AKT,also known as Protein Kinase B(PKB),plays a critical role in cell proliferation and metabolism.There are three isoforms of AKT:AKT1,AKT2,and AKT3.The effects of these isoforms on the pluripotency and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells(mESCs)remain unclear.This study aims to explore the impact of three AKT isoform-specific knockouts on the self-renewal and differen-tiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology,AKT isoform-spe-cific knockout cell lines were established.The phenotypic and molecular changes were analyzed through Western blotting,flow cytometry,qRT-PCR,CCK-8 assays,Alkaline Phosphatase(AP)staining,and RNA-seq.The construction of AKT isoform-specific knockout cell lines was successful.The loss of AKT1 and AKT2 inhibited the proliferation of mESCs.The knockout of any single AKT isoform did not affect the expression of pluripotency genes at both mRNA or protein levels.However,during embryoid body forma-tion,the deletion of any of the three AKT isoforms affected the mRNA expression levels of genes in all three germ layers.Transcriptome analysis showed that compared to wild-type mESCs,995,547,and 429 differentially expressed genes(|log2FC|≧1,P＜0.05)were identified inAKT1,AKT2,and AKT3 isoform-specific knockout cells,respectively.There was some overlap in the differentially expressed genes regulated by these three isoforms.In conclusion,the independent knockout of AKT isoforms does not af-fect the maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells,but they are crucial for differentia-tion.The three AKT isoforms can collectively regulate gene expression while retaining their own regulato-ry specificity.This study provides a foundation for understanding the unique and overlapping roles of AKT isoforms in stem cell biology,highlighting their importance in maintaining stem cell function and differen-tiation.

BACKGROUND: Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD. METHODS & RESULTS: The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology. CONCLUSION The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.

Recent studies have indicated that the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 51 (USP51), a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that mediates protein degradation as part of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), is associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in multiple malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling networks involved in USP51-mediated regulation of malignant phenotypes remain largely unknown. The present study provides evidence of USP51's functions as the prominent DUB in chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. At the molecular level, ectopic expression of USP51 stabilized the 78 kDa Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) protein through deubiquitination, thereby increasing its expression and localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, the upregulation of cell surface GRP78 increased the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), the main efflux pump of doxorubicin (DOX), ultimately decreasing its accumulation in TNBC cells and promoting the development of drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, we found significant correlations among USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 expression in TNBC patients with chemoresistance. Elevated USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 levels were also strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. Importantly, we revealed an alternative intervention for specific pharmacological targeting of USP51 for TNBC cell chemosensitization. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that the USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 network is a key contributor to the malignant progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of TNBC cells, underscoring the pivotal role of USP51 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer management.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HClnc1 in regulating proliferation, invasion, and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and the regulatory mechanism. METHODS: HClnc1 expression levels in liver cancer tissues were analyzed using data from the TCGA database. BrdU incorporation, plate cloning, and transwell assays were employed to examine the effects of HClnc1 silencing/overexpression and/or ODC1 silencing on proliferation, invasion, and migration of liver cancer cells. The effects of HClnc1 silencing on ODC1 protein and mRNA expression in the liver cancer cells were analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The activity of ODC1 promoter was analyzed using a dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Pull-down experiment, mass spectrometry analysis, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were used for identification of HClnc1-binding proteins and their interactions. Protein interactions with the ODC1 promoter region and their binding efficiencies were investigated using RNA interference and ChIP analysis. RESULTS: HClnc1 was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues. In liver cancer cells, HClnc1 silencing significantly inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, while HClnc1 overexpression promoted these behaviors. ODC1 silencing also suppressed malignant behaviors of liver cancer cells, and counteracted the effects of HClnc1 overexpression. Interference of HClnc1 obviously inhibited ODC1 promoter activity. RBBP5 and KAT2B proteins were identified to bind simultaneously with HClnc1. HClnc1 overexpression upregulated ODC1 protein expression, while interference of RBBP5 or KAT2B downregulated ODC1 protein expression and blocked HClnc1-induced upregulation of ODC1 protein. Both RBBP5 and KAT2B could directly bind to ODC1 promoter region; knocking out KAT2B or RBBP5 reduced the binding efficiency, while knocking out HClnc1 reduced the binding of both RBBP5 and KAT2B to ODC1 promoter region. CONCLUSIONS By targeting the RBBP5/KAT2B epigenetic modification complex, HClnc1 increases ODC1 promoter activity to enhance ODC1 transcription and promote the proliferation and migration of liver cancer cells.
Humans ; Cell Proliferation ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Cell Movement ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of intraosseous regional administration (IORA) of vancomycin for preventing infection in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A total of 124 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA between February 2024 and May 2024 at nine hospitals were enrolled. Preoperative infection prophylaxis involved either IORA (0.5 g vancomycin administered via intraosseous regional infusion before incision) or intravenous infusion (1 g vancomycin via peripheral vein). The IORA group included 15 males and 47 females with a median age of 66.5 years (range, 60.0-70.0 years), while the intravenous group included 14 males and 48 females with a median age of 66.0 years (range, 61.8-70.3 years) years. Intraoperative samples were collected including fat and synovium tissues after incision, before prosthesis placement, and after tourniquet release; distal femoral cancellous bone during femoral osteotomy; proximal tibial cancellous bone during tibial osteotomy; proximal intercondylar cancellous bone before prosthesis placement; and peripheral blood from non-infused arms at surgery initiation and after tourniquet release. Vancomycin concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vital sign changes were recorded from admission to 5~10 minutes post-IORA (IORA group) or post-incision (intravenous group). Follow-ups were conducted on postoperative day 1 and 3, and at 1 and 3 months, to document complications including IORA-related adverse events, periprosthetic joint infections, surgical site infections, red man syndrome, acute kidney injury, deep vein thrombosis and so on.Results:Vancomycin concentrations in bone, fat, and synovial tissue samples were significantly higher in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05), while vancomycin concentrations in blood samples were significantly lower in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05). Only 7.3%(41/558) of tissue samples in the IORA group had vancomycin concentrations below 2.0 μg/g (the minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin against coagulase-negative staphylococcus), compared to 59.3%(331/558) in the intravenous group (χ 2=11.285, P<0.001). In the intravenous group, 16.9%(21/124) of blood samples had vancomycin concentrations exceeding 15.0 mg/L (the threshold associated with a significantly increased risk of nephrotoxicity), while all concentrations in the IORA group were below this threshold, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=22.943, P<0.001). There were no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05) in vital signs changes before and after vancomycin administration between the two groups. Two patients in the intravenous group experienced incision exudate, while no other related complications occurred in either group. Conclusions:Compared to the traditional intravenous infusion of 1 g vancomycin, intraosseous injection of a low dose (0.5 g) of vancomycin achieves higher local tissue concentrations in the knee joint with a lower incidence of adverse reactions and is safe for infection prophylaxis. Despite guidelines not recommending the routine use of vancomycin for preventing infection after primary TKA, intraosseous injection of 0.5 g vancomycin may be considered intraoperatively for primary TKA in the following scenarios: patients in medical institutions with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, patients with potential preoperative MRSA colonization, or patients with cephalosporin allergy.

Objective To explore the casual relationship between immune cells and chronic pancreatitis(CP)using Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.Methods The immune cell phenotypes and CP GWAS data used in this study were obtained from public databases,and 731 immune cell phenotypes were included.The bidirectional MR analysis was used to explore the causal relationship between immune cells and CP,and various sensitivity analysis methods were used to verify the heterogeneity and level multiplicity of the results.Results This study identified 33 immune cell phenotypes with a causal relationship with CP,of which 18 were inhibitory factors,and the rest were risk factors.Among the 18 inhibitory factors,CD25 on CD4+in the Treg cell group showed the most significant inhibitory effect.Among the 15 risk factors,CD8br AC in the TBNK cell group,CD8br on TD CD8br in the mature T cell group,and CD39+CD8br％ T cell and CD28 on CD4+in the Treg cell group showed statistical significance.The reverse MR results further confirmed the unidirectionality of the causal relationship.Conclusion Our study revealed the close relationship between immune cells and CP through MR method,highlighting the complex interaction pattern between the immune system and CP.

Objective:To investigate the anesthesiology and perioperative management status of elderly patients in Beijing tertiary hospitals in 2024.Methods:Using the cluster sampling, a questionnaire was distributed to hospitals affiliated with members of the Geriatric Anesthesiology Group under the Beijing Society of Anesthesiology. The survey primarily included: ① the current status of anesthesia for elderly patients in 2024; ② the continuing education landscape related to anesthesia for elderly patients; and ③ the current practices in anesthesia management of elderly patients. The questionnaires were completed by anesthesiologists responsible for quality control data at each hospital.Results:The survey data were collected from 34 hospitals in Beijing. In 2024, the total number of anesthesia procedures performed across these hospitals was 1, 285, 620, of which 264, 257 were performed on elderly patients (age ≥ 65 yr), representing 20.55% of the total. General anesthesia remained the dominant method of anesthesia for elderly patients 77.00%(203, 478/264, 257), and sedation and anesthesia for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures accounted for 58.00% (153, 269/264, 257). Fewer than 20% of hospitals routinely conducted preoperative cognitive function assessment and frailty assessment. Intraoperative monitoring of anesthesia depth was routinely implemented in 82% (28/34) of the hospitals, and routine monitoring of muscle relaxation only accounted for 9% (3/34 hospitals). The use of dexmedetomidine during the perioperative period to prevent postoperative delirium accounted for 38% (13/34), the use of target-oriented fluid management combined with vasoconstrictors to maintain circulatory stability strategy accounted for 53% (15/34), and the use of lung-protective ventilation strategy accounted for 68% (23/34). After surgery, 90% of elderly patients returned to postanesthesia care unit, and the proportion of patients returning to intensive care unit/anesthesia unit intensive care was about 10.00% (26, 426/264, 257). In 85% of hospitals, extubation of endotracheal tubes and removal of laryngeal mask airways were performed in the operating room. Additionally, 68% of hospitals reported having an acute pain management team, with an average incidence of moderate-to-severe postoperative pain of 20%.Conclusions:In 2024, the proportion of elderly patients receiving anesthesia in Beijing tertiary hospitals is high. Preoperative assessment of cognitive function and frailty is insufficient, but routine monitoring for geriatric anesthesia and perioperative management strategies are good, and postoperative pain management is acceptable. The overall status of perioperative anesthesia management of elderly patients is good but still needs improvement.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the prognostic nutritional index(PNI)and the prevalence of coronary heart disease(CHD)in adults.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database.A total of 12,141 adult participants were initially included and divided into CHD group and control group according to the disease status questionnaire.PNI was calculated using serum albumin level and lymphocyte count.Multivariable logistic regression was applied to explore the association between PNI and the prevalence of CHD in adults.Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess whether this association remained consistent across different populations.A restricted cubic spline model was con-structed to clarify the dose-response relationship between PNI and CHD prevalence in adults.Results:Among the 3,894 adult participants,200(5.14％)had CHD.The PNI level in CHD patients was significantly lower than that of the control group[(49.20±8.59)vs.(51.57±4.80),P＜0.001].Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that,after adjustment for sex,age,race,marital status,body mass index(BMI),hypertension,diabetes and family history of cardiovascular disease,an increase in PNI was still independently associated with a lower prev-alence of CHD(odds ratio[OR]=0.92,95％CI 0.89～0.94,P＜0.001).The dose-response relationship indica-ted a negative linear correlation between PNI and CHD prevalence(P＜0.001).Subgroup analysis showed that the association between PNI and CHD differed significantly across BMI,hypertension and diabetes subgroups(P for in-teraction＜0.05 or＜0.01).Conclusion:Increasing PNI was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of CHD in adults,and this association was more pronounced in specific high-risk populations,such as those with obe-sity,hypertension,and diabetes.Our findings suggest that maintaining good nutritional status is of great significance in reducing the risk of CHD.