BackgroundPatients with chronic schizophrenia often suffer from cognitive impairment. Traditional cognitive rehabilitation training has problems such as a single form and poor compliance， making it urgent to develop new cognitive intervention methods. ObjectiveTo explore the intervention effect of smartphone games on the cognitive function of patients with chronic schizophrenia， and to analyze the differences in cognitive function improvement between patients of different genders， in order to provide references for the cognitive function intervention of these patients. MethodsThis study was a prospective cohort study. A total of 30 patients who were hospitalized in the Psychiatry Department of Chaohu Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from March to October 2021， met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia as defined in the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10）， and had a disease duration of above 5 years， were selected as the research subjects. All patients received smartphone game intervention for 12 weeks， 5 times a week， each session lasting 1 hour， in addition to conventional antipsychotic drug treatment. At the baseline and at 3， 6， 9， and 12 weeks of the intervention， the cognitive function was evaluated using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status （RBANS）， the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale （PANSS） was used to assess mental symptoms， and the Problematic Mobile Gaming Questionnaire （PMGQ） was used to assess addiction symptoms. ResultsA total of 26 patients （86.67%） completed the study， including 13 females and 13 males. The time effects， group effects， and interaction effect between time and group for the immediate memory factor score of RBANS in the female group and the male group were all statistically significant （F=36.682， 5.712， 3.090， P<0.05 or 0.01）， and the time effects and group effects for the verbal and delayed memory factors as well as the total score in both groups were also statistically significant （F=3.841， 6.149， 15.372， P<0.05 or 0.01）. The time effects and group effects of the total score of PANSS in both groups had no statistical significance （F=2.041， 0.623， P>0.05 for both）， and the interaction effect between time and group was statistically significant （F=5.728， P<0.01）. The time effects， group effects， and interaction effect of the total score of PMGQ in both groups were all without statistical significance （F=2.672， 0.166， 0.642， P>0.05 for both）. ConclusionSmartphone game intervention may help improve the cognitive function of patients with chronic schizophrenia （especially immediate memory， verbal function， and delayed memory）， and the benefits are greater for female patients. The smartphone game intervention did not induce game addiction， but no significant improvement in psychotic symptoms was observed. ［Funded by Excellent Young Talents Support Program of Anhui Provincial Department of Education （number， gxyqZD2022022）； www.chictr.org.cn number， ChiCTR2100044113］

Background/Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues. Results: We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts. Conclusion Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.

End-stage liver disease (ESLD) covers the end-stage of acute and chronic liver diseases, mainly involving decompensated cirrhosis, various types of liver failure, and advanced liver cancer. Hepatocyte transplantation has shown promise in treating ESLD, but its clinical application is hampered by the shortage of donor hepatocytes. Cell therapy, an emerging effective treatment for ESLD, faces the same limitation due to scarce hepatocyte availability. Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs), which are terminally differentiated cells, can be induced from both stem cells and somatic cells. As HLCs exhibit the morphology and function of primary hepatocytes, they offer a promising supplementary source of hepatocytes for cell therapy. First, we provide a background for the differentiation and maturation of primary hepatocytes. Subsequently, based on the current insights into the molecular pathways that regulate hepatocyte differentiation in vivo, we describe a strategy for establishing HLC derived from either stem cells or somatic cells. The key characteristics of these HLCs are also detailed. Furthermore, HLC offers therapeutic potential for liver failure, and HLC-based liver organoids and bioartificial liver systems have demonstrated the ability to provide liver functions, offering an innovative approach to treating various types of ESLD. Despite their promise, challenges such as efficiency in differentiation and functional maturation need to be addressed to improve the clinical application of HLCs. This review discusses these advancements and outlines the therapeutic potential and current challenges of HLC therapy for ESLD.

ObjectiveIn the realm of forensic science, dust is a valuable type of trace evidence with immense potential for intricate investigations. With the development of DNA sequencing technologies, there is a heightened interest among researchers in unraveling the complex tapestry of microbial communities found within dust samples. Furthermore, striking disparities in the microbial community composition have been noted among dust samples from diverse geographical regions, heralding new possibilities for geographical inference based on microbial DNA analysis. The pivotal role of microbial community data from dust in geographical inference is significant, underscoring its critical importance within the field of forensic science. This study aims to delve deeply into the nuances of fungal community composition across the urban landscapes of Beijing, Fuzhou, Kunming, and Urumqi in China. It evaluates the accuracy of biogeographic inference facilitated by the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) fungal sequencing while concurrently laying a robust foundation for the operational integration of environmental DNA into geographical inference mechanisms. MethodsITS2 region of the fungal genomes was amplified using universal primers known as 5.8S-Fun/ITS4-Fun, and the resulting DNA fragments were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq FGx platform. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) was employed to visually represent the differences between samples, while analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) were utilized to statistically evaluate the dissimilarities in community composition across samples. Furthermore, using Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis to identify and filter out species that exhibit significant differences between various cities. In addition, we leveraged SourceTracker to predict the geographic origins of the dust samples. ResultsAmong the four cities of Beijing, Fuzhou, Kunming and Urumqi, Beijing has the highest species richness. The results of species annotation showed that there were significant differences in the species composition and relative abundance of fungal communities in the four cities. NMDS analysis revealed distinct clustering patterns of samples based on their biogeographic origins in multidimensional space. Samples from the same city exhibited clear clustering, while samples from different cities showed separation along the first axis. The results from ANOSIM and PERMANOVA confirmed the significant differences in fungal community composition between the four cities, with the most pronounced distinctions observed between Fuzhou and Urumqi. Notably, the biogeographic origins of all known dust samples were successfully predicted. ConclusionSignificant differences are observed in the fungal species composition and relative abundance among the cities of Beijing, Fuzhou, Kunming, and Urumqi. Employing fungal ITS2 sequencing on dust samples from these urban areas enables accurate inference of biogeographical locations. The high feasibility of utilizing fungal community data in dust for biogeographical inferences holds particular promise in the field of forensic science.

Objective:To analyze the prevalence trends and epidemiological characteristics of cardiometabolic multimorbidity(CMM) in Beijing from 2005 to 2022.Methods:A series of representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Beijing between 2005 and 2022 using a stratified multistage cluster random sampling method. A total of 110 496 permanent residents aged 18-79 years participated in face-to-face interviews, physical examinations, and laboratory testing. Complex sampling logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with CMM, and Joinpoint regression was used to assess temporal trends in prevalence. Results:The prevalence of CMM was 22.3% in 2005 and 24.3% in 2022, with an average annual percent change of 0.1%(95% CI -1.3%-1.3%, P>0.05). In rural areas, the prevalence increased by 1.3% per year(95% CI 0.2%-2.6%, P<0.05), while among obese individuals, it decreased by 1.0% annually( P<0.05). The most common CMM patterns were hypertension combined with dyslipidemia(13.2%), hypertension combined with diabetes(7.0%), and diabetes combined with dyslipidemia(5.8%). The prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia comorbidity showed a long-term decline among females, those aged 60-79 and obese individuals( P<0.05). In contrast, the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes comorbidity increased over time in rural residents and individuals with normal body weight( P<0.05). Furthermore, diabetes and dyslipidemia comorbidity rates increased significantly among males, adults aged 18-59 years, those with a college education or above, rural residents and individuals with normal body weight( P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that male, older age, overweight, obese, and lower education level were independently associated with a higher risk of CMM( P<0.05). Conclusion:From 2005 to 2022, the prevalence of CMM remained high among adults in Beijing. While prevalence decreased among obese individuals, it increased significantly in rural areas. Hypertension combined with dyslipidemia was the most common multimorbidity pattern throughout the study period.

ObjectiveAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties with communication and social interaction, restricted and repetitive behaviors. Previous studies have indicated that individuals with ASD exhibit early and lifelong attention deficits, which are closely related to the core symptoms of ASD. Basic visual attention processes may provide a critical foundation for their social communication and interaction abilities. Therefore, this study explores the behavior of children with ASD in capturing attention to changes in topological properties. MethodsOur study recruited twenty-seven ASD children diagnosed by professional clinicians according to DSM-5 and twenty-eight typically developing (TD) age-matched controls. In an attention capture task, we recorded the saccadic behaviors of children with ASD and TD in response to topological change (TC) and non-topological change (nTC) stimuli. Saccadic reaction time (SRT), visual search time (VS), and first fixation dwell time (FFDT) were used as indicators of attentional bias. Pearson correlation tests between the clinical assessment scales and attentional bias were conducted. ResultsThis study found that TD children had significantly faster SRT (P<0.05) and VS (P<0.05) for the TC stimuli compared to the nTC stimuli, while the children with ASD did not exhibit significant differences in either measure (P>0.05). Additionally, ASD children demonstrated significantly less attention towards the TC targets (measured by FFDT), in comparison to TD children (P<0.05). Furthermore, ASD children exhibited a significant negative linear correlation between their attentional bias (measured by VS) and their scores on the compulsive subscale (P<0.05). ConclusionThe results suggest that children with ASD have difficulty shifting their attention to objects with topological changes during change detection. This atypical attention may affect the child’s cognitive and behavioral development, thereby impacting their social communication and interaction. In sum, our findings indicate that difficulties in attentional capture by TC may be a key feature of ASD.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which SOS Ras/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1-intronic transcript 1(SOS1-IT1)affects enhancer of zeste homolog 2(EZH2)protein expression in endometrial cancer cells Ishikawa and RL95-2.Methods Lentiviral transfection of short hairpin RNA(shRNA)and overexpression plasmid were used in Ishikawa and RL95-2 cell lines to knock down and overexpress SOS1-IT1.The mechanism of EZH2 expression regulation was studied using Real-time PCR,Western blotting,and chromatin immunoprecipitation.Results The expression of SOS1-IT1 and EZH2 genes was positively correlated in endometrial cancer tissues.Knocking down SOS1-IT1 significantly reduces the expression of EZH2,inhibited the proliferation and migration of Ishikawa and RL95-2 cells,and could reduced the acetylation of histone H3 at position 27(H3K27)and the enrichment of CREB binding protein(CBP)in the EZH2 gene promoter region.Overexpression of SOS1-IT1 could increased the expression of EZH2 and enhance the acetylation of H3K27 and the enrichment of CBP.CBP could bind to SOS1-IT1 RNA,and this binding ability was weakened when CBP was knocked down.Conclusion SOS1-IT1 can promote the expression level of EZH2 in endometrial cancer cells Ishikawa and RL95-2 by regulating the acetylation modification level of the EZH2 gene promoter region,thereby affecting the proliferation and migration ability of endometrial cancer cells.

Objective To establish models for real-time dynamic monitoring of intracellular cytoplasmic adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and mitochondrial ATP levels in cells in order to study the changes in metabolic processes.Methods The lentiviral plasmids of the cytoplasmic chemogenetic green fluorescent protein(GFP)ATP probe(Chemo-G)and those of the mitochondrial-localized chemogenetic GFP ATP probe(mito-Chemo-G)were constructed before being transfected into HEK293T together with the helper plasmids,respectively.Chemo-G and mito-Chemo-G lentiviruses were obtained.HeLa cells were infected with the lentivirus.Puromycin resistance selection and flow cytometry cell sorting were employed to identify and isolate the infected HeLa cells.The growth and GFP expressions of HeLa cells were observed.A live-cell imaging system was used for continuous imaging of the cells,with stimuli added at specific time points to alter intracellular ATP levels to observe changes in the fluorescence intensity of the ATP probe.Results Lentiviral plasmids containing Chemo-G and mito-Chemo-G sequences were constructed.Two cell lines which could stably express Chemo-G and mito-Chemo-G were established that exhibited strong growth and accurate intracellular fluorescence localization.Live-cell imaging revealed that after the addition of 2-deoxy-D-glucose(2-DG)into HeLa-Chemo-G,the fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET)/GFP ratio showed a decrease that was partially reversed by the addition of glucose.The FRET/GFP ratio increased after histamine stimulation,but rapidly decreased after the addition of oligomycin.Conclusion The Chemo-G and mito-Chemo-G lentiviral vectors and stably transfected cell lines HeLa-Chemo-G and HeLa-mito-Chemo-G are constructed,which provides reliable experimental models for studying cellular metabolism and changes in intracellular ATP levels.

BackgroundAgomelatine， a novel antidepressant with dual efficacy in mood improvement and sleep regulation， has been widely utilized in clinical treatment of depressive disorders. The association between agomelatine and hepatic dysfunction has garnered increasing attention， yet there remains limited research on its long-term effect of liver function in real clinical scenarios. ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of different doses of agomelatine on liver function in patients with depressive disorders in real clinical scenarios， and to ascertain its safety profile and efficacy differences. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted， enrolling 200 patients diagnosed with depressive disorders according to the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10）， who received agomelatine treatment at the Department of Psychiatry of Chaohu Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from January 2019 to December 2024. Longitudinal follow-up was performed based on real-world data. Patients were divided into a low-dose group （25 mg/d） （n=121） and a high-dose group （50 mg/d） （n=79） based on their agomelatine dosage. Follow-up assessments were conducted at baseline， the 2^nd， 6^th， 14^th， and 26^th weeks after treatment initiation. Liver function indicators， including alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and total bilirubin （TBIL）， were measured using a fully automated biochemical analyzer. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Scale-24 item （HAMD-24） and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale （HAMA）. ResultsNo statistically significant time effect， intergroup effect， or time-by-group interaction effect was observed for ALT， AST， or TBIL in either the low-dose or high-dose group （P>0.05）. The time effects for both HAMD-24 and HAMA scores in the two groups were statistically significant （F_time=430.573， 395.737， P<0.01）. From the end of the 2^nd week of treatment onward， the scores at each follow-up time point were significantly lower than those at the baseline period （P<0.01）. ConclusionBoth low-dose and high-dose agomelatine may have no significant effect on liver function in patients with depressive disorders， with no difference in liver function impairment was observed between dosage groups. Low-dose and high-dose agomelatine may be equally effective in alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with depressive disorders. ［Funded by the Education Work Committee of the Anhui Provincial Committee for Outstanding Young Talents in Colleges and Universities （number， gxyqZD2022022）； the Key Project of Scientific Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine （number， 2023zhyx-B18）］

To investigate the effects and mechanisms of the water extract from Sorbus tianschanica(STE) on asthmatic airway inflammation, the mice were randomly divided into six groups, including a control group, a model group, a positive drug dexamethasone group(2 mg·kg~(-1)), a low-dose STE group(1 g·kg~(-1)), a medium-dose STE group(2 g·kg~(-1)), and a high-dose STE group(4 g·kg~(-1)). Except for the control group, all groups were subjected to ovalbumin induction to establish an asthma mouse model. The anti-inflammatory effects of STE were evaluated by examining pathological changes in lung tissue and measuring the levels of interleukin(IL)-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF). Transcriptomic and proteomic methods were further employed to analyze differentially expressed genes and proteins, as well as their associated signaling pathways in lung tissue. Subsequently, the expression changes of key genes were verified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR), and immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were used to explore the regulatory mechanisms of STE in the pathogenesis of asthma in mice. Molecular docking was performed by using AutoDock Vina software to evaluate the binding affinity of the main active components in STE with the target proteins, including phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase catalytic subunit α(PIK3CA), Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), protein kinase B1(Akt1), and matrix metallopeptidase 9(MMP9). The results showed significant inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue proliferation in the lung tissue of mice in the model group. However, these pathological changes were markedly reduced following STE intervention. Compared with those of the control group, the expression levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in the BALF of the model group were significantly increased but notably decreased following STE intervention. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses identified key genes and proteins associated with allergic asthma, including tumor necrosis factor(TNF), IL-6, TLR4, PIK3CA, and MMP9. RT-qPCR validation revealed that high-dose STE intervention significantly downregulated the expressions of PIK3CA, IL-6, Akt1, MMP9, IL-13, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), TNF, CXC motif chemokine ligand 1(CXCL1), and TLR4 mRNAs and significantly upregulated the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1(STAT1) mRNA. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed that STE significantly downregulated the expressions of MMP9, TLR4, PIK3CA, and phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt) in lung tissue of asthmatic mice. Moreover, molecular docking demonstrated that kaempferol-3,7-diglucoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin-3-gentiobioside, and hyperoside in STE exhibited stable binding affinities with PIK3CA, TLR4, Akt1, and MMP9, suggesting that the active components may exert anti-inflammatory effects by targeting and modulating asthma-related signaling pathways. In summary, STE exerts anti-asthmatic effects by inhibiting the expressions of PIK3CA, MMP9, p-Akt, and TLR4 and regulating the TLR4/PI3K/Akt/MMP9 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Asthma/metabolism* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung/immunology* ; Male