Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of NOX4 as a biomarker for pan-cancer prognosis and immune infiltration.

BACKGROUND: NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) has been proven to be associated with the prognosis of tumors in multiple cancers and can serve as a potential immunotherapy target to provide new treatment options for various tumors. In this study, our aim is to conduct an in-depth investigation of NOX4 across a range of cancer types to determine the relationship between NOX4 and tumors. METHODS: Utilizing large-scale transcriptomic and clinical data from public databases, a systematic examination of NOX4 expression patterns was performed in pan-cancer cohorts. Survival analysis, methylation analysis, and correlation studies were employed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic significance of NOX4 in diverse cancer types. Additionally, an exploration of the relationship between NOX4 expression and immune infiltration across various tumors was conducted. RESULTS: The analyses unveiled a consistent upregulation of NOX4 expression in multiple cancer types relative to normal tissues, indicating its potential as a universal cancer biomarker. Elevated NOX4 expression significantly correlated with poor overall survival in several cancers. Furthermore, the study demonstrated a robust correlation between NOX4 expression and immune cell infiltration, signifying its involvement in the modulation of the tumor microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS: This study imparts valuable insights into the potential applications of NOX4 in cancer research, highlighting its significance as a multifaceted biomarker with diagnostic, prognostic, and immunomodulatory implications across diverse malignancies.

Intraoperative use of tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss during cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss and allogeneic transfusion requirements in various surgical procedures. The role of tranexamic acid during cytoreductive procedures in advanced ovarian cancer is not clear. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a single center randomized, controlled, three-armed clinical trial. A total of 150 ovarian cancer patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery were recruited and assigned to three groups (n = 50/group): the control group (normal saline), low-dose group (10 mg/kg bolus + 1 mg/kg continuous infusion of tranexamic acid), and high-dose group (20 mg/kg bolus + 5 mg/kg continuous infusion of tranexamic acid). The primary endpoint was intraoperative blood loss volume and total blood loss volume, and secondary endpoints included intraoperative blood transfusion volumes, vasoactive agent consumption, admission into the intensive care unit, and incidence of postoperative complications within postoperative 30 days. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04360629. RESULTS: The patients in the high-dose group had less intraoperative (median [IQR]: 625.3 mL [343.5-1210.5]) and total blood loss volume (748.9 mL [292.2-1650.2]) than those in the control group (1015.5 mL [679.4-1015.5], p = 0.012; and 1700.7 mL [458.7-2419.8], p = 0.004, respectively). In contrast, the intraoperative (992.5 mL [539.0-1404.0], p = 0.874) and total blood loss volume (1025.0 mL [381.8-1819.9], p = 0.113) was not significantly reduced in the low-dose group when compared with the control group. Correspondingly, the relative risk of blood transfusion (RR [95% CI], 0.405 [0.180-0.909], p = 0.028) was reduced in the high-dose group and required less intraoperative noradrenaline (881.0 ± 438.3 mg) to maintain stable hemodynamics than the control group (1548.0 ± 349.8 mg, p = 0.001). Furthermore, compared with the control group, the two tranexamic acid groups had decreased intensive care unit admission rates (p = 0.016) without increasing the incidence of postoperative seizure, acute kidney injury, and thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose tranexamic acid is more effective in reducing blood loss and blood transfusion without increasing the risk of postoperative complications. The high-dose regime tended to have a better risk-benefit profile.

Probing the role of surface activated oxygen species of CeO2 nanocatalyst during the redox cycle in CO oxidation.

The oxygen species of CeO2 nanocatalysts plays a key role in the CO oxidation. In this work, nanocrystalline CeO2 with infrared spectroscopy detectable surface superoxide (O2 -) species at room temperature is fabricated and CO oxidation is used as a probe reaction for the exploration of the characteristics of surface O2 - species on the CeO2 surface. We discover that the surface O2 - species have ignorable influences on the overall reaction rate of CO oxidation on pure ceria by comparing P-CeO2 (CeO2 prepared by precipitation method) with HT-CeO2 (CeO2 prepared by hydrothermal method). It is concluded that the reaction between CO molecules and surface O2 - species is the first and the fast step in the whole redox cycle, while the release of surface lattice oxygen is the second and the rate determining step of the catalysts. This work gives an intuitionistic exploration on the redox properties of pure nanocrystalline CeO2 with surface O2 - species and reveals the influences of these species in the whole redox circle of CO oxidation.

Horner Syndrome Following Intercostal Nerve Block Via an Anterolateral Approach in Breast Lumpectomy: A Prospective Nested Case-control Study.

BACKGROUND: Lumpectomy is important for preventing malignant changes in benign tumors and diagnosing malignant tumors. Intercostal nerve blocks (ICNBs) are useful for breast lumpectomy as either the primary anesthetic or as an adjuvant anesthetic procedure. To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the association between Horner syndrome and ICNB. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the characteristics of and related risk factors for Horner syndrome after ICNB. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, nested case-control study. SETTING: Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre from April 2020 through July 2020. METHODS: Patients scheduled for breast lumpectomy under ICNB from April 2020 through July 2020 in our hospital were recruited. The ICNB was introduced at the intersection of the midaxillary line and the inferior border of the ribs, according to the location of the mass. Horner syndrome indicators were assessed one, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes and 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours after ICNB. Personal data (age, body mass index [BMI], ASA classes), data on anesthetic (the puncture points, dose of local anesthetics, duration of ICNB, Horner syndrome indicators, other complications) and data on postoperative recovery (postoperative activity time, postoperative feeding time) were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Ipsilateral Horner syndrome was found in 35 of 998 (3.5%) patients. Ipsilateral miosis, the first symptom to appear and last to disappear, occurred within 4 minutes and lasted 45 minutes to 240 minutes after ICNB. Seven patients showed obvious ipsilateral facial flushing. Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that independent risk factors for Horner syndrome after ICNB were age <= 45 years, body mass index <= 18.5 kg/m2, and the need for a second ICNB. LIMITATIONS: Firstly, the patients in this study are all adult women, and the applicability of other populations is uncertain. Secondly, the flow trajectory of local anesthetics was not confirmed by imaging tracers. CONCLUSIONS: ICNB via an anterolateral approach promoted enhanced recovery after breast lumpectomy. The incidence of Horner syndrome following ICNB for breast lumpectomy was 3.5%. Horner syndrome occurred on the ipsilateral side of the ICNB and was reversible. Younger age, lower BMI, and the need for a second ICNB were risk factors for Horner syndrome after ICNB. KEY WORDS: Horner's syndrome, intercostal nerve block, breast lumpectomy, enhanced recovery.

SET8 participates in lipopolysaccharide-mediated BV2 cell inflammation via modulation of TICAM-2 expression.

Microglial inflammation, involved in the occurrence and development of sepsis-associated encephalopathy, exhibits upregulation of proinflammatory cytokine and proinflammatory enzyme expression, leading to inflammation-induced neuronal cell apoptosis. TIR domain containing adaptor molecule-2 (TICAM-2) participates in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated BV2 cell inflammation. SET8 plays a crucial role in a variety of cellular signal pathways. In this study, we hypothesize that SET8 participates in LPS-mediated microglial inflammation via modulation of TICAM-2 expression. Our data indicated that LPS induced BV2 inflammation via upregulation of TICAM-2 expression. Moreover, LPS treatment inhibited SET8 expression, while it increased activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) expression. The effects of sh-SET8 and ATF2 overexpression were similar to that of LPS treatments. Inhibition of TICAM-2 expression counteracted sh-SET8-mediated and ATF2 overexpression mediated BV2 cell inflammation. Further, SET8 was found to interact with ATF2. A mechanistic study found that H4K20me1, a downstream target of SET8, and ATF2 enriched at the TICAM-2 promoter region. Luciferase reporter assays indicated that sh-SET8 increased TICAM-2 promoter activity but augmented the effect of ATF2 overexpression on TICAM-2 promoter activity as well. Co-transfection of sh-SET8 with ATF2 overexpression more dramatically increased TICAM-2 expression in BV2 cells. The present study indicated that SET8 interacted with ATF2 to modulate TICAM-2 expression, which participated in LPS-mediated BV2 cell inflammation.

Isolation, Identification and Characteristics of Aeromonas veronii From Diseased Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus gibelio).

Aeromonas species often cause disease in farmed fish. In the present study, dominant bacteria were isolated from diseased crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Based on this, a bacterial isolate was tentatively named CFJY-623. This isolate was identified as Aeromonas veronii based on analysis of its morphological, physiological, and biochemical features, as well as 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences. Six virulence genes related to pathogenicity including aerolysin, cytotonic enterotoxins, elastase, glycerophospholipid: cholesterol acyltransferase, lipase, and serine protease were identified in this A. veronii isolate. The median lethal dosage (LD50) of the CFJY-623 isolate for crucian carp was determined as 1.31 × 107 CFU/mL. Artificial experimental infection showed that the CFJY-623 isolate caused considerable histological lesions in the fish, including tissue cell degeneration, necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltrating. Drug sensitivity testing showed that the isolate was susceptible to aminoglycosides, carbapenemes, and nitrofurans. Exploring its growing features showed that this isolate exhibited a high level of environmental adaptability. These results provided a scientific basis for the identification of A. veronii and treatment for fish infected by this pathogen.

An Evaluation of Thyromental Distance-based Method or Weight-based Method in Determining the Size of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Supreme: A Randomized Controlled Study.

The successful placement of Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Supreme in adults largely depends on right selection of its size. Most anesthesiologists determine the size of LMA according to patients' body weight, which does not always work well. An alternative method should be established to guarantee higher efficacy of ventilation through LMA Supreme placement. This controlled study was designed to compare the efficacy of LMA Supreme placement, when the size of it is determined by body weight or by thyromental distance. Eighty healthy individuals with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 to 2 scheduled for elective ambulatory surgery were randomly allocated into 2 groups: thyromental distance-based group (n = 40) and weight-based group (n = 40). Efficacy of controlled ventilation through LMA, easy of device placement, and pharyngeal sealing were evaluated between the groups. The tidal volume under 10 cm H2O pressure-controlled ventilation in thyromental distance-based group was significantly higher than that in weight-based group (523.9 ±â€Š135.4 vs 477.1 ±â€Š185.6; P = 0.031). The number of patients who achieved "excellent" tidal volume (>8 mL/kg) were significantly more in the thyromental distance-based group (24/40 vs 13/40; P = 0.019). Among overweight patients (body mass index >23), those who achieved "excellent" tidal volume (>8 mL/kg) under 10 cm H2O pressure-controlled ventilation were also more in thyromental distanced-based group than in weight-based group (11/24 vs 2/24; P = 0.031). The time taken for successful insertion was shorter with the thyromental distance-based group compared with the weight-based group (54.6 ±â€Š33.6 vs 87.8 ±â€Š98.9; P = 0.021). Oropharyngeal leak pressure was pretty close between the 2 groups (26.4 ±â€Š5.1 vs 25.0 ±â€Š5.7 cm H2O; P = 0.180). In terms of guaranteeing better positive pressure ventilation, facilitating device placement, and reliable pharyngeal sealing, thyromental distance-based method can be a better option compared with the weight-based method for LMA Supreme size selection.