Autophagy, a highly conserved cellular degradation mechanism, maintains intracellular homeostasis by removing damaged organelles and abnormal proteins. Its dysregulation is closely associated with various diseases. Autophagy-related protein 12 (ATG12), a core member of the ubiquitin-like protein family, covalently binds to ATG5 through a ubiquitin-like conjugation system to form the ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 complex. This complex directly regulates the formation and maturation of autophagosomes, making ATG12 a key molecule in the initiation of autophagy. Recent studies have revealed that ATG12 functions extend far beyond the classical autophagy context. It promotes apoptosis by binding to anti-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family (e.g., Bcl-2 and Mcl-1) and enhances host antiviral immunity by regulating the NF-κB and interferon signaling pathways. Moreover, ATG12 deficiency can lead to mitochondrial biogenesis impairment, energy metabolism disorders, and substrate-dependent metabolic shifts, underscoring its pivotal role in cellular metabolic homeostasis. At the disease level, dysregulation of ATG12 expression is closely linked to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. By modulating the dynamic balance between autophagy and apoptosis, ATG12 influences cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Notably, ATG12 is abnormally overexpressed in multiple cancers, including breast, liver, and gastric cancer, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Furthermore, in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, ATG12 mitigates protein toxicity by enhancing mitochondrial autophagy. In cardiovascular diseases, it alleviates ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating cardiomyocyte autophagy and apoptosis, demonstrating its broad regulatory role across various pathological conditions. Genetic studies further underscore the clinical significance of ATG12. Polymorphisms in the ATG12 gene (e.g., rs26537 and rs26538) have been significantly associated with the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and atrophic gastritis. Notably, the risk allele of rs26537 enhances ATG12 promoter activity, leading to its overexpression and promoting tumorigenesis. These findings provide a molecular basis for individualized risk assessment and targeted interventions based on ATG12 genotype. Despite significant progress, many aspects of ATG12 biology remain unclear. The precise regulatory mechanisms of its post-translational modifications (e.g., ubiquitination and acetylation) are yet to be fully elucidated. Additionally, the molecular pathways underlying its non-canonical functions, such as metabolic regulation and immune modulation, require further investigation. Moreover, the functional heterogeneity of ATG12 in different tumor microenvironments and its role in drug resistance warrant in-depth exploration. Future research should integrate advanced technologies such as cryo-electron microscopy, single-cell sequencing, and organoid models to decipher the intricate regulatory network of ATG12. Additionally, developing small-molecule inhibitors or gene-editing tools targeting its protein interaction interfaces (e.g., the ATG12-ATG3 binding domain) may help overcome current therapeutic challenges. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical translation, ATG12 holds promise as a next-generation molecular target for precision intervention in autophagy-related diseases. This review summarizes the structure and function of ATG12, its role in autophagy initiation, its physiological functions, and its involvement in disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, it discusses future research directions and potential challenges, emphasizing ATG12’s potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target in autophagy-related diseases.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of Qizhu Kang'ai prescription （QZAP） on the gluconeogenesis enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 （PCK1） in the liver of mouse model of liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine （DEN） combined with carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄） and Huh7 cells of human liver cancer， so as to explore the mechanism on regulating metabolic reprogramming and inhibiting cell proliferation of liver cancer cells. MethodDEN combined with CCl₄ was used to construct a mouse model of liver cancer via intraperitoneal injection. A normal group， a model group， and a QZAP group were set up， in which QZAP （3.51 g·kg^-1） or an equal volume of normal saline was administered daily by gavage， respectively. Serum and liver samples were collected after eight weeks of intervention. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， γ-glutamyltransferase （γ-GT）， and alpha-fetoprotein （AFP） in mice were detected to evaluate liver function changes of mice in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Sirius red staining were used to observe pathological changes in liver tissue. In the cell experiment， Huh7 cells were divided into blank group， QZAP low， medium， and high dose groups and/or PCK1 inhibitor （SKF-34288 hydrochloride） group， and Sorafenib group. The corresponding drug-containing serum and drug treatment were given， respectively. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method， colony formation experiment， Edu fluorescent labeling detection， intracellular adenosine triphosphate （ATP） content detection， and cell cycle flow cytometry detection were used to evaluate the proliferation ability， energy metabolism changes， and change in the cell cycle of Huh7 cells in each group. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of PCK1， serine/threonine kinase （Akt）， phosphorylated Akt （p-Akt）， and cell cycle-dependent protein kinase inhibitor 1A （p21）. ResultCompared with the model group， the pathological changes such as cell atypia， necrosis， and collagen fiber deposition in liver cancer tissue of mice in the QZAP group were alleviated， and the number of liver tumors was reduced （P<0.01）. The serum ALT， AST， γ-GT， and AFP levels were reduced （P<0.01）. At the cell level， compared with the blank group， low， medium， and high-dose groups of QZAP-containing serum and the Sorafenib group could significantly reduce the survival rate of Huh7 cells （P<0.01） and the number of positive cells with Edu labeling （P<0.01） and inhibit clonal proliferation ability （P<0.01）. The QZAP groups could also reduce the intracellular ATP content （P<0.05） and increase the distribution ratio of the G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle （P<0.05） in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the model group and blank group， PCK1 and p21 protein levels of mouse liver cancer tissue and Huh7 cells in the QZAP groups were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and the p-Akt protein level was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the ATP content and cell survival rate of Huh7 cells in the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group were significantly increased （P<0.05）， but there was no statistical difference in the ratio of Edu-positive cells and the proportion of G₀/G₁ phase distribution. Compared with the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group， the QZAP combined with the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group significantly reduced the ATP content， cell survival rate， and Edu-positive cell ratio of Huh7 cells （P<0.05） and significantly increased the G₀/G₁ phase distribution proportion （P<0.05）. ConclusionQZAP may induce the metabolic reprogramming of liver cancer cells by activating PCK1 to promote Akt/p21-mediated tumor suppression， thereby exerting an anti-hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation mechanism.

BackgroundThe depressive episode is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses worldwide. Relaxation therapy as a psychotherapy for depressive disorder has shown itself to be a viable tool， yet the existing research on relaxation therapy combined with sertraline in the treatment of depressive episodes in children and adolescents is severely limited. ObjectiveTo discuss the effect of relaxation therapy combined with sertraline on the new-onset depressive episodes in children and adolescents， and to provide references for the treatment of depressive episodes in children and adolescents. MethodsFrom January 1， 2019 to December 31， 2020， a sample of 422 children and adolescents with depressive episodes attending the Child Mental Health Department of Sichuan Mental Health Center and fulfilling the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10） diagnostic criteria were enrolled， and they were classified into study group （n=208） and control group （n=214） using random number table method. All participants were offered sertraline， based on this， study group was assigned to relaxation therapy for 25~30 min per day， five days per week for a period of two weeks. Hamilton Depression Scale 24-item （HAMD-24） and Hamilton Anxiety Scale （HAMA） were applied at the enrollment， the end of 2 weeks of treatment and the end of the 2^nd week after discharge. ResultsA total of 369 patients completed the study， including 185 in study group and 184 in control group. Analysis on HAMD-24 scores revealed a significant time effect， group effect and time×group interaction effect （F=813.279， 17.625， 8 994.905， P<0.01）. Significant time effect， group effect， and time×group interaction effect were noted on HAMA scores （F=635.041， 10.716， 13 945.986， P<0.01）. A reduction in HAMD-24 and HAMA scores was reported in study group at end of 2 weeks of treatment and end of the 2^nd week after discharge compared with baseline （t=0.924， 0.359， P<0.01）. At the end of the 2^nd week after discharge， study group scored lower on HAMD-24 and HAMA compared to control group （t=0.210， 0.720， P<0.05）. At the end of 2 weeks of treatment， study group resulted in greater improvements in depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms than those of control group （95.14% vs. 66.30%， 89.18% vs. 71.74%， χ²=78.942， 22.526， P<0.05）. The overall efficacy rate yielded no statistical difference between two groups at end of the 2^nd week after discharge （P>0.05）， and no statistical difference was found in the adverse reactions between the two groups （P>0.05）. ConclusionCompared with sertraline alone， its combination with relaxation therapy may achieve a better short-term efficacy in the treatment of depressive episode in children and adolescents. ［Funded by Sichuan Medical Scientific Research Project （number， S18020）］

Objective:To analyze genetic factors and phenotype characteristics in pediatric population with slight-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Methods:Children with slight-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss of and their parents, enrolled from the Chinese Deafness Genome Project, were studied. Hearing levels were assessed using pure tone audiometry, behavioral audiometry, auditory steady state response（ASSR）, auditory brainstem response（ABR） thresholds, and deformed partial otoacoustic emission（DPOAE）. Classification of hearing loss is according to the 2022 American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics（ACMG） Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hearing Loss. Whole exome sequencing（WES） and deafness gene Panel testing were performed on peripheral venous blood from probands and validations were performed on their parents by Sanger sequencing. Results:All 134 patients had childhood onset, exhibiting bilateral symmetrical slight-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss, as indicated by audiological examinations. Of the 134 patients, 29（21.6%） had a family history of hearing loss, and the rest were sporadic patients. Genetic causative genes were identified in 66（49.3%） patients. A total of 11 causative genes were detected, of which GJB2 was causative in 34 cases（51.5%）, STRC in 10 cases（15.1%）, MPZL2 gene in six cases（9.1%）, and USH2A in five cases（7.6%）.The most common gene detected in slight-to-moderate hearing loss was GJB2, with c. 109G>A homozygous mutation found in 16 cases（47.1%） and c. 109G>A compound heterozygous mutation in 9 cases（26.5%）. Conclusion:This study provides a crucial genetic theory reference for early screening and detection of mild to moderate hearing loss in children, highlighting the predominance of recessive inheritance and the significance of gene like GJB2, STRC, MPZL2, USH2A.
Humans ; Child ; Connexins/genetics* ; Connexin 26/genetics* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/diagnosis* ; Mutation ; Usher Syndromes ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins

Objective To explore the relationship and internal path between activities of daily living(ADL),sleep quality and mental health of community elderly people in Shanghai.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among community residents aged 60 years and older seeing doctors in community health care center of five streets in Shanghai during Sept to Dec,2021 using convenience sampling.Activities of Daily Living(ADL),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale(K10)were adopted in the survey.Single factor analysis,correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.The effect relationship between the variables was tested using Bootstrap's mediated effects test.Results A total of 1 864 participants were included in the study.The average score was 15.53±4.47 for ADL,5.60±3.71 for PSQI and 15.50±6.28 for K10.The rate of ADL impairment,poor sleep quality,poor and very poor mental health of the elderly were 23.6%,27.3%,11.9%and 4.9%,respectively.ADL and sleep quality were all positively correlated with mental health(r=0.321,P＜0.001;r=0.466,P＜0.001);ADL was positively correlated with sleep quality(r=0.294,P＜0.001).Multiple linear results of factors influencing mental health showed that ADL(β= 0.457,95%CI:0.341-0.573),sleep quality(β =0.667,95%CI:0.598-0.737)and mental health were positively correlated(P＜0.001).Sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between ADL and mental health(95%CI:0.078-0.124)with an effect size of 33.0%.Conclusion Sleep quality is a mediator between ADL and mental health among community elderly people.Improving ADL and sleep quality may improve mental health in the population.

Objective To observe value of thin slice CT multiple signs combined with multiplanar reformation(MPR)for diagnosing tracheobronchial tuberculosis(TBTB).Methods Data of 234 TBTB patients who underwent chest thin slice CT scanning were retrospectively analyzed.MPR was performed,the direct signs and indirect signs of TBTB were observed.The diagnostic efficacy of axial plain CT images(direct observation)and of MPR combined with the former(combined observation)were compared.Results The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of direct observation was 38.88％(201/517),98.13％(1 789/1 823),85.53％(201/235),84.99％(1 789/2 105)and 85.04％(1 990/2 340),respectively,of combined observation was 91.10％(471/517),98.85％(1 802/1 823),95.54％(471/493),97.51％(1 802/1 848)and 97.14％(2 273/2 340),respectively.Significant differences of sensitivity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy were found(all P＜0.001),whereas no significant difference of specificity was found between 2 methods(P＞0.05).Conclusion Thin slice CT multiple signs combined with MPR could be used to effectively diagnose TBTB.