BACKGROUND:Radiotherapy for head and neck tumors is very likely to cause radiation-induced oral mucositis,which seriously affects the health of patients and the treatment plan of tumors.Mesenchymal stem cells have shown therapeutic potential in many diseases,and exosomes are one of the important factors for their function.At present,there is no application of adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in the study of radiation-induced oral mucositis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in radiation-induced oral mucositis. METHODS:Adipose mesenchymal stem cells and adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes were extracted and identified.In vitro model of radiation-induced oral mucositis was induced by radiating oral mucosal epithelial cells with 3 Gy X-ray.Adipose mesenchymal stem cells or adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes were pretreated for 48 hours before modeling.The proliferation capacity of oral mucosal epithelial cells was detected by EdU assay and clonal formation assay.A mouse model of radiation-induced oral mucositis was constructed through 3 Gy X-ray radiation.Adipose mesenchymal stem cells and adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes were injected into the tail vein of radiation-induced oral mucositis mice.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the inflammatory changes of oral mucosal epithelial tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the control group,both adipose mesenchymal stem cells and adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promoted the formation of oral epithelial cell clones and increased the positive rate of EdU in oral epithelial cells.(2)Both adipose mesenchymal stem cells and adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes alleviated the inflammation of oral mucosal epithelium of irradiated mice;CD45 positive cells decreased and PCNA positive cells increased in oral mucosal epithelium.It is concluded that adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promote the proliferation of oral mucosal epithelial cells and release oral mucosal inflammation in mice with radiation-induced oral mucositis.

Objective To investigate the regulatory role of the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling on the subtypes and functions of natural killer (NK) cells at the maternal-fetal interface during the second trimester in mice following Toxoplasma gondii infection during the first trimester. Methods Twelve 6- to 8-week-old female mice of the C57BL/6J strain were divided into a control group and an infection group, of 6 mice in each group. On the 6.5th day of pregnancy (Gd6.5), each pregnant mouse in the infection group was intraperitoneally injected with 150 tachyzoites of the Toxoplasma gondii PRU strain, while mice in the control group were injected with an equal volume of physiological saline. On the 12.5th day of pregnancy (Gd12.5), uterus and placenta tissues were sampled from pregnant mice for pathological observations, and the mRNA expression levels of PD-1, PD-L1, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were quantified in uterus and placenta tissues. The PD-1 and DX5 expression was measured on NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface using flow cytometry. In addition, the in vitro JEG-3 trophoblast cells and NK-92MI cells co-culture system was established as the control group, and the addition of T. gondii tachyzoites in the co-culture system served as the infection group. The PD-1, PD-L1, and DX5 mRNA expression was quantified in cells using real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay, and the TNF-α concentration was measured in the cell culture supernatant using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results On Gd12.5, clear and intact cellular structures of placental decidual tissues were seen in pregnant mice in the control group, with no remarkable abnormal changes found in the uterine columnar epithelial cells, and inflammatory cell infiltration and blood stasis at varying degrees were found in uterine and placental tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was (1.004 ± 0.004), (1.001 ± 0.001), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the control group and (2.480 ± 0.720), (3.355 ± 0.920), and (2.391 ± 0.073) in the infection group, respectively. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was (1.007 ± 0.010), (1.006 ± 0.006), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in the uterine tissues in the control group and (6.948 ± 1.918), (3.225 ± 1.034), and (1.536 ± 0.150) in the infection group, respectively. The relative PD-1, PD-L1, and TNF-α mRNA expression was higher in both the uterine (t = 3.55, 4.43 and 33.02, all P values < 0.05) and placental tissues (t = 5.36, 3.72 and 6.18, all P values < 0.05) in the infection group than in the control group. Flow cytometry showed that the proportions of PD-1⁺ NK cells, PD-1⁺ DX5⁺ NK cells, and DX5⁺ NK cells were (12.200 ± 1.082)%, (9.373 ± 7.728)%, and (44.000 ± 4.095)% in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the control group, and (21.733 ± 1.630)%, (18.767 ± 1.242)%, and (73.367 ± 0.611)% in the infection group, respectively. The proportions of PD-1⁺ NK cells, PD-1⁺ DX5⁺ NK cells, and DX5⁺ NK cells were (1.100 ± 0.510)%, (2.277 ± 1.337)%, and (96.167 ± 2.831)% in placental tissues from mice in the control group, and (26.867 ± 9.722)%, (23.433 ± 6.983)%, and (82.467 ± 2.248)% in the infection group, respectively. The proportions of PD-1⁺ NK cells (t = 8.45, P < 0.05) and DX5⁺ NK cells (t = 12.29, P < 0.05) were higher in uterine tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group than in the control group, and no significant difference was seen in the proportion of PD-1⁺ DX5⁺ NK cells (Z = -1.09, P > 0.05). The proportions of PD-1⁺ NK cells (t = 4.58, P < 0.05) and PD-1⁺ DX5⁺ NK cells (t = 5.15, P < 0.05) were higher in placental tissues from pregnant mice in the infection group than in the control group, while the proportion of DX5⁺ NK cells was lower in the infection group than in the control group (t = -6.56, P < 0.05). RT-qPCR assay revealed that the relative PD-1, PD-L1, and DX5 mRNA expression was (1.010 ± 0.005), (1.002 ± 0.003), and (1.001 ± 0.001) in the JEG-3 cells and NK92MI cells co-culture system and (3.638 ± 1.258), (0.397 ± 0.158), and (4.267 ± 1.750) in the control group, and ELISA measured that the TNF-α concentration was higher in the cell culture supernatant in the infection group [(22.056 ± 3.205) pg/mL] than in the control group [(12.441 ± 0.001) pg/mL] (t = 5.20, P < 0.05). The PD-1(t = 3.62, P < 0.05) and DX5 mRNA expression (t = 3.23, P < 0.05) was higher in the infection group than in the control group, and the PD-L1 mRNA expression was lower in the infection group than in the control group (t = -6.63, P < 0.05). Conclusions Following T. gondii infection, both PD-L1 expression and PD-1 expression on DX5⁺ NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface are upregulated in mice during the second trimester; however, the proportion of DX5⁺ NK cells decreases. These findings suggest that PD-1/PD-L1 signaling may suppress NK cell functions by modulating DX5⁺ NK cell subsets.

Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of antibody against Toxoplasma gondii among patients with hematological malignancies, and compare it with that among health individuals, so as to provide insights into unraveling the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies. Methods A total of 225 patients with hematological malignancies in Department of Hematology, Xuzhou Central Hospital and 300 healthy individuals in the same hospital were enrolled from 2017 to 2024. Blood samples were collected from all subjects, and the serum IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were detected using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Demographic and clinical features were collected from patients with hematological malignancies, including gender, age, contact with cats, consumption of raw or undercooked meat, type of malignancy, clinical symptoms, blood transfusion and treatment, and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody was compared among patients with different characteristics. Results The age (t = 0.72, P > 0.05) and gender (χ² = 0.93, P > 0.05) were compared between patients with hematological malignancies and healthy individuals. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 20.89% among patients with hematological malignancies and 4.33% among healthy individuals (χ² = 34.81, P < 0.01), and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was 20.89% among patients with hematological malignancies and 4.33% among healthy individuals (χ² = 34.81, P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody between patients with hematological malignancies and healthy individuals (1.33% vs. 0; corrected χ² = 2.02, P > 0.05). The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 23.08% among patients with leukemia, 16.67% among patients with lymphoma, 19.23% among patients with multiple myeloma, 24.00% among patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm, and 26.09% among patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (χ² = 1.44, P > 0.05), and was all higher than among healthy individuals (corrected χ² = 23.92, 10.74, 13.76, 12.84 and 14.54; all P values < 0.01). In addition, there were no significant differences in the detection of anti-T. gondii antibody among patients with hematological malignancies in terms of gender, age, contact with cats, consumption of raw or undercooked meat, chemotherapy or blood transfusion (χ² = 0.76, 1.97, 0, 2.81, 2.38 and 0.66; all P values > 0.05). Conclusions There is a high risk of T. gondii infection among patients with hematological malignancies, and intensified surveillance of T. gondii infection is recommended among patients with hematological malignancies.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the correlation of the peak blood concentration （cmax） of compound sulfamethoxazole （TMP/SMZ） and its metabolite N-acetyl sulfamethoxazole （NSMZ） with clinical efficacy and adverse reactions in critically ill patients. METHODS The data of critically ill patients treated with TMP/SMZ in various ICU of Hainan General Hospital from December 2023 to January 2025 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into success group and failure group based on the treatment outcome. Simple linear regression and Spearman correlation analysis were used to analyze the correlation of TMP cmax， SMZ cmax， and NSMZ cmax with clinical efficacy and adverse reactions. The receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC） was used to determine the cutoff values of cmax for predicting the occurrence of adverse reactions. RESULTS Among critically ill patients with an acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ （APACHE-Ⅱ） ≥15 points 24 h of check-in at ICU， SMZ cmax of success group was significantly higher than failure group （P＜0.05）. The daily total dose of TMP/SMZ was positively correlated with TMP cmax and SMZ cmax（ P＜0.05）. TMP cmax was significantly correlated with hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity， SMZ cmax with hepatotoxicity， and NSMZ cmax with nephrotoxicity （P＜0.05）. The cutoff values of TMP cmax for predicting nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity were 7.25 μg/mL and 6.63 μg/mL， respectively. The cutoff value of SMZ cmax for predicting hepatotoxicity was 138.00 μg/mL， and that of NSMZ cmax for predicting nephrotoxicity was 60.76 μg/mL. CONCLUSIONS Among critically ill patients with an APACHE-Ⅱ ≥15 points 24 h of check-in at ICU， SMZ cmax is associated with treatment success. Hepatotoxicity risk significantly increases when TMP cmax ≥6.63 μg/mL or SMZ cmax ≥138.00 μg/mL； nephrotoxicity risk significantly increases when TMP cmax ≥7.25 μg/mL or NSMZ cmax ≥60.76 μg/mL.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban in the treatment of branch atheromatous disease(BAD)in elderly patients.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 215 elderly BAD patients admitted to our department from June 2021 to June 2023.According to their treatment,they were divided into tirofiban group 1(55 cases)and control group 1(160 ca-ses).Using propensity score matching in a ratio of 1∶1 algorithm for adjustment,the differences in baseline features between the two groups were eliminated,and there were finally 53 cases in the tirofiban group 2 and 53 cases in the control group 2 after matching.The NIHSS scores before treatment and at 24 h and 7 d after treatment were collected.All of them were followed up for 90 d,and modified Rankin scale(mRS)was applied to evaluate the prognosis.Results The tirofiban group 1 had significantly lower NIHSS score at 24 h and 7 d after treatment and shorter length of hospital stay than the control group 1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),so were in the tirofiban group 2 than the control group[3(1,4)vs 3(2,6),1(0,3)vs 1(1,4),8(6,10)d vs 9(8,11)d,P＜0.05].The proportion of mRS score ≤1 was obviously larger in the tirofiban group 1 than the control group 1(P＜0.01).The tirofiban group 2 obtained notably larger proportions of mRS score≤1 and≤2(71.7％vs 43.4％,P=0.003;79.2％vs 60.4％,P=0.034),and smaller proportion of mRS≥4(5.7％vs 20.8％,P=0.045)when compared with the control group 2.Logistic regression analysis indicated that in the patients without diabetes and those non-smoking,tirofiban was associated with increased good outcomes(OR=0.266,95％CI:0.090-0.788,P=0.017;OR=0.341,95％CI:0.107-0.931,P=0.046).Conclusion Tirofiban may effectively improve the clinical outcomes in the elderly BAD patients.But further randomized controlled trials are needed for verification.

Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(VLCAD)on prolifera-tion,invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.Methods:The expression levels of VLCAD and glucose trans-porter 1(GLUT1)in human normal oral epithelial cell line(HOEC cells)and human oral squamous cell carcinoma line(SCC25 cells)were determined by Western blot,and the expression levels of VLCAD and GLUT1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and their correlation with pathological stages and prognosis were analyzed in the TCGA database.SCC25 cell lines with VLCAD over-expression and knockdown were constructed and the expression level of VLCAD and GLUT1,cell proliferation,migration,invasion ability,lactate dehydrogenase content and lactate production level were detected respectively.Results:The expression level of VL-CAD in SCC25 cells was significantly lower than that in HOEC cells.The expression level of GLUT1 in SCC25 cells was significantly higher than that in HOEC cells.There was a significant negative correlation between the two expression levels(P＜0.05).VLCAD overexpression significantly inhibited GLUT1 expression and aerobic glycolysis in SCC25 cells,and also inhibited cell proliferation,migration and invasion.VLCAD knockdown effectively reversed the antitumor effects of overexpression mediated by VLCAD(P＜0.05).Conclusion:VLCAD inhibits proliferation,invasion,and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma SCC25 cells by down-regulating GLUT1 and inhibiting its mediated aerobic glycolysis.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of lenalidomide combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone in the treatment of multiple myeloma(MM)and their effects on heat shock protein 90(HSP90)mRNA,miR-28-5p,anti-tartrate acid phosphatase 5b(TRACP-5b)and high mobility group protein B1(HMGB1).Methods Eighty patients with newly diagnosed MM were selected and divided into the two-combination group(40 patients treated with bortezomib and dexamethasone)and the three-combination group(40 patients treated with bortezomib and dexamethasone combined with lenalidomide)according to the treatment modalities.Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect HSP90 mRNA and miR-28-5p levels.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect TRACP-5b and HMGB1 levels.The clinical efficacy of the 2 groups was compared.Levels of HSP90 mRNA,miR-28-5p,TRACP-5b,HMGB1,the immune cell function,renal function indexes and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared before and after treatment.Results The total effective rate of the three-combination group was higher than that of the two-combination groups(92.50%vs.75.00%,P＜0.05).Compared with the pretreatment,the levels of HSP90 mRNA,TRACP-5b,blood creatinine(SCr),and urea nitrogen(BUN)decreased in the 2 groups after treatment,and which was lower in the three-combination group than that in the two-combination groups.The levels of miR-28-5p,HMGB1,CD4+,CD3+and CD4+/CD8+were elevated in the 2 groups,and the levels were higher in the three-combination group than those in the two-combination group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups.Conclusion Lenalidomide combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone is clinically effective,safe and reliable in the treatment of MM.

Objective To develop a 3D visualization endoscopic navigation system based on CT portal angiography (CTPA) and explore its clinical value in assisting precise treatment of esophageal and gastric varices (EGV). Methods Patients with EGV needing treatment in the Department of Gastroenterology of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from September 2021 to April 2023 were collected. Preoperative examinations including CTPA and hematological examinations were performed, and a 3D visualization endoscopic navigation system was developed to assist endoscopic treatment. Real time comparison was made between the endoscopic 3D portal vein system image reconstructed by intelligent imaging and the actual endoscopic observation of the vascular morphology inside the cavity. The responsible blood vessels that are prone to bleeding were embolized using a sandwich injection method of “lauromacrogol+tissue adhesive+lauromacrogol”. For patients with portal shunting, ultrasound-guided coil insertion was performed. Postoperative endoscopic ultrasound or CTPA was used reexamination to evaluate vascular embolism and complications. Results A total of 13 patients successfully underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided variceal embolization. The average maximum inner diameter of target veins was (3.3\begin{document}$ \pm $\end{document}1.3) cm; on average, implanted coil number was 1(0,2) in each patient, with median dosages of lauromacrogol and tissue adhesive were 9.5(7.8,10.0) mL and 1.5(1.0,2.1) mL respectively. Postoperatively, endoscopic ultrasound detecting confirmed complete occlusion of all target veins. At 8 weeks after treatment, none of the patients experienced rebleeding. At 24 weeks after treatment, rebleeding occurred in 3 patients, on postoperative days 107, 126 and 147, respectively. Conclusion The 3D visualization endoscopic navigation system based on CTPA can effectively and safely assist preoperative diagnosis and intraoperative localization of target blood vessels, which is beneficial for the precise treatment of EGV patients.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis, impacting the efficacy of endoscopic treatment for esophagogastric varices (EGV) by exacerbating portal hypertension and altering hemodynamics and coagulation function. This paper systematically reviews the pathogenesis of PVT, and its impact on the efficacy of endoscopic therapy for EGV. PVT is closely associated with early hemostatic failure post-endoscopic treatment, elevated rebleeding rate, and elevated long-term mortality. Although anticoagulation therapy facilitates partial thrombus recanalization and reduces portal pressure, its combination with endoscopic treatment requires careful consideration of the bleeding risk. Current clinical practice necessitates optimization of combined therapeutic strategies integrating anticoagulation and endoscopic treatment, complemented by personalized treatment approaches, to improve clinical outcomes.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2％)and gram-negative organisms(60.8％).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6％,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0％,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9％,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1％,19.4％,8.8％,30.9％,67.4％,and 28.8％,respectively.Overall,more than 50％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80％of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3％in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.