1.Mechanistic study on ITGA6 regulation of abdominal wall endometriosis via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Rong GU ; Hailiang HUANG ; Xinrui WANG ; Hanlu LI ; Kaijiang LIU ; Ying ZHU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(1):67-74
ObjectiveTo investigate the differential expression of integrin alpha-6(ITGA6) in abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) tissues and its molecular mechanisms in regulating AWE. Methods36 AWE lesions were designated as the experimental group, while 36 cases of normal endometrial tissues served as the controls. Differential expression of ITGA6 between the two groups was assessed through immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Human ITGA6 gene-specific interference sequences were designed, synthesized, and packaged into lentiviral vectors to establish the Ishikawa cell line with ITGA6-knockdown. Similarly, the ITGA6-overexpression cell line was constructed using the coding sequence (CDS) of the gene. Real-time PCR and Western blot were performed to detect changes in epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related markers and angiogenesis-related indicators. Cell invasion and migration capabilities were assessed by Cell Scratch and Transwell assays. Furthermore, Western blot was conducted to profile PI3K/AKT pathway dynamics. ResultsEctopic endometrial tissues exhibited a marked increase in the number of ITGA6-positive cells and their expression intensity compared to eutopic endometrium (each P < 0.001). Compared with the NC group, the ITGA6-knockdown group showed significantly reduced expression of N-cadherin, VEGF, and TGF-β1 (all P < 0.01), while E-cadherin expression was markedly increased (P < 0.01). Concomitantly, the invasion and migration capacities of ITGA6-low expression were significantly impaired (P < 0.001 for both), accompanied by a marked reduction in AKT and phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT) levels (P < 0.001). Conversely, overexpressing ITGA6 resulted in opposite effects. ConclusionITGA6 modulates EMT and angiogenesis in Ishikawa cells via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby enhancing cell invasion and migration capabilities, which contributes to the pathogenesis of AWE.
2.Risk identification and intervention efficacy evaluation of hospital-acquired infections in neurosurgery department based on failure mode and effect analysis
Puyu YANG ; Ye QIU ; Ya YANG ; Zhimin WEI ; Jingru ZHAO ; Weiping ZHU ; Yifeng SHEN ; Yuanping WANG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(2):159-164
ObjectiveTo establish a regional risk assessment system for hospital-acquired infections in neurosurgery department of general hospital, and to evaluate its prevention and control effectiveness. MethodsFailure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) was used to identify the core risk factors for infections in neurosurgery department. The risk priority number (RPN) of each risk factor was calculated to determine the priority intervention targets. Targeted interventions were developed and continuously refined through the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycles. Data from January to June 2023 (control group) and July to December 2023 (intervention group) were collected to compare the differences in environmental hygiene monitoring qualification rate, incidence rate of hospital-acquired infections among inpatients, and detection rate of bacterial antimicrobial resistance. ResultsHigh-risk factors for hospital-acquired infections in neurosurgery department included patient-related risk factors, inadequate implementation of isolation measures for special infections, and poor compliance with surgical site infection (SSI) prevention protocols. After intervention, the environmental hygiene qualification rate significantly increased from 81.55% to 100.00% (χ²=120.49, P<0.001). The overall hospital-acquired infection rate among inpatients decreased from 2.62% to 2.45%, the infection rate of per case declined from 3.12% to 2.84%, and the detection rate of multidrug-resistant organism infections reduced from 43.72% to 36.79%. Additionally, antimicrobial utilization rate decreased from 48.75% to 42.53% (χ²=34.09, P<0.001). ConclusionThe FMEA-based risk assessment system can effectively identify critical infection risks in neurosurgery department, and targeted interventions can significantly improve infection prevention and control performance.
3.Research on the application of large language models in the diagnosis and treatment decision support for primary diseases related to pediatric liver transplantation
Yuanhao WANG ; Chengpeng ZHONG ; Yuxuan WU ; Kang HE ; Qiang XIA
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(3):444-451
Objective To explore the application value of three mainstream large language models in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment decision support of the primary diseases related to pediatric liver transplantation. Methods Seventy-nine cases of pediatric liver transplantation-related diseases diagnosed through pathological or clinical follow-up data were collected from Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine or published high-quality case reports. These cases covered 25 types of primary diseases such as cholestatic liver disease, metabolic diseases, and tumors. Standardized prompts were used to input the case information into the DeepSeek-R1, ChatGPT-4o and Grok-3 models, and the accuracy of their preliminary diagnosis and differential diagnosis based on basic clinical data was evaluated. The final diagnosis accuracy and the response time after supplementary examination were also assessed, as well as the completeness and rationality of their analysis of disease treatment principles. Results In the initial diagnosis and differential diagnosis stage, the comprehensive accuracy of DeepSeek-R1 was the highest [72.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 61.4% - 80.8%], and there was a statistically significant difference in the comprehensive accuracy of the three models for initial diagnosis (P = 0.008). After adding further examination information, the final diagnosis accuracy of the three models increased, with DeepSeek-R1 at 88.6% (95% CI 79.7% - 93.9%), ChatGPT-4o at 87.3% (95% CI 78.2% - 93.0%), and Grok-3 at 78.5% (95% CI 68.2% - 86.1%). There was no statistically significant difference among the three models (P = 0.05). The scores given by experts for the treatment principles showed good consistency (Kappa = 0.769). In addition, the response time of ChatGPT-4o is shorter than that of the other two models [(24 ± 7) s]. Conclusions Large language models demonstrate good efficacy in the diagnosis and treatment decision-making process of various pediatric liver diseases, have a good application prospect for auxiliary diagnosis and decision support, and are expected to help improve the accuracy and efficiency of clinical diagnosis and treatment of pediatric liver transplantation-related primary diseases.
4.Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy–Detected Fumarate Peak for Diagnosing Fumarate Hydratase Deficiency in Uterine Leiomyomas: A Prospective Study
Guiqin LIU ; Wenxin YU ; Shihang PAN ; Yuansheng LUO ; Jingli CHEN ; Mengying ZHU ; Zaoyu WANG ; Yang SONG ; Jin ZHANG ; Jianrong XU ; Yan ZHOU ; Jun MA ; Guangyu WU
Korean Journal of Radiology 2026;27(5):440-451
Objective:
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in discriminating fumarate hydratase-deficient (FH-d) uterine leiomyomas (ULs) from FH-preserved ULs.
Materials and Methods:
This study consisted of three stages, with independent cohorts recruited for each stage: 1) sample-size estimation was retrospectively performed on UL specimens (diameter ≥3 cm; age, 20–40 years) from our database with immunohistochemistry (IHC) for 2-succinocysteine (2-SC) as the reference, without genetic testing, 2) MRS sequence optimization in confirmed FH germline mutation participants with ultrasound-detected ULs (diameter ≥3 cm), without IHC analysis, and 3) prospective diagnostic test accuracy was evaluated in consecutive participants with ultrasound-detected ULs (diameter ≥3 cm;age, 20–40 years), using IHC for 2-SC for determining the FH status and subsequent genetic testing in those with positive 2-SC results to identify whether FH mutations were germline or somatic in origin. The choline and fumarate peaks in MRS were classified as positive, negative, or technical failure (TF). TFs were analyzed separately and excluded from the primary diagnostic accuracy calculations. T1-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted images were interpreted as hyperintense or hypointense. The enhancement rate and apparent diffusion coefficient were also acquired. Diagnostic performance was compared between MRS and various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features.
Results:
The optimal MRS parameters for the fumarate peak were echo time (TE) = 140 ms and an average of 256. Among the 360 prospective participants, 37 were confirmed to have FH-dULs. MRS showed positive fumarate peaks in 35 of 37 FH-dULs.After excluding six TFs, the positive fumarate peak on MRS showed 94.6% (35/37) sensitivity, 99.7% (316/317) specificity, and 99.2% (351/354) accuracy, all of which were significantly superior to those of other MRI features (P ≤ 0.002).
Conclusion
A positive fumarate peak on MRS may be a useful imaging biomarker for diagnosing FH-dULs.
5.Efficacy and learning curve of three-lobe holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia in county-level hospitals
Yongsheng PAN ; Bo LIU ; Jie JIANG ; Xinchao XIA ; Qianjin WANG ; Asihati REWULI ; Tianle WANG ; Hua ZHU ; Wei XUE ; Bing ZHENG
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(3):258-263
Objective To analyze the efficacy, safety, and learning curve of the three-lobe holmium laser enucleation of the prostate(HoLEP)in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)in a county-level hospital.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 65 BPH patients who underwent the three-lobe HoLEP performed by a single surgeon at the Department of Urology, Yining County People's Hospital, during Dec.2023 and Jun.2024.The enucleation efficiency was calculated by dividing the weight of the enucleated prostatic tissue by the enucleation time.A case scatter diagram of enucleation efficiency was plotted according to the chronological order of the operations, and the learning curve was analyzed after fitting.Based on the inflection points of the learning curve, the learning process was divided into the initial learning, mastery, and proficiency phases.The basic clinical data, perioperative indicators, postoperative complications, and follow-up indicators were compared among the different learning phases.Results All 65 procedures were successfully completed.Marked by the enucleation efficiency reaching a plateau, cases 1-20 were defined as the initial learning phase, cases 21-40 as the mastery phase, and cases 41 onwards as the proficiency phase.The prostate volume in the proficiency phase was significantly larger than that in the initial learning and mastery phases(both P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in other baseline characteristics among the three groups(all P>0.05).The operation time [(105.50±19.12)min vs.(85.25±26.92)min vs.(69.00±23.58)min] and enucleation time [(76.90±14.19)min vs.(63.70±22.24)min vs.(48.80±20.48)min] showed a decreasing trend across the three groups(all P<0.05).The enucleation efficiency in both the mastery and proficiency phases was significantly higher than that in the initial learning phase [(1.16±0.44)g/min vs.(0.85 ±0.25)g/min, P<0.05;(1.36±0.49)g/min vs.(0.85±0.25)g/min, P<0.05].The enucleation efficiency in the proficiency phase was slightly higher than that in the mastery phase, but the difference was not statistically significant(P= 0.389).There was no significant difference in the incidence of perioperative complications among the three groups(all P>0.05).At the 6-month follow-up, the international prostate symptom score(IPSS), post-void residual(PVR), and maximum urinary flow(Qmax)were significantly improved compared to preoperative values in all three groups(all P<0.05);however, no significant differences were observed among the three groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion The three-lobe HoLEP for the treatment of BPH is safe and effective in a county-level hospital setting.Surgeons with some experience in endoscopic surgery can preliminarily master this technique after a learning period of approximately 20 procedures.
6.Research progress on cell-based immune tolerance induction strategies after pediatric liver transplantation
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(4):652-658
How to enable children who receive liver transplantation to abandon long-term immunosuppressive drugs while maintaining the function of the transplant organ is the core challenge currently faced in the field of pediatric liver transplantation. Utilizing the developmental plasticity of the child's immune system and actively inducing immune tolerance is the fundamental approach to solving this problem. This article reviews the cell-based immune tolerance induction strategies after pediatric liver transplantation, systematically analyzes the mechanism and research progress of regulatory T cells, regulatory B cells, regulatory dendritic cells, mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, Vδ1 γδ T cells and hepatic stellate cells, summarizes the core progress and translational challenges in this field, and looks forward to the future of individualized treatment, cell engineering and combined treatment regimens.
7.Circadian mechanisms underlying cardiometabolic dysfunction induced by chronic PM2.5 exposure
Wenqing ZHANG ; Biao WU ; Jianshu GUO ; Dongxia FAN ; Ge WANG ; Lu YU ; Chihang ZHANG ; Xianying LIAO ; Xihao DU ; Yuquan XIE ; Jinzhuo ZHAO
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(8):926-935
Background Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a significant risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders. However, the mechanisms of its interaction with the endogenous circadian system remain incompletely understood. Objective To investigate whether chronic PM2.5 exposure interferes with the rhythmic expression of the cardiac circadian clock, thereby disrupting downstream antioxidant defenses and metabolic homeostasis, and ultimately driving cardiometabolic dysfunction. Methods Seventy-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a PM2.5 exposure group (PM group) and a filtered air control group (FA group). Whole-body exposure was conducted for 8 weeks in a meteorological environmental animal exposure system. Samples were collected at six distinct zeitgeber time (ZT) points post-exposure. The 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and serum lipid profiles were monitored. Rhythm parameters were derived via cosinor analysis to compare differences in Midline statistic of rhythm (Mesor), amplitude, and phase between the two groups. The rhythmic expression of core circadian clock genes and antioxidant genes in the myocardium was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Myocardial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and downstream pathway protein expression were analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blot (WB), respectively. The expression changes of the clock gene retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα) were assessed at both the mRNA and protein levels. Finally, Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships among myocardial RORα expression, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress indicators. Results Compared to the FA group, mice in the PM group exhibited a blunted circadian rhythm in blood pressure, characterized by sustained elevation throughout the day. Chronic PM2.5 exposure showed a significant interaction with ZT on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (F-interaction=9.11, 5.70, and 6.02, respectively; P<0.05), as well as on serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (T-CHO), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (F-interaction=16.32, 11.12, 15.39, and 28.09, respectively; P<0.05). Cosinor analysis further revealed that the Mesor values of T-CHO, TG, and LDL-C were significantly increased (P<0.05), while that of HDL-C was significantly decreased in the PM group (P<0.05). The oscillation amplitudes of SBP, DBP, and MAP showed a decreasing trend, whereas those of TG and LDL-C were significantly increased (P<0.05). Furthermore, SBP, T-CHO, and HDL-C all exhibited a significant phase delay (P<0.05). Mechanistically, PM2.5 exposure significantly suppressed the expression of the positive circadian regulator RORα in the myocardium, leading to disordered rhythmic expression of core clock genes (Bmal1, Clock, Per1/2, and Cry1/2). This exposure also inhibited the rhythmic expression of antioxidant genes (GPX1, SOD2, and CAT), resulting in increased ROS generation and elevated expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) proteins. Correlation analysis further revealed that myocardial RORα expression level was negatively correlated with T-CHO, TG, and LDL-C (r=−0.55, −0.63, and −0.51, respectively; P<0.001), and positively correlated with HDL-C (r=0.37, P=0.010), and antioxidant genes GPX1, SOD2, and CAT expression (r=0.34, 0.35, and 0.56, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusion Chronic PM2.5 exposure induces cardiometabolic dysfunction by suppressing myocardial RORα expression. This suppression disrupts the cardiac circadian clock and the diurnal balance of oxidative stress, triggering oxidative damage and elevating expression of CaMKII/NADPH pathway proteins. Collectively, these alterations precipitate the loss of cardiac metabolic rhythms and subsequent functional impairment.
8.Crosstalk Between the Nervous System and Colorectal Cancer.
Xi LI ; Chunshui YE ; Min WANG ; Patrick KWAN ; Xin TIAN ; Yanke ZHANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(1):93-106
The nervous system is the dominant regulatory system in the human body. The traditional theory is that tumors lack innervation. However, an increasing number of studies have shown complex bidirectional interactions between tumors and the nervous system. Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer. With the rise of tumor neuroscience, the role of nervous system imbalances in the occurrence and development of CRC has attracted increasing amounts of attention. However, there are still many gaps in the research on the interactions and mechanisms involved in the nervous system in CRC. This article systematically reviews emerging research on the bidirectional relationships between the nervous system and CRC, focusing on the following areas: (1) Effects of the nervous system on colon cancer. (2) Effects of CRC on the nervous system. (3) Treatment of CRC associated with the nervous system.
Humans
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Colorectal Neoplasms/therapy*
;
Animals
;
Nervous System/metabolism*
9.CAR-based cell therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus.
Yiyang WANG ; Liangjing LU ; Shuang YE ; Qiong FU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(5):523-530
The remarkable efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in hematological malignancies has provided a solid basis for the therapeutic concept, wherein specific pathogenic cell populations can be eradicated by means of targeted recognition. During the past few years, CAR-based cell therapies have been extensively investigated in preclinical and clinical research across various non-tumor diseases, with particular emphasis in the treatment of autoimmune diseases (ADs), yielding significant advancements. The recent deployment of CD19-directed CAR T cells has induced long-lasting, drug-free remission in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other systemic ADs, alongside a more profound immune reconstruction of B cell repertoire compared with conventional immunosuppressive agents and B cell-targeting biologics. Despite the initial success achieved by CAR T cell therapy, it is critical to acknowledge the divergences in its application between cancer and ADs. Through examining recent clinical studies and ongoing research, we highlight the transformative potential of this therapeutic approach in the treatment of SLE, while also addressing the challenges and future directions necessary to enhance the long-term efficacy and safety of CAR-based cell therapies in clinical practice.
Humans
;
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology*
;
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism*
;
Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods*
;
Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/methods*
;
Animals
;
T-Lymphocytes/immunology*
10.Small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) facilitates gemcitabine chemosensitivity in gallbladder cancer by regulating the miR-23b-3p/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) pathway.
Hui WANG ; Yixiang GU ; Miaomiao GUO ; Ming ZHAN ; Min HE ; Yang ZHANG ; Linhua YANG ; Yingbin LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(21):2783-2792
BACKGROUND:
Growing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert pivotal roles in fostering chemoresistance across diverse tumors. Nevertheless, the precise involvement of lncRNAs in modulating chemoresistance within the context of gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains obscure. This study aimed to uncover how lncRNAs regulate chemoresistance in gallbladder cancer, offering potential targets to overcome drug resistance.
METHODS:
To elucidate the relationship between gemcitabine sensitivity and small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 ( SNHG1 ) expression, we utilized publicly available GBC databases, GBC tissues from Renji Hospital collected between January 2017 and December 2019, as well as GBC cell lines. The assessment of SNHG1, miR-23b-3p, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression was performed using in situ hybridization, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to quantify the cell viability. Furthermore, a GBC xenograft model was employed to evaluate the impact of SNHG1 on the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were executed to assess the specificity and sensitivity of SNHG1.
RESULTS:
Our analyses revealed an inverse correlation between the lncRNA SNHG1 and gemcitabine resistance across genomics of drug sensitivity in cancer (GDSC) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, GBC cell lines, and patients. Gain-of-function investigations underscored that SNHG1 heightened the gemcitabine sensitivity of GBC cells in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Mechanistic explorations illuminated that SNHG1 could activate PTEN -a commonly suppressed tumor suppressor gene in cancers-thereby curbing the development of gemcitabine resistance in GBC cells. Notably, microRNA (miRNA) target prediction algorithms unveiled the presence of miR-23b-3p binding sites within SNHG1 and the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of PTEN . Moreover, SNHG1 acted as a sponge for miR-23b-3p, competitively binding to the 3'-UTR of PTEN , thereby amplifying PTEN expression and heightening the susceptibility of GBC cells to gemcitabine.
CONCLUSION
The SNHG1/miR-23b-3p/PTEN axis emerges as a pivotal regulator of gemcitabine sensitivity in GBC cells, holding potential as a promising therapeutic target for managing GBC patients.
Humans
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Deoxycytidine/pharmacology*
;
PTEN Phosphohydrolase/genetics*
;
Gemcitabine
;
RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism*
;
MicroRNAs/genetics*
;
Gallbladder Neoplasms/genetics*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Animals
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Mice
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics*
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Mice, Nude
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Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

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