A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2, has swept across 31 provinces in China and over 40 countries worldwide. The transition from first symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is highly likely to be due to uncontrolled cytokine release. There is an urgent need to identify safe and effective drugs for treatment. Chloroquine (CQ) exhibits a promising inhibitory effect. However, the clinical use of CQ can cause severe side effects. We propose that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which exhibits an antiviral effect highly similar to that of CQ, could serve as a better therapeutic approach. HCQ is likely to attenuate the severe progression of COVID-19, inhibiting the cytokine storm by suppressing T cell activation. It has a safer clinical profile and is suitable for those who are pregnant. It is cheaper and more readily available in China. We herein strongly urge that clinical trials are performed to assess the preventive effects of HCQ in both disease infection and progression.

Pulmonary function is increasingly recognized as a key factor in metabolic diseases. However, its link to gout risk remains unclear. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between pulmonary function and the risk of developing gout and the underlying biological mechanisms. Our study included 420,002 participants with complete pulmonary function data from the UK Biobank. Logistic regression was used to evaluate gout prevalence among individuals with different pulmonary function statuses. Propensity score matching (PSM) created balanced groups, while Cox regression gauged the risk association between reduced lung capacity and gout compared with normal function. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to verify causal associations. Non-linear correlations were assessed with restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and mediation analysis was used to explore the role of blood biomarkers. Mediation analyses were used to investigate the potential mediating role of biomarkers in the association. Cross-sectional analysis revealed a higher prevalence of gout in individuals with preserved ratio of impaired spirometry (PRISm) of 6.31% and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of 6.26% than in those with normal pulmonary function (3.45%). After adjustment for covariates, both PRISm (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–1.31) and COPD (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07–1.22) were significantly associated with gout. Longitudinal analysis confirmed that impaired pulmonary function significantly increased the risk of developing gout (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, 95% CI 1.24–1.40). MR further revealed a potential causal effect of decreased pulmonary function on an increased risk of gout. Subgroup analysis revealed significant interactions between impaired pulmonary function and several factors, including body mass index (BMI), levels of physical activity, and diabetes status, in their associations with the risk of gout. RCS analysis showed a nonlinear relationship between pulmonary function indicators and gout incidence, characterized by an inverse S-shaped curve. Mediation analysis revealed that urate levels (49.1% mediation proportion), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (6.62%), monocyte counts (1.33%), and neutrophil counts (4.85%) significantly mediated the relationship between pulmonary function and the risk of gout. Our study revealed a significant association between impaired pulmonary function and an increased risk of developing gout. The association might be partially mediated by biomarkers including urate levels, inflammatory markers, and immune cell counts.

Background: Serum 25 (OH) D levels are associated with various diseases, including cancers, but inconsistencies exist for female-specific malignancies. This study is aimed to explore the real relationship between serum 25 (OH) D levels and incidence rates of female specific cancers in premenopausal women by a large-scale prospective cohort study.Study design: We analyzed data from 51,286 UK Biobank participants using Cox regression models to explore associations. Subgroup analyses were based on vitamin D supplementation, alcohol, smoking, BMI, diabetes, sleep, and outdoor exposure. Categorical variables were described by frequencies and compared with chi-squared tests.Results: During a median follow-up of 13.8 years, all cancer incidence was 5.1% (n = 2,614), with ovarian cancer at 0.3% (n = 176), breast cancer at 4.4% (n = 2,232), and uterine body cancer at 0.5% (n = 235). Low serum 25 (OH) D (50 nmol/L) was linked to increased risks of ovarian (HR: 1.457, 95% CI: 1.047–2.027) and uterine body cancer (HR: 1.372, 95% CI: 1.023–1.841). Each 10 nmol/L increase in 25 (OH) D reduced ovarian cancer risk (HR: 0.904, 95% CI: 0.835–0.979). Alcohol use and sleep <6 h were risk factors for ovarian and uterine cancer in those with low 25 (OH) D levels.Conclusion: Maintaining adequate serum 25 (OH) D levels is essential for overall health, reducing the risk of ovarian cancer, and potentially lowering susceptibility to uterine corpus cancer.

Background: Skin regeneration from an injury without a scar is still a challenge. Methods: A murine model of a skin wound was treated with a combination of extract of astragalus and exosomes of mes... Graphical abstract Plain language summary Recovery from and regeneration of skin wounds are essential to maintaining epidermal function. Improving restoration and reducing scar tissue effectively need to be explored....