Background: Disorders of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) arising from diabetes mellitus are closely related to diabetic encephalopathy. Previous research has suggested that neuron-glia antigen 2 (NG2)-glia plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the BBB. However, the mechanism by which NG2-glia regulates the diabetic BBB remains unclear. Methods: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) db/db mice and db/m mice were used. Evans-Blue BBB permeability tests and transmission electron microscopy techniques were applied. Tight junction proteins were assessed by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. NG2-glia number and signaling pathways were evaluated by immunofluorescence. Detection of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in serum was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: In T2DM db/db mice, BBB permeability in the hippocampus significantly increased from 16 weeks of age, and the structure of tight junction proteins changed. The number of NG2-glia in the hippocampus of db/db mice increased around microvessels from 12 weeks of age. Concurrently, the expression of MMP-9 increased in the hippocampus with no change in serum. Sixteen- week-old db/db mice showed activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hippocampal NG2-glia. Treatment with XAV-939 improved structural and functional changes in the hippocampal BBB and reduced MMP-9 secretion by hippocampal NG2-glia in db/db mice. It was also found that the upregulation of β-catenin protein in NG2-glia in the hippocampus of 16-week-old db/db mice was significantly alleviated by treatment with XAV-939. Conclusion The results indicate that NG2-glia can lead to structural and functional disruption of the diabetic BBB by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling, upregulating MMP-9, and degrading tight junction proteins.

Background: and Purpose Live cell-based assays (LCBA) are increasingly used for serological antibody detection due to their ability to preserve antigen conformation, offering moderately higher sensitivity than fixed cell-based assays. However, the clinical necessity of prioritizing LCBA for the detection of aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remains unclear, especially when compared to its established role in diagnosing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease. Methods: We compared the performance of live cell-based assays using immunofluorescence (LCBA-IF) and fixed cell-based assays using immunofluorescence (FCBA-IF) in detecting AQP4-IgG in 90 cases of NMOSD meeting 2015 International Panel for Neuromyelitis Optica Diagnosis criteria, alongside 40 controls. Additionally, we further investigated the relationship between AQP4-IgG titers as measured by LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF and clinical parameters in NMOSD patients. Results: Results showed 96.9% agreement between LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF (Cohen’s κ=0.935), with a strong Spearman correlation (0.977, p<0.001). Both methods demonstrated 100% specificity, with LCBA-IF showing slightly higher sensitivity compared to FCBA-IF. Within LCBAIF-tested groups, statistically significant differences in annualized relapse rates were observed across all pairwise comparisons (low-titer vs. moderate-titer, low-titer vs. high-titer, and moderate-titer vs. high-titer; all p<0.050). However, this association reached statistical significance in some FCBA-IF-tested groups. Conclusions Overall, there is a strong concordance between LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF in detecting AQP4-IgG, where LCBA-IF shows slightly higher sensitivity. Furthermore, there is a potential link between elevated AQP4-IgG titers and an increased risk of relapse, and this correlation may appear more pronounced when using LCBA-IF.

Background/Aims: Lenvatinib resistance remains a critical barrier in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms and strategies for reversing resistance remain incompletely understood. Methods: Integrated transcriptomics of lenvatinib-resistant patient tumors and an acquired-resistance murine model identified a novel macrophage subpopulation. Functional validation employed CRISPR-SAM screening, conditioned medium (CM) assays, subcutaneous/orthotopic xenografts, patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Mechanistic studies included ChIP-qPCR, co-immunoprecipitation, and pharmacologic targeting. Clinical relevance was assessed in a retrospective cohort. Results: Resistant HCC exhibited significant enrichment of a COLEC12high TAM subset , which correlated with poor survival and treatment response. These TAMs secreted neuregulin-1 (NRG1) , activating HER2/HER3-AKT signaling in tumor cells to drive cancer stemness and lenvatinib resistance. Mechanistically, in TAMs COLEC12 sequestered STAT1 in the cytoplasm, preventing its phosphorylation, and thereby derepressing STAT3-mediated NRG1 transcription. Depletion of NRG1 reversed the stemness phenotypes and resensitized tumors to lenvatinib both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, high NRG1 expression predicted an inferior lenvatinib response and shorter survival. Crucially, the bispecific anti-HER2/HER3 antibody zenocutuzumab restored lenvatinib efficacy in PDOs, PDXs, and murine models. Conclusions Our work establishes the COLEC12high TAM/NRG1 axis as a master regulator of therapeutic resistance and identifies NRG1 as a predictive biomarker, providing a clinically actionable strategy to overcome lenvatinib resistance in HCC.

ObjectiveTo explore the factors influencing home-based rehabilitation exercise and the needs for digital interventions among patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), based on the behavior change wheel (BCW), and to provide evidence for the development of digital home-based rehabilitation interventions. MethodsA two-phase qualitative study was conducted from December, 2024 to March, 2025. Using convenience sampling, 14 participants were recruited, including patients with SMA, primary caregivers, rehabilitation professionals, clinicians, a patient organization representative and a health policy expert. In phase 1, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with seven participants, including patients, caregivers and a patient organization representative, to identify factors influencing home-based rehabilitation exercise and unmet needs. In phase 2, a focus group involving 12 stakeholders was conducted, including five participants who had participated in phase 1, to explore requirements for the functions, knowledge content and interface design of a digital intervention, five of them had participated in phase 1. Overall, the two phases involved 14 individual participants, accounting for 19 participant-instances. Thematic analysis was performed using both deductive and inductive approaches, guided by the capability-opportunity-motivation-behavior (COM-B) model. ResultsSix themes were identified. phase 1 showed that patients with SMA experienced inadequate continuity of rehabilitation services and limited access to professional rehabilitation resources, with interruptions in institution-based rehabilitation coexisting with declining adherence to home-based exercise. Home-based rehabilitation exercise was jointly influenced by capability-, opportunity- and motivation-related factors, including limited capabilities of patients and caregivers, constraints in time and supportive conditions and insufficient goals, feedback, and incentives. Individualized rehabilitation plans and professional guidance were the major unmet needs. phase 2 showed that the core functions of a digital intervention should include individualized exercise plans, professional guidance and feedback, reminders and incentives, safety monitoring, remote assessment, and privacy and permission management. Core knowledge content should include stratified exercise guidance, caregiving skills, recognition of abnormal conditions, and information on when and how to seek help. The interface should be simple, impose a low user burden and accommodate different types of users. ConclusionHome-based rehabilitation exercise among patients with SMA is jointly influenced by multiple capability-, opportunity- and motivation-related factors. Digital interventions should prioritize individualized rehabilitation plans, professional guidance and sustained behavioral support. These findings may inform the development of a digital home-based rehabilitation intervention prototype for patients with SMA; its feasibility, safety, clinical effectiveness and economic value require further evaluation.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of measures dominated by intensifying link quality on prevention and control of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)among general ICU patients.METHODS The conventional intervention measures were taken from Jan.2016 to Oct.2020,which was assigned as the pre-inter-vention period;the intervention measures dominated by enhancement of link quality were taken for the general ICU patients(the study group)from Nov.2020 to Oct.2021,which was set as the intervention period,the inter-vention measures were taken for the neurosurgery ICU patients and the surgery ICU patients(the control group).A two-group interrupted time series of a quasi-experimental study was analyzed,and whether or not the intervention measures could reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the general ICU patients was evaluated.RESULTS A total of 23 713 case-times of patients from three ICU wards were enrolled in the study.The incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the general ICU patients was 4.49 cases per thousand patient-days during intervention period,3.71 cases per thousand patient-days during pre-intervention pe-riod,and there was no significant difference(u=-1.412,P=0.079);it was lower than 7.06 cases per thousand patient-days during nearly one year before the intervention period(from Nov.2019 to Oct.2020),and there was significant difference(u=3.128,P=0.002).The result of analysis of the interrupted time series showed that there was significant difference in the slope change between the study group and the control group after the inter-vention(P=0.035),indicating that the intervention measures could reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associ-ated infection in the study group,and there was significant difference in the changing trend between the study group and the control group.CONCLUSIONS The prevention and control measures for CRKP dominated by the link quality management can effectively reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the gen-eral ICU patients.The prevention and control strategies may provide reference for prevention and control of CRKP in ICUs of other medical institutions.

The 2024 National Education Work Conference pointed out that at the current juncture of the critical period for achieving the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan,the implementation of the Education Powerhouse Construction Plan Outline should be taken as the main line of work,and building first-class disciplines is an crucial task for a higher education powerhouse.In 2022,forensic medicine was officially listed as a first-level discipline under the medical category,presenting an un-precedented historical opportunity for the development of forensic medicine.The forensic medicine dis-cipline of Southern Medical University comprehensively improves the quality of talent cultivation and facilitates the construction of first-class disciplines as its main direction.It aims to initiate and imple-ment a high-level faculty team building plan featuring"combining recruitment and cultivation,inter-disciplinary integration";make vigorous efforts to establish a first-level doctoral program,refine advan-tageous second-level disciplines and research directions;and establish an innovative research platform from a high starting point with deep integration.The discipline adheres to moral cultivation and the Five Domains of Education simultaneous development,to build a high-quality talent joint training model.Guided by the construction of the national legal system and industry needs,the discipline will enhance social service capabilities.The forensic medicine construction in our university will continue to contribute to the rule of law in China and educational power.

Objective:We aimed to explore the effect of exercise on cardiac function and APJ system in old mice.Meth-ods:Male C57/BL6 mice were divided into young group(n=30),old control group(n=30),old continuous moderate-intensity training(CMIT)group(n=30),and old high-intensity interval training(HIIT)group(n=30).Mice in the CMIT group and HIIT group underwent 8-week exercise intervention,respectively.Mice in the young group and old con-trol group were placed on stationary treadmill simultaneously.The heart function parameters were measured,and the ex-pression of APJ/Apelin in myocardium and circulating Apelin/Elabela were compared among above-mentioned groups.Results:Compared yo mice in old control group,those in the CMIT group and HIIT group had significant higher left ven-tricular ejection fraction[(67.74±6.18)％,(70.69±7.43)％vs.(61.17±4.78)％]and left ventricular fractional short-ening[(33.07±4.29)％,(33.37±5.57)％vs.(28.05±3.61)％](P＜0.05 or＜0.01);and significant lower Tei index[(0.78±0.09),(0.78±0.12)vs.(0.88±0.08)]and left ventricular posterior wall thickness at diastole[(1.01±0.09)mm,(1.02±0.10)mm vs.(1.19±0.14)mm](P＜0.05all).Compared to mice in old control group,those in the HIIT group had significant higher mitral valve E/A ratio[(1.63±0.11)vs.(1.42±0.18),P=0.043].Compared to mice in old control group,those in the HIIT group had significant higher expressions of APJ and Apelin in myocardium,as well as the levels of Apelin[(1186.23±393.74)pg/ml vs.(413.17±80.81)pg/ml]and Elabela[(5.38±2.76)ng/ml vs.(1.57±0.60)ng/ml]in the serum(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Conclusion:Long-term exercise initiated late in life could im-prove heart function of mice.The APJ-Apelin/Elabela system may be involved in the exercise-mediated improvement of cardiac aging.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of perioperative chemotherapy regimens based on docetaxel administered in different cycles for locally advanced gastric cancer(LAGC)and gastroesophageal junction cancer(GEJC)through a network Meta-analysis.Methods PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials(RCTs)evaluating docetaxel-based perioperative regimens for the treatment of LAGC and GEJC from inception to February 28,2025.Two researchers independently screened the literature,extracted relevant data,and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies.Subsequently,a network Meta-analysis was performed using R 4.5.0 software.Results A total of 10 RCTs involving 2,064 patients were included.The results of the network Meta-analysis showed that,compared with three cycles of epirubicin,cyclophosphamide,and fluorouracil(ECF regimen)and four cycles of platinum and fluorouracil(PF regimen),both three-cycle and four-cycle docetaxel,platinum,and fluorouracil(TPF regimen)significantly increased the complete tumor resection rate(R0 resection rate).Compared with surgery alone,the three-cycle TPF regimen significantly improved the R0 resection rate.Additionally,the four-cycle TPF regimen significantly improved 3-year and 5-year progression-free survival(PFS)compared with the two-cycle PF regimen,and significantly improved overall survival(OS)at 3 and 5 years compared with the three-cycle ECF regimen.Compared with surgery alone,the three-cycle TPF regimen also significantly increased the pathological complete response rate(pCR rate).Furthermore,compared with the two-cycle TPF and three-cycle ECF regimens,the four-cycle TPF and PF regimens were associated with a lower risk of surgical complications.Conversely,the two-cycle TPF and three-cycle ECF regimens significantly increased the risk of surgical complications compared with surgery alone.No statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence of grade 3 to 4 adverse events among the treatment regimens(P＞0.05).Based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA)plot and pairwise comparisons,the three-cycle PF regimen appeared to be the most effective in achieving the highest R0 resection rate,the three-cycle TPF regimen appeared to be the most effective in achieving the highest pCR rate,while the four-cycle TPF regimen was associated with the best outcomes in terms of 3-year and 5-year PFS and OS.Conclusion The four-cycle TPF regimen may be associated with the optimal PFS and OS among perioperative chemotherapy regimens.No statistically significant differences were observed between the four-cycle TPF and the three-cycle PF in terms of R0 resection rate,between the four-cycle TPF and the three-cycle TPF in terms of pCR rate,or between the four-cycle TPF and the other seven regimens included in the study in terms of safety assessment.The four-cycle TPF regimen may represent the optimal perioperative chemotherapy regimen for patients with LAGC and GEJC.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of measures dominated by intensifying link quality on prevention and control of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)among general ICU patients.METHODS The conventional intervention measures were taken from Jan.2016 to Oct.2020,which was assigned as the pre-inter-vention period;the intervention measures dominated by enhancement of link quality were taken for the general ICU patients(the study group)from Nov.2020 to Oct.2021,which was set as the intervention period,the inter-vention measures were taken for the neurosurgery ICU patients and the surgery ICU patients(the control group).A two-group interrupted time series of a quasi-experimental study was analyzed,and whether or not the intervention measures could reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the general ICU patients was evaluated.RESULTS A total of 23 713 case-times of patients from three ICU wards were enrolled in the study.The incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the general ICU patients was 4.49 cases per thousand patient-days during intervention period,3.71 cases per thousand patient-days during pre-intervention pe-riod,and there was no significant difference(u=-1.412,P=0.079);it was lower than 7.06 cases per thousand patient-days during nearly one year before the intervention period(from Nov.2019 to Oct.2020),and there was significant difference(u=3.128,P=0.002).The result of analysis of the interrupted time series showed that there was significant difference in the slope change between the study group and the control group after the inter-vention(P=0.035),indicating that the intervention measures could reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associ-ated infection in the study group,and there was significant difference in the changing trend between the study group and the control group.CONCLUSIONS The prevention and control measures for CRKP dominated by the link quality management can effectively reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the gen-eral ICU patients.The prevention and control strategies may provide reference for prevention and control of CRKP in ICUs of other medical institutions.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD)is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by prions,with certain infectivity and iatrogenic transmission risks.With the rapid progress and application of new dia-gnostic biomarkers and detection methods,as well as the construction and improvement of surveillance and reporting systems,the detection of CJD in patients domestically and internationally has shown an increasing trend year by year.Due to its long incubation period and heterogeneity of early symptoms,early identification and diagnosis of the disease is difficult,increasing the risk of transmission within medical institutions.Currently,there is a lack of con-sensus on the infection prevention and control of CJD.In order to timely identify and diagnose CJD as well as effec-tively block its transmission in medical institutions,this consensus summarizes 15 clinical concerns and formulates 24 specific recommendations based on the latest domestic and international research findings and clinical evidence,as well as combines with clinical practice,aiming to standardize healthcare-associated infection prevention and control measures for CJD and reduce its transmission risk in medical institutions.