Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) acts as an oncogene in liver cancer, yet its roles and in-depth molecular mechanisms within the liver cancer immune microenvironment remain mostly undefined. Here, we demonstrated that disruption of tumor-intrinsic PRMT5 enhances CD8⁺ T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity both in vivo and in vitro. Further experiments verified that this effect is achieved through downregulation of the inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule, fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1). Mechanistically, PRMT5 catalyzed symmetric dimethylation of transcription factor 12 (TCF12) at arginine 554 (R554), prompting the binding of TCF12 to FGL1 promoter region, which transcriptionally activated FGL1 in tumor cells. Methylation deficiency at TCF12-R554 residue downregulated FGL1 expression, which promoted CD8⁺ T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Notably, combining the PRMT5 methyltransferase inhibitor GSK591 with PD-L1 blockade efficiently inhibited liver cancer growth and improved overall survival in mice. Collectively, our findings reveal the immunosuppressive role and mechanism of PRMT5 in liver cancer and highlight that targeting PRMT5 could boost checkpoint immunotherapy efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of quercetin on cuproptosis and L-type calcium currents in the myocardium of diabetic rats. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomized into control group and diabetic model groups. The rat models of diabetes mellitus (DM) induced by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection were further divided into DM model group, quercetin treatment group, and empagliflozin treatment group (n=10). Blood glucose and body weight were measured every other week, and cardiac function of the rats was evaluated using echocardiography. HE staining, Sirius red staining, and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) analysis were used to observe the changes in myocardial histomorphology, and serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression were detected. In cultured rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells with high-glucose exposure, the effects of quercetin and elesclomol, alone or in combination, on intracellular CK-MB and LDH levels and FDX1 expression were assessed, and the changes in L-type calcium currents were analyzed using patch-clamp technique. RESULTS: The diabetic rats exhibited elevated blood glucose, reduced body weight, impaired left ventricular function, increased serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression, decreased L-type calcium currents, and prolonged action potential duration. Quercetin and empagliflozin treatment significantly lowered blood glucose, improved body weight, and restored cardiac function of the diabetic rats, and compared with empagliflozin, quercetin more effectively reduced serum copper levels, downregulated FDX1 expression, and enhanced myocardial L-type calcium currents in diabetic rats. In H9c2 cells, high glucose exposure significantly increased myocardial expressions of FDX1, CK-MB and LDH, which were effectively lowered by quercetin treatment; Elesclomol further elevated FDX1, CK-MB and LDH levels in the exposed cells, and these changes were not significantly affected by the application of quercetin. CONCLUSIONS Quercetin ameliorates myocardial injury in diabetic rats possibly by suppressing myocardial cuproptosis signaling and restoring L-type calcium channel activity.
Animals ; Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Male

ObjectivesTo understand the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia （HHcy） in the Tibetan population in Northwest Xizang， and its association with lipids and blood uric acid， and to explore the prevention and treatment strategies for chronic diseases such as HHcy in Northwest Xizang. MethodsIn this survey， questionnaires， physical examinations， and biochemical tests were conducted on 3432 Tibetan residents aged 18 years and older who had resided in Northwest Xizang （Ngari Prefecture， Nagqu City） for more than 6 months using a multistage stratified whole cluster random sampling method. ResultsThe prevalence of HHcy among Tibetan residents in Northwest Xizang was 75.7%， much higher than that of the average population in China （37.2%）. Blood uric acid、high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were risk factors for HHcy. ConclusionThe prevalence of HHcy is higher in the Tibetan population in northwest Xizang. Therefore， the local governments should urge people to establish a healthy lifestyle and enhance early intervention for HHcy by improving diet and lifestyle， thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular， cerebrovascular and other related diseases.

Objective:To investigate whether intestinal rehabilitation therapy (IRT)could optimize the effectiveness of IRT in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) caused by acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) with chronic multivessel lesions.Methods:Clinical data of 18 hospitalized patients diagnosed with AMI leading to SBS and undergoing IRT at the Eastern Theater General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army from Jan 2012 to Oct 2023 was retrospectively analyzed.Result:Following IRT, the revascularization group showed significantly greater increases in ASMI and grip strength compared to the control group [(0.28±0.26) kg/m 2vs. (0.02±0.21) kg/m 2, P=0.033, and (0.97±0.33) kg vs. (0.48±0.34) kg, P=0.007, respectively]. Similarly, the increase in EN intake was significantly higher in the revascularization group compared to the control group [(572.5±93.6) ml/d vs. (375.2±176.3) ml/d, P=0.012], accompanied by a greater improvement in intestinal nitrogen absorption rate [(25.06±14.06)% vs. (13.84±4.62)%, P=0.034] and a more substantial decrease in GSRS scores [(-15.88±3.94) vs. (-6.33±5.13), P=0.030]. Moreover, there were significant differences in the composition of EN formulations between the two groups after IRT ( P=0.046). Additionally, SF-36 scores at discharge were significantly higher in the revascularization group than that in the control group for five indicators including BP, GH, VT, SF, and MH ( P<0.05). Conclusions:For patients with SBS resulting from AMI by chronic multivessel lesions, revascularization therapy may not leading to higher growth in weight and hematological nutritional indicators during IRT, but it is beneficial for improving muscle function, improving EN absorption, increasing the likelihood of PN independence, relieving gastrointestinal symptoms, and enhancing overall quality of life.

Objective To investigate the expression and role of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).Methods Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of NETs in OSCC.The clinico-pathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with different NETs expression levels were analyzed.Density gradient centrifugation was used to isolate neutrophils from human peripheral blood.NETs were induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA)and co-cultured with OSCC cells.CCK-8 assay was used to detect changes in OSCC cell proliferation ability.OSCC cell migration ability was detected by Transwell cell migration assay and cell scratch assay.Western blotting(WB)assay was used to detect the effect of NETs on the index of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT).Results NETs'expression in OSCC was higher than that in normal tissues(P＜0.001).The prognosis of patients with high NETs expression was worse than that of patients with low NETs expression(P＜0.05).The expression level of NETs was correlated with the clinical grade,invasion and recurrence degree of OSCC patients(P＜0.05).NETs pro-moted the proliferation and migration of Cal27 and HN6 cells(P＜0.05),and inhibited the protein expression level of epithelial marker and promoted the protein expression level of mesenchymal markers(P＜0.05),which could be reversed by the NETs inhibitor DNaseⅠ.Conclusion NETs are expressed at high levels in OSCC.NETs can promote the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and can affect the prognosis of OSCC patients.

Specific tumor-targeted gene delivery remains an unsolved therapeutic issue due to aberrant vascularization in tumor microenvironment (TME). Some bacteria exhibit spontaneous chemotaxis toward the anaerobic and immune-suppressive TME, which makes them ideal natural vehicles for cancer gene therapy. Here, we conjugated ZIF-8 metal-organic frameworks encapsulating eukaryotic murine interleukin 2 (Il2) expression plasmid onto the surface of VNP20009, an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strain with well-documented anti-cancer activity, and constructed a TME-targeted Il2 delivery system named Il2/ZIF-8@Salmonella. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that Il2/ZIF-8@Salmonella maintained the tumor-targeting feature of bacteria, and could be effectively phagocytosed by intratumoral macrophages, thus leading to the expression and secretion of IL2 in TME. The detailed analysis of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) showed that one dose of combinatorial Il2/ZIF-8@Salmonella achieved synergistic actions on a potent remodeling of TIME, marked by the activation of cytotoxic T cells and M1-polarization of macrophages in TME, thus leading to significant anti-tumor effects in melanoma, orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma, and pulmonary metastasis models. More importantly, Il2/ZIF-8@Salmonella exhibited high safety to major organs and hematopoietic systems. Taken together, we report a novel plasmid/ZIF-8@Salmonella system that simultaneously achieves effective TME-targeted delivery of therapeutic gene, as well as synergistic re-activation of TIME.

Objective:To explore the value of jellyfish sign, an abnormal ultrasonographic sign, in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes of women with complete placenta previa combined with placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS).Methods:This retrospective study analyzed the ultrasound images of 72 singleton gravidas, diagnosed with complete placenta previa combined with PAS, who underwent cesarean section at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2020 and February 2023. Based on the presence and absence of the jellyfish sign in ultrasound images, these gravidas were divided into the jellyfish-sign group (15 cases, 20.8%) and the non-jellyfish-sign group (57 cases, 79.2%). The clinical data and perinatal outcomes of the two groups were analyzed. The adverse perinatal outcomes encompassed conditions such as abdominal aorta balloon block, uterine artery embolism, hysterectomy, postpartum hemorrhage, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission of their neonates. Statistical analysis was performed using two independent samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Chi-square (or Fisher's exact) test. Results:(1) The jellyfish-sign group exhibited a higher parity [(1.6±0.7) times vs (1.2±0.6) times, t=2.01] and higher prenatal scores of placenta accreta [(12.3±1.5) scores vs (8.6±2.9) scores, t=6.59] than those in the non-jellyfish-sign group (both P<0.05). Among the 57 cases in the non-jellyfish-sign group, there were 14 cases of placenta creta (24.6%), 40 cases of placenta increta (70.2%), and three cases of placenta percreta (5.3%). Among the 15 cases in the jellyfish-sign group, nine cases were diagnosed with placenta increta, six with placenta percreta, and none with placenta creta. The difference in distribution between the two groups was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P<0.001). (2) Intraoperative blood loss [(for those who accepted abdominal aorta balloon block, 1 973±1 057) ml vs (1 211±576) ml, t=2.55], red blood cells transfused [4.0 U (2.0-23.0 U) vs 2.5 U (0.0-11.0 U), Z=－2.53], postoperative hospitalization time [(9.7±2.4) vs (7.5±2.2) d, t=3.36], the incidence of abdominal aorta balloon block [15/15 vs 38.6% (22/57), χ2=17.92], uterine artery embolism [for those who accepted abdominal aorta balloon block, 3/15 vs 1.8% (1/57), Fisher's exact test], and requiring blood transfusion [15/15 vs 63.2% (36/57), Fisher's exact test] were higher in the jellyfish-sign group than those in the non-jellyfish-sign group. However, the non-jellyfish-sign group had lower gestational age at delivery [(33.6±1.5) weeks vs (35.2±1.8) weeks, t=－3.24], and lower neonatal Apgar score at 1 min and 5 min [1 min: 8 scores (3-10 scores) vs 9 scores (4-10 scores), Z=－2.46; 5 min: 9 scores (7-10 scores) vs 10 scores (6-10 scores), Z=－2.02] (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in emergency surgery rate, 24 h postoperative blood loss, neonatal birth weight, and proportion of NICU admission between the two groups. Additionally, no cases of hysterectomy or death were observed in the two groups. Conclusions:Ultrasound examination revealing jellyfish signs in patients with complete placenta previa and PAS is associated with an increased likelihood of adverse perinatal outcomes. Consequently, the management of these patients should be given greater attention.

Colorectal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors with high morbidity， and changes in lifestyle， dietary structure and environment in China in recent decades have been associated with an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer. A large number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） can be used as a complementary and alternative treatment for colorectal cancer after conventional western medicine treatment. TCM physicians have accumulated a lot of clinical experience in the treatment of patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ colorectal cancer， and have proved that TCM has unique efficacy， but there is still a lack of relevant clinical practice guidelines to standardize and guide the diagnosis and treatment of TCM. Based on this， according to the guideline development process of the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development and the Clinical Evidence Grading Criteria on TCM Based on Evidence Body， under the framework of relevant laws， regulations and technical guidance documents， combined with the evidence of relevant domestic and foreign clinical research in recent years for evidence grading and opinion recommendation， and then the Guidelines for TCM Intervention After Conventional Western Medicine Treatment for Stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ Colorectal Cancer were developed by expert consensus. This guideline introduces the etiology， pathogenesis， syndrome differentiation and treatment of TCM intervention for colorectal cancer， which can provide guiding opinions for TCM clinicians and clinicians of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine engaged in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.