BACKGROUND:Increasing evidence suggests that N6-methyladenosine(m6A)regulators are closely associated with osteoarthritis and are considered to be a new direction in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis,but their specific mechanism of action is unknown. OBJECTIVE:To conduct a bioinformatics analysis of the osteoarthritis gene microarray dataset in order to explore the role of m6A in osteoarthritis and analyze the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. METHODS:The m6A regulators associated with osteoarthritis and their expression were first extracted from the GSE1919 dataset in the GEO database using R software,and then the results were analyzed by gene difference analysis and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses.Subsequently,the results of protein-protein interaction network topology analysis and machine learning results were intersected to obtain the m6A Hub regulators,which were validated by in vitro cellular experiments. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 16 osteoarthritis-related m6A regulators were extracted and 11 m6A differential regulators,including ZC3H13,YTHDC1,YTHDF3 and HNRNPC,were obtained by differential analysis.GO enrichment analysis showed that osteoarthritis-related m6A differential regulators played a role in the biological processes such as mRNA transport,RNA catabolism,and regulation of insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling pathway.(3)KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differential regulators were mainly involved in the p53,interleukin-17 and AMPK signaling pathways.The combined protein-protein interaction network topology analysis and machine learning results obtained the m6A Hub regulator-YTHDC1.(5)The results of in vitro cellular experiments showed that there was a significant difference in the expression of m6A key regulator between the control and experimental groups(P<0.05).To conclude,YTHDC1 is closely related to the development of osteoarthritis,which is expected to be a molecular target of m6A for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND:Cellular senescence is closely related to the development and progression of osteoarthritis,but the specific targets and regulatory mechanisms are not yet clear. OBJECTIVE:To mine key genes in cellular senescence-mediated osteoarthritis by integrating bioinformatics and machine learning approaches and validate them via experiments to explore the role of cellular senescence in osteoarthritis. METHODS:The osteoarthritis gene expression profiles obtained from the GEO database were intersected with cellular senescence-related genes obtained from the CellAge database and the expression of the intersected genes was extracted for differential analysis,followed by GO and KEGG analysis of the differential genes.The key osteoarthritis cellular senescence genes were then screened by protein-protein interaction network analysis and machine learning,and in vitro cellular experiments were performed.Finally,the expression of the key genes was detected by qPCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 31 osteoarthritis cell senescence differential genes were identified.GO analysis showed that these genes were mainly involved in the biological processes,such as regulation of leukocyte differentiation,monocyte differentiation,regulation of T cell differentiation and exerted roles in DNA transcription factor binding,histone deacetylase binding,chromatin DNA binding,and chemokine binding.KEGG analysis showed that osteoarthritis cell senescence differential genes were mainly activated in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway,PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway.MYC,a key gene for osteoarthritis cellular senescence,was identified by protein-protein interaction network topology analysis and machine learning methods.The results of the in vitro cellular assay showed that the mRNA expression of MYC was significantly lower in the experimental group(osteoarthritis group)than the control group(normal group)(P＜0.05).To conclude,MYC can be a key gene in the senescence of osteoarthritic cells and may be a new target in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis by mediating immune response,inflammatory response and transcriptional regulation.

Objective To investigate the value of monocyte to lymphocyte ratio(MLR)and neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio(NPAR)in predicting diabetic macular edema(DME).Methods One hundred and one diabetic retinopathy patients admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2018 to February 2023 were selected as the research subjects,and they were divided into DME group(n=56)and non-DME group(n=45)based on fun-dus examination results.The general data such as gender,age,course of diabetes and laboratory indicators were collected by consulting medical records.Fasting elbow venous blood was collected early in the morning of the next day after the diagnosis of DME in both groups,the monocytes(MONO)count,lymphocyte(LYM)count,white blood cell(WBC)count,percentage of neutrophils(NEUT),plasma albumin(ALB),glycosylated haemoglobin(HbA1c)were measured by full automatic blood routine analyzer,and MLR,NPAR were calculated.General information and laboratory indexes of patients in the two groups were compared,and risk factors for DME were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression,and receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to evaluate the predictive value of MLR and NPAR for DME.Results The course of diabetes,MONO count,NEUT,MLR,NPAR,WBC count,and HbA1c level of patients between the DME group were significantly higher than those in the non-DME group(P＜0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in gender,age,LYM count,and ALB level of patients between the two groups(P＞0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased levels of WBC,MLR,and NPAR were independent risk factors for the occurrence of DME(P＜0.05).The ROC curve showed that the best cut-off value of MLR was 0.192,and the area under the curve(AUC)for the prediction of DME was 0.729(95％confidence interval:0.631-0.826),with a sensitivity of 58.9％and a specificity of 82.2％;while the best cut-off value of NPAR was 1.404,and the AUC for predicting DME occurrence was 0.884(95％confidence interval:0.820-0.949),with a sensitivity of 75.0％and a specificity of 91.1％;the AUC of MLR and NPAP for predicting the occurrence of DME was 0.906(95％confidence interval:0.851-0.906),with a sensitivity of 69.6％and a specificity of 93.3％.With MLR＞0.192 as positive and NPAR＞1.404 as positive,the parallel test of MLR and NPAR predicted the occurrence of DME with a sensitivity of 87.5％,a specificity of 71.1％,and an accuracy of 80.2％;while the tandem test of MLR and NPAR predicted the occurrence of DME with a sensitivity of 46.4％,a specificity of 97.8％,and an accuracy of 69.3％.Conclusion Increased levels of MLR and NPAR are independent risk factors for the occurrence of DME and have certain predictive value for DME.The predictive value of combined MLR and NPAR test for DME is higher than that of separate test,and parallel experiment is more helpful for the early prediction of DME.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of serum proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) on incidence and the 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI).Methods:This study was a single center, observational cohort study. Sepsis/septic shock patients admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from September 2021 to September 2022 were selected and divided into the SA-AKI group and the non-SA-AKI group according to whether acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred within 28 days. Patients in the SA-AKI group were subdivided into the death group and the survival group according to whether death occurred within 28 days. Baseline data and laboratory indicators such as penKid concentration were compared among different groups. COX regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors of death within 28 days in the SA-AKI patients, And Kaplan-Meier curve was used to analyze patient prognosis.Result:A total of 161 patients were included in this study, of whom 66 (41.0%) developed AKI. The baseline penKid concentration in the SA-AKI group was significantly higher than that in the non-SA-AKI group [(2.99 ± 0.68) μg/L vs. (1.86±0.75) μg/L, P<0.05]. Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that the baseline penKid ( HR=5.608, 95% CI: 3.507-8.967, P<0.001) and lactate (LA) ( HR=1.089, 95% CI: 1.003-1.183, P=0.043) were independent risk factors for AKI in sepsis/septic shock patients. Of the 66 SA-AKI patients, 27 (40.9%) died within 28 days, and the baseline penKid concentration in the death group was significantly higher than that in the survival group [ (3.55 ± 0.54) μg/L vs. (2.60±0.47) μg/L, P<0.05]. COX regression analysis showed that penKid ( HR=5.892, 95% CI: 2.457-14.132, P<0.001) was an independent risk factor for mortality in SA-AKI patients. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the 28-day mortality of patients with baseline penKid ≥ 3.24 μg/L was significantly higher than that of patients with baseline penKid <3.24 μg/L ( P<0.001). Conclusions:In sepsis/septic shock patients, the penKid concentration measured on the first day in the SA-AKI group is significantly higher than that in the non-SA-AKI group. In SA-AKI patients, the penKid concentration measured in patients who survived within 28 days is significantly lower than that in the death group. PenKid is an independent risk factor for the occurrence and death of SA-AKI.

Objective:To analyze the abnormal vestibular function of Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) and to explore its diagnostic value.Methods:WE patients who visited the Vertigo Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected. All patients were evaluated by clinical neurology. Before treatment, all patients completed video head impulse test (vHIT) and video nystagmusgraphy (VNG) in addition to cranial magnetic resonance and serum thiamine level examination.Results:All 12 patients had a history of eating defects, including 8 cases of alcoholism. All 12 patients had walking instability, 7 cases had dizziness and 8 cases had oscillopsia. Six cases had ophthalmoplegia. All 12 cases showed positive gaze nystagmus. The pathological saccades of bilateral horizontal semicircular canals were found in 12 patients by vHIT before treatment, but there was only 1 patient showing abnormality in vertical semicircular canals, the difference being statistically significant ( P<0.05). All patients could detect bilateral, horizontal, gaze-evoked nystagmus, including 3 cases with vertical nystagmus, 1 case with abnormal saccade test, 3 cases with abnormal smooth tracking test and 1 case with abnormal optokinetic test. There were abnormalities in the caloric test, including 6 cases of bilateral dysfunction and 2 cases of unilateral dysfunction. Conclusions:WE patients may have abnormal vHIT and bilateral, horizontal, gaze-evoked nystagmus, which is similar to the special abnormal signs of simultaneous damage of both peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction.Vestibular function test is valuable for diagnosis of WE, and it is suitable for patients with a history of nutritional disorders who have dizziness or walking instability and suspected WE.

Purpose: Despite the rapid growing of cancer survivors, prior cancer history is a commonly adoptedexclusion criterion. Whether prior cancer will impact the survival of patients with advancedbreast cancer (ABC) remains uncertain. Materials and Methods: Patients with ABC diagnosed between 2004 and 2010 were identified using Surveillance,Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Timing, stage, and type were used to characterizeprior cancer. Multivariable analyses using propensity score–adjusted Cox regressionand competing risk regression were conducted to evaluate the prognostic effect of priorcancer on overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). Results: A total of 14,176 ABC patients were identified, of whom 10.5% carried a prior cancer history.The most common type of prior cancer was female genital cancer (32.4%); more than half(51.7%) were diagnosed at localized stage; most were diagnosed more than 5 years (42.9%)or less than 1 year (28.3%) prior to the index cancer. In multivariate analyses, patients withprior cancer presented a slightly worse OS (hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.07 to 1.30; p=0.001) but a better BCSS (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.56to 0.74; p < 0.001). In subset analyses, no survival detriment was observed in patients withprior malignancy from head and neck or endocrine system, at in situ or localized stage, ordiagnosed more than 4 years. Conclusion Prior cancer provides an inferior OS but a superior BCSS for patients with ABC. It does notaffect the survival adversely in some subgroups and these patients should not be excludedfrom clinical trials.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the distribution pattern and prognostic value of 21-gene recurrence score (RS) in Chinese patients with mucinous breast cancer (MC) and compared with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with MC or IDC from January 2010 to January 2017 were retrospectively recruited. Reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction assay of 21 genes was conducted to calculate the RS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the association between RS and clinicopathological factors. Survival outcomes including disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Results: The MC cohort included 128 patients and the IDC cohort included 707 patients. The proportions of patients with a low (RS < 18), intermediate (18-30), or high risk (RS > 30) were 32.0%, 48.4%, and 19.5% in MC cohort, and 26.9%, 46.8% and 26.3% in IDC cohort. The distribution of RS varied significantly according to different Ki-67 index and molecular subtype in both cohorts. Moreover, the receipt of chemotherapy was associated with RS in both cohorts. Among patients with MC, tumor stage was related to the DFS (p=0.040). No significant differences in DFS and OS were found among MC patients in different RS risk groups (OS, p=0.695; DFS, p=0.926). Conclusion RS was significantly related to Ki-67 index and molecular subtypes in MC patients, which is similar in IDC patients. However, RS was not able to predict DFS and OS in patients with MC.

Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate the predictive performances of anatomic staging system (AS) and prognostic staging system (PS) proposed in the 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual in patients with pure mucinous breast cancer (PMBC). Methods: Clinicopathologic features and follow-up information were collected from a total of 3628 patients with PMBC. Breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were compared among patients in different stage groups. Likelihood ratio (LR) χ², Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Harrell′s concordance index (C-index) were used to evaluate the predictive performances of AS and PS in PMBC. Results: In PMBC, BCSS was associated with tumor size (P=0.002), lymph node status (P=0.002), grade(P=0.003), PR status(P=0.017)and the receipt of radiation. Compared to AS, 1326 patients (37.54%) underwent stage change after applying PS, with 6.50% upstaged and 37.04% downstaged. There were significant differences in BCSS among patients of different stages under the AS and PS (P<0.001). However, PS was not superior to AS in predicting prognosis (AS vs PS, LR χ²: 16.41 vs 17.5; AIC: 357.44 vs 358.35; C-index, 0.72 vs 0.73, P=0.667). Conclusions Both of AS and PS proposed in the 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual were predictive factors in patients with PMBC. Compared with AS, the PS did not show superiority in prognosis prediction among patients with PMBC.

Objective To detect the expression levels of metallothionein1 H(MT1 H)in children and adoles-cents osteosarcoma serums,and to analyze its relationship with clinicopathological features,and to explore the effect of MT1 H on cell proliferation of osteosarcoma cells and its mechanism.Methods Enzyme -linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA)was performed to detect the expression of MT1 H in children and adolescents osteosarcoma serums and non-neoplastic disease serums.MT1 H vector was transfected into the osteosarcoma U2OS cells.Reverse transcription -poly-merase chain reaction(RT -PCR)and Western blot were used to detect the expression of the mRNA and protein of MT1 H,respectively.Methylthiazolyldiphenyl -tetrazolium bromide(MTT)was used to detect the cell growth.Western blot was performed to detect the expression of nuclear factor(NF)-κB,and inhibitor of κB (IκB)-αprotein. Results The expressions of MT1 H in osteosarcoma serums and nonneoplastic disease serums was (0.51 ± 0.52)μg/L and (2.17 ±0.78)μg/L,respectively,with a significant difference between the 2 groups(t =-8.966, P <0.05).The expression of MT1 H in stage Ⅰ -ⅡA andⅡB -Ⅲ was (1 .98 ±0.69)μg/L and (2.45 ±0.82)μg/L,respectively,showing a gradual increase depending on clinical staging(t =-2.343,P <0.05).The expressions of MT1 H mRNA and protein were elevated in osteosarcoma U2OS cells after MT1 H vector transfection(all P <0.05). MTT assay showed that,the A value in blank control group,blank vector group,MT1 H vector group were 0.38 ±0.03, 0.36 ±0.03,0.42 ±0.03,respectively,the cell proliferation in the MT1 H vector group was significantly promoted when compared with these in the blank vector group and blank control group(F =4.213,P <0.05)from the third day.West-ern blot showed that,the relative expression of NF -κB in blank control group,blank vector group,MT1 H vector group were 0.56 ±0.05,0.53 ±0.05,0.92 ±0.07,respectively,the relative expression of IκB -αprotein were 0.64 ± 0.06,0.62 ±0.09,0.34 ±0.08,respectively,the expression of NF -κB protein was up -regulated and the expression of IκB -αprotein was down -regulated in the MT1 H vector group when compared with those in the blank vector group and blank control group(F =44.581 ,14.927,all P <0.05).Conclusions The expression of MT1 H is increased in children and adolescents osteosarcoma serums compared with that in nonneoplastic disease serums.The clinical stage is later,the expression of MT1 H is higher.MT1 H promotes cell proliferation through regulating the NF -κB pathway.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release tablets in treatment of advanced cancer pain.Methods 130 patients with advanced cancer pain were selected and randomly divided into two groups,65 patients received oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release tablets as observation group,65 patients received morphine sulfate controlled-release tablets as control group.Quality of life score was evaluated, clinical efficacy and safety were compared between two groups.Results After treatment, cancer pain of patients in two groups were relieved than pre-treatment (P<0.05), and patients in observation group were better than control group (P<0.05).After treatment, the quality of life in two groups were all improved ( P <0.05 ) , and patients in observation group was more obvious than control group ( P <0.05 ) .During the treatment, adverse reactions occurred in different degrees, and the incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was lower than control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release tablets are effective drug in treatment of advanced cancer pain,which can significantly relieve pain and improve quality of life.