ObjectiveThis study systematically analyzed the arginine metabolic dysregulation in the rat model of heart failure （HF）， providing a modern scientific basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of HF and offering new insights for the prevention and treatment of HF with traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. MethodsA thoracotomy was performed to ligate the left anterior descending coronary artery of rats， which induced acute myocardial ischemia and thus led to the development of post-myocardial infarction heart failure. The rats were divided into a sham surgery group and a model group， with eight rats in each group. Serum targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry （UPLC-TQ-S）， and the spatial distribution of metabolites in cardiac tissue was observed using airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry imaging （AFADESI-MSI）. Targets associated with HF and arginine metabolism were screened from databases including GeneCards and the Gene Expression Omnibus （GEO）， a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed， and enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway and Gene Ontology （GO） was performed. Finally， molecular docking was conducted to verify the binding between core metabolic components and key targets， and potential TCMs were predicted based on the core pathways and targets. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group， the levels of arginine and citrulline in the serum of model rats were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while those of proline， ornithine， creatine， creatinine and glutamate were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Cardiac mass spectrometry imaging showed a decreased abundance of arginine in the local myocardial tissue. Bioinformatics analysis identified 24 core functional targets， such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE）， neuronal nitric oxide synthase （NOS1）， 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A （HTR2A）， and epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）， and enrichment analysis indicated that these targets were significantly involved in the calcium signaling pathway， neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions， and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding activities between arginine， citrulline and HTR2A， as well as between creatine， creatinine and EGFR. Based on pathway-target prediction， potential TCM interventions， such as ginseng and magnolia， were identified. ConclusionThis study revealed characteristic arginine metabolic disorder in HF， and the core targets of HF were closely associated with the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. It provides a modern biological interpretation of the pathogenesis of HF in TCM from the perspectives of metabolites and signaling pathways， and offers valuable insights for targeted therapy of HF and the development of TCM.

ObjectiveThis study systematically analyzed the arginine metabolic dysregulation in the rat model of heart failure （HF）， providing a modern scientific basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of HF and offering new insights for the prevention and treatment of HF with traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. MethodsA thoracotomy was performed to ligate the left anterior descending coronary artery of rats， which induced acute myocardial ischemia and thus led to the development of post-myocardial infarction heart failure. The rats were divided into a sham surgery group and a model group， with eight rats in each group. Serum targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry （UPLC-TQ-S）， and the spatial distribution of metabolites in cardiac tissue was observed using airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry imaging （AFADESI-MSI）. Targets associated with HF and arginine metabolism were screened from databases including GeneCards and the Gene Expression Omnibus （GEO）， a protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed， and enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway and Gene Ontology （GO） was performed. Finally， molecular docking was conducted to verify the binding between core metabolic components and key targets， and potential TCMs were predicted based on the core pathways and targets. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group， the levels of arginine and citrulline in the serum of model rats were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while those of proline， ornithine， creatine， creatinine and glutamate were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Cardiac mass spectrometry imaging showed a decreased abundance of arginine in the local myocardial tissue. Bioinformatics analysis identified 24 core functional targets， such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE）， neuronal nitric oxide synthase （NOS1）， 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A （HTR2A）， and epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）， and enrichment analysis indicated that these targets were significantly involved in the calcium signaling pathway， neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions， and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding activities between arginine， citrulline and HTR2A， as well as between creatine， creatinine and EGFR. Based on pathway-target prediction， potential TCM interventions， such as ginseng and magnolia， were identified. ConclusionThis study revealed characteristic arginine metabolic disorder in HF， and the core targets of HF were closely associated with the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. It provides a modern biological interpretation of the pathogenesis of HF in TCM from the perspectives of metabolites and signaling pathways， and offers valuable insights for targeted therapy of HF and the development of TCM.

Objective To establish an epirubicin (EPI)-resistant murine triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (4T1/EPI) cell line and evaluate its biological characteristics and drug resistance. Methods The EPI-resistant cell line 4T1/EPI was developed through intermittent induction with gradually increasing EPI concentrations in vitro. Morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. Drug resistance index (MTT assay), cell doubling time (CCK-8 assay), and migration ability (wound healing assay) were evaluated. Western blot was used to detect the expression of drug resistance-related proteins. Transcriptome sequencing and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed to identify the pathways and targets involved in EPI resistance, followed by experimental validation. Results The 4T1 cells eventually grew normally in a medium containing 100 ng/mL EPI, confirming the establishment of the 4T1/EPI resistant cell line. After stable resistance was acquired, morphological alterations were observed. Compared with their parental 4T1 cells, 4T1/EPI cells showed significantly prolonged doubling time (P<0.01) and enhanced migration ability (P<0.05). Expression levels of drug resistance-related proteins MDR1, MRP1 (P<0.01), and ABCG2 (P<0.05) were elevated in 4T1/EPI cells. In vivo models also demonstrated significant EPI resistance in 4T1/EPI tumors in terms of tumor weight and volume. Transcriptome sequencing highlighted the involvement of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and ABC transporter pathway. Validation experiments showed the upregulation of Erbb3, Egfr, PI3K, and Akt (P<0.05) and significant downregulation of Fgfr1 (P<0.01) in 4T1/EPI cells. Conclusion The EPI-resistant TNBC cell line 4T1/EPI was successfully established, exhibiting significant resistance in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism may involve the EPI-induced upregulation of Egfr and Erbb3, activating the PI3K/Akt pathway and subsequently enhancing ABC transporter expression.

Objective : To investigate the impact of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on the composition of 15 intestinal-derived estrogens and their metabolites (EMs) and its correlation with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) . Methods: Thirty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into a normal control group (Control) , a high- sugar high-fat diet combined with low-dose CCl4 -induced NAFLD model group ( Model) , and a group of model mice treated with fecal microbiota from normal female mice (FMT) . After 17 weeks of modeling , liver pathology in each group was observed using HE staining , biochemical methods were used to measure serum alanine aminotrans- ferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels , as well as hepatic triglyceride (TG) and total choles- terol (TC) levels. and the content of 15 EMs in portal vein serum was detected using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) . The correlation between disease phenotype and intesti- nal EMs was analyzed using Pearson ′s method. Results: The NAFLD model was successfully established , and the FMT group showed improved liver structure and morphology , with significant decreases in liver function and hepatic lipids compared to the Model group. In NAFLD mice , the contents of E1 , E2 , and their 2- and 4-position metabo- lites in portal vein blood serum was reduced compared to normal mice , while the content of most 16- and 17-posi- tion metabolites ( except 16α-OHE1) increased compared to normal mice. Correlation analysis showed that ALT was strongly positively correlated with E3 and 17-epiE3 , and strongly negatively correlated with E1 , E2 , 4- MeOE1 , and 16α-OHE1 . The TC was strongly positively correlated with 17-epiE3 and strongly negatively correla- ted with E1 , 4-MeOE1 , and 16α-OHE1 . Conclusion FMT restores the disrupted composition of intestinal EMs and improves NAFLD.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical phenotypes and genetic characteristics of a child with Acid-labile subunit deficiency (ALS). METHODS: A male child diagnosed with ALS at Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in March 2021 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of his family was collected. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and his parents. Following extraction of genomic DNA, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was carried out, and Sanger sequencing was used for family verification of candidate variants. Based on guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the pathogenicity of the candidate variant was classified. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: 2020-6). RESULTS: The patient, a 5-year-and-7-month-old boy, presented with short stature and delayed bone age. Endocrine examinations showed decreased serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP3). WES revealed that he has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the IGFALS gene, namely c.741_742del, p.Y248Pfs83 and c.272del, p.P91Rfs31. Sanger sequencing verified that the variants were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. According to the ACMG guidelines, c.741_742del, p.Y248Pfs83 and c.272del, p.P91Rfs31 variants were classified as likely pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_supporting). Based on the pre-set literature search strategy, 11 research literature on ALS were retrieved, which involved a total of 33 families and 62 patients. Combined with the patient in this study, 31 IGFALS gene variants were identified among the 63 patients, which mainly consisted of missense variants (20 types), with variant sites concentrated in exon 2. The main clinical features were short stature in conjunct with delayed puberty, with a significant genotype-phenotype correlation. CONCLUSION The IGFALS gene variants NM_004970.2: c.741_742del, p.Y248Pfs83 and c.272del, p.P91Rfs31 may be the genetic etiology in this family. This study has expanded the variant spectrum of the IGFALS gene and provided valuable information for the diagnosis, genetic counseling and clinical treatment of the disease.
Humans ; Male ; Phenotype ; Child, Preschool ; Carrier Proteins/genetics* ; Glycoproteins/deficiency* ; Exome Sequencing ; Female ; Mutation ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism* ; Growth Disorders/genetics*

In June 2018,sows at a pig farm in Jiamusi,Heilongjiang Province,suffered a large num-ber of miscarriages,and subsequently weaned piglets at the farm began to show persistent high fe-ver symptoms at around 35 days of age,with some pigs having a fever of more than 41.5 ℃.In or-der to determine the cause of this outbreak,63 clinical samples from this farm were tested.The re-sults showed that 60 out of 63 samples were positive for the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV)antigen.Subsequently,PRRSV antigen-positive plasmid was transfected into African green monkey embryonic kidney cells(Marc-145),and after three generations of blind transmission,indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA)was performed.The results showed that one PRRSV strain,named HLJ38,was successfully isolated.Then the whole genome of HLJ38 strain was sequenced and then analyzed in detail by bioinformatics software.Sequence analysis showed that there were three deletions of 131 amino acids(323-433 aa,483 aa and 504-522 aa)in the derived sequence of Nsp2 gene of HLJ38 strain,which was consistent with the molecular ge-netic marker of NADC30 PRRSV.The phylogenetic tree analysis showed that HLJ38 and NADC30 PRRSV in GenBank belong to lineage 1 subgroup,and the nucleotide homology of HLJ38 and NADC30 PRRSV in GenBank was only 85.2％and 84.6％.Recombinant analysis showed that HLJ38 was a recombinant NADC30-like PRRSV,and the recombinant gene fragments were de-rived from multiple strains,among which the fragment of 1-201 nt was provided by VR2332 strain and fragment of 6 641-8 061 nt derived from the HP-PRRSV strain.In summary,the re-sults showed that the outbreak in this pig farm may be caused by the recombination of PRRSV strains among different lineages,and the recombinant circulating strains not only have certain pathogenicity but also suggest that the existing commercial vaccines provide limited cross-protec-tion against them.Recombination between different lineages increases the genetic diversity of PRRSV and aggravates the difficulty of prevention and control of PRRS in pig farms.Therefore,it is necessary to continuously monitor the epidemic dynamics of PRRSV in pig farms and take effec-tive measures in time to curb the spread of PRRS.

OBJECTIVE To establish the an optimal prediction model for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter bau-mannii(CRAB)infection in ICU patients based on machine learning(ML)so as to help clinicians to diagnose and make decisions.METHODS The clinical data were collected from the patients who were hospitalized in ICUs of a three-A hospital from Jan.1,2017 to Dec.31,2024 and were randomly divided into the training set and the test set in a 7∶3 ratio.The characteristic variables were selected by means of LASSO regression analysis in combina-tion with multivariate logistic regression analysis.Five types of M L classification models were integrated,the opti-mal model was analyzed and identified.The performance of the prediction model for CRAB infection in the ICU patients was evaluated with the use of sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,areas under receiver operating characteris-tic curves(AUCs),calibration curves,Hosmer-Lemeshow test and decision curve analysis(DCA).The outputs of the ML models were interpreted by Shapley additive explanations(SHAP)and permutation importance.RESULTS A total of 2 904 patients were enrolled in the study,695(23.93％)of whom had CRAB infection.The AUC of XGBoost model was highest in the training set and the test set,respectively(0.994 and 0.907).The result of Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the calibration curves of the XGBoost model indicated that the predicated risk was highly con-sistent with the observed risk(x2=7.323 and 4.609,P=0.513 and 0.764,respectively).The DCA curves showed that the XGBoost model performed best within the whole range of threshold,with the highest net profit.The length of ICU stay,use of tigecycline,central venous catheterization,use of carbapenems and use of ventilator were determined as the major predictive factors by means of SHAP.CONCLUSIONS The XGBoost model is established and interpreted by SHAP.It provides bases for screening of the ICU patients at high risk of CRAB infection.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of using small and ultra-small sized grafts for in situ auxiliary liver transplantation in the treatment of portal hypertension.Methods:A prospective single-arm cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent liver transplantation at Beijing Friendship Hospital from December 2014 to July 2025 were included. Intraoperative portal vein pressure was routinely monitored, with the target regulation for portal vein blood flow set at<15 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and follow-up continued until September 2025. The primary endpoints were the patient's status and graft survival. The secondary endpoints were small-for-size syndrome and perioperative complications. The small-for-size syndrome was graded according to the 2023 International Liver Transplantation Society consensus statement.Results:A total of 33 cases were enrolled. Among them, 22 had ultra-small size grafts, 11 had small-size grafts, 28 had living donor grafts, and five had split grafts. The graft-to-recipient weight ratio in living donor liver transplantation was 0.31%～0.79%, while in split liver transplantation it was 0.45%～1.02%. Intraoperative portal vein pressure of ≥15 mmHg was observed in 11 cases, who underwent portal vein blood flow adjustment via splenic artery ligation (2 cases), partial splenectomy (8 cases), and/or restrictive portocaval shunting (1 case), after which all patients achieved the target portal vein pressure. All cases completed at least one month of follow-up, with 28 cases following for more than one year, and the median follow-up period was 36.5 months. Early-stage postoperative small-for-size syndrome occurred in eight cases (24.2%, 8/33), all classified as grade A, with improvements following supportive treatment. Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo≥Ⅲ) occurred in three cases (9.1%, 3/33). The one-year survival rate was 92.9% (26/28). The overall survival rate at the end of follow-up was 90.9% (30/33). No patients experienced graft loss or death due to small-for-size syndrome. Graft tissue tested negative for hepatitis B core antibody and covalently closed circular DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion was achieved following second-stage residual liver resection and under a combined strategy of potent nucleos(t)ide analogs and hepatitis B immunoglobulin in ten cases of hepatitis B-related disease.Conclusions:With standardized portal vein blood flow monitoring and individualized portal vein blood flow adjustment, in situ auxiliary liver transplantation can safely and effectively use small and even ultra-small sized grafts, thereby significantly expanding graft sources and ensuring donor and recipient safety. These findings warrant further validation and promotion in multicenter controlled studies.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the changing trend of hospital-acquired infections(HAIs)in hospitals from 2017 to 2023,and identify the distribution of different departments,infection sites and pathogens,so as to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of HAI.METHODS During the study period,the HAI data were col-lected and classified by year,department and infection site.Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trend of HAI rate,calculate the average annual percentage change(AAPC),and evaluate the distribution of infec-tion sites and pathogenic bacteria.RESULTS The overall infection situation showed that the average HAI rate was 1.19％,with a trend of increasing first and then decreasing during the study period,and AAPC was 8.33％(95％CI:0.025-0.173).The infection rate was the highest in the emergency department with an AAPC of 13.51％(95％CI:0.074-0.250),while the infection rates in the department of traditional Chinese medicine and orthope-dics were relatively stable.Lower respiratory tract infections accounted for the major proportion,followed by uri-nary tract infections and bloodstream infections.The AAPC for lower respiratory tract infections was 18.64％.The pathogenic analysis showed that bacterial infections were mainly gram-negative bacteria,with Kleb-siella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Acinetobacter baumannii being the most common pathogens causing HAI.CONCLUSIONS The results of the study reveal that significant differences in HAI rates among dif-ferent departments and infection sites,especially the increasing infection rate in the emergency department should be highly concerned.In view of the persistent high incidence of respiratory and urinary tract infections,it is recom-mended to strengthen the relevant prevention and control measures.To effectively reduce the incidence of HAIs,it is necessary to focus on the monitoring and management of drug-resistant pathogens in the future.

Intestinal fibrosis is a major complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leading to a high incidence of surgical interventions and significant disability. Despite its clinical relevance, no targeted pharmacological therapies are currently available. This review aims to explore the underlying mechanisms driving intestinal fibrosis and address unresolved scientific questions, offering insights into potential future therapeutic strategies. We conducted a literature review using data from PubMed up to October 2024, focusing on studies related to IBD and fibrosis. Intestinal fibrosis results from a complex network involving stromal cells, immune cells, epithelial cells, and the gut microbiota. Chronic inflammation, driven by factors such as dysbiosis, epithelial injury, and immune activation, leads to the production of cytokines like interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-17, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. These mediators activate various stromal cell populations, including fibroblasts, pericytes, and smooth muscle cells. The activated stromal cells secrete excessive extracellular matrix components, thereby promoting fibrosis. Additionally, stromal cells influence the immune microenvironment through cytokine production. Future research would focus on elucidating the temporal and spatial relationships between immune cell-driven inflammation and stromal cell-mediated fibrosis. Additionally, investigations are needed to clarify the differentiation origins of excessive extracellular matrix-producing cells, particularly fibroblast activation protein (FAP) + fibroblasts, in the context of intestinal fibrosis. In conclusion, aberrant stromal cell activation, triggered by upstream immune signals, is a key mechanism underlying intestinal fibrosis. Further investigations into immune-stromal cell interactions and stromal cell activation are essential for the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent, alleviate, and potentially reverse fibrosis.
Humans ; Fibrosis/metabolism* ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/pathology* ; Animals ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism* ; Intestines/pathology*