Inhibition of Bcl-6 Expression Ameliorates Asthmatic Characteristics in Mice

Objective The function of Bcl-6 in T follicular helper(Tfh)cell maturation is indispensable,and Tfh cells play a pivotal role in asthma.This study investigated the impact of Bcl-6 on asthmatic traits.Methods The microscopic pathological alterations,airway resistance(AR),and lung compliance(LC)were determined in asthmatic mice and Bcl-6 interference mice.The surface molecular markers of Tfh cells and the Bcl-6 mRNA and protein expression were determined by flow cytometry,RT-qPCR,and Western blotting,respectively.The relationships between the Tfh cell ratio and the IgE and IgG1 concentrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were determined.Results Asthmatic inflammatory changes were observed in the lung tissue and were attenuated by Bcl-6 siRNA and dexamethasone(DXM).Asthmatic mice exhibited an increased AR and a decreased LC,while Bcl-6 siRNA or DXM mitigated these changes.The percentages of Tfh cells and eosinophils were significantly increased in the asthmatic mice,and they significantly decreased after Bcl-6 inhibition or DXM treatment.RT-qPCR and Western blotting analyses revealed that the Bcl-6 expression level in PBMCs was significantly higher in asthmatic mice,and it decreased following Bcl-6 inhibition or DXM treatment.The IgE expression in the serum and BALF and the B cell expression in PBMCs exhibited a similar trend.In asthmatic mice,the ratio of Tfh cells in the peripheral blood showed a strong positive correlation with the IgE levels in the serum and BALF,but not with the IgG1 levels.Conclusion The amelioration of airway inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness is achieved through Bcl-6 suppression,which effectively hinders Tfh cell differentiation,ultimately resulting in a concurrent reduction in IgE production.

Impact of continuous care on cardiac function in patients with lung cancer complicated by coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND Despite sharing similar pathogenic factors,cancer and coronary heart disease(CHD)occur in comparable populations at similar ages and possess similar susceptibility factors.Consequently,it is increasingly commonplace for patients to experience the simultaneous occurrence of cancer and CHD,a trend that is steadily rising.AIM To determine the impacts of continuing care on lung cancer patients with CHD following percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).METHODS There were 94 lung cancer patients with CHD following PCI who were randomly assigned to the intervention group(n=38)and the control group(n=41).In the intervention group,continuing care was provided,while in the control group,routine care was provided.An evaluation of cardiac and pulmonary function,medication compliance,a 6-min walk test,and patient quality of life was performed.RESULTS Differences between the two groups were significant in left ventricular ejection fraction,6-min walk test,oxygen uptake,quality of life and medication compliance(P<0.05).In comparison with the control group,the enhancement in the intervention group was more significant.The intervention group had more patients with high medication compliance than the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).CONCLUSION After undergoing PCI,lung patients with CHD could benefit from continued care in terms of cardiac and pulmonary function,medications compliance,and quality of life.

Artificial intelligence technology and ultrasound-guided nerve block for analgesia in total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Knee diseases are more common in middle-aged and elderly people,so artificial knee replacement is also more used in middle-aged and elderly people.Although the patient’s pain can be reduced through surgery,often accompanied by moderate pain after surgery and neutralization,which not only increases the psychological burden of the patient,but also greatly reduces the postoperative recovery effect,and may also lead to the occurrence of postoperative adverse events in severe cases.AIM To investigate the analgesic effect of artificial intelligence(AI)and ultrasoundguided nerve block in total knee arthroplasty(TKA).METHODS A total of 92 patients with TKA admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were opted and divided into two groups according to the treatment regimen.The control group received combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.The research group received AI technique combined with ultrasound-guided nerve block anesthesia.The sensory block time,motor block time,visual analogue scale(VAS)at different time points and complications were contrasted between the two groups.RESULTS The time of sensory block onset and sensory block perfection in the research group was shorter than those in the control group,but the results had no significant difference(P>0.05).Duration of sensory block in the research group was significantly longer than those in the control group(P<0.05).The time of motor block onset and motor block perfection in the research group was shorter than those in the control group,but the results had no significant difference(P>0.05).Duration of motor block in the research group was significantly longer than those in the control group.The VAS scales of the research group were significantly lower than that of the control group at different time points(P<0.05).The postoperative hip flexion and abduction range of motion in the research group were significantly better than those in the control group at different time points(P<0.05).The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the research group than in the control group(P=0.049).CONCLUSION In TKA,the combination of AI technology and ultrasound-guided nerve block has a significantly effect,with fewer postoperative complications and significantly analgesic effect,which is worthy of application.

Comparable outcomes but higher risks of prolonged viral RNA shedding duration and secondary infection in cancer survivors with COVID-19: A multi-center, matched retrospective cohort study

Results Sixty-one cancer survivors and 183 matched non-cancer patients were screened from 2,828 COVID-19 infected patients admitted to 4 hospitals in Wuhan,China.The median ages of the cancer survivor cohort and non-cancer patient cohort were 64.0(55.0–73.0)and 64.0(54.0–73.5),respectively(P=0.909).Cancer survivors reported a higher incidence of symptom onset than non-cancer patients.Fever(80.3%vs.65.0%;P=0.026)was the most prevalent symptom,followed by cough(65.6%vs.37.7%;P<0.001),myalgia,and fatigue(45.9%vs.13.6%;P<0.001).The risks of the development of severe events(adjusted hazard ratio[AHR]=1.25;95%confidence interval[CI]:0.76–2.06;P=0.378)and mortality(relative risk[RR]=0.90,95%CI:0.79–1.04;P=0.416)in the cancer survivor cohort were comparable to those of the matched non-cancer patient cohort.However,the cancer survivor cohort showed a higher incidence of secondary infection(52.5%vs.30.1%;RR=1.47,95%CI:1.11–1.95;P=0.002)and a prolonged viral RNA shedding duration(32 days[IQR 26.0–46.0]vs.24.0 days[IQR 18.0–33.0];AHR=0.54;95%CI:0.38–0.80;P<0.05).Conclusion Compared to non-cancer patients,cancer survivors with COVID-19 exhibited a higher incidence of secondary infection,a prolonged period of viral shedding,but comparable risks of the development of severe events and mortality.It is helpful for clinicians to take tailored measures to treat cancer survivors with COVID-19.

MicroRNA-98 induces an Alzheimer's disease-like disturbance by targeting insulin-like growth factor 1

Alzheimer ’s disease（ A D） is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Many microRNAs（miRs） participate in regulating amyloid β（Aβ） formation and the metabolism of tau protein in the process of AD,and some are up-regulated in AD patients or transgenic models of AD.However,the role of miR-98 in AD remains unclear.Here,we showed that the expression of miR-98 was negatively correlated with the insulin-like growth factor 1（IGF-1） protein level in APP/PS1 mice.MiR-98 target sites in IGF-1 were confirmed by luciferase assay in HEK293 cells.Overexpression of miR-98 in N2a/APP cells down-regulated the IGF-1 protein level and promoted Aβ production,whereas inhibition of miR-98 in N2a/APP cells up-regulated the IGF-1 protein level and suppressed Aβ production.Furthermore,overexpression of miR-98 in N2a/WT cells increased the phosphorylation of tau,whereas inhibition of miR-98 reduced it.These results suggest that miR-98 increases Aβ formation and tau phosphorylation by inhibiting the translation of IGF-1,which might provide a therapeutic strategy for AD.