Background/Aims: Early detection and effective prognosis prediction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide an avenue for survival improvement, yet more effective approaches are greatly needed. We sought to develop the detection and prognosis models with ultra-sensitivity and low cost based on fragmentomic features of circulating cell free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA). Methods: Capture-based mtDNA sequencing was carried out in plasma cell-free DNA samples from 1168 participants, including 571 patients with HCC, 301 patients with chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis (CHB/LC) and 296 healthy controls (HC). Results: The systematic analysis revealed significantly aberrant fragmentomic features of ccf-mtDNA in HCC group when compared with CHB/LC and HC groups. Moreover, we constructed a random forest algorithm-based HCC detection model by utilizing ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features. Both internal and two external validation cohorts demonstrated the excellent capacity of our model in distinguishing early HCC patients from HC and highrisk population with CHB/LC, with AUC exceeding 0.983 and 0.981, sensitivity over 89.6% and 89.61%, and specificity over 98.20% and 95.00%, respectively, greatly surpassing the performance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and mtDNA copy number. We also developed an HCC prognosis prediction model by LASSO-Cox regression to select 20 fragmentomic features, which exhibited exceptional ability in predicting 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival (AUC=0.8333, 0.8145 and 0.7958 for validation cohort, respectively). Conclusions We have developed and validated a high-performing and low-cost approach in a large clinical cohort based on aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features with promising clinical translational application for the early detection and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.

Background/Aims: Early detection and effective prognosis prediction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide an avenue for survival improvement, yet more effective approaches are greatly needed. We sought to develop the detection and prognosis models with ultra-sensitivity and low cost based on fragmentomic features of circulating cell free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA). Methods: Capture-based mtDNA sequencing was carried out in plasma cell-free DNA samples from 1168 participants, including 571 patients with HCC, 301 patients with chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis (CHB/LC) and 296 healthy controls (HC). Results: The systematic analysis revealed significantly aberrant fragmentomic features of ccf-mtDNA in HCC group when compared with CHB/LC and HC groups. Moreover, we constructed a random forest algorithm-based HCC detection model by utilizing ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features. Both internal and two external validation cohorts demonstrated the excellent capacity of our model in distinguishing early HCC patients from HC and highrisk population with CHB/LC, with AUC exceeding 0.983 and 0.981, sensitivity over 89.6% and 89.61%, and specificity over 98.20% and 95.00%, respectively, greatly surpassing the performance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and mtDNA copy number. We also developed an HCC prognosis prediction model by LASSO-Cox regression to select 20 fragmentomic features, which exhibited exceptional ability in predicting 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival (AUC=0.8333, 0.8145 and 0.7958 for validation cohort, respectively). Conclusions We have developed and validated a high-performing and low-cost approach in a large clinical cohort based on aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features with promising clinical translational application for the early detection and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.

Background/Aims: Early detection and effective prognosis prediction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide an avenue for survival improvement, yet more effective approaches are greatly needed. We sought to develop the detection and prognosis models with ultra-sensitivity and low cost based on fragmentomic features of circulating cell free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA). Methods: Capture-based mtDNA sequencing was carried out in plasma cell-free DNA samples from 1168 participants, including 571 patients with HCC, 301 patients with chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis (CHB/LC) and 296 healthy controls (HC). Results: The systematic analysis revealed significantly aberrant fragmentomic features of ccf-mtDNA in HCC group when compared with CHB/LC and HC groups. Moreover, we constructed a random forest algorithm-based HCC detection model by utilizing ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features. Both internal and two external validation cohorts demonstrated the excellent capacity of our model in distinguishing early HCC patients from HC and highrisk population with CHB/LC, with AUC exceeding 0.983 and 0.981, sensitivity over 89.6% and 89.61%, and specificity over 98.20% and 95.00%, respectively, greatly surpassing the performance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and mtDNA copy number. We also developed an HCC prognosis prediction model by LASSO-Cox regression to select 20 fragmentomic features, which exhibited exceptional ability in predicting 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival (AUC=0.8333, 0.8145 and 0.7958 for validation cohort, respectively). Conclusions We have developed and validated a high-performing and low-cost approach in a large clinical cohort based on aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features with promising clinical translational application for the early detection and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.

Objective To explore the mechanism of lipid metabolism disorder promoting the progress of lung cancer based on the oxidized low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL)/human lectin-like oxidized low density lipopro-tein receptor 1(LOX-1)signaling pathway.Methods Eighty-one identified lung adenocarcinoma tissues with paired adjacent non-cancerous tissues(at least 5 cm away from the tumor)were collected from our hospital,and the expression of LOX-1 was detected by immunohistochemistry.LOX-1 was overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines(A549 and H1299 cells).Cell invasion ability was measured by Transwell.Cells were treated with different concentrations of oxLDL,and cellular LOX-1 expression was investigated.Results LOX-1 staining in the tumor was significantly stronger than that in the non-cancerous tissue samples(99.4 vs.16.2 for median H score,P<0.001).High LOX-1 expression was significantly correlated with low survival(P<0.001).As compared with the patients without lymph node metastasis,those with lymph node metastasis had higher LOX-1 level(83.2 vs.121.1 for median H score,P<0.01).Overexpression of LOX-1 in lung cancer cells significantly promoted the number of invasive and metastatic cells(P<0.01).In addition,LOX-1 was an essential functional target for oxLDL-induced metastasis of lung cancer cells.Itatinib inhibited the metastasis of LOX-1 overexpressed A549 in vitro.Conclusions With an increase in oxLDL level,the expression of LOX-1 increases.Up-regulation of LOX-1 promotes metastasis of lung cancer,and its mechanism may be related to activation of the JAK1/STAT6 signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore role of miR-146a in regulating TLR4/NF-κB pathway on inflammatory injury and neuropro-tection in intracerebral hemorrhage model rats and its possible mechanism.Methods:A total of 40 rats were selected and randomly divided into sham,model,over-expressing miR-146a adenovirus and negative virus injection groups,with 10 rats in each group.Garcia score was used for neurological function;HE staining was used to observe changes of brain tissues.ELISA was used to detect inflammatory factors levels.TLR4,NF-κB protein and gene expressions in brain tissues were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR.Results:Compared with model group,neural function score of overexpressed miR-146a adenovirus injection group was increased(P<0.05).Model group had abnormal cell morphology,edema and inflammation.Cell morphology,edema and inflammation were alleviated in overexpressed miR-146a adenovirus injection group.Inflammatory factors levels in model group were higher than sham group(P<0.05).Inflammatory factors levels in overexpressed miR-146a adenovirus injection group were lower than model group(P<0.05).TLR4,NF-κB protein and mRNA expressions in model group were increased than sham group(P<0.05).TLR4,NF-κB protein and mRNA expressions in overexpressed miR-146a adenovirus injection group were decreased than model group(P<0.05).Conclusion:miR-146a can improve neural function and reduce inflammatory injury in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage,possibly by inhibiting activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing inflammatory factors levels of brain tissues.

To investigate the expression of miR-133a and miR-424 in the serum of patients with connective tissue disease(CTD)and interstitial lung disease(ILD)and their relationship with T lymphocyte subpopulations,total of 96 CTD-ILD patients treated in our hospital from December 2019 to December 2022 were selected as CTD-ILD group,while 96 CTD patients without ILD were as the control group.The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)method was applied to detect serum levels of miR-133a and miR-424;flow cytometry was applied to detect the levels of T lymphocyte subpopulations.Pearson method was applied to analyze the relationship of miR-133a and miR-424 with T lymphocyte subpopulations.Compared with the control group,the level of serum miR-133a in the CTD-ILD group was obviously reduced,while the expression level of miR-424 was obviously increased(P＜0.05).Under different degrees of pulmonary ventilation disorders,the expression level of miR-133a in the serum of mild,moderate,and severe patients decreased obviously,while the expression level of miR-424 increased obviously(P＜0.05).Under different grades of pulmonary diffusion dysfunction,the expression level of miR-133a in the serum of mild,moderate,and severe patients reduced obviously,while the expression level of miR-424 increased obviously(P＜0.05).Furthermore,the levels of CD4+and CD4+/CD8+in the CTD-ILD group were obviously increased,as compared to the control group,while the levels of CD8+and CD3+were obviously reduced(P＜0.05).In addition,miR-133a was negatively correlated with CD4+,and positively correlated with CD8+and CD3+;miR-424 was positively correlated with CD4+,and negatively correlated with CD8+and CD3+(P＜0.05).In conclusion,the expression level of miR-133a in serum of CTD-ILD patients is decreased,while the expression level of miR-424 is increased,and both of them are related to the T lymphocyte subpopulations.

Objective To analyze the changes in the expression levels of serum Dickkopf-related protein 1(DKK-1)and latent transforming growth factor binding protein 2(LTBP2)in patients with connective tissue disease(CTD)related interstitial pneumonia(IP)of different disease activity levels before and after treatment.Methods A total of 121 CTD patients who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2022 to October 2023 were collected and separated into an observation group(CTD-related IP patients,n=62)and a reference group(CTD without IP patients,n=59)based on the incidence of IP.The observation group was separated into a stable phase group(n=26)and an acute exacerbation phase group(n=36)based on disease activity.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)detected DKK-1 and LTBP2 levels.Pearson or Spearman were used to analyze correlations between DKK-1 and LTBP2 levels with clinical data.Logistic regression was applied to analyze influencing factors of acute exacerbation in CTD-related IP patients.Results The serum levels of DKK-1(14.98±3.32 ng/ml)and LTBP2(32.64±4.01 ng/ml)in the observation group were higher than those in the reference group(2.21±0.67 ng/ml,8.73±2.15 ng/ml),the differences were statistically significant(t=28.983,57.518,all P＜0.05).The proportions of patients with ground glass opacity(66.67%)and honeycomb opacity(52.78%),serum DKK-1(19.67±4.10 ng/ml),LTBP2(38.76±4.92 ng/ml)and C-reactive protein(CRP)(32.46±3.12 mg/L)in the acute exacerbation group were higher than those in the stable phase group(30.77%,23.08%,8.48±1.37 ng/ml,24.17±3.65 ng/ml,22.05±2.80 mg/L),the differences were statistically significant(t/x2=7.790,5.534,13.362,12.781,13.524,all P<0.05).The serum levels of DKK-1 and LTBP2 in patients with acute exacerbation of CTD-related IP after treatment were positively correlated with ground glass opacities,honeycomb opacities,CRP and different disease activity(r=0.526,0.518,0.513,0.548;0.499,0.514,0.520,0.561,all P<0.05).As the treatment time extended,the serum levels of DKK-1 and LTBP2 in CTD-related IP patients in the stable and acute exacerbation groups decreased,and the serum levels of DKK-1 and LTBP2 in the acute exacerbation group were higher than those in the stable group before treatment,1 month after treatment,and 3 months after treatment,the differences were statistically significant(t=13.355,13.206,15.913;12.781,12.263,11.161,all P<0.05).DKK-1[OR(95%CI):2.458(1.297～4.657)],LTBP2[OR(95%CI):2.739(1.567～4.789)]were independent risk factors for acute exacerbation of CTD related IP patients(all P<0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of DKK-1 and LTBP2 in CTD-related IP patients are increased,and closely related to disease activity.Both decrease after 3 months of treatment and can monitor the treatment efficacy of patients to a certain extent.