Research progress of phage therapy in orthopedic implant-related infection / 中华外科杂志

The widespread application of implantable materials has brought about a corresponding increase in implant-related complications, with implant-associated infections being the most critical. Biofilms, which often form on these implants, can significantly impede the effectiveness of traditional antibiotic therapies. Therefore, strategies such as surgical removal of infected implants and prolonged antibiotic treatment have been acknowledged as effective measures to eradicate these infections. However,the challenges of antibiotic resistance and biofilm persistence often result in recurrent or hard-to-control infections, posing severe health threats to patients. Recent studies suggest that phages, a type of virus, can directly eliminate pathogenic bacteria and degrade biofilms. Furthermore, clinical trials have demonstrated promising therapeutic results with the combined use of phages and antibiotics. Consequently, this innovative therapy holds significant potential as an effective solution for managing implant-associated infections. This paper rigorously investigates and evaluates the potential value of phage therapy in addressing orthopedic implant-associated infections, based on a comprehensive review of relevant scientific literature.

Identification of PSMB9 and CXCL13 as Immune-related Diagnostic Markers for Rheumatoid Arthritis by Machine Learning.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes significant physical and psychological damage. Although researchers have gained a better understanding of the mechanisms of RA, there are still difficulties in diagnosing and treating RA. We applied a data mining approach based on machine learning algorithms to explore new RA biomarkers and local immune cell status. METHODS: We extracted six RA synovial microarray datasets from the GEO database and used bioinformatics to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and associated functional enrichment pathways. In addition, we identified potential RA diagnostic markers by machine learning strategies and validated their diagnostic ability for early RA and established RA, respectively. Next, CIBERSORT and ssGSEA analyses explored alterations in synovium-infiltrating immune cell subpopulations and immune cell functions in the RA synovium. Moreover, we examined the correlation between biomarkers and immune cells to understand their immune-related molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of RA. RESULTS: We obtained 373 DEGs (232 upregulated and 141 downregulated genes) between RA and healthy controls. Enrichment analysis revealed a robust correlation between RA and immune response. Comprehensive analysis indicated PSMB9, CXCL13, and LRRC15 were possible potential markers. PSMB9 (AUC: 0.908, 95% CI: 0.853-0.954) and CXCL13 (AUC: 0.890, 95% CI: 0.836-0.937) also showed great diagnostic ability in validation dataset. Infiltrations of 16 kinds of the immune cell were changed, with macrophages being the predominant infiltrating cell type. Most proinflammatory pathways in immune cell function were activated in RA. The correlation analysis found the strongest positive correlation between CXCL13 and plasma cells, PSMB9, and macrophage M1. CONCLUSION: There is a robust correlation between RA and local immune response. The immune-related CXCL13 and PSMB9 were identified as potential diagnostic markers for RA based on a machine learning approach. Further in-depth exploration of the target genes and associated immune cells can deepen the understanding of RA pathophysiological processes and provide new insights into diagnosing and treating RA.

Scientific Knowledge Graph and Trend Analysis of Central Sensitization: A Bibliometric Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Central sensitization refers to a state of hypersensitivity in the central nervous system and is associated with the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Central sensitization plays an essential role in various diseases. Nevertheless, there has been no bibliometric analysis before in this field. The purpose of this study was to provide critical themes and trends in the area of central sensitization, to build a network of knowledge, and to facilitate the future development of relevant basic and clinical research. METHODS: Publications on central sensitization were extracted from the Science Citation Index-Expanded. We used R software to systematically analyze the countries, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords of the publications. Besides, conceptual structure, intellectual structure, and social structure were constructed. RESULTS: A total of 4466 publications were included. Research in the field of central sensitization generally showed a steady upward trend. The three structural networks showed that the United States is the leading country in this field. Arendt-Nielsen L and Woolf CJ were the most productive and influential authors, respectively. "Pain" was the journal with the most studies. Most journals that published and cited articles about central sensitization were academically influential. Cluster analysis revealed that research in central sensitization contains three main conceptual clusters, and the themes of research evolve frequently. Current research focuses on the pathogenesis of central sensitization in neuropathic pain, the role of central sensitization in different diseases, and related clinical double-blind trials. CONCLUSION: Central sensitization received widespread attention. The United States led the way in academic activity. In this field, the current situation of cooperation and communication between different countries and institutions is positive. The present research hotspots were the pathogenesis of central sensitization in neuropathic pain, the role of central sensitization in different diseases, and related clinical double-blind trials.