1.Association between metabolic parameters and erection in erectile dysfunction patients with hyperuricemia.
Guo-Wei DU ; Pei-Ning NIU ; Zhao-Xu YANG ; Xing-Hao ZHANG ; Jin-Chen HE ; Tao LIU ; Yan XU ; Jian-Huai CHEN ; Yun CHEN
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(4):482-487
The relationship between hyperuricemia (HUA) and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains inadequately understood. Given that HUA is often associated with various metabolic disorders, this study aims to explore the multivariate linear impacts of metabolic parameters on erectile function in ED patients with HUA. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted involving 514 ED patients with HUA in the Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Nanjing, China), aged 18 to 60 years. General demographic information, medical history, and laboratory results were collected to assess metabolic disturbances. Sexual function was evaluated using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Based on univariate analysis, variables associated with IIEF-5 scores were identified, and the correlations between them were evaluated. The effects of these variables on IIEF-5 scores were further explored by multiple linear regression models. Fasting plasma glucose ( β = -0.628, P < 0.001), uric acid ( β = -0.552, P < 0.001), triglycerides ( β = -0.088, P = 0.047), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( β = -0.164, P = 0.027), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; β = -0.562, P = 0.012), and smoking history ( β = -0.074, P = 0.037) exhibited significant negative impacts on erectile function. The coefficient of determination ( R ²) for the model was 0.239, and the adjusted R ² was 0.230, indicating overall statistical significance ( F -statistic = 26.52, P < 0.001). Metabolic parameters play a crucial role in the development of ED. Maintaining normal metabolic indices may aid in the prevention and improvement of erectile function in ED patients with HUA.
Humans
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Male
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Erectile Dysfunction/metabolism*
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Hyperuricemia/metabolism*
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Adult
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Middle Aged
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Cross-Sectional Studies
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Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism*
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Blood Glucose/metabolism*
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Uric Acid/blood*
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Young Adult
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Triglycerides/blood*
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Adolescent
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Cholesterol, LDL/blood*
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Penile Erection/physiology*
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Surveys and Questionnaires
2.Effect and mechanism of BCG immunotherapy in mice melanoma model
Mingze XU ; Huanhuan NING ; Yanzhi LU ; Jian KANG ; Yujun PENG ; Jingyao ZHANG ; Jiahao HU ; Ting DAI ; Mengjuan DONG ; Sa XUE ; Yinlan BAI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(6):1420-1426
Objective:To investigate immunotherapy effects and mechanism of BCG and recombinant BCG(rBCG)with c-di-AMP as adjuvant on melanoma in mice model.Methods:Melanoma mice model was established by B16F10 cell subcutaneous injec-tion in groin,and treated with 1×106 CFU of BCG and rBCG by adjacent injection of subcutaneous tumor for 3 times,respectively.Survival of melanotic mice,tumor growth and metastasis were observed.Tumor tissues of mice were isolated to prepare cell suspen-sion,and proportion of immune cells were detected by flow cytometry.Transcriptional levels of immune-related genes in tumor tissues were detected by qRT-PCR.Results:Both BCG and rBCG immunotherapy could significantly inhibit growth in melanoma mice and prolong survival time of mice.rBCG showed better inhibition on metastasis than BCG.Both strains significantly reduced proportion of M2-type macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cell associated with tumor growth and metastasis.Both two strains promoted infiltration of lymphocytes in tumor tissues,and rBCG significantly increased proportion of B cells in tumor.BCG immunotherapy upregulated transcription levels of metastasis-related cytokines,while rBCG therapy had no effects on transcriptions of these genes.Conclusion:Both BCG and rBCG have immunotherapeutic effects on melanotic mice,and rBCG with c-di-AMP as adjuvant shows better inhibition on tumor metastasis than BCG,which mechanism was related to regulation of immune response in tumor tissues.
3.Regulation of white adipose tissue in mice by immunization with recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Gue?rin with c-di-AMP adjuvant
Meng-juan DONG ; Yu-xiao CHANG ; Huan-huan NING ; Yan-zhi LU ; Jian KANG ; Ming-ze XU ; Ting DAI ; Jia-ling LI ; Le-ran HAO ; Lin-na ZHANG ; Yin-lan BAI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(4):370-375
This study assessed the role and mechanism of the recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Gue?rin vaccine(rBCG)with c-di-AMP adjuvant in regulating metabolism and immunity in epididymal white adipose(eWAT)in mice.Male C57BL/6 mice were intravenously immunized with BCG and rBCG,and their body weights were monitored.eWAT was isolated from the mice,and the stromal vascular fractions(SVFs)cell number was counted with a hemocytometer.Sections of mouse adipose tissue were prepared,and the size,number,and morphology of eWAT adipocytes and crown-like structure(CLS)formation were compared under a microscope after HE staining.The transcription levels of lipid metabolism-associated factors,cytokines and aging-associated genes in each group were determined with qRT-PCR.The body weights of mice gradually increased after immunization with BCG and rBCG.The proportions of eWAT increased,and the SVFs cell number decreased,in rBCG immunized mice.HE staining indicated that BCG immunization promoted hyperplasia,whereas rBCG immunization promoted hypertrophy of eWAT adipocytes;moreover,both BCG and rBCG immunization induced CLS formation in eWAT.The qRT-PCR results indicated that rBCG immunization inhibited the expression of genes associated with lipolysis and energy expenditure in eWAT.BCG immunization had little effect on cytokine transcription,whereas rBCG significantly induced the transcription of IFN-γ and IL-1Ra,and inhibited that of IL-15 and IL-2,but did not induce the expression of aging-associated genes.Thus,rBCG immunization induced eWAT adipocyte hypertrophy,which was associated with the inhibition of eWAT lipolysis and the regulation of cytokine expression.
4.Biparametric MRI-based peritumoral radiomics for preoperative prediction of extracapsular extension in prostate cancer
Honghao XU ; Qicong DU ; Yuanhao MA ; Xueyi NING ; Baichuan LIU ; Xu BAI ; Di CHEN ; Yun ZHANG ; Zhe DONG ; Chuang JIA ; Xiaojing ZHANG ; Xiaohui DING ; Baojun WANG ; Aitao GUO ; Jian XUE ; Xuetao MU ; Huiyi YE ; Haiyi WANG
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2025;59(9):1055-1062
Objective:To investigate the value of biparametric-MRI (bpMRI) based peritumoral radiomics for preoperative prediction of extraprostatic extension (EPE) in prostate cancer (PCa).Methods:In this cross-sectional study, consecutive bpMRI of patients undergoing prostatectomy for PCa were retrospectively collected from the First Medical Center (center 1) and the Third Medical Center (center 2) of Chinese PLA General Hospital. A total of 274 patients were finally enrolled. Patients at center 1 from January 2020 to December 2022 were randomly divided into a training set (149 cases) and an internal validation set (63 cases) by stratified random sampling. Patients at center 2 from January 2023 to March 2024 were assigned to the external test set (62 cases). Patients were categorized into EPE-positive group and EPE-negative group according to pathological assessment postoperatively. In the training set, there were 49 cases in EPE-positive group and 100 cases in EPE-negative group. In the internal validation set, there were 26 cases in EPE-positive group and 37 cases in EPE-negative group. In the external test set, there were 22 cases in EPE-positive group and 40 cases in EPE-negative group. Axial T 2WI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images were manually annotated to obtain index lesion regions of interest (ROIs), with the peritumoral ROIs subsequently delineated by semi-automatic segmentation technique. Radiomics features were extracted from intra-tumoral, peri-tumoral, and intra-tumoral plus peri-tumoral ROIs. The training set data was employed to select and optimize features to build the radiomics models. The logistic regression analysis was used to develop radiomics, clinical, and integrated models. The predictive performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in the external test set, and compared by the DeLong test. The sensitivity and specificity were compared by the exact McNemar test. Results:In the external test set, the peri-tumoral radiomics model based on bpMRI showed the highest performance in evaluating EPE, with an AUC of 0.739 (95% CI 0.611-0.842), which was identified as the optimal radiomics model. EPE grade ( OR=6.151, 95% CI 3.371-11.226, P<0.001) was incorporated into the clinical model, with an AUC of 0.780 (95% CI 0.657-0.875) in the external test set. The integrated model had an AUC of 0.817 (95% CI 0.698-0.904) in the external test set. There was no statistically significant difference in comparisons of AUCs among the three models (all P>0.05). The sensitivity of the integrated model (68.2%) showed no significant difference from those of the clinical model and the optimal radiomics model (77.3% and 86.4%, respectively; P=0.500 and P=0.289). However, the specificity of the integrated model (85.0%) was significantly higher than those of the clinical model (67.5%, P=0.016) and the optimal radiomics model (50.0%, P<0.001). Conclusion:A bpMRI-based peritumoral radiomics integrating clinical model demonstrates high performance for preoperative prediction of EPE in PCa.
5.Effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction Regulating Cav-1/Notch1/Hes1 Signaling Pathway on Nerve Regeneration after Cerebral Ischemia in Mice
Fanzuo ZENG ; Xuemei CHEN ; Yin OUYANG ; Bowei CHEN ; Jian YI ; Yaqian XU ; Wanling NING ; Baiyan LIU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(5):114-120
Objective To investigate the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on nerve regeneration after cerebral ischemia in mice based on Cav-1/Notch1/Hes1 signaling pathway.Methods Wild(WT)and Cav-1-/-(KO)male mice were randomly divided into sham-operation group,model group and Buyang Huanwu Decoction group,with 10 mice in each group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion method was used to construct the mouse cerebral ischemia model.After modeling,5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)was injected intraperitoneally every 7 days for 3 times(with an interval of 8 hours).Buyang Huanwu Decoction group was given 18.5 g/kg Buyang Huanwu Decoction by gavage daily,while the sham-operation group and model group were given distilled water of equal volume by gavage for 21 consecutive days.The neurological function of mice was evaluated using modified neurological severity score,brain tissue morphology was observed through HE staining,nerve regeneration in the ischemic side injury area was detected using dual immunofluorescence staining,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of Notch1 and Hes1 protein in ischemic cortical area.Results Compared with the same genotype sham-operation group,the neurological function score of the mice in the WT and KO model groups significantly increased(P<0.01),the arrangement of neurons in the ischemic cortical area was disordered,with nucleoli shrinking,marginalization,and even rupture,widened intercellular spaces,intracellular edema and vacuolar changes,the co-localization of EdU/Nestin,EdU/DCX and EdU/NeuN in the ischemic side injury area significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression of Notch1 and Hes1 protein in ischemic cortical area significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the same genotype model group,the neurological function score of the WT and KO Buyang Huanwu Decoction group significantly decreased(P<0.01),the neurons in the ischemic cortical area were arranged neatly and structurally intact,with reduced intercellular space and clear nucleoli,the co-localization of EdU/Nestin,EdU/DCX and EdU/NeuN in the ischemic side injury area was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression of Notch1 and Hes1 protein in ischemic cortical area were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the corresponding WT group,the neurological function scores of mice in the KO model group and KO Buyang Huanwu Decoction group significantly increased(P<0.01),the neurons in the ischemic cortical area had more severe nucleolar condensation,marginalization and rupture,with more vacuolar changes and ischemic injury,the co-localization of EdU/Nestin and EdU/NeuN in the ischemic side injury area was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the expression of Notch1 and Hes1 proteins in ischemic cortical area significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion Buyang Huanwu Decoction can promote nerve regeneration after cerebral ischemia,which may be related to the regulation of Cav-1 thereby inhibition Notch1//Hes1 signaling pathway activity.
6.Expert consensus on surgical treatment and rehabilitation for competitive sports athletes returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament injury (version 2025)
Kai HUANG ; Lunhao BAI ; Qing BI ; Hong CHEN ; Jiwu CHEN ; Xuesong DAI ; Wenyong FEI ; Weili FU ; Zhizeng GAO ; Lin GUO ; Yinghui HUA ; Jingmin HUANG ; Suizhu HUANG ; Xuan HUANG ; Jian LI ; Qiang LI ; Shuzhen LI ; Yanlin LI ; Yunxia LI ; Zhong LI ; Ning LIU ; Yuqiang LIU ; Wei LU ; Hongbin LYU ; Haile PAN ; Xiaoyun PAN ; Chao QI ; Weiliang SHEN ; Luning SUN ; Jin TANG ; Zimin WANG ; Bide WANG ; Ru WANG ; Shaobai WANG ; Licheng WEI ; Weidong XU ; Yongsheng XU ; Jizhou YANG ; Liang YANG ; Rui YANG ; Hongbo YOU ; Tengbo YU ; Jiakuo YU ; Bing YUE ; Hua ZHANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Qingsong ZHANG ; Xintao ZHANG ; Jiajun ZHAO ; Lilian ZHAO ; Qichun ZHAO ; Song ZHAO ; Jiapeng ZHENG ; Jiang ZHENG ; Zhi ZHENG ; Jingbin ZHOU ; Jinzhong ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(4):325-338
With the rapid development of competitive sports, the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is on the rise. Such injuries may shorten athletes′ career and lead to other long-term adverse consequences. Although athletes generally recover well after ACL reconstruction, many still struggle to return to their pre-injury performance levels. Advances in the understanding of ACL anatomy and injury mechanisms, along with the evolution of surgical techniques and rehabilitation methods, have provided more individualized and tailored options for athletes following ACL injuries. However, there is currently no consensus in China regarding surgical and rehabilitation strategies for competitive athletes aiming to return to sports after ACL injuries. To this end, the Sports Medicine Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association and the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Trauma jointly formulated the Expert consensus on surgical treatment and rehabilitation for competitive sports athletes returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament injury ( version 2025), and presented 14 recommendations covering surgical indications, preoperative rehabilitation, surgical timing, surgical strategies and postoperative rehabilitation strategies, aiming to improve the surgical treatment and rehabilitation system for ACL injuries in competitive athletes and facilitate their return to high-level sports performance after injury.
7.Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (version 2025)
Yong YANG ; Xiaoguang ZHOU ; Qixin CHEN ; Jian CHEN ; Jian DONG ; Liangjie DU ; Shunwu FAN ; Jin FAN ; Zhong FANG ; Haoyu FENG ; Shiqing FENG ; Haishan GUAN ; Aiguo GAO ; Yanzheng GAO ; Yong HAI ; Da HE ; Dengwei HE ; Haiyi HE ; Dianming JIANG ; Xuewen KANG ; Bin LIN ; Baoge LIU ; Changqing LI ; Fang LI ; Li LI ; Fangcai LI ; Weishi LI ; Xiaoguang LIU ; Hongjian LIU ; Xinyu LIU ; Yong LIU ; Zhongjun LIU ; Shibao LU ; Xuhua LU ; Fei LUO ; Yuhai MA ; Keya MAO ; Xuexiao MA ; Bin MENG ; Xu NING ; Limin RONG ; Hongxun SANG ; Jun SHU ; Tiansheng SUN ; Dasheng TIAN ; Zheng WANG ; Bing WANG ; Linfeng WANG ; Qingde WANG ; Qinghe WANG ; Lan WEI ; Jigong WU ; Baoshan XU ; Youjia XU ; Guoyong YIN ; Jinglong YAN ; Feng YAN ; Cao YANG ; Huilin YANG ; Qiang YANG ; Bin ZHAO ; Jie ZHAO ; Yue ZHU ; Jianguo ZHANG ; Wenzhi ZHANG ; Zhongmin ZHANG ; Zhaomin ZHENG ; Yan ZENG ; Baorong HE ; Wei MEI
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(7):613-626
Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.
8.TRIM25 inhibits Japanese encephalitis virus replication in U251 cells by up-regulation of the IFN-β and degrading the viral capsid protein
Chen CHEN ; Kui XU ; Zhuang ZHU ; Rong HUANG ; Yalan FENG ; Ning TAN ; Yajing HE ; Yue LUO ; Jian YANG ; Lei YUAN
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(2):99-107
Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of tripartite motif-containing 25 (TRIM25) on the replication of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in cells and its molecular mechanism.Methods:Human glioma cells (U251 cells) and Kunming mice were infected with JEV, and then the cells and brain tissue samples were collected. The transcription levels of six TRIM genes were detected by real-time PCR, and the expression of TRIM25 in cells was detected by Western blot. U251 and A549 cells overexpressed with TRIM25 and U251 cells knocked out with TRIM25 gene were constructed. Cells were infected with JEV, and the replication of JEV was detected by viral plaque assay, real-time PCR and Western blot. The interaction of TRIM25 with viral proteins was investigated by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and indirect immunofluorescence assay. The expression of IFN-β in overexpressed TRIM25 cells was detected by real-time PCR and ELISA.Results:JEV infection promoted the expression of TRIM25 in cells and mouse brain tissues. TRIM25 overexpression restricted JEV replication in U251 and A549 cells, while TRIM25 knockout enhanced JEV replication. TRIM25 overexpression upregulated the level of IFN-β in cells. TRIM25 interacted with JEV capsid protein and promoted the degradation of capsid protein.Conclusion:TRIM25 can inhibit the replication of JEV in cells by upregulating IFN-β and promoting the degradation of JEV C protein.
9.Clinical study of intracranial hypotension targeted body posture combined with pharmacotherapy in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma
Jiayu CHEN ; Zhe WANG ; Di ZANG ; Ruizhe ZHENG ; Xiangru YE ; Zengxin QI ; Zeyu XU ; Zhiqiang LI ; Chengfeng SUN ; Liangjun SHEN ; Luoping SHENG ; Fulin XU ; Ruyong YE ; Kaiyu ZHOU ; Weijun TANG ; Yueqing HU ; Dapeng SHI ; Yuquan WANG ; Xizhen WU ; Ying WANG ; Qilin ZHANG ; Feili LIU ; Guo YU ; Yiping LU ; Yirui SUN ; Ning ZHANG ; Feng HUANG ; Xialong GU ; Han ZHANG ; Jian DING ; Yongyan BI ; Haolan DU ; Jing ZHANG ; Hailong JI ; Ding DING ; Wei ZHANG ; Xuehai WU
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(3):212-218
Objective:To compare the efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy and pharmacotherapy alone in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma(CSDH).Methods:Firstly, retrospective case series study was conducted. Thirty cases of CSDH that had received body posture combined with pharmacotherapy at Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from December 2016 to October 2020 were studied retrospectively. Twenty-seven patients were male, and 3 patients were female. The age of patients ( M(IQR)) was 66(16) years (range:28 to 84). Nineteen patients had unilateral hematoma, and 11 patients had bilateral hematoma. All patients received pharmacotherapy and body posture therapy that was to raise their lower limbs 20 to 30 cm with leg lift pad and get abdominal compressed with customized abdominal belt in supine position. Patients were required to maintain the body posture as much as possible, with the maximum to 16 to 18 hours per day. Patients with unilateral hematoma should tilt the head to the affected side and avoid tilting it to the opposite side. For patients with bilateral hematoma, there was no need for head lateralization. Patient were treated with oral dexamethasone and atorvastatin simultaneously. The preliminary efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy was determined by hematoma improvement rate which was analyzed by Clopper-Pearson method. Then, the multi-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial had carried out in 9 medical centers from August 2020 to November 2021. The stratified block randomization method was adopted. Patients were randomized in a ratio of 1∶1 to either receive pharmacotherapy alone(the control group) or body posture combined with pharmacotherapy(the experiment group) for 3 months and followed up for 6 months. Effective treatment was defined as complete absorption of hematoma, or the hematoma volume decreased by more than 10 ml and Markwalder grading scale score had improved by more than 1 point compared to the baseline. The efficacy rate and surgery conversion rate at 3 months and recurrence at 6 months were observed. Comparison between groups was performed with paired sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, corrected χ2 test, or Fisher exact probability method. Logistic regression was used to compare the effective rate and operation rate between the two groups. Results:In the respective study, 30 patients completed follow-up 13 to 353 days after treatment. At the last follow-up, the incidence of almost complete absorption or significantly absorption of hematoma (hematoma volume was significantly reduced accompanied by symptom improvement) was 93.3%. The 95% CI for the incidence that analyzed by the Clopper-Pearson method was 77.9% to 99.2%. One hundred and six patients were enrolled in the multicenter study. Fifty-five patients underwent body posture combined with pharmacotherapy. The age was 74(17) years (range:26 to 92). Thirty-nine patients were males and 16 were females. Fifty-one patients underwent pharmacotherapy alone. The age was 69(12) years (range:48 to 84). Thirty-seven patients were males and 14 were females. The length of body posture recorded in diary card was (15.7±2.3) hours(range:7.6 to 19.3 hours). The efficacy rate in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group and pharmacotherapy alone group were 83.6% (46/55) and 56.9% (29/51), respectively at 3 months. The result of the logistic regression analysis showed that the efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group was better than that of pharmacotherapy alone group ( OR=3.88,95% CI:1.57 to 9.58, P=0.003). Surgery rate in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group and pharmacotherapy alone group were 5.5% (3/55) and 21.6% (11/51) respectively. The result of Logistic regression showed that the pharmacotherapy alone group was more likely to be converted to surgery ( OR=0.21,95% CI:0.05 to 0.80, P=0.023). At the 6 months, no recurrence of cases was found in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group. However, the recurrence rate of pharmacotherapy alone group was 6.3% (3/48), there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The effect of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy for chronic subdural hematoma is better than that of pharmacotherapy alone.
10.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
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.

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