A novel model combining genes associated with disulfidptosis and glycolysis to predict breast cancer prognosis, molecular subtypes, and treatment response.

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Disulfidptosis is a novel type of regulated cell death that happens in the presence of glucose deficiency and is linked to the metabolic process of glycolysis. However, the mechanism of action of disulfidptosis and glycolysis-related genes (DGRG) in BC, as well as their prognostic value in BC patients, remain unknown. After identifying the differentially expressed DGRG in normal and BC tissues, a number of machine learning algorithms were utilized to select essential prognostic genes to develop a model, including SLC7A11, CACNA1H, SDC1, CHST1, and TFF3. The expression characteristics of these genes were then examined using single-cell RNA sequencing, and BC was classified into three clusters using "ConsensusClusterPlus" based on these genes. The DGRG model's median risk score can categorize BC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. Furthermore, we investigated variations in clinical landscape, immunoinvasion analysis, tumor immune dysfunction and rejection (TIDE), and medication sensitivity in patients in the DGRG model's high- and low-risk groups. Patients in the low-risk group performed better on immunological and chemotherapeutic therapies and had lower TIDE scores. In conclusion, the DGRG model we developed has significant clinical application potential because it can accurately predict the prognosis of BC, TME, and pharmacological treatment responses.

Accuracy of lung and diaphragm ultrasound in predicting infant weaning outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although lung and diaphragm ultrasound are valuable tools for predicting weaning results in adults with MV, their relevance in children is debatable. The goal of this meta-analysis was to determine the predictive value of lung and diaphragm ultrasound in newborn weaning outcomes. Methods: For eligible studies, the databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase were thoroughly searched. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) method was used to evaluate the study's quality. Results were gathered for sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the area under the curve of summary receiver operating characteristic curves (AUSROC). To investigate the causes of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses and meta-regression were conducted. Results: A total of 11 studies were suitable for inclusion in the meta-analysis, which included 828 patients. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of lung ultrasound (LUS) were 0.88 (95%CI, 0.85-0.90) and 0.81 (95%CI, 0.75-0.87), respectively. The DOR for diaphragmatic excursion (DE) is 13.17 (95%CI, 5.65-30.71). The AUSROC for diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) is 0.86 (95%CI, 0.82-0.89). The most sensitive and specific method is LUS. The DE and DTF were the key areas where study heterogeneity was evident. Conclusions: Lung ultrasonography is an extremely accurate method for predicting weaning results in MV infants. DTF outperforms DE in terms of diaphragm ultrasound predictive power.

Diagnostic Ideas and Management Strategies for Thrombocytopenia of Unknown Causes in Pregnancy.

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment options together with the maternal and neonatal prognoses in women with different degrees of thrombocytopenia of unknown causes during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty-nine cases meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into group A (50*109/L) and group B (50*109/L to 100*109/L) according to the lowest level of platelet count during pregnancy. Patients were divided into those found to have thrombocytopenia in the relatively early, middle, and late stages according to the detection period of maternal thrombocytopenia during pregnancy. Results: There were 72 cases in group A, and 57 cases in group B. There existed statistically significant differences in terms of the proportion of primipara, the proportion with a history of thrombocytopenia, and the median length of pregnancy between the two groups (p < 0.05). The proportion of patients with severe thrombocytopenia as an indication for cesarean delivery was higher in group A than in group B (p < 0.05). More cases were detected at the relatively early stages of pregnancy in group A than in group B (p < 0.05). There was no difference in neonatal hemorrhage and events of thrombocytopenia between the two groups. Conclusion: Patients with platelet counts below 50*109/L were mostly primipara with a history of thrombocytopenia, most often detected at a relatively early stage of pregnancy, and continued pregnancy might lead to aggravation of the disease. Combination therapy was required for patients with platelet counts below 30*109/L to maintain the platelet counts within a safe range. Cesarean delivery was selected to terminate the pregnancies, and platelet counts should be raised above 50*109/L before surgery. Close monitoring was required for those with platelet counts above 30*109/L. There was no direct correlation between the maternal and neonatal platelet counts.

Meta-analysis of heparin combined with aspirin versus aspirin alone for unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

BACKGROUND: Unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) frustrates women of childbearing age profoundly, and effective therapies are particularly important. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of heparin combined with aspirin and aspirin alone for URSA. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Clinical key and Cochrane Library) were searched for relevant studies from database inception to August 2019. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies of women of childbearing age with at least two consecutive abortions were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Relevant items were extracted, tabulated, and subjected to STATA for data analysis. Study women were divided into group A (taking heparin plus aspirin) and group B (taking aspirin alone). The primary outcome was the rate of live birth. MAIN RESULTS: Women from eight randomized controlled trials were included: 493 in group A and 501 in group B. The number of live births was significantly higher in group A (P=0.003). The result remained the same in subgroup analysis by presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Among women who had a live birth, gestational age at delivery tended to be older in group B (P=0.054). No differences in birthweight or intrauterine growth restriction were observed. Adverse effects were sporadically reported. CONCLUSION: Among women with URSA, heparin combined with aspirin increased the live birth rate as compared with aspirin alone. There was a beneficial tendency of taking aspirin-only to prolong gestation week.

Surgical Decompression versus Conservative Treatment in Patients with Malignant Infarction of the Middle Cerebral Artery: Direct Comparison of Death-Related Complications.

BACKGROUND: Surgical decompression and conservative treatment are routinely used in the treatment of patients with malignant infarction of the middle cerebral artery (MIMCA). However, efficacy and safety are controversial. The purpose of this study is to systematically compare the clinical outcomes between surgical decompression and conservative treatment in patients with MIMCA. METHODS: This study retrieved available academic randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the clinical outcomes between surgical decompression and conservative treatment in patients with MIMCA from the databases of ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed. The references of previous reviews and related clinical studies were manually checked to retrieve potential literature that was not involved in our electronic search results. RESULTS: A total of 7 RCTs were included in the study. The overall number of participants in the surgical decompression group was 165, whereas it was 173 in the conservative treatment group. The results revealed that the surgical decompression group was related to a lower incidence of 1-year death (odds ratio [OR], 0.192; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.119-0.309; P < 0.001), 1-year death in patients >60 years of age (OR, 0.202; 95% CI, 0.097-0.421; P < 0.001), 1-year death in patients <60 years of age (OR, 0.145; 95% CI, 0.069-0.301; P < 0.001), 1-year death in patients treated within 48 hours of stroke onset (OR, 0.159; 95% CI, 0.090-0.282; P < 0.001), and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤3 (OR, 2.082; 95% CI, 1.185-3.658; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on current evidence for patients with MIMCA, decompressive surgery not only is a life-saving therapy but also reduces the incidence of mortality without increasing the risk of severe disability.

Knockdown of SKA1 gene inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in human adenoid cystic carcinoma.

The spindle and kinetochore-associated complex subunit 1(SKA1) is a newly discovered gene, which has been associated with mitosis and tumorigenesis. However, its role insalivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is still unknown, and the invasive and metastatic mechanism in SACC is still unclear. To explore the molecular mechanism of SKA1 in the process of malignant proliferation and metastasis in adenoid cystic cancer (ACC) cells, we employed lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA to knockdown SKA1 in SACC-83 cells. The results demonstrated that the lentivirus-mediated shRNA-targeting SKA1 lead to a significant down-regulation of SKA1 expression. Knockdown of SKA1 inhibited cell proliferation, cell invasion, migration and the cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, knockdown of SKA1 reduced the Ndc80, CDK4, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E1, Cyclin B1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) protein expression, but increased the p27 protein expression. These findings indicated that SKA1 might be a promising target for cancer gene therapy in human ACC.

Central venous catheter infection-induced Henoch-Schönlein purpura in a patient on hemodialysis.

A 69-year-old man, who had been dialyzed using a permanent central venous catheter for 2 years, presented with Henoch-Schönlein purpura and positive perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA). He was diagnosed with catheter-related infection by Staphylococcus aureus. After administration of antibiotic and steroid therapy, purpura disappeared and p-ANCA gradually became negative. This case supports the conclusion that infection can be pathogenesis of the vasculitis, including ANCA-positive HSP. Additionally, impregnation of catheters with antibiotics can be an effective treatment for catheter infections.

[Self-excising reporter gene in recombinant Fowlpox virus expressing H5 hemagglutinin gene of influenza A virus using Cre-loxp systerm].

Hemagglutinin gene of subtype H5 avian influenza virus was amplified by polymerase chain reaction to construct expression cassette containing FPV early, late promoter and SV40 polyA tail. Then delivery vector was constructed by subcloning hemagglutinin gene of subtype H5 and GFP gene into fowlpox virus recombinant arm. The delivery vector and Lipid were transfected into CEF cells preinfected with FPV 282E4 strain virus. Recombinant fowlpox virus expressing the green fluorescence protein and hemagglutinin gene was screened and plaques were purified in CEF cell. After a second cotransfection with Cre recombinase plasmid, a recombinant virus only including hemagglutinin gene was gained. The immunofluorescent assay and replication efficiency of virus proved the recombinant could replicate steadily and express subtype H5 hemagglutinin gene. Two groups of 8-day-old SPF chickens were vaccinated with rFPVH5 by the wing-web method at the dosage of 10(5) PFU and 2 x 10(5) PFU respectively. After 28 days,antibodies titer was tested by HI. The results showed that the recombinant fowlpox virus could activate high antibody response.

[Effect of preozonation on disinfection by-products formation potential of algae cells and extracellular organic matter].

Water containing Oscillatoria agardii was cultured under controlled conditions and harvested in the late log growth phase. The objective was to determine: the contribution of algae cells and algae extracellular organic matter (EOM) to the disinfection by-products formation potential (DBPFP), and the effects of preozonation including ozone dosage and preozonation time on DBPFP of algae cells and EOM and mechanism of these effects. The results show that the main trihalomethanes from both Oscillatoria cells and EOM are chloroform and bromodichloromethane, and that the main haloacetic acids are dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid. HAAFP from algae cells and EOM themselves or after preozonation followed by coagulation is more than THMFP, which shows that more attention should be paid to the control of HAA in the treatment of algae containing water. DBPFP of EOM is reduced by preozonation, and DBPFP clearly decreases with time. Compared with traditional coagulation, the dosage of 0.975 mg/L preozonation with reaction time of 10 minntes followed by coagulation can decrease DBPFP of EOM by 31% and decrease HAAFP by 52.6%, but increase THMFP by 12.5% under this experiment's condition. This result shows the major reason preozonation can control the DBPFP of EOM is that it can control HAAFP effectively. At the same time, the DBPFP of algae cells is significantly increased by preozonation, and this increase is almost a linear function of preozonation time. It can be concluded that in the real water treatment case most of algae cells should be removed intact before preozonation to control the DBPFP.

[Study of diagnostic criteria of intima-media thickening and effects of drugs on peripheral arteries].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the diagnostic criteria of intima-media thickening (IMT) of the carotid artery, femoral artery and thoracic aorta in normal subjects and evaluate the effects of drugs on IMT in patients with atherosclerosis with high-frequency ultrasound imaging. METHODS: 259 normal subjects and 102 patients with atherosclerosis (AS) were studied. 134 normal subjects were examined by transesophegeal echocardiography. 102 patients with AS were randomly divided into 4 groups:simvastatin group, probucol group, captopril group, and placebo group. The values of IMT, including IMT of the normal segment (IMT(A)) and the maximal IMT of each artery (IMT(B)) of the carotid and femoral arteries, and thoracic aorta, the mean maximal IMT of the 4 arteries (IMT(C)), and the single maximal IMT among the 4 arteries (IMT(D)) were measured. The examinations were repeated in 3 years after treatments. RESULTS: In carotid, and femoral arteries and thoracic aorta, IMT increased with aging. The IMT values of the carotid and femoral arteries and thoracic aorta were 0.63 mm +/- 0.15 mm, 0.68 mm +/- 0.21 mm, 1.02 mm +/- 0.22 mm respectively with the upper limits of 0.93 mm, 1.10 mm, and 1.46 mm respectively. IMT(A) increased 0.023 mm per year. The progression value of IMT(D) in all therapeutic groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the IMT > 0.93 mm, > 1.10 mm, and > 1.46 mm is be defined as indicators of IMT in carotid and femoral arteries and thoracic aorta respectively. Drug therapy can decrease the progression of atherosclerosis but has no effects on the IMT in normal segment of arteries. High frequency ultrasound technique is reliable in monitoring the progression or regression of atherosclerosis in peripheral arteries.