Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease lacking effective therapy. Metformin, an antidiabetic medication, has shown promising therapeutic properties in preclinical fibrosis models; however, its precise cellular targets and associated mechanisms in fibrosis resolution remain incompletely defined. Most research on metformin's effects has focused on mesenchymal and inflammatory responses with limited attention to epithelial cells. In this study, we utilized Sftpc lineage-traced and Fgfr2b conditional knockout mice, along with BMP2/PPARγ and AMPK inhibitors, to explore metformin's impact on alveolar epithelial cells in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model and cell culture. We found that metformin increased the proliferation and differentiation of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells, particularly the recently identified injury-activated alveolar progenitors (IAAPs)-a subpopulation characterized by low SFTPC expression but enriched for PD-L1. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a reduction in apoptosis among mature AT2 cells. Interestingly, metformin's therapeutic effects were not significantly affected by BMP2 or PPARγ inhibition, which blocked the lipogenic differentiation of myofibroblasts. However, Fgfr2b deletion in Sftpc lineage cells significantly impaired metformin's ability to promote fibrosis resolution, a process linked to AMPK signaling. In conclusion, metformin alleviates fibrosis by directly activating AT2 cells, especially the IAAPs, through a mechanism that involves AMPK and FGFR2b signaling, but is largely independent of BMP2/PPARγ pathways.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Objective:To study the current status of longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and to develop a prediction model based on clinical data from multiple NICUs.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2018, EPIs admitted to 32 NICUs in North China were retrospectively studied. Their general conditions, nutritional support, complications during hospitalization and weight changes were reviewed. Weight loss between birth and discharge > 1SD was defined as longitudinal EUGR. The EPIs were assigned into longitudinal EUGR group and non-EUGR group and their nutritional support and weight changes were compared. The EPIs were randomly assigned into the training dataset and the validation dataset with a ratio of 7∶3. Univariate Cox regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the training dataset to select the independent predictive factors. The best-fitting Nomogram model predicting longitudinal EUGR was established based on Akaike Information Criterion. The model was evaluated for discrimination efficacy, calibration and clinical decision curve analysis.Results:A total of 436 EPIs were included in this study, with a mean gestational age of (26.9±0.9) weeks and a birth weight of (989±171) g. The incidence of longitudinal EUGR was 82.3%(359/436). Seven variables (birth weight Z-score, weight loss, weight growth velocity, the proportion of breast milk ≥75% within 3 d before discharge, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥7 d, maternal antenatal corticosteroids use and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) were selected to establish the prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training dataset and the validation dataset were 0.870 (95% CI 0.820-0.920) and 0.879 (95% CI 0.815-0.942), suggesting good discrimination efficacy. The calibration curve indicated a good fit of the model ( P>0.05). The decision curve analysis showed positive net benefits at all thresholds. Conclusions:Currently, EPIs have a high incidence of longitudinal EUGR. The prediction model is helpful for early identification and intervention for EPIs with higher risks of longitudinal EUGR. It is necessary to expand the sample size and conduct prospective studies to optimize and validate the prediction model in the future.

To investigate the expression and clinical significance of GATA-3 and H3K27me3 in Tibetan patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC).

Objective To study the expression of SWI/SNF-related,matrix-associated,actin-depend-ent regulator of chromatin,subfamily A,member 4(SMARCA4)/Brahma-related gene 1,V-raf murine sarco-ma viral oncogene homolog B(BRAF),P53,programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1),and programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1),and changes in the expression of BRAF and neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase(NTRK)in the patients with colorectal cancer in Tibet,thereby providing a basis for targeted therapy and immunotherapy for this disease in Tibet.Methods A total of 64 patients with colorectal cancer resected in the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital from January 2015 to July 2021 were enrolled in this study.The expression of SMARCA4,BRAF,P53,PD-1,and PD-L1 was detected by immunohistochemical staining.The gene fusion involving NTRK1,NTRK2,and NTRK3 was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization,and the BRAF V600E gene mutation by polymerase chain reaction.Results The 64 patients with colorectal cancer were at a male-to-female ratio of 1.21∶1,with the mean age of(56.59±13.27)years.The tumors were located in the co-lon in 46(71.88%)patients and in the rectum in 18(28.12%)patients.Sixty(93.75%)patients presented adenocarcinoma,and 4(6.25%)patients presented other types of tumors.The patients in T1/T2 and T3/T4 phases accounted for 17.19%(n =11)and 82.81%(n =53),respectively.Lymph node metastasis occurred in 24(37.50%)patients.The immunohistochemical staining results showed partially down-regulated or absent ex-pression of SMARCA4 in 1(1.56%)patient,positive BRAF expression in 4(6.25%)patients,and mutant expression of P53 in 35(54.69%)patients.The PD-1-expressing tumor associated immune cell was proportion score<10%in 45(70.31%)patients and≥10%in 19(29.69%)patients.The PD-L1 combined positive score was<10 in 52(81.25%)patients and≥10 in 12(18.75%)patients.The gene fusion of NTRK1,NTRK2,and NTRK3 was negative in all the patients,and BRAF V600E gene mutation was positive in 4(6.25%)patients.The SMARCA4 gene alteration was not detected in the patient with partial expression missing of SMARCA4.The PD-L1 combine positive score was correlated with the deficient mismatch repair(dMMR)/mic-rosatellite instability-high(MSI-H)and the PD-1 expression(χ2 = 10.223,P = 0.001;χ2 = 11.979,P = 0.001).Conclusions The down-regulated or absent SMARCA4 expression and NTRK gene fusion are rare in the patients with colorectal cancer in Tibet.A few patients present BRAF V600E gene mutations,and Pan-TRK and BRAF expression can be used for the primary screening of NTRK gene fusion and BRAF gene mutation.The patients with dMMR/MSI-H are prone to high expression of PD-L1 and expected to benefit from immunothera-py.No significant correlation exists between P53 mutation and PD-L1 expression.The high expression of PD-1 is positively correlated with the high expression of PD-L1.

Objective:The repair of small and medium-sized defects in the oral has always been a challenge,free skin flap and distal pedicled tissue flaps are difficult to meet clinical needs,and the traditional under-chin flap has the risk of donor-area injury.This study aims to investigate the efficacy of V-shaped folded submental flap in the repair of small-sized and medium-sized oral defects. Methods:The clinical data of 28 patients with oral defect lesions,who were hospitalized in the Department of Stomatology,Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from March 2019 to December 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into a V-shaped folded group(17 cases)and a conventional group(11 cases)according to different surgical methods.The V-shaped folded group was treated with a V-shaped folded submental flap for postoperative soft tissue repair,while the conventional group was treated with a conventional submental flap for repair.The postoperative follow-up time was 6-48 months.The survival status,repair time,and repair effect of the 2 groups were compared. Results:There was no significant difference in flap survival rate,flap size,flap preparation time,repair surgery time,and postoperative hospital stay between the 2 groups(all P>0.05).At 6 months after the surgery,the V-shaped folded group had no difficulty in raising the head or everting the lower lip,no"cat ear"deformity in the submental skin.Scars in the V-shaped folding group were hidden at the lower edge of the mandible.The wound aesthetics and functional scores in the V-shaped folded group were significantly higher than those in the conventional group(both P<0.05). Conclusion:The V-shaped foldable submental flap has the advantages of flexible design,simple preparation,reliable blood supply,and protection of the donor area,which can effectively protect the appearance of the chin and avoid functional disorders.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of nutritional status assessment for postoperative delirium (POD) risk in elderly patients with hip fracture. Methods A total of 114 elderly patients with hip fracture were selected as study subjects. According to the occurrence of POD, they were divided into delirium group (43 cases) and non-delirium group (71 cases). General information, laboratory indicators, geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) scores were collected for the two groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the independent influencing factors of POD occurrence. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted, and the area under the curves (AUC) were calculated to analyze the predictive value of each independent influencing factor for POD risk. Results The proportion of diabetic patients, fasting blood glucose and CONUT scores in the delirium group were higher, but GNRI and PNI were lower than that in the non-delirium group (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that blood glucose, GNRI, PNI, and CONUT scores were independent influencing factors for POD occurrence (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUCs of blood glucose, GNRI, PNI, and CONUT scores alone in predicting POD risk were 0.610, 0.780, 0.821, and 0.749, respectively, which were lower than the AUC (0.897) when the four factors were combined. Conclusion Blood glucose, GNRI, PNI, and CONUT scores are independent influencing factors for POD occurrence in elderly patients with hip fracture. The combined use of these four factors has good predictive value for POD risk.

Objective:To retrieve, evaluate and summarize the best evidence of exercise reversal intervention in the elderly with cognitive frailty, and to provide evidence for guiding exercise in elderly patients.Methods:This study was a summary of evidence-based nursing evidence. Based on the PIPOST (P: Population; I: Intervention; P: Professional; O: Outcome; S: Setting; T: Type of evidence) mode, the evidence of exercise reversal intervention in the elderly with cognitive frailty in 25 relevant guideline network and association websites, Chinese and foreign language comprehensive databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge Internet and others were searched, extracted and integrated. The retrieval time was from January 1, 2013 to February 14, 2022.Results:A total of 22 articles were included, including 3 guidelines, 2 expert consensuses, 1 clinical decision-making, 1 evidence summary, 9 Meta analysis, and 6 randomized controlled trials. Finally, 28 pieces of the best evidence including 7 dimensions were namely formulate principles,overall assessment, exercise mode, exercise intensity, exercise time and frequency, exercise management, health guidance.Conclusions:This study summarized the best evidence of exercise intervention in the elderly with cognitive frailty, which are systematic, comprehensive, rigorous, and reliable. It can provide references for healthcare administrators to dynamically evaluate patients′cognitive frailty status, formulate personalized exercise programs, and standardize exercise guidance for patients, so as to delay or even reverse cognitive frailty.

As an important part of tumor microenvironment, neutrophils are poorly understood due to their spatiotemporal heterogeneity in tumorigenesis. Here we defined, at single-cell resolution, CD44-CXCR2- neutrophils as tumor-specific neutrophils (tsNeus) in both mouse and human gastric cancer (GC). We uncovered a Hippo regulon in neutrophils with unique YAP signature genes (e.g., ICAM1, CD14, EGR1) distinct from those identified in epithelial and/or cancer cells. Importantly, knockout of YAP/TAZ in neutrophils impaired their differentiation into CD54+ tsNeus and reduced their antitumor activity, leading to accelerated GC progression. Moreover, the relative amounts of CD54+ tsNeus were found to be negatively associated with GC progression and positively associated with patient survival. Interestingly, GC patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy had increased numbers of CD54+ tsNeus. Furthermore, pharmacologically enhancing YAP activity selectively activated neutrophils to suppress refractory GC, with no significant inflammation-related side effects. Thus, our work characterized tumor-specific neutrophils in GC and revealed an essential role of YAP/TAZ-CD54 axis in tsNeus, opening a new possibility to develop neutrophil-based antitumor therapeutics.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neutrophils/pathology* ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Hyaluronan Receptors/genetics*