This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of vanillic acid(VA) against cardiac fibrosis(CF) induced by isoproterenol(ISO) in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, VA group(100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc), ISO + VA group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO + dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) inhibitor(Mdivi-1) group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip), and ISO + VA + Mdivi-1 group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip). The treatment groups received the corresponding medications once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the day after the last administration, cardiac functions were evaluated, and serum and cardiac tissue samples were collected. These samples were analyzed for serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB), cardiac troponin I(cTnI), reactive oxygen species(ROS), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels, as well as cardiac tissue catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) activities, and cytochrome C levels in mitochondria and cytoplasm. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, uranium acetate and lead citrate staining were used to observe morphological and mitochondrial ultrastructural changes in the cardiac tissues, and myocardial injury area and collagen volume fraction were calculated. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the relative content and M1/M2 polarization of cardiac macrophages. The mRNA expression levels of macrophage polarization markers [CD86, CD206, arginase 1(Arg-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)], CF markers [type Ⅰ collagen(Coll Ⅰ), Coll Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)], and cytokines(IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α) in cardiac tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, α-SMA, Drp1, p-Drp1, voltage-dependent anion channel(VDAC), hexokinase 1(HK1), NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D(GSDMD), cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D(GSDMD-N), IL-1β, IL-18, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-xl(Bcl-xl), Bcl-2-associated death promoter(Bad), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1), pro-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP-1), and cleaved-PARP-1 in cardiac tissues. The results showed that VA significantly improved cardiac function in mice with CF, reduced myocardial injury area and cardiac index, and decreased serum levels of AST, CK-MB, cTnI, LDH, ROS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α. VA also lowered MDA and MPO levels, mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and mRNA and protein expressions of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA in cardiac tissues, and increased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10, cardiac tissue levels of CAT, GSH, SOD, and T-AOC, and mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10. Additionally, VA ameliorated cardiac pathological damage, inhibited myocardial cell apoptosis, inflammatory infiltration, and collagen fiber deposition, reduced collagen volume fraction, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. VA decreased the ratio of F4/80~+CD86~+ M1 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD86 and iNOS in cardiac tissue, and increased the ratio of F4/80~+CD206~+ M2 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD206 and Arg-1. VA also reduced protein expressions of p-Drp1, VDAC, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β, IL-18, Bad, Bax, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP-1, and cytoplasmic cytochrome C, and increased the expressions of HK1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9 proteins, as well as the Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-xl/Bad ratios and mitochondrial cytochrome C content. These results indicate that VA has a significant ameliorative effect on ISO-induced CF in mice, alleviates ISO-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory response, and its mechanism may be closely related to the inhibition of Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathways, suppression of myocardial cell inflammatory infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, reduction of collagen volume fraction and CollⅠ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA expressions, thus mitigating CF.
Animals ; Isoproterenol/adverse effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Vanillic Acid/administration & dosage* ; Dynamins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Fibrosis/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Humans

Extensive epigenetic reprogramming involves in memory CD8+ T-cell differentiation. The elaborate epigenetic rewiring underlying the heterogeneous functional states of CD8+ T cells remains hidden. Here, we profile single-cell chromatin accessibility and map enhancer-promoter interactomes to characterize the differentiation trajectory of memory CD8+ T cells. We reveal that under distinct epigenetic regulations, the early activated CD8+ T cells divergently originated for short-lived effector and memory precursor effector cells. We also uncover a defined epigenetic rewiring leading to the conversion from effector memory to central memory cells during memory formation. Additionally, we illustrate chromatin regulatory mechanisms underlying long-lasting versus transient transcription regulation during memory differentiation. Finally, we confirm the essential roles of Sox4 and Nrf2 in developing memory precursor effector and effector memory cells, respectively, and validate cell state-specific enhancers in regulating Il7r using CRISPR-Cas9. Our data pave the way for understanding the mechanism underlying epigenetic memory formation in CD8+ T-cell differentiation.
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation ; Chromatin/immunology* ; Animals ; Mice ; Immunologic Memory ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; SOXC Transcription Factors/immunology* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic

[Purpose]To analyze the trends of brain tumor incidence and age of onset in cancer registration areas of Jiangsu Province from 2009 to 2019.[Methods]The incidence data of brain tumors from 2009 to 2019 were obtained from 16 national cancer registration areas of Jiangsu Province.The crude incidence rate,age-standardized incidence rate by Chinese standard popula-tion(ASIRC),average age of onset,standardized age-specific incidence rate,and annual average percentage change(AAPC)by sexes and regions were calculated.[Results]The incidence rate of brain tumor in Jiangsu Province from 2009 to 2019 showed an increasing trend(AAPC=4.12％,95％CI:3.31％～4.95％),and the increase in female(AAPC=5.79％,95％CI:4.44％～7.15％)was higher than that in male(AAPC=2.31％,95％CI:1.66％～2.97％);and the increase in urban areas(AAPC=4.84％,95％CI:3.52％～6.18％)was higher than that in rural areas(AAPC=3.04％,95％CI:2.12％～3.98％).The ASIRC also showed an increasing trend(AAPC=2.14％,95％CI:1.27％～3.02％).Birth cohort analysis showed that within the same age group,the incidence rate of brain tumors increased with increasing birth years.The average age of onset for crude incidence showed a delaying trend of 0.43 years old per year(t=7.09,P＜0.001);that for ASIRC was 0.20 years old per year(t=3.33,P=0.009).The proportion of patients in the age group of 60 years old and above increased from 35.79％in 2009 to 44.18％in 2019.[Conclusion]The incidence of brain tumor in cancer registration areas of Jiangsu Province showed an increasing trend from 2009 to 2019 with a delaying trend of average age of onset.

OBJECTIVE To explore the time windows for postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing different surgeries,providing evidence-based references for optimizing infection monitoring and prevention and control strategies.METHODS Sociodemographic characteristics,clinical information and surgical details of 263 patients with postoperative pneumonia from four different types of medical institutions between Jan.2019 and Dec.2024 were retrospectively collected.The time windows for postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing different surgeries were analyzed.RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in the time windows for post-operative pneumonia among groups in terms of sociodemographic factors and underlying diseases.However,sta-tistically significant differences were observed in the time windows for postoperative pneumonia based on surgery type,incision type,surgical approach and surgery duration(P＜0.05).The average time for the onset of postop-erative pneumonia in 263 patients was 2.00(1.00,7.00)days.The postoperative time windows varied for sur-geries involving different systems.The peak incidence occurred on day 0(16 cases)and day 1(17 cases)af-ter neurological surgery,while the peak incidence for digestive system and orthopedic surgeries was on day 1.The time span for the onset of pneumonia after skin surgeries was wider(0-53 days postoperatively)without a clear peak.In addition,33.33％of cardiovascular system surgery cases developed pneumonia 10 days postoperatively.There were also significant time differences in the diagnostic elements of postoperative pneumonia,with fever and abnormal white blood cell counts appearing earlier(median appearance time length:4.00 days)than lung imaging changes(median appearance time length:7.00 days).CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates significant time differences in the on-set of postoperative pneumonia and confirms the significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the diagnostic elements of postoperative pneumonia.These findings provide a quantitative basis for developing dynamic,surgery-type-spe-cific monitoring protocols and prevention and control measures for postoperative pneumonia.

Objective To investigate the correlation between skeletal muscle fat content and diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 290 patients with T2DM admitted to our hospital were enrolled in this study from January 2023 to February 2024 and divided into two groups according to whether they were complicated with DPN:simple T2DM group(T2DM,n=98)and T2DM with DPN group(DPN,n=192).The general data,biochemical indexes and fat distribution indexes measured based on quantitative CT were compared between the two groups.Spearman correlation was used to analyze the relationship between fat distribution indexes and DPN,logistic regression analysis of influencing factors of T2DM complicated with DPN.Results Age,DM duration,WHR,FIns,insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR)and FF were higher in DPN group than in T2DM group(P<0.05).Ca,subcutaneous abdominal fat area(SFA)and liver fat content were lower in DPN group than in T2DM group(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that DPN was negatively correlated with SFA and liver fat content(r=-0.127,-0.123,P<0.05),and positively correlated with FF(r=0.117,P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that without adjusting for confounding factors and adjusting for DM duration,WHR,HOMA-IR,Ca,SFA and liver fat content,FF was an influential factor for DPN in T2DM patients.Conclusions Skeletal muscle FF was associated with DPN in patients with T2DM.

Objective:To explore the short-term clinical effects of deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomosis in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Methods:A prospective exploratory study was conducted on the treatment of AD patients using the cervical deep lymph node-venous anastomosis technique in Scar and Wound Treatment Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from September to October 2024. The patients underwent high-frequency ultrasound to locate deep cervical lymph nodes and the external jugular vein. Under general anesthesia, bilateral deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomoses were performed. Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography was conducted via subcutaneous injection behind the ear to visualize lymph nodes in levels Ⅱ and Ⅲ. After making a skin incision along the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the external jugular vein, internal jugular veins, and associated lymph nodes were exposed. Adjacent veins were selected for anastomosis of lymph node. Using microsurgical techniques, end-to-side or end-to-end anastomosis was completed for lymph nodes in levels Ⅱ and Ⅲ. Preoperative assessments included the mini-mental state examination (MMSE, a higher score indicates better cognitive function), Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog, a higher score indicates greater impairment of cognitive function), Alzheimer’s disease cooperative study scale for activities of daily living (ADCS-ADL, a higher score indicates better ability to perform daily activity), and neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI, a higher score indicates more severe behavioral and emotional symptom). Postoperative follow-up included the same scales to observe changes in cognitive function, activities of daily living, and emotional communication.Results:Four patients (1 male, 3 females, aged 58-79 years) with AD were included. All were diagnosed based on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. All patients successfully underwent bilateral deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomoses. On average, 4.3 (2-7 per person) anastomoses were performed per patient. Surgical procedures lasted an average of 6.5 h (5.5-8.5 h) with minimal blood loss (less than 50 ml). Patients resumed normal activity within 6 hours postoperatively and were discharged after an average of 4.1 d (3.5-5.0 d). Postoperative complications included one case each of aspiration pneumonia, lower limb venous thrombosis, and transient delirium, all of whom resolved without long-term effects. Clinical symptoms, including memory decline, mood swings, and anxiety, showed varying degrees of improvement. Patients reported enhanced quality of life, emotional stability, and social engagement, confirming the procedure’s safety and potential cognitive benefits. At one month postoperatively, the MMSE scores of the four patients increased by an average of 0.8 points compared to preoperative levels. Additionally, the two patients who completed the ADAS-Cog assessments showed a decrease in their scores (reduced by 1.0 points and 11.3 points, respectively, compared to preoperative scores), indicating a certain degree of improvement in cognitive function during this period. The ADCS-ADL and NPI scores of four patients varied significantly, without showing any clear pattern.Conclusion:Lymphovenous anastomosis of the deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomosis may provide a new surgical intervention approach for AD, but further large-scale studies and long-term follow-up are needed to validate its safety and effectiveness.

The scientific research and innovation capabilities of medical students are intrinsically linked to the sustained and high-quality development of national healthcare initiatives.Cultivating outstanding medi-cal students with independent scientific capabilities and innovative consciousness is a critical component in the education and training of high-level medical professionals.Our investigation revealed that within the imperfections of the cultivating model,some faculty and students at medical schools have an insufficient understanding of scientific research and innovation and lack motivation for engaging in such activities,which hinder the progression of scientific research activities.Consequently,we initiated a teaching practice and exploratory study on the"tutorial system"aimed at fostering medical students'scientific research and innovation abilities.Based on the principle of"research informing teaching,teaching and research advan-cing together,"this study implements a"tutorial system"coordinated by tutors,supplemented by graduate and undergraduate student mentors,to cultivate innovative thinking,stimulate interest in scientific re-search,and enhance practical and research skills among medical students.Through collaborative efforts within"scientific research innovation teams,"various educational methods—including preliminary re-search,in-class and extracurricular activities,intra-group and inter-group interactions,and theoretical and practical applications—are employed to improve and strengthen the cultivation of medical students'scientif-ic research and innovation abilities.This study aims to provide valuable references for optimizing medical education management systems and enhancing the quality of medical student training.

Objective:To explore the real-life experiences of patients six months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), aiming to provide a reference for developing intervention plans.Methods:This was a descriptive phenomenological study. Purposeful sampling and maximum variation sampling were used to select 24 patients who underwent LSG at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from February to August 2023. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, and the Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was applied to inductively extract and refine the themes.Results:A total of six main themes and ten sub-themes were identified through analysis. The main themes were: desires to improve postoperative physical symptoms (gastrointestinal symptoms, hair loss, neurological symptoms, and general symptoms) ; perception of subjective emotions (anxiety, regret, fear, and confidence) ; decreased social adaptability (decline in work ability, impaired social skills) ; general low compliance; desire for professional guidance; and postoperative benefit finding.Conclusions:Six months after LSG, patients primarily experienced physical symptom disturbances, poor psychological states, decreased social adaptability, low compliance, and a desire for professional guidance. However, they also recognized various benefits of the surgery. Healthcare providers should strengthen dynamic symptom assessments and management, guide patients psychologically, enhance social support, and actively improve follow-up and continuous care to help patients improve self-coping abilities and weight loss outcomes.

Objective To investigate the correlation between skeletal muscle fat content and diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 290 patients with T2DM admitted to our hospital were enrolled in this study from January 2023 to February 2024 and divided into two groups according to whether they were complicated with DPN:simple T2DM group(T2DM,n=98)and T2DM with DPN group(DPN,n=192).The general data,biochemical indexes and fat distribution indexes measured based on quantitative CT were compared between the two groups.Spearman correlation was used to analyze the relationship between fat distribution indexes and DPN,logistic regression analysis of influencing factors of T2DM complicated with DPN.Results Age,DM duration,WHR,FIns,insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR)and FF were higher in DPN group than in T2DM group(P<0.05).Ca,subcutaneous abdominal fat area(SFA)and liver fat content were lower in DPN group than in T2DM group(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that DPN was negatively correlated with SFA and liver fat content(r=-0.127,-0.123,P<0.05),and positively correlated with FF(r=0.117,P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that without adjusting for confounding factors and adjusting for DM duration,WHR,HOMA-IR,Ca,SFA and liver fat content,FF was an influential factor for DPN in T2DM patients.Conclusions Skeletal muscle FF was associated with DPN in patients with T2DM.

OBJECTIVE To explore the time windows for postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing different surgeries,providing evidence-based references for optimizing infection monitoring and prevention and control strategies.METHODS Sociodemographic characteristics,clinical information and surgical details of 263 patients with postoperative pneumonia from four different types of medical institutions between Jan.2019 and Dec.2024 were retrospectively collected.The time windows for postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing different surgeries were analyzed.RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in the time windows for post-operative pneumonia among groups in terms of sociodemographic factors and underlying diseases.However,sta-tistically significant differences were observed in the time windows for postoperative pneumonia based on surgery type,incision type,surgical approach and surgery duration(P＜0.05).The average time for the onset of postop-erative pneumonia in 263 patients was 2.00(1.00,7.00)days.The postoperative time windows varied for sur-geries involving different systems.The peak incidence occurred on day 0(16 cases)and day 1(17 cases)af-ter neurological surgery,while the peak incidence for digestive system and orthopedic surgeries was on day 1.The time span for the onset of pneumonia after skin surgeries was wider(0-53 days postoperatively)without a clear peak.In addition,33.33％of cardiovascular system surgery cases developed pneumonia 10 days postoperatively.There were also significant time differences in the diagnostic elements of postoperative pneumonia,with fever and abnormal white blood cell counts appearing earlier(median appearance time length:4.00 days)than lung imaging changes(median appearance time length:7.00 days).CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates significant time differences in the on-set of postoperative pneumonia and confirms the significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the diagnostic elements of postoperative pneumonia.These findings provide a quantitative basis for developing dynamic,surgery-type-spe-cific monitoring protocols and prevention and control measures for postoperative pneumonia.