Early-onset Marfan syndrome with aortic dilatation and giant pulmonary artery aneurysm: A case report.

A 30-year-old woman with ankylosing spondylitis was referred to our clinic with abnormal fetal echocardiography findings, including ascending aortic dilatation, giant main pulmonary artery aneurysm, and aortic and pulmonary valve stenosis at 22 weeks of gestation. The full-term male neonate was born by cesarean section and was transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit soon after delivery for respiratory distress with low percutaneous oxygen saturation. Based on cardiovascular and genetic analysis findings, the patient was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. Surgery was performed; however, the patient died due to cardiac arrest. In conclusion, main pulmonary artery dilatation and aneurysms are uncommon in Marfan syndrome; therefore, presentation with these findings during the fetal life, as in the present case, is likely a sign of severe Marfan syndrome-related cardiac involvement.

SLC27A5 promotes sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by downregulating glutathione reductase.

Sorafenib, a first-line drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), shows a favorable anti-tumor effect while resistance is a barrier impeding patients from benefiting from it. Thus, more efforts are needed to lift this restriction. Herein, we first find that solute carrier family 27 member 5 (SLC27A5/FATP5), an enzyme involved in the metabolism of fatty acid and bile acid, is downregulated in sorafenib-resistant HCC. SLC27A5 deficiency facilitates the resistance towards sorafenib in HCC cells, which is mediated by suppressing ferroptosis. Further mechanism studies reveal that the loss of SLC27A5 enhances the glutathione reductase (GSR) expression in a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-dependent manner, which maintains glutathione (GSH) homeostasis and renders insensitive to sorafenib-induced ferroptosis. Notably, SLC27A5 negatively correlates with GSR, and genetic or pharmacological inhibition of GSR strengthens the efficacy of sorafenib through GSH depletion and the accumulation of lipid peroxide products in SLC27A5-knockout and sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Based on our results, the combination of sorafenib and carmustine (BCNU), a selective inhibitor of GSR, remarkably hamper tumor growth by enhancing ferroptotic cell death in vivo. In conclusion, we describe that SLC27A5 serves as a suppressor in sorafenib resistance and promotes sorafenib-triggered ferroptosis via restraining the NRF2/GSR pathway in HCC, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming sorafenib resistance.

Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 variant by convalescent and vaccinated sera.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The Spike protein that mediates coronavirus entry into host cells is a major target for COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapeutics. However, multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged, which may potentially compromise vaccine effectiveness. Using a pseudovirus-based assay, we evaluated SARS-CoV-2 cell entry mediated by the viral Spike B.1.617 and B.1.1.7 variants. We also compared the neutralization ability of monoclonal antibodies from convalescent sera and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) elicited by CoronaVac (inactivated vaccine) and ZF2001 (RBD-subunit vaccine) against B.1.617 and B.1.1.7 variants. Our results showed that, compared to D614G and B.1.1.7 variants, B.1.617 shows enhanced viral entry and membrane fusion, as well as more resistant to antibody neutralization. These findings have important implications for understanding viral infectivity and for immunization policy against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Origin and trend of the upper eyelid artery in the eyelid region of a skull model after blood reperfusion: an anatomical observation / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Upper eyelid flap grafting-related vessels such as superficial temporal artery, supratrochlear artery, supraorbital artery trunk are reported. Upper eyelid artery dissection is becoming more and more important for the surgery on the eyelid, but there is a lack of anatomical analysis of upper eyelid artery. OBJECTIVE: To measure the anatomical position of the upper eyelid artery in the eyelid region, and to provide anatomical basis for adjacent flap grafting. METHODS: Twenty adult skull specimens were dissected, and a reference coordinate system was made based on the inner canthus connection for the X axis, and the center line for the Y axis. The red lactoprene was injected into the skull model via common carotid artery.The locations A-E of the upper eyelid artery in the eyelid area were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The upper eyelid artery in the eyelid area was mainly from the supratrochlear artery and the supraorbital artery, generally paralleling to the X axis. The upper eyelid branch originated from the supratrochlear artery was located at the projection of the inner canthus, with a total length of 24.50 mm, and a diameter of 0.51 mm, extended to the outer canthus and the diameter of the vessel gradually reduced. The upper eyelid branch originated from the supraorbital artery was located at pupil and inner canthus junction 1/2 projection. The total length of the blood vessels was about 23-24.6 mm, and the diameter of the blood vessels was (0.55±0.05) mm. In the current study, we obtained the surface projecting of upper eyelid artery in the eyelid area by establishing the skull model of blood perfusion, which provides an anatomic basis for upper eyelid flap grafting.

Efficacy of cryoablation combined with CpG oligonucleotides in the treatment of murine transplanted colon carcinoma / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy of cryoablation combined with CpG ODN in the treatment of murine transplanted colon carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Colon carcinoma model was established by subcutaneously inoculating CT26 cells into the right flank in BALB/c mice. The tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:the group of PBS injected in peritumoral area, the group of cryoablation, the group of cryoablation combined with CpG ODN, the group of CpG ODN injected in peritumoral area. The tumor size changes were measured. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) were assayed by ELISA. The rates of CD3(+)CD4(+)T, CD3(+)CD8(+)T lymphocytes in serum were counted with flow cytometry. Mice in the cryoablation group and the combined group with tumor regression were re-challenged with CT26 cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survival time of cryoablation group and combined therapy group were (80.3 + or - 5.4) days and (83.8 + or - 5.5) days, respectively, longer than (53.7 + or - 3.7) days in PBS group and (51.5 + or - 6.8) days in CpG ODN group(all P<0.05). The suppress rates of tumor cells in cryoablation group and combined therapy group were 83.8% and 86.2% respectively. After 20 days following treatment, CD3(+)CD4(+)T/CD3(+)CD8(+)T ratio and the concentrations of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in mice serum of cryoablation group and combined therapy group were higher than those in PBS group and CpG ODN group(all P<0.05). No significant difference was found in CD3(+)CD4(+)T/CD3(+)CD8(+)T ratio between cryoablation group and combined therapy group(P>0.05). However, the concentrations of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in combined therapy group were higher than those of cryoablation group(all P<0.05). After re-challenging, tumor formation rate in the cryoablation combined with CpG ODN group was 16.7%, significantly lower than that in the cryoablation group(83.8%)(P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cryoablation combined with CpG ODN can increase antitumor immune response in mice, and therefore can decrease the tumor formation when re-challenged with CT26 cells.</p>

Therapeutic and immunological effects of microwave ablation combined with CpG ODN on transplanted colon carcinoma in mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic and immunological effects of microwave ablation (MA) combined with CpG ODN in mice bearing transplanted colon carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A mouse model bearing colon carcinoma was established by subcutaneously inoculating CT26 cells into the right flank of Balb/c mice. The tumor-bearing mice were randomized into control group with PBS injection in the peritumoral area, MA group, MA combinated with CpG ODN group, and CpG ODN group with CpG ODN injection in the peritumoral area. The tumor volume changes were observed, and serum CD3(+)CD4(+) and CD3(+)CD8(+) T lmyphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry after the treatments. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12 and IFN-gamma were detected by ELISA. The mice in the MA group and the combined treatment group showing tumor regression were rechallenged with CT26 cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference was found in the number of serum CD3(+), CD3(+)CD4(+), or CD3(+)CD8(+) T lymphocytes between the 4 groups. The ratio of CD3(+)CD4(+)/CD3(+)CD8(+) T lymphocytes in the combined treatment group and MA group were 1.58-/+0.10 and 1.53-/+0.13, respectively, significantly higher than that in PBS group and CpG ODN group (P<0.05). The serum concentration of IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-gamma in the combined treatment group were 64.6-/+7.4 pg/ml, 314.1-/+26.9 pg/ml and 61.9-/+7.3 pg/ml, respectively, significantly higher than those in the other 3 groups (P<0.05). The tumor formation rate in the combined treatment group was significantly lower than that in MA group (25.0% vs 75.0%, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CpG ODN can enhance the immunity and decrease the tumor formation rate following a rechallenge with CT26 cells in mice treated with MA.</p>

Construction and identification of blood type B antigen mimetic polypeptide-Mip3beta double expression recombinant plasmid / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct and identify blood type B antigen mimetic polypeptide-macrophage inflammatory protein 3beta (Mip3beta) double expression recombinant plasmid.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The positive phage clone P1 was obtained using phage random 12-mer peptide library. Specific primers were designed to amplify the phage DNA of P1 and transmembrane domain and inner segment of PBluscript-Fas gene. The products of the amplification were linked into Mip3betav21 to construct blood type B antigen mimetic polypeptide-Mip3beta double expression recombinant plasmid. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into human melanoma cell line B16 to identify its expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</b>Blood type B antigen mimetic polypeptide-Mip3beta double expression recombinant plasmid is successfully obtained and expressed in human melanoma cell line B16.</p>