Adipose tissue is a critical energy reservoir in animals and humans, with multifaceted roles in endocrine regulation, immune response, and providing mechanical protection. Based on anatomical location and functional characteristics, adipose tissue can be categorized into distinct types, including white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), beige adipose tissue, and pink adipose tissue. Traditionally, adipose tissue research has centered on its morphological and functional properties as a whole. However, with the advent of single-cell transcriptomics, a new level of complexity in adipose tissue has been unveiled, showing that even under identical conditions, cells of the same type may exhibit significant variation in morphology, structure, function, and gene expression——phenomena collectively referred to as cellular heterogeneity. Single-cell transcriptomics, including techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), enables in-depth analysis of the diversity and heterogeneity of adipocytes at the single-cell level. This high-resolution approach has not only deepened our understanding of adipocyte functionality but also facilitated the discovery of previously unidentified cell types and gene expression patterns that may play key roles in adipose tissue function. This review delves into the latest advances in the application of single-cell transcriptomics in elucidating the heterogeneity and diversity within adipose tissue, highlighting how these findings have redefined the understanding of cell subpopulations within different adipose depots. Moreover, the review explores how single-cell transcriptomic technologies have enabled the study of cellular communication pathways and differentiation trajectories among adipose cell subgroups. By mapping these interactions and differentiation processes, researchers gain insights into how distinct cellular subpopulations coordinate within adipose tissues, which is crucial for maintaining tissue homeostasis and function. Understanding these mechanisms is essential, as dysregulation in adipose cell interactions and differentiation underlies a range of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2. Furthermore, single-cell transcriptomics holds promising implications for identifying therapeutic targets; by pinpointing specific cell types and gene pathways involved in adipose tissue dysfunction, these technologies pave the way for developing targeted interventions aimed at modulating specific adipose subpopulations. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of single-cell transcriptomic technologies in uncovering the heterogeneity and functional diversity of adipose tissues.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the contrast-enhanced ultrasound with Sonazoid (Sonazoid-CEUS) features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: In this retrospective study, patients who underwent surgical resection and were histopathologically diagnosed with NAFLD or cirrhosis-related HCC were included. All patients received Sonazoid-CEUS examinations within 1 week prior to hepatic surgery. The enhancement patterns of HCC lesions were evaluated and compared between the two groups according to the current World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology guidelines. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the correlations between Sonazoid-CEUS enhancement patterns and clinicopathologic characteristics. Results: From March 2022 to April 2023, a total of 151 patients with HCC were included, comprising 72 with NAFLD-related HCC and 79 with hepatitis B virus (HBV) cirrhosis–related HCC. On Sonazoid-CEUS, more than half of the NAFLD-related HCCs exhibited relatively early and mild washout within 60 seconds (54.2%, 39/72), whereas most HBV cirrhosis–related HCCs displayed washout between 60 and 120 seconds (46.8%, 37/79) or after 120 seconds (39.2%, 31/79) (P<0.001). In the patients with NAFLD-related HCC, multivariate analysis revealed that international normalized ratio (odds ratio [OR], 0.002; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.000 to 0.899; P=0.046) and poor tumor differentiation (OR, 21.930; 95% CI, 1.960 to 245.319; P=0.012) were significantly associated with washout occurring within 60 seconds. Conclusion Characteristic Sonazoid-CEUS features are useful for diagnosing HCC in patients with NAFLD.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the contrast-enhanced ultrasound with Sonazoid (Sonazoid-CEUS) features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: In this retrospective study, patients who underwent surgical resection and were histopathologically diagnosed with NAFLD or cirrhosis-related HCC were included. All patients received Sonazoid-CEUS examinations within 1 week prior to hepatic surgery. The enhancement patterns of HCC lesions were evaluated and compared between the two groups according to the current World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology guidelines. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the correlations between Sonazoid-CEUS enhancement patterns and clinicopathologic characteristics. Results: From March 2022 to April 2023, a total of 151 patients with HCC were included, comprising 72 with NAFLD-related HCC and 79 with hepatitis B virus (HBV) cirrhosis–related HCC. On Sonazoid-CEUS, more than half of the NAFLD-related HCCs exhibited relatively early and mild washout within 60 seconds (54.2%, 39/72), whereas most HBV cirrhosis–related HCCs displayed washout between 60 and 120 seconds (46.8%, 37/79) or after 120 seconds (39.2%, 31/79) (P<0.001). In the patients with NAFLD-related HCC, multivariate analysis revealed that international normalized ratio (odds ratio [OR], 0.002; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.000 to 0.899; P=0.046) and poor tumor differentiation (OR, 21.930; 95% CI, 1.960 to 245.319; P=0.012) were significantly associated with washout occurring within 60 seconds. Conclusion Characteristic Sonazoid-CEUS features are useful for diagnosing HCC in patients with NAFLD.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the contrast-enhanced ultrasound with Sonazoid (Sonazoid-CEUS) features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: In this retrospective study, patients who underwent surgical resection and were histopathologically diagnosed with NAFLD or cirrhosis-related HCC were included. All patients received Sonazoid-CEUS examinations within 1 week prior to hepatic surgery. The enhancement patterns of HCC lesions were evaluated and compared between the two groups according to the current World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology guidelines. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the correlations between Sonazoid-CEUS enhancement patterns and clinicopathologic characteristics. Results: From March 2022 to April 2023, a total of 151 patients with HCC were included, comprising 72 with NAFLD-related HCC and 79 with hepatitis B virus (HBV) cirrhosis–related HCC. On Sonazoid-CEUS, more than half of the NAFLD-related HCCs exhibited relatively early and mild washout within 60 seconds (54.2%, 39/72), whereas most HBV cirrhosis–related HCCs displayed washout between 60 and 120 seconds (46.8%, 37/79) or after 120 seconds (39.2%, 31/79) (P<0.001). In the patients with NAFLD-related HCC, multivariate analysis revealed that international normalized ratio (odds ratio [OR], 0.002; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.000 to 0.899; P=0.046) and poor tumor differentiation (OR, 21.930; 95% CI, 1.960 to 245.319; P=0.012) were significantly associated with washout occurring within 60 seconds. Conclusion Characteristic Sonazoid-CEUS features are useful for diagnosing HCC in patients with NAFLD.

BACKGROUND:Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head is closely related to ferroptosis in osteoblasts.Deer antler peptide can promote the survival and functional establishment of osteoclasts by inhibiting ferroptosis in osteoblasts,and has the potential to treat steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head,but its regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis in osteoblasts has not yet been clarified.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanism by which deer antler peptide inhibits dexamethasone-induced ferroptosis in osteoblasts.METHODS:(1)Different concentration gradients of antler peptide and dexamethasone were used to intervene in MC3T3-E1 14 cells,and the cell activity was detected by cell counting kit-8 method to determine the effect concentration of antler peptide and dexamethasone.(2)MC3T3-E1 14 cells treated with dexamethasone(800 μmol/L)were intervened with different concentrations of gradient antler polypeptide,which were then divided into blank control group,dexamethasone group and dexamethasone+antler peptide group.Cell counting kit-8 method was used to calculate the effects of different concentrations of antler polypeptide on the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 14 cells.(3)Glutathione,superoxide dismutase,malondialdehyde,lipid peroxide,cellular iron,and reactive oxygen species levels in the blank control group,dexamethasone group and dexamethasone+antler peptide group were detected using kits.The protein expressions of glutathione peroxidase 4 and solute carrier family 7 member 11 were detected by western blot to verify the pathway by which antler polypeptide inhibits ferroptosis.RESULTS AND CONCIUSION:After cell activity was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay,antler peptide(10 mg/mL)and dexamethasone(800 μmol/L)were selected to treat MC3T3-E1 14 cells for 24 hours in subsequent experiments.After treatment with dexamethasone,malondialdehyde,lipid peroxide,cellular iron and reactive oxygen species levels were all increased(P<0.01),while glutathione content and superoxide dismutase activity were decreased and the protein expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 and solute carrier family 7 member 11 were also decreased(P<0.05-0.01).After antler peptide intervention,the changes in the above indexes were obviously reversed(P<0.05-0.01).To conclude,antler peptide may inhibit ferroptosis in osteoblasts by regulating the glutathione peroxidase 4/solute carrier family 7 member 11 axis,and thereby exert a therapeutic role in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Radix Puerariae Lobatae from Anhui province and their in vitro lipid-lowering activity.METHODS D101 macroporous resin,silica gel,MCI,and semi-preparative HPLC were used for isolation and purification,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The lipid accumulation model was established by palmitic acid-induced hepatocyte AML12,and the in vitro lipid-lowering activity was evaluated.RESULTS Twenty-one compounds were isolated and identified as carboxymethyl isoferulate(1),methyl(E)feruloylglycolate(2),ariscucurbin-A(3),trans-p-coumaroygly colic acid(4),indole-3-carboxaldehyde(5),β-sitosterol(6),puerol A(7),pueroside C(8),cumoestrol(9),dihydrofurocoumarin(10),decuroside V(11),psoralen dimer(12),bergapten dimer(13),isoliquiritigenin(14),neoliquiritin(15),calycosin(16),daidzein(17),3,4,7-trihydroxyisoflavone(18),ononin(19),genistein(20),genistin(21).Compounds 1-4、7-10、13 and 17-19 significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in AML12 cells,and compound 9 inhibited PPAR-γ expression.CONCLUSION Compounds 1-6,10-13 are isolated from Pueraria genus for the first time.Compounds 1-4,7-10,13 and 17-19 have good lipid-lowering activity.

Objective:To investigate the effect of early enteral nutrition on intestinal function in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection.Methods:In this study,a prospective single-center randomized controlled trial was used to select 88 patients with severe abdominal infections in the surgical intensive care ward from January 2021 to December 2023.Among them,65 patients were eligible and were randomly divided into 33cases in the intervention group(who received early enteral nutrition),and 32cases in the control group(who did not receive early enteral nutrition).The clinical baseline characteristics of the two groups,conditions such as abdominal distension and diarrhea during enteral nutrition,intra-abdominal pressure,the time to reach the standard of complete enteral nutrition,and the indexes of pre-albumin,CRP,and leukocyte count on the third and the seventh day postoperative day were observed.The t-test was used to compare between groups for normally distributed measures.The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare between groups for skewed measures.The χ2 test or continuity-corrected χ2 test was used to compare the count data between groups.Repeated measures data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA.Results:The clinical baseline characteristics of the two groups were completely matched;There were significant differences in the changes of intra-abdominal pressure over time between the two groups(Fgroup=9.665,P=0.004),There were significant differences in the changes of intra-abdominal pressure over time between the two intervention group(Ftime=64.124,P<0.001)and the control group.and the trend of intra-abdominal pressure reduction in the intervention group was more significant than that in the control group(Finteractive=3.938,P=0.023);The time required for the recovery of bowel sounds was significantly shorter in the experimental group than in the control group[(19.5±3.5)h vs(35.3±4.5)h,P<0.001,t=15.829];there was no significant difference in the frequency of abdominal distention,vomiting and aspiration between the two groups(P>0.05),and the difference in the frequency of diarrhea was statistically significant(P=0.003);The time to reach the standard of enteral nutrition in the intervention group was shorter than that in the control group[(6.3±1.2)d vs(7.4±1.5)d,P=0.002];The total hospital stay of the intervention group was significantly shorter than that of the control group[(11±3.2)d vs(14±4.1)d,P=0.007].The prealbumin(0.21±0.2,0.28±0.2)g/L,CRP(175.5±23.6,45.4±14.5)mg/L,and white blood cell count(11.7±2.9,9.1±3.5)109/L of the intervention group on the 3rd and 7th days after surgery were significantly improved compared with those of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Early enteral nutrition can effectively promote the recovery of intestinal function in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection.

Objective:To explore the mediating effect of psychological resilience between perceived stress and job burnout among standardized gastroenterology nursing training students.Methods:A total of 156 nursing trainees who received standardized training in the Department of Gastroenterology at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital between December 2022 and July 2024 were selected by the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship among perceived stress, psychological resilience, and job burnout in standardized gastroenterology nursing training students. AMOS 24.0 statistical software was used to construct a structural equation model to analyze the mediating effect of psychological resilience between perceived stress and job burnout in standardized gastroenterology nursing training students. The bias-corrected bootstrap method was applied to test the mediating effect of psychological resilience.Results:The averaged total scores of 156 standardized gastroenterology nursing training students were (29.89±0.30) for perceived pressure, (62.45±2.44) for psychological resilience, and (57.85±3.44) for job burnout. Of the trainees, 88 (56.41%) exhibited job burnout, including 39 (25.00%) with mild burnout, 41 (26.28%) with moderate burnout, and 8 (5.13%) with severe burnout. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that perceived stress was positively correlated with job burnout ( r=0.543, P<0.05) and negatively correlated with psychological resilience ( r=-0.443, P<0.05), and psychological resilience was negatively correlated with job burnout ( r=-0.478, P<0.05). The results of bias-corrected bootstrap test showed that psychological resilience had a partial mediating effect between perceived stress and job burnout among standardized gastroenterology nursing training students ( P<0.05), accounting for 32.63% of the total effect. Conclusions:Moderate job burnout was observed in standardized gastroenterology nursing training students. Job burnout was closely related to perceived stress and psychological resilience. Psychological resilience partly mediated the relationship between perceived stress and job burnout. Therefore, clinical managers may alleviate the perceived psychological pressure and subsequently reduce the occurrence of job burnout among standardized nursing training students by increasing psychological resilience.

BACKGROUND:Through scientific research addressing the effect of calcined deer antler slices on promoting the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,it aims to provide empirical support for the integration and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine and modern regenerative medicine,and promote the widespread application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of skeletal system diseases.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of calcined deer antler slices on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell proliferation.METHODS:Different calcination samples were prepared by wrapping deer antler slices with materials such as clay,yellow clay,and salted yellow clay,resulting in seven different samples(clay-cotton cloth,yellow clay-cotton cloth,salted yellow clay-cotton cloth,yellow clay-tin foil,salted yellow clay-tin foil,yellow clay-honey roasted,salted yellow clay-honey roasted antler slices).Water-soluble extract content in deer antler slices was determined before and after calcination.CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the effects of different aqueous extracts of calcined antler slices on the proliferation activity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Calcination significantly increased the water-soluble extract content of deer antler slices,with the highest content observed in samples treated with yellow clay and honey.(2)Calcined deer antler slices significantly promoted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell proliferation,among which the yellow clay-honey roasted deer antler slices have the most significant effect on promoting the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To investigate the differences in demographic characteristics,reproductive health status,and the distribution of pregnancy-related diseases between couples conceived via assisted reproductive technology(ART)and naturally conceived couples,and to analyze the impact of ART treatment on the incidence of preterm birth(PTB)in singleton and twin and multiple pregnancies.Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the maternal and infant cohort data of Jing'an District from 2013 to 2020.Based on the conception method,the subjects were categorized into two groups:the ART group and the natural conception group.Chi-square test was applied to compare baseline characteristics and disease distributions differences between the two groups,and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between ART and the PTB risks.A causal mediation model was used to evaluate the mediating effect of twin and multiple pregnancy in the relationship between ART and PTB.Results A total of 117 717 parturients were included,6 265 in the ART group and 111 452 in the natural conception group.Compared with the natural conception group,couples in the ART group were significantly older and had a higher prevalence of reproductive system diseases.The incidences of diabetes and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy in ART parturient were 13.76%and 9.99%,respectively,which were significantly higher than 7.88%and 4.75%in the natural conception group(both P<0.001).The overall PTB rate in the ART group was 14.81%,higher than 5.35%in the natural conceptions group(P<0.001).The PTB rate in ART for singleton pregnancies in the ART group was 6.40%,higher than 4.83%in the natural conception group(P<0.001),while the PTB rate in ART for twin and multiple pregnancies in the ART group was 53.97%,lower than 60.42%in the natural conception group(P<0.05).Mediation analysis showed that 97.99%of the effect of ART on PTB was mediated by twin and multiple pregnancy,with ART increasing the PTB risk by 3.44 times through multiple pregnancy.Conclusion The overall PTB rate of ART recipients is higher than that of natural recipients,but ART does not increase the PTB risk in singleton and twin and multiple pregnancies.Twin and multiple pregnancy is the key mediating factor contributing to PTB in ART-conceived recipients.Compared with naturally conceived couples,ART conception couples own more advanced maternal age,and have higher risks of suffering gestational diabetes,gestational hypertension,and PTB.