Adipose tissue is a critical energy reservoir in animals and humans, with multifaceted roles in endocrine regulation, immune response, and providing mechanical protection. Based on anatomical location and functional characteristics, adipose tissue can be categorized into distinct types, including white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), beige adipose tissue, and pink adipose tissue. Traditionally, adipose tissue research has centered on its morphological and functional properties as a whole. However, with the advent of single-cell transcriptomics, a new level of complexity in adipose tissue has been unveiled, showing that even under identical conditions, cells of the same type may exhibit significant variation in morphology, structure, function, and gene expression——phenomena collectively referred to as cellular heterogeneity. Single-cell transcriptomics, including techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), enables in-depth analysis of the diversity and heterogeneity of adipocytes at the single-cell level. This high-resolution approach has not only deepened our understanding of adipocyte functionality but also facilitated the discovery of previously unidentified cell types and gene expression patterns that may play key roles in adipose tissue function. This review delves into the latest advances in the application of single-cell transcriptomics in elucidating the heterogeneity and diversity within adipose tissue, highlighting how these findings have redefined the understanding of cell subpopulations within different adipose depots. Moreover, the review explores how single-cell transcriptomic technologies have enabled the study of cellular communication pathways and differentiation trajectories among adipose cell subgroups. By mapping these interactions and differentiation processes, researchers gain insights into how distinct cellular subpopulations coordinate within adipose tissues, which is crucial for maintaining tissue homeostasis and function. Understanding these mechanisms is essential, as dysregulation in adipose cell interactions and differentiation underlies a range of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2. Furthermore, single-cell transcriptomics holds promising implications for identifying therapeutic targets; by pinpointing specific cell types and gene pathways involved in adipose tissue dysfunction, these technologies pave the way for developing targeted interventions aimed at modulating specific adipose subpopulations. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of single-cell transcriptomic technologies in uncovering the heterogeneity and functional diversity of adipose tissues.

Objective: To analyze the disease burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and changes in its risk factors among residents in Zhejiang Province from 1990 to 2021, so as to identify key priorities for COPD prevention and control. Methods: Data on COPD mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for residents in Zhejiang Province from 1990 to 2021 were collected from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Standardized mortality and standardized DALY rate were calculated using the GBD 2021 world population standard structure. Premature mortality was computed via the life table method. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was applied to analyze trends in COPD mortality, DALY rate, and premature mortality. Changes in deaths of COPD risk factors were evaluated using population attributable fraction (PAF). Results: From 1990 to 2021, the standardized COPD mortality in Zhejiang Province decreased from 272.40/100 000 to 70.56/100 000 (AAPC=-4.395%), and the standardized DALY rate declined from 4 167.37/100 000 to 1 071.89/100 000 (AAPC=-4.396%). Similar downward trends were observed in both males (AAPC=-3.933%, -4.173%) and females (AAPC=-4.785%, -4.480%), all P<0.05. Crude mortality and DALY rates increased with age, and the crude mortality and DALY rates of various age groups in Zhejiang Province showed decreasing trends from 1990 to 2021 (all P<0.05). The premature mortality declined from 4.37% to 0.60% from 1990 to 2021 (AAPC=- 6.206%), with consistent trends across males and females (AAPC=- 6.144%, - 6.379%, all P<0.05). From 1990 to 2021, particulate matter pollution showed the largest reduction in PAF (- 56.76%), while ambient ozone pollution had the largest increase (103.07%) in Zhejiang Province. By 2021, smoking became the leading risk factor for deaths of COPD (PAF=43.32%). Conclusions The standardized mortality, standardized DALY rate, and premature mortality for COPD show consistent declining trends in Zhejiang Province from 1990 to 2021. However, risk factors such as smoking and ambient ozone pollution require intensified focus to further reduce disease burden of COPD.

Objective To develop a two-dimensional liquid chromatographic method for rifapentine blood concentration determination.Methods The blood concentration of rifapentine was determined by a novel two-dimensional liquid chromatography(2D-LC)with a one-dimensional column:Aston SC2T(3.5 mm ×50.0 mm,5 μm);a two-dimensional column:Aston SCB(4.6 mm ×250.0 mm,5 μm);the temperature of the column was 40 ℃;the flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1;the detection wavelength was 335 nm;the injection volume was 300 μL.The specificity,standard curve and lower limit of quantification,precision and recovery,and stability of the method were investigated.The method was used to determine the blood concentration of rifapentine in tuberculosis patients.Results Rifapentine showed good linearity within 0.33-18.62 μg·mL-1 with the standard curve equation of y=2.68 x 105x-5 850.36(r=0.997),the recoveries were 99.81％-105.08％,and the intra-and inter-day precision were ≤4.84％.The results of rifapentine blood concentration measurements in tuberculosis patients were in the range of 0.10-54.70μg·mL-1,and 64.74％were within the therapeutic window concentration range(8-30 μg·mL-1).Conclusion The method is easy to operate,has high sensitivity,low detection limit and high specificity,and is suitable for clinical blood concentration determination.Individual differences in the administration of rifapentine in tuberculosis patients are large,and blood concentration monitoring is required for individualized treatment.

Objective To analyze the frailty of patients with long-term maintenance dialysis(MD)and its influencing factors,and to explore the correlation of different dialysis modalities with the re-infection of novel coronavirus infection(COVID-19)and frailty syndrome.Methods Patients with regular dialysis in Nephrology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from February to June 2023 were selected.A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect clinical data of the patients,including dialysis modality(i.e.maintenance hemodialysis,abbreviated as hemodialysis,and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis,abbreviated as peritoneal dialysis),and whether with re-infection of COVID-19.Patients were divided into 3 groups using Fried's frailty phenotype(FP):non-frailty group,pre-or-intermediate frailty group,and frailty syndrome group.The clinical characteristics of the FP were compared among the three groups.The correlation of frailty with clinical data,dialysis modality,re-infection of COVID-19 in each group was compared.Multifactorial logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing the development of frailty syndrome in patients.Results A total of 246 dialysis patients were included in this study,with 77(31.3%)in the non-frailty group,83(33.7%)in the pre-frailty group and 86(35.0%)in the frailty syndrome group.The frailty syndrome group showed characteristics of advanced age,high pre-dialysis creatinine level,low serum albumin level and combined pleural effusion(all P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison of frailty between the hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis group(P = 0.960).COVID-19 re-positive patients had higher frailty score than non-re-positive patients.Multifactor logistic regression showed that age,COVID-19 re-infection of COVID-19,serum albumin,pre-dialysis creatinine,and pleural effusion were factors influencing the development of frailty syndrome in dialysis patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion There is high incidence of frailty syndrome in dialysis patients,and there is no correlation of frailty with dialysis modality.High serum albumin level is a protective factor for the development of frailty syndrome in patients,whereas re-infection of COVID-19,advanced age,high pre-dialysis blood creatinine level and pleural effusion are risk factors for the development of frailty syndrome.

Objective:To explore the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of peripheral neuropathy in prediabetic patients.Methods:Subjects aged 20-65 years with high-risk factors of impaired glycemia enrolled in Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University from 2019 to 2022 were recruited to conduct oral glucose tolerance test, after excluding other causes of neuropathy or radiculopathy. Patients with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance were defined by American Diabetes Association criteria. These patients were divided into clinical polyneuropathy (PN) and clinical non-PN groups, according to the 2010 Toronto consensus criteria and the presence of PN symptoms and signs or not. Nerve conduction studies (NCS), F wave, sympathetic skin response (SSR), R-R interval variation (RRIV) and current perception thresholds (CPT) were performed and the abnormal rate was compared between different electrodiagnostic methods and between clinical subgroups.Results:Among the 73 prediabetic patients ultimately enrolled, only 20 (27.4%) can be diagnosed as clinical PN according to the Toronto consensus criteria. The abnormal rate of CPT (68.5%, 50/73) was significantly higher than those of F wave (2.7%, 2/73), lower limb NCS (0, 0/73), upper limb NCS changes of carpal tunnel syndrome (26.0%, 19/73), SSR (6.8%, 5/73) and RRIV (5.5%, 4/73; McNemar test, all P<0.001). With sinusoid-waveform current stimuli at frequencies of 2 000 Hz, 250 Hz and 5 Hz, the CPT device was used to measure cutaneous sensory thresholds of large myelinated, small myelinated and small unmyelinated sensory fibers respectively. CPT revealed a 21.9% (16/73) abnormal rate of unmyelinated C fiber in the hands of prediabetic patients, significantly higher than that of large myelinated Aβ fibers [8.2% (6/73), χ2=5.352, P=0.021]. Both abnormal rates of small myelinated Aδ [42.5% (31/73)] and unmyelinated C fibers [39.7% (29/73)] in the feet of prediabetic patients were significantly higher than that of large myelinated Aβ fibers [11.0% (8/73), χ2=18.508, 15.965, both P<0.001]. Compared with the clinical non-PN group, the abnormal rates of CPT [90.0% (18/20) vs 60.4% (32/53), χ2=5.904, P=0.015] and SSR [20.0% (4/20) vs 1.9% (1/53), P=0.016) were significantly higher in the clinical PN group. Conclusions:Peripheral neuropathies in prediabetic patients are usually asymptomatic or subclinical, and predispose to affect unmyelinated and small myelinated sensory fibers. Selective electrodiagnostic measurements of small fibers help to detect prediabetic neuropathies in the earliest stages of the disease.

Humans ; PPAR gamma/metabolism* ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha

ObjectiveTo identify the pharmacodynamic material basis of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in relieving neuropathic pain by integrating the calculation of biological network proximity and pharmacokinetic characterization. MethodThe interaction network of "drug candidate target-related gene of disease" was constructed by Cytoscape 3.8.2， and the average shortest path value of each drug putative target acting on neuropathic pain-related genes in this network was calculated by Pesca 3.8.0 tool so as to evaluate the network proximity between them， and screen prescription candidate targets with strong intervention efficiency and their corresponding potential effect components. After that， plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from rats after administration of Ruyi Zhenbaowan at set time points， and the contents of potential effect components in samples was quantified by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-ion trap mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TRAP/MS）， and drug concentration-time curves were plotted， then the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.1.1. ResultBy evaluating the network proximity between candidate targets and neuropathic pain-related genes in the interaction network， a total of 40 putative targets of Ruyi Zhenbaowan with strong intervention effects on neuropathic pain-related genes， such as estrogen receptor 1（ESR1）， cyclic adenosine monophosphate（cAMP）-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha（PRKACA） and protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， and 10 corresponding potential effect components， such as glycyrrhizic acid and betulinic acid， were obtained. Pharmacokinetic characterization showed that among the 10 potential effect components， gallic acid， apigenin-7-O-glucuronide， glycyrrhizic acid and apigenin were well absorbed and metabolized in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid， with long onset time and good bioavailability. ConclusionFrom the perspective of efficacy-target-constituent-pharmacokinetic， this study analyzes the main effective materials of Ruyi Zhenbaowan， such as glycyrrhizic acid， gallic acid， apigenin-7-O-glucuronide and apigenin， which have a high exposure in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid and have a strong intervention effect on neuropathic pain. The related results provide reliable experimental evidences for clarifying the material basis and developing quality standards of Ruyi Zhenbaowan.

G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 40, as one of GPRs family, plays a potential role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. To study the effect of GPR40 novel agonist SZZ15-11 on hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and its potential mechanism, spontaneous type 2 diabetic KKA^y mice, human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and murine mature adipocyte 3T3-L1 cells were used. KKA^y mice were divided into four groups, vehicle group, TAK group, SZZ (50 mg·kg^-1) group and SZZ (100 mg·kg^-1) group, with oral gavage of 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), 50 mg·kg^-1 TAK875, 50 and 100 mg·kg^-1 SZZ15-11 respectively for 45 days. Fasting blood glucose, blood triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), non-fasting blood glucose were tested. Oral glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were executed. Blood insulin and glucagon were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After mice′s execution, liver tissue was harvested to test TG and TC content. Then pathological morphology of liver was observed through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the lipid metabolism relative signal pathway was analyzed by Western blot and RT-PCR. The experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. At the same time, Akt phosphorylation level in HepG2 cells and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 cells treated with TNFα were measured with Western blot. The results show that SZZ15-11 not only decreased blood glucose and lipid, improved insulin sensitivity, but also increased fasting blood glucagon and promoted insulin secretion after glucose loading in KKA^y mice. Additionally, SZZ15-11 alleviated hepatic steatosis and liver dysfunction in KKA^y mice. In liver tissue, SZZ15-11 increased AMPKα phosphorylation level and cholesterol metabolism relative gene Abcg8 transcription. In HepG2 cells, SZZ15-11 increased Akt phosphorylation level. In adipocyte 3T3-L1, SZZ15-11 recovered the decreased adiponectin expression by TNFα. This study proved that GPR40 agonist SZZ15-11 could be a candidate compound for regulating glucolipid metabolic disorder.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of daratumumab (Dara) - combination regimens for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of 34 patients with NDMM receiving treatment regimen including Dara from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Huangdao Branch of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and Taian City Central Hospital between April 2020 and March 2022 were retrospectively collected. The efficacy, survival and adverse reactions of patients were analyzed. Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the factors affecting overall survival (OS) and minimal residual disease (MRD) turning negative.Results:Among 34 patients with NDMM, there were 19 males and 15 females, with 21 cases aged < 65 years and 13 cases aged ≥65 years. The median follow-up duration [ M ( Q1, Q3)] was 22 months (19 months, 26 months), the median of Dara treatment cycles was 7 (5, 11), and the overall response rate (ORR) reached 97.1% (33/34). There were statistically significant differences in the optimal efficacy of patients stratified by receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or not and receiving different treatment cycles (all P ≤ 0.05), while there were no statistically significant differences in patients stratified by other clinical features (all P > 0.05). The 1-year progression-free survival rate was 79.4% and the 1-year OS rate was 94.1%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the cycle number of treatment regimens containing Dara was an independent influencing factor of MRD turning negative (6 cycles vs. 2 cycles, HR = 0.267, 95% CI: 0.076-0.935, P = 0.039); age ≥ 65 years was an independent risk factor for OS ( HR = 35.313, 95% CI: 1.709-729.669, P = 0.021). The incidence of hematological adverse reactions grade 3 or above was 20.6% (7/34), and the non-hematological adverse reactions primarily included infection [44.1% (15/34)] and edema of extremity and trunk [41.2% (14/34)]. Conclusions:The Dara-based regimens for NDMM exhibit a high ORR. The remission depth accelerated with the increasing number of treatment cycle, and the adverse reactions are mild.

The incidence and mortality rate of heart failure (HF) are increasing annually, resulting in a huge medical and economic burden worldwide. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is the gold standard biomarker of HF recommended by national and international guidelines for the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of HF. Recent studies suggest that BNP can be truncated in multiple forms by different enzymes rather than complete fragments in circulation, which can be contributing to the diagnosis and classification of HF. The immunoassay mostly used in clinics are unable to distinguish different truncated BNP forms due to cross-reactivity of antibody, while mass spectrometry is more accurate because it can easily distinguish through their mass-to-charge ratios. With the maturation of ambient ionization mass spectrometry and ion mobility mass spectrometry, it can help to simplify sample pre-treatment and improve the separation efficiency, in order to explore the clinical value of the heterogeneity of BNP truncated forms.