Ultrasound-guided local ablation therapy for liver tumors has extensive clinical application because of its minimal invasiveness, proven effectiveness, low complication rates, and suitability for repeat treatments. Ultrasound-guided interventional therapy has continuously evolved in terms of the following: technological advancements, from the initial utilization of percutaneous ethanol injection to thermal ablation therapies exemplified by radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation and presently advancing toward emerging techniques such as irreversible electroporation; imaging methods, from conventional ultrasound guidance to contrast-enhanced ultrasound and fusion imaging for precise guidance and assessment; supplementary strategies, from monotherapy to auxiliary method and synergistic therapy; and innovative treatment concepts, from early-stage small hepatocellular carcinoma to intermediate and even large liver cancers. The development of ultrasound-guided local ablation of liver cancers has progressed from an initial phase of rapid advancement to a mature stage characterized by further enhancements. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the status of technical equipment, treatment processes, efficacy, complications, and challenges encountered in ultrasound-guided local ablation for liver tumors, with the objective of offering valuable insights for interventional ultrasound physicians.

BACKGROUND: Gluconeogenesis is a critical metabolic pathway for maintaining glucose homeostasis, and its dysregulation can lead to glycometabolic disorders. This study aimed to identify hub biomarkers of these disorders to provide a theoretical foundation for enhancing diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Gene expression profiles from liver tissues of three well-characterized gluconeogenesis mouse models were analyzed to identify commonly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), machine learning techniques, and diagnostic tests on transcriptome data from publicly available datasets of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients were employed to assess the clinical relevance of these DEGs. Subsequently, we identified hub biomarkers associated with gluconeogenesis-related glycometabolic disorders, investigated potential correlations with immune cell types, and validated expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the mouse models. RESULTS: Only a few common DEGs were observed in gluconeogenesis-related glycometabolic disorders across different contributing factors. However, these DEGs were consistently associated with cytokine regulation and oxidative stress (OS). Enrichment analysis highlighted significant alterations in terms related to cytokines and OS. Importantly, osteomodulin ( OMD ), apolipoprotein A4 ( APOA4 ), and insulin like growth factor binding protein 6 ( IGFBP6 ) were identified with potential clinical significance in T2DM patients. These genes demonstrated robust diagnostic performance in T2DM cohorts and were positively correlated with resting dendritic cells. CONCLUSIONS Gluconeogenesis-related glycometabolic disorders exhibit considerable heterogeneity, yet changes in cytokine regulation and OS are universally present. OMD , APOA4 , and IGFBP6  may serve as hub biomarkers for gluconeogenesis-related glycometabolic disorders.
Machine Learning ; Humans ; Computational Biology/methods* ; Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics* ; Animals ; Mice ; Gluconeogenesis/physiology* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome/genetics* ; Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics* ; Clinical Relevance

The present study delves into the cellular mechanisms underlying the antiviral effects of dehydrodiisoeugenol(DEH) by focusing on the transcription factor EB(TFEB)/autophagy-lysosome pathway. The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) was utilized to assess the impact of DEH on the viability of human non-small cell lung cancer cells(A549). The inhibitory effect of DEH on the replication of influenza A virus(H1N1) was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR). Western blot was employed to evaluate the influence of DEH on the expression level of the H1N1 virus nucleoprotein(NP). The effect of DEH on the fluorescence intensity of NP was examined by the immunofluorescence assay. A mouse model of H1N1 virus infection was established via nasal inhalation to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of 30 mg·kg~(-1) DEH on H1N1 virus infection. RNA sequencing(RNA-seq) was performed for the transcriptional profiling of mouse embryonic fibroblasts(MEFs) in response to DEH. The fluorescent protein-tagged microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) was used to assess the autophagy induced by DEH. Western blot was employed to determine the effect of DEH on the autophagy flux of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ under viral infection conditions. Lastly, the role of TFEB expression in the inhibition of DEH against H1N1 infection was evaluated in immortalized bone marrow-derived macrophage(iBMDM), both wild-type and TFEB knockout. The results revealed that the half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC_(50)) of DEH for A549 cells was(87.17±0.247)μmol·L~(-1), and DEH inhibited H1N1 virus replication in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Compared with the H1N1 virus-infected mouse model, the treatment with DEH significantly improved the body weights and survival time of mice. DEH induced LC3 aggregation, and the absence of TFEB expression in iBMDM markedly limited the ability of DEH to counteract H1N1 virus replication. In conclusion, DEH exerts its inhibitory activity against H1N1 infection by activating the TFEB/autophagy-lysosome pathway.
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics* ; Animals ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Humans ; Mice ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Influenza, Human/metabolism* ; Lysosomes/metabolism* ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections/genetics* ; Eugenol/pharmacology* ; Antiviral Agents/pharmacology* ; Virus Replication/drug effects* ; A549 Cells ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity of total alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth. (TAG) in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate their potential mechanisms of action through transcriptomic analysis. METHODS: TAG extraction was conducted, and the primary components were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of TAG (100, 150, and 200 µg/mL) on various tumor cells, including SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116, were assessed. Effects of TAG on HCC proliferation and apoptosis were detected by colony formation assays and cell stainings. Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax protein levels were detected by Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was developed using H22 cells. Totally 40 Kunming mice were randomly assigned to model, cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg), TAG low-dose (TAG-L, 0.5 mg/kg), and TAG high-dose (TAG-H, 1 mg/kg) groups, with 10 mice in each group. Tumor volume, body weight, and tumor weight were recorded and compared during 14-day treatment. Immune organ index were calculated. Tissue changes were oberseved by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, as well as quatitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), were performed to detect mRNA and metabolite expressions. RESULTS: HPLC successfully identified the components of TAG extraction. Live cell imaging and analysis, along with cell viability assays, demonstrated that TAG inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cells. Colony formation assays, Hoechst 33258 staining, Rhodamine 123 staining, and Western blotting revealed that TAG not only inhibited HCC proliferation but also promoted apoptosis (P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that TAG inhibited the growth of solid tumors in HCC in mice (P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR indicated that the inhibition of HCC by TAG was associated with the regulation of the key gene CXCL13. CONCLUSION TAG inhibits HCC both in vivo and in vitro, with its inhibitory effect linked to the regulation of the key gene CXCL13.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Humans ; Alkaloids/therapeutic use* ; Gelsemium/chemistry* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Mice ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale (Tiepi Shihu) extract (DOE) on insomnia. METHODS: Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=7 per group): normal control, model control, melatonin (MT, 40 mg/kg), and 3-dose DOE (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 g/kg) groups. Rats were raised in a strong-light (10,000 LUX) and -noise (>80 db) environment (12 h/d) for 16 weeks to induce insomnia, and from week 10 to week 16, MT and DOE were correspondingly administered to rats. The behavior tests including sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep experiment, sucrose preference test, and autonomous activity test were used to evaluate changes in sleep and emotions of rats. The metabolic-related indicators such as blood pressure, blood viscosity, blood glucose, and uric acid in rats were measured. The pathological changes in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region of rat brain were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining. Additionally, the sleep-related factors gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate (GA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, we screened potential sleep-improving receptors of DOE using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array and validated the results with quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: DOE significantly improved rats' sleep and mood, increased the sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep time and sucrose preference index, and reduced autonomic activity times (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DOE also had a good effect on metabolic abnormalities, significantly reducing triglyceride, blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood viscosity indicators (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DOE significantly increased the GABA content in hippocampus and reduced the GA/GABA ratio and IL-6 level (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, DOE improved the pathological changes such as the disorder of cell arrangement in the hippocampus and the decrease of Nissel bodies. Seven differential genes were screened by PCR array, and the GABA_A receptors (Gabra5, Gabra6, Gabrq) were selected for verification. The results showed that DOE could up-regulate their expressions (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION DOE demonstrated remarkable potential for improving insomnia, which may be through regulating GABA_A receptors expressions and GA/GABA ratio.
Animals ; Dendrobium/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/blood* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism* ; Noise/adverse effects* ; Light/adverse effects* ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism* ; Sleep/drug effects* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA/metabolism*

Objective To explore the effects of Rhodiola salidroside on regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling pathway and explore its impact on hippocampal neuron autophagy and apoptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R).Methods The mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line HT22 was cultured in vitro and randomly divided into control group,OGD/R group,salidroside group,tert-butylhydroquinone(TBHQ)group,and salidroside+TBHQgroup.Except for control group,cell models were established by OGD/R induction in other groups.Cells in corresponding groups were treated with Rhodiola salidroside(500 μmol/L)and/or MAPK activator TBHQ(50 μmol/L)for 24 h.The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)release rates were measured,cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,and cell viability was assessed by MTT assay.Acridine orange(AO)staining was used to detect autophagy.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukins(IL)-6,IL-8,and IL-17,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of proteins related to apoptosis,autophagy,and the MAPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway.Results Salidroside(500 μmol/L)significantly enhanced the viability of OGD/R-induced HT22 cells(P＜0.05),without obvious effect on the viability of normally cultured HT22 cells(P＞0.05).Compared with control group,OGD/R group showed significantly increased LDH release rates,apoptosis rates,autophagosome formation rates,levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-17 and TNF-α,expressions of Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),Cleaved Caspase-3,Caspase-3 and Beclin-1 protein,ratios of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,phosphorylation(p)-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK,and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2(P＜0.05),while cell viability and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with OGD/R group,salidroside group had significantly reduced LDH release rates,apoptosis rates,autophagosome formation rates,levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-17,and TNF-α,expressions of Bax,Cleaved Caspase-3,Caspase-3,Beclin-1 protein,and ratios of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio,p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK,and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2(P＜0.05),while cell viability and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The change of indicators in TBHQgroup showed an opposite trend to those in salidroside(P＜0.05).Compared with salidroside group,salidroside+TBHQgroup had significantly increased LDH release rates,apoptosis rates,autophagosome formation rates,levels of IL-6,IL-8,IL-17 and TNF-α,expressions of Bax,Cleaved Caspase-3,Caspase-3,Beclin-1 protein,and ratios of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK,and p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2(P＜0.05),while cell viability and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Salidroside may inhibit OGD/R-induced hippocampal neuron autophagy and apoptosis by blocking the activation and transmission of MAPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)small nucleolar RNA host gene 12(SNHG12)on neuronal damage induced by oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)by targeting microRNA(miR)-140-3p.Methods Human cortical neurons(HCN)were used to establish an OGD/R model,which was separated into OGD/R group,negative control(NC)group,SNHG12 group,SNHG12+miR-NC group,and SNHG12+miR-140-3p mimics group.Normal cultured HCN were also taken as the control(Ctrl)group.There were 6 repetitions in each group.Cell proliferation,apoptosis,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)activity,mitochondrial membrane potential,lncRNA SNHG12 and miR-140-3p expression levels,and the interaction of lncRNA SNHG12 and miR-140-3p were detected.Results Compared with the control group,the survival rate of HCN,mitochondrial membrane potential,and lncRNA SNHG12 expression were lower in the OGD/R group,while the LDH activity,apoptosis rate,and miR-140-3p expression were higher(P＜0.05).Compared with the OGD/R group and NC group,the survival rate of HCN,mitochondrial membrane potential,and lncRNA SNHG12 expression were higher in the SNHG12 group,while the LDH activity,apoptosis rate,and miR-140-3p expression were lower(P＜0.05).Compared with the SNHG12+miR-NC group,the survival rate of HCN,mitochondrial membrane potential,and lncRNA SNHG12 expression were lower in the SNHG12+miR-140-3p mimics group,while the LDH activity,apoptosis rate,and miR-140-3p expression were higher(P＜0.05).Dual luciferase activity showed a targeted relationship between lncRNA SNHG12 and miR-140-3p(P＜0.05).Conclusion LncRNA SNHG12 may exert a protective effect against OGD/R-induced neuronal damage by inhibiting miR-140-3p.

Objective To summarize the application of double valve ring enlargement combined with mitral Chimney technique (Chimney Commando) in the secondary valve replacement and to analyze the efficacy in the near and medium term. Methods Patients who underwent the secondary aortic valve and mitral valve (double valve) replacement by Chimney Commando in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from 2019 to 2022 were included, and their clinical data were retrospectively collected to analyze the safety and feasibility of this procedure in secondary valve replacement of small aortic root patients. Results A total of 49 patients (44 females and 5 males) were included. The body surface area was 1.64±0.17 m2. The time from the first operation was 13.10±5.90 years. Except for 4 patients whose first operation was valvuloplasty, the remaining 45 patients were all patients after valve replacement, 41 patients of double valves replacement, including 39 patients with mechanical valve and 2 patients with biological valve. The majority of the aortic valves were St.Jude regent 19 mm or St.Jude regent 21 mm, accounting for 30.61% and 34.69%, respectively. The mitral valves were predominantly St.Jude 25 mm mechanical valves, making up 65.31%. All patients underwent Chimney Commando double valve ring enlargement, and the mean time of aortic occlusion was 154.00±45.40 min. The mean size of the aortic valve was 23.90±1.40 mm and that of the mitral valve was 28.20±1.20 mm, and the transvalvular pressure difference across the aortic valve was 20.16±5.76 mm Hg at 6 months postoperatively. There was one death during hospitalization due to multi-organ failure. The follow-up time ranged from 1 to 24 months with a median time of 8 months. Two patients were implanted with permanent pacemakers during the follow-up period and 1 patient died due to massive stroke and malignant arrhythmia. Conclusion Chimney Commando is safe and effective in patients with secondary double valve replacement, and the postoperative prosthetic valves have good hemodynamics, and can achieve good clinical results in the near and medium term.

The Piezo protein is a non-selective mechanosensitive cation channel that exhibits sensitivity to mechanical stimuli such as pressure and shear stress. It converts mechanical signals into bioelectric activity within cells, thus triggering specific biological responses. In the digestive system, Piezo protein plays a crucial role in maintaining normal physiological activities, including digestion, absorption, metabolic regulation, and immune modulation. However, dysregulation in Piezo protein expression may lead to the occurrence of several pathological conditions, including visceral hypersensitivity, impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier function, and immune inflammation.Therefore, conducting a comprehensive review of the physiological functions and pathological roles of Piezo protein in the digestive system is of paramount importance. In this review, we systematically summarize the structural and dynamic characteristics of Piezo protein, its expression patterns, and physiological functions in the digestive system. We particularly focus on elucidating the mechanisms of action of Piezo protein in digestive system tumor diseases, inflammatory diseases, fibrotic diseases, and functional disorders. Through the integration of the latest research findings, we have observed that Piezo protein plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various digestive system diseases. There exist intricate interactions between Piezo protein and multiple phenotypes of digestive system tumors such as proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. In inflammatory diseases, Piezo protein promotes intestinal immune responses and pancreatic trypsinogen activation, contributing to the development of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and pancreatitis. Additionally, Piezo1, through pathways involving co-action with the TRPV4 ion channel, facilitates neutrophil recruitment and suppresses HIF-1α ubiquitination, thereby mediating organ fibrosis in organs like the liver and pancreas. Moreover, Piezo protein regulation by gut microbiota or factors like age and gender can result in increased or decreased visceral sensitivity, and alterations in intestinal mucosal barrier structure and permeability, which are closely associated with functional disorders like irritable bowel sydrome (IBS) and functional consitipaction (FC). A thorough exploration of Piezo protein as a potential therapeutic target in digestive system diseases can provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for future clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.