Objective:To study the role of cadherin 1 (CDH1) gene DNA methylation in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in population from different water-iodine regions.Methods:From May to June 2019, the information of AIT cases and healthy individuals in Shandong Province were collected in three types of water-iodine regions: iodine-fortification (IF) region, iodine-adequate (IA) region and iodine-excess (IE) region. A case-control study design was applied to match 176 AIT cases (case group) with age, gender, body mass index, and place of residence in a 1 ∶ 1 ratio to 176 healthy individuals (control group). Fasting urine and whole blood samples were collected to test the contents of urinary iodine, thyroid function indicators [serum free triiodothyronine (FT 3), free thyroxine (FT 4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)], and serum iodine. The DNA methylation levels of the target region of the CDH1 gene and its four CpG sites in whole blood were determined using methylation sequencing technology for target regions (MethylTarget TM). Results:The DNA methylation level of the target region of CDH1 gene in the case group was 0.832 ± 0.044, and that in the control group was 0.828 ± 0.049, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( t = 0.76, P = 0.448). There was no statistically significant difference in DNA methylation levels of the four CpG sites in the target region of CDH1 gene between the case group and the control group ( P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the DNA methylation level of the CDH1 gene target region between the case group and the control group in IF, IA and IE regions ( P > 0.05). The detection results of DNA methylation levels at CpG sites in the target region of CDH1 gene in different water iodine regions showed that the DNA methylation level at site 83 in case group in IF region was higher than that in the control group ( t = 2.30, P = 0.023). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the DNA methylation levels of the four CpG sites between the case group and the control group in IA and IE regions ( P > 0.05). The DNA methylation level of CDH1 gene target region in AIT patients was not significantly correlated with urinary iodine, serum iodine, and serum FT 3, FT 4, and TSH contents ( P > 0.05), but was significantly negatively correlated with age ( r =-0.19, P = 0.014). Conclusions:The DNA methylation level at CpG site 83 of CDH1 gene in AIT patients in IF region is significantly higher than that in control population, indicating that DNA methylation at this locus may be involved in the occurrence and development of AIT after iodine fortification. The DNA methylation level of CDH1 gene is negatively correlated with age.

Objective This study sought to establish a diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D)mouse model by gavage different mass concentrations sennae folium combined with chronic restraint stress,and to determine the appropriate mass concentration of sennae folium to establish IBS-D mouse model.Methods The mass concentration of sennae folium used for the IBS-D mouse model followed suggested amounts in the literature and on that basis,the mass concentration gradient was established prior to conducting the experiment.Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into a normal group(Group N),a low-dose group(Group L;0.25 g/mL sennae solution),a medium-dose group(Group M;0.50 g/mL sennae solution),and a high-dose group(Group H;1.0 g/mL sennae solution),with 10 mice per group.After 14 days,the defecation,diarrhea index,visceral sensitivity,and morphological changes in the colonic tissue in each group were observed and recorded to compare the differences among models established with varying mass concentrations of sennae folium.Results Compared with Group N(42.90±11.90)%,Group L(80.30±5.77)%,Group M(80.50±3.44)%,and Group H(81.90±2.68)%had significantly higher 6 h fecal water content(P＜0.01).Compared with Group N(0.00±0.00),the diarrhea index of mice in Group L(0.57±0.16),Group M(0.62±0.23),and Group H(0.60,0.23)also increased significantly(P＜0.01).Compared with Group N(0.65(0.60,0.65)),Group M(0.32(0.24,0.39))and Group H(0.34(0.27,0.47))had significantly lower visceral pain threshold and higher visceral sensitivity(P＜0.01).Additionally,the first blue stool time in Group M(98.15(93.41,100.44)min)was significantly shorter than that in Group N(186.81(109.28,192.05)min)(P＜0.01),and the total number of stools in Group M(22.4±3.73)was significantly higher than that in Group N(17.90±4.48)(P＜0.05).Conclusions Compared with 0.25 and 1.0 g/mL,0.50 g/mL sennae folium gavage,combined with chronic restraint stress,can better simulate the clinical symptoms of IBS-D.

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by a complex etiology involving multiple interacting factors.Accumulating evidence in recent years has indicated that intestinal barrier dysfunction may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IBS.This review systematically ex-amines the impact of intestinal barrier dysfunction on IBS,analyzing its associations with the mechanical,im-mune,chemical,and microbial components of the gut barrier,as well as current clinical treatment approaches.Moreover,this paper highlights the potential of intestinal barrier repair mechanisms as therapeutic targets,which may provide novel insights and directions for understanding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and de-veloping effective interventions for IBS.

Objective This study sought to establish a diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D)mouse model by gavage different mass concentrations sennae folium combined with chronic restraint stress,and to determine the appropriate mass concentration of sennae folium to establish IBS-D mouse model.Methods The mass concentration of sennae folium used for the IBS-D mouse model followed suggested amounts in the literature and on that basis,the mass concentration gradient was established prior to conducting the experiment.Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into a normal group(Group N),a low-dose group(Group L;0.25 g/mL sennae solution),a medium-dose group(Group M;0.50 g/mL sennae solution),and a high-dose group(Group H;1.0 g/mL sennae solution),with 10 mice per group.After 14 days,the defecation,diarrhea index,visceral sensitivity,and morphological changes in the colonic tissue in each group were observed and recorded to compare the differences among models established with varying mass concentrations of sennae folium.Results Compared with Group N(42.90±11.90)%,Group L(80.30±5.77)%,Group M(80.50±3.44)%,and Group H(81.90±2.68)%had significantly higher 6 h fecal water content(P＜0.01).Compared with Group N(0.00±0.00),the diarrhea index of mice in Group L(0.57±0.16),Group M(0.62±0.23),and Group H(0.60,0.23)also increased significantly(P＜0.01).Compared with Group N(0.65(0.60,0.65)),Group M(0.32(0.24,0.39))and Group H(0.34(0.27,0.47))had significantly lower visceral pain threshold and higher visceral sensitivity(P＜0.01).Additionally,the first blue stool time in Group M(98.15(93.41,100.44)min)was significantly shorter than that in Group N(186.81(109.28,192.05)min)(P＜0.01),and the total number of stools in Group M(22.4±3.73)was significantly higher than that in Group N(17.90±4.48)(P＜0.05).Conclusions Compared with 0.25 and 1.0 g/mL,0.50 g/mL sennae folium gavage,combined with chronic restraint stress,can better simulate the clinical symptoms of IBS-D.

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by a complex etiology involving multiple interacting factors.Accumulating evidence in recent years has indicated that intestinal barrier dysfunction may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IBS.This review systematically ex-amines the impact of intestinal barrier dysfunction on IBS,analyzing its associations with the mechanical,im-mune,chemical,and microbial components of the gut barrier,as well as current clinical treatment approaches.Moreover,this paper highlights the potential of intestinal barrier repair mechanisms as therapeutic targets,which may provide novel insights and directions for understanding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and de-veloping effective interventions for IBS.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)is currently acknowledged as an independent cause of disease.Beyond smoking and heavy alcohol use,persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus(HPV)is receiving increased recognition as a newly identified independent cause of this condition.The distinct clinical character-istics of HPV-related HNSCC,which are linked with a better prognosis,and its interaction with the tumor immune micro-environment,are areas of intense research focus.The specific immune response triggered by HPV and the tumor immune microenvironment are vital in the development,progression,and outcome of HNSCC.This review examines the ways HPV positive HNSCC evades the immune system,assesses the influence of HPV on the tumor immune microenvironment in HN-SCC,and explores its interaction with the body's adaptive immunity.This article presents a review on the evaluation of specific immune responses in improving the prognosis of HPV-related HNSCC and discusses the potential value of immune analysis in predicting prognosis.Furthermore,we analyze novel immune therapy strategies,mechanisms,and prognosis in HPV-related HNSCC.

Background/Aims: Early detection and effective prognosis prediction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide an avenue for survival improvement, yet more effective approaches are greatly needed. We sought to develop the detection and prognosis models with ultra-sensitivity and low cost based on fragmentomic features of circulating cell free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA). Methods: Capture-based mtDNA sequencing was carried out in plasma cell-free DNA samples from 1168 participants, including 571 patients with HCC, 301 patients with chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis (CHB/LC) and 296 healthy controls (HC). Results: The systematic analysis revealed significantly aberrant fragmentomic features of ccf-mtDNA in HCC group when compared with CHB/LC and HC groups. Moreover, we constructed a random forest algorithm-based HCC detection model by utilizing ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features. Both internal and two external validation cohorts demonstrated the excellent capacity of our model in distinguishing early HCC patients from HC and highrisk population with CHB/LC, with AUC exceeding 0.983 and 0.981, sensitivity over 89.6% and 89.61%, and specificity over 98.20% and 95.00%, respectively, greatly surpassing the performance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and mtDNA copy number. We also developed an HCC prognosis prediction model by LASSO-Cox regression to select 20 fragmentomic features, which exhibited exceptional ability in predicting 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival (AUC=0.8333, 0.8145 and 0.7958 for validation cohort, respectively). Conclusions We have developed and validated a high-performing and low-cost approach in a large clinical cohort based on aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features with promising clinical translational application for the early detection and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.

Objective: This study investigates the potential of radiomics to predict postoperative progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) after posterior cervical spine surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included 473 patients diagnosed with OPLL at Peking University Third Hospital between October 2006 and September 2022. Patients underwent posterior spinal surgery and had at least 2 computed tomography (CT) examinations spaced at least 1 year apart. OPLL progression was defined as an annual growth rate exceeding 7.5%. Radiomic features were extracted from preoperative CT images of the OPLL lesions, followed by feature selection using correlation coefficient analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis. Univariable analysis identified significant clinical variables for constructing the clinical model. Logistic regression models, including the Rad-score model, clinical model, and combined model, were developed to predict OPLL progression. Results: Of the 473 patients, 191 (40.4%) experienced OPLL progression. On the testing set, the combined model, which incorporated the Rad-score and clinical variables (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.751), outperformed both the radiomics-only model (AUC = 0.693) and the clinical model (AUC = 0.620). Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted probabilities and observed outcomes, and decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical utility of the combined model. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis indicated that the Rad-score and age were key contributors to the model’s predictions, enhancing clinical interpretability. Conclusion Radiomics, combined with clinical variables, provides a valuable predictive tool for assessing the risk of postoperative progression in cervical OPLL, supporting more personalized treatment strategies. Prospective, multicenter validation is needed to confirm the utility of the model in broader clinical settings.

Objective: This study investigates the potential of radiomics to predict postoperative progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) after posterior cervical spine surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included 473 patients diagnosed with OPLL at Peking University Third Hospital between October 2006 and September 2022. Patients underwent posterior spinal surgery and had at least 2 computed tomography (CT) examinations spaced at least 1 year apart. OPLL progression was defined as an annual growth rate exceeding 7.5%. Radiomic features were extracted from preoperative CT images of the OPLL lesions, followed by feature selection using correlation coefficient analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis. Univariable analysis identified significant clinical variables for constructing the clinical model. Logistic regression models, including the Rad-score model, clinical model, and combined model, were developed to predict OPLL progression. Results: Of the 473 patients, 191 (40.4%) experienced OPLL progression. On the testing set, the combined model, which incorporated the Rad-score and clinical variables (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.751), outperformed both the radiomics-only model (AUC = 0.693) and the clinical model (AUC = 0.620). Calibration curves demonstrated good agreement between predicted probabilities and observed outcomes, and decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical utility of the combined model. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis indicated that the Rad-score and age were key contributors to the model’s predictions, enhancing clinical interpretability. Conclusion Radiomics, combined with clinical variables, provides a valuable predictive tool for assessing the risk of postoperative progression in cervical OPLL, supporting more personalized treatment strategies. Prospective, multicenter validation is needed to confirm the utility of the model in broader clinical settings.

Background/Aims: Early detection and effective prognosis prediction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide an avenue for survival improvement, yet more effective approaches are greatly needed. We sought to develop the detection and prognosis models with ultra-sensitivity and low cost based on fragmentomic features of circulating cell free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA). Methods: Capture-based mtDNA sequencing was carried out in plasma cell-free DNA samples from 1168 participants, including 571 patients with HCC, 301 patients with chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis (CHB/LC) and 296 healthy controls (HC). Results: The systematic analysis revealed significantly aberrant fragmentomic features of ccf-mtDNA in HCC group when compared with CHB/LC and HC groups. Moreover, we constructed a random forest algorithm-based HCC detection model by utilizing ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features. Both internal and two external validation cohorts demonstrated the excellent capacity of our model in distinguishing early HCC patients from HC and highrisk population with CHB/LC, with AUC exceeding 0.983 and 0.981, sensitivity over 89.6% and 89.61%, and specificity over 98.20% and 95.00%, respectively, greatly surpassing the performance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and mtDNA copy number. We also developed an HCC prognosis prediction model by LASSO-Cox regression to select 20 fragmentomic features, which exhibited exceptional ability in predicting 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival (AUC=0.8333, 0.8145 and 0.7958 for validation cohort, respectively). Conclusions We have developed and validated a high-performing and low-cost approach in a large clinical cohort based on aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features with promising clinical translational application for the early detection and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.