ObjectiveNeuroinflammation plays a crucial role in both the onset and progression of ischemic stroke, exerting a significant impact on the recovery of the central nervous system. Excessive neuroinflammation can lead to secondary neuronal damage, further exacerbating brain injury and impairing functional recovery. As a result, effectively modulating and reducing neuroinflammation in the brain has become a key therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. Among various approaches, targeting immune regulation to control inflammation has gained increasing attention. This study aims to investigate the role of in vitro induced regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in suppressing neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke, as well as their potential therapeutic effects. By exploring the mechanisms through which Tregs exert their immunomodulatory functions, this research is expected to provide new insights into stroke treatment strategies. MethodsNaive CD4⁺ T cells were isolated from mouse spleens using a negative selection method to ensure high purity, and then they were induced in vitro to differentiate into Treg cells by adding specific cytokines. The anti-inflammatory effects and therapeutic potential of Treg cells transplantation in a mouse model of ischemic stroke was evaluated. In the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, after Treg cells transplantation, their ability to successfully migrate to the infarcted brain region and their impact on neuroinflammation levels were examined. To further investigate the role of Treg cells in stroke recovery, the changes in cytokine expression and their effects on immune cell interactions was analyzed. Additionally, infarct size and behavioral scores were measured to assess the neuroprotective effects of Treg cells. By integrating multiple indicators, the comprehensive evaluation of potential benefits of Treg cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke was performed. ResultsTreg cells significantly regulated the expression levels of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo, effectively balancing the immune response and suppressing excessive inflammation. Additionally, Treg cells inhibited the activation and activity of inflammatory cells, thereby reducing neuroinflammation. In the MCAO mouse model, Treg cells were observed to accumulate in the infarcted brain region, where they significantly reduced the infarct size, demonstrating their neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, Treg cell therapy notably improved behavioral scores, suggesting its role in promoting functional recovery, and increased the survival rate of ischemic stroke mice, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic strategy for stroke treatment. ConclusionIn vitro induced Treg cells can effectively suppress neuroinflammation caused by ischemic stroke, demonstrating promising clinical application potential. By regulating the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, Treg cells can inhibit immune responses in the nervous system, thereby reducing neuronal damage. Additionally, they can modulate the immune microenvironment, suppress the activation of inflammatory cells, and promote tissue repair. The therapeutic effects of Treg cells also include enhancing post-stroke recovery, improving behavioral outcomes, and increasing the survival rate of ischemic stroke mice. With their ability to suppress neuroinflammation, Treg cell therapy provides a novel and effective strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke, offering broad application prospects in clinical immunotherapy and regenerative medicine.

Background: s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs. Results: Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment. Conclusions We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.

Background: s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs. Results: Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment. Conclusions We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.

Background: s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs. Results: Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment. Conclusions We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.

Objective: To analyze the influencing factors of psychological flexibility for cancer-related pain patients, so as to provide insights for improving their psychological flexibility. Methods: Cancer-related pain patients hospitalized in the Oncology Department of Anhui Cancer Hospital were selected as the subjects of the survey. Demographic information and disease information were collected through questionnaires. Pain belief was assessed using the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory. Alexithymia was assessed using the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale-Ⅱ. Psychological flexibility was assessed using the Psychological Inflexibility in Pain Scale. The influencing factors of psychological flexibility among cancer-related pain patients was analyzed by using a multiple linear regression model. Results: A total of 202 cancer-related pain patients were surveyed, including 114 males (56.44%) and 88 females (43.56%). The mean age was (59.99±11.53) years. The primary tumor type was digestive system cancer, with 121 cases (59.90%). The average pain intensity in the past 24 hours was mainly mild, with 150 cases (74.26%). The median pain beliefs score was -0.19 (interquartile range, 0.39) points. The total score of alexithymia was (66.86±5.60) points. The total score of psychological flexibility in cancer-related pain patients was (66.35±7.23) points. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that pain belief (β'=0.321), alexithymia (β'=0.222), and average pain intensity in the past 24 hours (β'=-0.481) were influencing factors for psychological flexibility in cancer-related pain patients. Conclusion The psychological flexibility of cancer-related pain patients is related to pain beliefs, alexithymia and average pain intensity in the past 24 hours.

Sturgeon cartilage has a wide range of applications as it is rich in biologically active substances such as chondroitin sulphate and protein. In this study, the safety evaluation of sturgeon cartilage peptide in NIH/3T3 and C2C12 cells was conducted, and the results showed that sturgeon cartilage peptide did not induce apoptosis and necrosis in NIH/3T3 and C2C12 cells compared to the blank control, which provides an in vitro experimental basis for the transdermal drug delivery of sturgeon cartilage peptide. Further evaluation of the scavenging activity of sturgeon cartilage peptides against the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals showed that sturgeon cartilage peptides have strong antioxidant activity. A stable sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment containing 7% sturgeon cartilage peptide was prepared and analysed for its transdermal absorption in mouse skin. This experiment was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: 00007684). It was found that the 12-hour cumulative release of sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment reached 92%. In this study, we further analyzed the ability of sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment to inhibit ear swelling in mice after xylene-induced inflammation. The sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment showed significant anti-inflammatory activity compared to the matrix group and the control group. In conclusion, the present study clearly demonstrated that sturgeon cartilage peptide has good safety and antioxidant activity, and the prepared sturgeon cartilage peptide ointment provides an experimental basis for further application of sturgeon cartilage peptide as well as the study of transdermal drug delivery.

Objective: To explore the relationship between depressive symptoms, negative life events and resilience among primary and secondary school teachers, so as to provide a reference for mental health promotion in school teachers. Methods: During November to December 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted using convenient cluster sampling method to select 11 332 in service teachers from 38 schools in 8 provinces (cities) including Beijing, Guangdong, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items, a self developed 21-item Adverse Life Events questionnaire, and a 10-item Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale were used to assess depressive symptoms, experiences of negative life events, and resilience levels of the teachers, respectively. The relationship between depressive symptoms, negative life events and psychological resilience were analyzed by multiple linear regression and stratified regression. Results: The detection rate of depressive symptoms among primary and secondary school teachers was 14.0%. Negative life events of primary and secondary school teachers were positively correlated with depressive symptoms ( r =0.35), while psychological resilience was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms ( r =-0.45) ( P <0.05). After adjusting for possible covariates including gender and marital status, negative life events were positively correlated with depressive symptoms ( β=0.22, P <0.01). Resilience played a moderating role in the association of negative life events with depressive symptoms among primary and secondary school teachers ( B=-0.15, P <0.01). Conclusions Negative life events experiences are associated with higher level of depressive symptoms among school teachers. However, resilience might mitigate the negative effects of negative life events on depressive symptoms, playing a protective role in teachers mental health.

Objective To observe the effects of"Sleep Recipe"on the behavior,brain tissue and central neurotransmitters of insomnia rats.Methods The male rats with SD were randomly divided into control group,model group,sleep formula group,and eszolam group,with 10 rats in each group,and the insomnia model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of P-chlorphenylalanine(PCPA).After successful modeling,the control group and the model group were given saline gavage,and the medylom group and eszolam group were given drug gavage.The insomnia-like behavior of rats in each group was evaluated by pentobarbital sodium correction experiment and open field experiment,Hematoxlin and eosin(HE)staining observed the pathological changes of rat cerebral cortex,hippocampus,and hypothalamic tissue,and Enzyme-linked mmunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine the expression levels of Gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT).Results The sleep latency of rats in the model group was significantly elongated(P<0.01),while the sleep time was less(P<0.01),and the mental state and fur color were poor,significantly decreased in body weight(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the sleep latency was significantly shortened(P<0.01),the sleep duration was significantly prolonged(P<0.01),and the body mass was significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01);In the open field experiment,the total activity distance of rats in the model group increased,the average speed and central region residence time decreased(P<0.05),the total activity distance of rats in the Sleep Formula group and Eszolam group decreased significantly(P<0.05),the average speed increased and the central region residence time increased(P<0.05).HE results showed that the number of neurons,morphological structure and arrangement of neurons,such as cerebral cortex,hippocampus and hypothalamus in the model group,were damaged to varying degrees,and the sleep formula group and estazolam group were significantly improved.ELISA results showed that the expression of 5-HT and GABA in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus of rats in the model group was significantly reduced(P<0.01,P<0.05),and the expression of GABA in hippocampal tissues was also significantly reduced(P<0.01).The protein expression levels of cerebral cortical GABA,hypothalamic GABA and 5-HT in the Sleep Formula group were significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion Sleep Formula can improve the mental state,restore normal body weight,improve sleep efficiency,and reduce anxiety and tension in insomnia rats.The mechanism may be related to increasing the content of 5-HT and GABA,and inhibiting the spread and conduction of hypothalamic and brainstem pro-awakening nuclei.

Objective To investigate the effect of peripheral blood bile acids on the cognitive function of schizophrenia patients.Methods Targeted metabolomics was adopted to analyze the total level of primary and secondary serum bile acid metabolites collected from 23 schizophrenia patients and 23 health control individuals.The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery(MCCB)was adopted to evaluate the subjects'cognitive function in five dimensions.Results We found that the schizophrenia patients had impaired cognitive functions in multiple dimensions including speed of processing,working memory,reasoning and problem solving,and visual learning.Compared with the health control group,serum levels of cholic acid(CA)and chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA)were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia,while serum level of glycocholic acid(GCA)was significantly higher,and the ratio of deoxycholic acid(DCA)to CA was higher(3.04 vs.1.16).Speed of processing,working memory,reasoning and problem solving,and visual learning abilities were significantly negatively correlated with serum levels of multiple primary bile acids including taurocholic acid(TCA),GCA,glycochenodeoxycholic acid(GCDCA)and taurochenodeoxycholic acid(TCDCA),after adjustments of age,sex,and body mass index.Conclusion The bile acid profile of schizophrenia patients is obvious,and the decrease in neuroprotective bile acids(namely,CA and CDCA)and the up-regulation of cytotoxic bile acid(i.e.,GCA)may impair the cognitive function of schizophrenia patients.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (IALL).Methods:A retrospective cohort study.Clinical data, treatment and prognosis of 28 cases of IALL who have been treated at Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University and Baoding Children′s Hospital from October 2013 to May 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Based on the results of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), all patients were divided into KMT2A gene rearrangement (KMT2A-R) positive group and KMT2A-R negative group. The prognosis of two groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank test were used to analyze the survival of the patients.Results:Among 28 cases of IALL, there were 10 males and 18 females, with the onset age of 10.9 (9.4,11.8) months. In terms of immune classification, 25 cases were B-ALL (89%), while the remaining 3 cases were T-ALL (11%). Most infant B-ALL showed pro-B lymphocyte phenotype (16/25,64%). A total of 22 cases (79%) obtained chromosome karyotype results, of which 7 were normal karyotypes, no complex karyotypes and 15 were abnormal karyotypes were found. Among abnormal karyotypes, there were 4 cases of t (9; 11), 2 cases of t (4; 11), 2 cases of t (11; 19), 1 case of t (1; 11) and 6 cases of other abnormal karyotypes. A total of 19 cases (68%) were positive for KMT2A-R detected by FISH. The KMT2A fusion gene was detected by real-time PCR in 16 cases (57%). A total of 24 patients completed standardized induction chemotherapy and were able to undergo efficacy evaluation, 23 cases (96%) achieved complete remission through induction chemotherapy, 4 cases (17%) died of relapse. The 5-year event free survival rate (EFS) was (46±13)%, and the 5-year overall survival rate (OS) was (73±10)%.The survival time was 31.3 (3.3, 62.5) months. There was no significant statistical difference in 5-year EFS ((46±14)% vs. (61±18)%) and 5-year OS ((64±13)% vs. (86±13)%) between the KMT2A-R positive group (15 cases) and the KMT2A-R negative group (9 cases) ( χ2=1.88, 1.47, P=0.170, 0.224). Conclusions:Most IALL patients were accompanied by KMT2A-R. They had poor tolerance to traditional chemotherapy, the relapse rate during treatment was high and the prognosis was poor.