ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. The main risk factors associated with HCC include viral hepatitis (B and/or C), alcohol abuse, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which progressively advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately evolve into HCC. Surgical resection represents the most effective treatment for HCC, while recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, have provided improved treatment prospects for patients with unresectable HCC. However, the complex metabolic heterogeneity of HCC limits the therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic intermediates acyl-CoA not only provide energy and substrates for numerous biochemical reactions but also serve as donors for protein lysine acylation, a major class of post-translational modification (PTM). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lysine acylation and hepatocarcinogenesis is urgently needed. MethodsThe levels of protein lysine acylation and silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) expression levels in clinical HCC samples were analyzed by Western blot. Quantitative malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples were analyzed by antibody-based affinity enrichment coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining coupled with flow cytometry, and the ability of cells to migrate was assayed by Transwell assays. The enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was quantified. Transgenic mice with hepatic overexpression of SIRT5 were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and primary hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine. ResultsWestern blot analysis indicated that the expression level of SIRT5 was elevated in clinical samples from HCC patients, and the levels of lysine malonylation, glutarylation, and succinylation were significantly reduced in HCC tissues. Knockout of SIRT5 in MHCC-97H and MHCC-97L hepatoma cells suppressed cell proliferation, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples revealed significant enrichment in two major classes of biological processes: core energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, fatty acid beta oxidation) and detoxification and oxidative stress response (e.g., response to toxic substance, chemical carcinogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)). SIRT5 removes malonylation from lysine residues in GSTM1 and restores its detoxification activity, which is crucial for the survival of hepatocytes under stressed conditions. More importantly, in vivo experiment indicated that hepatic-specific overexpression of SIRT5 in mice accelerated diethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating the critical role of SIRT5 in HCC progression. ConclusionThis study highlights the previously unrecognized SIRT5-GSTM1 axis as a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis, and suggests a potential target for the treatment of patients with HCC.

Background and purpose:There are few studies on the quality of life after transanal total mesorectal excision(TaTME)for rectal cancer,and there is a lack of evidence-based research.This study aimed to evaluate the impact of TaTME in comparison to laparoscopic total mesorectal excision(LaTME)on postoperative quality of life in patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and pathological data from rectal cancer patients who underwent LaTME and TaTME between September 2019 and September 2022 at Renhe Hospital,Baoshan District,Shanghai,and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.All the patients completed a set of validated questionnaires one year postoperatively,including the EORCT QLQ-C30,Low Anterior Resection Syndrome(LARS)score,International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS),Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7),and Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9).Comparative analysis of these survey results was performed.The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Renhe Hospital,Baoshan District,Shanghai.The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology(STROBE)checklist was followed for this study.Results:A total of 39 patients in the TaTME group and 38 patients in the LaTME group were included.There were no statistically significant differences between two groups regarding demographic variables such as gender and age,as well as clinical factors including tumor distance from the anal verge,tumor stage,and preoperative neoadjuvant treatment protocols.Analysis of EORCT QLQ-C30 results indicated equivalent overall quality of life between the two groups;however,the TaTME group reported significantly more severe insomnia(P=0.020).No significant differences were observed in LARS severity or total scores between the groups,though the TaTME group demonstrated superior functional outcomes in terms of incontinence for liquid stools and clustering of stools(P=0.007,P=0.004).Additionally,both groups exhibited comparable results in IPSS,and levels of depression and anxiety.Conclusion:The findings suggest that TaTME and LaTME yield similar outcomes in terms of anal and urinary function,overall quality of life,and psychological health,indicating that it is a viable and safe alternative to LaTME in terms of postoperative quality of life.

To formulate an expert consensus on the principles of preoperative hair removal and provide scientific guidance for standardized removal of hair before surgical procedures so as to reduce the incidence of surgical site infections.METHODS Led by the Hospital Management Institute of National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China,this consensus was reached with the joint efforts from the expects of relevant fields such as surgeries,interventional therapies,nursing,and infection prevention and control.The consensus facilitates the classification and evaluation of literatures by following the evidence grade formulated by Oxford Evidence-based Medicine Center and focuses on the association of preoperative hair removal with surgical site infection,it reaches the evidence grade of expert consensus and recommendation intensity by integrating with discussions on meetings and clinical experience of the expects from relevant fields.RESULTS A total of 6 items of consensus were reached by summarizing the latest evidence on the aspects including the indications for preoperative hair removal,tools,range,timing and places.CONCLUSION The consensus,to some extent,make supplements to and complete the exiting regulations and standards.It provides guidance for the medical institutions to carry out the preoperative hair removal.

Aim To explore the mechanism of clar-ithromycin in treating inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)by inhibiting Kv1.3 channel protein in colonic epithelial cells.Methods A chronic IBD rat model was induced using dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)in vi-vo experiments,with clarithromycin intervention.The physical signs of each group of rats were observed,and the disease activity index(DAI)score and colonic mu-cosal damage index(CMDI)score were calculated.RT-qPCR was used to detect the levels of relevant cyto-kines in colonic tissue of rats.Flow cytometry was em-ployed to detect the relative proportions of immune cells in the peripheral blood and colonic tissue of each group of rats.Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)was used to establish an inflammation model of colon epithelial cells(NCM460)to clarify the inhibitory effect of clar-ithromycin on Kv1.3 channel protein.Results In vi-vo experiments:compared to the model group,the clar-ithromycin intervention group exhibited a reduced de-gree of weight loss(P＜0.01),and a significant de-crease in DAI scores(P＜0.01).There was an in-crease in colon length,a reduction in weight,and a de-crease in CMDI scores(P＜0.05).Levels of TNF-α,IL-1 β,and IL-6 in colon tissue were significantly re-duced(P＜0.01).The numbers of peripheral blood and colonic regulatory T lymphocytes(Th),cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL),natural killer cells(NK),B lym-phocytes(B),and dendritic cells(DC)were signifi-cantly decreased(P＜0.05).Clarithromycin reduced the expression of Kv1.3 channel protein in colon tissue(P＜0.05).In vitro experiments:compared to the model group,the clarithromycin group significantly pro-moted the proliferation of NCM460 cells(P＜0.01)and simultaneously significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in cells(P＜0.05).Clarithromycin also reduced the expression of Kv1.3 channel protein in NCM460 cells(P＜0.05).Conclusions Clar-ithromycin may play an immunomodulatory role by in-hibiting the expression of Kv1.3 channel protein,re-ducing inflammation in the body,and playing a role in the treatment of IBD.

Central nervous system(CNS)degenerative disorders refer to a spectrum of pathological alterations triggered by struc-tural damage to cerebral neural tissues,clinically manifested as diverse neurological dysfunction syndromes,including multiple sclerosis(MS),neurodegenerative diseases(NDs),and ische-mic stroke.The hallmark pathological features of these disorders involve irreversible neuronal damage and decompensation of functional neural networks,ultimately leading to progressive neurological deficits.Notably,with the accelerating global popu-lation aging,the incidence of these diseases has surged signifi-cantly.According to WHO statistics,they now rank among the top three global causes of disability and mortality.Current re-search has confirmed that the pathogenesis of CNS degenerative disorders exhibits high heterogeneity,encompassing multifaceted pathophysiological processes such as genetic predisposition,oxi-dative stress,protein misfolding,and metabolic dysregulation.This intricate pathogenic network not only complicates clinical differential diagnosis but also poses substantial challenges to the development of precision therapeutic strategies.Importantly,re-cent studies have revealed that mitochondrial homeostasis disrup-tion-induced inflammatory cascades(termed mitochondrial in-flammation)play a pivotal regulatory role in neurodegenerative progression.Key molecular mechanisms include impaired mito-phagy,aberrant mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)release and NL-RP3 inflammasome activation.This review systematically deci-phers the molecular regulatory network of mitochondrial inflam-mation,with a focus on its biological effects in critical pathologi-cal events such as blood-brain barrier disruption,microglial hy-peractivation and neuronal apoptosis.The overarching aim is to provide a theoretical foundation for developing innovative thera-peutic strategies targeting mitochondrial homeostasis restoration.

Background and purpose:There are few studies on the quality of life after transanal total mesorectal excision(TaTME)for rectal cancer,and there is a lack of evidence-based research.This study aimed to evaluate the impact of TaTME in comparison to laparoscopic total mesorectal excision(LaTME)on postoperative quality of life in patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and pathological data from rectal cancer patients who underwent LaTME and TaTME between September 2019 and September 2022 at Renhe Hospital,Baoshan District,Shanghai,and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.All the patients completed a set of validated questionnaires one year postoperatively,including the EORCT QLQ-C30,Low Anterior Resection Syndrome(LARS)score,International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS),Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7),and Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9).Comparative analysis of these survey results was performed.The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Renhe Hospital,Baoshan District,Shanghai.The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology(STROBE)checklist was followed for this study.Results:A total of 39 patients in the TaTME group and 38 patients in the LaTME group were included.There were no statistically significant differences between two groups regarding demographic variables such as gender and age,as well as clinical factors including tumor distance from the anal verge,tumor stage,and preoperative neoadjuvant treatment protocols.Analysis of EORCT QLQ-C30 results indicated equivalent overall quality of life between the two groups;however,the TaTME group reported significantly more severe insomnia(P=0.020).No significant differences were observed in LARS severity or total scores between the groups,though the TaTME group demonstrated superior functional outcomes in terms of incontinence for liquid stools and clustering of stools(P=0.007,P=0.004).Additionally,both groups exhibited comparable results in IPSS,and levels of depression and anxiety.Conclusion:The findings suggest that TaTME and LaTME yield similar outcomes in terms of anal and urinary function,overall quality of life,and psychological health,indicating that it is a viable and safe alternative to LaTME in terms of postoperative quality of life.

Objective:To investigate factors influencing 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax,T/MB ratio and Ki-67 expression in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL),to analyze their correlations with lymphoma aggressiveness and their potential advantages in predicting therapeutic efficacy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate correlations between tumor SUVmax,T/MB ratio,and Ki-67 expression with NHL aggressiveness and clinical characteristics in 99 patients;whether SUVmax,T/MB ratio and Ki-67 served as independent prognostic factors influencing therapeutic efficacy was examined,and potential utility of ΔSUVmax and ΔT/MB as biomarkers for treatment response assessment were evaluated.Results:Aggressive NHL demonstrated significantly higher SUVmax,T/MB ratio and Ki-67 level compared to indolent NHL and aggressive/indolent NHL(P<0.05).A pretreatment SUVmax≥9.05,T/MB≥5.115 or Ki-67≥55%could predict clinical remission in NHL patients post-treatment,while post-treatment reductions of ΔSUVmax≥22.65%or ΔT/MB≥34.85%were associated with achieved clinical remission.Conclusion:SUVmax,T/MB ratio and Ki-67 are closely associated with aggressiveness of NHL,which can be predicted whether NHL will be relieved after treatment.ΔSUVmax and ΔT/MB can assess whether NHL has been relieved after treatment.

Objective:To preliminarily investigate the safety and efficacy of programmed death-1(PD-1)inhibitor combined with cord blood-derived natural killer cells(NK cells)in the treatment of advanced malignant solid tumors in an exploratory clinical trial.Methods:Three patients with advanced solid tumors treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University from December 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled.According to tumor type and CSCO guidelines,patients received multiple treatment cycles(21 days per cycle)consisting of standard chemotherapy,targeted therapy,or bevacizumab combined with PD-1 inhibitor.Umbilical cord blood-derived NK cells(8×107 cells per infusion)were infused at appropriate intervals during the treatment course.Target lesion size,tumor markers,levels of 12 peripheral blood cytokines,and lymphocyte subsets were assessed in each treatment cycle.Adverse events were also monitored throughout the treatment.Results:Following the treatment with PD-1 inhibitor combined with cord blood NK cells,2 patients achieved stable disease(SD,per RECIST 1.1 criteria),with durations of 118 days and 92 days,respectively.After NK cell infusion,patient#1 exhibited a marked decrease in the tumor marker CA199 to normal range and sustained for three follow-up periods;patient#2 showed significant reductions in tumor markers CA199,CA242,and CA724.Conclusion:The combination of NK cells with chemotherapy and PD-1 inhibitor demonstrates potential therapeutic efficacy for solid tumors.No severe immune-related adverse reactions were observed in the three patients enrolled in this study.

This study was aimed at preliminarily investigating the molecular biological functions of the PPE65 protein from Myco-bacterium tuberculosis,and providing foundational data for tuberculosis prevention and control.The basic biological properties of the PPE65 gene-encoded protein were predicted with bioinformatics tools.Sequence information for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv3621c gene and PPE65 protein was retrieved from the NCBI database.The Rv3621c gene was amplified through PCR with the H37Rv genome as a template,then cloned into the pET22b(+)expression vector.The recombinant pET22b(+)-PPE65 plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)competent cells for IPTG-induced expression.Solubility analysis,purification,and identification of the recombinant PPE65 protein were performed.BEAS-2B cells were treated with various concentrations of PPE65 protein for 24 h,and cell proliferation was assessed with CCK-8 assays.PPE65 was found to be composed of 413 amino acids and to have a molecular formula of C????H????N???O???S??,a relative molecular mass of 40 679.88,a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.60,an ali-phatic index of 81.94,and an average hydrophilicity value of 0.319,thus indicating a stable hydrophobic protein lacking signal pep-tides or transmembrane domains.Secondary structure analysis revealed 53.03%α-helix(Hh),2.66%β-sheet(Ee),and 44.31%ran-dom coil(Cc).Bioinformatics predictions identified 38 B-cell epitopes and 22 CTL/Th-cell epitopes.The full-length PPE65 gene(1 308 bp)was confirmed through double restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing,thereby validating the correct construction of the pET22b(+)-PPE65 recombinant plasmid.SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that the recombinant protein was found in inclusion bodies,and a single band at 43.7 kDa was observed after purification.Western blotting revealed specific binding to mouse-derived His monoclonal antibodies,thereby confirming successful expression of the PPE65 protein.BEAS-2B cells treated with a PPE65 protein concentration gradient(2.5-20 μg/mL)exhibited a dose-dependent increase in cell number.Compared with those in the PBS control group,TGF-β relative expression levels were significantly higher in all treatment groups(t2.5=4.893,P<0.001,t5.0=4.640,P<0.05,t10=7.535,P<0.05,t20=16.44,P<0.000 1).This study elucidated the structural characteristics of the PPE65 protein,successfully obtained the recombinant protein through prokaryotic expression and purification,and demonstrated its ability to promote BEAS-2B cell proliferation.The underlying mechanism might involve suppression of TGF-β/S mad signaling pathway activation.These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the role and regulatory mechanisms of PPE65 during M.tuberculosis infection.

Objective:To identify risk factors influencing clinical efficacy of endoscopic resection of small rectal neuroendocrine tumor (NETs).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with rectal NETs ≤10 mm who underwent endoscopic resection from 2013 to 2022. Patients were divided into the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) group and the endoscopic mucosal resection with ligation (EMRL) group according to the treatment methods. After comparing the baseline data, propensity score matching was performed to compare the rates of R1 resection and adequacy of vertical margin distance.Results:A total of 186 patients were included in this study, with 139 receiving ESD and 47 receiving EMRL. The R1 resection rates were 12.2% (17/139) and 2.1% (1/47) in the ESD and EMRL group, respectively ( χ2=3.027, P=0.082). A significant difference in vertical margin adequacy was observed between the two groups [69.1% (96/139) VS 85.1% (40/47), χ2=4.598, P=0.032]. After propensity score matching, 46 pairs of cases were included, and there were no significant differences in the R1 resection rate [6.5% (3/46) VS 2.2% (1/46), χ2=0.261, P=0.609] and vertical margin adequacy [78.3% (36/46) VS 84.8% (39/46), χ2=0.649, P=0.420] between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses revealed that operator experience and preoperative biopsy were independent risk factors for inadequate margin. Conclusion:Treatment method may not be the key factor affecting the distance of the vertical margin after endoscopic resection, but preoperative biopsy and operator experience have a significant impact on margins. Biopsy before endoscopic resection should be avoided, and less experienced doctors are recommended to use EMRL method for small NETs due to its ease of execution.