TGF‐β1‐activated type 2 dendritic cells promote wound healing and induce fibroblasts to express tenascin c following corneal full‐thickness hydrogel transplantation

We showed previously that 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylamino‐propyl)‐carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) cross‐linked recombinant human collagen III hydrogels promoted stable regeneration of the human cornea (continued nerve and stromal cell repopulation) for over 4 years. However, as EDC cross linking kinetics were difficult to control, we additionally tested a sterically bulky carbodiimide. Here, we compared the effects of two carbodiimide cross linkers—bulky, aromatic N‐cyclohexyl‐N0‐(2‐morpholinoethyl)‐carbodiimide (CMC), and nonbulky EDC—in a mouse corneal graft model. Murine corneas undergoing full‐thickness implantation with these gels became opaque due to dense retro‐corneal membranes (RCM). Corneal epithelial cytokeratin 12 and alpha smooth muscle actin indicative of functional tissue regeneration and wound contraction were observed in RCM surrounding both hydrogel types. However, quantitatively different levels of infiltrating CD11c⁺ dendritic cells (DC) were found, suggesting a hydrogel‐specific innate immune response. More DC infiltrated the stroma surrounding EDC‐N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) hydrogels concurrently with higher fibrosis‐associated tenascin c expression. The opposite was true for CMC‐NHS gels that had previously been shown to be more tolerising to DC. In vitro studies showed that DC cultured with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) induced fibroblasts to secrete more tenascin c than those cultured with lipopolysaccharide and this effect was blocked by TGF‐β1 neutralisation. Furthermore, tenascin c staining was found in 40‐ to 50μm long membrane nanotubes formed in fibroblast/DC cocultures. We suggest that TGF‐β1 alternatively activated (tolerising) DC regulate fibroblast‐mediated tenascin c secretion, possibly via local production of TGF‐β1 in early wound contraction, and that this is indirectly modulated by different hydrogel chemistries.     

扶正抑癌汤联合腹腔镜辅助小切口根治手术治疗胃癌临床研究

目的:探讨扶正抑癌汤联合腹腔镜辅助小切口根治手术治疗胃癌的效果及对患者免疫功能的影响。方法:选择80例胃癌患者,按随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组各40例。对照组行腹腔镜辅助小切口根治手术治疗,观察组予以扶正抑癌汤联合腹腔镜辅助小切口根治术手术治疗,比较2组患者临床疗效及免疫功能。结果:治疗前,2组中医症状评分比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗后,2组中医症状评分较治疗前下降(P<0.05),且观察组中医症状评分低于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗前,2组癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原199 (CA199)、糖类抗原125 (CA125)水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗后,2组CEA、CA199、CA125水平较治疗前下降(P<0.05),且观察组CEA、CA199、CA125水平低于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗前,2组CD4^+、CD8^+、CD4^+/CD8^+水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗后,2组CD4^+、CD8^+、CD4^+/CD8^+水平较治疗前升高(P<0.05),且观察组CD4^+、CD8^+、CD4^+/CD8^+水平高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:扶正抑癌汤联合腹腔镜辅助小切口根治手术治疗胃癌效果显著,可有效降低相关肿瘤标志物水平,并改善患者免疫功能。     

mTOR通路抑制剂雷帕霉素对真菌性角膜炎小鼠角膜瘢痕化的影响

目的　探讨mTOR通路抑制剂雷帕霉素对真菌性角膜炎小鼠角膜瘢痕化的影响。方法　取96只SPF级C57BL/6J雄性小鼠,随机分为雷帕霉素组和对照组，每组各48只。两组小鼠同时建立真菌性角膜炎模型。雷帕霉素组模型制作前1 d按6.0 mg·kg^-1雷帕霉素对小鼠进行腹腔注射预处理，之后按0.2 g·L^-1浓度在结膜下注射5 μL，持续3 d；对照组注射PBS溶液。造模后对各组小鼠进行角膜临床评分，Western blot和实时荧光定量PCR分别检测造模后各组小鼠不同时间角膜LC-3Ⅱ、α-SMA和 TGF-β1表达情况。结果　造模后24 h、48 h、72 h、96 h、120 h、144 h、336 h，对照组小鼠角膜临床评分均明显高于雷帕霉素组，差异均有统计学意义(均为P＜0.05) 。造模后144 h、216 h雷帕霉素组小鼠角膜LC-3Ⅱ表达上调，LC-3Ⅱ蛋白和mRNA相对表达量与对照组相比，差异均有统计学意义（均为P<0.05）；而在造模后72 h及336 h两组LC-3Ⅱ蛋白和mRNA相对表达量差异均无统计学意义（均为P>0.05）。与对照组相比，造模后144 h、216 h雷帕霉素组小鼠角膜α-SMA蛋白及 mRNA相对表达量下降，差异均有统计学意义（均为P<0.05）；造模后144 h、336 h雷帕霉素组TGF-β1 mRNA相对表达量亦下降，与对照组相比，差异均有统计学意义（均为P＜0.05）。结论　雷帕霉素通过促进自噬作用下调角膜瘢痕化相关因子的表达，减轻了真菌性角膜炎模型小鼠角膜瘢痕化程度。     

Visualization of microneuromas by using in vivo confocal microscopy: An objective biomarker for the diagnosis of neuropathic corneal pain?

PurposeThe diagnosis of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) is challenging, as it is often difficult to differentiate it from conventional dry eye disease (DED). In addition to eye pain, NCP can present with similar signs and symptoms of DED. The purpose of this study is to find an objective diagnostic sign to identify patients with NCP, using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM).MethodsThis was a comparative, retrospective, case-control study. Patients with clinical diagnosis of NCP (n = 25), DED (n = 30), and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 16), who underwent corneal imaging with IVCM (HRT3/RCM) were included. Central corneal IVCM scans were analyzed by 2 masked observers for nerve density and number, presence of microneuromas (terminal enlargements of subbasal corneal nerve) and/or nerve beading (bead-like formation along the nerves), and dendritiform cell (DC) density.ResultsThere was a decrease in total nerve density in both NCP (14.14 ± 1.03 mm/mm²) and DED patients (12.86 ± 1.04 mm/mm²), as compared to normal controls (23.90 ± 0.92 mm/mm²; p < 0.001). However, total nerve density was not statistically different between NCP and DED patients (p = 0.63). Presence of nerve beading was not significantly different between patients and normal controls (p = 0.15). Interestingly, microneuromas were observed in all patients with NCP, while they were not present in any of the patients with conventional DED (sensitivity and specificity of 100%). DC density was significantly increased in both NCP (71.89 ± 16.91 cells/mm²) and DED patients (111.5 ± 23.86 cells/mm²), as compared to normal controls (24.81 ± 4.48 cells/mm² (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in DC density between DED and NCP patients (p = 0.31).ConclusionIVCM may be used as an adjunct diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of NCP in the presence of neuropathic symptoms. Microneuromas may serve as a sensitive and specific biomarker for the diagnosis of NCP.     

Special issue “The advance of solid tumor research in China”: Multi-omics analysis based on 1311 clear cell renal cell carcinoma samples identifies a glycolysis signature associated with prognosis and treatment response

In clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), glycolysis is enhanced mainly because of the increased expression of key enzymes in glycolysis. Hence, the discovery of new molecular biomarkers for glycolysis may help guide and establish a precise system of diagnosis and treatment for ccRCC. Expression profiles of 1079 tumor samples of ccRCC patients (including 311 patients treated with everolimus or nivolumab) were downloaded from public databases. Proteomic profiles of 232 ccRCC samples were obtained from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC). Biological changes, tumor microenvironment and prognostic differences were explored between samples with various glycolysis characteristics. There were significant differences in CD8⁺ effector T cells, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and pan-fibroblast TGFb between the Low and High glyScore groups. The tumor mutation burden of the Low glyScore group was lower than that of the High glyScore group. And higher glyScore was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) in 768 ccRCC patients (P < .0001). External validation in FUSCC cohort also indicated that glyScore was of strong ability for predicting OS (P < .05). GlyScore may serve as a biomarker for predicting everolimus response in ccRCC patients due to its significant associations with progression-free survival (PFS). And glyScore may also predict overall survival in patients treated with nivolumab. We calculated the glyScore in ccRCC and the defined glyScore was of strong ability for predicting OS. In addition, glyScore may also serve as a biomarker for predicting PFS in patients treated with everolimus and could predict OS in patients treated with nivolumab.     

小切口白内障囊外摘除手术治疗硬核白内障的临床效果

目的探讨小切口白内障囊外摘除手术治疗硬核白内障的临床效果。方法选择我院2019年5月至2020年5月收治的78例硬核白内障患者为研究对象,根据随机摸球法将其分成参照组(超声乳化白内障摘除术治疗)和研究组(小切口白内障囊外摘除术治疗),各39例。比较两组的治疗效果。结果术后1周、1个月、3个月,两组视力0.5~1.0的患者占比均高于术前(P<0.05)。术后1周、1个月、3个月,研究组的眼压、散光度均低于参照组(P<0.05)。术后,两组的角膜内皮细胞密度、六角形细胞比例均低于术前(P<0.05)。研究组的并发症总发生率低于参照组(P<0.05)。结论小切口白内障囊外摘除手术治疗硬核白内障的效果显著,可改善患者视力、眼压及散光度,促使瞳孔区角膜内皮细胞密度及六角形细胞比例下降,降低术后并发症发生率。     

Clinical Implications of HSC70 Expression in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: The role of heat shock protein 70 (HSC70) in the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is unclear. This study explored the effect of the HSC70 on the survival of ccRCC patients.Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to determine HSC70 expression in samples obtained from 121 ccRCC patients with at least 5 years of follow-up. We also analyzed the association between HSC70 expression and clinicopathological characteristics. Furthermore, the association of overall survival (OS) with HSC70 expression was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Finally, we used the Oncomine and CCLE databases to determine the effects of HSC70 mRNA expression on ccRCC.Results: HSC70 expression was associated with distant metastasis and death of ccRCC patients. HSC70 was expressed in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm of ccRCC cells. The incidence of distant organ metastasis and death was higher in patients with HSC70 expression than in those without it. Survival analysis revealed that patients with HSC70 expression had significantly shorter OS. Oncomine analyses also showed that the HSC70 mRNA was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues.Conclusions: HSC70 expression was related to adverse prognosis, and patients with HSC70 expression had a worse prognosis than those without HSC70 expression. HSC70 may thus serve as a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC.