Objective To elucidate the application scope and delineate the criteria of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in assessing surgical risk associated with valvular heart diseases in patients presenting with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods This retrospective analysis encompassed data from patients with reduced LVEF (LVEF<40%) who underwent DSE prior to valvular heart surgery at the Valvular Surgery Center of Beijing Anzhen Hospital between May 2016 and September 2024. Patients were stratified based on the terminal dose of dobutamine into two cohorts: a limited dose group [receiving a maximum dobutamine dose of <5 µg/(kg·min) due to concomitant conditions such as suspected atrial thrombus, aortic dilation, or previous myocardial infarction] and a non-limited dose group (where dosage was adjusted to either achieve the maximum positive standard or the maximal dose tolerable by the patient). Within the non-limited dose group, patients were further classified into positive and negative response groups. The positive response post DSE was defined based on the following criteria: LVEF≥55% (the maximum positive standard), LVEF<55% but with a 5% improvement (the minimum positive standard) from resting situation, aortic maximum velocity (AVmax)≥400 cm/s, or mean pressure gradient (meanPG)≥40 mm Hg, latter two applicable only to patients with aortic stenosis. Clinical indicators were compared in the three groups. Results A total of 99 patients were enrolled, aged 35 to 87 years, with an average age of (61.7±10.1) years. The number of males was significantly higher than that of females (3:1). There were 61 (61.6%) patients undergoing aortic valve surgery, 25 (25.3%) undergoing mitral valve surgery, and 13 (13.1%) undergoing combined aortic and mitral valve surgery. Nineteen (19.2%) patients experienced adverse symptoms such as palpitations, head and face numbness, dizziness, chest tightness post DSE. Additionally, new-onset or aggravated ventricular premature ventricular contractions were in 40 (40.4%) patients. All above symptoms and signs resolved minutes after cessation of the test. No severe adverse events necessitating oxygen therapy or emergency intervention occurred. Among the 93 patients in the non-limited dose group, 86 were classified in the positive response group and 7 in the negative response group. The left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left ventricular end systolic diameter, and LVEF in the positive group all showed significant improvement compared to preoperative values, and were also significantly better than those in the negative group (P<0.05). All 7 patients with negative DSE results underwent interventional surgery, which was significantly different from the positive group (36 patients, 41.9%). In the limited dose group (n=6), 4 patients with a positive result or a positive trend on DSE underwent median sternotomy, 2 received interventional treatment due to a negative response. No significant differences in mortality were observed among the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Dobutamine stress echocardiography significantly contributes to risk stratification in surgical interventions for patients with valvular heart disease complicated by reduced LVEF. It aids in determining optimal timing and methods for surgery. With comprehensive patient evaluation and controlled dobutamine dosing, the application of DSE can be safely expanded.

Objective:To examine the safety and effectiveness of a novel domestic transcatheter aortic valve system in addressing severe aortic valve stenosis.Methods:This prospective, multicenter, single-arm target-value clinical trial enrolled patients with severe aortic stenosis meeting inclusion criteria from 13 Chinese centers between July 2021 and April 2022. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 1-year post-procedure. Secondary endpoints included safety outcomes (30-day all-cause mortality, 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events, device success) and efficacy parameters (transvalvular pressure gradient, paravalvular leak severity, New York Heart Association(NYHA)class improvement, and quality of life). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results:The study included 134 patients, 85 males and 49 females, with an age of (73.6±5.6)years (range: 65.1 to 91.8 years). Bicuspid aortic valve morphology was present in 59.7% (80/134). Device success rate was 99.3%, with one case converted to open surgery due to coronary obstruction. All-cause mortality was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.1% to 5.3%) at both 30-day and 1-year follow-up, significantly lower than the 25% target value ( P<0.01). Permanent pacemaker implantation rates remained 2.2% (3/134) at both timepoints. Stroke incidence was 0.7% (1/134) at 30 days and 1.5% (2/134) at 1 year. Myocardial infarction rates were 0.7% (1/134) at both intervals. The postoperative transvalvular pressure gradient of the aortic valve was (6.6±3.1) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) (range: 4 to 8 mmHg). Among the patients, 32 cases (23.9%) had mild paravalvular leakage, 4 cases (3.0%) had moderate paravalvular leakage, and no severe paravalvular leakage was observed. NYHA class Ⅰ and Ⅱ patients increased from 18.7% preoperatively to 99.3% postoperatively. Conclusion:The novel domestic transcatheter aortic valve system demonstrates satisfactory 1-year safety and efficacy outcomes in treating severe aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pharmacological efficacy and mechanism of action of Atractylenolide Ⅰ(Atr-Ⅰ)in inhibiting colorectal cancer.METHODS Among three active compounds of Atractylodes macrocephala,Atr-Ⅰ exhibited the highest anti-tumor potency by MTT assay.The optimal concentration of Atr-Ⅰ was determined.The effect of Atr-Ⅰ on LoVo cell prolifera-tion was assessed via a clonogenic assay,while its impact on apoptosis and cell cycle progression was evaluated using flow cytometry.The influence of Atr-Ⅰ on the migration and invasion of LoVo cell line was examined through wound healing and Transwell migration assays.Western blot analysis was performed to explore the effects and mechanisms of Atr-Ⅰ on proteins associated with mi-gration,proliferation,and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in LoVo cells.The CT26 mouse subcutaneous tumor model was established,and histopathological analysis was conducted using hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Western blot was also used to assess the effects of Atr-Ⅰ on EMT-related proteins in mouse tissues to elucidate underlying mechanisms.RESULTS Atr-Ⅰ significantly reduced colorectal cancer cell viability,with statistically significant differences between treatment and control groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Atr-Ⅰ induced apoptosis in LoVo cells,with the treatment group showing significant differences compared to the control(P<0.05,P<0.01).Cell cycle analysis revealed that Atr-Ⅰ exerted anti-tumor effects by inducing G2/M phase arrest,with increased G2 phase cell numbers in the LoVo treatment group compared to the control(P<0.05).Wound healing and Transwell migration assays confirmed that Atr-Ⅰ significantly inhibited tumor cell migration and invasion(P<0.05,P<0.01).Western blot analysis demonstra-ted that Atr-Ⅰ specifically suppressed the expression of c-Myc and Bcl-2(P<0.05),as well as cell cycle-related proteins CDK1,Cyclin B1,and Cyclin D1(P<0.05),and angiogenesis-related proteins VEGF and MMP9(P<0.05).Additionally,Atr-Ⅰ down-regulated EMT-related protein N-cadherin and upregulated E-cadherin expression(P<0.05).It also reduced the expression of p-AKT and p-S6K1(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Atr-Ⅰ exhibits potent anti-tumor effects against colorectal cancer,potentially through modulation of the AKT/S6K1 signaling pathway.

The intestinal mucosal barrier plays a pivotal role in both innate and adaptive immune regulation.Its integrity is essential for maintaining overall health,as it acts as a critical interface between the luminal contents and the host immune system.MicroRNAs(miRNAs),which are small noncoding RNAs,function as potent genetic regulators by interacting with multiple target genes to modulate entire cellular pathways.Recent studies have demon-strated that miRNAs are intricately involved in regulating the function of the intestinal mucosal barrier.This review examines the role of miRNAs in the intestinal mucosal barrier,encompassing their mechanisms,relevant clinical research findings,and potential directions for future investigation,to elucidate the potential value of miRNAs in the pathogenesis,diagnosis,and treatment of related diseases.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pharmacological efficacy and mechanism of action of Atractylenolide Ⅰ(Atr-Ⅰ)in inhibiting colorectal cancer.METHODS Among three active compounds of Atractylodes macrocephala,Atr-Ⅰ exhibited the highest anti-tumor potency by MTT assay.The optimal concentration of Atr-Ⅰ was determined.The effect of Atr-Ⅰ on LoVo cell prolifera-tion was assessed via a clonogenic assay,while its impact on apoptosis and cell cycle progression was evaluated using flow cytometry.The influence of Atr-Ⅰ on the migration and invasion of LoVo cell line was examined through wound healing and Transwell migration assays.Western blot analysis was performed to explore the effects and mechanisms of Atr-Ⅰ on proteins associated with mi-gration,proliferation,and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in LoVo cells.The CT26 mouse subcutaneous tumor model was established,and histopathological analysis was conducted using hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Western blot was also used to assess the effects of Atr-Ⅰ on EMT-related proteins in mouse tissues to elucidate underlying mechanisms.RESULTS Atr-Ⅰ significantly reduced colorectal cancer cell viability,with statistically significant differences between treatment and control groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Atr-Ⅰ induced apoptosis in LoVo cells,with the treatment group showing significant differences compared to the control(P<0.05,P<0.01).Cell cycle analysis revealed that Atr-Ⅰ exerted anti-tumor effects by inducing G2/M phase arrest,with increased G2 phase cell numbers in the LoVo treatment group compared to the control(P<0.05).Wound healing and Transwell migration assays confirmed that Atr-Ⅰ significantly inhibited tumor cell migration and invasion(P<0.05,P<0.01).Western blot analysis demonstra-ted that Atr-Ⅰ specifically suppressed the expression of c-Myc and Bcl-2(P<0.05),as well as cell cycle-related proteins CDK1,Cyclin B1,and Cyclin D1(P<0.05),and angiogenesis-related proteins VEGF and MMP9(P<0.05).Additionally,Atr-Ⅰ down-regulated EMT-related protein N-cadherin and upregulated E-cadherin expression(P<0.05).It also reduced the expression of p-AKT and p-S6K1(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Atr-Ⅰ exhibits potent anti-tumor effects against colorectal cancer,potentially through modulation of the AKT/S6K1 signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the diagnosis，therapeutic strategy and early prognosis of Scimitar syndrome in pediatric patients.Methods:Clinical data of 21 children with Scimitar syndrome admitted to the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 2014 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed，and divided into 11 cases in the infantile-type group and 10 cases in the adult-type group.Results:Twenty-one children with Scimitar syndrome，10 males and 11 females，aged 5 days to 10 years old. Compared with the adult-type group，the infant-type group had a high proportion of preoperative clinical symptoms( P<0.05)，a high concomitant rate of intracardiac malformations (100% vs. 40%， P=0.002)，a big size of aortopulmonary collateral(APC)[(0.77±0.25) mm/kg vs.(0.36±0.13) mm/kg， P=0.016]，a high incidence of pulmonary hypertension(91.0% vs. 50.0%， P=0.038), and a high proportion of severe pulmonary hypertension(50 % vs. 0). There was a high rate of postoperative complications of low cardiac output syndrome (36.4% vs. 0， P=0.034)，prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation [(73.22±44.75) h vs. (19.5±12.79) h， P=0.007]，and prolonged length of ICU stay[(7.89±3.37) d vs. (2.50±1.26) d， P<0.001]. Eleven cases underwent surgical treatment only，and 10 cases received hybrid operation with APC occlusion. The survival rate of the whole group was 90.5%，and there was no case of pulmonary venous obstruction in the early postoperative period. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure/systolic artery pressure decreased significantly after surgery in 15 children with pulmonary arterial hypertension( P<0.01).Five cases in the infantile-type group still had pulmonary hypertension. Conclusion:Surgical effect of Scimitar syndrome in pediatric patients is satisfactory. Infants with Scimitar syndrome usually have more severe symptoms, higher incidence of severe pulmonary hypertension and relatively longer postoperative recovery time.

BackgroundDementia seriously affects the quality of life and lifespan of elderly people， with Alzheimer's disease （AD） being the most common type of dementia. Previous studies have suggested that gout may reduce the risk of developing AD， but the causal relationship between the two still requires further research. ObjectiveTo investigate the potential causal relationship between gout and AD through a two-sample Mendelian randomization （MR） analysis， so as to provide references for the prevention and treatment of AD. MethodsData from Genome-Wide Association Studies （GWAS） extracted in 2024 were analyzed， using pooled data on gout （6 810 cases in the case group and 477 788 cases in the control group） published by UK Biobank in 2021 as the exposure variable， and data on AD （3 899 cases in the case group and 214 893 cases in the control group） published by FinnGen in the same year as the outcome variable. The inverse-variance weighted， MR-Egger regression， weighted median estimation， simple model and weighted model were used to analyze the potential causal relationship between gout and AD. Pleiotropic effects were assessed using MR-Egger regression. Heterogeneity assessment was conducted using Cochran's Q test. The leave-one-out analysis was carried out for sensitivity analysis. And a funnel plot was drawn to detect potential publication bias. ResultsThe inverse-variance weighted analysis demonstrated a negative causal relationship between gout and AD （OR=0.004， 95% CI： 0~0.700， P<0.05）. The plot resembled a symmetrical inversed funnel， indicating the absence of publication bias. No heterogeneity was detected by Cochran's Q test. The MR-Egger regression indicated no significant horizontal pleiotropy. Concerning the reverse directions， no significant associations between AD and gout were noted. ConclusionThere is a negative causal relationship between gout and AD， with gout potentially reducing the risk of developing AD. ［Funded by The Third Batch of Social Welfare and Basic Research Projects （Medical and Health） of Zhongshan City in 2022 （number， 2022B3017）］

Background Environmental metal exposure is closely associated with the onset and progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly. Effectively identifying hazardous metal exposure and assessing their interaction effects have significant public health implications. Objective To explore the relationship between urinary single metal and metal mixture exposure and MCI in elderly compound residents. Methods This study included 391 elderly individuals aged 60 and above from residential compounds in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province. Concentrations of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), cobalt (Co), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in urine were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cognitive function in the elderly was assessed using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between single metal exposure level and MCI. LASSO regression and multi-metal logistic regression models were used to identify key metal ions associated with MCI. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was employed to analyze the relationship between key metal ion mixtures and MCI, as well as the interactions between metals. Age, gender, education level, occupation, and body mass index were adjusted as covariates. Results A total of 78 among the 391 elderly individuals surveyed (19.94%) were diagnosed with MCI (MCI group), and the other 313 individuals were controls. The levels of Se, Cd, Mn, and As in the urine of the MCI group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In the single-metal model, after adjusting for covariates and using the first quartile (Q₁) of each metal concentration as the reference, the OR for MCI in the elderly in the Q₄ group of Se was 2.190 (95%CI: 1.017, 4.716); for Cd, the OR was 2.345 (95%CI: 1.041, 5.283) in the Q₃ group and 2.371 (95%CI: 1.043, 5.393) in the Q₄ group; for Mn, the OR was 2.355 (95%CI: 1.038, 5.344) in the Q₂ group; for As, the OR was 3.377 (95%CI: 1.442, 7.908) in the Q₃ group and 2.886 (95%CI: 1.227, 6.788) in the Q₄ group; for Sb, the OR was 2.779 (95%CI: 1.234, 6.257) in the Q₂ group. When urinary metal concentrations were ln-transformed and included as continuous variables in the single-metal model, Cd concentration was positively correlated with MCI (OR=1.377; 95%CI: 1.008, 1.882; P=0.044). Cd, Se, Mg, Ca, Mn, As, Cr, Co, Tl, and Sb were selected by the LASSO regression model and included in the multi-metal model. In the multi-metal model, compared with Q₁, the OR for MCI in the elderly was 0.395 (95%CI: 0.164, 0.953) in the Q₂ group of Co and 0.390(95%CI: 0.167，0.911) in the Q₃ group of Co; for Mn, the OR in the Q₂ group was 2.636 (95%CI: 1.053, 6.596); for Sb, the OR in the Q₂ group was 2.640 (95%CI: 1.047, 6.658). As continuous variables, Mg (OR=0.472; 95%CI: 0.248, 0.899; P=0.022) and Co (OR=0.857; 95%CI: 0.737, 0.996; P=0.044) concentrations were negatively correlated with MCI. The BKMR mixture analysis suggested that Mg and Co exhibited a synergistic negative correlation with MCI, while Mn and Sb exhibited a synergistic positive correlation with MCI. Mg and Co attenuated the positive correlation of Mn and Sb with MCI, whereas Mn weakened the protective effects of Mg and Co. Conclusion Elevated levels of Se, Cd, As, Mn, and Sb in urine may increase the risk of MCI in the elderly, while Mg and Co have protective effects. Potential synergistic or antagonistic interactions may be found among Mn, Sb, Mg, and Co, which should not be overlooked in terms of their impact on the cognitive function of the elderly.

Forensic microbiology,a pivotal discipline within forensic science,focuses on microorganisms as the primary subject of study and applies life science technologies to analyze microbial evidence in criminal and civil investigations.Tissue source inference plays a crucial role in forensic investigations,facilitating case assessment and crime scene reconstruction.The application of microbiome analysis in tissue source inference benefits from the tissue specificity and spatiotemporal stability of human microbial communities.This article provides a systematic review of recent advances in tissue source inference based on microbiome analysis,covering technological development,research trends,and practical applications.Finally,the challenges confronted in practice in forensic microbiology and the future prospects for its development are summarized.

Computational approaches,encompassing both physics-based and machine learning(ML)methodolo-gies,have gained substantial traction in drug repurposing efforts targeting specific therapeutic entities.The human dopamine(DA)transporter(hDAT)is the primary therapeutic target of numerous psychi-atric medications.However,traditional hDAT-targeting drugs,which interact with the primary binding site,encounter significant limitations,including addictive potential and stimulant effects.In this study,we propose an integrated workflow combining virtual screening based on weighted holistic atom localization and entity shape(WHALES)descriptors with in vitro experimental validation to repurpose novel hDAT-targeting drugs.Initially,WHALES descriptors facilitated a similarity search,employing four benztropine-like atypical inhibitors known to bind hDAT's allosteric site as templates.Consequently,from a compound library of 4,921 marketed and clinically tested drugs,we identified 27 candidate atypical inhibitors.Subsequently,ADMETlab was employed to predict the pharmacokinetic and toxi-cological properties of these candidates,while induced-fit docking(IFD)was performed to estimate their binding affinities.Six compounds were selected for in vitro assessments of neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitory activities.Among these,three exhibited significant inhibitory potency,with half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)values of 0.753 μM,0.542 μM,and 1.210 μM,respectively.Finally,molecular dynamics(MD)simulations and end-point binding free energy analyses were con-ducted to elucidate and confirm the inhibitory mechanisms of the repurposed drugs against hDAT in its inward-open conformation.In conclusion,our study not only identifies promising active compounds as potential atypical inhibitors for novel therapeutic drug development targeting hDAT but also validates the effectiveness of our integrated computational and experimental workflow for drug repurposing.