Objective To explore the causal relationship between immune cells and heart failure (HF), and the mediating role of serum metabolites, in order to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Methods We employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis method based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, analyzing the direct and indirect effects of 731 types of immune cells and 1 400 metabolites on HF. We selected valid instrumental variables and conducted statistical analyses using R software. The primary analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighted method, supplemented by MR-Egger analysis and weighted median method. The stability of the results was assessed through tests such as Cochran’s Q test. Results Our research found a negative causal relationship between PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ and HF. Sensitivity analysis supported this result. The reverse MR analysis did not find an effect of HF on PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+, indicating that PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ might play a unidirectional role in reducing the risk of HF. Further mediation MR analysis showed that PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ might influence the risk of HF onset by regulating the levels of sphingomyelin (d17:1/14:0, d16:1/15:0), with a mediation effect ratio of 6.7%. Conclusion PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ may reduce the risk of HF by elevating the levels of sphingomyelin (d17:1/14:0, d16:1/15:0), which provides a new perspective for understanding the pathogenesis of HF.

Autism spectrum disorder （ASD）， also known as autism， is a series of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social disorders and repetitive stereotyped behaviors/narrow interests. Its pathogenesis is complex， and there is a lack of effective treatment drugs， with some cases having adverse outcomes. Recent studies have consistently revealed that individuals with autism spectrum disorder （ASD） commonly exhibit characteristics such as gut microbiota dysbiosis （abnormal Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio）， impaired intestinal barrier function （elevated serum levels of zonulin and LPS）， and intestinal immune dysregulation （increased pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6 and TNF-α）， suggesting that gastrointestinal abnormalities may influence central nervous system development through neuroendocrine， immunoregulatory， and metabolic pathways. Consequently， growing scholarly attention has focused on dietary interventions as potential approaches to alleviate clinical symptoms in children with ASD. This review systematically summarizes the role of gut microbiota and their metabolite alterations in ASD pathogenesis， along with recent advancements in understanding the microbiota-gut-brain axis mechanisms. Additionally， it elaborates on the therapeutic effects and underlying biological basis of restrictive diet therapy， modified diet therapy， and nutritional supplementation therapy in promoting the health of children with ASD. This systematic review reveals that children with ASD exhibit significant gut microbiota dysbiosis （e.g.， increased Clostridium， decreased Faecalibacterium） and abnormal metabolite profiles （e.g.， altered short-chain fatty acid spectra， elevated 4EPS levels）. These alterations exacerbate neuroinflammation and immune dysregulation through the microbiota-gut-brain axis， thereby impacting nervous system development and function. Furthermore， interventions such as ketogenic diets， camel milk， and specific nutritional supplements can alleviate certain ASD symptoms by modulating gut microbiota， restoring intestinal barrier function， and improving metabolic pathways. Future investigations should aim to create multi-omics evaluation systems for pinpointing potential beneficiaries， devise individualized intervention strategies rooted in microbiome characteristics， and verify their therapeutic value and safety in large-scale randomized controlled trials. These efforts are crucial to transitioning ASD treatment from symptomatic control to address disease etiology， thereby paving the way for improving prognoses.

Wilson disease （WD） is one of the few treatable neurogenetic disorders. Currently， Western medicine remains the main treatment method for WD， while since the 1990s， multiple studies conducted by Professor Yang Renmin and his team have shown that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） also has a favorable therapeutic effect. Based on the principle of low-copper diet for WD， this article systematically elaborates on the advantages， limitations， and key considerations of current Western medicine therapies （pharmacotherapy， liver transplantation， and splenectomy） and reviews the research findings of TCM in China， especially the wide application of Gandou Decoction in clinical practice. Studies have shown that Gandou Decoction can effectively improve neurological symptoms， protect hepatic and renal function， and avoid the adverse drug reactions associated with metal chelating agents， and therefore， it can be used an effective long-term adjuvant therapy for WD. It should be noted that symptoms and signs should be considered in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy for WD， and high-copper TCM drugs should be avoided to prevent deterioration.

Objective To explore the echocardiographic features of critically ill patients with infection, and to evaluate the predictive value of echocardiographic parameters for 28-day mortality and myocardial injury. Methods Using a single-center prospective cohort design, 120 critically ill patients with infection admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2024 to January 2025 were enrolled consecutively. According to the severity of infection, patients were divided into the sepsis group (n＝75) and the non-sepsis group (n＝45). Cox proportional hazards models and modified Poisson regression were used to analyze risk factors of 28-day all-cause mortality and myocardial injury. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to assess prognosis differences among patients with different ultrasound parameters. ROC curve and area under the curve (AUC) were applied to evaluate the predictive performance of ultrasound parameters, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was used to explore nonlinear relationships. Results The E/e′ ratio was significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the non-sepsis group (P＜0.001), while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were lower in the sepsis group (P＜0.05). The Cox proportional hazards model found no association between ultrasound parameters and 28-day all-cause mortality. Modified Poisson regression showed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, elevated E/e′ was an independent risk factor of myocardial injury (RR＝1.12, 95% CI 1.07–1.17, P＜0.001). Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with E/e′ ＞10.9 had lower 28-day survival rates (P＝0.02), and the AUC for E/e′ predicting myocardial injury was 0.835. RCS analysis suggested a nonlinear relationship between E/e′ and myocardial injury risk (P＜0.001). Conclusions E/e′, LVEF, and LVFS have no significant predictive value for 28-day mortality risk in critically ill patients with infections. Elevated E/e′ is an independent risk factor of myocardial injury in such patients, with a nonlinear relationship.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9) for delayed graft function (DGF) following kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 49 kidney transplant recipients who underwent sC5b-9 detection at the Second People’s Hospital of Shanxi Province between January 2024 and December 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Recipients were divided into the DGF group (n=25) and the non-DGF group (n=24) according to the occurrence of DGF. Baseline characteristics and serum sC5b-9 levels were compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of sC5b-9 for DGF. A restricted cubic spline model was adopted to investigate the association between sC5b-9 and DGF. Results Among the 49 recipients, DGF occurred in 25 patients. Compared with the non-DGF group, the DGF group presented a higher proportion of male patients, a higher incidence of adverse transplant outcomes, and elevated final serum creatinine levels (all P<0.05). Within 30 days after transplantation, sC5b-9 concentrations were significantly higher in the DGF group than those in the non-DGF group (P<0.001). ROC analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) of sC5b-9 for diagnosing DGF was 0.81, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.68-0.92, and the optimal cutoff value was 265.7 ng/mL. Recipients with elevated sC5b-9 (≥265.7 ng/mL) had a significantly higher incidence of DGF than those with low sC5b-9 levels (<265.7 ng/mL) (P<0.001). Recipients with adverse outcomes exhibited significantly higher sC5b-9 levels than those without adverse outcomes (P<0.001), and the AUC of sC5b-9 for identifying adverse outcomes was 0.82 (95%CI 0.63-0.95). A significant nonlinear correlation was observed between sC5b-9 and final serum creatinine (P<0.001). Conclusions Elevated sC5b-9 is correlated with the development of DGF after kidney transplantation and exhibits favorable diagnostic performance. It may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting early allograft dysfunction and adverse outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of serum C-C motif chemokine ligand 3(CCL3)and Semaphorin 3A in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)complicated by osteoporosis(OP).Methods A total of 125 patients with T2DM complicated by OP who visited the hospital from August 2022 to August 2023 were selected as the OP group,and another 125 patients with T2DM without OP who visited the hospital during the same period were selected as the T2DM group.The OP group was divided into Group A(T value>-1.0,but slightly lower than the normal value),Group B(T value between-2.5 and-1.0),and Group C(T value<-2.5)based on the measurement results of bone mineral density(BMD).The lev-els of serum CCL3 and Semaphorin 3A in each group were compared.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between serum CCL3,Semaphorin 3A and BMD in patients with T2DM complicated by OP.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of T2DM compli-cated by OP.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of se-rum CCL3 and Semaphorin 3A for T2DM complicated by OP.Results Compared with the T2DM group,the serum CCL3 level in the OP group increased,and the Semaphorin 3A level decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with group A,the serum CCL3 levels in group B and group C increased,while the Semaphorin 3A level decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with group B,the serum CCL3 level in group C increased and the Semaphorin 3A level de-creased,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the T2DM group,the femo-ral neck bone BMD,lumbar spine BMD and total hip BMD in the OP group were significantly decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The serum CCL3 level in patients with T2DM accompa-nied by OP was negatively correlated with femoral neck bone BMD,lumbar spine BMD and total hip BMD(P<0.05),and the serum Semaphorin 3A level was positively correlated with femoral neck bone BMD,lum-bar spine BMD and total hip BMD(P<0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CCL3 was an independent risk factor for T2DM with OP(P<0.05),and Semaphorin 3A was an inde-pendent protective factor for T2DM with OP(P<0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of serum CCL3,Semaphorin 3A and their combination diagnosis of T2DM accom-panied by OP were 0.810,0.802 and 0.869,respectively.The AUC of the combined diagnosis of T2DM ac-companied by OP was superior to their individual diagnoses(Zcombination-CCL3=2.235,Zcombination-Semaphorin 3A=2.021,P=0.025,0.043).Conclusion The serum CCL3 level is increased in patients with T2DM accompanied by OP,and the Semaphorin 3A level is decreased.The combination of the two has certain diagnostic value for T2DM accompanied by OP.

Objective To explore the correlation between serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF),25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D]and cognitive function in patients with vestibular migraine(VM).Methods A total of 200 patients with VM were selected and used as the VM group.Based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)criteria,patients were divided into the cognitively normal group(128 cases)and the cognitively impaired group(72 cases).Additionally,200 healthy individuals undergoing routine health examination were selected as the control group.Serum MIF and 25(OH)D levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze influencing factors of cognitive impairment in VM patients.The value of serum MIF and 25(OH)D levels in diagnosing cognitive impairment in patients with VM was analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The serum MIF was higher in the VM group than that of the control group,and serum 25(OH)D was lower in the VM group(P＜0.05).The serum MIF was higher in the cognitive impairment group than that of the cognitive normal group,while the serum 25(OH)D was lower in the cognitive impairment group than that of the cognitive normal group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression found that increased serum MIF level and decreased 25(OH)D level were independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in VM patients(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC(95%CI)of the combined diagnosis of cognitive impairment in VM patients using serum MIF and 25(OH)D levels was 0.900(0.850-0.938),which was higher than that of MIF diagnosed alone[0.797(0.735-0.851)]and 25(OH)D alone[0.817(0.756-0.868),P＜0.05].Conclusion VM patients with cognitive impairment have elevated serum MIF levels and decreased 25(OH)D levels.The combined diagnostic value of the two markers has a relatively high value for VM patients with cognitive impairment.

Objective To explore the correlation between serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF),25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D]and cognitive function in patients with vestibular migraine(VM).Methods A total of 200 patients with VM were selected and used as the VM group.Based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)criteria,patients were divided into the cognitively normal group(128 cases)and the cognitively impaired group(72 cases).Additionally,200 healthy individuals undergoing routine health examination were selected as the control group.Serum MIF and 25(OH)D levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze influencing factors of cognitive impairment in VM patients.The value of serum MIF and 25(OH)D levels in diagnosing cognitive impairment in patients with VM was analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The serum MIF was higher in the VM group than that of the control group,and serum 25(OH)D was lower in the VM group(P＜0.05).The serum MIF was higher in the cognitive impairment group than that of the cognitive normal group,while the serum 25(OH)D was lower in the cognitive impairment group than that of the cognitive normal group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression found that increased serum MIF level and decreased 25(OH)D level were independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in VM patients(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC(95%CI)of the combined diagnosis of cognitive impairment in VM patients using serum MIF and 25(OH)D levels was 0.900(0.850-0.938),which was higher than that of MIF diagnosed alone[0.797(0.735-0.851)]and 25(OH)D alone[0.817(0.756-0.868),P＜0.05].Conclusion VM patients with cognitive impairment have elevated serum MIF levels and decreased 25(OH)D levels.The combined diagnostic value of the two markers has a relatively high value for VM patients with cognitive impairment.

Objective To investigate the damage mechanism of extracellular vesicles(EVs)derived from ves-tibular schwannoma(VS)on HEI-OC1 cells and the protective effect of the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1(Fer-1).Methods Tumor tissues and clinical data were collected from four patients with stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ VS,classified as grade D according to the AAO-HNS hearing classification.Primary VS cells were extracted,and their conditioned supernatant was collected.EVs were isolated using ultracentrifugation and identified.HEI-OC1 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into three groups:the control group(no treatment),the EVs group(treated with 3000 parti-cles/cell VS-EVs for 24 hours),and the EVs+Fer-1 group(pretreated with 20 μmol/L Fer-1 for 2 hours followed by co-culture with 3000 particles/cell VS-EVs for 24 hours).Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay,re-active oxygen species(ROS)levels were quantified using the DCFH-DA fluorescent probe,and lipid peroxidation was evaluated using the BODIPY 581/591 C11 probe.Results Compared with the control group,the EVs group showed significantly reduced cell viability(P＜0.001)and increased levels of ROS(P＜0.001)and lipid peroxides(P＜0.001).However,the EVs+Fer-1 group exhibited significantly restored cell viability(P＜0.001)and re-duced levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation(P＜0.001).Conclusion VS-derived EVs disrupts redox homeostasis,promotes intracellular accumulation of lipid peroxides and ROS,and induces ferroptosis in HEI-OC1 cells.Fer-1 significantly alleviates VS-EVs-induced ferroptosis,thereby protecting HEI-OC1 cells from damage.

Objective To investigate the predictive capacity of the Triglyceride-Glucose(TyG)index and the Triglyceride-Glucose-Body Mass Index(TyG-BMI)for the development of hyperuricemia(HUA)in a health examination population,and to identify suitable indicators as risk assessment tools for HUA.Methods This study ultimately included 12 004 participants from a health examination cohort.According to SUA levels,the partici-pants were categorized into a normal group(n=9 952)and a hyperuricemia(HUA)group(n=2 052).The TyG index and TyG-BMI index were calculated,and participants were further stratified into four groups(Q1—Q4)based on the quartiles of these indices.Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between TyG,TyG-BMI,and HUA.The predictive value of TyG,TyG-BMI,and their combination for HUA was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC)curves and the Area Under the Curve(AUC).Subgroup analyses were carried out by gender and age.Results The TyG and TyG-BMI indices were significantly elevated in the HUA group compared to the normal group.The prevalence of HUA was markedly higher in the TyG-Q4 and TyG-BMI-Q4 groups than in the other three corresponding quartile groups.Binary logistic regression analysis revealed a positive association between TyG,TyG-BMI levels,and the risk of HUA.The AUC values for predicting HUA using TyG,TyG-BMI,and their combination were 0.700,0.747,and 0.822,respectively.Specifically,for males,the AUC values were 0.641,0.674,and 0.709,respectively,whereas for females,they were 0.742,0.776,and 0.829,respectively.Among individuals younger than 60 years old,the AUC values were 0.716,0.759,and 0.835,respectively,while for those aged 60 years or older,the values were 0.614,0.645,and 0.731,respectively.Conclusions TyG and TyG-BMI are significantly associated with the risk of HUA.Specifically,TyG-BMI demon-strates superior predictive performance compared to TyG alone.Moreover,the combination of TyG and TyG-BMI further improves predictive accuracy,particularly among female and middle-aged or younger populations.