International Journal of Medical Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Identification of an Anoikis-associated LncRNA Signature to Predict the Clinical Prognosis and Immune Function of Patients with Endometrial Cancer.","authors":"Guanxiao Chen, Ting Zhou, Xiaoyu Shen, Wan Shu, Shuyang Yu, Kejun Dong, Piotr Laudański, Klaudia Gutowska, Shuangshuang Cheng, Hongbo Wang","doi":"10.7150/ijms.107243","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.107243","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Endometrial cancer is a highly heterogeneous malignancy in women with high mortality, and patients diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer have a poor prognosis. Anoikis is a form of programmed cell death that is important for cancer development and metastasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered critical regulators of gene expression and key players in cancer biology; however, the effects of anoikis-associated lncRNAs on the prognosis and treatment of patients with endometrial cancer remain unclear. <b>Methods:</b> Using transcriptome sequencing data and clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we developed a novel prognostic signature for endometrial cancer based on anoikis-related lncRNAs by combining multivariate regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. The signature was validated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier analyses. After analyzing the relationships between the seven lncRNAs in the signature and tumor progression through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), we further explored the differences in immune function and drug sensitivity. Additionally, to investigate the functions of these lncRNAs in the occurrence and development of endometrial cancer, we selected <i>CFAP58-DT</i> to conduct a series of <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experiments to verify its partial functions. <b>Results:</b> Seven anoikis-associated lncRNAs (<i>CFAP58-DT, AC004585.1, AC103563.9, AL121895.2, AC004596.1, AC010761.4,</i> and <i>AC087564.1</i>) with prognostic value were identified for signature construction. The analysis showed excellent predictive accuracy of the signature (the largest area under the ROC curve = 0.757). GSEA indicated that these lncRNAs may regulate diverse cellular processes, including intercellular interactions, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, glucose and fatty acid metabolism, immune responses, and inflammatory regulation. Furthermore, immune analysis revealed a high likelihood of immune evasion and poor immunotherapy efficacy in high-risk patients. However, there were distinct differences in the immune checkpoints and anticancer drug sensitivity between the two patient groups, which may aid in guiding treatment. Finally, our experiments showed that silencing <i>CFAP58-DT</i> significantly affected cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and reduced tumor malignancy. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our study highlights the significance of anoikis-associated lncRNAs in endometrial cancer progression and their potential as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. The signature constructed using these lncRNAs may offer new avenues for endometrial cancer treatment and immunotherapy. The function of <i>CFAP58-DT</i> has been validated <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>, consistent with our previous analysis; however, further research into its upstream and downstream mechanisms is warrante","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2502-2517"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080581/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endothelial <i>TIE2</i> Mutation Induced Contraction Deficiency of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via Phenotypic Transition Regulation in Venous Malformations.","authors":"Zhong Du, Fan Yu, Yuan He You, Zhi Yang Zhao, Zhuo Wei Tian, Meng Xiao, Yan An Wang","doi":"10.7150/ijms.102700","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.102700","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Venous malformations (VMs) are congenital vascular malformations characterized by venous cavity enlargement and malformation. Although <i>TIE2</i> mutation is a recognized genetic landscape in VMs, the regulatory role of <i>TIE2</i> in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contraction remains unclear. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> We generated <i>Tie2-R848W^fl/fl;Tie2^Cre+</i> and <i>Tie2-R848W^fl/fl;Apln^ER+</i> mice through specific expression of <i>Tie2-R848W</i>, a typical mutation in inherited VM, in endothelial cells (ECs). Histological and transcriptome sequencing analyses were performed on vascular abnormalities in the mutant mouse model. Postnatal vascular development <i>in vivo</i> was studied through morphometric analysis of the retinal vasculature. Under <i>in vitro</i> coculture conditions, the functional abnormality of VSMCs was studied using transwell analysis, proliferation analysis, a cell contraction assay and transcriptome sequencing analysis. Markers related to the VSMC phenotypic transition were analyzed via western blotting and quantitative RT‑PCR. <b>Results:</b> <i>Tie2-R848W^fl/fl;Tie2^Cre+</i> mice developed spontaneous pulmonary vascular malformations displaying internal hemorrhage and increased vasculature with α-SMA+ enveloped VSMCs. In <i>Tie2-R848W^fl/fl;Apln^ER+</i> mice, <i>Tie2-R848W</i> mutation also induced postnatal retinal vascular malformations (higher vascular density and coverage of α-SMA+ VSMCs). According to phenotypes and molecular markers (Acta2, Cnn1, Sm22a and Opn), dysregulated phenotypic transition of VSMCs might be the pathogenic basis. Under <i>in vitro</i> coculture condition, the decreased contractile ability of synthetic VSMCs was significant in the mutant group, while downregulated ion transmembrane transport and TNFSF10 may play substantial roles in initiating this process. <b>Conclusion</b>: Endothelial <i>TIE2</i> mutation might induce an abnormal EC-VSMC regulatory relationship strongly associated with phenotypic transition of VSMCs. Weakened contractility and abnormal proliferation induce chronic cavity expansion and thickening of the muscle layer, which may be potential mechanism basis of VMs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2518-2532"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080580/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting Tumor Differentiation Grade-related Genes Prognostic Signature Including COL5A1 Based on Single-cell RNA-seq in Gastric Cancer.","authors":"Jianming Wei, Xibo Gao, Zhufeng Li, Yangpu Jia, Chuan Li, Jian Liu","doi":"10.7150/ijms.107509","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.107509","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Tumor differentiation grade was reported to be a prognostic factor in gastric cancer (GC). Here, we identify a novel tumor differentiation grade-related genes prognostic signature and provide new biomarkers using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in GC. <b>Methods:</b> ScRNA-seq profiles of GC were analyzed by 'seurat' package. Tumor differentiation grade module was identified through a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) were performed to classify differentiation grade. The effects of tumor differentiation grade on prognosis were explored using the Kaplan-Meier. Tumor differentiation grade prognostic signature was constructed and validated in GC. <b>Results:</b> Using GEO database, the scRNA-seq cell differentiation, clusters, and marker genes were identified in GC. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in neutrophil process. Integrating clinical factors in GC, WGCNA analysis indicated that tumor differentiation grade module was the most significant. H&E and Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that well-differentiated had a better prognosis in GC. Subsequently, tumor differentiation grade-related genes signature was established and validated (TNFAIP2, MAGEA3, CXCR4, COL1A1, FN1, VCAN, PXDN, COL5A1, MUC13 and RGS2). Cox regression analysis showed that age, TNM stage and the risk score were significantly associated with prognosis. And then, these genes could predict prognosis in GC. Finally, the hub gene COL5A1 was obviously correlated with B cells memory, dendritic cells activated, macrophages M0, macrophages M2, plasma cells, T cells follicular helper in GC. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study reveals a novel tumor differentiation grade-related genes signature, and COL5A1 represents a promising biomarker in GC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2533-2544"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080584/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting SNRPE to Induce Pyroptosis Enhances Antitumor Immunity in Breast Cancer.","authors":"Zaixiong Ji, Zilin Wang, Xinyu Guo, Junjian Li, Yiran Cai, Kangan Li","doi":"10.7150/ijms.109171","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.109171","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Although SNRPE is a core spliceosomal component that guides pre-mRNA splicing in eukaryotic cells, its impact on mammary carcinoma prognosis and the immune microenvironment remains unclear. Pyroptosis, an inflammatory cell death, exerts tumor-suppressive functions and elicits antitumor immunity. Understanding the pathways that control pyroptosis will aid in developing specific antitumor strategies, while the relationship between SNRPE and pyroptosis has not been studied. <b>Methods:</b> To determine the impact of SNRPE on tumor prognosis, survival analysis and immune infiltration assessment were performed on clinical samples from patients with breast cancer. The antitumor effects and further mechanisms of SNRPE targeting were investigated via the xenograft murine model and cell biology experiments. <b>Results:</b> Here, we found that upregulation of SNRPE expression was associated with unfavorable tumor prognosis and low levels of immune infiltration. Our data identified SNRPE targeting activated natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antitumor immunity in breast cancer by triggering pyroptosis of tumor cells <i>in vivo</i>. SNRPE targeting modulated pyroptosis of tumor cells in a ROS-dependent manner. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study contributes to new insights into the interaction between spliceosome-targeted tumors and host immunity, highlighting the targeting of spliceosome to trigger pyroptosis as a comprehensive therapeutic strategy for enhanced antitumor immunity in breast cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2419-2433"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080576/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of the Total Cholesterol/high-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio with Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis.","authors":"Xiaolei Shi, Yaoyao Tang, Wang Xiang, Jianwen Yu, Xin Wang, Hongjian Ye, Zhong Zhong, Haishan Wu, Ruihan Tang, Xi Xia, Wei Chen","doi":"10.7150/ijms.106393","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.106393","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives:</b> Dyslipidemia is common in lupus nephritis (LN). However, the relationship between the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio and LN remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the association between the TC/HDL-C ratio and LN. <b>Method:</b> This study included individuals diagnosed with LN between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2018. Split by the optimal cutoff TC/HDL-C ratio value of the primary outcome, patients were divided into lower (<6.71) and higher (≥6.71) TC/HDL-C ratio groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis and subgroup analyses were carried out to confirm the connection of the TC/HDL-C ratio with the adverse clinical outcomes in LN. <b>Results:</b> A total of 818 patients with LN were followed up for a median of ten years and 129 (15.77%) experienced all-cause death and 119 (14.55%) reached adverse renal events. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses demonstrated that patients exhibited a higher TC/HDL-C ratio were more susceptible to all-cause death (P=0.003) and adverse renal outcomes (P=0.001) in LN. After adjustments, a higher TC/HDL-C ratio still exhibited significant correlations with all-cause death [hazard ratio (HR):1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-2.23; P=0.036] and adverse renal outcomes in LN patients [HR: 1.57, 95%CI: 1.05-2.36; P=0.028]. Further subgroup analyses revealed that LN patients who were male, younger than 40 years old or with estimated glomerular filtration rate under 60 ml/min/1.73m2 seemed to be more susceptible to adverse clinical outcomes (P<0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> An elevated TC/HDL-C ratio exhibited significant associations with poor prognosis in LN. Patients with LN may benefit from further TC/HDL-C studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2398-2407"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080575/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiovascular System is Influenced by Skeletal Muscle-derived Extracellular Vesicles, Myokines and MicroRNAs Based on Interorgan Communication: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Jiaxin Chen, Jingxin Zong, Sha Su, Xiang Ji, Lei Wang, Xiaowan Han, Mingjing Zhao","doi":"10.7150/ijms.111775","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.111775","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Aims:</b> To illustrate the types and roles of skeletal muscle-derived bioactive molecules in mediating the communication from skeletal muscle to the heart and blood vessels. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic literature search was performed in four different databases. Eligible articles were screened using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two researchers independently performed literature screening and selection, data extraction and literature quality analysis. <b>Results:</b> This study included 29 articles (2 clinical studies and 27 basic studies). Data analysis of the included studies revealed that skeletal muscle synthesizes and releases abundant extracellular vesicles (EVs), myokines (FSTL1, FNDC5/irisin and others) and microRNAs (miRNA-126 and others) to mediate the communication from skeletal muscle to the heart and blood vessels. Certain skeletal muscle-derived EVs, myokines and miRNAs were found to enhance cardiac function, reduce cardiac fibrosis and inhibit cardiac injury, and improve apoptosis and inflammation. In the blood vessels, these bioactive molecules stimulated angiogenesis, improved endothelial cell function, protected against vascular stiffness, and attenuated atherosclerosis and neointimal hyperplasia. Notably, IL-10, FSTL1, b-FGF, VEGF, irisin, musclin, myonectin, exo-miRNA26a, and miRNA-126 definitely played protective roles in the heart and blood vessels through interorgan communication. <b>Conclusion:</b> Skeletal muscle synthesizes and releases EVs, myokines and miRNAs, which mediate the communication from skeletal muscle to the heart and blood vessels. The majority of these bioactive molecules are associated with cardiovascular protective effects. And they may provide new targets for more in-depth mechanism and clinical researches of communication from skeletal muscle to the heart and blood vessels.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2382-2397"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080579/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Immature Infant Liver: Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and their Relevance to Vaccine Safety and SIDS Research.","authors":"Gary S Goldman, Richard Z Cheng","doi":"10.7150/ijms.114402","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.114402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Aim and background:</b> Vaccines are a cornerstone of modern medicine, significantly reducing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Their administration in infants requires consideration of physiological maturity. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, crucial for drug metabolism, are underdeveloped at birth and mature over the first two to three years of life. While vaccines are not directly metabolized by CYP450 enzymes, emerging evidence suggests that certain excipients-such as polysorbate 80 and gelatin-could interact with CYP450 pathways, particularly in genetically susceptible infants. This study integrates pharmacogenetics and epidemiology to examine how CYP450 immaturity and variability may influence vaccine excipient metabolism, immune activation, and infant health outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature, pharmacogenetic data, and epidemiological studies was conducted to assess CYP450 enzyme activity in infants, potential metabolic interactions with vaccine excipients, and temporal associations between vaccination and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Gaps in postmortem investigations were also evaluated for their impact to identify metabolic vulnerabilities. <b>Results:</b> CYP450 enzymes exhibit developmental immaturity in infants and genetic polymorphisms-particularly in CYP2D6 and CYP3A5-may affect vaccine excipient clearance. While epidemiological evidence shows temporal clustering of some SIDS cases post-vaccination, causality remains unproven. Inflammation-induced suppression of CYP450 enzymes raise questions about potential metabolic vulnerabilities, which current postmortem protocols often fail to capture. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study highlights the need for further research into the influence of CYP450 variability on vaccine-related outcomes. Incorporating genetic and metabolic profiling into postmortem protocols may improve our understanding of metabolic contributions to SIDS and refine vaccine safety assessments. <b>Clinical significance:</b> Developmental immaturity and genetic variability in CYP450 enzymes may affect vaccine excipient metabolism and interact with immune activation. This interplay could influence metabolic vulnerabilities in infants, particularly with inflammation-induced CYP450 suppression. Genetic and metabolic profiling before vaccination could identify at-risk infants, while postmortem analysis may enhance SIDS understanding and vaccine safety assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2434-2445"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080585/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carboxyamidotriazole Regulates the Function of Salivary Gland Epithelial Cells and B Cells to Alleviate Experimental Sjögren's Disease in Mice.","authors":"Xiaojuan Zhang, Jingwen Liu, Mei Yang, Juan Li, Lei Zhu","doi":"10.7150/ijms.111897","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.111897","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sjögren's disease (SjD), a systemic autoimmune disease, suffers from restricted treatment choices. The activation of salivary gland epithelial cells and abnormal auto-reactive B cells, triggering cytokine and autoantibody generation, is key to its immunopathogenesis. Carboxyamidotriazole (CAI) was reported to have anti-inflammatory properties by reducing cytokines, yet its role in SjD was unknown. In this research, we targeted to probe CAI's potential treatment effect on SjD-like NOD/Ltj mice and its mechanism. Utilizing the salivary glands of these mice, we employed HE staining, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Findings revealed that CAI augmented salivary secretion, decreased water intake and serum autoantibody levels, suppressed histological alterations and lymphocyte foci, and diminished inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and IL-6. It also blocked IκBα degradation and p65 nuclear translocation. <i>In vitro</i>, CAI restrained IL-6 secretion from stimulated SGECs and halted Raji B cells' proliferation at G0/G1 stage. Overall, CAI shows an anti-SjD effect in NOD/Ltj mice, probably by regulating relevant cells and deactivating the NF-κB pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2362-2372"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080577/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterizing the gut microbiota composition in Taiwanese hypertensive patients using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis.","authors":"Ming-Shan Chen, Shin-Kuang Jiang, Zhi-Yong Chong, Jou-Wei Chiang, Yan-Min Chen, Hsin-Yu Huang, Jui-Chieh Chen","doi":"10.7150/ijms.109340","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.109340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hypertension (HTN) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests a close relationship between HTN and alterations in the gut microbiota composition and abundance. We recruited 23 HTN patients and 17 controls matched for demographic characteristics. DNA extracted from fecal samples of patients was subjected to Illumina MiSeq sequencing, targeting the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene for analysis. We compared the diversity and composition of gut microbiota between the two groups. The α-diversity of gut microbiota in HTN patients was similar to that in the control group. β-diversity analysis showed slight differences in microbial composition between the HTN and control groups. We used Welch's <i>t</i>-test to evaluate the significant difference in the bacterial composition of the top 20 ASVs between the HTN group and the control group, and the results showed that <i>Tyzzerella</i> was significantly increased, while <i>Faecalibacterium</i> was significantly decreased in the HTN group. We performed PCR using <i>Faecalibacterium</i>-specific primers and analyzed their levels through agarose gel electrophoresis, confirming the reduced abundance of <i>Faecalibacterium</i> in the HTN group. In addition, Tax4Fun2 analysis was employed to examine differences in microbial functionality between the HTN group and the control group. In conclusion, we studied the fecal microbiota of HTN population in Taiwan through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and found that <i>Faecalibacterium</i> has a lower abundance in HTN patients. This unique alteration in gut microbiota may provide insights into the pathogenesis of HTN and aid in the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2460-2469"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080567/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Renin-angiotensin System Genes as Novel Prognostic Biomarkers for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.","authors":"Zhengzheng Wu, Can Wang, Jiusong Han, Xiaobing Chen, Jie Wu, Bin Cheng, Juan Wang","doi":"10.7150/ijms.112735","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.112735","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Purpose:</b> Recent evidence suggests that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in OSCC development. This study aimed to identify RAS-related gene (RASRG) biomarkers associated with OSCC prognosis through integrated bioinformatics analysis. <b>Methods:</b> First, we identified module genes by intersecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the TCGA-OSCC dataset with RASRGs using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Next, Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses were utilized to construct an OSCC risk model. We also created a nomogram incorporating risk scores and relevant clinical variables. Subsequently, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve analysis, Cox regression analysis, and in vitro experiments were performed to assess the accuracy of the prognostic risk model and nomogram. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, immune infiltration analysis and functional enrichment analyses were employed to reveal OSCC-related pathogenic genes and underlying mechanisms. <b>Results:</b> A novel OSCC risk model was established consisting of six key genes: <i>CMA1</i>, <i>CTSG</i>, <i>OLR1</i>, <i>SPP1</i>, <i>AQP1</i>, and <i>PTX3</i>. This six-gene signature effectively predicted the prognosis of patients with OSCC and served as a reliable independent prognostic parameter. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 5 hub genes and 13 miRNAs. Immune infiltration analysis indicated a possible association of the prognostic features of RASRGs with immunomodulation. <b>Conclusion:</b> In this study, we successfully constructed a risk model based on the six identified RAS-related DEGs as potential predictive biomarkers for OSCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"22 10","pages":"2470-2487"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12080578/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}