Open Medicine最新文献

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1515/med-2021-0369.].

Background: Integrin subunit Alpha 3 is essential for cell adhesion and movement, but its role in breast cancer (BC) is unclear. This study evaluated ITGA3 expression in BC and its clinical significance.

Methods: The Human Protein Atlas (HPA), UALCAN, and Kaplan-Meier plotter were used to analyze ITGA3 in BC. ITGA3 was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. The cell counting kit-8 test was used to examine the role of ITGA3 in cell proliferation.

Results: BC tissues' ITGA3 protein and mRNA levels were significantly lower than normal controls. ITGA3 was associated with better recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival, especially in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, Luminal B, and Luminal B subtypes. ITGA3 predicted RFS for 5 years and the response to chemotherapy. ITGA3 was associated with ER status but not age, tumor, node, metastasis stages, or tumor size. ITGA3 has a positive impact on BC cell growth.

Conclusions: ITGA3 may be a predictive marker for BC and a therapeutic target. These findings need to be confirmed, and the molecular mechanisms of ITGA3 need to be clarified.

Introduction: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) represents serious diabetes-associated complications, and podocyte loss is an important histologic sign of DKD. The cellular and molecular profiles of podocytes in DKD have yet to be fully elucidated.

Methods: This study analyzed kidney-related single-nucleus RNA-seq datasets (GSE131882, GSE121862, and GSE141115) and human diabetic kidney glomeruli transcriptome profiling (GSE30122). ARHGAP28 expression was validated by western blot and immunohistochemistry.

Results: In human kidney tissues, 154 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in podocytes, which were enriched in biological processes related to nephron development and extracellular matrix-receptor interactions. Similarly, in the mouse kidney, 344 DEGs were found, clustering in pathways associated with renal development and signaling mechanisms like PI3K/Akt (phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B) and PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor). In diabetic human kidney glomeruli, 438 DEGs were identified, showing significant enrichment in pathways related to diabetic nephropathy. Venn analysis revealed 22 DEGs common across human and mouse podocytes and diabetic glomeruli, with ARHGAP28 being notably overexpressed in podocytes. The diabetic nephropathy model using db/db mice showed that ARHGAP28 expression was significantly upregulated in the kidney cortex and glomeruli. In vitro studies using a high-glucose podocyte model corroborated these findings.

Conclusions: Collectively, this study provides an insight into the function and diagnosis of DKD and indicates that ARHGAP28 in podocytes is a potential biomarker of DKD.

Background: Sepsis is a prevalent and severe condition. However, research investigating the relationship between the immune microenvironment in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) through diagnostic models using RNA biomarkers remains limited. Therefore, this study developed a diagnostic model using gene expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, leveraging a sufficient sample size.

Methods: We proposed a computational method to identify RNAs Rela and Stat3 constructing a diagnostic model using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression algorithms. Gene expression data from the GEO, comprising five samples each of SA-AKI and sepsis, were analyzed.

Results: Diagnostic models were developed for the datasets, followed by immune cell infiltration and correlation analyses. Experiments were conducted to test and confirm the high expression of Stat3 via Rela in AKI cells post-sepsis, leading to a worse prognosis.

Conclusion: This study identified the significant roles of RNAs Rela and Stat3 in SA-AKI. The developed diagnostic model demonstrated improved accuracy in identifying SA-AKI, suggesting that these RNA markers may provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of SA-AKI and enhance early diagnosis. These findings contribute to a better understanding of immune-related mechanisms underlying SA-AKI and may inform future therapeutic strategies.

Background: Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to explore the impact of ambulatory blood pressure load (BPL) on mitral regurgitation (MR) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.

Methods: A total of 215 CAPD patients hospitalized in the Department of Nephrology at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between November 2017 and June 2022 were included in the study. All subjects underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring and an echocardiography examination. BPL and MR area (MRA) were calculated. Subjects were divided into high regurgitation group and non-high regurgitation group. General data were also collected. The effect of ambulatory BPL on MR in CAPD patients was analyzed using multiple linear regression.

Results: Baseline data comparison revealed statistically significant differences in hemoglobin, serum β₂-microglobulin, NT-proBNP, left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDD), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV fractional shortening (LVFS), and mitral valve calcification between the high and non-high regurgitation groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in other clinical characteristics. Correlation analysis showed correlations between MRA and 24-h systolic BPL (24h-SBPL), 24-h diastolic BPL (24h-DBPL), daytime systolic BPL (D-SBPL), daytime DBPL (D-DBPL), nighttime systolic BPL (N-SBPL), nighttime DBPL (N-DBPL), hemoglobin level, NT-proBNP level, LAD, LVDD, LVEF, and LVFS. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the effects of 24h-DBPL and D-DBPL on MRA were statistically significantly different (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Ambulatory BPL, particularly 24h-DBPL and D-DBPL, significantly affected MR. Therefore, controlling BPL, especially DBPL, was essential for reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events and clinical mortality in CAPD patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of azacitidine (AZA) in middle-aged and elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Methods: The clinical data of 59 middle-aged and elderly patients with middle- and high-risk MDS, who attended our hospital from April 2019 to January 2024, were retrospectively analyzed and were divided into an observation group (AZA) and a control group (conventional supportive treatment) according to the treatments, and the patients in the two groups were evaluated for their clinical efficacy and safety.

Results: The overall response rate of the observation group was 66.67%. In terms of blood cells, the observation group's blood cell level after four courses of treatment was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). In terms of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the level of LDH decrease after four courses of treatment in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The safety of both groups was good.

Conclusions: AZA is safe and effective in the treatment of high risk MDS in middle and old age patients.

In robotic surgery, surgical planning and surgical navigation represent two crucial elements, allowing surgeons to maximize surgical outcomes while minimizing the risk of complications. In this context, an emerging imaging technology, namely augmented reality (AR), can represent a powerful tool to create an integration of preoperative 3D models into the live intraoperative view, providing an interactive visual interface rather than a simple operative field. In this way, surgeons can be guided by preoperative imaging during the operation. This makes the surgical procedure more accurate and safer, leading to so-called "precision surgery". This article aims to provide an overview of developments in the application of AR in robotic general surgery. The integration of this imaging technology in this surgical field is showing promising results. The main benefits include improved oncological outcomes and reduced occurrence of complications. In addition, its application may also be important for surgical education. However, we are still in the initial phase of the experience and some important limitations remain. Moreover, to our knowledge, to date, reports in the literature regarding the integration of AR in robotic general surgery are still very limited. To improve its application, close collaboration between engineers, software developers, and surgeons is mandatory.