Are risk factors necessary for pretest probability assessment of coronary artery disease? A patient similarity network analysis of the PROMISE trial

BackgroundPretest probability (PTP) calculators utilize epidemiological-level findings to provide patient-level risk assessment of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). However, their limited accuracies question whether dissimilarities in risk factors necessarily result in differences in CAD. Using patient similarity network (PSN) analyses, we wished to assess the accuracy of risk factors and imaging markers to identify ≥50% luminal narrowing on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in stable chest-pain patients.MethodsWe created four PSNs representing: patient characteristics, risk factors, non-coronary imaging markers and calcium score. We used spectral clustering to group individuals with similar risk profiles. We compared PSNs to a contemporary PTP score incorporating calcium score and risk factors to identify ≥50% luminal narrowing on CCTA in the CT-arm of the PROMISE trial. We also conducted subanalyses in different age and sex groups.ResultsIn 3556 individuals, the calcium score PSN significantly outperformed patient characteristic, risk factor, and non-coronary imaging marker PSNs (AUC: 0.81 vs. 0.57, 0.55, 0.54; respectively, p ?< ?0.001 for all). The calcium score PSN significantly outperformed the contemporary PTP score (AUC: 0.81 vs. 0.78, p ?< ?0.001), and using 0, 1–100 and ?> ?100 cut-offs provided comparable results (AUC: 0.81 vs. 0.81, p ?= ?0.06). Similar results were found in all subanalyses.ConclusionCalcium score on its own provides better individualized obstructive CAD prediction than contemporary PTP scores incorporating calcium score and risk factors. Risk factors may not be able to improve the diagnostic accuracy of calcium score to predict ≥50% luminal narrowing on CCTA.     

石榴皮活性成分治疗痤疮作用机制的网络药理学预测及实验研究＊

目的 采用网络药理学及实验验证的方法，探索皮类中药石榴皮治疗痤疮的作用机制。方法 利用网络药理学技术筛选石榴皮治疗痤疮的活性成分和作用靶点，采用String数据库对活性成分靶点与痤疮疾病靶点进行蛋白互作网络分析，并通过David数据库对其结果进行KEGG通路富集分析。基于以上结果，采用Cytoscape3.6.1软件构建石榴皮治疗痤疮的“成分-靶点-通路”网络关系图。通过动物实验，观察石榴皮多酚乳膏对金黄地鼠皮脂腺斑面积及PI3K蛋白表达情况的影响。结果 本研究共获得药效成分31个，药物靶点193个，痤疮靶点1371个，药效成分与疾病的交集靶点79个。石榴皮治疗痤疮的主要成分为槲皮素、山奈酚、木犀草素等；核心靶点为Akt1、IL-6、VEGFA和PTSG2；关键信号通路可能包括PI3K-Akt信号通路、TNF信号通路、T细胞受体信号通路、FoxO信号通路等。体内实验证实，石榴皮能够降低金黄地鼠皮脂腺斑PI3K蛋白表达水平，抗皮脂腺斑增生。结论 本研究预测了石榴皮治疗痤疮可能的作用机制，为“以皮治皮”理论在中医皮肤科的应用提供现代理论依据。     

优化教学方式:充分发挥教学对象的主观能动性

目的:通过寻求优化教学方式,以期实现更高效、更具有趣味性及更丰富的医学高等教育方式。方法:研究选择南京医科大学护理专业学生为研究对象,选择"营养学"为实验课程展开探索研究,采用新型教学方式。结果:教学实验组期末考试成绩高于其他平行班级;课堂表现优异者期末考试成绩亦较其他学生高。结论:通过丰富教学方法,有利于教学对象更好的理解知识,提高考试成绩;同时,参与度及配合度、完成度较高的学生能更好地掌握相关知识。     

Bioinformatics analysis of gene expression profiles to diagnose crucial and novel genes in glioblastoma multiform

Therefore, the current study aimed to diagnose the genes associated in the pathogenesis of GBM. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were diagnosed using the limma software package. The ToppFun was used to perform pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, extracted modules, miRNA-target genes regulatory network and miRNA-target genes regulatory network were used to obtain insight into the actions of DEGs. Survival analysis for DEGs carried out. A total of 701 DEGs, including 413 upregulated and 288 downregulated genes, were diagnosed between U1118MG cell line (PK 11195 treated with 1?h exposure) and U1118MG cell line (PK 11195 treated with 24?h exposure). The up-regulated genes were enriched in superpathway of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleotides de novo biosynthesis, cell cycle, cell cycle process and chromosome. The down-regulated genes were enriched in folate transformations I, biosynthesis of amino acids, cellular amino acid metabolic process and vacuolar membrane. The current study screened the genes in PPI network, extracted modules, miRNA-target genes regulatory network and miRNA-target genes regulatory network with higher degrees as hub genes, which included MYC, TERF2IP, CDK1, EEF1G, TXNIP, SLC1A5, RGS4 and IER5L Survival suggested that low expressed NR4A2, SLC7?A5, CYR61 and ID1 in patients with GBM was linked with a positive prognosis for overall survival. In conclusion, the current study could improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms in the progression of GBM, and these crucial as well as new molecular markers might be used as therapeutic targets for GBM.     

基于网络药理学和分子对接探讨补肾活血方治疗尿酸性肾病的作用机制＊

目的 基于网络药理学和分子对接技术探讨补肾活血方治疗尿酸性肾病（uric acid nephropathy， UAN）的分子作用机制。方法 采用中药系统药理学数据库TCMSP筛选出补肾活血方的有效活性成分。通过PubChem、DrugBank、SymMap和SwissTargetPrediction数据库筛选出中药各成分作用靶点。借助GeneCards、DisGenet、malaCards和OMIN数据库获取尿酸性肾病的靶点基因。David绘图工具筛选出中药与疾病的交集靶点，利用Cytoscape3.9.0软件构建“中药-活性成分-疾病-靶点”网络关系图，并通过CytoNCA插件构建蛋白质相互作用网络（PPI），筛选得到核心靶点蛋白。采用AutoDock Vina 1.1.2软件将补肾活血方关键有效成分和核心靶点进行分子对接。最后运用乙胺丁醇和腺嘌呤诱导的尿酸性肾病模型对网络药理学预测的结果进行基础实验验证。结果 本研究共筛选得到补肾活血方治疗UAN的作用靶点234个，其中核心靶点19个，对应5种中药的113种有效成分。GO富集分析共得到925条基因功能信息，KEGG富集分析发现112条信号通路，涉及Toll样受体、NF-κB、PI3K-Akt、p53、TNF等信号通路治疗尿酸性肾病。分子对接结果显示，双脱甲氧基姜黄素、异黄酮等关键活性成分与ALB、MMP9、TLR4等关键核心靶点有较好的结合活性。动物实验结果显示，与模型组相比，补肾活血方组、非布司他组大鼠肾组织TLR4和NF-κB蛋白表达量和血清MMP-9水平明显降低（P<0.05）；血清ALB水平明升高（P<0.05）。结论 本研究提示，补肾活血方中关键活性成分可能通过抑制TLR4/NF-κB信号通路降低TLR4、NF-κB和MMP-9水平，减轻炎症反应，进而减少ALB漏出，发挥保护肾脏治疗尿酸性肾病的作用。     

Building immunization decision-making capacity within the World Health Organization European Region

A National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) is a multi-disciplinary body of national experts that provides evidence-based recommendations to policy-makers, assisting them in making sound immunization policy and programme decisions. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe is working to strengthen the capacity of newly-established NITAGs and has targeted efforts on low- and middle-income countries. The Regional Office, in collaboration with WHO Headquarters and USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed a new training strategy and held training workshops to improve NITAGs’ functioning and ability to make evidence-based recommendations. Feedback from countries that participated in trainings indicated that the updated training materials and interactive approach with follow-up technical support enabled them to align their NITAG charters and processes with WHO recommendations. To ensure continued progress, global and regional partners such as WHO and CDC should continue providing technical support to recently established NITAGs.