The extracellular matrix provides a unique tissue-specific microenvironment for resident cells, supporting the essential functions required for tissue architecture and biochemical signaling. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is designed to eliminate cells that mediate immunological rejection while preserving the native tissue structure and matrix functionality. dECM has attracted significant attention in tissue engineering applications and has evolved into a novel and increasingly sophisticated biomaterial. This article summarizes representative protocols for decellularization methods, explores the latest applications of decellularized tissue-derived materials and bioinks in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, analyzes the current challenges and issues confronting dECM, and discusses future perspectives for its development.

In cases where a tracheal injury exceeds half the length of the adult trachea or one-third of the length of the child trachea, it becomes difficult to perform end-to-end anastomosis after tracheal resection due to excessive tension at the anastomosis site. In such cases, tracheal replacement therapy is required. Advances in tissue engineering technology have led to the development of tissue engineering tracheal substitutes, which have promising applications. Hydrogels, which are highly hydrated and possess a good three-dimensional network structure, biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, biodegradability, and modifiability, have had wide applications in the field of tissue engineering. This article provides a review of the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and effects of various hydrogels commonly used in tissue engineering trachea in recent years. Additionally, the article discusses and offers prospects for the future application of hydrogels in the field of tissue engineering trachea.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the first cohort of people in China treated with a responsive neurostimulation system (Epilcure TM , GenLight MedTech, Hangzhou, China) for focal drug-resistant epilepsy in this study. METHODS: This multicenter, before-and-after self-controlled study was conducted across 8 centers from March 2022 to June 2023, involving patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who were undergoing responsive neurostimulation (RNS). The study was based on an ongoing multi-center, single-blind, randomized controlled study. Efficacy was assessed through metrics including median seizure count, seizure frequency reduction (SFR), and response rate. Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationships of basic clinical factors and intracranial electrophysiological characteristics with SFR. The postoperative quality of life, cognitive function, depression, and anxiety were evaluated as well. RESULTS: The follow-up period for the 19 participants was 10.7 ± 3.4 months. Seizure counts decreased significantly 6 months after device activation, with median SFR of 48% at the 6th month (M6) and 58% at M12 ( P  <0.05). The average response rate after 13 months of treatment was 42%, with 21% ( n  = 4) of the participants achieving seizure freedom. Patients who have previously undergone resective surgery appear to achieve better therapeutic outcomes at M11, M12 and M13 ( β  <0, P  <0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in patients' scores of quality of life, cognition, depression and anxiety following stimulation when compared to baseline measurements. No serious adverse events related to the devices were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings suggest that Epilcure TM exhibits promising therapeutic potential in reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures. However, to further validate its efficacy, larger-scale randomized controlled trials are required. REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2200055247).
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Drug Resistant Epilepsy/therapy* ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; China ; Adolescent ; Treatment Outcome ; Quality of Life ; Single-Blind Method ; Seizures ; Electric Stimulation Therapy/methods*

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide. Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) accounts for up to a third of these cases, and neuro-inflammation is thought to play a role in such cases. Despite being a long-debated issue in the field of DRE, the mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation have yet to be fully elucidated. The pro-inflammatory microenvironment within the brain tissue of people with DRE has been probed using single-cell multimodal transcriptomics. Evidence suggests that inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the nervous system can lead to extensive biochemical changes, such as connexin hemichannel excitability and disruption of neurotransmitter homeostasis. The presence of inflammation may give rise to neuronal network abnormalities that suppress endogenous antiepileptic systems. We focus on the role of neuroinflammation and brain network anomalies in DRE from multiple perspectives to identify critical points for clinical application. We hope to provide an insightful overview to advance the quest for better DRE treatments.
Humans ; Drug Resistant Epilepsy/metabolism* ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/immunology* ; Animals ; Brain/pathology* ; Nerve Net/pathology*

Objective To analyze the current research application status and hotspots of nanoparticles in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and predict the future development trend. Methods The Web of Science database was searched for literatures on nanoparticles use in the treatment of NSCLC from inception to November 2022. CiteSpace, VOSviewer and literature measurement analysis online platform (https://bibliometric.com/) were used for the visual analysis of the number of documents, source journals, authors, organizations, countries and keywords. Results A total of 742 English literatures were included. The results showed that the number of published literatures increased year by year from 2011 and reached the peak in 2020. Researches on nanoparticles and NSCLC treatment were mainly concentrated in China, the United States, India and Japan. China is a major research country in this field, but it lacked cooperation with other countries and related institutions. Among numerous research institutions, the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the authoritative and backbone force in this research field, with the number of published literatures ranking first and the research achievements outstanding. The keyword analysis found that "poly lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles (PLGA NPs)" and "photothermal therapy" had become the latest breakout words since 2018. Moreover, the occurrence frequency of related keywords such as "drug delivery" increased significantly, indicating that the application of PLGA NPs in photothermal therapy might be the current research hotspot and future development trend of NSCLC treatment. Conclusion Currently, the domestic research on the treatment of nanoparticles and NSCLC is in a leading position in the world. The organic combination of nanoparticles with different materials and other NSCLC therapies is expected to improve the prognosis of NSCLC patients. In the future, attempts to develop nanoparticles with different sources and structures and combined with photothermal therapy for the treatment of NSCLC may become a research hotspot of nanoparticles in the treatment of NSCLC.

Objective:To construct a leadership evaluation indicator system for managers in primary healthcare institutions.Methods:This study was a qualitative research. Based on the Chinese Academy of Sciences′ Five Forces Model of Leadership, the framework of the leadership evaluation indicator system for primary healthcare institution managers was initially constructed through literature review, expert interviews, surveys, and group discussions. From November 2020 to June 2021, 19 experts were invited to participate in two rounds of Delphi expert consultations. Based on the consultation results, the leadership evaluation indicator system for primary healthcare institution managers was developed, and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to determine the weight of each indicator.Results:Nineteen consulting experts were included in the study, 13 of whom were aged 40 years or older, and seven of whom had 20 years or more of professional experience. The response rates of the two rounds of Delphi expert consultation questionnaires were 18/19 and 19/19, respectively; the authority coefficients of the experts were 0.92 and 0.91, respectively. In the second round of consultation, the coordination coefficients of each level of indicators were 0.640, 0.557, and 0.512 ( P<0.05), respectively. The constructed leadership indicator system for managers of primary healthcare institutions included five primary indicators, 16 secondary indicators, and 44 tertiary indicators. The primary indicators, in order of their weight, were "influence"(0.299),"decisiveness"(0.245),"control"(0.156),"inspiration"(0.150), and "foresight"(0.150). Conclusions:This study is a preliminary construction of a leadership evaluation indicator system for managers of primary healthcare institutions, which can be a reference for the training and evaluation of relevant talents.

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of a questionnaire assessing the leadership qualities of primary healthcare institution managers, and to further clarify the current state of leadership development among management teams of community health service centers in Shanghai.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional survey. It was conducted from August to December 2021, and used a stratified sampling method. Using a self-developed questionnaire for primary healthcare institution managers, we surveyed 279 individuals from 10 community health service centers in Shanghai, including management teams, middle-level cadres, general practitioners, and staff from health administrative departments in their respective districts. Leadership qualities were evaluated on five dimensions: inspiration, decisiveness, control, influence, and foresight. Cronbach′s α coefficient and split half coefficient were used to analyze the reliability of the questionnaire, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the structural validity of the scale.Results:The overall Cronbach′s α reliability of the questionnaire for the comprehensive management of community health service centers was 0.96, and the Spearman-Brown split-half coefficient was 0.94. The validity analysis yielded a KMO value of 0.975, the RMSEA for factor analysis was 0.085, and the adaptation indexes all met the model adaptation conditions. Of the 279 participants, 174 were female (62.4%), 257 held a mid-level or higher professional title (92.1%). The overall leadership score of the community health service center management teams was (4.43±0.59), with the dimensions ranked from highest to lowest as follows: inspiration (4.52±0.55), decisiveness (4.46±0.62), control (4.44±0.60), influence (4.42±0.63), and foresight (4.32±0.69). The foresight score was significantly lower than the other four dimensions (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The questionnaire used to assess the leadership qualities of primary healthcare institution managers is reliable and valid. The development of leadership qualities among management teams of community health service centers in Shanghai is unbalanced, with foresight being the weakest dimension.

Objective:To investigate the current status of research on the construction of leadership indicator system in the medical field at home and abroad, and to analyze the characteristics of the indicator system therein.Methods:This was a bibliometric study. The group applied subject keywords to search relevant literature on the construction of leadership indicator system in the medical field at home and abroad on English websites PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Scopus and Chinese websites Baidu Academic, CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, with a time frame of 2016-2023. The basic characteristics of the literature, the theoretical framework of the research application and the research theme were extracted, and the content of the indicator system in the literature was reviewed and summarized.Results:A total of 21 literatures were included, including 7 Chinese literatures and 14 English literatures. Of these literatures, 10 focused on physician leadership, 5 on medical manager leadership, and 2 on general practitioner leadership. Among 16 research literatures, 9 informed the theoretical basis of leadership, and 4 literatures were applied research. Five main themes were identified: leadership studies of individual healthcare administrators, leadership development in healthcare, interest and attitudes of healthcare workers towards leadership learning, applications of leadership in healthcare, and the impact of leadership in healthcare on patients and healthcare organizations.Conclusions:At present, research on the construction of the leadership indicator system in the medical field presents is diverse, with differences in theoretical basis and content. The original and empirical research is still insufficient.