Hepatitis D: advances and challenges

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection causes the most severe form of viral hepatitis with rapid progression to cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although discovered > 40 years ago, little attention has been paid to this pathogen from both scientific and public communities. However, effectively combating hepatitis D requires advanced scientific knowledge and joint efforts from multi-stakeholders. In this review, we emphasized the recent advances in HDV virology, epid...     

多西他赛联合卡培他滨方案在新辅助化疗三阴乳腺癌与非三阴乳腺癌中的近期疗效观察

目的探讨三阴乳腺癌(triple-negative breast cancer,TNBC)与非三阴乳腺癌患者应用多西他赛联合卡培他滨(DX)方案行新辅助化疗的临床疗效及不良反应。方法选择2008年7月—2013年8月收治的102例乳腺癌患者,其中TNBC 27例,非TNBC75例,均应用DX方案新辅助化疗。观察临床疗效和毒副反应发生情况。结果TNBC患者总有效率与非TNBC患者比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。TNBC患者病理完全缓解率、临床完全缓解率高于非TNBC患者(P<0.01,P<0.05)。毒副反应主要表现为胃肠道反应、骨髓抑制及手足综合征等,TNBC与非TNBC患者毒副反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 TNBC患者较非TNBC患者对DX方案新辅助化疗更敏感,且未增加毒副反应发生率。     

Silencing of Nesprin‐2 inhibits the differentiation of myofibroblasts from fibroblasts induced by mechanical stretch

Mechanical force plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scar (HTS). Dermal fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are the key cells involved in HTS. Myofibroblasts in HTS possess different biochemical and biophysical characteristics by which myofibroblasts are often distinguished from fibroblasts. The role of mechanotransducers outside the nucleus in the pathogenesis of HTS has been reported in many studies. However, the role of Nesprin‐2 in HTS is not clear. Hence, we aim to construct a cell model of HTS and explore the role of Nesprin‐2 in this process. Myofibroblasts and fibroblasts were isolated from HTS and healthy skin tissues of the same patient. Fibroblasts were exposed to cyclic stretch with 10% magnitude and a frequency of 0.1 Hz for 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days, respectively. After the cell model was confirmed, fibroblasts transfected with siRNA targeting human Nesprin‐2 were exposed to cyclic stretch. The mechanical behaviour and biochemical reaction of the dermal fibroblasts were analysed. The stretched fibroblasts at day 5 showed the same mechanotransductive and biochemical features as unstretched myofibroblasts. Mechanical strain could induce the myofibroblasts differentiation and a cell model of HTS was established successfully at day 5. The expressions of lamin A/C, alpha‐smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor beta 1, and collagen type I in fibroblasts were reduced by the silencing of Nesprin‐2. Mechanical strain could induce the myofibroblasts differentiation and silencing of Nesprin‐2 could block the mechanical stimulation of terminal myofibroblasts differentiation. Nesprin‐2 might be a potential target to treat the HTS.     

IL‐27 improves adoptive CD8+ T cells’ antitumor activity via enhancing cell survival and memory T cell differentiation

IL‐27 is an anti‐inflammatory cytokine that triggers enhanced antitumor immunity, particularly cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. In the present study, we sought to develop IL‐27 into a therapeutic adjutant for adoptive T cell therapy using our well‐established models. We have found that IL‐27 directly improved the survival status and cytotoxicity of adoptive OT‐1 CD8⁺ T cells in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, IL‐27 treatment programs memory T cell differentiation in CD8⁺ T cells, characterized by upregulation of genes associated with T cell memory differentiation (T‐bet, Eomes, Blimp1, and Ly6C). Additionally, we engineered the adoptive OT‐1 CD8⁺ T cells to deliver IL‐27. In mice, the established tumors treated with OT‐1 CD8⁺ T‐IL‐27 were completely rejected, which demonstrated that IL‐27 delivered via tumor antigen–specific T cells enhances adoptive T cells’ cancer immunity. To our knowledge, this is the first application of CD8⁺ T cells as a vehicle to deliver IL‐27 to treat tumors. Thus, this study demonstrates IL‐27 is a feasible approach for enhancing CD8⁺ T cells’ antitumor immunity and can be used as a therapeutic adjutant for T cell adoptive transfer to treat cancer.     

The effectiveness of Salvianolate injection for in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:In-stent restenosis (ISR) caused by vascular remodeling after percutaneous coronary intervention limits the long-term efficacy of this method. Salvianolate injection is now widely used in the clinical treatment of ISR. However, there is no systematic review or meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of Salvianolate injection on ISR.Methods:We will search articles in 8 electronic databases, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Database, and the Chinese Scientific Journal Database for randomized controlled trials of ISR treated by Salvianolate injection from their inception to February 27, 2022. The primary outcome measure will be the restenosis rate. The data meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed by RevMan V.5.4 software. Two authors evaluated the study using the Cochrane collaborative risk bias tool. We will use a scoring method to assess the overall evidence supporting the main results.Results:This study will analyze the clinical effectiveness of Salvianolate injection in the treatment of ISR.Conclusion:The findings of this systematic review will provide evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of Salvianolate injection for the treatment of ISR.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY202220117.     

Preparation and photodynamic antibacterial/anticancer effects of ultralong-lifetime room-temperature phosphorescent N-doped carbon dots

Room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) N-doped carbon-dots (CNDs) featuring eco-friendliness, low cost and high biocompatibility, are ideal photodynamic antibacterial and anticancer nanomaterials. However, the existing CNDs are limited by low singlet oxygen (¹O₂) quantum yield, which has become a bottleneck in the development of CNDs. One basic reason is the short T₁-state exciton lifetime of CNDs. Herein, triethylenetetramine hexaacetic acid was used to synthesize CNDs via a one-step hydrothermal method. CNDs are characterized with low toxicity, high biocompatibility and ultralong-lifetime RTP (URTP). In addition to the URTP (average lifetime 414 ms) under solid conditions, CNDs even had URTP (average lifetime 320 ms) in a water environment. The ultralong T₁ exciton lifetime largely extends the collision time between T₁ state excitons and O₂ and prolongs the energy transfer time, not only improving the quantum yield (0.63) of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in solution, but also facilitating the photodynamic antibacterial and anticancer effects.

The URTP CNDs largely extends the collision time between T₁ state exciton and O₂, which improve quantum yield of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in solutions, facilitating the photodynamic antibacterial and anticancer effects.     

嗅觉味觉功能的临床检测

目的:探讨嗅觉障碍患者嗅觉和味觉功能的改变。方法:284例受试者中,健康人92例,嗅觉功能减退92例,嗅觉功能丧失100例,分别采用T&T、嗅觉事件相关电位(OERPs)及三滴法进行嗅觉和味觉功能检测。结果:T&T结果,嗅觉功能减退和丧失患者跟健康人比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。OERPs结果显示,嗅觉功能障碍患者跟健康人比较N1、P2波潜伏期延长且振幅降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。三滴法结果显示,嗅觉功能障碍患者跟健康人比较味觉功能有明显减退,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。各组之间男女比较差异无统计学意义。结论:嗅觉功能障碍患者同时伴有味觉功能的减退,嗅觉和味觉功能的减退与性别关联不大。嗅觉味觉的联合检查可以全面系统反映受试者的化学感觉功能,为临床诊断和治疗提供科学依据。     

耐多药肺结核经支气管镜介入治疗的研究

目的探讨经支气管镜介入配合全身化疗治疗耐多药肺结核的效果。方法经痰结核菌培养确定的复治耐多药肺结核患者随机分为2组,均采用3DZVThAk/15DVTh化疗方案治疗,治疗组同时使用支气管镜介入治疗。结果疗程结束时,治疗组和对照组痰菌阴转率(涂片与培养)、病灶显著吸收率、空洞闭合率分别为88%和52%、82%和54%、60%和28%、66%和34%,2组差异有统计学意义(P均<0.01)。结论经支气管镜介入治疗联合全身化疗对耐多药肺结核能促进痰菌阴转、病灶吸收、空洞闭合,疗效显著优于单纯全身化疗,值得推广。     

Safety and efficacy of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (SCT200) as second-line therapy in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: The mainstay treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) involves chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, alternative therapies are required for patients who are refractory or intolerant to existing therapies.Methods: In this single-arm, multicenter, open-label phase Ib study, 30 patients received an intravenous infusion of SCT200, an antiepidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) monoclonal antibody, 6.0 mg/kg once a week for 6 weeks, followed by 8.0 mg/kg once every 2 weeks u...