cleaved caspase-9, bax and bcl-2 in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was detected by Western blot.The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was detected by colorimetry.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University (No.2019-014).Results:Primary HTF were successfully isolated and cultured.The cultured cells were long spindle-shaped and positive for vimentin.The expression rate of vimentin in the primary cells was greater than 99%.A statistically statistical difference was found in the early apoptosis rate, late apoptosis rate, and total apoptosis rate among the four groups ( F=24.92, 3.96, 41.82; all at P<0.05). The early and total apoptosis rates were significantly higher in TGF-β2+ OMS group than normal control group and TGF-β2 group, and the late apoptosis rate in TGF-β2+ OMS group was significantly higher than that of normal control group (all at P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in cleaved caspase-9/procaspase-9, bax, and bax/bcl-2 among the four groups ( F=4.40, 7.98, 4.61; all at P<0.05). The bax/bcl-2 expression was significantly increased in TGF-β2+ OMS group in comparison with normal control group, and the expressions of cleaved caspase-9/procaspase-9, bax, and bax/bcl-2 were significantly elevated in TGF-β2+ OMS group compared with TGF-β2 group (all at P<0.05). LDH activity in the normal control group, TGF-β2 group, TGF-β2+ OMS group and OMS group was (783.99±79.97), (913.16±196.86), (2 529.06±240.21), and (2 134.29±138.96) μmol/(min·L), respectively, showing a statistically significant difference ( F=24.95, P<0.05). Compared with normal control group and TGF-β2 group, LDH activity in TGF-β2+ OMS group was increased, and the differences were statistically significant (both at P<0.05). SOD activity in the normal control group, TGF-β2 group, TGF-β2+ OMS group and OMS group was (50.35±0.97), (41.61±4.56), (28.88±3.26), and (37.61±4.83) μmol/(min·L), respectively, showing a statistically significant difference ( F=5.71, P<0.05). SOD activity was reduced in TGF-β2+ OMS group compared with normal control group and TGF-β2 group, reduced in OMS group compared with normal control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:AGTR1 blocker OMS can promote the apoptosis of HTF effectively.Mitochondrial apoptosis pathway mediated by bax/bcl-2/caspase-9 and oxidative stress pathway are the potential mechanisms that OMS regulates the apoptosis of HTF.

Humans ; COVID-19 ; Quarantine ; Renal Dialysis ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Hospitals

Objective:To investigate the effect of the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome on the proliferation and apoptosis of human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 exposed to high glucose and its mechanism.Methods:ARPE-19 cells cultured in vitro were divided into normal control group and high-glucose group, and were cultured in conventional medium and medium containing 30 mmol/L glucose for 48 hours, respectively.The content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by fluorescent probe, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were tested by biochemical assay.The cells of the two groups were cultured with 0, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 μmol/L NLRP3 inhibitor CY-09 for 48 hours, respectively.The proliferation rate of ARPE-19 cells under various concentrations of CY-09 treatment was detected by cell counting kit-8, and the appropriate concentration of CY-09 was determined.ARPE-19 cells were divided into normal control group, normal+ CY-09 group, high-glucose group and high glucose+ CY-09 group.The culture medium in the normal+ CY-09 group and high glucose+ CY-09 group was supplemented with 15 μmol/L CY-09.Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of each group, and Western blot was used to detect the relative expression levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated point protein (ASC), Caspase-1 precursor (pro-Caspase-1) and active fragments (cleaved-Caspase-1), B lymphocytoma-2 protein (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Caspase-3 precursor (pro-Caspase-3) and active fragments (cleaved-Caspase-3). Results:The intensity of ROS fluorescence and MDA concentration were 120 020±3 245, (4.92±0.09) nmol/mg in the high-glucose group, which were both significantly higher than 35 426±811 and (1.78±0.03) nmol/mg in the normal control group, and the SOD activity was (35.65±1.22) μmol/(min·mg) in the high-glucose group, which was significantly lower than (74.96±1.41) μmol/(min·mg) in the normal control group, showing statistically significant differences between the two groups ( t=35.760, 46.960, 29.830; all at P<0.05). The proliferation rate of RPE cells in high-glucose group was significantly lower than that in normal control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=18.820, P<0.05). With the increase of CY-09 concentration, the proliferation rate of cells in the high-glucose group was gradually increased.The proliferation rates of cells treated with 10, 15 and 20 μmol/L CY-09 were all significantly higher than those treated with 0 μmol/L CY-09, showing statistically significant differences between them (all at P<0.05). The proliferation rates of cells treated with 15 μmol/L and 0 μmol/L CY-09 were not significantly different in the normal control group ( P>0.05). The apoptosis rate of cells in the high-glucose group was (21.68±0.41)%, which was significantly higher than (6.67±1.05)% in the normal control group and (13.96±0.07)% in the high-glucose+ CY-09 group, and the differences were statistically significant (both at P<0.05). The relative expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, cleaved-Caspase-1, cleaved-Caspase-3 and Bax proteins were significantly higher and the relative expression levels of Bcl-2 protein was significantly lower in the high-glucose group compared with the normal control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). The relative expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, the active fragment of cleaved-Caspase-1, Bax and cleaved-Caspase-3 proteins were decreased and the relative expression levels of Bcl-2 protein were increased in the normal+ CY-09 group and high glucose+ CY-09 group compared with the normal control group and high glucose group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:NLRP3 inflammasome mediates the high glucose induced RPE cells apoptosis through ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Since the discovery of circulating hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B in 1996, a growing number of studies have focused on clarifying the biological characteristics and clinical application value of serum HBV RNA. This consensus mainly summarizes the research progress of serum HBV RNA existing profiles, quantitative detection methods, and current clinical applications. In order to better apply this indicator for the clinical management of patients with chronic HBV infection, recommendations on quantitative detection target regions, detection results, and clinical applications are put forward.

Purpose: Reduced quality of life after cystectomy has made bladder preservation a popular research topic for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Previous research has indicated significant tumor downstaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). However, maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) was performed before NAC to define the pathology, impacting the real evaluation of NAC. This research aimed to assess real NAC efficacy without interference from TURBT and apply combined modality therapies guided by NAC efficacy. Materials and Methods: Patients with cT2-4aN0M0 MIBC were confirmed by cystoscopic biopsy and imaging. NAC efficacy was assessed by imaging, urine cytology, and cystoscopy with multidisciplinary team discussion. Definite responders (≤ T1) underwent TURBT plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Incomplete responders underwent radical cystectomy or partial cystectomy if feasible. The primary endpoint was the bladder preservation rate. Results: Fifty-nine patients were enrolled, and the median age was 63 years. Patients with cT3-4 accounted for 75%. The median number of NAC cycles was three. Definite responders were 52.5%. The complete response (CR) was 10.2%, and 59.3% of patients received bladder-sparing treatments. With a median follow-up of 44.6 months, the 3-year overall survival (OS) was 72.8%. Three-year OS and relapse-free survival were 88.4% and 60.0% in the bladder-sparing group but only 74.3% and 37.5% in the cystectomy group. The evaluations of preserved bladder function were satisfactory. Conclusion After stratifying MIBC patients by NAC efficacy, definite responders achieved a satisfactory bladder-sparing rate, prognosis, and bladder function. The CR rate reflected the real NAC efficacy for MIBC. This therapy is worth verifying through multicenter research.

Objective:To investigate the value of 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose ( 18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) in predicting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging data of 206 patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma confirmed by pathology and underwent EGFR mutation test in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June 2013 to October 2018. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to quantify the predictive value of maximum standard uptake value (SUV max), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG). The Chi- squared test was used to assess the difference in PET parameters. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to yield the parameters with statistic difference. Results:All of 206 patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma showed a high 18F-FDG uptake. The median of SUV max, MTV and TLG were 19.14, 37.69 cm 3 and 291.73, respectively. Among the 206 patients, EGFR mutations were identified in 14 cases, including 7 with exon 21 (L858R) mutation, 6 with exon 19 mutation and 1 with exon 20 mutation. ROC curve showed that the AUC of SUV max, MTV and TLG were 0.624 (95% CI=0.454-0.794, P=0.122), 0.892 (95% CI=0.811-0.973, P<0.001) and 0.860 (95% CI=0.768-0.952, P<0.001), respectively. The median SUV max (19.14) was used as the cutoff points due to the small value of AUC. The cutoff point of MTV was 20.09 cm 3, the cutoff point of TLG was 211.07. Univariate analysis showed that the sex, smoking history, M stage, MTV and TLG were associated with EGFR mutations (all P<0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that the sex, smoking history and TLG were the independent predictors of EGFR mutation (all P<0.05). Conclusion:TLG detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT is an independent factor for predicting EGFR mutation in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma, and has certain reference value for predicting EGFR mutation.

Objective:To investigate the value of 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose ( 18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) in predicting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging data of 206 patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma confirmed by pathology and underwent EGFR mutation test in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June 2013 to October 2018. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to quantify the predictive value of maximum standard uptake value (SUV max), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG). The Chi- squared test was used to assess the difference in PET parameters. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to yield the parameters with statistic difference. Results:All of 206 patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma showed a high 18F-FDG uptake. The median of SUV max, MTV and TLG were 19.14, 37.69 cm 3 and 291.73, respectively. Among the 206 patients, EGFR mutations were identified in 14 cases, including 7 with exon 21 (L858R) mutation, 6 with exon 19 mutation and 1 with exon 20 mutation. ROC curve showed that the AUC of SUV max, MTV and TLG were 0.624 (95% CI=0.454-0.794, P=0.122), 0.892 (95% CI=0.811-0.973, P<0.001) and 0.860 (95% CI=0.768-0.952, P<0.001), respectively. The median SUV max (19.14) was used as the cutoff points due to the small value of AUC. The cutoff point of MTV was 20.09 cm 3, the cutoff point of TLG was 211.07. Univariate analysis showed that the sex, smoking history, M stage, MTV and TLG were associated with EGFR mutations (all P<0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that the sex, smoking history and TLG were the independent predictors of EGFR mutation (all P<0.05). Conclusion:TLG detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT is an independent factor for predicting EGFR mutation in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma, and has certain reference value for predicting EGFR mutation.

Objective To investigate the dose of docetaxel appropriate for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and its affects to the prognosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 75 patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer admitted from March 2010 to July 2016 who received docetaxel combined with prednisone chemotherapy.The patients were divided into the low-dose group (n =43,docetaxel ＜ 65 mg/m2),the middle-dose group (n =21,docetaxel 65-70 mg/m2) and the high-dose group (n =11,docetaxel ＞ 70 mg/m2).The median age in the low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group was 67 (53-80),66 (56-78) and 61 (47-76) years old,respectively.Among 75 patients with bone metastasis,2 patients had no evidence of bone metastasis in the low-dose group.The lymph node metastasis was found in 26,13 and 6 cases in each group,respectively.And visceral and other metastasis were founded in 11,4 and 2 cases,respectively.The Gleason score in the low-dose group was≤7 points in 15 cases,≥8 points in 22 cases and no score in 6 cases.The Gleason score inthe middle-dose group was ≤7 points in 4 cases,≥8 points in 13 cases and no score in 4 cases.The Gleason score in the high-dose group was ≤7 points in 3 cases,≥8 points in 5 cases and no score in 3 cases.The number of patients with pain in the low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group was 36,12 and 9,respectively,there were no significant differences in the above indicators (P ＞ 0.05),except age,which showed relatively more aged patients in the low-dose group,(P =0.045).Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the overall survival (OS),progression-free survival (PFS) and the incidence of ≥CTCAE-4 grade 3 adverse reactions between the two groups.The Cox regression model was adopted to analyzed the factors that might affect patient prognosis,including the effective time of first-line endocrine therapy,hemoglobin level,ECOG score,pain score,number of cycles of chemotherapy,age,dose of docetaxel and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the effect of dose of docetaxel on the prognosis,and log-rank method was used to test the significance of the results.Results The median OS was respectively 24.1,18.5 and 23.5 months in the low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group,respectively.The median PFS was 5.3 months in all three groups,which didn't show statistically significant differences.The incidence of grade 3/4 adverse reactions in the low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group was 15 cases (34.9％),8 cases (38.1％) and 5 cases (45.5％) respectively.It showed an increasing trend,but no statistically significant difference.The single factors related to OS mainly include the effective time of first-line endocrine therapy,hemoglobin level,ECOG score,pain score,number of cycles of chemotherapy,there was no significant correlation with age,docetaxel dose,ALP and PSA value.Conclusions It is common to receive lower doses of docetaxel in clinical practice for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in China.The efficacy of low-dose docetaxel is similar to that of high doses (standard dosage).There was no significant correlation between the OS and the actual dose of docetaxel in the tolerable range.

Objective: To investigate the effects of domestic bivalirudin on plasma intercellular adhesion molecular-1 (ICAM-1) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods: Sixty PCI candidates were randomly divided into heparin group (n =30) and bivalirudin group (n =30).They were respectively treated with intravenous heparin and domestic bivalirudin as the anticoagulants during PCI.ICAM-1 in blood was measured before PCI and in 2h, 1d and 7d after PCI, respectively.Results: In heparin group, ICAM-1 level decreased significantly in 2 h after the intravenous injection when compared with that before the injection and that in bivalirudin group at the same time point (P＜0.05).No significant differences in ICAM-1 level were found on the 1st and 7th day after PCI in the two groups when compared with that before the administration (P＞0.05).Mild bleeding occurred in three patients receiving heparin and one patient receiving bivalirudin,but there was no significant difference after PCI.Conclusion: Compared with bivalivudin, heparin has a short inhibitory effect on the expression of ICAM-1 during PCI.It is beneficial to the patients with kidney disease or stroke during PCI.