Objective:To investigate the mechanism of improving liver injury by enhancing the abundance of Akkermansia mu-ciniphila(AKK bacteria)with hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout during PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatment.Methods:Hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout mice(genotype Yap1Flox/Flox;albumin-Cre,labeled as Yap1LKO)and control mice(genotype Yap1Flox/Flox,labeled Yap1Flox),aristolocholic acidⅠ(AAⅠ)and CCl4 were used to induce liver injury,Yap1LKO mice and Yap1Flox mice were randomly di-vided into control group and PD-1 monoclonal antibody group.After the intervention,real-time PCR detected changes in the abun-dance of AKK bacteria in the fecal microbial DNA of mice,16S rRNA gene sequencing further analyzes intestinal flora changes,the livers of mice were made into wax blocks for HE staining to observe the histopathological changes of the liver.Results:Yap1Flox mice exhibited balloon-like edema degeneration of hepatocytes and infiltration of inflammatory factors in the manifold area,compared with Yap1Flox mice,Yap1LKO mice had reduced the abundance of AKK bacteria in the intestine,fibrosis of the liver,and the degree of dam-age was more serious;PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatment alone did not increase the abundance of AKK bacteria in the intestines of mice,and fibrosis appeared in the liver;however,the abundance of intestinal AKK bacteria in Yap1LKO mice treated with PD-1 mono-clonal antibody increased,the ratio(F/B value)of Firmicutes to Bacteroides at the phylum level decreased,and the morphology of he-patocytes returned to normal and the degree of liver damage decreased.Conclusion:In AAⅠ and CCl4 induced liver injury mice,he-patocyte-specific Yap1 knockout reduced the abundance of AKK bacteria in the intestine,and the degree of liver injury was more se-vere than that in Yap1Flox mice.When treated with PD-1 monoclonal antibody,hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout could increase the abundance of AKK bacteria in the intestine,change the composition of intestinal flora,maintain intestinal homeostasis and ameliorate liver injury.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of improving liver injury by enhancing the abundance of Akkermansia mu-ciniphila(AKK bacteria)with hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout during PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatment.Methods:Hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout mice(genotype Yap1Flox/Flox;albumin-Cre,labeled as Yap1LKO)and control mice(genotype Yap1Flox/Flox,labeled Yap1Flox),aristolocholic acidⅠ(AAⅠ)and CCl4 were used to induce liver injury,Yap1LKO mice and Yap1Flox mice were randomly di-vided into control group and PD-1 monoclonal antibody group.After the intervention,real-time PCR detected changes in the abun-dance of AKK bacteria in the fecal microbial DNA of mice,16S rRNA gene sequencing further analyzes intestinal flora changes,the livers of mice were made into wax blocks for HE staining to observe the histopathological changes of the liver.Results:Yap1Flox mice exhibited balloon-like edema degeneration of hepatocytes and infiltration of inflammatory factors in the manifold area,compared with Yap1Flox mice,Yap1LKO mice had reduced the abundance of AKK bacteria in the intestine,fibrosis of the liver,and the degree of dam-age was more serious;PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatment alone did not increase the abundance of AKK bacteria in the intestines of mice,and fibrosis appeared in the liver;however,the abundance of intestinal AKK bacteria in Yap1LKO mice treated with PD-1 mono-clonal antibody increased,the ratio(F/B value)of Firmicutes to Bacteroides at the phylum level decreased,and the morphology of he-patocytes returned to normal and the degree of liver damage decreased.Conclusion:In AAⅠ and CCl4 induced liver injury mice,he-patocyte-specific Yap1 knockout reduced the abundance of AKK bacteria in the intestine,and the degree of liver injury was more se-vere than that in Yap1Flox mice.When treated with PD-1 monoclonal antibody,hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout could increase the abundance of AKK bacteria in the intestine,change the composition of intestinal flora,maintain intestinal homeostasis and ameliorate liver injury.

Objective:To summarize the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of a family with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN) caused by the SPTLC1 gene variation and to review the literature. Methods:Case summary.The clinical manifestations, neuroelectrophysiology, genetic examination, treatment and follow-up of a family with autosomal dominant HSAN diagnosed at the Department of Neurology, Beijing Children′s Hospital in March 2024 were summarized.At the same time, related English and Chinese literatures were searched from CNKI, Wanfang and PubMed databases from their establishment to July 2024, with " serine palmitoyltransferase long-chain base subunits 1", " hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy", " SPTLC1" and " HSAN1" taken as key words.Results:The proband was a 11-year-and-2-month-old boy, who developed limited bending at the age of 7.The patient had ankle pain and knee bending during walking, and limited movement.He could neither jump on one foot nor bend down to pick up things from the ground, but there was no obvious sensory and autonomic nervous function abnormalities.His parents had no abnormal clinical manifestations.Neuroelectrophysiology showed peripheral nerve damage, and family whole exon sequencing revealed a maternal heterozygous missense variation of the SPTLC1 gene c.1015G>A, p.A339T(maternal origin, reported).Further maternal neuroelectrophysiology examination and sphingomyelin analysis confirmed the diagnosis of HSAN1A.The proband wore orthopedic insoles, and the proband and his mother took L-serine orally for 8 months.During the follow up, the proband reported slight improvement in muscle strength, and no adverse reactions were found.Two Chinese and thirteen English case reports on autosomal dominant HSAN caused by the SPTLC1 gene variation were retrieved.Twenty cases had complete clinical data.Therefore, a total of 22 cases, including the above-mentioned two patients, were analyzed.Except for patients whose age at diagnosis is unknown and who are deceased, the age at diagnosis ranged from 7 to 93 years.The 66.7%(14/21) cases were childhood-onset.The first clinical symptoms were mainly gait abnormalities, easy falls, sensory disorders and ulcers.Foot deformity, and autonomic neuropathy were detected in 53.3% (8/15), and 31.6% (6/19) cases, respectively, 15.8% (3/19) of the cases had amputation.Only 1 case was treated with L-serine, who showed partial relief of clinical symptoms, but electromyography was not significantly improved.Fifteen cases received neuroelectrophysiological testing, and 78.6%(11/14) of the patients showed sensory and motor neurogenic injuries.All the gene variations reported previously were missense mutations, and the high frequency variation was p. C133T/W. Conclusions:This study is helpful to improve the understanding of the clinical characteristics of HSAN1A caused by the SPTLC1 gene.Oral L-serine supplementation may benefit patients and gene detection promotes diagnosis confirmation and early treatment.

Objective:To summarize the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of a family with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN) caused by the SPTLC1 gene variation and to review the literature. Methods:Case summary.The clinical manifestations, neuroelectrophysiology, genetic examination, treatment and follow-up of a family with autosomal dominant HSAN diagnosed at the Department of Neurology, Beijing Children′s Hospital in March 2024 were summarized.At the same time, related English and Chinese literatures were searched from CNKI, Wanfang and PubMed databases from their establishment to July 2024, with " serine palmitoyltransferase long-chain base subunits 1", " hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy", " SPTLC1" and " HSAN1" taken as key words.Results:The proband was a 11-year-and-2-month-old boy, who developed limited bending at the age of 7.The patient had ankle pain and knee bending during walking, and limited movement.He could neither jump on one foot nor bend down to pick up things from the ground, but there was no obvious sensory and autonomic nervous function abnormalities.His parents had no abnormal clinical manifestations.Neuroelectrophysiology showed peripheral nerve damage, and family whole exon sequencing revealed a maternal heterozygous missense variation of the SPTLC1 gene c.1015G>A, p.A339T(maternal origin, reported).Further maternal neuroelectrophysiology examination and sphingomyelin analysis confirmed the diagnosis of HSAN1A.The proband wore orthopedic insoles, and the proband and his mother took L-serine orally for 8 months.During the follow up, the proband reported slight improvement in muscle strength, and no adverse reactions were found.Two Chinese and thirteen English case reports on autosomal dominant HSAN caused by the SPTLC1 gene variation were retrieved.Twenty cases had complete clinical data.Therefore, a total of 22 cases, including the above-mentioned two patients, were analyzed.Except for patients whose age at diagnosis is unknown and who are deceased, the age at diagnosis ranged from 7 to 93 years.The 66.7%(14/21) cases were childhood-onset.The first clinical symptoms were mainly gait abnormalities, easy falls, sensory disorders and ulcers.Foot deformity, and autonomic neuropathy were detected in 53.3% (8/15), and 31.6% (6/19) cases, respectively, 15.8% (3/19) of the cases had amputation.Only 1 case was treated with L-serine, who showed partial relief of clinical symptoms, but electromyography was not significantly improved.Fifteen cases received neuroelectrophysiological testing, and 78.6%(11/14) of the patients showed sensory and motor neurogenic injuries.All the gene variations reported previously were missense mutations, and the high frequency variation was p. C133T/W. Conclusions:This study is helpful to improve the understanding of the clinical characteristics of HSAN1A caused by the SPTLC1 gene.Oral L-serine supplementation may benefit patients and gene detection promotes diagnosis confirmation and early treatment.

Objective:To compare the accuracy of the needle tip reaching the target tissue between two subcutaneous injection techniques under ultrasound imaging in order to provide a basis for clinical injection to make a safe and reasonable decision.Methods:This was a parallel controlled non-inferiority comparative study. A total of 68 patients who received subcutaneous injections in the outpatient injection room of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University from June 2021 to September 2022 were selected as the research subjects, and they were divided intothe A and B group according to the random number table method, there were 34 cases in each group. Group A received pinched skin injections, and group B received taut skin injections. Unify the injection site, injection needle length, and needle insertion angle. The accuracy rate of the needle tip reaching the target tissue, namely the subcutaneous fat layer, was compared between the two groups by ultrasound imaging, and the pain scores and the imaging performance during the injection process were observed.Results:The accuracy of the needle tip reaching the subcutaneous fat layer in the group A was 97.1%(33/34), which compared with the 100.0%(34/34) in the group B, there was no significant difference ( χ2 = 0.53, P>0.05). There was no significant difference about the distribution of pain scores between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.67, P>0.05). There were no significant differences about age, subcutaneous fat thickness and the distance from the needle tip to the myofascial in patients with different pain scores ( F = 1.20, 0.44, H = 0.64, all P>0.05). Conclusions:Under certain conditions, pinching the skin and tightening the skin have the same accuracy and safety when the needle tip reaches the subcutaneous fat layer of the target tissue, and the choice should be made according to the clinical situation. Imaging observations have enlightening significance for the practice of subcutaneous injection.

The effect of anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) immunotherapy is limited in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression increased in liver tumor cells in early HCC, and Akkermansia muciniphila abundance decreased in the colon. The response to anti-PD-1 treatment is associated with A. muciniphila abundance in many tumors. However, the interaction between A. muciniphila abundance and YAP1 expression remains unclear in HCC. Here, anti-PD-1 treatment decreased A. muciniphila abundance in the colon, but increased YAP1 expression in the tumor cells by mice with liver tumors in situ. Mechanistically, hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout (Yap1^LKO) maintained bile acid homeostasis in the liver, resulting in an increased abundance of A. muciniphila in the colon. Yap1 knockout enhanced anti-PD-1 efficacy. Therefore, YAP1 inhibition is a potential target for increasing A. muciniphila abundance to promote anti-PD-1 efficacy in liver tumors. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), acting as YAP1 inhibitor, increased A. muciniphila abundance to sensitize anti-PD-1 therapy. A. muciniphila by gavage increased the number and activation of CD8⁺ T cells in liver tumor niches during DHA treatment or combination with anti-PD-1. Our findings suggested that the combination anti-PD-1 with DHA is an effective strategy for liver tumor treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between antenatal depression in mothers who received assisted reproductive techonology (ART) and premature birth and low birth weight.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, 376 infertile women who successfully delivered single-child were recruited at the Reproductive Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from May 2017 to December 2020. Binary logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the association between pre-pregnancy depression, depression in the first, second and third trimesters and new onset depression during pregnancy with preterm delivery and low birth weight.Results:The detection rates of depression before pregnancy, in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy were 20.0% (75/376), 23.0% (83/363), 11.2% (41/366), 8.8% (31/354), respectively. There was no statistically significant association between depression in the pre-pregnancy, the first trimester and the second trimester and preterm delivery (all P>0.05). Depression in the third trimester ( RR=2.18, 95% CI=1.02-4.65, P=0.040) and new onset depression during pregnancy ( RR=2.03, 95% CI=1.01-4.05, P=0.046) were positively correlated with preterm delivery. The associations between pre-pregnancy depression, depression in the first, second and third trimesters, and new onset depression and low birth weight were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Antenatal depression in the third trimester and new onset depression during pregnancy may be important risk factors for premature delivery, but there is no significant association between antenatal depression and low birth weight.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between antenatal depression in mothers who received assisted reproductive techonology (ART) and premature birth and low birth weight.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, 376 infertile women who successfully delivered single-child were recruited at the Reproductive Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from May 2017 to December 2020. Binary logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the association between pre-pregnancy depression, depression in the first, second and third trimesters and new onset depression during pregnancy with preterm delivery and low birth weight.Results:The detection rates of depression before pregnancy, in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy were 20.0% (75/376), 23.0% (83/363), 11.2% (41/366), 8.8% (31/354), respectively. There was no statistically significant association between depression in the pre-pregnancy, the first trimester and the second trimester and preterm delivery (all P>0.05). Depression in the third trimester ( RR=2.18, 95% CI=1.02-4.65, P=0.040) and new onset depression during pregnancy ( RR=2.03, 95% CI=1.01-4.05, P=0.046) were positively correlated with preterm delivery. The associations between pre-pregnancy depression, depression in the first, second and third trimesters, and new onset depression and low birth weight were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Antenatal depression in the third trimester and new onset depression during pregnancy may be important risk factors for premature delivery, but there is no significant association between antenatal depression and low birth weight.

Purpose: The prevalence of multi-morbidities with colorectal cancer (CRC) is known to be increasing. Particularly prognosis of CRC patients co-diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) was largely unknown. We aimed to examine the death risk of CRC patients according to the multiple MetSyn morbidities. Materials and Methods: We identified CRC patients with MetSyn from the electronic medical records (EMR) systems in five independent hospitals during 2006-2011. Information on deaths was jointly retrieved from EMR, cause of death registry and chronic disease surveillance as well as study-specific questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the overall and CRC-specific hazards ratios (HR) comparing MetSyn CRC cohort with reference CRC cohort. Results: A total of 682 CRC patients in MetSyn CRC cohort were identified from 24 months before CRC diagnosis to 1 month after. During a median follow-up of 92 months, we totally observed 584 deaths from CRC, 245 being in MetSyn cohort and 339 in reference cohort. Overall, MetSyn CRC cohort had an elevated risk of CRC-specific mortality (HR, 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 1.90) and overall mortality (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.84) compared to reference cohort after multiple adjustment. Stratified analyses showed higher mortality risk among women (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.27) and specific components of MetSyn. Notably, the number of MetSyn components was observed to be significantly related to CRC prognosis. Conclusion Our findings supported that multi-morbidities of MetSyn associated with elevated death risk after CRC. MetSyn should be considered as an integrated medical condition more than its components in CRC prognostic management.

Purpose: The prevalence of multi-morbidities with colorectal cancer (CRC) is known to be increasing. Particularly prognosis of CRC patients co-diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) was largely unknown. We aimed to examine the death risk of CRC patients according to the multiple MetSyn morbidities. Materials and Methods: We identified CRC patients with MetSyn from the electronic medical records (EMR) systems in five independent hospitals during 2006-2011. Information on deaths was jointly retrieved from EMR, cause of death registry and chronic disease surveillance as well as study-specific questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the overall and CRC-specific hazards ratios (HR) comparing MetSyn CRC cohort with reference CRC cohort. Results: A total of 682 CRC patients in MetSyn CRC cohort were identified from 24 months before CRC diagnosis to 1 month after. During a median follow-up of 92 months, we totally observed 584 deaths from CRC, 245 being in MetSyn cohort and 339 in reference cohort. Overall, MetSyn CRC cohort had an elevated risk of CRC-specific mortality (HR, 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 1.90) and overall mortality (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.84) compared to reference cohort after multiple adjustment. Stratified analyses showed higher mortality risk among women (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.27) and specific components of MetSyn. Notably, the number of MetSyn components was observed to be significantly related to CRC prognosis. Conclusion Our findings supported that multi-morbidities of MetSyn associated with elevated death risk after CRC. MetSyn should be considered as an integrated medical condition more than its components in CRC prognostic management.