BACKGROUND:Traditional methods of urinary tract reconstruction are limited by donor scarcity,high complication rates,and suboptimal functional recovery.Tissue engineering strategies offer new directions in this field.Since the urinary tract is mainly composed of muscle tissue,the key is to find suitable seed cells and efficiently induce them to differentiate into smooth muscle cells.Comparative studies on the efficacy of different smooth muscle cell induction regimens are still lacking. OBJECTIVE:To isolate,culture,and identify human urine-derived stem cells,and to compare the effects of two different induction protocols. METHODS:Human urine-derived stem cells were isolated from urine samples of 11 healthy adult volunteers by multiple centrifugations.Surface markers were identified by flow cytometry.The multi-directional differentiation potential of human urine-derived stem cells was verified through osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.Differentiation was induced by transforming growth factor-β1 or transforming growth factor-β1 combined with platelet derived growth factor for 14 days.Immunofluorescence staining and western blot assay were employed to compare the expression differences of smooth muscle-specific proteins(α-SMA and SM22). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Urine-derived stem cells were successfully isolated from the eight urine samples of healthy people.These cells exhibit a"rice grain"-like morphology and possess a robust proliferative capacity.(2)Urine-derived stem cells exhibited high expression of mesenchymal stem cell surface markers(CD73,CD90,and CD44)and extremely low expression of hematopoietic stem cell surface markers(CD34 and CD45).These cells did not express CD19,CD105,and HLA-DR.(3)After osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation,the formation of calcium nodules and lipid droplets was observed,with positive staining results from Alizarin Red S and Oil Red O staining.(4)After 14 days of smooth muscle induction culture,immunofluorescence staining revealed that the smooth muscle differentiation rate of urine-derived stem cells treated with a combination of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet derived growth factor was significantly higher compared to those treated with transforming growth factor-β1 alone(P<0.005).(5)After 14 days of smooth muscle induction culture,western blot assay further demonstrated that the expression levels of α-SMA and SM22 in the transforming growth factor-β1/platelet derived growth factor group were significantly elevated compared to those in the transforming growth factor-β1 only group(P<0.005).These findings confirm that urine-derived stem cells can be non-invasively isolated using multiple rounds of centrifugation.Compared with transforming growth factor-β1 alone,the combination of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet derived growth factor can improve the efficiency of inducing urine-derived stem cells to differentiate into smooth muscle cells.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Aim To investigate the mechanism of icar-itin(ICT)on D-galactose(D-gal)-induced TM4 ser-toli cell junctional function damage in vitro.Methods TM4 cells were divided into the normal control group and D-gal treatment group with different concentra-tions.The expression changes of TM 4 cell junction function-related proteins(ZO-1,Occludin,β-catenin and Cx43)and ERα/FAK signaling pathway-related proteins(ERα,FAK and pY397-FAK)were detected by Western blot.The concentration of ICT was screened by MTT method.TM4 cells were divided into normal control group,D-gal treatment group,and D-gal treatment+different concentrations of ICT group.The expression levels of the above proteins were detected by Western blot.Molecular docking was used to study the interaction between ERα and ICT,meanwhile predict the affinity between them.Finally,TM4 cells were di-vided into normal control group,D-gal treatment group,ERα inhibitor group,D-gal+ICT group,and ERα inhibitor+ICT group.The expression levels of the above proteins were detected by Western blot.Re-sults Compared with the normal control group,the ex-pression of junctional function-related proteins(ZO-1,Occludin,β-catenin and Cx43)and ERα/FAK signa-ling pathway-related proteins(ERα,FAK and pY397-FAK)were significantly down-regulated.After treat-ment with ICT,the expression of above proteins were significantly up-regulated.The docking results of ERα and ICT molecules revealed the formation of two hydro-gen bonds between Asp351 amino acid residue of ERα and ICT,with bond distances measuring 3.4? and 2.4?.Additionally,the docking binding energy be-tween them was found to be lower than-7 kcal·mol-1.After TM4 cells were treated with ERα inhibi-tor,the expression of above proteins and ERα/FAK signaling pathway-related proteins were significantly down-regulated,while the expression levels of the a-bove proteins did not change significantly after being given ICT protected group.Conclusions D-gal can cause damage to the junctional function of TM4 cells,and ICT can improve this damage,which may be related to the up-regulation of ERα/FAK signaling pathway.

Objective To establish the finite element model of spinal canal reconstruction and internal fixation,analysis influence of spinal canal reconstruction and internal fixation on spinal stability,and verify the effectiveness and reliability of spinal canal reconstruction and internal fixation in spinal canal surgery.Methods A 30-year-old male healthy volunteer with a height of 172 cm and weight of 75 kg was selected and his lumbar CT data were collected to establish a finite element model of normal lumbar Lo3-L,and the results were compared with in vitro solid results and published finite element analysis results to verify the validity of the model.They were divided into normal group,laminectomy group and spinal canal reconstruction group according to different treatment methods.Under the same boundary fixation and physiological load conditions,six kinds of ac-tivities were performed,including forward bending,backward extension,left bending,right bending,left rotation and right rota-tion,and the changes of range of motion(ROM)of L3-L4,L4-L5 segments and overall maximum ROM of L3-L5 were analyzed under the six conditions.Results The ROM displacement range of each segment of the constructed L3-L5 finite element model was consistent with the in vitro solid results and previous literature data,which confirms the validity of the model.In L3-L4,ROM of spinal canal reconstruction group was slightly increased than that of normal group during posterior extension(＞5％dif-ference),and ROM of other conditions was similar to that of normal group(＜5％difference).ROM in laminectomy group was significantly increase than that in normal group and spinal canal reconstruction group under the condition of flexion,extension,left and right rotation.In L4-L5,ROM in spinal canal reconstruction group was similar to that in normal group(＜5％differ-ence),while ROM in laminectomy group was significantly higher than that in normal group and spinal canal reconstruction group(＞5％difference).In the overall maximum ROM of L3-L5,spinal canal reconstruction group was only slightly higher than normal group under the condition of posterior extension(＞5％difference),while laminectomy was significantly higher than normal group and spinal canal reconstruction group under the condition of anterior flexion,posterior extension,left and right rotation(＞5％difference).The changes of each segment ROM and overall ROM of L3-L5 showed laminectomy group＞spinal canal reconstruction group＞normal group.Conclusion Laminectomy could seriously affect biomechanical stability of the spine,but application of spinal canal reconstruction and internal fixation could effectively reduce ROM displacement of the responsi-ble segment of spine and maintain its biomechanical stability.

Objective:To explore expression and prognostic value of oncostatin M(OSM)in endometrial cancer and to analyze relationship between OSM expression and immune cell infiltration in endometrial cancer tissues.Methods:OSM expression in pan-can-cer was analyzed by TIMER database,OSM expression in endometrial cancer and normal tissues was compared,and survival analysis for patients with different OSM expression was performed;relationship between OSM expression and immune cell infiltration was analyzed by TIMER and TISIDB,and ssGSEA algorithm was used to calculate difference in abundance of immune cell infiltration in samples with different OSM expression;GSEA software was applied to perform enrichment analysis;clinical tissue samples were collected for validation.Results:OSM expression was higher in endometrial cancer tissues than that in normal endometrial tissues(P=4.1e-28),and endometrial cancer patients with high OSM expression had prolonged recurrence-free survival(RFS)(P=0.004 8).OSM expression was positively correlated with abundance of immune cell infiltration and genetic markers of immune cells(P<0.05).OSM was mainly enriched in immune-related signaling pathways.OSM expression was higher in endometrial cancer tissues than normal and atypical hyperplastic tissues(P=0.016 9).Proportions of immune cell markers CD4,CD8,and CD68 were increased in tumor tissues with high OSM expression(all P<0.05),which were positively correlated with OSM expression.Conclusion:OSM is highly expressed in endometrial cancer tissues and correlated with prognosis;OSM expression is positively correlated with immune cell infiltration level and can be used as a biomarker for immunotherapy and prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)and quantify the diagnostic value of various indexes in patients with elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sCD25),so as to construct a diagnostic prediction model of HLH.Methods:The clinical characteristics of 121 patients with elevated sCD25(≥ 2 400 U/ml)in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into HLH group and non-HLH group according to the diagnostic criteria of HLH.The patients with HLH were divided into infection group,tumor group,macrophage activation syndrome(MAS)group and unknown etiology group according to their etiology.The basic data and treatment of the patients were collected for univariate and multivariate logistic analysis to establish a diagnostic prediction model of HLH.Results:Among the 121 enrolled patients with elevated sCD25,68 were diagnosed as HLH.The proportion of patients using vasopressors,the incidence rate of disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC),and the HScore in the HLH group were higher than those in the non-HLH group(P＜0.05).Hepatomegaly,splenomegaly,and hemophagocytosis were more common in HLH patients(P＜0.05).Compared with the patients in non-HLH group,patients in HLH group had lower levels of neutrophils,platelets,fibrinogen,IgG,and IgM,while the levels of triglycerides,ferritin(FER),sCD25,serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(SGOT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),total bilirubin(TBil),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),and D-dimer were higher(P＜0.05).In subgroup analysis,the level of sCD25 in tumor group was higher than that in infection group.The level of sCD25/ferritin in tumor group was higher than that in infection group and MAS group.Compared with HLH patients in the tumor group,the procalcitonin(PCT)level,proportion of patients using vasopressors,positive rate of hemophagocytosis,and incidence rate of DIC were all higher in the infection group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that fever,splenomegaly,hemophagocytosis,cytopenias,IgM,M.sCD25[multiple of sCD25 detection value relative to the diagnostic threshold(2400 U/ml)],fibrinogen,and triglycerides were independent predictive factors for HLH(P＜0.05).The diagnostic prediction model H constructed based on temperature,splenomegaly,hemophagocytosis,cytopenias,IgM,M.sCD25,fibrinogen,triglycerides showed good predictive accuracy.The optimal cutoff value of H was 39.45,the sensitivity of the model was 94.12％,the specificity was 83.02％.Conclusion:sCD25,sCD25/FER,PCT,hemophagocytosis,hemodynamic instability and DIC could help to distinguish the underlying etiology of HLH.The prediction model H has high discrimination and calibration,which could be used as a relatively accurate clinical diagnostic tool for HLH.

Objective:To explore the effect of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) on memory improvement and Aβ expression in Alzheimer's disease (AD) model mice.Methods:(1) Ten 5-month-old 5×FAD mice were randomly divided into PTX3 group and model group ( n=5); 5 C57BL/6 wild-type mice at the same age were selected as control group; mice in the PTX3 group and control group were stereotactically injected 4 μL 0.5 g/L PTX3 or same dose of phosphate buffered saline (PBS); Morris water maze test was used to detect the learning and memory abilities, Y maze test was used to detect the short-term memory, and ELISA was used to obsevre the contents of Aβ 40 and Aβ 42 in the brain hemisphere. (2) Twenty-five 3-month-old 5×FAD mice were randomly divided into model group, 2 μg/kg PTX3 group, 4 μg/kg PTX3 group, 8 μg/kg PTX3 group, and 16 μg/kg PTX3 group ( n=5); 5 C57BL/6 wild-type mice at the same age were selected as control group; mice in the PTX3 groups were intranasally injected 2, 4, 8, and 16 μg/kg PTX3, respectively; those in the model group and control group were intranasally injected same dose of PBS; injection was given once every 96 h for a total of 7 times. Morris water maze test was used to detect the learning and memory abilities, Y maze test was used to detect the short-term memory, and ELISA was used to obsevre the contents of Aβ 40 and Aβ 42 in the hippocampus. Results:(1) Compared with the model group, the PTX3 group had significantly shorter platform latency, higher percentage of exploration time and higher percentage of spontaneous alternations ( P<0.05). Compared with those in model group ([63.38±21.42] pg/mL, [29.77±6.11] pg/mL), the concentrations of Aβ 40 and Aβ 42 in the brain tissues of PTX3 group ([15.87±2.11] pg/mL, [16.55±1.95] pg/mL) were statistically lower ( P<0.05). (2) Compared with the model group, the 16 μg/kg PTX3 group had significantly shorter escape latency and higher percentage of exploration time ( P<0.05); compared with the model group, the 2 μg/kg PTX3 group and 16 μg/kg PTX3 group had significantly higher percentage of spontaneous alternations ( P<0.05). The contents of Aβ 40 and Aβ 42 in the hippocampus of 8 μg/kg PTX3 group and 16 μg/kg PTX3 group were statistically lower compared with those in the model group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:PTX3 may attenuate cognitive deficits and decrease Aβ expression in the brain or hippocampus tissues of 5×FAD mice with AD.

Objective:To explore the prevalence and independent associated factors of vascular calcification (VC) in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients of stage 3-5.Methods:It was a single-center cross-sectional observational study. Non-dialysis stage 3-5 CKD patients ≥18 years old who were admitted to the Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from May 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 with VC evaluation were enrolled. The patients' general information, laboratory examination and imaging data were collected. Coronary artery calcification (CAC), thoracic aorta calcification (TAC), abdominal aorta calcification (AAC), carotid artery calcification and aortic valve calcification (AVC) were evaluated by cardiac-gated electron-beam CT (EBCT) scans, lateral lumbar x-ray, cervical macrovascular ultrasound and echocardiography, respectively. The differences in clinical data and the prevalence of VC at different sites of patients with different CKD stages were compared, and the prevalence of VC at different sites of patients in different age groups [youth group (18-44 years old), middle-aged group (45-64 years old) and elderly group (≥65 years old)] and patients with or without diabetes were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the independent associated factors of VC for different areas.Results:A total of 206 patients aged (51±14) years were included, including 129 (62.6%) males. There were 44 patients with CKD stage 3 (21.4%), 51 patients with CKD stage 4 (24.8%), and 111 patients with CKD stage 5 (53.9%). CKD was caused by chronic glomerulonephritis [104 cases (50.5%)], diabetic kidney damage [35 cases (17.0%)], hypertensive kidney damage [29 cases (14.1%)] and others [38 cases (18.4%)]. Among 206 patients, 131 (63.6%) exhibited cardiovascular calcification, and the prevalence of CAC, TAC, AAC, carotid artery calcification, and AVC was 37.9%, 43.7%, 37.9%, 35.9% and 9.7%, respectively. The overall prevalence of VC in young, middle-aged and elderly patients was 24.6%, 73.6% and 97.4%, respectively. With the increase of age, the prevalence of VC in each site gradually increased, and the increasing trend was statistically significant (all P<0.001). The overall prevalence of VC in CKD patients with diabetes was 92.5% (62/67), and the prevalence of VC at each site in the patients with diabetes was significantly higher than that in the patients without diabetes (all P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (every 10 years increase, OR=2.51, 95% CI 1.77-3.56, P<0.001), hypertension ( OR=5.88, 95% CI 1.57-22.10, P=0.009), and diabetes ( OR=4.66, 95% CI 2.10-10.35, P<0.001) were independently correlated with CAC; Age (every 10 years increase, OR=6.43, 95% CI 3.64-11.36, P<0.001) and hypertension ( OR=6.09, 95% CI 1.33-27.84, P=0.020) were independently correlated with TAC; Female ( OR=0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.72, P=0.011), age (every 10 years increase, OR=3.90, 95% CI 2.42-6.29, P<0.001), diabetes ( OR=5.37, 95% CI 2.19-13.19, P<0.001) and serum magnesium ( OR=0.01,95% CI 0-0.35, P=0.014) were independently correlated with AAC. Moreover, age and diabetes were independently correlated with carotid artery calcification, AVC and overall VC Conclusions:The prevalence of VC in non-dialysis CKD patients of stage 3-5 is 63.59%, of which CAC reaches 37.9%, TAC is the most common one (43.7%), while AVC is the least one (9.7%). Age and diabetes are the independent associated factors for VC of all sites except TAC, while hypertension is an independent associated factor for both CAC and TAC.