Explore potential biomarkers to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of liver fibrosis with pirfenidone

Background:Hepatic fibrosis is a common chronic liver disease in clinic,the purpose of our study is to explore potential biomarkers to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of liver fibrosis with pirfenidone.Methods:We downloaded a gene-sequencing dataset and a single-cell dataset from the GEO database and pirfenidone target genes from three different databases.First,we performed GO,KEGG,and DO analysis on pirfenidone target genes.Then,we grouped the liver tissue sequencing data(GSE162694)in the sequencing data set(N-F0 group and F1-F4 group)and performed gene expression differential analysis on these two groups,weighted gene co-expression network analysis and gene Enrichment analysis.Finally,we intersected the significantly upregulated genes in the F1-F4 group with the pirfenidone target genes and performed PPI network analysis.In order to further explore the expression of both pirfenidone drug target genes and liver fibrosis disease genes(PDLFG)in different immune cells of liver tissue,we used the CD45+cell data in the GSE136103 data set for further analysis.Results:A subnetwork consisting of CDC42,HNF4A,BHLHE40,CCDC71L,NR1H3,TNF,MGLL,GPT,SCD and PLIN1 was screened out,and by analysis,we finally identified the SCD as PDLFG.In single-cell sequencing analysis,we found that SCD was highly expressed in M2-polarized macrophages.Conclusion:SCD may be an important target protein to inhibit the progression of liver fibrosis.

Organizing pneumonia secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Organizing pneumonia secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis is rare.Moreover,the temporal boundary between pulmonary tuberculosis and secondary organizing pneumonia has not been defined.We report a case of secondary organizing pneumonia associated with pulmonary tuberculosis occurring after nine months of antituberculosis treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 54 years old man,previously diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous pleurisy,underwent nine months of antituberculosis treatment.Follow-up lung computed tomography revealed multiple new subpleural groundglass opacities in both lungs,and a lung biopsy confirmed organizing pneumonia.Treatment continued with anti-tuberculosis agents and hormone therapy,and subsequent dynamic pulmonary computed tomography exams demonstrated improvement in lesion absorption.No disease recurrence was observed after corticosteroid therapy discontinuation.CONCLUSION When treating patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis,if an increase in lesions is observed during anti-tuberculosis treatment,it is necessary to consider the possibility of tuberculosis-related secondary organizing pneumonia,timely lung biopsy is essential for early intervention.

Modern technology-based exploration of mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of gastric cancer

This review comments on the article“To explore the mechanism of Yigong San anti-gastric cancer and immune regulation”.We are interested that the article applied network pharmacology and bioinformatics techniques to elucidate the mechanism of action of Yigong Sang,a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),in the treatment of gastric cancer(GC).The mechanism of action of Yigong Sang in the treatment of GC has not yet been elucidated because it is composed of multiple Chinese medicines with multiple components and multiple targets.The emergence of network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis helps explain the mechanism of action of TCM in preventing and treating GC,and provides a possibility for TCM to transform from empirical to evidence-based medicine.This is of great significance for the application of TCM in oncology,new drug development,formula optimization,and the improvement of clinical efficacy.

Use of traditional Chinese medicine bezoars and bezoar-containing preparations in hepatocarcinoma

This manuscript used network pharmacology and experimental verification to analyze the anti-hepatocarcinoma mechanism of action of bezoars in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),discovering that it can affect the immune cells within the tumor microenvironment and related pathways to produce inhibitory effects in liver cancer.In TCM,bezoars have a unique therapeutic advantage in the prevention and treatment of tumors.They play an anti-tumorigenic role by regulating the immune microenvironment through multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms.With the application of nanotechnology,bezoars and their compound preparations have been developed into anti-cancer drugs with unique therapeutic advantages,providing novel treatment options for tumor patients.

Early hepatitis B viral DNA clearance predicts treatment response at week 96

AIM To investigate whether hepatitis viral DNA load at 24 wk of treatment predicts response at 96 wk in patients with chronic hepatitis B.METHODS A total of 172 hepatitis B envelope antigen(HBe Ag)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients who received initial treatment at 16 tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province, China were enrolled in this study. All patients received conventional doses of lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir dispersible tablets, or entecavir tablets for 96 wk. Patients who used other antiviral drugs or antitumor and immune regulation therapy were excluded. Patients were stratified into three groups according to their viral DNA load at 24 wk: < 10 IU/m L(group 1), 10-103 IU/m L(group 2), and > 103 IU/m L(group 3). Correlations of 24-wk DNA load with HBe Ag negative status and HBe Ag seroconversion at 96 wk were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to test the predictive value of the HBV DNA load at 24 wk for long-term response.RESULTS The rates of conversion to HBe Ag negative status and HBe Ag seroconversion rates were 53.7% and 51.9%, respectively, in group 1; 35.21% and 32.39% in group 2; and 6.38% and 6.38% in group 3. The receiver operating characteristic curves for the three subgroups revealed that the lowest DNA load(< 10 IU/m L) was better correlated with response at 96 wk than a higher DNA load(10-103 IU/m L). Nested PCR was used for amplifying and sequencing viral DNA in patients with a viral DNA load > 200 IU/m L at 96 wk; resistance mutations involving different loci were present in 26 patients, and three of these patients had a viral DNA load 10-103 IU/m L at 96 wk. CONCLUSION Hepatitis B viral DNA load at 24 wk of antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B is a predictor of the viral load and response rate at 96 wk.

Silicon Strengthened CrAlVN Coatings

CrAlVN coatings are of good intrinsic mechanical and tribological properties but lack of strength. Silicon can provide nitride coating high strength and excellent oxidation resistance. Logically, the combination of CrAlVN and Si should provide a good candidate for dry machining. The effect of silicon content on CrAlSiVN coating＇s me- chanical, tribological properties and oxidation resistance was investigated. The coatings were deposited on cemented tungsten carbide and Si wafer （100） substrates in an in-line magnetron sputtering system. Grazing incidence X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron probe micro-analyzer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy were employed to characterize the microstructure and chemistry. Nanoindentation and ball-on-disc tribo-tester were used in characterization of the mechanical and tribological properties. Incorporating with silicon, the CrAlVN coating was strengthened （hard- ness： 21.2 GPa up to 38.7 GPa） ; even after 2 h exposure to 700 ℃ in air, the hardness still maintains at 11.0 GPa.