Benign splenic lesions in BAP1-tumor predisposition syndrome: a case series.

BAP1-Tumor Predisposition Syndrome (TPDS) is caused by germline variants in BAP1 and predisposes to solid tumors. After observation of a radiologically malignant-appearing splenic mass with benign pathology in a patient with BAP1-TPDS, we sought to retrospectively characterize splenic lesions in individuals with BAP1-TPDS seen at a comprehensive cancer center. A dedicated radiology review for splenic abnormalities was performed. We identified 37 individuals with BAP1-TPDS, 81% with a history of cancer. Of 33 individuals with abdominal imaging, 10 (30%) had splenic lesions, and none were shown to be malignant on follow-up. Splenectomy in an individual with suspected splenic angiosarcoma showed a benign vascular neoplasm with loss of nuclear staining for BAP1 in a subset of cells. Benign splenic lesions appear to be common and potentially BAP1-driven in individuals with BAP1-TPDS; confirmation of these findings could lead to more conservative management and avoidance of splenectomy.

Study on the photosynthetic growth characters in Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim under different supplemental light environments.

Cimicifuga dahurica (C. dahurica) is an important medicinal plant in the northern region of China. The best supplemental light environment helps plant growth, development, and metabolism. In this study, we used two-year-old seedlings as experimental materials. The white light as the control (CK). The different ratios of red (R) and blue (B) combined light were supplemented (T1, 2R: 1B, 255.37 µmol m-2·s-1; T2, 3R: 1B, 279.69 µmol m-2·s-1; T3, 7R: 1B, 211.16 µmol m-2·s-1). The growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and primary metabolite content were studied in seedlings. The results showed that: 1) The fresh weight from shoot, root, and total fresh weight were significantly (P < 0.05) increased under T2 and T3 treatment. 2) The contents of chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), and total chlorophyll (Chl) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased under T2 treatment, and carotenoid (car) content was reduced. 3) The photochemical quenching (qP), the actual photosynthetic efficiency of PSII (Y(II)), and the photosynthetic electron transfer rate (ETR) from leaves were significantly (P < 0.05) increased under T1 treatment. The Net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and transpiration rate (Tr) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased under T2 and T3 treatments. 4) A total of 52 primary metabolites were detected in C. dahurica leaves. Compared with CK, 14, 15, and 18 differential metabolites were screened under T1, T2, and T3 treatments. In addition, D-xylose, D-glucose, glycerol, glycolic acid, and succinic acid were significantly (P < 0.05) accumulated under the T2 treatment, which could regulate the TCA cycle metabolism pathway. The correlation analysis suggested that plant growth was promoted by regulating the change of D-mannose content in galactinol metabolism and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. In summary, the growth of C. dahurica was improved under T2 treatment.

Serum SOD1 level predicts the severity and prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia patients.

BACKGROUND: Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is one of the most important participants of antioxidant enzyme system in biological system. Previous studies have found that SOD1 is associated with many inflammatory diseases. The goal of this study was to assess the associations of serum SOD1 with the severity and prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients by a prospective cohort study. METHODS: CAP patients were enrolled from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Peripheral blood samples were gathered. The level of serum SOD1 was detected through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical characteristics and demographic information were analyzed. RESULTS: The level of serum SOD1 was gradually upregulated with elevated CAP severity scores. Spearman correlation coefficient or Pearson rank correlation analyses indicated that serum SOD1 was strongly connected with many clinical parameters among CAP patients. Further linear and logistic regression analyses found that the level of serum SOD1 was positively associated with CRB-65, CURB-65, SMART-COP, and CURXO scores among CAP patients. Moreover, serum higher SOD1 at admission substantially increased the risks of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agent usage, death, and longer hospital stays during hospitalization. Serum SOD1 level combination with CAP severity scores elevated the predictive abilities for severity and death compared with alone serum SOD1 and CAP severity scores in CAP patients during hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The level of serum SOD1 is positively associated with the severity and poor prognosis in CAP patients, suggesting that SOD1 is implicated in the initiation and progression of CAP. Serum SOD1 may be regarded as a biomarker to appraise the severity and prognosis for CAP patients.

Akkermansia muciniphila isolated from forest musk deer ameliorates diarrhea in mice via modification of gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: The forest musk deer, a rare fauna species found in China, is famous for its musk secretion which is used in selected Traditional Chinese medicines. However, over-hunting has led to musk deer becoming an endangered species, and their survival is also greatly challenged by various high incidence and high mortality respiratory and intestinal diseases such as septic pneumonia and enteritis. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that Akkermannia muciniphila (AKK) is a promising probiotic, and we wondered whether AKK could be used as a food additive in animal breeding programmes to help prevent intestinal diseases. METHODS: We isolated one AKK strain from musk deer feces (AKK-D) using an improved enrichment medium combined with real-time PCR. After confirmation by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, a series of in vitro tests was conducted to evaluate the probiotic effects of AKK-D by assessing its reproductive capability, simulated gastrointestinal fluid tolerance, acid and bile salt resistance, self-aggregation ability, hydrophobicity, antibiotic sensitivity, hemolysis, harmful metabolite production, biofilm formation ability, and bacterial adhesion to gastrointestinal mucosa. RESULTS: The AKK-D strain has a probiotic function similar to that of the standard strain in humans (AKK-H). An in vivo study found that AKK-D significantly ameliorated symptoms in the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-induced murine diarrhea model. AKK-D improved organ damage, inhibited inflammatory responses, and improved intestinal barrier permeability. Additionally, AKK-D promoted the reconstitution and maintenance of the homeostasis of gut microflora, as indicated by the fact that AKK-D-treated mice showed a decrease in Bacteroidetes and an increase in the proportion of other beneficial bacteria like Muribaculaceae, Muribaculum, and unclassified f_Lachnospiaceae compared with the diarrhea model mice. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our data show that this novel AKK-D strain might be a potential probiotic for use in musk deer breeding, although further extensive systematic research is still needed.

Pharmacokinetic enhancement of oncolytic virus M1 by inhibiting JAK‒STAT pathway.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs), a group of replication-competent viruses that can selectively infect and kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact, are emerging as promising living anticancer agents. Unlike traditional drugs composed of non-replicating compounds or biomolecules, the replicative nature of viruses confer unique pharmacokinetic properties that require further studies. Despite some pharmacokinetics studies of OVs, mechanistic insights into the connection between OV pharmacokinetics and antitumor efficacy remain vague. Here, we characterized the pharmacokinetic profile of oncolytic virus M1 (OVM) in immunocompetent mouse tumor models and identified the JAK‒STAT pathway as a key modulator of OVM pharmacokinetics. By suppressing the JAK‒STAT pathway, early OVM pharmacokinetics are ameliorated, leading to enhanced tumor-specific viral accumulation, increased AUC and Cmax, and improved antitumor efficacy. Rather than compromising antitumor immunity after JAK‒STAT inhibition, the improved pharmacokinetics of OVM promotes T cell recruitment and activation in the tumor microenvironment, providing an optimal opportunity for the therapeutic outcome of immune checkpoint blockade, such as anti-PD-L1. Taken together, this study advances our understanding of the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship in OV therapy.

Ozone sensitivity regimes vary at different heights in the planetary boundary layer.

The sensitivity of tropospheric ozone (O3) to its precursors volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) determines the emission reduction strategy for O3 mitigation. Due to the lack of comprehensive vertical measurements of VOCs, the vertical distribution of O3 sensitivity regimes has not been well understood. O3 precursor sensitivity determined by ground-level measurements has been generally used to guide O3 control strategy. Here, to precisely diagnose O3 sensitivity regimes at different heights in the planetary boundary layer (PBL), we developed a vertical measurement system based on an unmanned aerial vehicle platform to conduct comprehensive vertical measurements of VOCs, NOX and other relevant parameters. Our results suggest that the O3 precursor sensitivity shifts from a VOC-limited regime at the ground to a NOX-limited regime at upper layers, indicating that the ground-level O3 sensitivity cannot represent the situation of the whole PBL. We also found that the state-of-the-art photochemical model tends to underestimate oxygenated VOCs at upper layers, resulting in overestimation of the degree of VOCs-limited regime. Therefore, thorough vertical measurements of VOCs to accurately diagnose O3 precursor sensitivity is in urgent need for the development of effective O3 control strategies.

Change of function and brain activity in patients of right spastic arm paralysis combined with aphasia after contralateral cervical seventh nerve transfer surgery.

Left hemisphere injury can cause right spastic arm paralysis and aphasia, and recovery of both motor and language functions shares similar compensatory mechanisms and processes. Contralateral cervical seventh cross transfer (CC7) surgery can provide motor recovery for spastic arm paralysis by triggering interhemispheric plasticity, and self-reports from patients indicate spontaneous improvement in language function but still need to be verified. To explore the improvements in motor and language function after CC7 surgery, we performed this prospective observational cohort study. The Upper Extremity part of Fugl-Meyer scale (UEFM) and Modified Ashworth Scale were used to evaluate motor function, and Aphasia Quotient calculated by Mandarin version of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB-AQ, larger score indicates better language function) was assessed for language function. In 20 patients included, the average scores of UEFM increased by .40 and 3.70 points from baseline to 1-week and 6-month post-surgery, respectively. The spasticity of the elbow and fingers decreased significantly at 1-week post-surgery, although partially recurred at 6-month follow-up. The average scores of WAB-AQ were increased by 9.14 and 10.69 points at 1-week and 6-month post-surgery (P < .001 for both), respectively. Post-surgical fMRI scans revealed increased activity in the bilateral hemispheres related to language centrals, including the right precentral cortex and right gyrus rectus. These findings suggest that CC7 surgery not only enhances motor function but may also improve the aphasia quotient in patients with right arm paralysis and aphasia due to left hemisphere injuries.

Exploring Large Language Models for Acronym, Symbol Sense Disambiguation, and Semantic Similarity and Relatedness Assessment.

Acronyms, abbreviations, and symbols play a significant role in clinical notes. Acronym and symbol sense disambiguation are crucial natural language processing (NLP) tasks that ensure the clarity and consistency of clinical notes and downstream NLP processing. Previous studies using traditional machine learning methods have been relatively successful in tackling this issue. In our research, we conducted an evaluation of large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT 3.5 and 4, as well as other open LLMs, and BERT-based models, across three NLP tasks: acronym and symbol sense disambiguation, semantic similarity, and relatedness. Our findings emphasize ChatGPT's remarkable ability to distinguish between senses with minimal or zero-shot training. Additionally, open source LLM Mixtrial-8x7B exhibited high accuracy for acronyms with fewer senses, and moderate accuracy for symbol sense accuracy. BERT-based models outperformed previous machine learning approaches, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of over 95%, showcasing their effectiveness in addressing the challenge of acronym and symbol sense disambiguation. Furthermore, ChatGPT exhibited a strong correlation, surpassing 70%, with human gold standards when evaluating similarity and relatedness.

Construction and validation of serum Metabolic Risk Score for early warning of malignancy in esophagus.

Using noninvasive biomarkers to identify high-risk individuals prior to endoscopic examination is crucial for optimization of screening strategies for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We conducted a nested case-control study based on two community-based screening cohorts to evaluate the warning value of serum metabolites for esophageal malignancy. The serum samples were collected at enrollment when the cases had not been diagnosed. We identified 74 differential metabolites and two prominent perturbed metabolic pathways, and constructed Metabolic Risk Score (MRS) based on 22 selected metabolic predictors. The MRS generated an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.815. The model performed well for the within-1-year interval (AUC: 0.868) and 1-to-5-year interval (AUC: 0.845) from blood draw to diagnosis, but showed limited ability in predicting long-term cases (>5 years). In summary, the MRS could serve as a potential early warning and risk stratification tool for establishing a precision strategy of ESCC screening.

A systematic literature review of 74 Chinese blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm patients.

Background: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and aggressive hematological cancer. Due to its low incidence, researchers struggle to gather sufficient prospective data to inform clinical treatment. Objectives: We sought to summarize the clinical characteristics and current treatment methods of BPDCN and provide more specific guidance on treatment options. Design: A systematic literature review using data from 74 Chinese BPDCN patients. Date resources and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical manifestations, treatment response, survival outcomes, and prognostic factors of six BPDCN patients treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and 68 patients described in 28 articles published in the China Knowledge Network database since 2019. Results: In Chinese patients, the disease occurred with a male-to-female ratio of 2.52 and a median age of onset of 50 years in adults and 10 years in pediatric patients. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed distinctive immune phenotypes of BPDCN cells, characterized by high expression levels of CD4, CD56, CD123, and HLA-DR, while showing minimal to no expression of myeloperoxidase (MPO), CD20, and CD79a. There was no significant difference in the initial complete remission (CR) rate, relapse rate, and the overall survival (OS) time of patients receiving acute myeloid leukemia-like, acute lymphocytic leukemia-like, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-like chemotherapy regimens. Univariate analysis identified CD3 expression, male gender, and central nervous system infiltration as hazardous factors. In multivariate analysis, age proved to be an independent prognostic indicator, indicating better prognosis and longer OS time in younger patients. Notably, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) emerged as a significant factor in improving the survival outcomes for individuals diagnosed with BPDCN. However, further investigation is needed to explore the role of HSCT and the best timing for its implementation in pediatric BPDCN patients. Conclusion: Administering HSCT during the initial CR state following inductive chemotherapy might extend the OS and improve the prognosis of patients with BPDCN.

Systematic literature review of 74 BPDCN patients Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare, aggressive neoplasm that derives from the precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC), accounting for 0.44% of hematological malignancy. Although CD123 targeted therapy has been implemented in the treatment of BPDCN, but a unique complication, capillary leak syndrome presents a therapeutic challenge, and retrospective analysis of conventional chemotherapy regimens is of irreplaceable importance for patients cannot tolerate CD123 targeted therapy. For the first time, we conduced retrospective analysis of large-scale clinical cases based on Chinese patients, and found that age and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were two independent prognostic factors of BPDCN. In conclusion, younger patients had longer overall survival (OS) time and better prognosis. Combining HSCT in the initial complete remission state significantly prolonged the OS time and improved survival outcomes of BPDCN patients.

Elucidation of the Biosynthesis of Griseoluteic Acid in Streptomyces griseoluteus P510.

Phenazines are aromatic compounds with antifungal and cytotoxic activities. Phenazines incorporating phenazine 1-carboxylic acid have widespread applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Griseoluteic acid is a cytotoxic compound secreted by Streptomyces griseoluteus P510, displaying potential medical applications. However, the biosynthetic pathway of griseoluteic acid has not been elucidated, limiting its development and application. In this study, a conserved phenazine biosynthetic gene cluster of S. griseoluteus P510 was identified through genomic analysis. Subsequently, its was confirmed that the four essential modification enzymes SgpH, SgpI, SgpK, and SgpL convert phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylic acid into griseoluteic acid by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. Moreover, the biosynthetic pathway of griseoluteic acid was established in Pseudomonas chlororaphis characterized by a high growth rate and synthesis efficiency of phenazines, laying the foundation for the efficient production of griseoluteic acid.

Inefficacy of anti-VEGF therapy reflected in VEGF-mediated photoreceptor degeneration.

Retinal neovascularization (RNV) is primarily driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, current anti-VEGF therapies are limited by short half-lives and repeated injections, which reduce patient quality of life and increase medical risks. Additionally, not all patients benefit from anti-VEGF monotherapy, and some problems, such as unsatisfactory vision recovery, persist after long-term treatment. In this study, we constructed a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV), AAV2-SPLTH, which encodes an anti-VEGF antibody similar to bevacizumab, and assessed its effects in a doxycycline-induced Tet-opsin-VEGFA mouse model of RNV. AAV2-SPLTH effectively inhibited retinal leakage, RNV progression, and photoreceptor apoptosis in a Tet-opsin-VEGF mouse model. However, proteomic sequencing showed that AAV2-SPLTH failed to rescue the expression of phototransduction-related genes, which corresponded to reduced photoreceptor cell numbers. This study suggests that anti-VEGF monotherapy can significantly inhibit RNV to some extent but may not be enough to save visual function in the long term.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and colorectal polyp/colorectal cancer.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) plays an important role in the development of gastric cancer, although its association to colorectal polyp (CP) or colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. In this issue of World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhang et al investigated the risk factors for H. pylori infection after colon polyp resection. Importantly, the researchers used R software to create a prediction model for H. pylori infection based on their findings. This editorial gives an overview of the association between H. pylori and CP/CRC, including the clinical significance of H. pylori as an independent risk factor for CP/CRC, the underlying processes of H. pylori-associated carcinogenesis, and the possible risk factors and identification of H. pylori.

Exploration of anatomical distribution of brain metastasis from breast cancer at first diagnosis assisted by artificial intelligence.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the spatial distribution of brain metastases (BMs) from breast cancer (BC) and to identify the high-risk sub-structures in BMs that are involved at first diagnosis. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were retrospectively reviewed at our centre. The brain was divided into eight regions according to its anatomy and function, and the volume of each region was calculated. The identification and volume calculation of metastatic brain lesions were accomplished using an automatically segmented 3D BUC-Net model. The observed and expected rates of BMs were compared using 2-tailed proportional hypothesis testing. Results: A total of 250 patients with BC who presented with 1694 BMs were retrospectively identified. The overall observed incidences of the substructures were as follows: cerebellum, 42.1 %; frontal lobe, 20.1 %; occipital lobe, 9.7 %; temporal lobe, 8.0 %; parietal lobe, 13.1 %; thalamus, 4.7 %; brainstem, 0.9 %; and hippocampus, 1.3 %. Compared with the expected rate based on the volume of different brain regions, the cerebellum, occipital lobe, and thalamus were identified as higher risk regions for BMs (P value ≤ 5.6*10-3). Sub-group analysis according to the type of BC indicated that patients with triple-negative BC had a high risk of involvement of the hippocampus and brainstem. Conclusions: Among patients with BC, the cerebellum, occipital lobe and thalamus were identified as higher-risk regions than expected for BMs. The brainstem and hippocampus were high-risk areas of the BMs in triple negative breast cancer. However, further validation of this conclusion requires a larger sample size.

Mitochondrial genomes of four slug moths (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae): Genome description and phylogenetic implications.

The family Limacodidae belongs to the superfamily Zygaenoidea, which includes 1672 species commonly referred to as slug moths. Limacodidae larvae are major pests for many economically important plant species and can cause human dermatitis. At present, the structure of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome), phylogenetic position, and adaptive evolution of slug moths are poorly understood. Herein, the mitogenomes of Parasa lepida, Phlossa conjuncta, Thosea sinensis, and Setora sinensis were sequenced and compared with other available mitogenome sequences to better characterize the mitogenomic diversity and evolution of this moth family. The mitogenomes of P. lepida, P. conjuncta, T. sinensis, and S. sinensis were confirmed to be circular in structure with lengths of 15,575 bp, 15,553 bp, 15,535 bp, and 15,529 bp, respectively. The Limacodidae mitogenomes exhibited similar nucleotide composition, codon usage, RNA structure, and control region patterns, indicating the conservation of the mitogenome in the family Limacodidae. A sliding window, Ka/Ks, and genetic distance analyses revealed that the atp8 and nad6 genes exhibited the highest levels of variability and the most rapid evolutionary rates among the 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) encoded in these Limacodidae mitogenomes, suggesting that they may offer value as candidate DNA markers. The phylogenetic analysis recovered the overall relationship as Tortricoidea + (Sesiidae + (Zygaenoidea + (Cossoidea/+Choreutoidea + (others)))). Within Zygaenoidea, Limacodidae was recovered as monophyletic, and the phylogenetic relationships were recovered as (Phaudidae + Zyganidae) + Limacodidae in all six phylogenetic trees. The analysis indicated that P. lepida, P. conjuncta, T. sinensis, and S. sinensis are members of the Limacodidae.

Modified EBP-bFGF targeting endogenous renal extracellular matrix protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a life-threatening disease primarily caused by renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, which can result in renal failure. Currently, growth factor therapy is considered a promising and effective approach for AKI treatment. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an angiogenic factor with potent activity, efficiently stimulates angiogenesis and facilitates regeneration of renal tissue. However, the unrestricted diffusion of bFGF restricts its clinical application in AKI treatment. Therefore, developing a novel sustained released system for bFGF could enhance its potential in treating AKI. In this study, we genetically engineered a multifunctional recombinant protein by fusing bFGF with a specific peptide (EBP). EBP-bFGF effectively binds to the extracellular matrix in the injured kidney, enabling slow release of bFGF in AKI. Furthermore, following orthotopic injection into I/R rats' ischemic kidneys, EBP-bFGF exhibited stable retention within the tissue. Additionally, EBP-bFGF suppressed apoptosis of renal cells, reduced renal fibrosis, and facilitated recovery of renal function. These findings suggest that EBP-bFGF delivery system represents a promising strategy for treating AKI.

The roles of adenosine signaling in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with multiple etiological factors. Immune disorder contributes to SLE development and is an important clinical manifestation of SLE patients. Immune dysfunction is characterized by abnormal of B cells, T cells, monocyte-macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), in both quantity and quality. Adenosine is a critical factor for human immune homeostasis, which acts as an immunosuppressive signal and can prevent the hyperactivity of human immune system. Adenosine levels are significant decreased in serum from SLE patients. Adenosine level is regulated by the CD39, CD73 and adenosine deaminase (ADA). CD39/CD73/ADA catalyzed the cascade enzymatic reaction, which contained the adenosine generation and degradation. Adenosine affects the function of various immune cells via bind to the adenosine receptors, which are expressed on the cell surface. This review aims to export the changes of immune cells and adenosine signal pathway in SLE, as well as the effect of adenosine signal pathway in SLE development.

Unraveling the role of C1GALT1 in abnormal glycosylation and colorectal cancer progression.

C1GALT1 plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression through its involvement in various molecular mechanisms. This enzyme is central to the O-glycosylation process, producing tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACA) like Tn and sTn, which are linked to cancer metastasis and poor prognosis. The interaction between C1GALT1 and core 3 synthase is crucial for the synthesis of core 3 O-glycans, essential for gastrointestinal health and mucosal barrier integrity. Aberrations in this pathway can lead to CRC development. Furthermore, C1GALT1's function is significantly influenced by its molecular chaperone, Cosmc, which is necessary for the proper folding of T-synthase. Dysregulation in this complex interaction contributes to abnormal O-glycan regulation, facilitating cancer progression. Moreover, C1GALT1 affects downstream signaling pathways and cellular behaviors, such as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), by modifying O-glycans on key receptors like FGFR2, enhancing cancer cell invasiveness and metastatic potential. Additionally, the enzyme's relationship with MUC1, a mucin protein with abnormal glycosylation in CRC, highlights its role in cancer cell immune evasion and metastasis. Given these insights, targeting C1GALT1 presents a promising therapeutic strategy for CRC, necessitating further research to develop targeted inhibitors or activators. Future efforts should also explore C1GALT1's potential as a biomarker for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response monitoring in CRC, alongside investigating combination therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Yap drives the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: To assess the influence of serum level of YAP on laboratory examination findings, imaging findings and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis patients combined cardiovascular disease (RA-CVD). Methods: RA-CVD patients (n=60), RA-nCVD patients (n=60) and healthy subjects (n=60) were recruited. Serum levels of YAP in them were detected by qRT-PCR. Their baseline characteristics were analyzed and compared. Disease activity, CVD risk factors and imaging findings in RA-CVD and RA-nCVD patients were evaluated and compared. In addition, potential influences of YAP on disease activity, CVD risk factors and imaging findings in RA-CVD patients were assessed. Results: RA-CVD patients had higher levels of ERS, anti-CCP, RF, HDL-C, CRP, FRS, BNP, LA, LVs, LVd and cIMT, and lower level of EF in comparison to RA-nCVD patients. Serum level of YAP was higher in RA-CVD patients than that of RA-nCVD patients and healthy subjects. YAP level was positively correlated to DAS28, TG, CRP, PLT, FRS, BNP and cIMT in RA-CVD patients. Conclusions: Serum level of YAP increases in RA-CVD patients. YAP is a potential factor driving the development of CVD in RA patients through regulating inflammatory response, lipid metabolism, glycometabolism and thrombosis.