Background/Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary malignant neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. While combined chemoradiotherapy has been demonstrated to delay CCA progression to a certain extent, the absence of specific molecular biomarkers or targets significantly hinders the diagnosis and treatment of CCA. Methods: Through cross-analysis of proteomics and ADMA modificationomics, we identified DDX1 overexpressed in CCA with elevated R602-ADMA modifications. HPLC-MS/MS identified PRMT1 as the methyltransferase and USP10 as the deubiquitinating enzyme for DDX1. Immunofluorescence and nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning experiments confirmed DDX1’s nuclear localization. GO and KEGG analyses clarify the biological functions of DDX1 in response to hypoxia. RNA-seq transcriptomics analyzed key pathways influenced by DDX1. A hydrodynamic in situ CCA mouse model was established to validate the chemopreventive effects of the PRMT1-specific inhibitor GSK715 on CCA development. Results: DDX1 promotes CCA progression both in vivo and in vitro and can be inhibited by GSK715. Mechanistically, PRMT1 mediates ADMA modification at position R602 of DDX1. This modification promotes DDX1 nuclear localization by recruiting USP10 to deubiquitinate DDX1, while simultaneously inhibiting PRMT1 degradation. DDX1 promotes the transcription of PRMT1 and USP10 by binding to the mRNA 3’UTR region, establishing a positive feedback regulatory pathway. This mechanism promotes the occurrence and development of CCA and can serve as a target for the inhibitor GSK715 to suppress CCA progression. Conclusions Our study identified DDX1-R602-ADMA modification as a novel ADMA modification in CCA. It further confirmed its pivotal role in CCA progression. Targeting the USP10-PRMT1-DDX1 axis may represent a significant therapeutic approach for CCA.

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment strategies for elderly patients with ground-glass opacity (GGO). Methods The imaging features and postoperative pathological findings of the elderly patients with pulmonary GGO receiving surgery in our hospital from 2017 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an elderly patient group and a non-elderly patient group based on their age. Results Finally 575 patients were included in the study. There were 281 elderly patients, including 83 males and 198 females, with an average age of (67.0±5.3) years. There were 294 non-elderly patients, including 88 males and 206 females, with an average age of (49.1±7.3) years. Compared with the non-elderly patients, elderly GGO patients showed the following distinct clinical features: long observation time for lesions (P=0.001), high proportion of rough edges of GGO (P<0.001), significant pleural signs (P＜0.001) and bronchial signs (P＜0.001), and high proportion of type Ⅱ-Ⅳ GGO (P<0.001), lobectomy type (P=0.013), and invasive lesions reported in postoperative pathology (P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in the average hospital stay between the two groups (P=0.106). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GGO diameter and GGO type were the main factors affecting the operation. Observation time, GGO diameter, GGO type and pleural signs were the main influencing factors for postoperative pathological infiltrative lesions. The cut-off value of GGO diameter in predicting infiltrating lesions was 10.5 mm in the elderly patients group. Conclusion The size and type of GGO are important factors in predicting invasive lesions and selecting surgical methods. Elderly patients with radiographic manifestations of type Ⅱ-Ⅳ GGO lesions with a diameter greater than 10.5 mm should be closely followed up.

Objective·To investigate the spatial epigenetic characteristics of spontaneous colon tumors in Apcmin/+mice.Methods·A spatial assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing(ATAC-seq)technology platform was established using an eight-month-old male Apcmin/+mouse model with spontaneous colon tumors.One tumor from a mouse was harvested and embedded in OCT compound for serial cryosectioning;one tissue section was stained with hematoxylin-eosin(H-E)to observe its histological characteristics,while an adjacent section was processed using spatial ATAC-seq technology to generate spatially resolved DNA libraries,followed by sequencing to obtain spatial chromatin accessibility data.Another tumor from the same mouse was digested into a single-cell suspension,in which viable single cells were sorted by flow cytometry and processed for single-cell RNA sequencing.The results were integrated with spatial chromatin accessibility data to jointly analyze the epigenetic characteristics of the colon tumor microenvironment.Results·A stable spatial ATAC-seq platform was successfully established,dividing the tumor into malignant,non-malignant,and malignant-non-malignant boundary regions.Transcription factors enriched in malignant regions included NK2 homeobox 5(NKX2-5)and transcription factor 3(TCF3).Analysis of transcription factor enrichment in the 3 regions revealed two distinct expression trends:one showing a gradual decrease from malignant to boundary to non-malignant regions,and the other exhibiting high expression in malignant and boundary regions but low expression in non-malignant regions.Gene analysis across regions revealed significant upregulation of hypoxia response,transforming growth factor(TGF),and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog(KRAS)signaling pathways in malignant regions,with cell cycle-related functions markedly enhanced.Analysis of cell-cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment revealed significant differences in interaction strength:strong interactions within non-malignant regions,moderate interactions between boundary and non-malignant regions,and weak interactions between malignant and boundary regions as well as between malignant and non-malignant regions.Conclusion·Colon tumors in Apcmin/+mice exhibit high spatial heterogeneity;malignant regions were enriched with transcription factors including TCF3,and cell interactions between malignant regions and boundary/non-malignant regions were relatively weak.

Vulvar lichen sclerosus(LS)is a chronic inflammatory skin and mucosal disease with unknown pathogenesis,which may lead to scar formation of the external genitalia and sexual dysfunction,seriously affecting the quality of life of patients.Genetic factors,autoimmune factors,infections,environment,and hormones are associated with the onset of vulvar LS,and there are also many uncertainties in its clinical diagnosis and treatment.Therefore,based on extensive literatures,this article provides a review of the pathogenesis,diagnosis and evaluation,treatment methods,prognosis and management of vulvar LS.

Objective:To analyze the dynamic changes of serum exosome miR-552 and miR-653 levels in pa-tients with gastric cancer before and after chemotherapy and their relationship with clinical benefit.Methods:IA total of 128 patients with gastric cancer received chemotherapy from January 2022 to January 2024.According to the chemo-therapy effect,the two groups were divided into disease progression group and disease remission group.The levels of serum exosome miR-552 and miR-653 before and after chemotherapy were detected in the two groups,the risk fac-tors affecting the chemotherapy effect of gastric cancer patients were screened,the risk nomogram model was con-structed,and the efficacy was evaluated.Results:The proportion of TNM stage(Ⅲ+Ⅳ),lymph node metastasis,dis-tant metastasis,tumor size(>5 cm),invasion depth(T3/T4)and tumor growth pattern(invasive type)in disease progres-sion group was higher than that in disease remission group(P<0.05).The levels of serum exosomes miR-552 and miR-653 in disease progression group were higher than those in remission group before and after chemotherapy(P<0.05).Compared with before chemotherapy,miR-552 and miR-653 levels in both groups decreased(P<0.05).Logistic regres-sion analysis showed that TNM stage,lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,tumor size,invasion depth,miR-552 and miR-653 were all risk factors affecting the chemotherapy efficacy of gastric cancer(P<0.05).ROC curve results showed that the AUC,95%CI,sensitivity and specificity of risk nomogram model to predict chemotherapy efficacy of gastric cancer were 0.867,0.672～0.991,92.80%and 80.40%,respectively(P<0.001).Calibration curve results showed that both predicted and actual predicted values were near the ideal curve,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit curve test χ2=1.869,P=0.782.Conclusion:The levels of serum exosomes miR-552 and miR-653 are closely related to the chemotherapy efficacy of gastric cancer,and dynamic monitoring of the above indexes is helpful for the evaluation of the disease and prognosis of gastric cancer.In this study,the risk nomogram model constructed based on the above indexes and other risk factors has high predictive value and clinical practicability for chemotherapy efficacy in patients with gastric cancer.

Objective:To explore the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the cognition and ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) of persons with cerebral small vessel disease.Methods:A total of 71 patients with cognitive impairment due to cerebral small vessel disease were randomly divided into a control group ( n=35) and a treatment group ( n=36). The treatment group was further divided into a group with mild cognitive impairment (a score of 21 to 26 on the mini-mental state exam, n=23) and a moderate cognitive impairment group (scoring 10 to 20, n=13). The treatment groups received 10Hz rTMS, while the control group received sham rTMS. Before and after 90 days of treatment, all were assessed using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the cognitive subscale of the vascular dementia assessment scale (VaDAS-cog). Ability in the activities of daily living was quantified using the Barthel Index (BI). Results:After treatment, significantly increased MMSE and BI scores, but significantly decreased VaDAS-cog scores were observed in both groups. At that point the treatment group showed a significantly higher average post-treatment MMSE score (25.61±2.94) and BI score (80.00±7.85), but a significantly lower average VaDAS-cog score (44.06±3.41) than the control group. The average MMSE scores were not significantly different between the mild and moderate cognitive impairment subgroups. No severe adverse reactions were observed during the rTMS treatment.Conclusions:The 10Hz rTMS can effectively improve the cognition and daily living ability of persons with cerebral small vessel disease.

Objective·To preliminarily investigate the regulatory effect and underlying mechanism of fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)on R-spondin 1(Rspo1)expression in CD34+CD81+stromal cells from the mouse colon.Methods·Colonic CD45-CD326-CD31-GP38+CD81+Rspo1-tdTomato+stromal cells were sorted from Rspo1-tdTomato reporter mice by flow cytometry and subsequently cultured in vitro.The expression of surface protein markers was evaluated by flow cytometry after 14 d of culture.qPCR was employed to quantify Rspo1 expression in response to stimulation with FGF2,FGF9,epidermal growth factor(EGF),platelet-derived growth factor-bb(PDGF-bb),insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1),or hepatocyte growth factor(HGF).RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were used to identify the signaling pathways underlying FGF2-mediated regulation of Rspo1,followed by preliminary validation with pathway-specific inhibitors and qPCR.Results·After 14 d of culture,the sorted colonic stromal cells retained expression of CD34,CD81,and glycoprotein GP38,while remaining negative for other lineages markers CD45,CD326,and CD31.qPCR revealed that 20 ng/mL FGF2 significantly suppressed Rspo1 expression,whereas the other tested growth factors exerted no notable effect.RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis indicated that mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathway played a key role in the regulatory effect of FGF2 on Rspo1.qPCR further demonstrated that pretreatment with U0126,an inhibitor of mitogen extracellular kinase 1/2(MEK1/2),reversed FGF2-mediated suppression of Rspo1 expression.Conclusion·FGF2 may inhibit Rspo1 expression in mouse colonic CD34+CD81+stromal cells via the MEK1/2-extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2(ERK1/2)signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the effect of rituximab on cellular immunity and cytokines in children with new-onset steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome(SSNS).Methods Clinical data of 60 children with new-onset SSNS treated at Xuzhou Children's Hospital from December 2021 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Children were allocated according to rituximab use into a control group(no rituximab)and an observation group(rituximab).The relapse rate,T-lymphocyte subsets and cytokines before and after treatment,and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between groups.Results The relapse rate was lower in the observation group than in the control group(27%vs 73%,P<0.05).After treatment,CD3+and CD4+T-lymphocyte counts,the CD4+/CD8+ratio,and serum interleukin-2 increased in the observation group and were higher than in the control group(P<0.05).Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels decreased after treatment in the observation group and were lower than in the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,CD8+T-lymphocyte counts decreased,interferon-γ increased,and interleukin-10 decreased in both groups,with no significant differences between the two groups(P>0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions did not differ significantly between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusions Rituximab can reduce the relapse rate in children with new-onset nephrotic syndrome and shows good safety.Its therapeutic effect is achieved by regulating the number and function of T cells and by modulating the anti-inflammatory effects of cytokines.

Objective·To investigate the spatial epigenetic characteristics of spontaneous colon tumors in Apcmin/+mice.Methods·A spatial assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing(ATAC-seq)technology platform was established using an eight-month-old male Apcmin/+mouse model with spontaneous colon tumors.One tumor from a mouse was harvested and embedded in OCT compound for serial cryosectioning;one tissue section was stained with hematoxylin-eosin(H-E)to observe its histological characteristics,while an adjacent section was processed using spatial ATAC-seq technology to generate spatially resolved DNA libraries,followed by sequencing to obtain spatial chromatin accessibility data.Another tumor from the same mouse was digested into a single-cell suspension,in which viable single cells were sorted by flow cytometry and processed for single-cell RNA sequencing.The results were integrated with spatial chromatin accessibility data to jointly analyze the epigenetic characteristics of the colon tumor microenvironment.Results·A stable spatial ATAC-seq platform was successfully established,dividing the tumor into malignant,non-malignant,and malignant-non-malignant boundary regions.Transcription factors enriched in malignant regions included NK2 homeobox 5(NKX2-5)and transcription factor 3(TCF3).Analysis of transcription factor enrichment in the 3 regions revealed two distinct expression trends:one showing a gradual decrease from malignant to boundary to non-malignant regions,and the other exhibiting high expression in malignant and boundary regions but low expression in non-malignant regions.Gene analysis across regions revealed significant upregulation of hypoxia response,transforming growth factor(TGF),and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog(KRAS)signaling pathways in malignant regions,with cell cycle-related functions markedly enhanced.Analysis of cell-cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment revealed significant differences in interaction strength:strong interactions within non-malignant regions,moderate interactions between boundary and non-malignant regions,and weak interactions between malignant and boundary regions as well as between malignant and non-malignant regions.Conclusion·Colon tumors in Apcmin/+mice exhibit high spatial heterogeneity;malignant regions were enriched with transcription factors including TCF3,and cell interactions between malignant regions and boundary/non-malignant regions were relatively weak.

Objective:To explore the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the cognition and ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) of persons with cerebral small vessel disease.Methods:A total of 71 patients with cognitive impairment due to cerebral small vessel disease were randomly divided into a control group ( n=35) and a treatment group ( n=36). The treatment group was further divided into a group with mild cognitive impairment (a score of 21 to 26 on the mini-mental state exam, n=23) and a moderate cognitive impairment group (scoring 10 to 20, n=13). The treatment groups received 10Hz rTMS, while the control group received sham rTMS. Before and after 90 days of treatment, all were assessed using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the cognitive subscale of the vascular dementia assessment scale (VaDAS-cog). Ability in the activities of daily living was quantified using the Barthel Index (BI). Results:After treatment, significantly increased MMSE and BI scores, but significantly decreased VaDAS-cog scores were observed in both groups. At that point the treatment group showed a significantly higher average post-treatment MMSE score (25.61±2.94) and BI score (80.00±7.85), but a significantly lower average VaDAS-cog score (44.06±3.41) than the control group. The average MMSE scores were not significantly different between the mild and moderate cognitive impairment subgroups. No severe adverse reactions were observed during the rTMS treatment.Conclusions:The 10Hz rTMS can effectively improve the cognition and daily living ability of persons with cerebral small vessel disease.