Application of DDG-3300K Liver Reserve Function Analyzer and Relevant Nursing Procedures at the Department of Infectious Diseases

Objective: To discuss some key points about nursing in the use of DDG-3300K liver reserve function analyzer in patients at the department of infectious diseases. Method: DDG-3300K liver reserve function analyzer was applied to 5464 patients at the department of infectious diseases. The reasons for failed detection and complications related to the detection were analyzed, and the measures for improving the nursing procedures were proposed. Result: Among the 5464 patients, the detections were successful at the first attempt in 5458 patients;2 patients had leakage of liquid;2 patients were poorly prepared, and 1 case failed because of mistaken selection of CO mode, which led to adverse drug reactions;1 case did not finish the detection due to anaphylactic shock;8 patients had nausea and 6 patients had skin rash on the four limbs and torso during the detection. Conclusion: It is necessary to formulate the nursing procedures for the use of DDG-3300K liver reserve function analyzer. Moreover, preparatory work, health education, refined nursing procedures and skillful operations are closely related to the success rate and accuracy of the detection.

The History of Controlling and Treating Infectious Diseases in Ancient China

Infectious diseases are the common enemies of mankind.In the course of historical development,they persistently threaten human health and safety.Even today,despite the developments in medical science,we cannot escape the fear and suffering caused by infectious diseases.Whether in ancient or modern times,the source of infection,route of transmission,and a susceptible population are the three key conditions for the prevalence and spread of infectious diseases.All factors closely related to these three conditions can affect the prevalence of infectious diseases.China is one of the cradles of world civilization.The ancient people accumulated a great deal of experience and lessons in the long struggle against infectious diseases.In the face of the current threat posed by widespread infectious disease,it is imperative to review and summarize ancient Chinese ideas and health policies on epidemic prevention and control to inspire contemporary efforts in the prevention and control of infectious disease.The combination of prevention-oriented epidemic prevention ideology and traditional medicine provides valuable insights,especially for impoverished and medically underserved regions.

Identification of Key Blood Biomarkers Linking Di(2-ethylhexyl)Phthalate and Autoimmune Diseases in Adolescents Mice

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP)is a widely used plasticizer known for its reproductive developmental and immune system toxicity,mainly through esophagal,dermal,and respiratory exposure^([1-3]).Maternal exposure to DEHP during pregnancy can lead to adverse birth outcomes in offspring,including impacts on the thyroid system of adolescent offspring^([2-4]).

Characterization of acute-on-chronic liver diseases: A multicenter prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Acute-on-chronic liver disease(AoCLD)accounts for the majority of patients hospitalized in the Department of Hepatology or Infectious Diseases.AIM To explore the characterization of AoCLD to provide theoretical guidance for the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of AoCLD.METHODS Patients with AoCLD from the Chinese Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure(ACLF)study cohort were included in this study.The clinical characteristics and outcomes,and the 90-d survival rate associated with each clinical type of AoCLD were analyzed,using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test.RESULTS A total of 3375 patients with AoCLD were enrolled,including 1679(49.7%)patients with liver cirrhosis acute decompensation(LC-AD),850(25.2%)patients with ACLF,577(17.1%)patients with chronic hepatitis acute exacer-bation(CHAE),and 269(8.0%)patients with liver cirrhosis active phase(LC-A).The most common cause of chronic liver disease(CLD)was HBV infection(71.4%).The most common precipitants of AoCLD was bacterial infection(22.8%).The 90-d mortality rates of each clinical subtype of AoCLD were 43.4%(232/535)for type-C ACLF,36.0%(36/100)for type-B ACLF,27.0%(58/215)for type-A ACLF,9.0%(151/1679)for LC-AD,3.0%(8/269)for LC-A,and 1.2%(7/577)for CHAE.CONCLUSION HBV infection is the main cause of CLD,and bacterial infection is the main precipitant of AoCLD.The most common clinical type of AoCLD is LC-AD.Early diagnosis and timely intervention are needed to reduce the mortality of patients with LC-AD or ACLF.

Parasitosis Diagnosed in the Infectious Diseases Department of the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital from 2010 to 2022: Epidemiological, Clinical and Evolutionary Aspects

Introduction: Parasitic diseases remain a public health problem in Burkina Faso, as they are in other developing countries. Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary characteristics of parasitosis diagnosed in the infectious diseases department of the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital. Patients and Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection during the period from January 1, 2010 to August 31, 2022. Results: From January 1, 2010 to August 31, 2022, a total of 2829 patients were admitted to the infectious diseases department of the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital in Ouagadougou. Among them, 624 patients suffered from parasitic pathologies, representing a hospital prevalence of 22%. The patients were predominantly male with a sex ratio of 1.1. The average age was 34 years ± 11. Most patients (74.7%) lived in the capital city of Ouagadougou. Ten percent (10%) of the patients with parasitosis were infected with HIV (PLHIV). Out of a total of 624 cases of parasitosis, protozoosis represented 97%, of which 80% were malaria cases. Clinical signs were dominated by neurological signs, digestive signs and dehydration. Comorbidities were dominated by HIV infection, tuberculosis and digestive candidiasis. Under treatment, the evolution was marked by a lethality of 10%. Conclusion: Protozoosis were the most frequently diagnosed. They were dominated by malaria and opportunistic parasitosis during AIDS. These results argue for a revitalization of voluntary HIV testing and careful management of PLHIV.

Probabilistic Antibiotic Therapy in the Infectious Diseases Department of the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital (CHU-YO) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Introduction: In Burkina Faso, as in most developing countries, limited access to biological tests forces practitioners to resort very often to probabilistic antibiotic therapy. The objective of this study is to determine the extent of this prescription. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection of patients hospitalized in the infectious diseases department in the period from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2020. The records of patients who received probabilistic antibiotic therapy were included. Results: During the study period, 330 patients had received probabilistic antibiotic therapy. The majority of patients were male (53%), with a sex ratio of 1.12. The mean age of the patients was 33 years ± 14. The age range of 20 to 40 years was the most represented (42%). Fifteen percent (15%) of patients were living with HIV. The majority of patients were from urban areas (56.4%). Forty-nine percent (49%) of the patients worked in the informal sector. Clinically, the reasons for consultation were dominated by fever, alteration of general condition, neurological disorders, digestive disorders, respiratory signs, urinary signs and diffuse pain. The physical examination showed that 48.1% of the patients had meningeal irritation syndrome, 10% had convulsions and 10% had focal signs, trismus was present in 4% of the patients and facial paralysis in 3%. In the digestive system, hepatomegaly was present in 29% of patients and digestive candidiasis in 31%. Respiratory examination showed crepitus and fluid effusion syndrome in 26.83% and 20.62% of patients respectively. The presumptive diagnosis was dominated by bacterial meningitis, salmonellosis and bronchopneumonia with banal germs. In terms of treatment, the beta-lactam family of drugs was the most prescribed. They were followed by aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. The evolution was marked by the death of 50 patients (15%). Conclusion: The most prescribed molecules belong to the family of Beta-lactam. And this prescription improved the outcome of patients. Bacterial susceptibility studies will allow better orientation of probabilistic antibiotic therapy in order to limit the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria.

Analysis of the influencing factors and clinical related characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND In China,the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)among diabetic patients is estimated to be between 90%-95%.Additionally,China is among the 22 countries burdened by a high number of tuberculosis cases,with approximately 4.5 million individuals affected by active tuberculosis.Notably,T2DM poses a significant risk factor for the development of tuberculosis,as evidenced by the increased incidence of T2DM coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis(T2DMPTB),which has risen from 19.3%to 24.1%.It is evident that these two diseases are intricately interconnected and mutually reinforcing in nature.AIM To elucidate the clinical features of individuals diagnosed with both T2DM and tuberculosis(T2DM-PTB),as well as to investigate the potential risk factors associated with active tuberculosis in patients with T2DM.METHODS T2DM-PTB patients who visited our hospital between January 2020 and January 2023 were selected as the observation group,Simple DM patients presenting to our hospital in the same period were the control group,Controls and case groups were matched 1:2 according to the principle of the same sex,age difference(±3)years and disease duration difference(±5)years,patients were investigated for general demographic characteristics,diabetes-related characteristics,body immune status,lifestyle and behavioral habits,univariate and multivariate analysis of the data using conditional logistic regression,calculate the odds ratio(OR)values and 95%CI of OR values.RESULTS A total of 315 study subjects were included in this study,including 105 subjects in the observation group and 210 subjects in the control group.Comparison of the results of both anthropometric and biochemical measures showed that the constitution index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and lymphocyte count were significantly lower in the case group,while fasting blood glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly higher than those in the control group.The results of univariate analysis showed that poor glucose control,hypoproteinemia,lymphopenia,TB contact history,high infection,smoking and alcohol consumption were positively associated with PTB in T2DM patients;married,history of hypertension,treatment of oral hypoglycemic drugs plus insulin,overweight,obesity and regular exercise were negatively associated with PTB in T2DM patients.Results of multivariate stepwise regression analysis found lymphopenia(OR=17.75,95%CI:3.40-92.74),smoking(OR=12.25,95%CI:2.53-59.37),history of TB contact(OR=6.56,95%CI:1.23-35.03)and poor glycemic control(OR=3.37,95%CI:1.11-10.25)was associated with an increased risk of developing PTB in patients with T2DM,While being overweight(OR=0.23,95%CI:0.08-0.72)and obesity(OR=0.11,95%CI:0.02-0.72)was associated with a reduced risk of developing PTB in patients with T2DM.CONCLUSION T2DM-PTB patients are prone to worse glycemic control,higher infection frequency,and a higher proportion of people smoking,drinking alcohol,and lack of exercise.Lymphopenia,smoking,history of TB exposure,poor glycemic control were independent risk factors for T2DM-PTB,and overweight and obesity were associated with reduced risk of concurrent PTB in patients with T2DM.

Establishment of a Predictive Model Related to Pathogen Invasion for Infectious Diseases and Its Diagnostic Value in Fever of Unknown Origin

The present study aimed to establish a list of parameters indicative of pathogen invasion and develop a predictive model to distinguish the etiologies of fever of unknown origin (FUO) into infectious and non-infectious causes.From January 2014 to September 2017,431 patients with FUO were prospectively enrolled in the study population.This study established a list of 26 variables from the following 4aspects:host factors,epidemiological factors,behavioral factors,and iatrogenic factors.Predefined predicted variables were included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis to develop a predictive model.The predictive model and the corresponding scoring system were developed using data from the confirmed diagnoses and 9 variables were eventually identified.These factors were incorporated into the predictive model.This model discriminated between infectious and non-infectious causes of FUO with an AUC of 0.72,sensitivity of 0.71, and specificity of 0.63.The predictive model and corresponding scoring system based on factors concerning pathogen invasion appear to be reliable screening tools to discriminate between infectious and non-infectious causes of FUO.

Crohn’s disease as the intestinal manifestation of pan-lymphatic dysfunction:An exploratory proposal based on basic and clinical data

Crohn’s disease(CD)is caused by immune,environmental,and genetic factors.It can involve the entire gastrointestinal tract,and although its prevalence is rapidly increasing its etiology remains unclear.Emerging biological and small-molecule drugs have advanced the treatment of CD;however,a considerable proportion of patients are non-responsive to all known drugs.To achieve a breakthrough in this field,innovations that could guide the further development of effective therapies are of utmost urgency.In this review,we first propose the innovative concept of pan-lymphatic dysfunction for the general distribution of lymphatic dysfunction in various diseases,and suggest that CD is the intestinal manifestation of pan-lymphatic dysfunction based on basic and clinical preliminary data.The supporting evidence is fully summarized,including the existence of lymphatic system dysfunction,recognition of the inside-out model,disorders of immune cells,changes in cell plasticity,partial overlap of the underlying mechanisms,and common gut-derived fatty and bile acid metabolism.Another benefit of this novel concept is that it proposes adopting the zebrafish model for studying intestinal diseases,especially CD,as this model is good at presenting and mimicking lymphatic dysfunction.More importantly,the ensuing focus on improving lymphatic function may lead to novel and promising therapeutic strategies for CD.

Identification of novel mammalian viruses in tree shrews(Tupaia belangeri chinensis)

The Chinese tree shrew(Tupaia belangeri chinensis),a member of the mammalian order Scandentia,exhibits considerable similarities with primates,including humans,in aspects of its nervous,immune,and metabolic systems.These similarities have established the tree shrew as a promising experimental model for biomedical research on cancer,infectious diseases,metabolic disorders,and mental health conditions.Herein,we used metatranscriptomic sequencing to analyze plasma,as well as oral and anal swab samples,from 105 healthy asymptomatic tree shrews to identify the presence of potential zoonotic viruses.In total,eight mammalian viruses with complete genomes were identified,belonging to six viral families,including Flaviviridae,Hepeviridae,Parvovirinae,Picornaviridae,Sedoreoviridae,and Spinareoviridae.Notably,the presence of rotavirus was recorded in tree shrews for the first time.Three viruses-hepacivirus 1,parvovirus,and picornavirus-exhibited low genetic similarity(<70%)with previously reported viruses at the whole-genome scale,indicating novelty.Conversely,three other viruses-hepacivirus 2,hepatovirus A and hepevirus-exhibited high similarity(>94%)to known viral strains.Phylogenetic analyses also revealed that the rotavirus and mammalian orthoreovirus identified in this study may be novel reassortants.These findings provide insights into the diverse viral spectrum present in captive Chinese tree shrews,highlighting the necessity for further research into their potential for crossspecies transmission.

An overview of travel-associated central nervous system infectious diseases:risk assessment,general considerations and future directions

Nervous system infections are among the most important diseases in travellers.Healthy travellers might be exposed to infectious agents of central nervous system,which may require in-patient care.Progressive course is not uncommon in this family of disorders and requires swift diagnosis.An overview of the available evidence in the field is.therefore,Urgent to pave the way to increase the awareness of travel-medicine practitioners and highlights dark areas for future research.In November 2013,data were collected from PubMed,Scopus,and Web of knowledge(1980 to2013) including books,reviews,and peer-reviewed literature,Works pertained to pre-travel care,interventions,vaccinations related neurological infections were retrieved.Here we provide information on pre-travel care,vaccination,chronic nervous system disorders,and post-travel complications.Recommendations with regard to knowledge gaps,and state-of-the-art research are made.Given an increasing number of international travellers,novel dynamic ways are available for physicians to monitor spread of central nervous system infections.Newer research has made great progresses in developing newer medications,detecting the spread of infections and the public awareness.Despite an ongoing scientific discussion in the field of travel medicine,further research is required for vaccine development,state-of-the-art laboratory tests,and genetic engineering of vectors.

Progressive Characteristics of HIV Infection in the Elderly in the Cohort of the Internal Medicine Department of the Points G University Hospital, Bamako. Mali

Few data are available on HIV infection in the elderly and they are an important population in our different cohorts in view of the improvement in the quality of care over the last ten years. Objective: to determine the clinical and immunovirological characteristics as well as the acceptance of antiretroviral drugs in this patient population. This is a cohort study of the files of PLHIV (People living with HIV) aged 50 years or more, followed in the Internal Medicine Department of the Point G University Hospital between January 2007 and December 2012. Results: Out of 161 HIV-infected patients in the cohort, 38 were aged 50 years or older, of whom 11 met the criteria and were included. The median age was 55 years, 90.9% of whom were in the [50 - 59 years] age group, with 63.6% being women (sex ratio = 0.57). At admission, 3 patients (27.3%) had prurigo and 2 (18.2%) had oral-pharyngeal candidiasis. At inclusion, 45.5% of patients were classified as WHO stage 2 and one as WHO stage 4. All were on ARVs, including 10 on 1st line HIV-1 and 1 on HIV-2. On triple therapy, the average weight gain was 5.1 kg at D15 and 6.84 kg at M6. However, at M12 there was a weight loss of 1.04 kg. The mean CD4 T cell gain was +102/mm3 at M6 and +188/mm3 at 12 months. At D0, mean viral load = 565024.75 copies/mm3 [99 - 1100000] in 4/11. At M12, two patients had undetectable viral loads. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV in elderly subjects is certainly underestimated. Thanks to triple antiretroviral therapy, PLHIV are aging with HIV but screening is not systematically proposed during consultations in elderly subjects. It is necessary to reinforce communication about HIV at all ages.

Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 on gut microbial imbalance and liver function in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B cirrhosis(HBC)is a chronic disease characterized by irreversible diffuse liver damage and aggravated by intestinal microbial imbalance and metabolic dysfunction.Although the relationship between certain single probiotics and HBC has been explored,the impact of the complex ready-to-eat Lactobacillus paracasei N1115(LP N1115)supplement on patients with HBC has not been determined.AIM To compare the changes in the microbiota,inflammatory factor levels,and liver function before and after probiotic treatment in HBC patients.METHODS This study included 160 HBC patients diagnosed at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between October 2018 and December 2020.Patients were randomly divided into an intervention group that received LP N1115 supplementation and routine treatment and a control group that received routine treatment only.Fecal samples were collected at the onset and conclusion of the 12-wk intervention period.The structure of the intestinal microbiota and the levels of serological indicators,such as liver function and inflammatory factors,were assessed.RESULTS Following LP N1115 intervention,the intestinal microbial diversity significantly increased in the intervention group(P<0.05),and the structure of the intestinal microbiota was characterized by an increase in the proportions of probiotic microbes and a reduction in harmful bacteria.Additionally,the intervention group demonstrated notable improvements in liver function indices and significantly lower levels of inflammatory factors(P<0.05).CONCLUSION LP N1115 is a promising treatment for ameliorating intestinal microbial imbalance in HBC patients by modulating the structure of the intestinal microbiota,improving liver function,and reducing inflammatory factor levels.

Expression and clinical significance of pattern recognition receptor-associated genes in hand, foot and mouth disease

Objective:To explore which pattern recognition receptors(PRRs)play a key role in the development of hand,foot,and mouth disease(HFMD)by analyzing PRR-associated genes.Methods:We conducted a comparative analysis of PRR-associated gene expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)infected with enterovirus 71(EV-A71)which were derived from patients with HFMD of different severities and at different stages.A total of 30 PRR-associated genes were identified as significantly upregulated both over time and across different EV-A71 isolates.Subsequently,ELISA was employed to quantify the expression of the six most prominent genes among these 30 identified genes,specifically,BST2,IRF7,IFI16,TRIM21,MX1,and DDX58.Results:Compared with those at the recovery stage,the expression levels of BST2(P=0.027),IFI16(P=0.016),MX1(P=0.046)and DDX58(P=0.008)in the acute stage of infection were significantly upregulated,while no significant difference in the expression levels of IRF7(P=0.495)and TRIM21(P=0.071)was found between different stages of the disease.The expression levels of BST2,IRF7,IFI16 and MX1 were significantly higher in children infected with single pathogen than those infected with mixed pathogens,and BST2,IRF7,IFI16 and MX1 expression levels were significantly lower in coxsackie B virus(COXB)positive patients than the negative patients.Expression levels of one or more of BST2,IRF7,IFI16,TRIM21,MX1 and DDX58 genes were correlated with PCT levels,various white blood cell counts,and serum antibody levels that reflect disease course of HFMD.Aspartate aminotransferase was correlated with BST2,MX1 and DDX58 expression levels.Conclusions:PRR-associated genes likely initiate the immune response in patients at the acute stage of HFMD.

sTREM-1 as promising prognostic biomarker for acute-on-chronic liver failure and mortality in patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Acute decompensation(AD)of cirrhosis is associated with high short-term mortality,mainly due to the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF).Thus,there is a need for biomarkers for early and accurate identification of AD patients with high risk of development of ACLF and mortality.Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(sTREM-1)is released from activated innate immune cells and correlated with various inflammatory processes.AIM To explore the prognostic value of sTREM-1 in patients with AD of cirrhosis.METHODS A multicenter prospective cohort of 442 patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for AD was divided into a study cohort(n=309)and validation cohort(n=133).Demographic and clinical data were collected,and serum sTREM-1 was measured at admission.All enrolled patients were followed-up for at least 1 year.RESULTS In patients with AD and cirrhosis,serum sTREM-1 was an independent prognosis predictor for 1-year survival and correlated with liver,coagulation,cerebral and kidney failure.A new prognostic model of AD(P-AD)incorporating sTREM-1,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),total bilirubin(TBil),international normalized ratio(INR)and hepatic encephalopathy grades was established and performed better than the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD),MELD-sodium(MELD-Na),chronic liver failure-consortium(CLIF-C)ACLF and CLIF-C AD scores.Additionally,sTREM-1 was increased in ACLF and predicted the development of ACLF during first 28-d follow-up.The ACLF risk score incorporating serum sTREM-1,BUN,INR,TBil and aspartate aminotransferase levels was established and significantly superior to MELD,MELD-Na,CLIF-C ACLF,CLIF-C AD and P-AD in predicting risk of ACLF development.CONCLUSION Serum sTREM-1 is a promising prognostic biomarker for ACLF development and mortality in patients with AD of cirrhosis.

Carrimycin in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia combined with pulmonary tuberculosis: A case report

BACKGROUND Pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)is prevalent in immunocompromised populations,including patients with hematologic malignancies,human immunodeficiency virus infections,and chronic diseases.Effective treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL)combined with PTB is lacking.These patients show an extremely poor prognosis.Therefore,studies should establish efficient treatment options to improve patient survival and prognosis.CASE SUMMARY A 60-year-old male with pain in the right side of his chest and a fever for 4 d visited the outpatient department of our hospital.Peripheral blood smear revealed 54%blasts.Following bone marrow examinations,variant APL with TNRC18-RARA fusion gene was diagnosed.Chest computed tomography scan showed bilateral pneumonitis with bilateral pleural effusions,partial atelectasis in the lower lobes of both lungs,and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid gene X-Pert test was positive,indicative of PTB.Carrimycin,ethambutol(EMB),and isoniazid(INH)were administered since he could not receive chemotherapy as the WBC count decreased continuously.After one week of treatment with carrimycin,the patient recovered from fever and received chemotherapy.Chemotherapy was very effective and his white blood cells counts got back to normal.After being given five months with rifampin,EMB and INH and chemotherapy,the patient showed complete remission from pneumonia and APL.CONCLUSION We report a case of PTB treated successfully with carrimycin with APL that requires chemotherapy.

Autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cholangitis overlap syndrome complicated by various autoimmune diseases:A case report

BACKGROUND Autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)and primary biliary cholangitis(PBC)are two common clinical autoimmune liver diseases,and some patients have both diseases;this feature is called AIH-PBC overlap syndrome.Autoimmune thyroid disease(AITD)is the most frequently overlapping extrahepatic autoimmune disease.Immunoglobulin(IgG)4-related disease is an autoimmune disease recognized in recent years,characterized by elevated serum IgG4 levels and infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells in tissues.CASE SUMMARY A 68-year-old female patient was admitted with a history of right upper quadrant pain,anorexia,and jaundice on physical examination.Laboratory examination revealed elevated liver enzymes,multiple positive autoantibodies associated with liver and thyroid disease,and imaging and biopsy suggestive of pancreatitis,hepatitis,and PBC.A diagnosis was made of a rare and complex overlap syndrome of AIH,PBC,AITD,and IgG4-related disease.Laboratory features improved on treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid,methylprednisolone,and azathioprine.CONCLUSION This case highlights the importance of screening patients with autoimmune diseases for related conditions.

Construction of CDKN2A-related competitive endogenous RNA network and identification of GAS5 as a prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)is an innovative way of gene expression modulation,which plays a crucial part in neoplasia.However,the intricacy and behavioral characteristics of the ceRNA network in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remain dismal.AIM To establish a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A(CDKN2A)-related ceRNA network and recognize potential prognostic indicators for HCC.METHODS The mutation landscape of CDKN2A in HCC was first explored using the cBioPortal database.Differential expression analysis was implemented between CDKN2Ahigh and CDKN2Alow expression HCC samples.The targeted microRNAs were predicted by lncBasev3.0,and the targeted mRNAs were predicted by miRDB,and Targetscan database.The univariate and multivariate analysis were utilized to identify independent prognostic indicators.RESULTS CDKN2A was frequently mutated and deleted in HCC.The single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that CDKN2A participated in cell cycle pathways.The CDKN2A-related ceRNA network-growth arrest specific 5(GAS5)/miR-25-3p/SRY-box transcription factor 11(SOX11)was successfully established.GAS5 was recognized as an independent prognostic biomarker,whose overexpression was correlated with a poor prognosis in HCC patients.The association between GAS5 expression and methylation,immune infilt-ration was explored.Besides,traditional Chinese medicine effective components targeting GAS5 were obtained.CONCLUSION This CDKN2A-related ceRNA network provides innovative insights into the molecular mechanism of HCC formation and progression.Moreover,GAS5 might be a significant prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HCC.

Animal models of hepatitis E infection: Advances and challenges

Hepatitis E virus(HEV)is one of the leading causes of acute viral hepatitis worldwide.Although most of HEV infections are asymptomatic,some patients will develop the symptoms,especially pregnant women,the elderly,and patients with preexisting liver diseases,who often experience anorexia,nausea,vom-iting,malaise,abdominal pain,and jaundice.HEV infection may become chronic in immunosuppressed individuals.In addition,HEV infection can also cause several extrahepatic manifestations.HEV exists in a wide range of hosts in nature and can be transmitted across species.Hence,animals susceptible to HEV can be used as models.The establishment of animal models is of great significance for studying HEV transmission,clinical symptoms,extrahepatic manifestations,and therapeutic strategies,which will help us understand the pathogenesis,prevention,and treatment of hepatitis E.This review summarized the animal models of HEV,including pigs,monkeys,rabbits,mice,rats,and other animals.For each animal species,we provided a concise summary of the HEV genotypes that they can be infected with,the cross-species transmission pathways,as well as their role in studying extrahepatic manifestations,prevention,and treatment of HEV infection.The advantages and disadvantages of these animal models were also emphasized.This review offers new perspectives to enhance the current understanding of the research landscape surrounding HEV animal models.

Analysis of articles on hepatitis C by scientific mapping:1989-2022

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus(HCV)poses a significant quandary about public health.It is challenging to study the literature in a particular discipline comprehensively today.One solution is bibliometric analysis,which is often used to track the attributes and evolutionary trajectories of scientific outputs.AIM To examine the 35-year scientific evolution of articles focused on HCV.METHODS This study examined the 35-year scientific evolution of articles focused on HCV.Our study utilized the Web of Science database.The study encompassed a total of 11930 articles.RESULTS Regarding the cumulative count of articles,the leading countries are the United States,Japan,and Italy.Rice CM is the author with the highest recorded H-index and G-index values.The journal with the highest recorded H-index and G-index values is the Journal of Virology.The Journal of Viral Hepatitis contributed 10.94%of the articles,whereas the Journal of Virology published 9.68%.According to the strategic diagram,the keywords most frequently used in 2020-2022 are HCV,epidemiology,and sofosbuvir.CONCLUSION This study provides valuable information about 40 years of academic knowledge on HCV.