OBJECTIVES: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is characterized by complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis. In recent years, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor initiation and progression has attracted increasing attention. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), which is aberrantly expressed in various tumors, may be closely related to the EMT process. This study aims to examine the expression and correlation of EZH2 and EMT markers in ESCC cells and tissues, evaluate the effects of EZH2 knockdown on ESCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and explore how EZH2 contributes to the malignant biological behavior of ESCC. METHODS: Bioinformatics analyses were used to assess EZH2 expression levels in ESCC. Small interfering RNA was used to knock down EZH2 in ESCC cell lines EC109 and EC9706. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and Transwell assays. Protein and mRNA expression levels of EZH2, E-cadherin (E-cad), and vimentin (Vim) were detected by Western blotting and real time fluorogenic quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), respectively. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed on 70 ESCC tissue samples and 40 paired adjacent normal tissues collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University between 2010 and 2016 to assess the expression of EZH2, E-cad, and Vim, and to analyze their associations with clinicopathological feature and patient prognosis. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis showed that EZH2 was highly expressed in ESCC (P<0.001), and high EZH2 expression was associated with worse prognosis (P<0.001). CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays demonstrated that EZH2 knockdown significantly suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration of ESCC cells (P<0.001). In addition, Vim expression was significantly reduced, while E-cad expression was significantly increased at both protein and mRNA levels in EZH2-silenced cells (all P<0.05). IHC staining analysis revealed higher expression of EZH2 and Vim and lower expression of E-cad in ESCC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that low expression of EZH2 and Vim and high expression of E-cad were associated with longer survival (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS EZH2 promotes malignant biological behavior in ESCC by mediating EMT. Elevated EZH2 expression is associated with poor prognosis in ESCC patients.
Humans ; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein/physiology* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/pathology* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cadherins/genetics* ; Vimentin/genetics* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Homo- or heterodimeric compounds that affect dimeric protein function through interaction between monomeric moieties and protein subunits can serve as valuable sources of potent and selective drug candidates. Here, we screened an in-house dimeric natural product collection, and panepocyclinol A (PecA) emerged as a selective and potent STAT3 inhibitor with profound anti-tumor efficacy. Through cross-linking C712/C718 residues in separate STAT3 monomers with two distinct Michael receptors, PecA inhibits STAT3 DNA binding affinity and transcription activity. Molecular dynamics simulation reveals the key conformation changes of STAT3 dimers upon the di-covalent binding with PecA that abolishes its DNA interactions. Furthermore, PecA exhibits high efficacy against anaplastic large T cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo, especially those with constitutively activated STAT3 or STAT3^Y640F. In summary, our study describes a distinct and effective di-covalent modification for the dimeric compound PecA to disrupt STAT3 function.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss, with few effective treatments currently available. The multifactorial nature of AD, shaped by genetic, environmental, and biological factors, complicates both research and clinical management. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and multi-omics technologies provide new opportunities to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of AD and identify early biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. AI-driven approaches such as machine learning, deep learning, and network-based models have enabled the integration of large-scale genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and microbiomic datasets. These efforts have facilitated the discovery of novel molecular signatures and therapeutic targets. Methods including deep belief networks and joint deep semi-non-negative matrix factorization have contributed to improvements in disease classification and patient stratification. However, ongoing challenges remain. These include data heterogeneity, limited interpretability of complex models, a lack of large and diverse datasets, and insufficient clinical validation. The absence of standardized multi-omics data processing methods further restricts progress. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in AI-driven multi-omics research in AD, highlighting achievements in early diagnosis and biomarker discovery while discussing limitations and future directions needed to advance these approaches toward clinical application.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a pivotal role in orchestrating higher-order emotional and cognitive processes, a function that depends on the precise modulation of synaptic activity. Although pharmacological studies have demonstrated that dopamine signaling through dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1) in the PFC is essential for these functions, the cell-type-specific and molecular mechanisms underlying the neuromodulatory effects remain elusive. Using cell-type-specific knockout mice and patch-clamp recordings, we investigated the regulatory role of DRD1 on neurons and astrocytes in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Furthermore, we explored the mechanisms by which DRD1 on astrocytes regulate synaptic transmission and plasticity at the cellular level, as well as emotional and cognitive functions at the behavioral level, through two-photon imaging, microdialysis, high-performance liquid chromatography, transcriptome sequencing, and behavioral testing. We found that conditional knockout of the Drd1 in astrocytes (CKO^AST) increased glutamatergic synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), whereas Drd1 deletion in pyramidal neurons did not affect synaptic transmission. The elevated level of d-serine in the mPFC of CKO^AST mice increased glutamatergic transmission and LTP through NMDA receptors. In addition, CKO^AST mice exhibited abnormal emotional and cognitive function. Notably, these behavioral changes in CKO^AST mice could be reversed through the administration of d-serine degrease to the mPFC. These results highlight the critical role of the astrocytic DRD1 in modulating mPFC synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as higher brain functions through d-serine, and may shed light on the treatment of mental disorders.

Objective To investigate the expression,synergistic relationship and clinical significance of alcohol de-hydrogenase(ADH1A)and vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGFA)in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The expression and correlation of ADH1A and VEGFA in HCC and adjacent normal tissues were ana-lyzed by GEPIA.TCGA and GSEA were used to analyze the pathway of ADH1A in HCC.The clinical and patho-logical data of 84 patients with HCC were collected,and 54 patients with paracancer normal tissue samples were se-lected as controls to analyze the correlation between ADH1A and VEGFA and clinicopathological parameters of HCC.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of ADH1A and VEGFA in cases and con-trols,and the correlation between the expression of ADH1A and VEGFA and the clinical progression and prognosis of patients with HCC was analyzed based on clinical pathological parameters and Kaplan-Meier.Results Bioinfor-matics analysis found that ADH1A was low-expressed in HCC and VEGFA was highly expressed in HCC,and there was a negative correlation between the two(P<0.001);immunohistochemical detection results showed that the expression of ADH1A in HCC tissue was lower than that in normal tissue adjacent to cancer(P<0.01)while the expression rate of VEGFA in HCC tissue was significantly higher than that of normal tissue adjacent to cancer(P<0.01);The recurrence rate of vascular thrombus and HCC patients in HCC group with high expression of ADH1A was lower(P<0.05).The proportion of tumor diameter>5 cm,high TNM stage,microsatellite and G2-G3 dif-ferentiation in HCC tissues in VEGFA high expression group was higher(P<0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival analy-sis showed that patients with high ADH1A expression and low VEGFA expression had a higher five-year survival rate.Conclusion Low expression of ADH1A and high expression of VEGFA in tumor tissues of patients with HCC indicate tumor progression and can be used as one of the prognostic evaluation indicators for patients with HCC.

Osteoarthritis(OA),characterized by cartilage degeneration,synovial inflammation,and subchondral bone remodeling,is among the most common musculoskeletal disorders globally in people over 60 years of age.The initiation and progression of OA involves the abnormal metabolism of chondrocytes as an important pathogenic process.Cartilage degeneration features mitochondrial dysfunction as one of the important causative factors of abnormal chondrocyte metabolism.Therefore,maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is an important strategy to mitigate OA.Mitophagy is a vital process for autophagosomes to target,engulf,and remove damaged and dysfunctional mitochondria,thereby maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis.Cumulative studies have revealed a strong association between mitophagy and OA,suggesting that the regulation of mitophagy may be a novel therapeutic direction for OA.By reviewing the literature on mitophagy and OA published in recent years,this paper elaborates the potential mechanism of mitophagy regulating OA,thus providing a theoretical basis for studies related to mitophagy to develop new treatment options for OA.

The endoplasmic reticulum is a key site for protein production and quality control.More than one-third of proteins are synthesized and folded into the correct three-dimensional conformation in the endoplasmic reticulum.However,during protein folding,unfolded and/or misfolded proteins are prone to occur,which may lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress.Organisms can monitor the quality of the proteins produced by endoplasmic reticulum quality control(ERQC)and endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation(ERAD),which maintain endoplasmic reticulum protein homeostasis by degrading abnormally folded proteins.The underlying mechanisms of protein folding and ERAD in mammals have not yet been fully explored.Therefore,this paper reviews the process and function of protein folding and ERAD in mammalian cells,in order to help clinicians better understand the mechanism of ERAD and to provide a scientific reference for the treatment of diseases caused by abnormal ERAD.

Objective:To discuss the effect of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-15(Siglec15)derived from M2 tumor-associated macrophages(M2-TAMs)on promoting the malignant biological behavior of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)through bioinformatics analysis,and to validate the findings through cell experiment.Methods:The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource(TIMER)online Database was used to analyze the expression differences and immune infiltration of Siglec15 in pan-cancer and adjacent normal tissues.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the expression levels of Siglec15 mRNA in M2-TAMs and ESCC EC109 and KYSE150 cells.Based on the non-contact co-culture of M2-TAMs and ESCC cells,the following groups were set up,such as EC109/KYSE150 group,EC109/KYSE150+si-NC group(transfected with si-NC sequence),and EC109/KYSE150+si-Siglec15 group(transfected with si-Siglec15#1 and si-Siglec15#2 sequences).CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation activities of the cells in various groups;wound healing assay was used to detect the wound healing rates of the cells in various groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the numbers of migration and invasion cells in various groups;flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic rates of the cells in various groups.Results:The bioinformatics analysis results showed that compared with adjacent normal tissue,the expression levels of Siglec15 mRNA in pan-cancer tissues such as esophageal cancer,colon cancer,and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissues were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the expression level of Siglec15 mRNA in esophageal cancer tissue was significantly positively correlated with the infiltration of the macrophages(P＜0.05).Compared with the EC109 cells and KYSE150 cells,the expression level of Siglec15 mRNA in M2-TAMs was significantly increased(P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the proliferation rate of the cells among EC109/KYSE150 group,EC109/KYSE150+si-NC group,and EC109/KYSE150+si-Siglec15 group(P＞0.05).Compared with EC109/KYSE150 group,after treated for 24 and 48 h,the wound healing rate of the cells in EC109/KYSE150+si-NC group was increased(P＜0.01),the numbers of migration and invasion cells were increased(P＜0.05),and the apoptotic rate was decreased(P＜0.01).Compared with EC109/KYSE150+si-NC group,the wound healing rates of the cells in EC109/KYSE150+si-Siglec15#1 group and EC109/KYSE150+si-Siglec15#2 group were decreased(P＜0.05),the numbers of migration and invasion cells were decreased(P＜0.05),and the apoptotic rates of the cells had no significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Siglec15 derived from M2-TAMs may be a key factor in promoting the migration and invasion of the ESCC cells.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of using the mirror technique, which involves overlapping the distance between the center of rotation of the femoral head and the posteromedial edge of the greater trochanter, combined with the injured side and the posterior edge of the contralateral femoral medial and lateral condyles, to correct rotational displacement of the femur during closed reduction and intramedullary nail fixation for multi-level comminuted femoral shaft fractures.Methods:This study included 52 adult patients with unilateral comminuted femoral shaft fractures treated with closed reduction and antegrade interlocking intramedullary nail fixation at the Trauma Center of Liuzhou Workers' Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022. The cohort consisted of 37 males and 15 females, with an average age of 44.4±3.5 years (range 19-68 years). During the operation, C-arm fluoroscopy was used to confirm the standard lateral position of the knee joint, identified by overlapping the posterior edges of the medial and lateral femoral condyles. With this position maintained, X-ray fluoroscopy was performed on the hip joint in the anteroposterior view to identify the rotation center of the femoral head (point O) and the intersection point of the arc projection between the posteromedial edge of the greater trochanter and the upper edge of the femoral neck (point Y). The distance from point O to point Y (OY) was measured and recorded. The rotational deformity of the femoral shaft fracture was corrected by internally or externally rotating the main screw sight frame to match the OY distance between the injured and healthy sides. Postoperative CT was used to measure bilateral femoral neck anteversion (FNA), and the difference in FNA between the two sides was compared to verify the accuracy of rotation control. Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on fracture healing rate, lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) score, Harris score, Lysholm knee score, hip and knee joint range of motion, and complications.Results:The postoperative FNA was 14.45°±3.23° on the healthy side and 14.21°±3.28° on the injured side. The mean FNA difference between the two sides was 0.79°±0.58° (range 0°-2.5°). In 3 cases, the difference exceeded 2°, with a maximum difference of 2.5°. In 10 cases, the difference ranged from 1° to 2°, and in 39 cases, the difference was ≤1°, including 2 cases with no difference. There was no significant difference in postoperative FNA between the two sides ( t=1.063, P=0.168). At the last follow-up, there were no significant differences in LEFS score, Harris score, or Lysholm score between the injured and healthy sides ( P>0.05). The range of motion (ROM) of the hip joint at the last follow-up was 117.0°±2.2° in flexion, 24.3°±3.2° in extension, 33.4°±3.1° in abduction, 20.8°±2.7° in adduction, 19.4°±3.5° in internal rotation, and 38.2°±1.5° in external rotation. The ROM of the healthy side was 122.0°±2.4° in flexion, 25.4°±2.8° in extension, 35.6°±2.0° in abduction, 23.4°±1.6° in adduction, 21.0°±2.2° in internal rotation, and 38.4°±1.8° in external rotation, with no significant differences ( P>0.05). The knee flexion ROM was 135.0°±2.8° on the injured side and 138.4°±1.2° on the healthy side, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). The fracture healing time was 10.6±2.3 months (range 6-13 months). One patient developed fat embolism syndrome on the third postoperative day and recovered after 2 weeks of hormone therapy and respiratory support. No other complications, such as vascular or nerve injury, infection, deep vein thrombosis, or joint dysfunction, were observed in the remaining 51 patients. Conclusion:The method of using the vertical projection distance between the center of rotation of the femoral head and the posteromedial edge of the greater trochanter, combined with the overlap of the injured side and the posterior edge of the medial and lateral femoral condyles, is a new quantitative approach. This technique accurately determines and corrects the rotational displacement of femoral fractures, offering an effective and quick intraoperative correction method.

OBJECTIVE To study the pharmacological substance basis of Shaoyao gancao decoction for relieving acute and chronic pain. METHODS The antispasmodic effect of Shaoyao gancao decoction， ethyl acetate extract of Shaoyao gancao decoction and its effluent part of macroporous resin and 90% ethanol elution part of macroporous resin （the concentration of 4 drugs was 13.44 g/mL according to crude drug） was observed by in vitro small intestine tension test in rats. The acetic acid writhing test was conducted in mice to evaluate the analgesic effects of macroporous resin efflux site and macroporous resin 90% ethanol elution site （the dosage of 2.4 g/kg according to crude drug）. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL- 1β）， prostaglandin E2 （PGE2） and cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） in serum of mice were detected. The serum prototype and metabolites of mice after intragastric administration of macroporous resin 90% ethanol elution site were identified by high performance liquid chromatogre-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS In vitro experiment showed that 90% ethanol eluting part of macroporous resin represented the best antispasmodic effect， and the inhibitory rate of small intestine tension was significantly higher than macroporous resin efflux site of Shaoyao gancao decoction （P＜0.05） without statistical significance， compared with Shaoyao gancao decoction （P＞0.05）. In the acetic acid writhing experiment， compared with model group， the writhing times of mice in the macroporous resin 90% ethanol elution part group were reduced significantly （P＜0.05）， the writhing latency was prolonged significantly （P＜0.05）， and the levels of COX-2， IL-1β， PGE2 and TNF-α in serum were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Ten kinds of protoproducts including paeoniflorin and glycyrrhizic acid were identified from serum of mice， and twenty-two kinds of metabolites including hydroxylated glycyrrhizin and glucosylated liquiritin were identified. CONCLUSIONS The effective part of Shaoyao gancao decoction for relieving acute and chronic pain is 90% ethanol elution part prepared by macroporous resin from the ethyl acetate extract. Ten components， including glycyrrhetinic acid and paeoniflorin， may be the basis of its pharmacological substances.