Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles that are ubiquitous across most organisms, including animals, plants, protists, and microorganisms. Their core consists of neutral lipids, surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer adorned with a specific set of proteins. As critical intracellular hubs of metabolic regulation, lipid droplets play essential roles in maintaining physiological homeostasis and contributing to the progression of various pathological processes. They store neutral lipids for energy production during periods of starvation or for membrane biosynthesis, and they sequester fatty acids to mitigate lipotoxicity. Clinically, dysregulation of lipid droplet function is associated with a wide range of diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Research into the biological functions of lipid droplets—as dynamic organelles and their links to multiple diseases—has emerged as a cutting-edge focus in cell biology. In recent years, significant advances have been made in understanding lipid droplet biogenesis. Researchers have developed a more refined framework that elucidates how LDs are assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Triacylglycerols and sterol esters are synthesized between the inner and outer leaflets of the ER bilayer, and when they exceed the critical nucleation concentration (CNC), they coalesce to form neutral lipid lenses. These then bud from the ER under the coordinated action of key proteins such as Seipin, fat storage-inducing transmembrane protein 2 (FIT2), and the peroxisomal membrane protein Pex30. This budding process is driven by changes in membrane curvature and surface tension, induced by the asymmetric distribution of phospholipids. Nascent lipid droplets recruit lipid-synthesizing enzymes via ER-LD bridging structures, enabling localized lipid production and surface expansion, ultimately resulting in the formation of mature LDs. Biochemical and biophysical approaches have revealed important features of this process, underscoring the critical roles of ER membrane biophysical properties and specific phospholipids. Structural biology and proteomic studies have identified key regulators—particularly Seipin and FIT2—as central players in LD biogenesis. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the molecular mechanisms of LD biogenesis. It delves into the processes of LD nucleation, membrane budding, and expansion in eukaryotic cells, with a special focus on how core factors such as Seipin and FIT2 dynamically regulate LD morphology. In addition, it examines the mechanisms and pathways by which class I and class II proteins are targeted to LDs, compares LD biogenesis involving different neutral lipid cores, and discusses the disease relevance of specific regulatory proteins. Finally, the review outlines critical unresolved questions in the field of LD biogenesis, offering clear directions for future research and providing a comprehensive framework for deepening our understanding of LD formation and its implications for disease intervention.

Mutations in the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 gene (CDKL5) cause a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, yet the impact of truncating mutations remains unclear. Here, we introduce the Cdkl5^492stop mouse model, mimicking C-terminal truncating mutations in patients. 492stop/Y mice exhibit altered dendritic spine morphology and spontaneous seizure-like behaviors, alongside other behavioral deficits. After creating cell lines with various Cdkl5 truncating mutations, we found that these mutations are regulated by the nonsense-mediated RNA decay pathway. Most truncating mutations result in CDKL5 protein loss, leading to multiple disease phenotypes, and offering new insights into the pathogenesis of CDKL5 disorder.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/deficiency* ; Mutation/genetics* ; Epileptic Syndromes/genetics* ; Humans ; Dendritic Spines/pathology* ; Spasms, Infantile/genetics* ; Male ; Seizures/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

In modern society, people are increasingly exposed to chronic stress, leading to various mental disorders. However, the activities of brain regions, especially neural firing patterns related to specific behaviors, remain unclear. In this study, we introduce a novel approach, NeuroSync, which integrates open-field behavioral testing with electrophysiological recordings from emotion-related brain regions, specifically the central amygdala and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, to explore the mechanisms of negative emotions induced by chronic stress in mice. By applying machine vision techniques, we quantified behaviors in the open field, and signal processing algorithms elucidated the neural underpinnings of the observed behaviors. Synchronizing behavioral and electrophysiological data revealed significant correlations between neural firing patterns and stress-related behaviors, providing insights into real-time brain activity underlying behavioral responses. This research combines deep learning and machine learning to synchronize high-resolution video and electrophysiological data, offering new insights into neural-behavioral dynamics under chronic stress conditions.
Animals ; Mice ; Male ; Emotions/physiology* ; Stress, Psychological/physiopathology* ; Action Potentials/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Behavior, Animal/physiology* ; Machine Learning ; Amygdala/physiopathology* ; Neurons/physiology* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Brain/physiology*

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Chaihu Shugansan combined with Xuanfu Daizhetang （CHSG-XFDZ） in the management of Barrett's esophagus （BE） with liver-stomach disharmony. MethodA randomized， parallel， controlled， double-blind clinical trial was conducted. BE patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into an observation group and a control group， with 34 patients in each group. The observation group was treated with CHSG-XFDZ combined with omeprazole capsules， and the control group was treated with CHSG-XFDZ mimetic combined with omeprazole capsules. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores， response rate， BE lesion area， BE pathological changes， and bile acid profile were taken as the indicators to jointly evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups. ResultA total of 62 patients who completed the trial were included for statistical analysis， including 32 in the observation group and 30 in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline demographics or disease characteristics between two groups， which suggested that the two groups were comparable. The total response rate in the observation group was 93.7% （30/32）， which was higher than that （60.0%， 18/30） in the control group （χ²=24.766， P<0.05）. After treatment， the response rate regarding the pathological changes in the observation group was 62.5% （20/32）， which was higher than that （23.3%， 7/30） in the control group （χ²=10.270， P<0.05）. The response rate regarding the BE lesion area change in the observation group was 21.9% （7/32）， which had no statistically significant difference from that （6.7%， 2/30） in the control group， which indicated that the advantages of the two regimens were not obvious in terms of reducing the area of BE lesions. Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group regulated the bile acid profile， which pointed out the direction for further exploring the mechanism of CHSG-XFDZ in treating BE. Neither group showcased adverse reactions with clinical significance during the treatment period. ConclusionCHSG-XFDZ outperformed the control group in terms of alleviating TCM symptoms， ameliorating pathological changes， and improving the bile acid profile in the BE patients with liver-stomach disharmony. It demonstrates certain potential in reducing the lesion area. This formula is safe and effective in treating BE patients with liver-stomach disharmony and deserves further clinical research and widespread application.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in schools in Xicheng District of Beijing from 2017 to 2022, so as to provide evidence for the prevention and control of norovirus outbreaks in schools. Methods: Data of norovirus outbreaks in schools in Xicheng District, Beijing during 2017 to 2022 were collected and analyzed by descriptive epidemiological methods. Realtime PCR was used to detect the nucleic acid of group GⅠand GⅡnorovirus, the positive norovirus nucleic acid samples were sent to Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention for molecular typing. Results: From 2017 to 2022, 185 norovirus outbreaks were reported in schools in Xicheng District, including 166 cluster outbreaks and 19 outbreaks. A total of 2 044 cases were reported, with a total attack rate of 13.92%. There were two peaks in the outbreak time, which were from March to June after the spring semester and from October to December after autumn semester. Primary schools were the most common place of occurrence (101 cases), followed by nursery institutions (68 cases) and secondary schools (16 cases). There were statistically significant differences in the incidence rates among different sites(12.37%, 22.78%, 8.47%, χ2=263.34, P<0.01). There were significant differences in the incidence of vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomachache among different students (χ2=263.33, 90.58, 20.42, 30.29, P<0.01). Vomiting was the main symptom in primary school and nursery school children (96.41%, 98.28%), and the diarrhea rate was higher in middle school students (68.22%). The outbreaks were mainly caused by type GⅡ norovirus. The genotype from 2017 to 2021 showed the characteristics of diversity, mainly GⅡ.2[P16], but there was no significant advantage for the GⅡ.2 [P16] during 2019 to 2021. Conclusions The norovirus outbreak in schools in Xicheng district of Beijing from 2017 to 2022 are mainly caused by GⅡ type genome. The main genotype is GⅡ.2[P16]. Norovirus infection mainly occurred in primary schools and kindergartens. For the vulnerable populations, it is necessary to improve the capacity to early identification, student infectious disease management, active infection control and prevention measures, and pathogen surveillance and sporadic case monitoring.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of modified Banxia Houpu Decoction plus Deanxit for the treatment of cancer-related depression(CRD)of phlegm blended with qi type.Methods Sixty-four CRD patients with phlegm blended with qi type were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group,with 32 patients in each group.The control group was given oral use of Deanxit,and the treatment group was treated with modified Banxia Houpu Decoction plus Deanxit orally.The course of treatment covered 4 weeks.The changes of Karnofsky Performance Status(KPS)scores,self-rating depression scale(SDS)scores,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment.Moreover,the efficacy for improving KPS scores and TCM syndrome efficacy in the two groups were also evaluated.Results(1)After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate for improving KPS scores in the treatment group was 90.63%(29/32),and that in the control group was 78.13%(25/32).The intergroup comparison showed that the efficacy for improving KPS scores in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(2)In terms of the efficacy of TCM syndromes,after 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate for improving TCM syndrome scores in the treatment group was 87.50%(28/32),and that in the control group was 40.63%(13/32),and the efficacy of TCM syndromes in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the KPS scores in the treatment group were significantly increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the KPS scores in the control group tended to increase compared with those before treatment,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the effect on increasing KPS scores in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the SDS scores in the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the effect on lowering SDS scores in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(5)After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the effect on lowering TCM syndrome scores in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Modified Banxia Houpu Decoction plus Deanxit exerts certain effect for the treatment of CRD of phlegm blended with qi type.The combined therapy can effectively improve the depression mood and quality of life of the patients,and its efficacy is superior to that of Deanxit alone.

Objective:To characterize the longitudinal and dynamic high-density lipoprotein (HDL) trajectories in critically ill children and explore their correlation with clinical outcomes.Methods:Retrospective cohort study.All critically ill children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 1, 2015 to October 1, 2020 were included in this retrospective study.Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was applied to characterize the HDL trajectories in days 0-6 post-PICU admission and develop HDL trajectory groups.The in-hospital mortality rate was reported as frequency (%) and then compared by the Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test between HDL trajectory groups.The length of stay (LOS) in the PICU was described by M( Q1, Q3), and its difference between HDL trajectory groups was evaluated by the Kruskal Wallis test.Logistic regression and multiple linear regression were used to determine the correlation between HDL trajectories and clinical outcomes.The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality rate, and the secondary outcome was LOS in the PICU. Results:A total of 4 384 critically ill children were ultimately enrolled in the study, and 6 HDL trajectory groups were developed based on GBTM analyses: group 1 (758 cases), the lowest HDL group; group 2 (1 413 cases), the low HDL group; group 3 (74 cases), the low-to-high HDL group; group 4 (621 cases), the medium HDL group; group 5 (1 371 cases), the high HDL group; and group 6 (147 cases), the highest HDL group.Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with critically ill children in group 1, those belonging to groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were at lower risks of in-hospital mortality with odds ratio ( OR): 0.475, 95%confidence interval ( CI): 0.352-0.641, P<0.001; OR: 0.093, 95% CI: 0.013-0.679, P=0.019; OR: 0.322, 95% CI: 0.208-0.479, P<0.001; OR: 0.263, 95% CI: 0.185-0.374, P<0.001, and OR: 0.142, 95% CI: 0.044-0.454, P=0.001, respectively.Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that compared with critically ill children in group 1, those belonging to groups 4, 5, and 6 had the trend of shorter LOS in PICU, and the β value and 95% CI were β: -4.332, 95% CI: -5.238- -3.426, P<0.001; β: -3.053, 95% CI: -3.809--2.297, P<0.001; β: -6.281, 95% CI: -7.842--4.721, P<0.001, respectively. Conclusions:The dynamic HDL trajectories during 0-6 days after PICU admission are associated with in-hospital mortality rate of critically ill children.The HDL trajectory at a persistently low level is associated with higher mortality, while the HDL trajectory at a persistently high level or with the trend from a low level rising to a high level shows a lower risk of mortality.It is suggested that the HDL trajectory model may become an indicator to predict the condition and prognosis of critically ill children.

Purpose To investigate the clinical,imaging,pathological features,differential diagnosis and prognosis of em-bryonic dysplastic neuroepithelial tumor(DNT).Methods The clinical data of 33 DNT patients were collected.Immunohis-tochemical results of Olig2,NeuN,Syn,GFAP,IDH1,CD34,BRAF V600E,H3K27M and Ki67 were examined by EnVision method.Histopathological morphology and immunohistochemical features were retrospectively analyzed and relevant literature was reviewed synchronously.Results A total of 28 cases were fol-lowed up,including 10 females and 18 males.The age of onset was 4～57 years,with average 24.97 years.Refractory epilepsy was a common symptom.The lesions were mainly located in the supratentorial cortex,and most of them were well-defined,lobu-lated,cystic or cystic and solid.Microscopically,DNT was mainly composed of oligodendrocytes,neurons floating in the mucous matrix,and proliferative astrocytes.Calcification was rare,and no necrosis or microvascular hyperplasia was ob-served.Immunohistochemistry showed that neurons expressed NeuN and Syn,oligodendrocytes expressed Olig2,and prolifera-tive astrocytes expressed GFAP;p53 was mostly wild-type,and the proliferation index of Ki67 was low(mostly less than 4％).Conclusion DNT is a benign tumor with mixed glial and neu-ronal structures.Precise pathological diagnosis needs to be care-fully considered with imaging characteristics,microscopic mor-phology,immunohistochemistry and molecular test results if nec-essary.Prognosis after complete surgical resection is good.

Purpose To investigate the clinical,imaging,pathological,and genetic characteristics of neuroepithelial tumors with EWSR1 translocation.Methods The clinicopatho-logical data of 6 patients with EWSR1 translocation in neuroepi-thelial tumors were collected,routine HE and immunohistochem-ical staining were performed,the information of high-throughput sequencing was summarized,and the relevant literature was re-viewed.Results The median age of the 6 patients was 11.5 years(ranging from 1.9 to 17 years),including 1 male and 5 females.The tumors located in temporal lobe,frontal lobe,pari-etal lobe,suprasellar region,or lateral ventricle.The clinical manifestations mainly started with seizures.Brain MRI showed abnormal signal focus in the cerebral hemisphere near the cortex in 4 cases,and ventricle/periventricular regions in 2 cases,with an almost clear boundary in 5 cases.Microscopically,the histo-logical changes were diverse,including low-grade gliomas/gli-oneuronal tumors in 3 cases,high-grade gliomas in 2 cases,and glioneuronal tumor with high-grade feature in 1 case.Immuno-histochemically,tumor cells expressed GFAP,S-100,Syn,and Olig2 partially.2 cases exhibited slightly positive of NeuN and 1 case exhibited little dot-like staining of EMA.Next generation sequencing revealed EWSR1 rearrangement in all 6 cases,with chaperone genes including PATZ1 in 5 cases,and PLAGL1 in 1 case.3 cases were treated with chemotherapy after surgery,and no recurrence or progression was found during follow-up.Con-clusion The neuroepithelial tumors with the fusion of EWSR1 and non-ETS commonly occur in the cerebral hemisphere of teenagers and children.Most of the boundaries lesion are still clear,the histomorphological spectrum is diverse,and the bio-logical behavior is presented as a low to moderate malignancy,which provides the possibility for expanding the molecular classi-fication of CNS neuroepithelial tumor.