The metabolite alpha-ketoglutarate inhibits vascular calcification partially through modulation of the TET2/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

Introduction: Vascular calcification is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but existing medical treatments fail to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects. Vascular calcification is now recognized as an active multifactorial process involving diverse mechanisms. Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), an intermediate in tricarboxylic acid cycle, has been demonstrated to extend lifespan and ameliorate age-related osteoporosis.

Physician-patient sex concordance and patient outcomes: Evidence from China.

The growing body of research on the effects of physician-patient sex concordance on healthcare delivery across various medical settings has yielded highly heterogeneous results, with limited evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to examine the impact of physician-patient sex concordance on both the quality of care (treatment outcomes and 30-day readmission rates) and medical expenditure (total expenditure and specific fee categories) among hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) in China. Using hospital administrative data (2018-2022) from a tertiary general hospital in Eastern China, we focus on the patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of AMI to achieve the random matching between physicians and patients (n = 1299).

Chemically induced degradation of PRC2 complex by EZH2-Targeted PROTACs via a Ubiquitin-Proteasome pathway.

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase that plays an important role in cancer cells biology. However, present EZH2 inhibitors in clinic have not achieved satisfactory efficacy. Herein, a number of EZH2-targeted PROTAC compounds were designed and synthesized by selecting different linkers, using Tazemetostat as the protein of interest (POI) portion of PROTAC molecules, hoping to improve the defects of existing EZH2 inhibitors effectively.

Preparation and Luminescence Properties of Broadband Orange-Emitting Persistent ScBaZnGaO:Bi Phosphor.

This article describes a new kind of afterglow material, ScBaZnGaO:Bi, which was synthesized through a high-temperature solid-phase method. Its crystal structure, photoluminescent characteristics, and afterglow characteristics were studied and analyzed. Upon excitation at 344 nm, ScBaZnGaO:Bi exhibits broadband emission with a central wavelength located at 571 nm (fwhm = 172.

Gemcitabine-based conditioning compared to BEAM/BEAC conditioning prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma: No difference in outcomes.

Background: High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains an effective treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The limited availability of carmustine has prompted the exploration of novel alternative conditioning regimens. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety profile of GBM/GBC (gemcitabine, busulfan, and melphalan or cyclophosphamide) conditioning compared with the standard BEAM/BEAC regimens (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan or cyclophosphamide) for ASCT in patients with NHL.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor canagliflozin alleviates vascular calcification through suppression of nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 inflammasome.

Aims: Vascular calcification (VC) is prevalent in pathological processes such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and atherosclerosis, but effective therapies are still lacking by far. Canagliflozin (CANA), a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, has been approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and exhibits beneficial effects against cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of CANA on VC remains unknown.

Risk assessment of Artemia egg shell-Mg-P composites as a slow-release phosphorus fertilizer during its formation and application in typical heavy metals contaminated environment.

Artemia egg shell loaded with nano-magnesium (shell-Mg) can be used to recover phosphorus from wastewater. The exhausted Artemia egg shell-Mg (denoted as shell-Mg-P) can be used as a slow-release fertilizer for phosphorus reuse. However, due to the coexistence of heavy metal ions in the environment, the application of slow-release fertilizer for phosphorus removal and reuse may have potential risks.

Deletion of SIRT6 in vascular smooth muscle cells facilitates vascular calcification via suppression of DNA damage repair.

Vascular calcification is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events, accompanied by DNA damage during the process. The sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) has been reported to alleviate atherosclerosis, which is related to the reduction of DNA damage. However, whether smooth muscle cell SIRT6 mediates vascular calcification involving DNA damage remains unclear.

Repression of the antiporter SLC7A11/glutathione/glutathione peroxidase 4 axis drives ferroptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells to facilitate vascular calcification.

Vascular calcification is a common pathologic condition in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cell death such as apoptosis plays a critical role in vascular calcification. Ferroptosis is a type of iron-catalyzed and regulated cell death resulting from excessive iron-dependent reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation.

Downregulation of HDAC9 by the ketone metabolite β-hydroxybutyrate suppresses vascular calcification.

Vascular calcification is an actively regulated process resembling bone formation and contributes to the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, an effective therapy for vascular calcification is still lacking. The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) has been demonstrated to have health-promoting effects including anti-inflammation and cardiovascular protective effects.

Up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 by celastrol alleviates oxidative stress and vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease.

Vascular calcification is very commonly observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but there is no efficient therapy available. Oxidative stress plays critical roles in the progression of vascular calcification. Celastrol (Cel), a natural constituent derived from Chinese herbals, exhibits anti-oxidative stress activity.

[Clinical Analysis of Patients with MGUS, Primary Light Chain Amyloidosis, Multiple Myeloma or Multiple Myeloma with Concurrent Amyloidosis].

Objective: To summarize and compare the clinical baseline characteristics of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), primary light chain amyloidosis (pAL), multiple myeloma (MM), or MM with concurrent amyloidosis, especially the differences in cytogenetic abnormalities.

Methods: The clinical data of 15 cases of MGUS, 34 cases of pAL, 842 cases of MM and 23 cases of MM with concurrent amyloidosis were analyzed and compared retrospectively.

Results: Cytogenetic statistics showed that the incidence of t (11; 14) in the four groups (MGUS vs pAL vs MM vs MM with concurrent amyloidosis) was 0%, 33.

Spermidine inhibits vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease through modulation of SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Vascular calcification is a common pathologic condition in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and aging individuals. It has been established that vascular calcification is a gene-regulated biological process resembling osteogenesis involving osteogenic differentiation. However, there is no efficient treatment available for vascular calcification so far.

25-Hydroxycholesterol promotes vascular calcification via activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Vascular calcification is a highly regulated process similar to osteogenesis involving phenotypic change of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). 25-Hydroxycholesterol (25-HC), one of oxysterols synthesized by the enzyme cholesterol 25-hydroxylase, has been shown to promote bovine calcifying vascular cells (CVC) calcification. However, whether and how 25-HC regulates vascular calcification are not completely understood.

1q21 gain but not t(4;14) indicates inferior outcomes in multiple myeloma treated with bortezomib.

Chromosome 1q21 aberrations in multiple myeloma have attracted much attention for a long time, however, the prognostic value is still under investigation. We confirmed the independent prognostic impact of 1q21 aberrations in this non-randomized clinical study. Our study noted that additional copies and larger clonal size of 1q21 gain did not worsen the outcome.

Monitoring the cytogenetic architecture of minimal residual plasma cells indicates therapy-induced clonal selection in multiple myeloma.

Recent attempts have focused on identifying fewer magnitude of minimal residual disease (MRD) rather than exploring the biological and genetic features of the residual plasma cells (PCs). Here, a cohort of 193 patients with at least one cytogenetic abnormalities (CA) at diagnosis were analyzed, and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH) analyses were performed in patient-paired diagnostic and posttherapy samples. Persistent CA in residual PCs were observed for the majority of patients (63%), even detectable in 28/63 (44%) patients with MRD negativity (<10).

[Efficacy of Bortezomib for Maintenance therapy of Patients with Multiple Myeloma].

Objective: To observe the efficacy of chemotherapy consisted of bortezomib as main druy in maintenance therapy for recurrence of newly diagnosed MM patients.

Methods: The clinical data and outcome of 37 MM patients during 2008-2013 were analyzed retrospectively, the 37 MM patients were divided into 2 group: 19 cases including 13 cases of newly diagnosed MM with symptoms and 6 cases of relapsed refractory MM were enrolled in group A; 17 cases of newly diagnosed MM with symptoms were enrolled in group B. The patients of group A received maintenance therapy consisted of bortezomib plus dexamethasone (VD group), while the patient group B received maintenance therapy consisted of melphalan plus prednisone(MP group), then the therapeutic efficacy of 2 group was compared.

[Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a single center experience from the BDHALL2000/02 protocol].

Objective: To evaluate the results of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) in adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-ALL).

Methods: From January 2000 to December 2007, the clinical data of auto-HSCT in adults Ph-ALL with complete remession (CR) 1 according to BDHALL2000/02 protocol were analyzed.

Results: A total of 56 patients were enrolled and the probabilities of standard risk, intermediated risk and high-risk group were 41.

[Clinical analysis of 25 patients with aggressive peripheral T-cell lymphoma in advanced stage treated with autologous stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the outcomes of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for patients with aggressive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCLs) in advanced stage.

Methods: The clinical data of 25 patients in complete remission (CR) with aggressive PTCLs received ASCT from May 1997 to June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: ① Of the 25 cases, 16 were unspecified PTCL (PTCL-U), 4 with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL), 3 with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and 2 with hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma (HSTL), with a median age of 30(12-54) years old.

[Dose-intensive immunochemotherapy with or without autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of 29 newly diagnosed young patients with medium/high risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma].

Objective: To assess the efficacy of dose-intensive immunochemotherapy with or without autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for newly diagnosed young patients with medium/high risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods: The retrospective study was performed in 29 cases of young patients (≤ 60 years) with newly diagnosed DLBCL and an age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI) score of 2 or 3. All of them were treated with dose-intensive regimens (DA-EPOCH or Hyper-CVAD/MA) combined with Rituximab and some were consolidated with first-line ASCT.

[Clinical outcome of autologous stem cell transplantation as first-line treatment in 30 patients with high risk lymphoblastic lymphoma].

Objective: To investigate the treatment outcomes of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as first-line treatment in patients with high risk lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) and compare the effect of different induction regimen on prognosis.

Methods: Thirty LBL patients in complete remission received ASCT from 1996 to 2012 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: (1)Of the 30 patients, 25 were T-LBL and 5 B-LBL with a median age of 19(7-53) years old.