Aim To investigate the protective effect of Vaccarin(Va)on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in renal fibrosis model mice through regulating STAT3,and the underlying mechanism.Methods Left ureter ligation was used to establish a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO);human kid-ney tubular epithelial(HK2)cells were induced to differentiate by transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)in vitro.HE and Masson staining were used to observe the morphological changes of renal tissue;kits were used to detect the levels of BUN,Cr,IL-1β and IL-7 in mouse serum;CCK-8 was used to detect the effect of Va on the viability of HK2 cells;RT-PCR was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors in HK2 cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression of STAT3,p-STAT3,E-cadherin,and α-SMA proteins in renal tissue and HK2 cells;to further investigate the regulation of Va on STAT3,JAK/STAT3 pathway acti-vator RO8191 was used to treat TGF-β-induced HK2 cells,and functional loss was detected.Results Va improved the pathological damage in UUO mice,inhibi-ted the levels of BUN,Cr and inflammatory factors;Va inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3,upregulated E-cadherin,and downregulated α-SMA protein expres-sion;RO8191 counteracted the inhibitory effect of Va on the phosphorylation of STAT3.Conclusions Va inhibits the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the release of inflammatory factors,improves EMT,thus exerting an anti-renal fibrosis effect.

Cardiovascular diseases that develop from hypercholesterolemia-induced atherosclerosis have emerged as a significant threat to human health.Recently,probiotics exhibiting cholesterol-lowering properties have emerged as a prominent area of research.Numerous studies have demonstrated that Lactobacillus reuteri can effectively reduce endogenous cholesterol synthesis,regulate cholesterol transport,and promote cholesterol degradation by modulating the expression of key genes,such as sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2,3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase,and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase,in both the liver and intestinal epithelial cells of the host.This leads to a notable decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the host serum.The present paper offers a comprehensive overview of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects exerted by L.reuteri,aiming to provide valuable insights into the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and the development of probiotics with cholesterol-lowering properties.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of Vaccarin(Va)on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in renal fibrosis model mice through regulating STAT3,and the underlying mechanism.Methods Left ureter ligation was used to establish a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO);human kid-ney tubular epithelial(HK2)cells were induced to differentiate by transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)in vitro.HE and Masson staining were used to observe the morphological changes of renal tissue;kits were used to detect the levels of BUN,Cr,IL-1β and IL-7 in mouse serum;CCK-8 was used to detect the effect of Va on the viability of HK2 cells;RT-PCR was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors in HK2 cells;Western blot was used to detect the expression of STAT3,p-STAT3,E-cadherin,and α-SMA proteins in renal tissue and HK2 cells;to further investigate the regulation of Va on STAT3,JAK/STAT3 pathway acti-vator RO8191 was used to treat TGF-β-induced HK2 cells,and functional loss was detected.Results Va improved the pathological damage in UUO mice,inhibi-ted the levels of BUN,Cr and inflammatory factors;Va inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3,upregulated E-cadherin,and downregulated α-SMA protein expres-sion;RO8191 counteracted the inhibitory effect of Va on the phosphorylation of STAT3.Conclusions Va inhibits the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the release of inflammatory factors,improves EMT,thus exerting an anti-renal fibrosis effect.

Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a common digestive disorder associated with moderate to high nutritional risks,necessitating timely nutritional support.Over the past five decades,medical nutrition therapy for AP has undergone a paradigm shift,transitioning from traditional fasting based on the"pancreatic rest theory"to the current emphasis on early enteral feeding to"awaken the gut."Currently,nutritional treatment has become a cornerstone of comprehensive AP management.The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism(ESPEN),founded in 1980,is a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing research,clinical practice,and education in clinical nutrition and metabolism.To date,ESPEN has published five evidence-based guidelines on nutritional management in pancreatic diseases.This article reviews the evolution of AP nutritional therapy as outlined in these ESPEN guidelines,highlighting key recommendations and their clinical implications.

Cardiovascular diseases that develop from hypercholesterolemia-induced atherosclerosis have emerged as a significant threat to human health.Recently,probiotics exhibiting cholesterol-lowering properties have emerged as a prominent area of research.Numerous studies have demonstrated that Lactobacillus reuteri can effectively reduce endogenous cholesterol synthesis,regulate cholesterol transport,and promote cholesterol degradation by modulating the expression of key genes,such as sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2,3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase,and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase,in both the liver and intestinal epithelial cells of the host.This leads to a notable decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the host serum.The present paper offers a comprehensive overview of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects exerted by L.reuteri,aiming to provide valuable insights into the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and the development of probiotics with cholesterol-lowering properties.

Recent data suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor (VEGFRi) can enhance the anti-tumor activity of the anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibody in colorectal cancer (CRC) with microsatellite stability (MSS). However, the comparison between this combination and standard third-line VEGFRi treatment is not performed, and reliable biomarkers are still lacking. We retrospectively enrolled MSS CRC patients receiving anti-PD-1 antibody plus VEGFRi (combination group, n=54) or VEGFRi alone (VEGFRi group, n=32), and their efficacy and safety were evaluated. We additionally examined the immune characteristics of the MSS CRC tumor microenvironment (TME) through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data, and an MSS CRC immune cell-related signature (MCICRS) that can be used to predict the clinical outcomes of MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy was developed and validated in our in-house cohort. Compared with VEGFRi alone, the combination of anti-PD-1 antibody and VEGFRi exhibited a prolonged survival benefit (median progression-free survival: 4.4 vs. 2.0 months, P=0.0024; median overall survival: 10.2 vs. 5.2 months, P=0.0038) and a similar adverse event incidence. Through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, we determined ten MSS CRC-enriched immune cell types and their spatial distribution, including naive CD4⁺ T, regulatory CD4⁺ T, CD4⁺ Th17, exhausted CD8⁺ T, cytotoxic CD8⁺ T, proliferated CD8⁺ T, natural killer (NK) cells, plasma, and classical and intermediate monocytes. Based on a systemic meta-analysis and ten machine learning algorithms, we obtained MCICRS, an independent risk factor for the prognosis of MSS CRC patients. Further analyses demonstrated that the low-MCICRS group presented a higher immune cell infiltration and immune-related pathway activation, and hence a significant relation with the superior efficacy of pan-cancer immunotherapy. More importantly, the predictive value of MCICRS in MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy was also validated with an in-house cohort. Anti-PD-1 antibody combined with VEGFRi presented an improved clinical benefit in MSS CRC with manageable toxicity. MCICRS could serve as a robust and promising tool to predict clinical outcomes for individual MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Immunotherapy ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Microsatellite Instability ; Transcriptome ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/immunology* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Adult ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors*

Objective:To explore the recurrence pattern and prognosis of cervical cancer after radical chemoradiotherapy.Methods:Clinical and follow-up data of 1 359 patients with stage Ⅰ-ⅣA (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009 staging) who received radical radiotherapy in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from August 2011 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The survival and prognostic factors of 249 patients with recurrence / metastasis with detailed data were analyzed. The primary endpoint was post-recurrence / metastasis survival time. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate, log-rank test was used for single factor analysis, and Cox model was used for multi-factor analysis.Results:The distant metastasis rate of 249 patients was 77.5%, and the local recurrence rate was 36.9%. According to the location of metastasis and recurrence, 56 cases with recurrence in the field of radiotherapy alone were assigned into group A, 157 cases with recurrence outside the radiation field alone were allocated into group B (56 cases with lymph node recurrence in group B1, 78 cases with blood metastasis in group B2, and 23 cases with lymph node and blood metastasis simultaneously in group B3), and 36 cases with combined recurrence and metastasis in and out of the field of radiotherapy were assigned into group C. The median survival time of patients in groups A, B1, B2, B3 and C was 13, 24, 13, 11 and 9 months, respectively (all P<0.001). According to the interval from initial diagnosis to recurrence / metastasis, 110 cases were classified in ≤1 year group, 74 cases in >1-2 years group, and 65 cases in >2 years group. The median survival time of patients in the three groups was 11, 14, and 22 months, respectively (all P<0.001). According to the management of recurrence / metastasis, 138 cases received palliative treatment, 15 cases received local treatment, 45 cases received systemic treatment, and 51 cases received combined treatment. The median survival time of patients among four groups was 9, 37, 20 and 32 months, respectively (all P<0.001). The results of multi-factor analysis showed that age, recurrence / metastatic site, retreatment methods, time interval between initial treatment and recurrence /metastasis were the independent prognostic factors affecting the survival (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Distant metastasis is the main failure pattern after radical radiotherapy. Patients with metastasis out of irradiated regions, especially those with only lymph node metastasis, have good prognosis. Active retreatment and time interval between initial diagnosis and recurrence / metastasis are important prognostic factors.

Objective To explore the expression of serum miR-410-3p in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and its relationship with knee soft tissue lesions.Methods A total of 89 RA patients admitted to our hospital were selected and divided into the active group(42 cases)and the remission group(47 cases)according to disease activity score in 28 joints(DAS28).In addition,52 healthy volunteers underwent physical examination during the same period in our hospital were selected as the healthy group.The expression level of serum miR-410-3p was detected by RT-PCR,the lesions of knee soft tissue was examined by ultrasound,and the relationship between the expression of serum miR-410-3p and knee soft tissue lesions was analyzed by Pearson.Results The expression levels of serum miR-410-3p of patients in the active group and the remission group were lower than that in the healthy group(P<0.05),and the expression level of serum miR-410-3p of patients in the active group was lower than that in the remission group(P<0.05).The cartilage thicknesses of medial and lateral ankle of patients in the active group and the remission group were smaller than those in the healthy group(P<0.05),and the above indexes in the active group were smaller than those in the remission group(P<0.05).The depths of suprapatellar bursa fluid and synovial thicknesses of patients in the active group and the remission group were greater than those in the healthy group(P<0.05),and the depth of suprapatellar bursa fluid and synovial thickness of patients in the active group were greater than those in the remission group(P<0.05).The level of serum miR-410-3p in RA patients was positively correlated with the depth of suprapatellar bursa fluid and synovial thickness(P<0.05),and negatively correlated with the cartilage thicknesses of medial and lateral ankle(P<0.05).Conclusion Serum miR-410-3p expression level in RA patients is decreased,which was closely related to knee soft tissue lesions,detecting the changes of serum miR-410-3p level may provide a reference for the evaluation of knee soft tissue lesions.

Elemental imaging analysis based on laser induced-breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS)can provide significant reference value for oil and gas exploration activities.Improving the scanning speed and spatial resolution of LIBS elemental imaging analysis instruments contributes to enhancing the efficiency of mineral surface elemental analysis,which is crucial for achieving in-situ,real-time,and rapid LIBS analysis.In this study,a high-speed scanning LIBS elemental imaging analysis instrument was developed based on a scanning mirror device,achieving a scanning speed of 100 Hz and a spatial resolution of 50 μm.The stability of spectral data collected by this instrument was validated using aluminum alloy standard samples with uniform elemental distribution.The experimental results showed that the relative standard deviations(RSD)of the spectral data collected at different locations were 2.76％,2.79％,2.35％and 2.55％,respectively,demonstrating that the instrument's performance met analysis requirements.Analysis of spectral acquisition channels led to the selection of the 337-595 nm spectral range.Imaging analysis of major elements on the surface of meteorite mineral samples with complex matrices was conducted using this instrument,coupled with a multi-element imaging algorithm enabling visualization analysis of four major elements on the same image.The results revealed a higher level of detail and complexity in element distribution.The study demonstrated that this instrument,combined with multi-element imaging analysis algorithms,could provide crucial technical support for rapid imaging of element distribution in minerals at a microscopic scale during geological research.