ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of interfering with long noncoding RNA （LncRNA） small nucleolar RNA host gene16 （SNHG16） on improving angiogenesis of ectopic endometrial stromal cells （EScs） in adenomyosis （AM） by targeting upregulation of miRNA （miR）-141-3p and inhibition of high mobility group box-1 protein （HMGB1）. MethodsThe expression levels of SNHG16， miR-141-3p and HMGB1 mRNA in endometrial tissues of 52 patients with adenomyosis （AM group） and 52 patients who needed hysterectomy due to cervical cancer or ovarian cancer （control group） were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR）. Y14 cells were divided into small hairpin RNA （shRNA） NC group， shRNA SNHG16 group， shRNA SNHG16+miR-141-3p inhibitor （inhibitor） group， shRNA SNHG16+inhibitor NC group and blank group. The targeting relationship between miR-141-3p and SNHG16 as well as HMGB1 was verified. The expression levels of SNHG16， miR-141-3p and HMGB1 mRNA in Y14 cells were detected by qRT-PCR. CCK-8 and Transwell assay were used to detect cell proliferation， invasion and migration. Microvascular density （MVD） was determined by immunofluorescence. The expressions of hypoxia-inducing factor α （HIF-1α）， cyclooxygenase-2 （Cox-2）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and HMGB1 were detected by Western blot. ResultsThe expression of SNHG16 and HMGB1 mRNA in AM group was higher than that in control group， but the expression of miR-141-3p was lower than that in control group （P0.05）. The expression of SNHG16， HMGB1 mRNA， proliferation rate， migration， invasion number， MVD， expression of VEGF， HIF-1 α， Cox-2， and HMGB1 proteins in the shRNA SNHG16 group were lower than those in the blank group and shRNA NC group， while the expression of miR-141-3p was higher than that in the blank group and shRNA NC group （P0.05）. Inhibition of miR-141-3p reversed the improvement of EScs angiogenesis by interfering with SNHG16. ConclusionInterference with LncRNA SNHG16 improves EScs angiogenesis and inhibits proliferation， migration， and invasion of EScs by targeting upregulation of miR-141-3p and inhibition of HMGB1.

ObjectiveTo establish and characterize an inducible， CD4+ T cell-specific ablation mouse model （CD4-iDTR） using the Cre-loxP and diphtheria toxin receptor （DTR） systems， and to evaluate its depletion efficacy and specificity. MethodsCD4-iDTR mice were generated through cross-breeding， with genotypes confirmed via PCR-based screening. Mice were categorized into an untreated （control） group and a diphtheria toxin （DT） induction group. Flow cytometry was employed to compare the baseline distribution of CD4⁺ T cells between untreated CD4-iDTR and wild-type C57BL/6 mice.In the DT group， CD4⁺ T cell ablation was induced by subcutaneous DT administration. The depletion efficiency in skin tissues and skin-draining lymph nodes （sdLNs） was quantified at 24 h and 1 week post-injection. Furthermore， the proportions of neutrophils， macrophages， dendritic cells， and other CD11b⁺ immune cell subsets in the skin were monitored to assess the model specificity. ResultsGenomic profiling confirmed the successful generation of the CD4-iDTR line. Under steady-state conditions， no significant differences were observed in the frequency or absolute number of CD4⁺ T cells in the skin and sdLNs between CD4-iDTR and C57BL/6 mice （P>0.05）. Following DT induction， the CD4⁺ T cell population in the skin exhibited decline within 24 h and 1 week （P<0.05）， whereas the CD4⁺ T cell counts in sdLNs remained stable. The percentages of cutaneous neutrophils， macrophages， and other CD11b⁺ myeloid populations were not significantly altered following DT treatment （P>0.05）. ConclusionThe CD4-iDTR mouse model is successfully established and bred， achieving efficient， specific， and inducible ablation of cutaneous CD4⁺ T cells without significant interference with the skin immune microenvironment. This model serves as an ideal experimental tool for investigating skin-specific immunological mechanisms.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of creatine deficiency syndrome (CDS) caused by GAMT gene mutations. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and genetic data of two children diagnosed with GAMT deficiency-type CDS at the Children's Medical Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, from December 2020 to December 2024. RESULTS: The two patients presented with symptoms in infancy, and both had compound heterozygous mutations in the GAMT gene. Case 1 exhibited seizures and intellectual disability, while Case 2 had intellectual disability and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of cranial MRI in both patients indicated reduced creatine peaks. After creatine treatment, seizures in Case 1 were controlled, but both patients continued to experience intellectual disabilities and behavioral issues. As of December 2024, a total of 21 cases have been reported in China (including this study), and 115 cases have been reported abroad. All patients exhibited developmental delay or intellectual disabilities, with 66.9% (91/136) experiencing seizures, 33.8% (46/136) presenting with motor disorders, and 36.8% (50/136) having behavioral problems. Seventy-five percent (102/136) of patients received creatine treatment, leading to significant improvements in seizures and motor disorders, although cognitive improvement was not substantial. CONCLUSIONS GAMT deficiency-type CDS is rare and presents with nonspecific clinical features. Timely diagnosis facilitates targeted treatment, which can partially improve prognosis.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Creatine/deficiency* ; Guanidinoacetate N-Methyltransferase/deficiency* ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Mutation ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyolysis/genetics* ; Language Development Disorders ; Movement Disorders/congenital*

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological and molecular genetic features of high-grade astrocytomas with piloid features (HGAP).Methods:Clinical, histopathological and imaging data of 7 cases of HGAP diagnosed at the Neuropathology Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Beijing, China from August 2023 to October 2024 were collected. The histopathological and molecular features for each case were analyzed.Results:Among the seven patients there were 4 males and 3 females, with the median age of 37 (34, 51) years. Patients exhibited various clinical symptoms and signs depending on the tumor′s location. Four tumors were located in the cerebellum, 2 in the supratentorial region, and 1 in the spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that 6 of the 7 patients had cystic and solid lesions, with focal or nodular enhancement and relatively unclear boundaries. Histopathological features had a diverse morphological spectrum and extensive grading. Five cases displayed a pilocytic astrocytoma-like appearance with infiltrative growth patterns, while two cases presented glioblastoma-like morphology, containing locally anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with minor pilocytic components. All tumors were diffusely positive for GFAP and Olig2, while 4 tumors exhibited partial or complete loss of ATRX. The Ki-67 proliferation index ranged from 2% to 40%. Next-generation sequencing showed that tumor cells most commonly harbored MAPK pathway gene mutations, and/or homozygous deletions of CDKN2A/B, and/or ATRX mutations. Among the 7 HGAP models, 3 cases showed the three types of molecular genetic variations, 1 case showed MAPK mutations and homozygous deletions of CDKN2A/B, 1 case had MAPK mutations and ATRX mutations, 1 case had only MAPK mutations, and 1 case showed no detectable molecular changes. DNA methylation clustering analyses showed that the median model prediction score was 0.94 (range, 0.85-0.99) for the 7 HGAP models. Five cases showed the MGMT promoter hypermethylation. Four patients received radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide treatment after surgery, while three patients received no known treatments. At the last follow-up, seven patients were alive without any tumor, two patients had recurrence, and one patient was alive with the tumor.Conclusions:HGAP is relatively rare and predominantly occurs in adults. It has a wide histopathological spectrum and various histological grades, characterized by piloid astrocytoma-like and glioblastoma-like histological features. Its diagnosis relies on methylation clustering analysis. Most tumors harbor gene alterations in the MAPK signaling pathway, along with homozygous deletions of CDKN2A/B or ATRX mutations. The biological behavior is typically aggressive, while imaging and histological findings can be misleading. Therefore, clinicians need to increase their diagnostic awareness of this tumor and prevent missed diagnoses.

Objective:To explore the therapeutic efficacy and prognostic factors of combined rituximab and intensive chemotherapy for sporadic adult Burkitt lymphoma (BL) .Methods:This retrospective study examined the clinical and survival data of 30 patients newly diagnosed with BL between July 2011 and February 2023 at the Blood Diseases Hospital. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and the log-rank test was used for univariate analysis of prognostic factors.Results:The median age of the 30 patients was 43 years (24 - 66 years), and the male to female ratio was 3: 2. Extranodal invasion was present in 80% of the patients, with involvement of the bone marrow in 53.3% and central nervous system in 10.0%. The Ann Arbor stage was Ⅲ and Ⅳ in 86.7%. According to the number of Burkitt Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (BL-IPI) risk factors, patients were classified as low risk (0) in 20.0%, intermediate risk (1) in 43.3%, and high risk (≥2) in 36.7%. All patients were treated with an induction regimen of rituximab combined with intensive chemotherapy, with objective and complete response rates of 80.0% and 76.7%, respectively. The median follow-up was 49 months (6-153 months), and the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were both (76.7±7.7) %. All patients with limited stage ( n=4) achieved continuous complete remission (CCR). Patients who had high risk, advanced stage sensitive to induction therapy ( n=10) sequentially received first-line autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) as consolidation therapy; 9 patients achieved CCR, whereas 1 patient with central nervous system invasion developed early disease progression and died. The BL-IPI low, intermediate, and high risk groups had respective 5-year PFS rates of (83.3±15.2) %, 100.0%, and (45.5±15.0) % ( P=0.0069) and OS rates of (83.3±15.2) %, 100.0%, and (45.5±15.0) % ( P=0.0075). The main adverse effects of induction therapy were myelosuppression and secondary infections, which were effectively managed by appropriate symptomatic treatment. Univariate analysis demonstrated that worse PFS was associated with BL-IPI score ≥2 ( HR=4.90, 95% CI 1.02-23.45, P=0.0329) ; extranodal invasion at ≥2 sites ( HR=12.62, 95% CI 2.59-61.62, P=0.0021) ; and failure to achieve first complete response (CR1) after induction therapy ( HR=31.86, 95% CI 4.19-242.20, P<0.0001) . Conclusions:Intensive immunochemotherapy regimens were effective and well-tolerated by adult patients with highly aggressive BL. Treatment efficacy was ideal in patients with limited-stage disease, whereas prognosis was unsatisfactory in patients with high-risk BL-IPI. Sequential first-line auto-HSCT consolidation therapy may further improve outcomes in patients with high-risk advanced-stage disease who are sensitive to induction therapy. BL-IPI score ≥2, extranodal invasion at ≥2 sites, and failure to achieve CR1 after induction therapy were adverse prognostic factors in adult patients with BL.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild rodents in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China, so as to provide insights into formulation of technical guidelines for monitoring of and the precise control strategy for S. japonicum infections in wild rodents during the elimination phase. Methods Two administrative villages where schistosomiasis was historically highly prevalent were selected each from Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, and Duchang County, Jiangxi Province as study villages. Wild rodents were captured from study villages with baited traps or cages at night in June and September, 2021. The number of rodents captured was recorded, and the rodent species was characterized based on morphologi-cal characteristics. Liver tissues were sampled from captured rodents for macroscopical observation of the presence of egg granu- lomas, and S. japonicum infection was detected simultaneously using liver tissue homogenate microscopy, examinations of mesenteric tissues for parasites, and modified Kato-Katz thick smear technique (Kato-Katz technique). A positive S. japonicum infection was defined as detection of S. japonicum eggs or adult worms by any of these methods. The rate of wild rodent capture and prevalence of S. japonicum infections in wild rodents were compared in different study villages and at different time periods, and the detection of S. japonicum infections in wild rodents was compared by different assays. Results The overall rate of wild ro- dent capture was 8.28% (237/2 861) in Dongzhi County, and the wild rodent capture rates were 9.24% (133/1 439) and 7.31% (104/1 422) in two study villages (χ² = 3.503, P = 0.061), and were 8.59% (121/1 409) and 7.99% (116/1 452) in June and September, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.337, P = 0.561). The overall rate of wild rodent capture was 3.72% (77/2 072) in Duchang County, and the wild rodent capture rates were 6.91% (67/970) and 0.91% (10/1 102) in two study villages (χ² = 51.901, P < 0.001), and were 4.13% (39/945) and 3.37% (38/1 127) in June and September, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.815, P = 0.365). Rattus norvegicus was the predominant rodent species captured in both counties, accounting for 70.04% (166/237) of all captured wild rodents in Dongzhi County and 88.31% (68/77) in Duchang County. No S. japonicum infection was detected in wild rodents captured in Duchang County. Nevertheless, the overall prevalence of S. japonicum infections was 51.05% (121/237) in wild rodents captured in Dongzhi County, with prevalence rates of 50.38% (67/133) and 51.92% (54/104) in two study villages (χ² = 0.098, P = 0.755), and 54.31% (63/116) and 47.93% (58/121) in September and June, 2021, respectively (χ² = 0.964, P = 0.326). Of 237 wild rodents captured in Dongzhi County, there were 140 (59.07%) rodents with visible hepatic egg granulomas, 117 (49.47%) tested positive for S. japonicum eggs by liver tissue homogenate microscopy, 34 (14.35%) tested positive for S. japonicum eggs with Kato-Katz technique; however, no adult S. japonicum worms were detected in mesenteric tissues. In addition, hepatic egg granulomas were found in all wild rodents tested positive for S. japonicum eggs with liver tissue homogenate microscopy. Conclusions The rate of wild rodent capture and prevalence of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents vary greatly in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China, and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection is slightly higher in wild rodents captured in autumn than in summer. Liver tissue is recommended as the preferred sample for surveillance of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents, and a combination of macroscopical observation of hepatic egg granulomas and liver tissue homogenate microscopy may be a standard method for surveillance of S. japonicum infection in wild rodents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Objective:To investigate the motor unit number estimation (MUNE) by compound muscle action potential scanning (MScan) in healthy people and establish its normal values of electrophysiological lab.Methods:One hundred and twenty-six healthy subjects admitted to Electrophysiological Lab of Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University from January 2023 to March 2024 were enrolled. The ulnar nerve and the median nerve were stimulated at the wrist and a compound muscle action potential (CMAP) scan from the abductor digiti minimi muscle and the abductor pollicis brevis muscle was recorded, respectively. CMAP and MUNE were obtained. The differences in the MScan MUNE from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle and abductor digiti minimi muscle of healthy subjects of different genders and age groups were analyzed.Results:The values of the Mscan MUNE from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle and abductor digiti minimi muscle of 126 healthy subjects were 115.61±29.96 and 124.17±32.80, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis showed that Mscan MUNE in healthy subjects tended to increase with the increase of CMAP amplitude (abductor pollicis brevis muscle R2=0.190, P<0.001; abductor digiti minimi muscle R2=0.065, P=0.001). There were no significant differences in the MScan MUNE of different gender groups and different age groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The differences in age and gender of the subjects had no significant effect on the values of the MScan MUNE. The normal values of the MScan MUNE in the abductor pollicis brevis muscle and abductor digiti minimi muscle were 115.61±29.96 and 124.17±32.80.

Objective:To establish a portable gastrointestinal endoscopy telemedicine platform that enables the real-time transmission of endoscopy audio and video data to the consulting physicians through 5G communication technology, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this platform.Methods:From October 10 to October 20, 2023, 30 cases (16 cases from Sanya, Hainan Province, and 14 cases from Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province) from primary health institutions were selected for portable gastrointestinal endoscopy telemedicine consultations with a tertiary hospital in Shanghai. 5G network transmission parameters were recorded, and the lesion detection rate of the examination side and the consultation side, as well as the quality of the videos and images were compared.Results:The 5G network transmission parameters for telemedicine from Sanya and Zhanjiang to Shanghai included download network speeds of 168.3 Mbps and 160.4 Mbps, upload network speeds of 75.1 Mbps and 72.4 Mbps, and delays of 28 ms and 25 ms, respectively. There was no significant difference in the lesion detection rate [43.3% (13/30) VS 36.7% (11/30), χ2=0.792, P=0.598] between the physicians on the examination side and the consultation side. The endoscopic video quality (2.92±0.59 points VS 2.88±0.64 points, t=0.302, P=0.763) and picture quality (3.10±0.57 points VS 3.05±0.53 points, t=0.424, P=0.622) were compared by two senior endoscopists between the examination side and the consultation side, indicating no significant difference. Conclusion:The utilization of portable gastrointestinal endoscopy for telemedicine based on 5G network technology is effective in enabling telemedicine consultations and providing operational guidance. This approach enhances the procedural skills and diagnostic capabilities of physicians in primary healthcare settings, facilitating the equitable distribution of high-quality medical resources.