A novel nine gene signature integrates stemness characteristics associated with prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer stem cells(CSCs)are heterogeneous with self-renewal and differentiation ability.The mRNA expression-based stemness index(mRNAsi)described the similarity between tumor cells and CSCs,which is positively associated with the poor prognosis of cancer patients.However,the key prognostic genes related to mRNAsi in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remains unclear.A 9-gene signature related to mRNAsi and HCC prognosis including PSMG3,SNRPD1,DTYMK,PIGU,NME1,TXNL4A,IPO4,PES1,and REXO4 was obtained.High expression of this signature indicates poor prognosis of HCC.PIGU was an independent prognostic factor of HCC,which was significantly associated with progression of HCC.Among them,DTYMK and NME1 enriched in pyrimidine metabolism,SNRPD1 and TXNL4A enriched in spliceosome and PIGU enriched in glycosyl phosphatidylinositol(GPI)-anchor biosynthesis pathways.High levels of IPO4,NME1,PES1,PIGU and SNRPD1 were closely associated with metastasis of HCC,and low levels of IPO4,PIGU and REOX4 were significantly associated with sorafenib resistance of HCC.High expression of the 9-gene signature was negatively correlated with the stromal cell infiltration,and positively correlated with specific immune subtypes-related to angiogenesis,M1/M2 macrophage polarization,and M2 response.The 9-gene signature was negatively correlated with the stroma,and SNRPD1 and TXNL4 were positively correlated with immune infiltrate.NME1 was negatively correlated with tumor purity.Therefore,a 9-gene signature related to mRNAsi and poor prognosis in HCC were identified,which can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC and functional mechanism exploration of CSCs in HCC.These genes such as IPO4 and PIGU might drive the transition of tumor cells into CSCs which possibly controls the balance between metastasis and drug resistance in HCC.The challenge on balance between metastasis and drug resistance for tumor therapy was firstly reported by the present study.

Effect of vertebroplasty combined with pedicle internal fixation on senile osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

Objective:To investigate the effect of vertebroplasty combined with pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of senile osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.Methods:Eighty-one patients with senile osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were enrolled in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2019.They were randomly divided into a single group(40 cases)and a combined group(41 cases).),a single group was treated with pedicle screw internal fixation,and the combined group was treated with vertebroplasty.The recovery,pain and dysfunction index of the injured vertebrae before and after operation were compared between the two groups.The serum neurological function related indexes before and after operation were compared and the incidence of postoperative adverse events were recorded.Results:There was no significant difference in the recovery of the injured vertebrae between the two groups(P>0.05).The compression ratio,spinal stenosis rate and Cobb angle of the combined group were significantly lower than the single group(P<0.05).On the 3rd postoperative day,there were no significant differences between the two groups in Visual Analogue Scale/Score(VAS)and Oswestry Dability Index(ODI)scores(P>0.05).The VAS and ODI scores of the group were significantly lower than those of the single group(P<0.05).On the 3rd day after surgery,the neuron-specific enolase(NSE)and brain derived neurotrophic factor(brain-derived neurotrophic factor)were used.The levels of BDNF,S100βand Nerve growth factor(NGF)were not significantly different(P>0.05).At 3 months after operation,the level of BDNF in the combined group was significantly higher than that in the single group.The levels of NSE,S100βand NGF were significantly lower than that of the single group.The group(P<0.05);the incidence of adverse events in the combined group was significantly lower than that in the single group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Vertebroplasty combined with pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of senile osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture can effectively improve the recovery of postoperative vertebral body structure,postoperative pain and dysfunction in Jianing patients,improve postoperative neurological function To reduce the incidence of adverse events,with clinical promotion significance.

Study on the COVID-19 epidemic in China's Mainland between November 2022 and January 2023,with prediction of its tendency

The prediction system EpiSIX was used to study the COVID-19 epidemic in China's Mainland between November 2022 and January 2023,based on reported data from December 9,2022,to January 30,2023,released by The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on February 1,2023.Three kinds of reported data were used for model fitting:the daily numbers of positive nucleic acid tests and deaths,and the daily number of hospital beds taken by COVID-19 patients.It was estimated that the overall infection rate was 87.54%and the overall case fatality rate was 0.078%–0.116%(median 0.100%).Assuming that a new COVID-19 epidemic outbreak would start in March or April of 2023,induced by a slightly more infectious mutant strain,we predicted a possible large rebound between September and October 2023,with a peak demand of between 800,000 and 900,000 inpatient beds.If no such new outbreak was induced by other variants,then the current COVID-19 epidemic course in China's Mainland would remain under control until the end of 2023.However,it is suggested that the necessary medical resources be prepared to manage possible COVID-19 epidemic emergencies in the near future,especially for the period between September and October 2023.

Epidemiological feature analysis of SVEIR model with control strategy and variant evolution

The complex interactions were performed among non-pharmaceutical interventions,vaccinations,and hosts for all epidemics in China's Mainland during the spread of COVID-19.Specially,the small-scale epidemic in the city described by SVEIR model was less found in the current studies.The SVEIR model with control was established to analyze the dynamical and epidemiological features of two epidemics in Jinzhou City led by Omicron variants before and after Twenty Measures.In this study,the total population(N)of Jinzhou City was divided into five compartments:the susceptible(S),the vaccinated(V),the exposed(E),the infected(I),and the recovered(R).By surveillance data and the SVEIR model,three methods(maximum likelihood method,exponential growth rate method,next generation matrix method)were governed to estimate basic reproduction number,and the results showed that an increasing tendency of basic reproduction number from Omicron BA.5.2 to Omicron BA.2.12.1.Meanwhile,the effective reproduction number for two epidemics were investigated by surveillance data,and the results showed that Jinzhou wave 1 reached the peak on November 1 and was controlled 7 days later,and that Jinzhou wave 2 reached the peak on November 28 and was controlled 5 days later.Moreover,the impacts of non-pharmaceutical interventions(awareness delay,peak delay,control intensity)were discussed extensively,the variations of infection scales for Omicron variant and EG.5 variant were also discussed.Furthermore,the investigations on peaks and infection scales for two epidemics in dynamic zero-COVID policy were operated by the SVEIR model with control.The investigations on public medical requirements of Jinzhou City and Liaoning Province were analyzed by using SVEIR model without control,which provided a possible perspective on variant evolution in the future.

Study and prediction of the 2022 global monkeypox epidemic

The World Health Organization(WHO)declared monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern(PHEIC)on July 23,2022,their highest level of alert.This raised concerns about the management of the global monkeypox outbreak,as well as the scientific analysis and accurate prediction of the future course of the epidemic.This study used EpiSIX(an analysis and prediction system for epidemics based on a general SEIR model)to analyze the monkeypox epidemic and to forecast the major tendencies based on data from the USA CDC(https://www.cdc.gov)and the WHO(https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox).The global outbreak of monkeypox started in the UK on May 2,2022,which marked the beginning of an epidemic wave.As of October 28,2022,the cumulative number of reported cases worldwide was 77,115,with 36 deaths.EpiSIX simulations predict that the global monkeypox epidemic will enter a low epidemic status on March 1,2023 with the cumulative number of confirmed cases ranging from 85,000 to 124,000,and the total number of deaths ranging from 60 to 87.Our analysis revealed that the basic reproduction number(R0)of monkeypox virus(MPXV)is near to 3.1 and the percentage of asymptomatic individuals is 13.1%–14.5%,both of which are similar to the data for SARS.The vaccination efficiency against susceptibility(VEs)of individuals who have had monkeypox is~79%,and the vaccination efficiency against infectiousness(VEi)of individuals who have had monkeypox is~76%–82%.The mean incubation period for monkeypox is 8 days.In total,94.7%of infected individuals develop symptoms within 20 days and recover within 2 weeks after the confirmation of symptoms.Simulation results using EpiSIX showed that ring vaccination was remarkably effective against monkeypox.Our findings confirmed that a 20-day isolation for close contacts is necessary.

COVID-19 transmission driven by age-group mathematical model in Shijiazhuang City of China

Background:A COVID-19 outbreak in the rural areas of Shijiazhuang City was attributed to the complex interactions among vaccination,host,and non-pharmaceutical interventions(NPIs).Herein,we investigated the epidemiological characteristics of all reported symptomatic cases by picking Shijiazhuang City,Hebei Province in Northern China as research objective.In addition,we established an age-group mathematical model to perform the optimal fitting and to investigate the dynamical profiles under three scenarios.Methods:All reported symptomatic cases of Shijiazhuang epidemic(January 2-February 3,2021)were investigated in our study.The cases were classified by gender,age group and location,the distributions were analyzed by epidemiological characteristics.Furthermore,the reported data from Health Commission of Hebei Province was also analyzed by using an age-group mathematical model by two phases and three scenarios.Results:Shijiazhuang epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 wild strain was recorded with the peak 84 cases out of 868 reported symptomatic cases on January 11,2021,which was implemented with strong NPIs by local government and referred as baseline situation in this study.The research results showed that R0 under baseline situation ranged from 4.47 to 7.72,and Rt of Gaocheng Distinct took 3.72 with 95%confidence interval from 3.23 to 4.35 on January 9,the declining tendencies of Rt under baseline situation were kept till February 3,the value of Rt reached below 1 on January 19 and remained low value up to February 3 for Gaocheng District and Shijiazhuang City during Shijiazhuang epidemic.This indicated Shijiazhuang epidemic was under control on January 19.However,if the strong NPIs were kept,but remote isolation operated on January 11 was not implemented as of February 9,then the scale of Shijiazhuang epidemic reached 9,482 cases from age group who were 60 years old and over out of 31,017 symptomatic cases.The investigation also revealed that Shijiazhuang epidemic reached 132,648 symptomatic cases for age group who were 60 years old and over(short for G2)under risk-based strategies(Scenario A),58,048 symptomatic cases for G2 under late quarantine strategies(Scenario B)and 207,124 symptomatic cases for G2 under late quarantine double risk strategies(Scenario C),and that the corresponding transmission tendencies of Rt for three scenarios were consistently controlled on Jan 29,2021.Compared with baseline situation,the dates for controlling Rt below 1 under three scenarios were delayed 10 days.Conclusions:Shijiazhuang epidemic was the first COVID-19 outbreak in the rural areas in Hebei Province of Northern China.The targeted interventions adopted in early 2021 were effective to halt the transmission due to the implementation of a strict and village-wide closure.However we found that age group profile and NPIs played critical rules to successfully contain Shijiazhuang epidemic,which should be considered by public health policies in rural areas of China's Mainland during the dynamic zero-COVID policy.