Background/Aims: Transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1) is highly expressed and contributes to the progression of various malignancies. However, how it modulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and senescence remains to be elucidated. Methods: TM4SF1 expression in HCC samples was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Cellular senescence was assessed through SA-β-gal activity assays and Western blot analysis. TM4SF1-related protein interactions were investigated using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and immunofluorescence. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The HCC mouse model was established via hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Results: TM4SF1 was highly expressed in human HCC samples and murine models. Knockdown of TM4SF1 suppressed HCC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, inducing non-secretory senescence through upregulation of p16 and p21. TM4SF1 enhanced the interaction between AKT1 and PDPK1, thereby promoting AKT phosphorylation, which subsequently downregulated p16 and p21. Meanwhile, TM4SF1-mediated AKT phosphorylation enhanced PD-L1 expression while reducing major histocompatibility complex class I level on tumor cells, leading to impaired cytotoxic function of CD8+ T cells and an increased proportion of exhausted CD8+ T cells. In clinical HCC samples, elevated TM4SF1 expression was associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Targeting TM4SF1 via adeno-associated virus induced tumor senescence, reduced tumor burden and synergistically enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Conclusions Our results revealed that TM4SF1 regulated tumor cell senescence and immune evasion through the AKT pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in HCC, particularly in combination with first-line immunotherapy.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements. The 2.0 Consensus was aimed to update the original consensus with the latest available studies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current relevant scientific literatures regarding functional cure of hepatitis B, with a particular focus on issues that are not yet fully clarified. These cover the definition of functional cure of hepatitis B, its mechanisms and barriers, the effective strategies and treatment roadmap to achieve this endpoint, in particular new surrogate biomarkers used to measure efficacy or to predict response, and the appropriate approach to pursuing a functional cure in special populations, the development of emerging antivirals and immunomodulators with potential for curing hepatitis B. The statements are primarily intended to offer international guidance for clinicians in their practice to enhance the functional cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.

Background/Aims: Transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1) is highly expressed and contributes to the progression of various malignancies. However, how it modulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and senescence remains to be elucidated. Methods: TM4SF1 expression in HCC samples was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Cellular senescence was assessed through SA-β-gal activity assays and Western blot analysis. TM4SF1-related protein interactions were investigated using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and immunofluorescence. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The HCC mouse model was established via hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Results: TM4SF1 was highly expressed in human HCC samples and murine models. Knockdown of TM4SF1 suppressed HCC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, inducing non-secretory senescence through upregulation of p16 and p21. TM4SF1 enhanced the interaction between AKT1 and PDPK1, thereby promoting AKT phosphorylation, which subsequently downregulated p16 and p21. Meanwhile, TM4SF1-mediated AKT phosphorylation enhanced PD-L1 expression while reducing major histocompatibility complex class I level on tumor cells, leading to impaired cytotoxic function of CD8+ T cells and an increased proportion of exhausted CD8+ T cells. In clinical HCC samples, elevated TM4SF1 expression was associated with resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Targeting TM4SF1 via adeno-associated virus induced tumor senescence, reduced tumor burden and synergistically enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Conclusions Our results revealed that TM4SF1 regulated tumor cell senescence and immune evasion through the AKT pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in HCC, particularly in combination with first-line immunotherapy.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements. The 2.0 Consensus was aimed to update the original consensus with the latest available studies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current relevant scientific literatures regarding functional cure of hepatitis B, with a particular focus on issues that are not yet fully clarified. These cover the definition of functional cure of hepatitis B, its mechanisms and barriers, the effective strategies and treatment roadmap to achieve this endpoint, in particular new surrogate biomarkers used to measure efficacy or to predict response, and the appropriate approach to pursuing a functional cure in special populations, the development of emerging antivirals and immunomodulators with potential for curing hepatitis B. The statements are primarily intended to offer international guidance for clinicians in their practice to enhance the functional cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.

Thrombocytosis is a common condition in children, classified into primary and secondary types. Secondary thrombocytosis is mainly caused by factors such as infection, anemia, iron deficiency, trauma, or surgical intervention, and it typically occurs without severe thrombosis or bleeding events. Platelet counts can return to normal after control of the primary factors, with favorable clinical outcomes. Primary thrombocytosis is mainly caused by myeloproliferative neoplasms such as polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myelofibrosis, often accompanied by gene mutations in hematopoietic cells. In children, clinical manifestations are atypical compared to adults, with few thromboembolic or bleeding events. No special treatment is required for patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, and it is recommended to regularly monitor platelet counts. Antiplatelet therapy with aspirin can be considered for patients at risk of thrombosis or those with extreme thrombocytosis, and cytoreductive therapy can be performed when necessary, but the toxicities and side effects of drugs should be closely monitored. At present, hydroxyurea, interferon-alpha, and anagrelide are commonly used for cytoreductive therapy. This article provides an overview of the etiology, classification, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood thrombocytosis to guide healthcare professionals in treatment decisions.
Humans ; Thrombocytosis/therapy* ; Child

OBJECTIVES: To explore the factors related to prognosis and treatment failure in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to collect and analyze clinical data of ALL children admitted to the Department of Pediatric Hematology at Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from January 2012 to December 2019, with follow-up until June 2024. RESULTS: A total of 341 children with ALL were included. Among the 69 children with treatment failure, 55 (80%) experienced relapse, while 14 (20%) had non-relapse-related deaths, and no secondary tumors were observed. Initial WBC count ≥50×10⁹/L, positive minimal residual disease, and severe adverse events were identified as independent risk factors for treatment failure (P<0.05). Among the 55 relapsed patients, early relapses were predominant (36%), and the primary site of relapse was the bone marrow (56%). Immunophenotyping (P=0.009), initial WBC count (P=0.011), and fusion genes (P=0.040) were associated with the timing of relapse. High-risk status, T-cell ALL, relapse, and severe adverse events were independent risk factors affecting long-term survival (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The prognosis of children with ALL is related to risk stratification, immunophenotyping, relapse status, and occurrence of severe adverse events. Among these factors, relapse is the primary cause of treatment failure. Actively preventing relapse may reduce the treatment failure rate and improve long-term survival.
Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Treatment Failure ; Adolescent ; Infant ; Risk Factors

Copy number alteration (CNA) is a significant genetic change in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), with CDKN2A/B deletions, PAX5 deletions, and IKZF1 deletions being the most common. Recent studies have increasingly highlighted the potential prognostic significance of these gene deletions and multiple co-deletions in pediatric B-ALL. This paper reviews the main detection methods for CNA, as well as the prognostic characteristics and treatment approaches for common CNA in pediatric B-ALL.
Humans ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Child ; PAX5 Transcription Factor/genetics* ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15/genetics* ; Ikaros Transcription Factor/genetics* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Gene Deletion ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16/genetics* ; Prognosis

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical course of two children with PICALM-MLLT10-positive acute leukemia treated at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, between July 2021 and July 2023. The patients were diagnosed with acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia with central nervous system involvement and high-risk acute myeloid leukemia, respectively. Both achieved bone marrow complete remission after conventional chemotherapy combined with venetoclax. Following conversion to molecular negativity, they underwent sequential allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. At the latest follow-up, both patients were alive and in good clinical condition. These observations suggest that proceeding to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after venetoclax-based chemotherapy may improve the long-term survival of children with PICALM-MLLT10-positive leukemia.
Humans ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Child ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics*

This report describes a case of adult temporal bone Langerhans cell histiocytosis（LCH） that presented as posterior canal dehiscence syndrome（PCDS）. The patient initially presented with vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. Computed tomography（CT） revealed erosive changes in the mastoid and posterior semicircular canal. After the operation, the patient's hearing and vestibular symptoms disappeared and postoperative recovery was favorable. Adult LCH is relatively rare, and this case serves as an example to discuss the clinical features and treatment options of this disease, followed by a literature review.
Humans ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell/complications* ; Semicircular Canal Dehiscence/etiology* ; Temporal Bone/pathology*

Objective:To investigate the detection of the age and pathway and the etiology of sensorineural hearing loss in children, and to guide the early diagnosis. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the children who passed neonatal hearing screening but were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss in our department from January 2019 to September 2022. The clinical characteristics of 66 children with complete medical history, audiology examination, imaging examination and genetic detection of hearing loss were studied. The age group, detection route and degree of hearing loss were analyzed statistically. Results:①The children were aged from 7 months to 12 years old, and most of them were over 3 years old. ②The ways of detection were as follows: 23 cases（34.85%） due to abnormal hearing, 21 cases（31.82%） due to poor language, 15 cases（22.73%） found during physical examination, and 7 cases（10.61%） found with otitis media. Physical examination findings were concentrated in children aged ≤1 year old or 3-6 years old. ③Among the 56 cases, the degree of binaural hearing loss ranged from mild to severe, and most of those within 3 years of age had severe or above hearing loss. There were statistically significant differences in the degree of hearing loss distribution among different detection approaches（P<0.001）. Most children with hearing or language problems had moderate to severe or above hearing loss, and the proportion was significantly higher than that of children detected during physical examination or otitis media. ④There were 21 cases（31.82%） with a pathogenic mutation of GJB2 gene and 9 cases（13.64%） of large vestibular aqueduct syndrome, 7 of which were related to SLC26A4 gene mutation. There were 8 cases（12.12%） with high risk factors of hearing loss. There was 1 case（1.52%） with progressive speech loss after severe infection and high fever and 1 case（1.52%） with unilateral cochlear nerve dysplasia. Conclusion:Delayed hearing loss can occur at all ages and was not easy to be detected in time. The etiology was related to the mutation of deafness-related genes and the high risk factors of hearing loss. Combining hearing and gene screening in childhood, guiding parents to observe children's hearing response and language development, especially strengthening the follow-up of children with high risk factors for hearing loss, is conducive to the early diagnosis of delayed hearing loss.
Humans ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Connexin 26 ; Male ; Female ; Connexins/genetics* ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Hearing Tests