Lei Zhao’s research while affiliated with Bengbu Medical College and other places

Interleukin-22, discovered in the year of 2000, is a pleiotropic Th17 cytokine from the IL-10 family of cytokines. IL-22 signals through the type 2 cytokine receptor complex IL-22R and predominantly activates STAT3. This pathway leads to the transcription of several different types of genes, giving IL-22 context-specific functions ranging from inducing antimicrobial peptide expression to target cell proliferation. In recent years, it has been shown that IL-22 is involved in the pathogenesis of neoplasia in some cancers through its pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects. This review highlights studies with recent discoveries and conclusions drawn on IL-22 and its involvement and function in various cancers. Such a study may be helpful to better understand the role of IL-22 in cancer so that new treatment could be developed targeting IL-22.

As immunotherapy gains momentum as a promising approach for treating several types of cancer, IL-21 has emerged as the latest discovery within the γ chain cytokine family, known for its decisive effects on innate and adaptive immunity and immunopathology. Through the modulation of immune cells, IL-21 has demonstrated significant anti-tumor effects in preclinical studies. The potential of IL-21 in cancer treatment has been explored in phase I and II clinical trials, where it has been utilized both as monotherapy and in combination with other drug agents. Further investigation, alongside larger studies, is necessary before final evaluation and application of IL-21 as immunotherapy. This review aims to summarize these pre-clinical and clinical studies and to discuss the possible future directions of IL-21 immunotherapy development. Such a study may be helpful to accelerate the process of clinical application for IL21 immunotherapy.

Background Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) demonstrates great promise as a diagnostic tool for determining the cause of pathogenic infections. The standard diagnostic procedures (SDP) include smears and cultures and are typically viewed as less sensitive and more time-consuming when compared to mNGS. There are concerns about the logistics and ease of transition from SDP to mNGS. mNGS lacks standardization of collection processes, databases, and sequencing. Additionally, there is the burden of training clinicians on interpreting mNGS results. Background Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) demonstrates great promise as a diagnostic tool for determining the cause of pathogenic infections. The current standard diagnostic procedures (SDP) include smears and cultures and are typically viewed as less sensitive and more time-consuming when compared to mNGS. There are concerns about the logistics and ease of transition from SDP to mNGS. mNGS lacks standardization of collection processes, databases, and sequencing. Additionally, there is the burden of training clinicians on interpreting mNGS results. Objective Until now, few studies have explored factors that could be used as early adoption candidates to ease the transition between SDP and mNGS. This study evaluated 123 patients who had received both SDP and mNGS and compared several variables across a diagnostic test evaluation. Objective Until now, few studies have explored factors that could be used as early adoption candidates to ease the transition between current diagnostic procedures and mNGS. This study evaluated 123 patients who had received both SDP and mNGS and compared several variables across a diagnostic test evaluation. Methods The diagnostic test evaluation observed metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR, NLR), positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), and accuracy. Factors included various sample sources such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung tissue, and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). An additional factor observed was the patient's immune status. Results Pathogen detection was found to be significantly greater for mNGS for total patients, BALF sample source, CSF sample source, and non-immunocompromised patients (p<0.05). Pathogen detection was found to be insignificant for lung tissue sample sources and immunocompromised patients. Sensitivity, PLR, NLR, PPV, NPV, and accuracy appeared to be higher with mNGS for the total patients, BALF sample source, and non-immunocompromised patients when compared with SDP (p<0.05). Result Disease detection was found to be significantly different (p<0>0.05) for lung tissue sample sources and immunocompromised patients. Sensitivity, PLR, NLR, PPV, NPV, and accuracy appeared to be higher for the total patients, BALF sample source, and non-immunocompromised patients when comparing mNGS and SDP. Conclusion With higher metrics in sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for overall patients, mNGS may prove a better diagnostic tool than SDP. When addressing sample sources, mNGS for BALF-collected samples appeared to have higher scores than SDP for the same metrics. When patients were in a non-immunocompromised state, mNGS also demonstrated greater diagnostic benefits to BALF and overall patients compared to SDP. This study demonstrates that using BALF as a sample source and selecting non-immunocompromised patients may prove beneficial as early adoption factors for mNGS standard protocol. Such a study may pave the road for mNGS as a routine clinical method for determining the exact pathogenic etiology of lung infections.

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have cognitive dysfunction in many aspects, however, these patients' decision-making function remains unclear. In this study, the Game of Dice Task (GDT) was used to investigate the function of decision making in patients with OSAS. Methods: 30 participants with moderate to severe OSAS and 27 participants with no or mild OSAS diagnosed by sleep breathing monitor were selected from June 2021 to March 2022. Risky decision making was tested through the GDT with known risk probability. General demographic information and background cognitive functions, such as the overall cognitive functioning and executive functioning, were tested to establish baseline data. Results: There were no significant differences in gender, age, and years of education between the two groups. During the GDT, the moderate to severe OSAS group opted for the safety option at a statistically significant lower rate when compared to the no or mild OSAS group (7.53 ± 4.43 vs. 10.26 ± 4.26, p = 0.022). The moderate to severe OSAS group utilized the higher risk option than the group with no or mild OSAS (10.47 ± 4.43 vs. 7.74 ± 4.26, p = 0.022). The utilization rate of negative feedback in the moderate and severe OSAS group was lower than that in the no or mild OSAS group (7.50, 52.50 vs. 28.57, 100.00, p = 0.001). At the end of the GDT, the moderate and severe OSAS group was more likely to have negative total assets than the patients with no or mild OSAS (-1846.67 ± 2587.20 vs. 300.00 ± 1509.97, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis shows that there is a negative correlation between the selection of risk options and negative feedback utilization in the GDT. Conclusion: Patients with moderate and severe OSAS displayed impaired decision-making throughout the study. Impaired decision-making is related to executive processes and may be caused by diminished prefrontal cortex functioning. However, the functions of memory, attention, language, abstraction, and orientation are relatively retained.

Background/aim: Lung cancer is the leading cause of mortality due to cancer death. Treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still challenging. Cranberries contain many rich bioactive components that may help fight cancer. The action of cranberry against some cancer types has been reported, however, its role in lung cancer has only been investigated in large-cell lung cancer. In this study, we expanded current research on the role of cranberry in LUAD. Materials and methods: A549 LUAD cancer cells were treated with commercial cranberry extract (CE). Proliferation of A549 cells was measured with a clonogenic survival assay and quick proliferation assay. Caspase-3 activity was used to evaluate apoptosis of A549 cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was conducted to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms involved in the action of CE. Results: Treatment of LUAD with CE reduced the percentage of A549 colonies. This was consistent with the decrease in the optic density of cancer cells after treatment with CE. Caspase-3 activity increased after treatment with CE. The anti-proliferative effect of CE on A549 cells correlated with reduced expression of pro-proliferation molecules cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and CDK4. The pro-apoptotic effect of CE on A549 cells correlated with the reduced expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule caspase 8 and FADD-like apoptosis regulator (FLIP). Conclusion: CE had an inhibitory effect on the growth of LUAD cells by modulation of both pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic molecules. Our research hopes to guide future treatment options for LUAD.

As a prevalent medical problem that burdens millions of patients across the world, chronic wounds pose a challenge to the healthcare system. These wounds, often existing as a comorbidity, are vulnerable to infections. Consequently, infections hinder the healing process and complicate clinical management and treatment. While antibiotic drugs remain a popular treatment for infected chronic wounds, the recent rise of antibiotic-resistant strains has hastened the need for alternative treatments. Future impacts of chronic wounds are likely to increase with aging populations and growing obesity rates. With the need for more effective novel treatments, promising research into various wound therapies has seen an increased demand. This review summarizes photodynamic therapy, probiotics, acetic acid, and essential oil studies as developing antibiotic-free treatments for chronic wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Clinicians may find this review informative by gaining a better understanding of the state of current research into various antibiotic-free treatments. Furthermore. this review provides clinical significance, as clinicians may seek to implement photodynamic therapy, probiotics, acetic acid, or essential oils into their own practice.

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is an interleukin cytokine usually linked to inflammation. In recent years, it has been found that IL-32 exhibits both pro- and anti-tumor effects. Although most of those effects from IL-32 appear to favor tumor growth, some isoforms have shown to favor tumor suppression. This suggests that the role of IL-32 in neoplasia is very complex. Thus, the role of IL-32 in these various cancers and protein pathways makes it a very crucial component to consider when looking at potential therapeutic options in tumor treatment. In this review, we will explore what is currently known about IL-32, including its relationship with tumorigenesis and the potential for IL-32 to enhance local and systemic anti-tumor immune responses. Such a study might be helpful to accelerate the development of IL-32-based immunotherapies.

Colorectal cancer is prevalent worldwide, with various factors influencing the survival rate of late-stage metastatic cases. Current standard treatments include surgical removal, adjuvant chemotherapy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Novel immunotherapy research shows promising results for various cancer types, including colorectal cancer. Current immunotherapy options are limited to specific molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer, while the remaining are limited to standard protocol. This review article summarizes approved, developing, and potential sources for novel colorectal cancer immunotherapy treatment through active-specific, checkpoint inhibitor, cytokine, cytotoxic, and adoptive T-cell immunotherapy. Such a study would be beneficial to patients with colorectal cancer.

Bladder cancer is a prominent cancer worldwide with a relatively low survival rate for patients with increased stage and metastasis. Current treatments are based on surgical removal, bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) Immunotherapy, and platinum-based chemotherapy. However, treatment resistance due to genetic instability of bladder tumors, as well as intolerance to treatment adverse effects leads to the necessity to further treatment options. New advancements in immunotherapy are on the rise for treatment of various cancers and specifically has shown promise in the treatment of bladder cancer. This review summarizes these new advancements in treatment options involving cytokines and cytokine blockade. Such a study might be helpful for urologists to manage patients with bladder cancer more effectively.

From radiation therapy and surgery to chemotherapy and targeted therapy, the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has remarkably evolved over the past few decades. In recent years, immunotherapy has become an increasingly attractive area of interest in the treatment of NSCLC, especially those in advanced stages. Cytokine and immune checkpoint inhibitors are among the most studied immunotherapies for many cancer types. Herein, we provide an overview of current popular cytokine and checkpoint inhibitor treatment regimens available for patients with NSCLC. Ongoing clinic trials and novel molecular targets that are discussed here could lead to promising new treatment options for NSCLC. The evidence summarized in this review might be helpful for clinicians to better manage patients with NSCLC.