Facing ethical concerns in the age of precise gene therapy:Outlook on inherited arrhythmias

This editorial,comments on the article by Spartalis et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Cardiology.We here provide an outlook on potential ethical concerns related to the future application of gene therapy in the field of inherited arrhythmias.As monogenic diseases with no or few therapeutic options available through standard care,inherited arrhythmias are ideal candidates to gene therapy in their treatment.Patients with inherited arrhythmias typically have a poor quality of life,especially young people engaged in agonistic sports.While genome editing for treatment of inherited arrhythmias still has theoretical application,advances in CRISPR/Cas9 technology now allows the generation of knock-in animal models of the disease.However,clinical translation is somehow expected soon and this make consistent discussing about ethical concerns related to gene editing in inherited arrhythmias.Genomic off-target activity is a known technical issue,but its relationship with ethnical and individual genetical diversity raises concerns about an equitable accessibility.Meanwhile,the costeffectiveness may further limit an equal distribution of gene therapies.The economic burden of gene therapies on healthcare systems is is increasingly recognized as a pressing concern.A growing body of studies are reporting uncertainty in payback periods with intuitive short-term effects for insurance-based healthcare systems,but potential concerns for universal healthcare systems in the long term as well.Altogether,those aspects strongly indicate a need of regulatory entities to manage those issues.

Association between glucose-lowering drugs and circulating insulin antibodies induced by insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND Insulin antibodies(IAs)affect blood glucose control in patients receiving insulin therapy.AIM To investigate the relationship between different hypoglycemic treatments and IAs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS This cross-sectional,retrospective study included 1863 patients with T2DM who were receiving exogenous insulin therapy.All patients received stable antidiabetic therapy in the last 3 months and IA levels were measured using an iodine-125 array.RESULTS A total of 1863 patients were enrolled.There were 902(48.4%)patients who had positive IAs(IA level>5%),with a mean IA level of 11.06%(10.39%-11.72%).IA levels were positively correlated with high fasting blood glucose(odds ratio=1.069,P<0.001).The proportion of positive IAs was lowest in patients using glargine only(31.9%)and highest in patients using human insulin only(70.3%),P<0.001.The IA levels in patients using sulfonylureas/glinides(8.3%),metformin(9.6%),and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors(8.2%)were all lower than in patients without these drugs(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Nearly half of patients on insulin therapy have positive IA antibodies,and IA antibody levels are associated with blood glucose control.Insulin glargine and a combination of oral glucose-lowering drugs were correlated with lower IA levels.

Research Progress of Atomizers and Drugs Used in Atomization Therapy

At present,the commonly used treatment methods for chronic respiratory diseases are drug,oxygen,interventional and atomization therapy.Atomization therapy is the most widely used because of its characteristics of fast effect,high local drug concentration,less drug dosage,convenient application and few systemic adverse reactions.In this paper,the mechanism,characteristics,commonly used drugs and clinical application of atomization therapy are discussed.

Research Progress of Drug Therapy for Diabetes

Diabetes is mainly a series of symptoms of glucose metabolism disorder caused by relative or absolute insufficiencies of insulin.Most patients are accompanied by protein,fat,water and electrolyte disorders,including diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2,of which diabetes type 2 accounts for more than 90%.The incidence rate of diabetes is high,the course of disease is long,and it is difficult to cure.Most patients need long-term medication.This study analyzed the clinical manifestations and predisposing factors of diabetes,and explored the progress of drug treatment of diabetes,which is summarized as follows.

Observation on the Clinical Effect of Applying Venetoclax Combined with Demethylation Drug Therapy in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of applying venetoclax combined with demethylating drugs in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: Eighty cases of AML patients treated with venetoclax combined with demethylating drugs in our hospital were selected from March 2021 to March 2024, including 40 cases of primary treatment patients and 40 cases of relapsed and refractory patients. The efficacy and safety of the combined drug therapy was analyzed. Results: The primary treatment group was presented with a complete remission (CR) rate of 40.5%, partial remission (PR) rate of 47.50%, no response (NR) rate of 12.50%, and a remission rate of 87.50%. The relapsed- refractory group was presented with a CR rate of 37.50%, PR rate of 42.50%, NR rate of 17.50%, and a remission rate of 87.50%. There was no statistical significance between the groups (P > 0.05). The hematological adverse reactions of the combined treatment for AML were leukopenia and the non-hematological adverse reactions were mainly infections, with an incidence rate of 87.50%. Conclusion: The efficacy of venetoclax combined with demethylating drugs in AML was remarkable and the treatment regimen can be adjusted according to the treatment-resistant response.

Advances in Transdermal Drug Delivery for Cancer Therapy

Transdermal drug delivery offers a promising alternative to traditional cancer therapies by providing a non-invasive,controlled,and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents.This paper explores the advancements,benefits,and challenges associated with transdermal drug delivery systems(TDDS)in cancer treatment.It highlights the mechanisms of action,key technologies,and the potential impact on patient outcomes.By examining recent studies and clinical trials,this paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the efficacy,safety,and prospects of transdermal drug delivery in oncology.

Ionizable drug delivery systems for efficient and selective gene therapy

Gene therapy has shown great potential to treat various diseases by repairing the abnormal gene function.However,a great challenge in bringing the nucleic acid formulations to the market is the safe and effective delivery to the specific tissues and cells.To be excited,the development of ionizable drug delivery systems(IDDSs)has promoted a great breakthrough as evidenced by the approval of the BNT162b2 vaccine for prevention of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in 2021.Compared with conventional cationic gene vectors,IDDSs can decrease the toxicity of carriers to cell membranes,and increase cellular uptake and endosomal escape of nucleic acids by their unique pH-responsive structures.Despite the progress,there remain necessary requirements for designing more efficient IDDSs for precise gene therapy.Herein,we systematically classify the IDDSs and summarize the characteristics and advantages of IDDSs in order to explore the underlying design mechanisms.The delivery mechanisms and therapeutic applications of IDDSs are comprehensively reviewed for the delivery of plasmid DNA(pDNA)and four kinds of RNA.In particular,organ selecting considerations and high-throughput screening are highlighted to explore efficiently multifunctional ionizable nanomaterials with superior gene delivery capacity.We anticipate providing references for researchers to rationally design more efficient and accurate targeted gene delivery systems in the future,and indicate ideas for developing next generation gene vectors.

HIV-1 Subtype Diversity and Factors Affecting Drug Resistance among Patients with Virologic Failure in Antiretroviral Therapy in Hainan Province,China,2014–2020

Objective This study aimed to determine the HIV-1 subtype distribution and HIV drug resistance(HIVDR)in patients with ART failure from 2014 to 2020 in Hainan,China.Methods A 7-year cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV/AIDS patients with ART failure in Hainan.We used online subtyping tools and the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree to confirm the HIV subtypes with pol sequences.Drug resistance mutations(DRMs)were analyzed using the Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database.Results A total of 307 HIV-infected patients with ART failure were included,and 241 available pol sequences were obtained.Among 241 patients,CRF01_AE accounted for 68.88%,followed by CRF07_BC(17.00%)and eight other subtypes(14.12%).The overall prevalence of HIVDR was 61.41%,and the HIVDR against non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NNRTIs),nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors(NRTIs),and protease inhibitors(PIs)were 59.75%,45.64%,and 2.49%,respectively.Unemployed patients,hypoimmunity or opportunistic infections in individuals,and samples from 2017 to 2020 increased the odd ratios of HIVDR.Also,HIVDR was less likely to affect female patients.The common DRMs to NNRTIs were K103N(21.99%)and Y181C(20.33%),and M184V(28.21%)and K65R(19.09%)were the main DRMs against NRTIs.Conclusion The present study highlights the HIV-1 subtype diversity in Hainan and the importance of HIVDR surveillance over a long period.

Antibody-platinum(IV)prodrugs conjugates for targeted treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Antibody-drug conjugates(ADCs)are a new type of targeting antibodies that conjugate with highly toxic anticancer drugs via chemical linkers to exert high specificity and efficient killing of tumor cells,thereby attracting considerable attention in precise oncology therapy.Cetuximab(Cet)is a typical antibody that offers the benefits of good targeting and safety for individuals with advanced and inoperable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma(cSCC);however,its anti-tumor activity is limited to a single use.Cisplatin(CisPt)shows good curative effects;however,its adverse effects and non-tumor-targeting ability are major drawbacks.In this study,we designed and developed a new ADC based on a new cytotoxic platinum(IV)prodrug(C8Pt(IV))and Cet.The so-called antibody-platinum(IV)prodrugs conjugates,named Cet-C8Pt(IV),showed excellent tumor targeting in cSCC.Specifically,it accurately delivered C8Pt(IV)into tumor cells to exert the combined anti-tumor effect of Cet and CisPt.Herein,metabolomic analysis showed that Cet-C8Pt(IV)promoted cellular apoptosis and increased DNA damage in cSCC cells by affecting the vitamin B6 metabolic pathway in tumor cells,thereby further enhancing the tumor-killing ability and providing a new strategy for clinical cancer treatment using antibody-platinum(IV)prodrugs conjugates.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND BIFURCATION ANALYSIS FOR A BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM OF CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE

Drug resistance is one of the most intractable issues in targeted therapy for cancer diseases.It has also been demonstrated to be related to cancer heterogeneity,which promotes the emergence of treatment-refractory cancer cell populations.Focusing on how cancer cells develop resistance during the encounter with targeted drugs and the immune system,we propose a mathematical model for studying the dynamics of drug resistance in a conjoint heterogeneous tumor-immune setting.We analyze the local geometric properties of the equilibria of the model.Numerical simulations show that the selectively targeted removal of sensitive cancer cells may cause the initially heterogeneous population to become a more resistant population.Moreover,the decline of immune recruitment is a stronger determinant of cancer escape from immune surveillance or targeted therapy than the decay in immune predation strength.Sensitivity analysis of model parameters provides insight into the roles of the immune system combined with targeted therapy in determining treatment outcomes.

Research progress in tumor angiogenesis and drug resistance in breast cancer

Angiogenesis is considered a hallmark pathophysiological process in tumor development. Aberrant vasculature resulting from tumor angiogenesis plays a critical role in the development of resistance to breast cancer treatments, via exacerbation of tumor hypoxia, decreased effective drug concentrations within tumors, and immune-related mechanisms. Antiangiogenic therapy can counteract these breast cancer resistance factors by promoting tumor vascular normalization. The combination of antiangiogenic therapy with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for overcoming drug resistance in breast cancer. This review examines the mechanisms associated with angiogenesis and the interactions among tumor angiogenesis, the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, drug distribution, and immune mechanisms in breast cancer. Furthermore, this review provides a comprehensive summary of specific antiangiogenic drugs, and relevant studies assessing the reversal of drug resistance in breast cancer. The potential mechanisms underlying these interventions are discussed, and prospects for the clinical application of antiangiogenic therapy to overcome breast cancer treatment resistance are highlighted.

Leveraging diverse cell-death patterns to predict the clinical outcome of immune checkpoint therapy in lung adenocarcinoma:Based on muti-omics analysis and vitro assay

Advanced LUAD shows limited response to treatment including immune therapy.With the development of sequencing omics,it is urgent to combine high-throughput multi-omics data to identify new immune checkpoint therapeutic response markers.Using GSE72094(n=386)and GSE31210(n=226)gene expression profile data in the GEO database,we identified genes associated with lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD)death using tools such as“edgeR”and“maftools”and visualized the characteristics of these genes using the“circlize”R package.We constructed a prognostic model based on death-related genes and optimized the model using LASSO-Cox regression methods.By calculating the cell death index(CDI)of each individual,we divided LUAD patients into high and low CDI groups and examined the relationship between CDI and overall survival time by principal component analysis(PCA)and Kaplan-Meier analysis.We also used the“ConsensusClusterPlus”tool for unsupervised clustering of LUAD subtypes based on model genes.In addition,we collected data on the expression of immunomodulatory genes and model genes for each cohort and performed tumor microenvironment analyses.We also used the TIDE algorithm to predict immunotherapy responses in the CDI cohort.Finally,we studied the effect of PRKCD on the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells through cell culture experiments.The study utilized the TCGA-LUAD cohort(n=493)and identified 2,901 genes that are differentially expressed in patients with LUAD.Through KEGG and GO enrichment analysis,these genes were found to be involved in a wide range of biological pathways.The study also used univariate Cox regression models and LASSO regression analyses to identify 17 candidate genes that were best associated with mortality prognostic risk scores.By comparing the overall survival(OS)outcomes of patients with different CDI values,it was found that increased CDI levels were significantly associated with lower OS rates.In addition,the study used unsupervised cluster analysis to divide 115 LUAD patients into two distinct clusters with significant differences in OS timing.Finally,a prognostic indicator called CDI was established and its feasibility as an independent prognostic indicator was evaluated by Cox proportional risk regression analysis.The immunotherapy efficacy was more sensitive in the group with high expression of programmed cell death models.Relationship between programmed cell death(PCD)signature models and drug reactivity.After evaluating the median inhibitory concentration(IC50)of various drugs in LUAD samples,statistically significant differences in IC50 values were found in cohorts with high and low CDI status.Specifically,Gefitinib and Lapatinib had higher IC50 values in the high-CDI cohort,while Olaparib,Oxaliplatin,SB216763,and Axitinib had lower values.These results suggest that individuals with high CDI levels are sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and may be resistant to conventional chemotherapy.Therefore,this study constructed a gene model that can evaluate patient immunotherapy by using programmed cell death-related genes based on muti-omics.The CDI index composed of these programmed cell death-related genes reveals the heterogeneity of lung adenocarcinoma tumors and serves as a prognostic indicator for patients.

Advances in extracellular vesicle-based combination therapies for spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury is a severe insult to the central nervous system that causes persisting neurological deficits.The currently available treatments involve surgical,medical,and rehabilitative strategies.However,none of these techniques can markedly reverse neurological deficits.Recently,extracellular vesicles from various cell sources have been applied to different models of spinal cord injury,thereby generating new cell-free therapies for the treatment of spinal cord injury.However,the use of extracellular vesicles alone is still associated with some notable shortcomings,such as their uncertainty in targeting damaged spinal cord tissues and inability to provide structural support to damaged axons.Therefore,this paper reviews the latest combined strategies for the use of extracellular vesicle-based technology for spinal cord injury,including the combination of extracellular vesicles with nanoparticles,exogenous drugs and/or biological scaffold materials,which facilitate the targeting ability of extracellular vesicles and the combinatorial effects with extracellular vesicles.We also highlight issues relating to the clinical transformation of these extracellular vesicle-based combination strategies for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Prognostic characterization of copper death-related immune checkpoint genes and analysis of immunologic and pharmacologic therapy in bladder cancer

Objective:Copper death-induced tumor cell death and immune checkpoint blockade therapy are highly selective.Combining their advantages and understanding their characteristics in bladder cancer is very important for the development of new targeted therapy.The identification of bladder cancer by screening the characteristic genes of copper death-related immune checkpoints provide a theoretical basis for the selection of adjuvant treatment options and the application of new targets.Methods:The expression samples of normal bladder tissue and bladder cancer were obtained from TCGA and GEO databases,and 13 cop-per death genes and 79 immune checkpoint genes were extracted from previous studies.The mRNA expression of prognostic genes was verified by qPCR.The copper death-related immune checkpoint genes were screened by correlation analysis to construct a prognostic model,and the differences in the efficacy of immunotherapy and chemotherapy between the high-risk group and the low-risk group were evaluated.Results:A prognostic model consisting of BTNL9,CD160,TNFRSF14 and TNFRSF18 was constructed.Its reliable predictive ability was proved in both databases,and qPCR showed that the expression levels of the four genes were significantly different between the normal group and the cancer cell group.The effect of immunotherapy in the lowrisk group was better than that in the high-risk group.Patients in the high-risk group had better chemotherapy efficacy.Conclusion:The copper death-related immune checkpoint gene model can accurately predict the prognosis of patients.Drug and immune analysis provide a basis for clinical treatment,and the discovery of potential targets provides a new solution for clinical decision-making.

Systemic therapy in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)are the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in the gastrointestinal tract.Most GISTs have been attributed to activated gain-of-function mutations in either KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptorα,making these molecular features essential targets for therapeutic interventions.Although surgery is the standard treatment for localized GISTs,patients often experience relapse and disease progression even after surgery.In recent years,targeted therapy has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with advanced GISTs.Imatinib mesylate,a KIT inhibitor,is the first-line treatment for advanced GISTs and has revolutionized the treatment of this disease.However,drug resistance remains a major issue with imatinib treatment,as a significant majority of patients become resistant to imatinib either after initiation or after 2–3 years of treatment.Consequently,novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as sunitinib,regorafenib,ripretinib,and avapritinib have been introduced to address drug resistance.Immunotherapy has emerged as a potential approach for the treatment of advanced GISTs.This review comprehensively summarizes the pathogenesis of GISTs and the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies,provides an overview of the emergence of drug resistance in advanced GISTs,and discusses the challenges and prospects associated with the treatment of GISTs.

Three-Drug Therapies in Psychiatry in the Light of the Maximum Ordinality Principle and the Explicit Solution to the “Three-Body Problem”—D.D. 23 Luglio 2023, Tempo Ordinario (3.00 e 10.20)

The present paper aims at showing the possible adoption in Psychiatry of a general methodology finalized to prescribe the most appropriate Therapy based on the knowledge of its correlative effects in advance, instead of recognizing them ex post. The specific case here considered is the “bipolar disorder”, in which the adoption of three different drugs is the most common practice, although with a possible differentiation between the prescription in the morning and in the evening, respectively. Thus, the proposed methodology will consider the Ordinal Interactions between the various drugs by evaluating their combined effects, which will result as being not a simple additive “sum”, because they are evaluated on the basis of the Maximum Ordinality Principle (MOP) and, in addition, in Adherence to the Explicit Solution to the “Three-Body Problem”. In this way the Methodology here proposed is able to suggest how to account for the synergistic effects of the various drugs, especially when the latter are characterized by different concentrations and, at the same time, by generally different half-lives respectively.

Role of autophagy in tumorigenesis,metastasis,targeted therapy and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma

Autophagy is a "self-degradative" process and is involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the control of cellular components by facilitating the clearance or turnover of long-lived or misfolded proteins, protein aggregates, and damaged organelles. Autophagy plays a dual role in cancer, including in tumor progression and tumor promotion, suggesting that autophagy acts as a double-edged sword in cancer cells. Liver cancer is one of the greatest leading causes of cancer death worldwide due to its high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Especially in China, liver cancer has become one of the most common cancers due to the high infection rate of hepatitis virus. In primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type. Considering the perniciousness and complexity of HCC, it is essential to elucidate the function of autophagy in HCC. In this review, we summarize the physiological function of autophagy in cancer, analyze the role of autophagy in tumorigenesis and metastasis, discuss the therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy and the mechanisms of drug-resistance in HCC, and provide potential methods to circumvent resistance and combined anticancer strategies for HCC patients.

Clinical effects of psychological intervention and drug therapy against peptic ulcer

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effects of psychological interventions and drug therapy against peptic ulcer.Methods:96 patients with peptic ulcer were divided into control group with Tagamet 800 mg per evening p.o.and trial group with psychological intervention on the basis of drug treatment.Results:There were significant differences between the two groups(P【0.05), the trial group showed that the anxiety and depression cases declined obviously and effective rate of ulcer therapy was much higlier than control group.Conclusions:In sum,psychological intervention combined with drug therapy provides an effective method for ulcer treatment.

Nanotechnology-based combination therapy for overcoming multidrug-resistant cancer

Multidrug resistance(MDR) is a major obstacle to successful cancer treatment and is crucial to cancer metastasis and relapse.Combination therapy is an effective strategy for overcoming MDR. However, the different pharmacokinetic(PK) profiles of combined drugs often undermine the combination effect in vivo, especially when greatly different physicochemical properties(e.g.,those of macromolecules and small drugs) combine. To address this issue, nanotechnology-based codelivery techniques have been actively explored. They possess great advantages for tumor targeting, controlled drug release, and identical drug PK profiles. Thus,a powerful tool for combination therapy is provided, and the translation from in vitro to in vivo is facilitated. In this review, we present a summary of various combination strategies for overcoming MDR and the nanotechnology-based combination therapy.

Hepatic cancer stem cells and drug resistance: Relevance in targeted therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of most common malignancies in the world. Systemic treatments for HCC, particularly for advanced stages, are limited by the drug resistance phenomenon which ultimately leads to therapy failure. Recent studies have indicated an association between drug resistance and the existence of the cancer stem cells (CSCs) as tumor initiating cells. The CSCs are resistant to conventional chemotherapies and might be related to the mechanisms of the ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters and alterations in the CSCs signaling pathways. Therefore, to contribute to the development of new HCC treatments, further information on the characterization of CSCs, the modulation of the ABC transporters expression and function and the signaling pathway involved in the self renewal, initiation and maintenance of the cancer are required. The combination of transporters modulators/inhibitors with molecular targeted therapies may be a potent strategy to block the tumoral progression. This review summarizes the association of CSCs, drug resistance, ABC transporters activities and changes in signaling pathways as a guide for future molecular therapy for HCC.