The S100 protein family is a key component of damage-associated molecular patterns(DAMP), which play a vital role in regulating inflammation in the body's innate immune response. S100A8/S100A9 proteins play a wide range of antibacterial and anti-infective functions in many diseases, and promote the occurrence and development of the body's immune and inflammatory responses. In various retinal degenerative diseases, S100A8/S100A9 proteins are significantly upregulated at the transcription and translation stages, promoting the activation of inflammatory factors in ocular tissues, the activation and recruitment of immune cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, and the occurrence and development of ocular inflammation. This review aimsat explaining the biological functions of S100A8/S100A9 proteins and their roles and possible mechanisms in retinal degenerative diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and ischemic retinopathy.

Objective To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of NaNO2 on oxidative damage in human bronchial epithelial cells pretreated with house dust mite(HDM).Methods Human bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE were pretreated with HDM and then exposed to varying concentrations of NaNO2.Cell viability was assessed using CCK-8 assay to determine the optimal concentration and treatment duration of NaNO2.Then 16HBE cells were randomly divided into normal control group,HDM group(pretreated with HDM),and NaNO2 group(pretreated with HDM followed by NaNO2 exposure).The expression of Krüippel-like transcription factors 2(KLF2),hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),and Notch1 at protein and mRNA levels in each group were measured by Western blotting and RT-PCR,respectively.The contents of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α were assessed using ELISA.The production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)were measured using a fluorescence probe detection.The contents of malondialdehyde(MDA)and glutathione(GSH)were quantified by micro-methods.Results CCK-8 assay determined that the optimal intervention of NaNO2 was 500 μmol/L for 24 h.Compared with the normal control group,the HDM group showed reduced protein and mRNA expression of KLF2,but increased protein and mRNA(P＜0.01)expression of HIF-1α,and Notch1 at protein(P＜0.05)and mRNA levels,elevated production of ROS(P＜0.01),and increased contents of MDA,TNF-α,and IL-6,with a decrease in GSH content(P＜0.05).Compared with the HDM group,the NaNO2 group exhibited a significant reduction in KLF2 protein and mRNA levels,increases in HIF-1α protein and mRNA levels,Notch1 protein(P＜0.05)and mRNA levels,elevated ROS content(P＜0.01),and significantly increased contents of MDA,TNF-α(P＜0.001),and IL-6,with a notable decrease in GSH content(P＜0.05).Conclusion NaNO2 may exacerbate HDM-induced oxidative stress injury in human bronchial epithelial cells by regulating the expression of KLF2.

Objective:To explore whether transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can improve the prognosis of esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) combined with sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was performed. A total of 464 cases with cirrhotic EGVB who received standard or TIPS treatment between January 2017 and December 2019 were selected. Regular follow-up was performed for the long-term after treatment. The primary outcome was transplantation-free survival. The secondary endpoints were rebleeding and overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE). The obtained data were statistically analyzed. The t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to compare continuous variables between groups. The χ2 test, or Fisher's exact probability test, was used to compare categorical variables between groups. Results:The age of the included patients was 55.27±13.86 years, and 286 cases were male. There were 203 cases of combined sarcopenia and 261 cases of non-combined sarcopenia. The median follow-up period was 43 months. The two groups had no statistically significant difference in follow-up time. There was no statistically significant difference in transplant-free survival between the TIPS group and the standard treatment group in the overall cohort ( HR=1.31, 95% CI: 0.97-1.78, P=0.08). The TIPS patient group with cirrhosis combined with sarcopenia had longer transplant-free survival (median survival: 47.76 vs. 52.45, χ2=4.09; HR=1.55, 95 CI: 1.01~2.38, P=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in transplant-free survival between the two kinds of treatments for patients without sarcopenia ( HR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.78~1.88, P=0.39). Rebleeding time was prolonged in TIPS patients with or without sarcopenia combination (patients without combined sarcopenia: median rebleeding time: 39.48 vs. 53.61, χ2=18.68; R=2.47, 95 CI: 1.67~3.65, P<0.01; patients with sarcopenia: median rebleeding time: 39.91 vs. 50.68, χ2=12.36; HR=2.20, 95 CI: 1.42~3.40, P<0.01). TIPS patients had an increased 1-year OHE incidence rate compared to the standard treatment group (sarcopenia patients: 6.93% vs. 16.67%, χ2=3.87, P=0.049; patients without sarcopenia combination: 2.19% vs. 9.68%, χ2=8.85, P=0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the long-term OHE incidence rate between the two kinds of treatment groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:TIPS can significantly prolong transplant-free survival compared to standard treatment as a secondary prevention of EGVB concomitant with sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis. However, its advantage is not prominent for patients with cirrhosis in EGVB without sarcopenia.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of elemene injection in the perioperative treatment of esophageal cancer.Methods:A total of 180 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical treatment in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from January 2017 to July 2018 were selected and divided into the experimental group ( n=90) and the control group ( n=90) according to the random sequence number generated by the computer. In the experimental group, the thoracic cavity was rinsed and the elemene was instilled and intravenously instilled. The control group was treated with normal saline. Safety indexes, short-term efficacy indexes, immune indexes, tumor marker levels and long-term benefit indexes were observed in the two groups. Results:The incidences of leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, low hemoglobin, elevated creatinine, transaminase elevation, nausea and vomiting in the experimental group were 43.33% (39/90), 0 (0/90), 5.55% (5/90), 6.67% (6/90), 4.44% (4/90) and 0 (0/90), those in the control group were 53.33% (48/90), 1.11% (1/90), 2.22% (2/90), 4.44% (4/90), 7.78% (7/90) and 1.11% (1/90), and there were no significant differences between the two groups ( χ2=1.802, P=0.179; P=1.000; χ2=0.595, P=0.441; χ2=0.424, P=0.515; χ2=0.871, P=0.351; P=1.000). The postoperative extubation time in the experimental group was (173.36±41.09) h, the postoperative hospital stay was (14.82±4.35) d, the Karnofsky functional status (KPS) score was 81.43±3.89, and those in the control group was (175.76±40.46) h, (15.34±5.22) d and 80.49±2.67, respectively. The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant ( t=-0.395, P=0.695; t=-0.726, P=0.472; t=1.890, P=0.061). The total amount of drainage fluid in the experimental group was (665.39±201.31) ml, and the incidence of anastomotic fistula was 1.11% (1/90), which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(732.67±213.84) ml and 8.89% (8/90)], with statistically significant differences ( t=-2.173, P=0.032; χ2=4.211, P=0.040). Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in immune function between the two groups (all P>0.05). One week after surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in CD3 + between the two groups [(55.45±6.96)% vs. (53.71±6.54)%, t=1.728, P=0.087]; CD4 + , CD4 + /CD8 + and NK cells in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant [(29.43±5.05)% vs. (25.92±8.06)%, t=3.501, P=0.001; 1.30±0.21 vs. 1.23±0.20, t=0.229, P=0.028; (254.20±15.21)/μl vs. (237.05±10.73)/μl, t=2.741, P=0.007]. The levels of tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the experimental group were (1.37±0.18) ng/ml, (1.26±0.28) ng/ml, (0.89±0.17) ng/ml and (1.06±0.24) ng/ml, significantly lower than those in the control group [(2.86±0.42) ng/ml, (2.92±0.45) ng/ml, (2.38±1.55) ng/ml, (2.82±0.15) ng/ml], and the differences were statistically significant ( t=13.928, P=0.014; t=19.728, P=0.011; t=17.924, P=0.006; t=16.625, P=0.003). The 1-year recurrence rate was 2.22% (2/90) in the experimental group, and the half-year mortality rate was 1.11% (1/90) in the experimental group, and 5.56% (5/90) and 2.22% (2/90) in the control group, with no statistically significant differences ( χ2=0.595, P=0.441; χ2=0.000, P=1.000). Conclusion:Elemene tumor-free sequential treatment combined with postoperative intravenous drip has a positive effect on postoperative recovery of patients with esophageal cancer, which can prevent the occurrence of postoperative anastomotic fistula, improve patients′ immune function, reduce the levels of tumor markers, and it is safe and feasible.