基于网络药理学探讨黄精-百合药对抗癌作用的机制

目的:通过网络药理学的方法筛选黄精-百合药对中的有效成分,预测治疗癌症的作用靶点及信号通路,进一步探讨潜在作用机制。方法:使用全称为中药系统药理学分析平台筛选黄精-百合药对中的活性成分和靶点,通过基因疾病关联数据库(Dis Ge NET)与人类孟德尔遗传数据库(OMIM)预测与筛选药对中有效的中药成分作用的疾病靶点。选择生物信息分析学习平台(Omicshare)匹配药物和疾病的靶点,借助复杂网络可视化平台(Cytoscape3. 7. 0)软件构建"药物-成分-疾病"网络。采用蛋白质相互作用网络数据库(String)构建黄精-百合药对治疗癌症的靶点相互作用的网络。最后通过功能注释生物信息学分析平台(DAVID)对黄精-百合药对中关键作用的节点进行生物功能及代谢通路分析。结果:筛选出19个黄精-百合药对的活性成分,根据靶点预测技术预测出相关靶点234个,与疾病靶点有关的活性成分为6个,主要通过调控丝氨酸(Akt)/苏氨酸激酶1(Akt1),Jun原癌基因,AP-1转录因子亚基(JUN),血管内皮生长因子A(VEGFA),基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9),半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3)等靶蛋白,以及癌症中的蛋白多糖,雌激素信号转导通路,人免疫缺陷病毒1感染,缺氧诱导因子-1(HIF-1)信号通路,肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)信号通路,癌症中的微型核糖核酸(MicroRNAs)等通路发挥抗癌作用。结论:黄精-百合药对治疗癌症的作用体现了中药多成分-多靶点-多途径的特点,为阐释其抗癌治疗的作用机制与物质基础提供了科学依据。     

Comprehensive analysis of the relationship between competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks and tumor infiltrating-cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundThe innovation of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) represents a promising shift in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, response to ICB has varied largely due to the high tumor heterogeneity and complex tumor microenvironment (TME). The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network also plays an important role in tumor occurrence and progression, but its relation with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) remains largely unexplored in HCC. The overriding objective of our study was thus to construct a prognosis-related risk model and to further evaluate the relationship between ceRNA networks and TICs.MethodsDifferentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed RNAs. Lasso and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to construct risk models, which were assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC of ROC) and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves. Then, a single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm was adopted to dissect the TICs in HCC samples. Nomograms were constructed and calibration curves were used to verify the discrimination and accuracy of the nomograms. Finally, integration analysis was performed to validate the correlation of ceRNA and TICs.ResultsIn the study, 7 differentially expressed RNAs [5 messenger RNA s (mRNAs) and 2 micro RNAs (miRNAs)] were incorporated to construct a ceRNA risk model. The AUC of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) were 0.784, 0.685, and 0.691 respectively. Likewise, 7 types TICs were in the TICs signature model and the AUC of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were 0.706, 0.731, and 0.721 respectively. The integration analysis showed that 7 pairs of mRNA-TICs and 1 pair of miRNA-TICs had a close relation (all correlation coefficients >0.2, P<0.001).ConclusionsThrough constructing two risk models based on ceRNA network and TICs, we identified the hub RNAs and key TICs in the progression and prognosis of HCC, and further explored the relationship between ceRNA and TME. Importantly, targeting these hub RNAs may facilitate the remodeling of the TME and be a potential therapeutic alternative to enhancing the response to ICB, thus improving the prognosis of HCC patients.     

胶质母细胞瘤差异表达基因的生物信息学分析

目的:应用生物信息学方法挖掘胶质母细胞瘤(GBM)的相关基因，进而探讨发病机制，为GBM临床诊断和靶向治疗提供理论依据。方法:从GEO(Gene Expression Omnibus)数据库下载基因芯片数据集GSE4290和GSE15824，应用GEO2R筛选GBM的差异表达基因(DEGs)。采用DAVID数据库进行GO富集和KEGG通路富集分析，分别应用STRING数据库和Cytoscape软件构建蛋白质相互作用网络和关键基因模块，筛选GBM靶基因。进一步运用ONCOMINE数据库验证临床组织样本中靶基因与GBM的关系。结果:共筛选出76个DEGs，富集分析结果显示DEGs在血管生成的正调节、抗原的呈递和处理、信号转导、调节自噬等方面存在显著富集。共挖掘出POSTN、TAGLN、CALD1、EPCAM 4个GBM靶基因，经证实均在临床GBM组织样本中存在显著上调且靶基因的上调与患者的不良预后密切相关。结论:通过生物信息学共挖掘出4个与GBM显著相关的靶基因，可能是未来GBM发病机制、临床诊断、治疗的重要研究靶点。     

藿朴夏苓汤治疗早期新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）湿邪郁肺证物质基础及功效的网络分析

目的筛选藿朴夏苓汤治疗早期新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)湿邪郁肺证的物质基础,预测其作用机制。方法查阅文献及临床报道分析藿朴夏苓汤与早期COVID-19湿邪郁肺证的方证关系。运用TCMSP数据库筛选藿朴夏苓汤中潜在活性成分,将活性成分与新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)3CL水解酶、血管紧张素转化酶Ⅱ(ACE2)进行分子对接,根据结合能筛选与两者均有较好结合作用的核心成分。借助Cytoscape软件构建关键成分靶点蛋白互作网络,筛选出核心靶点;通过STRING数据库进行核心靶点的GO分析,Cytoscape软件Clue GO插件进行Pathway、KEGG富集分析。结果方证关系分析藿朴夏苓汤用于治疗早期COVID-19湿邪郁肺证,筛选出藿朴夏苓汤中潜在作用成分12个,核心靶点67个。其中通草中的通脱木皂苷元Ⅰ,茯苓、猪苓中的过氧麦角甾醇,半夏中的黄芩苷与SARS-CoV-2 3CL水解酶、ACE2均具有较好的结合活性。GO、Pathway、KEGG富集分析结果显示藿朴夏苓汤中12个潜在作用成分参与调节刺激反应、信号转导、细胞死亡等生物过程以及白介素信号通路、癌症EGFR信号通路、酪氨酸激酶信号转导途径、编程性细胞死亡途径、MAPK信号通路等。结论藿朴夏苓汤以化湿解毒、宣肺透邪治疗早期COVID-19湿邪郁肺证患者,菲酮、黄芩苷、酸枣仁皂苷、啤酒甾醇、常春藤皂苷元、过氧麦角甾醇、柠檬二烯醇、麦角甾-7,22-二烯-3-酮、通脱木皂苷元Ⅰ、泽泻醇B-23-醋酸酯、泽泻醇B、新橙皮苷可能为其主要的物质基础,通过阻断SARS-CoV-2病毒蛋白合成,阻止病毒进入宿主细胞,通过调控白介素信号通路、MAPK信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路、T细胞受体信号通路、C型凝集素受体信号通路,抑制相关炎症因子的表达发挥作用。     

Colitis following the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors: A real-world analysis of spontaneous reports submitted to the FDA adverse event reporting system

BackgroundAlthough colitis has been reported in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), associations between colitis and ICIs had not been thoroughly assessed in real-world studies. Here, we identified and characterized significant colitis-associated with ICIs.MethodsBased on the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from January 2004 to December 2019, the disproportionality analysis and Bayesian analysis, including the reporting odds ratio (ROR), the proportional reporting ratio (PRR), the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN) and the multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS) algorithms were adopted to data mining of the suspected adverse events of colitis after ICIs administrating. Clinical characteristics of patients with ICIs-associated colitis and the time to onset of colitis following different ICI regimens were collected.ResultsA total of 3786 reports of colitis adverse events were identified with ICIs. Seven ICI monotherapies were associated with the reporting of colitis. Statistically significant ROR, PRR, information component (IC), and empirical Bayesian geometric mean (EBGM) emerged for all ICI monotherapies and combination therapies. ICIs-associated colitis affected mostly male (53.51%), with a wide mean age range (60.65 to 72 years). Colitis adverse events were commonly reported in patients with melanoma and lung cancer. Adverse outcomes of colitis concerning ICI were mainly outcomes of hospitalization-initiated or prolonged and other serious. Among colitis cases, 17.43% cases of colitis concerning ICI lead to death. The adverse event of colitis occurred earliest in ipilimumab monotherapy with a median time to onset of 64.21 days (IQR: 27–69 days) among all monotherapies.ConclusionsICI may lead to severe and disabling ICIs-associated colitis during therapy. Analysis of FAERS data identified signals for adverse events of colitis with ICI regimens. Practitioners should consider the factors that may increase the likelihood of colitis. The findings support a continued surveillance and risk factor identification studies.     

Control the fate of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells with dual‐enzymatically cross‐linked gelatin hydrogels for potential applications in nerve regeneration

Stem‐cell‐based therapy is a promising strategy to treat challenging neurological diseases, while its application is hindered primarily by the low viability and uncontrolled differentiation of stem cell. Hydrogel can be properly engineered to share similar characteristics with the target tissue, thus promoting cell viability and directing cell differentiation. In this study, we proposed a new dual‐enzymatically cross‐linked and injectable gelatin hydrogel for regulating survival, proliferation, and differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC‐MSCs) in a three‐dimensional matrix. This injectable gelatin hydrogel was formed by oxidative coupling of gelatin–hydroxyphenyl acid conjugates catalyzed by hydrogen horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and choline oxidase (ChOx). Modulus and H₂O₂ release can be well controlled by ChOx activity. Results from calcein‐AM/PI staining and Ki67 immunofluorescence tests demonstrated that the survival and proliferation behavior of hUC‐MSCs were highly enhanced in HRP_1UChOx_0.25U hydrogel with lower modulus and less H₂O₂ release compared with other groups. Attractively, the expression of neuron‐specific markers β‐III tubulin, neurofilament light chain (NFL), and synapsin‐1 was significantly increased in HRP_1UChOx_0.25U hydrogel as well. Additionally, in vitro hemolysis test and in vivo HE staining data highlighted the good biocompatibility. Undoubtedly, this injectable gelatin hydrogel's ability to control hUC‐MSCs' fate holds enormous potentials in nervous disorders' therapy and nerve regeneration.     

基于肥厚型心肌病临床数据管理系统的设计与应用

目的设计一款简单易操作的数据管理系统,解决目前零散的肥厚型心肌病临床数据,将临床信息科学有效地进行整合管理,便于医生及科研人员查询、统计。方法采用Foxtable搭建一个数据库管理软件框架,并建立局域网外部数据源,实现数据的存储、查询、共享、导出。结果基于肥厚型心肌病数据管理系统的设计与应用能够满足临床医生和科研人员的基本工作需求,很大程度上节省了数据整理时间。结论该系统操作简单、移植性高、实用性强,广泛适用于各临床科室有科研项目的小型数据库管理。     

Winter is over: The use of Artificial Intelligence to individualise radiation therapy for breast cancer

Artificial intelligence demonstrated its value for automated contouring of organs at risk and target volumes as well as for auto-planning of radiation dose distributions in terms of saving time, increasing consistency, and improving dose-volumes parameters. Future developments include incorporating dose/outcome data to optimise dose distributions with optimal coverage of the high-risk areas, while at the same time limiting doses to low-risk areas. An infinite gradient of volumes and doses to deliver spatially-adjusted radiation can be generated, allowing to avoid unnecessary radiation to organs at risk. Therefore, data about patient-, tumour-, and treatment-related factors have to be combined with dose distributions and outcome-containing databases.