Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE), a common complication of advanced cancers, is associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life. Although host–tumor interactions are known to drive MPE development, the associated immune dynamics during disease progression remain unclear. Using a Lewis lung carcinoma-induced MPE model in C57BL/6JNidfc mice, we systematically evaluated general parameters and immune cell changes at two-day intervals throughout disease progression. Results: The day of Lewis lung carcinoma cell injection into the pleural space was designated as day 0. By day 10 post-injection (p.i.), MPE-bearing mice exhibited ~ 10% body weight loss, marking the experimental endpoint. Pleural tumor mass and pleural effusion volume were minimal up to day 4 p.i. but increased sharply from day 6 onward.CD45⁺ immune cell counts rose over time, and days 6, 8, and 10 p.i. marked key stages of MPE progression. On day 6, B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells, but not macrophages and neutrophils, increased significantly compared to earlier timepoints. By day 8, all immune cell subsets except T cells exceeded day 6 levels, and at day 10, natural killer cell numbers declined while others continued to increase. Besides, the numbers of CD8⁺ T cells, Th1 cells, regulatory T cells, and M2 macrophages progressively increased from day 6 to 10. Based on these data, days 6 and 10 were defined as early and advanced MPE stages, respectively, with distinct immune phenotypes. In advanced MPE, CD8⁺ T cells displayed reduced IFN-γ, TNF-α, Granzyme B, Perforin, FasL, and Ki-67, but upregulated PD-1 and CTLA-4 relative to early stage. Similarly, Th1 cells showed decreased IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 production along with reduced Ki-67 expression. Advanced-stage M2 macrophages exhibited lower MHC-II levels and impaired phagocytosis, but higher PD-L1 and IL-10 production, while neutrophils showed reduced TNF-α release and phagocytic activity. Conclusions Our findings characterize the temporal immune dynamics associated with MPE progression in a mouse model, revealing a transition from an early immunostimulatory state to a late immunosuppressive state. This study enhances our understanding of MPE immunopathogenesis and provides a foundation for developing precise, stagespecific therapeutic strategies.

Background: Visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) inflammation is a critical pathology of obesity-caused heart damage and is closely associated with adipocyte endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction. Serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor, clade A, member 3C (Serpina3c) has been identified as an adipokine with anti-vWAT inflammatory effects. However, it remains unclear whether Serpina3c deficiency promotion of vWAT inflammation involves adipocyte ER dysfunction and whether it further contributes to heart damage in obesity. Methods: Wild type and Serpina3c knockout (Serpina3c–/–) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. An adeno-associated virus (AAV) was injected locally into epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) of Serpina3c–/– mice to induce eWAT-adipocyte- specific overexpression of Serpina3c (AAV-Serpina3c) or knockdown of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (AAV-shHIF1α). In vitro experiments were performed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Results: Serpina3c–/– mice exhibited more severe eWAT, serum and heart inflammation after HFD feeding. Consistently, these adverse phenotypes were mitigated in AAV-Serpina3c and AAV-shHIF1α mice. Mechanistically, ER oxidoreductase 1α (Ero1α) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family members PDIA3 and PDIA4 were found to be target genes of HIF1α. In the obese mice, Serpina3c deficiency caused adipocyte more hypertrophy, and activated HIF1α-Ero1α/PDI mediated ER overoxidation and ER stress in eWAT. Subsequently, this led to increased adipocyte apoptosis and chemokine production and decreased adiponectin expression, which promoted macrophage infiltration and M1 polarization in eWAT, thus exacerbating eWAT inflammation and ultimately facilitating serum and distal heart inflammation. Conclusion These findings indicate that Serpina3c is a significant regulator of adipocyte ER redox homeostasis, thus highlighting Serpina3c as a potential therapeutic target for obesity-related eWAT inflammation and heart damage.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to study the effects of four weeks of aerobic exercise combined with Anmeidan on the synaptic plasticity marker protein and synaptic ultrastructure of the hippocampus in the model rats with sleep deprivation， thereby investigating the possible mechanism of its action to improve the learning memory of rats with sleep deprivation. Methods50 Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into blank control group （group C）， sleep deprivation group （group M）， aerobic exercise + sleep deprivation group （group MEX）， Anmeidan + sleep deprivation group （group MA， 18.18 g∙kg^-1∙d^-1）， and aerobic exercise + Anmeidan + sleep deprivation group （group MEXA， 18.18 g∙kg^-1∙d^-1）. Anmeidan was administered by gavage in the MA group for four weeks. Aerobic exercise was performed in the MEX group for four weeks. Anmeidan was administered by gavage in the MEXA group in combination with aerobic exercise for four weeks， and sleep deprivation was performed for 72 h by using the multi-platform water environment method. At the end of sleep deprivation， Morris water maze was used to assess the learning and memory ability of rats in each group， and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the morphological changes of rats' hippocampal neurons. A transmission electron microscope was used to observe the synaptic ultrastructure of rats' hippocampus. The expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB）， cAMP-response element binding protein （CREB）， postsynaptic density-95 （PSD-95）， and synaptophysin （SYN） were detected by Western blot， and the real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the relative mRNA expression levels of BDNF， TrkB， and CREB in the rats' hippocampus. ResultsCompared with those in group C， rats in group M had significantly longer latency and total swimming distance on the platform （P<0.01） and a significantly reduced number of traversals across the platform as well as the residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.01）. Part of the hippocampal neurons damaged， with a reduced number， disorganized arrangement， fuzzy synaptic gaps， thinning of post-synaptic dense material， and uneven density of synaptic vesicles. The protein expression levels and relative mRNA expression levels of BDNF， TrkB， and CREB were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of PSD-95 and SYN were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with those in group M， rats in MA， MEX， and MEXA groups showed a decrease in latency to platform and total distance swum， an increase in the number of traversals across the platform and residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.05， P<0.01）， a reduction in hippocampal neuronal damage， a better arrangement， a more intact synaptic structure， a thickening of post-synaptic dense material， a uniform density of synaptic vesicles， and an increase in the protein expression levels and mRNA expression levels of BDNF， TrkB， and CREB （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The protein expressions of PSD-95 and SYN rose （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionAerobic exercise combined with Anmeidan can improve learning memory in rats with sleep deprivation， and its mechanism of action may be related to the modulation of the BDNF/TrkB/CERB signalling pathway， up-regulation of the expression of PSD-95 and SYN， and improvement of synaptic structural damage. The combination of interventions is superior to single exercise or drugs.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of mechanical pressure regulation on the migration and bone-promoting ability of suture dural cells （S-DCs） and non-suture dural cells （NS-DCs）. MethodsDural cells （S-DCs）， non-cranial suture dural cells （NS-DCs） and cranial suture mesenchymal stem cells （CS-MSCs） of 5-day-old SD rats were isolated and cultured. Four experimental conditions， namely S-DCs-Normal， S-DCs-Stress， NS-DCs-Normal and NS-DCs-Stress， were set according to the source of the cells and whether mechanical pressure （1.07 kPa， 24 hours） was applied. The migration ability of dural cells was detected by cell scratch test. Four experimental condition culture media were collected and co-cultured with CS-MSCs for osteogenic induction. Calcium salt deposition was detected by alizarin red staining， and the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins was detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the Normal group， the migration abilities of both S-DCs and NS-DCs decreased after Stress treatment （P<0.05）. Compared with S-DCs， NS-DCs has a weaker migration ability under the same processing conditions （P<0.05）. The conditioned medium experiment showed that Stress treatment reduced the osteogenic ability of CS-MSCs （P<0.05）， and the osteogenic effect of the conditioned medium derived from NS-DCs was weaker than that of S-DCs （P<0.05）. The Western blot results were consistent with the trend of alizarin red staining. Both Stress treatment and NS-DCs sources could down-regulate the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins （P<0.05）. ConclusionMechanical stress can significantly inhibit the migration of dural cells and the osteogenic differentiation process of CS-MSCs mediated by it. The mechanical tolerance and osteogenic regulation ability of S-DCs are significantly better than those of NS-DCs.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of the Bawei Chenxiang Wan （BCW） against myocardial ischemic injury. MethodsMyocardial ischemia in vivo was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol （ISO）， and ex vivo ischemia was established by coronary artery ligation in isolated rat hearts. The effects of BCW， alcohol extracts and its polar extracts were evaluated on ST segment on electrocardiogram （ECG）， myocardial damage， hemodynamic parameters， and infarct size. The phosphorylation level of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins， and the content of Cu²⁺ in myocardial tissue were detected. The regulatory relationship of the signaling pathway was verified using an oxygen-glucose deprivation （OGD） myocardial cell injury model， combined with PI3K agonists and inhibitors. ResultsBCW ameliorated ST-segment elevation on electrocardiograms（P＜0.01）， reduced serum levels of myocardial injury markers， improved hemodynamic parameters， upregulated PI3K phosphorylation（P＜0.01）， and decreased Cu²⁺ accumulation in rats with myocardial ischemia（P＜0.01）. Moreover， BCW reduced the myocardial infarct size. In the isolated rat heart model of ischemia， both the ethanol extract and various solvent fractions of BCW exerted protective effects and reduced Cu²⁺ content， among which the n-butanol fraction exhibited the most potent activity（P＜0.01）. Specifically， the n-butanol fraction upregulated PI3K phosphorylation（P＜0.01） and downregulated the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins， including ferredoxin reductase 1（FDX1）（P＜0.05）， lipoic acid synthetase（LIAS）， and dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase（DLAT） oligomerization（P＜0.05）. In the OGD-induced cardiomyocyte injury model， treatment with a PI3K agonist inhibited DLAT oligomerization（P＜0.05）， whereas co-administration of a PI3K inhibitor attenuated the inhibitory effect of the n-butanol fraction on DLAT oligomer formation（P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe n-butanol fraction of BCW exerts a significant protective effect against myocardial ischemic injury， and its mechanism may involve activation of the PI3K and inhibition of cuproptosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of the Bawei Chenxiang Wan （BCW） against myocardial ischemic injury. MethodsMyocardial ischemia in vivo was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol （ISO）， and ex vivo ischemia was established by coronary artery ligation in isolated rat hearts. The effects of BCW， alcohol extracts and its polar extracts were evaluated on ST segment on electrocardiogram （ECG）， myocardial damage， hemodynamic parameters， and infarct size. The phosphorylation level of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins， and the content of Cu²⁺ in myocardial tissue were detected. The regulatory relationship of the signaling pathway was verified using an oxygen-glucose deprivation （OGD） myocardial cell injury model， combined with PI3K agonists and inhibitors. ResultsBCW ameliorated ST-segment elevation on electrocardiograms（P＜0.01）， reduced serum levels of myocardial injury markers， improved hemodynamic parameters， upregulated PI3K phosphorylation（P＜0.01）， and decreased Cu²⁺ accumulation in rats with myocardial ischemia（P＜0.01）. Moreover， BCW reduced the myocardial infarct size. In the isolated rat heart model of ischemia， both the ethanol extract and various solvent fractions of BCW exerted protective effects and reduced Cu²⁺ content， among which the n-butanol fraction exhibited the most potent activity（P＜0.01）. Specifically， the n-butanol fraction upregulated PI3K phosphorylation（P＜0.01） and downregulated the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins， including ferredoxin reductase 1（FDX1）（P＜0.05）， lipoic acid synthetase（LIAS）， and dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase（DLAT） oligomerization（P＜0.05）. In the OGD-induced cardiomyocyte injury model， treatment with a PI3K agonist inhibited DLAT oligomerization（P＜0.05）， whereas co-administration of a PI3K inhibitor attenuated the inhibitory effect of the n-butanol fraction on DLAT oligomer formation（P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe n-butanol fraction of BCW exerts a significant protective effect against myocardial ischemic injury， and its mechanism may involve activation of the PI3K and inhibition of cuproptosis.

The drug resistance in the treatment of solid tumors is closely related to abnormalities in the tumor vascular microenvironment (TVM). The TVM is dynamically composed of multiple stromal, vascular, and immune cell populations together with extracellular matrix. Its structural disorder and functional imbalance can lead to abnormal angiogenesis, perfusion disorders, limited drug delivery, and insufficient immune cell infiltration, thereby creating a microenvironment conducive to tumor progression and treatment resistance. Therefore, the coordinated regulation of TVM through vascular normalization and immune remodeling has become an important research direction for improving the treatment effect of solid tumors. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14), also known as LIGHT (homologous to lymphotoxin, inducible, competes with herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein D for herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), expressed by T lymphocyte), is an important molecule connecting tumor vascular remodeling and immune regulation. LIGHT can bind to the lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR) to activate the NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B)-related signaling pathway, regulate the functions of vascular endothelial cells and stromal cells, and induce the expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines such as VCAM-1(vascular cell adhesion molecule 1), ICAM-1(intercellular adhesion molecule 1), CCL19 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 19), CCL21 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 21), and CXCL13 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13), promoting the formation of high endothelial venules (HEVs). HEVs can improve the vascular access of immune cells into tumor tissues and further promote the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), providing a structural basis for the recruitment of effector T cells and sustained anti-tumor immune responses. At the same time, LIGHT interacts with HVEM to provide costimulatory signals to T cells, enhancing their activation, proliferation, and cytotoxic function. Thus, LIGHT can link tumor vascular normalization, immune cell recruitment, and T cell activation through the dual actions mediated by LTβR and HVEM, forming a coordinated regulation model of “vascular remodeling-immune infiltration-immune activation”, providing new molecular targets for the treatment of solid tumors. Despite LIGHT’s good anti-tumor potential, its therapeutic application is still limited by factors such as insufficient stability in vivo, short half-life, and potential off-target effects due to systemic exposure. In recent years, researchers have developed various strategies for the precise delivery of LIGHT, including fusion proteins, bacterial vectors, viral vectors, nanoparticles, chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to enhance the enrichment, expression, or sustained release of LIGHT in tumor sites through different approaches, thereby improving its therapeutic efficacy and safety. This article systematically reviews the structural characteristics, biological functions, and molecular mechanisms mediating TVM remodeling by LIGHT, with a focus on the signal transduction mediated by LTβR and HVEM and their roles in tumor immune regulation. Subsequently, it systematically outlines the molecular mechanisms by which LIGHT regulates the tumor vascular microenvironment and its intrinsic connection with immune cell recruitment and activation, from the perspectives of TVM abnormalities, vascular normalization, HEV formation, and TLS induction. Furthermore, it categorizes and summarizes precise delivery strategies such as LIGHT fusion proteins, bacterial vectors, viral vectors, nanoparticles, CAR-T cells, and MSCs according to delivery vectors and modes of action, and compares their functional characteristics, antitumor effects, and potential advantages and limitations. On this basis, the article further discusses the key issues that LIGHT therapeutic strategies still face in terms of targeting, controllability,in vivo stability, safety, and clinical translation, and anticipates the potential value of its combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, anti-angiogenic therapy, and other tumor treatment methods. This article aims to deepen the understanding of the antitumor mechanism of LIGHT from the perspective of synergistic regulation of tumor vascular microenvironment remodeling and immune activation, providing theoretical basis and new research ideas for the design of solid tumor treatment strategies based on precise regulation of TVM and the clinical translation of LIGHT-related treatment systems.

Objective:To explore the value of ultrasound imaging characteristics combined with clinical indicators in assessing the prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted for patients who underwent pancreatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) from September 2017 to October 2023 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and were diagnosed with PDAC based on pathological findings. Various parameters were recorded, including CA19-9 levels, tumor size, location, morphologic features, echogenicity, presence of internal cystic components, dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, peripheral vascular invasion, CEUS characteristics, presence or absence of liver metastasis, and treatment methods. In April 2024, patient survival information was obtained through telephone follow-up or review of medical records. Based on the results of the cox regression model analysis, a nomogram model of the risk of death was developed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to evaluate the predictive efficacy of the model. The calibration curves were plotted to evaluate the accuracy of the model, and clinical decision curves were used to evaluate the clinical benefit of the model.Results:This study included a total of 207 patients with PDAC. As of April 2024, 71 patients were alive and 136 died, with a median survival time of 14 months (95% CI: 12 -17). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the elevated CA19-9 ( HR=1.689, 95% CI: 1.102-2.588), tumor size >4 cm ( HR=1.641, 95% CI: 1.159-2.322), taller-than-wide shapes ( HR=1.450, 95% CI: 1.019-2.065), incomplete hypo-enhancement ( HR=1.618, 95% CI: 1.100-2.380), and liver metastasis ( HR=1.687, 95% CI: 1.175-2.423) were independent risk factors for survival in patients with PDAC. A nomogram model was further constructed for 6-month, 12-month and 3-year survival of patients with PDAC. The areas under the ROC curve were 0.679, 0.705 and 0.815, respectively. The calibration curves suggested that the model was more accurate, and the clinical decision curves showed that the model had a better clinical benefit. Conclusion:The combined use of ultrasound imaging characteristics and clinical indicators could effectively predict the prognosis of PDAC patients. Specifically, tumor size >4 cm, taller-than-wide shapes, incomplete hypo-enhancement, elevated CA19-9, and the presence of liver metastasis are correlated with poorer survival outcomes. The nomogram model constructed on the basis of these factors can be used to assess the survival of patients with PDAC.

To evaluate the analytical performance of a specific IgE (sIgE) quantitative detection system and explore the clinical application effect of dust mite extract and component detection. The fluorescent magnetic particle chemiluminescence method was used to verify the analytical performance of sIgE for house dust mite (D1), dust mite (D2) extracts, and their components (Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 10, and Der p 23), including precision, limit of blank (LoB), limit of detection (LoD), linear range, and interfering factors. This is a retrospective cohort study. A total of 50 patients with allergic rhinitis and 50 patients with allergic asthma diagnosed at Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from January 2022 to August 2023 were selected, along with 70 apparently healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations in the hospital as the healthy control group. The positive rates of each sIgE component in the three groups were compared, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for diagnosing dust mite allergy was plotted. The results showed that the fluorescent magnetic particle chemiluminescence method for detecting sIgE demonstrated good repeatability and intermediate precision within the range of 0.1-100 kU/L. The LoB, LoD, and linear range all met the specified requirements. Except for Der p 10, which was interfered by the presence of conjugated bilirubin and free bilirubin (exceeding 40 mg/dl), the detection of other allergens was not significantly affected by common endogenous substances. In healthy individuals, 10% had positive sIgE for dustmite extract; in asthmatic and allergic rhinitis patients, the positive rates were 70% and 82%, respectively. The double positive rate of D1 and D2 in the healthy group was 8.6%, while in asthmatic and allergic rhinitis patients, it was 66% and 70%, respectively. When 0.35 kU/L was used as the threshold, the sensitivity of sIgE for dust mite extract to predict component positivity was 100%, specificity was 61.5%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 80.2%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%. When the threshold was optimized to 0.78 kU/L, the sensitivity was 96.8%, specificity was 92.1%, PPV was 95.2%, and NPV was 94.6%. In conclusion, the repeatability, intermediate precision, LoB, LoD, linear range, and anti-interference ability of the fluorescent magnetic particle chemiluminescence method for detecting sIgE meet the requirements of laboratory quality management. This ensures detection quality, meets clinical needs, and can be used for the auxiliary diagnosis of allergic diseases.

Objective:To establish and optimize an autoverification system for thyroid function test reports of 5 items using historical test data.Methods:Based on the docoment' Autoverification of Clinical Laboratory Quantitative Test Results′, CLSI AUTO 10-A and AUTO 15 guidelines, an autoverification system for thyroid function test reports of 5 items was established combining with manual verification experience. A total of 193 860 thyroid function test reports of 5 items in 2021 were collected for the assessment of the original system. Totally 210 097 thyroid function test reports of 5 items in 2022 and 299 198 reports in 2023 were collected for the optimization of the autoverification system. There were 160 666 thyroid function test reports of 5 items from the first half of 2024 for the manual and autoverification comparison after optimization.Results:The pass rate of the autoverification system based on original thyroid function report in 2021 was 69.56%(134 849/193 860). The optimized system utilizing historical data from 2022 and 2023 covered 21 pattern rules and established verification for different patterns including range rules, delta check rules, and review rules. Taking manual verification as the standard for the data from the first half of 2024, the sensitivity and specificity of the optimized system were 100% (499/499) and 81.57% (130 646/160 167), respectively, with a false-negative rate of 0. The concordance rate between autoverification and manual verification was 81.63% (131 145/160 666), and the pass rate was 81.32% (130 646/160 666).Conclusion:Establishing and optimizing the autoverification system for thyroid function tests of 5 items using historical test data, and formulating verification rules for different patterns can be applied to clinical practise, which not only ensures the accuracy of test reports but also improves work efficiency, allowing continuously optimized and perfected of the system.