OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism by which transforming growth factor‑β (TGF‑β) regulates major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and its role in immune evasion of HCC. METHODS: HCC cells treated with TGF‑β alone or in combination with SB-431542 (a TGF-β type I receptor inhibitor) were examined for changes in MHC-I expression using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. A RNA interference experiment was used to explore the role of miR-23a-3p/IRF1 signaling in TGF‑β‑mediated regulation of MHC-I. HCC cells with different treatments were co-cultured with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and the changes in HCC cell proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 and colony formation assays. T-cell cytotoxicity in the co-culture systems was assessed with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential assays, and T-cell activation was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis of CD69 cells and ELISA for TNF-α secretion. RESULTS: TGF‑β treatment significantly suppressed MHC-I expression in HCC cells and reduced T-cell activation, leading to increased tumor cell proliferation and decreased HCC cell death in the co-culture systems. Mechanistically, TGF-β upregulated miR-23a-3p, which directly targeted IRF1 to inhibit MHC-I transcription. Overexpression of miR-23a-3p phenocopied TGF‑β‑induced suppression of IRF1 and MHC-I. CONCLUSIONS We reveal a novel immune escape mechanism of HCC, in which TGF‑β attenuates T cell-mediated antitumor immunity by suppressing MHC-I expression through the miR-23a-3p/IRF1 signaling axis.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-1/metabolism* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Tumor Escape ; Coculture Techniques

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serves as a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, holding a crucial position in the medical field. However, the exploration of TCM's extensive information has been hindered by challenges related to data standardization, completeness, and accuracy, primarily due to the decentralized distribution of TCM resources. To address these issues, we developed a platform for TCM knowledge discovery (TCMKD, https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/TCMKD/). Seven types of data, including syndromes, formulas, Chinese patent drugs (CPDs), Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs), ingredients, targets, and diseases, were manually proofread and consolidated within TCMKD. To strengthen the integration of TCM with modern medicine, TCMKD employs analytical methods such as TCM data mining, enrichment analysis, and network localization and separation. These tools help elucidate the molecular-level commonalities between TCM and contemporary scientific insights. In addition to its analytical capabilities, a quick question and answer (Q&A) system is also embedded within TCMKD to query the database efficiently, thereby improving the interactivity of the platform. The platform also provides a TCM text annotation tool, offering a simple and efficient method for TCM text mining. Overall, TCMKD not only has the potential to become a pivotal repository for TCM, delving into the pharmacological foundations of TCM treatments, but its flexible embedded tools and algorithms can also be applied to the study of other traditional medical systems, extending beyond just TCM.

Objective:To analyze epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of hepatitis A in China from 2005 to 2023.Methods:The incidence data of hepatitis A in China during 2005-2023 were collected from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System .Results:From 2005 to 2023, a total of 605 509 cases of hepatitis A were reported in China. The average annual reported incidence rate was 2.32/100 000, the incidence was 2.85/100 000 in men and 1.81/100 000 in women, and the incidence was 3.25/100 000 in age group 0-14 years, 2.10/100 000 in age group 15-64 years and 2.49/100 000 in age group ≥65 years , respectively. The case count in farmers was highest (40.57%, 245 639/605 509). The proportion of the cases in jobless or the unemployed increased most obviously (347.32%), and the proportion of the cases in students decreased most significantly (90.27%). The average annual reported incidence rate in the western China was highest (4.45/100 000), followed by that in northeastern China (2.02/100 000), central China (1.89/100 000) and eastern China (1.16/100 000). From 2020 to 2023, the incidence of hepatitis A showed no spatial clustering. From 2005 to 2019, the obvious hot spots and high-high clustering areas mainly distributed in provinces, such as, Sichuan, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang and Gansu. The low-low clustering areas were mainly distributed in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Henan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Jilin and Liaoning. An independent high-low clustering was found in Shanxi during 2014-2019. A total of 5 high incidence clustering areas were detected through spatiotemporal scanning analysis.Conclusions:The incidence rate of hepatitis A in China declined significantly from 2005 to 2023. The reported incidence rate in the elderly showed no obvious decrease, and the reported cases accounted for the highest proportion in the whole population. Before 2020, the reported incidence rate of hepatitis A showed high-high clustering in western China, the spatiotemporal clustering disappeared from 2020 to 2023, but the reported incidence rate of hepatitis A in western China was still high. It is suggested to pay attention to the prevention and control of hepatitis A in populations at high risk and areas with high incidence of hepatitis A.

Objective To calculate the leakage rate of the automated watering system in Tsinghua University Laboratory Animal Resources Center, to evaluate the safety of the system, and provide references for selection, maintenance, and management of automated watering systems in animal facilities.MethodsThis study investigated the automated watering system installed in South and North Barriers of Tsinghua University Laboratory Animal Resources Center (Phase II). Water leakage monitoring was conducted over two periods, one over a period of 3 years and the other over 1.5 years. The occurrence of water leakage events at the two barriers during the monitoring period was statistically analyzed, classifying the causes into four categories: mishandling by personnel, animal behavior, obstruction by foreign objects, and deformation of fittings. The total daily leakage rate due to these causes and the daily leakage rate caused by quality issues, i.e. obstruction by foreign objects and deformation of fittings were calculated. Further analysis and discussion focused on the causes of water leakage and its impact on the facilities. At the same time, the number of caretakers at the end of the monitoring period in the Phase I facility without automated watering system and the Phase II facility with automated watering system were counted. Finally the difference in the number of cages per capita under the two watering systems was calculated.ResultsA total of 52 water leakage incidents occurred in both areas during the monitoring period, with a total daily leakage rate of 0.000 13%. Among them, 31 were caused by personnel mishandling, accounting for approximately 60% of total leakages. Enhanced training, supervision, inspection, and effective reminder measures could reduce leakage caused by personnel mishandling. There were 2 cases of water leakages caused by animal behavior, 0 leakage due to obstruction by foreign objects, and 19 leakages due to system quality issues, with a daily leakage rate of 0.000 07%. According to the operation data of Tsinghua University Laboratory Animal Resources Center, the average number of cages managed per person in facilities equipped with the automated watering system was 908, compared to 570 cages in facilities without the automated watering system. This represents an approximate 59% increase in the number of cages managed per person with the adoption of the automated watering system.Conclusion The daily leakage rate of the automated watering system in the Tsinghua University Laboratory Animal Resources Center is significantly lower than the theoretical design rate of 0.003%, which demonstrates the system's safety and effectiveness. Additionally, the adoption of an automated watering system can significantly enhance caretaking efficiency. While initial investments in the system are required, the subsequent increase in efficiency leads to a continuous decrease in labor costs, thereby reducing the total operational expenses of the facility. In the context of modernizing animal facility construction, automated watering systems are becoming an essential consideration in facility design and operation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of three-connections and four-screwings technique in the treatment of high double column acetabular fractures through a single ilioinguinal approach.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 42 patients who had been treated for high double column acetabular fractures from June 2017 to June 2020 at Trauma Ward 2, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The First Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Changde. There were 19 males and 23 females with an age of (42.7±25.6) years. 29 injuries were due to a traffic accident, 12 ones to fall from a height, and one to fall. The time from injury to operation was (4.5±2.1) days. All the patients were treated by the three-connections and four-screwings technique through a single ilioinguinal approach. Briefly, the anterior column was connected and secured to the main bone using 3 routes, and the posterior column was attached and fixated to the anterior column reset using 2 or 3 of the 4 screwings. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction quality, fracture healing time, hip function at the last follow-up and complications during the follow-up were recorded.Results:For this cohort, the operation time was (150.0±30.5) min, and intraoperative blood loss (300.0±50.0) mL. According to the Matta scale for postoperative acetabular fracture reduction, 34 cases were excellent, 6 cases good, and 2 cases acceptable, with an excellent and good rate of 95.2% (40/42). After operation one patient had fat liquefaction and wound exudation which responded to drainage and dressing change. The 42 patients were followed up for (15.0±3.4) months. All fractures healed after (11.0±2.0) months. By the modified Merle d'Aubigné & Postel scoring system, the hip function was evaluated at the last follow-up as excellent in 33 cases, as good in 6 cases, and as fair in 3 cases, yielding an excellent and good rate of 92.9% (39/42).Conclusions:In the treatment of high double column acetabular fractures, the three-connections and four-screwings technique through a single ilioinguinal approach can lead to fine reduction and rigid fixation by lag screw compression and neutralization plate protection. Consequently, early functional exercises can be performed to secure good therapeutic outcomes for the patients.

Since the first operational definition of cognitive frailty was proposed by the expert consensus group of the International Academy of Nutrition and Aging and the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics in 2013, frailty and neurocognitive assessment has become the standard diagnostic tool.Since then, the reported prevalence in the literature for cognitive frailty in community-dwelling elderly people vary by dozens of times, as a result of different scales and diagnostic cut-off points, seriously affecting health decision-making.This article reviewed the current literature with a focus on the re-recognition of the clinical significance of cognitive frailty, the limitations of existing assessment tools for diagnosis, and possible solutions in the future.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between different obesity metabolic phenotypes and the incidence of new carotid artery plaque.Methods:The present study is a retrospective cohort study, collecting individuals from the Health Management Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University who had two or more cervical vascular color ultrasound examinations and met the inclusion criteria from 2014 to 2022, and collected their baseline clinical data. According to whether the subjects were obese and had metabolic syndrome, they were divided into metabolically healthy non-obese group, metabolically unhealthy non-obese group, metabolically healthy obese group, and metabolically unhealthy obese group. The first physical examination time of the subjects was taken as the starting point of follow-up, and cervical vascular color ultrasound was performed during the follow-up physical examination, with the outcome event being carotid artery plaque. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis was used to analyze the cumulative incidence of carotid artery plaques in the four groups and log-rank test was performed, and a multifactorial Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the relationship between different obesity metabolic phenotypes and the risk of carotid artery plaque incidence.Results:A total of 4 890 subjects were enrolled, aged (45.4±9.6) years, and 2 754 (56.3%) males. The follow-up time was 1.14(0.93, 2.20) years. Compared with the other 3 obesity metabolic phenotypes, the incidence of carotid plaques in the metabolically unhealthy obesity group was the highest (15.4% (286/1 861)). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of carotid plaques in metabolically unhealthy obese subjects was about 2.962 times that of metabolically healthy non-obese subjects (log-rank P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression results showed that the risk of carotid plaque in metabolically unhealthy obese subjects was 1.650 times that of metabolically healthy non-obese subjects (95% CI: 1.203-2.264, P=0.002). Conclusion:Metabolically unhealthy obesity phenotype is an independent risk factor for carotid plaque.

Objective:To study the correlation between different body weight metabolic phenotypes and their changes and new-onset hyperuricemia in physical examination population.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 31 956 people who underwent routine physical examination and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria at the Health Management Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 1, 2014 to August 31, 2022 were selected as the study subjects to establish a dynamic physical examination cohort. The end point of follow-up was new-onset hyperuricemia or the end of follow-up period. Cox regression stepwise fitting model was used to analyze the risk of different body weight metabolic phenotypes and hyperuricemia, and stratified analysis was performed for gender. According to body weight metabolic phenotype, the subjects were divided into normal metabolism and normal weight(NMNW) group, normal metabolism and obesity (NMO) group, abnormal metabolism and normal weight (AMNW) group and abnormal metabolism and obesity (AMO) group. The risk of hyperuricemia was calculated according to the changes of body weight metabolic phenotype during the follow-up period. In the sensitivity analysis, the robustness of the results was verified by changing the diagnostic criteria for hyperuricemia, removing patients with hyperuricemia at the first year of follow-up, and removing subjects aged ≥65 years.Results:Compared with the NMNW group, the risk of hyperuricemia in the NMO group, AMNW group and AMO group increased by 78.9%, 61.3%, 115.4%, respectively ( χ2=272.88, 128.15, 496.12, all P<0.001). Patients who were initially classified as NMNW at baseline, if transitioned to NMO or AMO by the follow-up endpoint, their risk of hyperuricemia increased by 122.5% ( χ2=8.01, P<0.05) and 137.4% ( χ2=15.99, P<0.001), respectively. When the baseline AMNW group changed to AMO, the risk of hyperuricemia was increased by 119.2% ( χ2=6.63, P<0.05). For patients with AMO as baseline, if they turned into NMNW and AMNW at the end of follow-up, their risk of hyperuricemia would decrease by 58.3% ( χ2=43.67, P<0.001) and 27.2% ( χ2=16.07, P<0.001). Patients with a baseline of NMO who transitioned to NMNW and AMNW at the follow-up endpoint had their risk of developing hyperuricemia decreased by 36.7% ( χ2=25.35, P<0.001) and 30.9% ( χ2=9.70, P<0.05), respectively. Conclusions:The transition from metabolic health and non-overweight obesity to metabolic abnormalities and overweight obesity is associated with an increased risk of hyperuricemia, and improvements in metabolic health or weight are associated with a decreased risk of hyperuricemia.

Objective:To explore the relationship between weight change and the development of hyperuricemia (HUA) in adults receiving health checkups.Methods:A retrospective cohort study. A total of 37 722 subjects who underwent two or more health checkups at the Health Management Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2014 to December 2022 were included, and the general information and laboratory findings at the time of the initial health checkups and follow-up were collected. Weight change was defined as the ratio of difference between the weight at the last follow-up and the baseline weight to baseline weight. The subjects were grouped with weight change: significant weight loss group (weight change ≤-5.0%), mild weight loss group (-5.0%

Objective:To investigate the relationship between obesity and incident chronic kidney disease(CKD) in a population undergoing health check-ups.Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study. A total of 31 251 participants who had at least 2 health physical examinations in the Health Management Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2017 to December 2022 and met the inclusion criteria were selected. The participants were divided into normal body weight group, overweight group, and obese group according to baseline body mass index. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the relationship between obesity and new-onset CKD, and the dose-response relationship between body mass index and CKD was analyzed with restricted cubic splines.Results:Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of developing CKD increased by 13%( HR=1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.25) and 55%( HR=1.55, 95% CI 1.36-1.76) in the overweight and obese group compared to the normal weight group. Subgroup analysis indicated that obese women had a higher risk of developing CKD compared to men. There was a " U-shaped" correlation between body mass index and CKD in male population, with the lowest risk of CKD occurring at body mass index of 19.6-24.2 kg/m 2. In women, the relationship between body mass index and CKD was approximately linear, with the risk of CKD gradually increasing when body mass index exceeded 22.5 kg/m 2. Conclusions:Obesity is an independent risk factor for new-onset CKD, and obese women have a higher risk of developing CKD than men. Regarding CKD prevention, men are advised to maintain a higher level of body weight within the normal range of body mass index, while women are encouraged to control their weight to a lower level within the normal body mass index range.