A clinical study of mycophenolate mofetil combined with low-dose steroids in the management of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) combined with lowdose steroids in the treatment of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE).Methods: A total of 76 children were diagnosed and admitted with SLE, lupus nephritis (LN) and type IV diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis at Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center, Haikou, China from March 2017 to December 2018, had their clinical data analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 38 children received methylprednisolone pulse combined with MMF and intermittent oral low-dose glucocorticoids (GC), labelled MMF group, while the remaining 38 children, which served as control group, were treated with oral GC and transitional reduction. Pertinent biochemical parameters were evaluatedResults: Compared with control group, MMF group showed a notably lower level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), a higher level of complement C3, lower level of serum creatinine (Scr) and 24-h urine protein level 6 months after treatment (p < 0.05). Albumin level was higher in MMF group at 6 months and 12 months after treatment than in the control group. Compared to control group, the SLEDAI score in MMF group was significantly lower at 6 months and 12 months after treatment (p < 0.05). Body mass index, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose and intraocular pressure levels in the MMF group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Post-treatment, peripheral blood CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cell levels in the two groups were significantly increased, while CD8+ T lymphocyte level declined.Conclusion: MMF combined with low-dose methylprednisolone controls symptoms early and mitigates renal injury in the treatment of pSLE. It is also safe, and effectively regulates the patient's cellular immune function

Lysosomes, Curcumin, and Anti-Tumor Effects: How Are They Linked?

Curcumin is a natural active ingredient from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has multi-target characteristics to exert extensive pharmacological activities and thus has been applied in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, nervous system, and autoimmune disorders. As an important class of membranous organelles in the intracellular membrane system, lysosomes are involved in biological processes such as programmed cell death, cell metabolism, and immune regulation, thus affecting tumor initiation and progression. It has been shown that curcumin can modulate lysosomal function through the aforementioned pathways, thereby affecting tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune function. This review briefly elaborated the regulatory mechanisms of lysosome biogenesis and summarized curcumin-related studies with its anti-tumor effect, providing a reference for the clinical application of curcumin and anti-tumor research targeting lysosomes

A Tampering Risk of Fiber-Based Frequency Synchronization Networks and Its Countermeasures

Fiber optic networks are used worldwide and have been regarded as excellent media for transmitting time-frequency (TF) signals. In the past decades, fiber-based TF synchronization techniques have been extensively studied. Instruments based on these techniques have been successfully applied. With the increasing application of TF synchronization instruments, their security has become an important issue. Unfortunately, the security risks of fiber-based frequency synchronization (FbFS) instruments have been overlooked. This paper proposes a frequency tampering method called "frequency lens". On a 200 km fiber link, we demonstrate a frequency tampering scenario using a frequency lens-enabled frequency tampering module (FTM). On the user side, the frequency value of the recovered 100 MHz signal can be stealthily altered within a range of 100 MHz-100 Hz to 100 MHz+100 Hz, while the frequency dissemination stability of the system remains normal. Related to this tampering risk, potential hazards in three different application scenarios, which rely on precise frequency references, are analyzed. Two countermeasures are also proposed to solve this tampering risk

Application of Natural Polysaccharides and Their Novel Dosage Forms in Gynecological Cancers: Therapeutic Implications From the Diversity Potential of Natural Compounds

Cancer is one of the most lethal diseases. Globally, the number of cancers is nearly 10 million per year. Gynecological cancers (for instance, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial), relying on hidden diseases, misdiagnoses, and high recurrence rates, have seriously affected women\u27s health. Traditional chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy effectively improve the prognosis of gynecological cancer patients. However, with the emergence of adverse reactions and drug resistance, leading to the occurrence of complications and poor compliance of patients, we have to focus on the new treatment direction of gynecological cancers. Because of the potential effects of natural drugs in regulating immune function, protecting against oxidative damage, and improving the energy metabolism of the body, natural compounds represented by polysaccharides have also attracted extensive attention in recent years. More and more studies have shown that polysaccharides are effective in the treatment of various tumors and in reducing the burden of metastasis. In this review, we focus on the positive role of natural polysaccharides in the treatment of gynecologic cancer, the molecular mechanisms, and the available evidence, and discuss the potential use of new dosage forms derived from polysaccharides in gynecologic cancer. This study covers the most comprehensive discussion on applying natural polysaccharides and their novel preparations in gynecological cancers. By providing complete and valuable sources of information, we hope to promote more effective treatment solutions for clinical diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers