Scorpio and centipede ameliorate asthma by inhibiting the crosstalk between ferroptosis and inflammation in airway epithelial cells.

Objectives: We previously revealed that scorpio and centipede (SC) improve the inflammatory response in asthma, whereas it is unclear whether ferroptosis is involved in this process. Materials and Methods: The asthmatic mouse model was established and lung tissues were collected for histopathological examination. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin- (IL-)1ß, Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed in asthmatic mice and mouse airway epithelial cells. Results: Our results showed that ferroptosis was induced in asthmatic mice, as evidenced by the reduction of FTH1 and GPX4 expression and the increase of MDA and Fe2+ levels (all P<0.05). Ferrostatin-1 repressed inflammation and ferroptosis of asthmatic mice. Additionally, SC significantly inhibited the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, MDA, and Fe2+, while enhancing FTH1 and GPX4 expression. However, SC plus erastin showed the reverse results. Moreover, ferroptosis remarkably increased in asthmatic airway epithelial cells, while SC suppressed ferroptosis of the cells (all P<0.05). Conclusion: SC ameliorated asthma by inhibiting the crosstalk between ferroptosis and inflammation in airway epithelial cells.

A Model for Predicting the Duration of Viral Shedding in Patients Who Had Been Hospitalized with Mild COVID-19: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background: Clinical decision-making is enhanced by the development of a mathematical model for prognosis prediction. Screening criteria associated with viral shedding time and developing a prediction model facilitate clinical decision-making and are, thus, of great medical value. Methods: This study comprised 631 patients who were hospitalized with mild COVID-19 from a single center and 30 independent variables included. The data set was randomly divided into the training set (80%) and the validation set (20%). The outcome variable included viral shedding time and whether the viral shedding time >14 days, LASSO was used to screen the influencing factors. Results: There were 321 males and 310 females among the 631 cases, with an average age of 62.1 years; the median viral shedding time was 12 days, and 68.8% of patients experienced viral shedding within 14 days, with fever (50.9%) and cough (44.2%) being the most common clinical manifestations. Using LASSO with viral shedding time as the outcome variable, the model with lambda as 0.1592 (λ = 0.1592) and 13 variables (eg the time from diagnosis to admission, constipation, cough, hs-CRP, IL-8, IL-1ß, etc.) was more accurate. Factors were screened by LASSO and multivariable logistic regression with whether the viral shedding time >14 days as the outcome variable, five variables, including the time from diagnosis to admission, CD4 cell count, Ct value of ORF1ab, constipation, and IL-8, were included, and a nomogram was drawn; after model validation, the consistency index was 0.888, the AUC was 0.847, the sensitivity was 0.744, and the specificity was 0.830. Conclusion: A clinical model developed after LASSO regression was used to identify the factors that influence the viral shedding time. The predicted performance of the model was good, and it was useful for the allocation of medical resources.

Scorpion and centipede alleviates severe asthma through M2 macrophage-derived exosomal miR-30b-5p.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases. Although the scorpion and centipede (SC) significantly ameliorates asthma and changes exosomal miRNAs, the molecular mechanism is still obscure. Here, we show that SC improves inflammation in asthmatic mice and increases M2 macrophage-derived exosomes (M2Φ-Exos) by promoting M2 macrophage polarization. The M2Φ-Exos remarkably inhibits airway epithelial cell pyroptosis by reducing the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, and LI-1ß and mitochondrial swelling. Furthermore, miR-30b-5p is up-regulated in M2Φ-Exos compared with M1Φ-Exos. Overexpression of miR-30b-5p in M2Φ-Exos prevents airway epithelial cell pyroptosis, while down-regulation of miR-30b-5p promotes pyroptosis. We also uncover that pyroptosis is increased in asthmatic mice, while SC blocks pyroptosis. Moreover, miR-30b-5p overexpressed M2Φ-Exos further enhances the ameliorative effect of SC, which significantly down-regulates IRF7 expression. Our results collectively reveal that M2Φ-Exos induced by SC could carry miR-30b-5p to mitigate severe asthma by inhibiting airway epithelial cell pyroptosis. Most importantly, our findings may provide a potential clinical application of M2Φ-Exos for treating severe asthma.

[Clinical value of CK34BE12 combining the expression of protein P53 gene and prostate specific antigen for the differential diagnosis of prostate carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the level of clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis of benign and malignant prostate lesions. METHODS: One hundred and nine cases of prostate cancer and prostate hyperplasia were evaluated by the expression of high molecular weight cytokeratin (CK34BE12), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and protein P53 gene using the immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: The basal-cells in all of the benign lesions were stained with the CK34BE12 and PSA, while it had not immunoreactivity with P53. In contrast, the prostate carcinoma were not stained or partly stained with the CK34BE12 and PSA, but P53 show significant immunoreactivity with the tissue. CONCLUSION: Based on the routine histological studies with the expression of CK34BE12 and PSA together, they can indicate the existence of basal-cell distinctly and show indirectly whether the basal-cell is integrated. Combining the expression of P53 to determine the existence of cancer gene, it can help to distinguish benign and malignant prostate lesions.

[Diagnosis and treatment of incidental prostate cancer following TUPVP (a report of 15 cases)].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of incidental prostate cancer (IPC) following transurethral plasma kinetic vaporization prostatectomy (TUPVP). METHODS: Pathological examinations were conducted on 134 benign prostate hyperplasia specimens by means of series microtomy after TUPVP. RESULTS: Fifteen cases of IPC were detected from the total number of TUPVP specimens, with a pick-up rate of 11.2%. Dual testicle resection with endocrine therapy was performed in 4 cases of Stage A2 patients, and endocrine therapy alone was conducted in 9 cases of Stage A1 patients. Thirteen patients were followed up for 7 to 15 months and all lived without cancer (PSA 0.15 - 4.0 microg/L). CONCLUSION: TUPVP and series microtomy may be helpful to the diagnosis of IPC. Patients at Stage A1 need mere endocrine therapy, while those at Stage A2 warrant dual testicle resection.