The past decade has witnessed remarkable progress in both general pathology and cardiovascular pathology. Chinese cardiovascular pathologists have achieved substantial progress in both diagnostic practice and fundamental research, with particularly significant contributions to molecular pathological investigations of cardiovascular diseases. The publication of consensus guidelines in cardiovascular pathology stands as testament to the field′s collective expertise. Looking forward, the accelerated evolution of molecular diagnostics and AI-driven digital pathology heralds new developmental opportunities for cardiovascular pathology, while simultaneously presenting practitioners with novel scientific and translational challenges.

The past decade has witnessed remarkable progress in both general pathology and cardiovascular pathology. Chinese cardiovascular pathologists have achieved substantial progress in both diagnostic practice and fundamental research, with particularly significant contributions to molecular pathological investigations of cardiovascular diseases. The publication of consensus guidelines in cardiovascular pathology stands as testament to the field′s collective expertise. Looking forward, the accelerated evolution of molecular diagnostics and AI-driven digital pathology heralds new developmental opportunities for cardiovascular pathology, while simultaneously presenting practitioners with novel scientific and translational challenges.

The objective of this study is to elucidate the effects of gut microbiome imbalance on impaired cognitive function in schizophrenia patients， and to propose a new approach to improve cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients. The cognitive impairment of schizophrenic patients is one of the major barriers that hinder patient social reintegration. With the emergence of microbiome-gut-brain axis， many researchers have found that there is a certain relationship between gut microbiome imbalance and impaired cognitive function in schizophrenia patients， so this paper reviews and summarizes such relationship found in previous studies， with a view to informing the exploration of new ways to improve cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients.

Objective To investigate the significance of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) for the detection of neovascularization in carotid atherosclerotic plaques.Methods SMI detected 28 carotid atherosclerotic plaques in 28 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy.The SMI grade of carotid plaque neovascularization was assigned based on the following grading system:Grade 0,no neovascularization;grade 1,some neovascularization;grade 2,neovascularization observed in the shoulder of the plaque;and grade 3,widely distributed new blood vessels.SMI was used to evaluate the degree of blood flow,maximum flow velocity,and resistance index of the new vessels in the plaque.Microvascular density was measured with CD31 staining.Results Clear correlations were observed between neovascularization density on histopathological staining of the plaque and the degree of blood flow detected with SMI (rs=0.788,P ＜ 0.001).The classification of neovascular blood flow in the plaque was positively correlated with plaque thickness (rs=0.686,P=0.002).Of the 28 cases,neovascularization was detected in 23;of these 23 cases,the direction of blood flow was from the adventitia to the intima in 17 (75％) cases,while 6 (25％) cases showed an irregular direction of blood flow.The mean neovascular flow velocity was (5.620±0.131) cm/s,and the mean neovascular resistance index was 0.660 ± 0.090.Conclusion SMI is useful for the evaluation of carotid atherosclerotic plaque neovascularization.

Objective? To explore the changes of lipid metabolism in schizophrenics with long-term use of antipsychotics. Methods? The waist circumference, hip circumference, weight, years of using psychiatric drugs and blood lipid of 1 077 schizophrenic patients hospitalized in a Class Ⅲ Grade A psychiatric specialized hospital in Beijing from January to December 2017 were collected. Patients with normal blood lipid without taking lipid-lowering agents were assigned into N1 group (n=437). Patients with normal blood lipid taking lipid-lowering agents were assigned into N2 group (n=331). Patients with high blood lipid without taking lipid-lowering agents were assigned into N3 group (n=148). Patients with high blood lipid taking lipid-lowering agents were assigned into N4 group (n=161). The lipid metabolism was compared among the four groups. Results? There were significant differences in the years of taking antipsychotic drugs, waist circumference, hip circumference, weight, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein (P＜0.01). The results of pairwise comparison showed that between the two groups without taking lipid-lowering drugs, there was no statistical significance in the difference in apolipoprotein A (apoA) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) (P＞0.05), otherwise the differences in other indexes were statistically significant (P＜0.01). Between the two groups taking lipid-lowering agents, besides of other indexes (P＜0.01), there was no statistical significance in the differences in years of taking antipsychotic drugs, total cholesterol, apoA and apoB (P＞ 0.05). The further correlation analysis showed that the years of taking antipsychotic drugs was positively correlated with the waist circumference and apo A (P＜0.01). The waist circumference was positively related to the hips, weight, triglycerides (P＜0.01), and negatively related with high density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A (P＜0.01). The hip circumference was positively correlated with weight, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (P＜0.05), and negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein (P＜0.01). Weight was positively related with triglyceride (P＜0.05), and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein and apoA (P＜0.01). Conclusions? During the period of drug use, especially in the early period of drug use, the patients with schizophrenia must be monitored for blood lipid regularly. It is suggested to take the combined medication actively, guide the patients correctly, encourage more participation in recreational activities, help them improve the diet structure, control the weight, and prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebral blood tube diseases.

Objective To evaluate the expression profile of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)B and SDHC in pheochromocytoma (PCC) and paraganglioma(PGL) (collectively abbreviated as PPGL), and their value in the early diagnosis of malignancy. Methods SDHB and SDHC immunohistochemistry were performed on 140 tumor specimens from 126 PPGL patients (PCC n＝62, PGL n＝61, PCC+PGL n＝3). Results (1) Germline mutation status of 67 patients were determined, of which, identifying 37(55.2%) patients with germline mutation: 2 (3.0%) SDHA, 18 ( 26. 9%) SDHB, 2 ( 3. 0%) SDHC, 5 ( 7. 5%) SDHD, 2 ( 3. 0%) VHL, 7 ( 10. 4%) RET, and 1(1.5%) NF1; and 30 (44.8%) individuals without known mutation. (2) Among 30 PPGLs from 27 patients with SDH-related (SDHx) mutations, 96.7%(29/30) stained negative for SDHB, 76.7%(23/30) stained negative for SDHC, while only 28.6%(14/49) and 18.4%(9/49) stained negative for SDHB and SDHC respectively in the 49 PPGLs without SDHx mutation (P<0.05). (3) The sensitivity of the SDH immunostaining in detecting the presence of germline SDHx mutation was 96.7%for SDHB and 76.7%for SDHC, while the specificity was 71.4%for SDHB and 81.6% for SDHC. ( 4 ) Among PPGLs without SDHB expression, 22. 9% were malignant. This percentage is significantly higher than that in PPGLs with preserved SDHB expression (3.8%, P<0.05). Conclusion SDHB and SDHC immunohistochemistry may serve as post-surgical screening tools to predict the presence of germline SDHx mutation in PPGLs. Negative SDHB expression calls for intense follow-up to rule out malignancy.

Objective To understand the frequency distribution of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 gene single nucleotide polymor-phisms in Yunnan Han population.Methods CYP2C9(430C> T,1075A>C and 1080C> G)locus and VKORC1(-1639G> A and 1173C> T)locus gene polymorphisms in 202 samples were detected by adopting electrochemical gene sensor method,and the allele frequencies and genotype frequencies were performed the statistics and the gene polymorphism in relevant populations was an-alyzed.Results Among 202 samples,202 cases(100.0%)were genotype C/C at CYP2C9 * 2 locus,C allele frequency was 100.0%;185 cases(91.6%)were genotype A/A at CYP2C9*3 locus,15 cases(7.4%)were A/C genotype,2 cases(1.0%)were C/C genotype,A allele frequency was 95.3%,C allele frequency was 4.7%;CYP2C9*5 locus genotype C/C was in 202 cases (100.0%),C allele frequency was 100%;VKORC1 -1639G > A locus genotype A/A was in 145 cases(71.8%),57 cases (28.2%)were G/A genotype,A allele frequency was 85.9%,G was 14.1%;1173C> T locus genotype T/T was in 145 cases (71.8%),C/T gene type in 57 cases(28.2%),T allele frequency was 85.9%,and C was 14.1%.Conclusion The distribution of CYP2C9 gene in Yunnan Han population is similar to that in other regions of our country.The VKORC1 gene is different from the foreign population,Chinese Han nationality and partial minority nationalities.

Objective: To determine whether microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) could be prognostic biomarkers for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Methods:With immunohisto-chemical staining, the expressions of MAP2 and MAP1B were examined in 193 and 120 primary tumors and peritumoral tissues, re-spectively. Then, the relationship between the expression of each protein and clinicopathological characteristics, including prognosis was analyzed. Results:MAP2 and MAP1B were expressed in 88 of 193 (45.6%) and 77 of 120 (64.2%) tumors, respectively. The expres-sion of MAP2 was significantly associated with the favorable overall survival of patients with PNETs (P=0.012). Moreover, MAP2 expres-sion was associated with the improved overall survival in a subset of patients with stageⅡand stageⅢtumors (P=0.017). The MAP1B expression did not correlate with other clinicopathological features and prognosis. Conclusion:MAP2 could be a novel, independent prognostcbiomarker for PNETs.

Objective To clarify the role of transmembrane protein 66(TMEM66) in intima proliferation of carotid artery induced by balloon injury in rats.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10), including control group, the left carotid artery balloon injury group and injury group added with lentiviruses, respectively.Accordingly, the intima proliferation of carotid artery were detected by H/E staining;the expressions of TMEM66 in carotid artery injuried by balloon were determined by Western blot,q-PCR and immunohistochemistry, and the migration and proliferation of VSMCs were measured by scratch test and CCK8 respectively.Results Compared with control group, the expression of TMEM66 in carotid artery was obviously decreased after balloon injury (P<0.05).Most importantly, the intima proliferation of carotid artery was significantly reversed by overexpression of TMEM66 via specific lentiviruses (P<0.05).Conclusions TMEM66 is able to attenuate the intima proliferation of carotid artery after balloon injury.It could be that upregulation of TMEM66 can alleviate the migration and proliferation of VSMCs by PDGF.

Objective To investigate the serum levels of uric acid (UA) in bipolar disorder patients and their clini?cal significance. Methods Serum levels of UA was measured in 126 bipolar disorder patients including 77 mania pa?tients and 49 depression patients, 69 first-episode schizophrenic patients and 126 healthy controls (control group). Bipo?lar disorder patients was assessed by using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Results The serum UA levels were significantly higher in bipolar group [(349.34 ± 107.21) μmol/L] than in schizophrenic group [(319.71±84.48)μmol/L] and in control group [(280.94±71.90)μmol/L] (P<0.01). There were signifi?cant differences in serum UA levels between manic episode and depressive episode [(366.45 ± 104.01) μmol/L vs. (322.45±107.69)μmol/L]. The serum UA levels were higher in both manic episode and depressive episode groups than in control group (P<0.01). The serum UA levels was not significantly different between patients with and without medication (P>0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that the correlation of serum UA levels with YMRS scores and HAMD scores was not significant in bipolar disorder patients (P>0.05). Conclusions Patients with bipolar disorder has elevated serum uric acid levels which may be a biomarkers of bipolar disorder.