OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of seven pediatric patients with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) positive for the t(16;21)(p11;q22) FUS::ERG fusion gene. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on the clinical data, treatment, and prognosis of seven AML patients with t(16;21)(p11;q22) FUS::ERG fusion gene admitted to Henan Children's Hospital between June 2015 and November 2024. Relevant literature was also reviewed. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No.: 2024-102-001). RESULTS: Among 297 pediatric patients with AML, 7 cases (2.36%) were positive for the t(16;21)(p11;q22) FUS::ERG fusion gene, including 3 males and 4 females, with a median age of 11 years (range: 3 ~ 12 years). According to the FAB classification, these included 1 case of M2, 3 cases of M5, and 3 cases of AML-not otherwise specified (non-M3). All 7 patients were found to harbor the t(16;21)(p11;q22) translocation, with 3 cases showing additional chromosomal abnormalities. Immunophenotyping revealed universal expression of CD13, CD33, CD34, and CD117, with partial expression of CD56, CD4, CD64, CD123, CD15, CD38, CD11b, HLA-DR, cMPO, and CD16. One patient achieved complete remission (CR) after the first course of DAE (cytarabine + daunorubicin + etoposide) induction chemotherapy but relapsed and discontinued the treatment. Six patients received DAH (cytarabine + daunorubicin + homoharringtonine) induction therapy, of whom 2 achieved CR after two courses and underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), resulting in an overall CR rate of 42.86%. Five children did not receive allo-HSCT and had a median overall survival of 9 months (range: 6 ~ 18 months). Two children who underwent transplantation achieved bone marrow morphological and molecular biological relapse at 6 and 9 months post-transplantation, respectively. After receiving combined chemotherapy and donor lymphocyte infusion, one child failed to achieve remission and died at 22 months post-transplantation, while the other has been followed up to date with positive fusion gene status. Their overall survival was 25 months and 30 months, respectively. CONCLUSION The t(16;21)(p11;q22) FUS::ERG fusion gene is rare in pediatric AML and associated with poor prognosis. Allo-HSCT may mitigate the adverse prognostic impact of the FUS::ERG fusion gene and contribute to prolonged survival.
Humans ; Male ; Child ; Female ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Translocation, Genetic ; Retrospective Studies ; RNA-Binding Protein FUS/genetics* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16/genetics* ; Adolescent ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

Background: Visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) inflammation is a critical pathology of obesity-caused heart damage and is closely associated with adipocyte endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction. Serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor, clade A, member 3C (Serpina3c) has been identified as an adipokine with anti-vWAT inflammatory effects. However, it remains unclear whether Serpina3c deficiency promotion of vWAT inflammation involves adipocyte ER dysfunction and whether it further contributes to heart damage in obesity. Methods: Wild type and Serpina3c knockout (Serpina3c–/–) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. An adeno-associated virus (AAV) was injected locally into epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) of Serpina3c–/– mice to induce eWAT-adipocyte- specific overexpression of Serpina3c (AAV-Serpina3c) or knockdown of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (AAV-shHIF1α). In vitro experiments were performed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Results: Serpina3c–/– mice exhibited more severe eWAT, serum and heart inflammation after HFD feeding. Consistently, these adverse phenotypes were mitigated in AAV-Serpina3c and AAV-shHIF1α mice. Mechanistically, ER oxidoreductase 1α (Ero1α) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family members PDIA3 and PDIA4 were found to be target genes of HIF1α. In the obese mice, Serpina3c deficiency caused adipocyte more hypertrophy, and activated HIF1α-Ero1α/PDI mediated ER overoxidation and ER stress in eWAT. Subsequently, this led to increased adipocyte apoptosis and chemokine production and decreased adiponectin expression, which promoted macrophage infiltration and M1 polarization in eWAT, thus exacerbating eWAT inflammation and ultimately facilitating serum and distal heart inflammation. Conclusion These findings indicate that Serpina3c is a significant regulator of adipocyte ER redox homeostasis, thus highlighting Serpina3c as a potential therapeutic target for obesity-related eWAT inflammation and heart damage.

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is an essential nutrient for bacterial growth, metabolism and signal regulation. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, encounters restricted Pi availability inside host cells. The uptake and utilization of Pi are mainly accomplished by the phosphate-specific transport (Pst) system. The survival and pathogenicity of Mtb rely on its precise sensing and adaptation to the hostile intracellular environment. The Pst system not only mediates bacterial drug resistance, toxin production and invasion, but also regulates virulence expression, membrane vesicle biogenesis and the synthesis of the nucleotide signaling molecule (p)ppGpp via the Pst-SenX3-RegX3 signaling axis, exhibiting typical multifunctional characteristics. As a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family, the Pst system in Mtb consists of PstS, PstC, PstA, PstB and PhoU-like proteins, with distinct physiological functions for different proteins and their isoforms.This review focuses on the molecular structure and function of key proteins in the Pst system, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying Pi transport regulation and bacterial drug resistance, providing a reference for further exploring the relationship between this system and drug resistance, as well as the development of novel drugs targeting the Pst system.

ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of different doses of Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injected under ultrasound guidance combined with modified catheter-balloon localization for post-stroke cricopharyngeal dysfunction (CPD), and to explore a relatively appropriate dose. MethodsA total of 136 patients with post-stroke CPD admitted to Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province from December, 2023 to February, 2026 were randomly assigned into control group, 50 U group, 70 U group and 100 U group, with 34 patients in each group. The control group received conventional rehabilitation, whereas the three BTX-A groups received conventional rehabilitation plus the corresponding dose of BTX-A injected under ultrasound guidance combined with modified catheter-balloon localization. Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) scores, Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores, Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale (YPR-SRS) grades, Murray Secretion Severity Scale (MSS) grades and ultrasonographic parameters were compared before and two weeks after intervention. ResultsAfter intervention, FOIS scores improved significantly in all groups (|Z| > 2.843, P < 0.01), and YPR-SRS and MSS grades also showed significant improvements in all BTX-A groups (|Z| > 4.147, P < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed that the order of improvement from best to worst for FOIS, YPR-SRS and MSS grades was the 100 U group, followed by 70 U group, and then 50 U group (P < 0.05). For VFSS scores, the effect of time, group and interaction were all significant (F > 9.68, P < 0.001); pairwise comparisons showed that 100 U group achieved the best outcomes (P < 0.001). Regarding the activity and velocity of the geniohyoid muscle, the effects of time, group and interaction were also significant (F > 7.34, P < 0.001); pairwise comparisons indicated that 100 U group outperformed the other groups in both activity and velocity (P < 0.001). For hyoid bone displacement distance and shortening rate, the effects of time and interaction were significant (F > 3.07, P < 0.05), and the main effects of time on duration and velocity were significant (P < 0.01); pairwise comparisons showed that the 100 U group had superior displacement distance and shortening rate compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). During the treatment and follow-up periods, no serious adverse event occurred in any group. ConclusionUltrasound-guided BTX-A injection assisted by modified catheter-balloon localization may further improve short-term swallowing function in patients with post-stroke CPD， with a dosage of 100 U.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate whether dexmedetomidine （Dex） alleviates stress-induced mammary tumor progression in mice by inhibiting the TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway， and to examine its effects on anxiety‑depression‑like behaviors and stress hormone levels. MethodsAn orthotopic EMT6 mammary tumor model was established in mice， and chronic mild stress （CMS） was applied to induce anxiety‑depression‑like states. The mice were divided into six groups： naive， tumor， CMS， CMS+tumor， CMS+tumor+Dex， and CMS+tumor+Vehicle groups. Behavioral changes were evaluated using the open field test and tail suspension test. Plasma stress hormone levels were measured by high‑performance liquid chromatography. Western blot and RT‑qPCR were performed to detect the expression of TLR4， p‑NF‑κB p65， p‑IκBα， and inflammatory cytokines （IL‑6， IL‑1β， TNF‑α） in tumor tissues. In vitro， EMT6 cells were treated with cortisol to mimic the stress-related microenvironment， and the effects of Dex on the TLR4/NF‑κB pathway were assessed by CCK‑8， Western blot， and RT-qPCR. ResultsTumor‑bearing mice exhibited significant anxiety‑depression‑like behaviors （P＜0.05）， along with markedly elevated plasma levels of norepinephrine， epinephrine， and cortisol （P＜0.05）. Chronic stress further aggravated these behavioral abnormalities and promoted tumor growth （P＜0.05）. Dexmedetomidine intervention significantly improved anxiety‑depression‑like behaviors （P＜0.05） and lowered peripheral stress hormone levels （P＜0.05） in stress‑exposed tumor‑bearing mice. In vitro experiments demonstrated that cortisol treatment activated the TLR4/NF‑κB pathway （P＜0.001） and upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines （P＜0.05 in EMT6 cells， whereas dexmedetomidine effectively suppressed this activation （P＜0.001）. In the in vivo model， dexmedetomidine treatment downregulated the expression of TLR4， p‑NF‑κB p65， p‑IκBα， and pro‑inflammatory cytokines in tumor tissues （P＜0.001） and significantly inhibited tumor growth （P＜0.05）. ConclusionDexmedetomidine inhibits the TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway， alleviates stress‑induced inflammatory responses， improves anxiety- and depression‑ like behaviors， reduces stress hormone levels， and suppresses mammary tumor progression. These findings provide an experimental basis for understanding anxiety- and depression- associated breast tumor progression and suggest that Dexmedetomidine and the TLR4/NF-κB pathway may serve as potential therapeutic targets.

Alcoholic liver disease(ALD), a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, poses a serious threat to human health. Despite the availability of various drugs for treating ALD, their efficacy is often uncertain, necessitating the search for new therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides have garnered increasing attention in recent years due to their versatility, high efficiency, and low side effects, and they have demonstrated significant potential in preventing and treating ALD. Emerging studies have suggested that these polysaccharides exert their therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of oxidative stress and the regulation of lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and programmed cell death. This review summarizes the recent research progress in the pharmacological effects and regulatory mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides in treating ALD, aiming to provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for their application in the prevention and treatment of ALD.
Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects*

Medical institutions, with their clinical practice foundation and abundant human use experience data, have become important carriers for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the "cradles" of the preparation of new TCM. To effectively promote the transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and establish an effective evaluation index system for the transformation of new TCM conforming to the characteristics of TCM, consensus experts adopted the literature research, questionnaire survey, Delphi method, etc. By focusing on the policy and technical evaluation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions, a comprehensive evaluation from the dimensions of drug safety, efficacy, feasibility, and characteristic advantages was conducted, thus forming a comprehensive evaluation system with four primary indicators and 37 secondary indicators. The expert consensus reached aims to encourage medical institutions at all levels to continuously improve the high-quality research and development and transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and targeted at clinical needs, so as to provide a decision-making basis for the preparation, selection, cultivation, and transformation of new TCM for medical institutions, improve the development efficiency of new TCM, and precisely respond to the public medication needs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe disease caused by viral infection that triggers an uncontrolled inflammatory response. This study investigated the capacity of jasurolignoside (JO), a natural compound, to bind to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and treat ALI. The anti-inflammatory properties of JO were evaluated in vitro through Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence staining, and co-immunoprecipitation. The investigation utilized a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI animal model to examine the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of JO in vivo. JO attenuated inflammatory symptoms in infected cells and tissues by modulating the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Molecular docking simulations revealed JO binding to TLR4 active sites, confirmed by cellular thermal shift assay. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) demonstrated direct interaction between JO and TLR4 with a Kd value of 35.1 μmol·L^-1. Moreover, JO inhibited tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 secretion and reduced leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and macrophage infiltration in ALI-affected mice. JO also enhanced lung function and reduced ALI-related mortality. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated JO's ability to suppress TLR4 expression in ALI-affected mouse lung tissue. This study establishes that JO can bind to TLR4 and effectively treat ALI, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for clinical applications.
Toll-Like Receptor 4/chemistry* ; Animals ; Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Mice ; Humans ; Ilex/chemistry* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Male ; NF-kappa B/immunology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Disease Models, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between eight serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and regional fat depots, we analyzed the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2018 cycles. METHODS: Multiple linear regression models were developed to explore the associations between serum PFAS concentrations and six fat compositions along with a fat distribution score created by summing the concentrations of the six fat compositions. The associations between structurally grouped PFASs and fat distribution were assessed, and a prediction model was developed to estimate the ability of PFAS exposure to predict obesity risk. RESULTS: Among females aged 39-59 years, trunk fat mass was positively associated with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Higher concentrations of PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoate (PFDeA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and n-perfluorooctanoate (n-PFOA) were linked to greater visceral adipose tissue in this group. In men, exposure to total perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) and long-chain PFSAs was associated with reductions in abdominal fat, while higher abdominal fat in women aged 39-59 years was associated with short-chain PFSAs. The prediction model demonstrated high accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9925 for predicting obesity risk. CONCLUSION PFAS exposure is associated with regional fat distribution, with varying effects based on age, sex, and PFAS structure. The findings highlight the potential role of PFAS exposure in influencing fat depots and obesity risk, with significant implications for public health. The prediction model provides a highly accurate tool for assessing obesity risk related to PFAS exposure.
Humans ; Fluorocarbons/blood* ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Environmental Pollutants/blood* ; Abdominal Fat ; Nutrition Surveys ; Alkanesulfonic Acids/blood* ; Obesity ; Environmental Exposure

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of Huoxue Jiedu Formulas （活血解毒方药， HJF） as an adjunctive treatement for patients with binding of stasis and toxin syndrome during the vulnerable period after acute myocardial infarction （AMI） percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） surgery， and to explore its potential mechanism from the perspective of serum neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs）. MethodsA total of 129 patients with binding of stasis and toxin syndrome within 6 months after PCI for AMI were enrolled and divided into a treatment group （65 cases） and a control group （64 cases） based on patients' willingness to take Chinese herbal medicine. The control group received standard western medical therapy alone， while the treatment group additionally received HJF， one dose daily. Both groups were treated for four weeks. Before and after treatment， TCM syndrome scores were assessed. Seattle angina questionnaire （SAQ） was used to record angina stability and frequency scores， while the short form-36 health survey （SF-36） was employed to assess quality of life across eight dimensions， including physical functioning， role-physical， bodily pain， general health， vitality， social functioning， role-emotional， and mental health. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index （PSQI） was used to evaluate sleep quality， and the patient health questionnaire-15 （PHQ-15） was used to assess psychosomatic symptoms； Duke activity status index （DASI） was used to measure daily physical activity. Serum levels of neutrophil extracellular traps （NET） markers including myeloperoxidase-DNA （MPO-DNA）， neutrophil elastase-DNA （NE-DNA）， and citrullinated histone H3 （CitH3） were measured in 20 patients from the treatment group. ResultsAfter treatment， TCM syndrome score， PSQI score and PHQ-15 score in both groups significantly decreased， while DASI score， angina stability and frequency scores， and all eight dimensions of the SF-36 scale significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Compared to the control group， the treatment group had significantly lower TCM syndrome scores and significantly higher DASI， angina stability and frequency scores （P＜0.05）， as well as higher scores in the SF-36 dimensions of physical functioning， role-physical， social functioning， bodily pain， and vitality （P＜0.05）. After treatment， serum levels of MPO-DNA， CitH3， and NE-DNA in the treatment group were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. ConclusionHJF combined with conventional therapy can significantly improve angina symptoms， TCM syndrome scores， and psychosomatic conditions in patients with binding of stasis and toxin syndrome during the vulnerable period after AMI. It also enhances quality of life， sleep quality， and daily physical activity. The underlying mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of serum NETs level.