Chinese medical journal
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Chinese medical journal · May 2024
Meta AnalysisReduced macular thickness and vascular density in abnormal glucose metabolism patients: A meta-analysis of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography studies.
Alterations in macular thickness and vascular density before clinically visible diabetic retinopathy (DR) remain inconclusive. This study aimed to determine whether retinal manifestations in abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) patients differ from those in the healthy individuals. ⋯ PROSPERO; http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ ; No. CRD42021269885.
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Chinese medical journal · Nov 2023
ReviewTargeting the HIV Reservoir: Chimeric Antigen Receptor Therapy for HIV Cure.
Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reduce the viral load in the plasma to undetectable levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, ART alone cannot completely eliminate HIV due to its integration into the host cell genome to form viral reservoirs. To achieve a functional cure for HIV infection, numerous preclinical and clinical studies are underway to develop innovative immunotherapies to eliminate HIV reservoirs in the absence of ART. Early studies have tested adoptive T-cell therapies in HIV-infected individuals, but their effectiveness was limited. ⋯ Many studies have identified a variety of HIV-specific CAR structures and types of cytolytic effector cells. Therefore, CAR therapy may be beneficial for enhancing HIV immunity, achieving HIV control, and eliminating HIV reservoirs, gradually becoming a promising strategy for achieving a functional HIV cure. In this review, we provide an overview of the design of anti-HIV CAR proteins, the cell types of anti-HIV CAR (including CAR T cells, CAR natural killer cells, and CAR-encoding hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells), the clinical application of CAR therapy in HIV infection, and the prospects and challenges in anti-HIV CAR therapy for maintaining viral suppression and eliminating HIV reservoirs.
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Chinese medical journal · Dec 2023
ReviewEffects of radiation therapy on tumor microenvironment: an updated review.
Cancer is a major threat to human health and causes death worldwide. Research on the role of radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of cancer is progressing; however, RT not only causes fatal DNA damage to tumor cells, but also affects the interactions between tumor cells and different components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, extracellular matrix, and some soluble products. ⋯ Currently, the complex relationships between the tumor cells and cellular components that play major roles in various TMEs are poorly understood. This review explores the relationship between RT and cell-cell communication in the TME from the perspective of immunity and hypoxia and aims to identify new RT biomarkers and treatment methods in lung cancer to improve the current status of unstable RT effect and provide a theoretical basis for further lung cancer RT sensitization research in the future.
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Chinese medical journal · Apr 2024
ReviewRole of ferroptosis in fibrosis: From mechanism to potential therapy.
Fibrosis, which is a manifestation of the physiological response to injury characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, is a ubiquitous outcome of the repair process. However, in cases of repetitive or severe injury, fibrosis may become dysregulated, leading to a pathological state and organ failure. In recent years, a novel form of regulated cell death, referred to as ferroptosis, has been identified as a possible contributor to fibrosis; it is characterized by iron-mediated lipid peroxidation. ⋯ We categorized the different direct and indirect mechanisms by which ferroptosis may contribute to fibrosis into three categories: (1) iron overload toxicity; (2) ferroptosis-evoked necroinflammation, with a focus on ferroptosis and macrophage interplay; and (3) ferroptosis-associated pro-fibrotic factors and pathways. Furthermore, the review considers the potential implications of these findings and highlights the utilization of ferroptosis-targeted therapies as a promising strategy for mitigating the progression of fibrosis. In conclusion, novel anti-fibrotic treatments targeting ferroptosis could be an effective treatment for fibrosis.
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Inflammation is a major underlying mechanism in the progression of numerous cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are typical immune regulatory cells with recognized immunosuppressive properties. Despite the immunosuppressive properties, researchers have acknowledged the significance of Tregs in maintaining tissue homeostasis and facilitating repair/regeneration. ⋯ We discriminate the roles and therapeutic potential of Tregs in CVDs such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, abdominal arterial aneurysm, pulmonary arterial hypertension, Kawasaki disease, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Tregs not only exert anti-inflammatory effects but also actively promote myocardial regeneration and vascular repair, maintaining the stability of the local microenvironment. Given that the specific mechanism of Tregs functioning in CVDs remains unclear, we reviewed previous clinical and basic studies and the latest findings on the function and mechanism of Tregs in CVDs.