Background: s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs. Results: Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment. Conclusions We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.

Objective:To explore the relationship between serum thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) levels and the occurrence of pruritus as well as interstitial lung diseases (ILD) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) or clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) .Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data from 61 diagnosed DM/CADM patients at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between February 2019 and March 2022. Thirty-five age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included as controls. Serum TSLP and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . A multiplexed flow cytometry assay was performed to detect the serum levels of 12 cytokines, including interferon (IFN) -α2, IFN-γ, interleukin (IL) -4, IL-5, etc. Pruritus severity in DM/CADM patients was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) . Relationships of serum TSLP levels with skin lesions, inflammatory markers, and the severity of ILD were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 and R (version 4.3.2) software.Results:Among the 61 patients with DM/CADM, 18 were males (13 with DM and 5 with CADM) and 43 were females (30 with DM and 13 with CADM) , with ages of 53.08 ± 14.97 years and disease duration of 6.27 ± 4.27 months. No significant differences were observed in sex or age between the DM/CADM group and the healthy control group (both P > 0.05) . Of the 61 patients, 15 (24.59%) were positive for anti-MDA5 antibodies, and 31 (51.67%) had ILD, including 11 with acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (A/SIP) . The pruritus VAS score ( M[ Q1, Q3]) among the 61 patients was 3 (0, 6) points; 20 patients (32.79%) reported no pruritus, while 11 (18.32%) , 17 (27.87%) , and 13 (21.31%) experienced mild, moderate, and severe pruritus, respectively. Serum TSLP levels were significantly higher in the DM/CADM patients than in the healthy controls (91.0 [34.6, 273.0] vs. 25.0 [0.0, 83.5] pg/ml, Z = 1 502.50, P < 0.001]. The TSLP levels were significantly positively correlated with serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) , lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and ferritin, and significantly negatively correlated with pruritus VAS scores, eosinophil percentages, and eosinophil counts (all P < 0.05) . Serum TSLP levels were significantly higher in the anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients than in the anti-MDA5 antibody-negative patients (273.0 [103.8, 2 576.0] pg/ml vs. 67.4 [16.9, 218.7] pg/ml, P = 0.002) , as well as in the patients with A/SIP than in those without A/SIP (390.0 [168.2, 2 869.6] vs. 67.5 [21.8, 235.9] pg/ml, P < 0.001) . ROC analysis showed that the combined detection of serum TSLP levels and anti-MDA5 antibodies had a higher predictive value for A/SIP in DM/CADM patients (AUC = 0.922) than either the detection of anti-MDA5 antibodies (AUC = 0.831) or TSLP (AUC = 0.824) alone did. Conclusions:Serum TSLP levels were significantly higher in patients with DM/CADM than in healthy controls, with particularly higher levels observed in anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients and patients with coexisting A/SIP, and were correlated with several indicators of disease activity. The combination of serum TSLP levels and anti-MDA5 antibodies provided greater predictive value for A/SIP than either of them alone did.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pertussis cases identified through active surveillance.Methods:Active surveillance for pertussis was conducted in three sentinel hospitals in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, and Yongcheng, Henan Province. The study population included cases that met the surveillance case definition and sought medical care at outpatient/emergency departments or were hospitalized between June 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022. Samples were collected for bacterial culture and PCR detection. Case information and clinical data were collected. Differences in rates were assessed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability test, and the differences in cough time were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results:Among 1 423 cases of pertussis surveillance, the positive rate of pertussis was 28.11% (400/1 423), with a median age of 5 years (interquartile range: 2, 8). The positive rate in Yongcheng, Henan Province, and Yiwu, Zhejiang Province were 39.27% (216/550) and 21.08% (184/873), respectively; the positive rate of pertussis was highest in July 2021, and the highest positive rate of pertussis was among those aged 10-14. The positive rate of pertussis in hospitalized cases was higher than in outpatient/emergency cases (26.68%) ( χ2=4.16, P=0.041). Among the 400 laboratory test-positive cases, the highest proportion of atypical symptom cases was in adults aged 20-59 (43.33%, 13/30). The specificity rates of apnea and worsening nocturnal cough in monitored cases under 3 months of age were 100.00% and 73.81%, respectively. Among monitored cases aged 3 months to 9 years, the proportions of symptoms including worsening nighttime cough (63.00%) and night sweats (4.59%) in test-positive cases were significantly higher than those in the test-negative group (47.77% and 0.56%, respectively), with statistically significant differences (both P<0.05). The specificity rates of worsened nighttime coughing and night sweats were 52.23% and 99.44%, respectively. Conclusions:The active surveillance results for pertussis showed that the 10-14 age group exhibited the highest positivity rate. Active surveillance enhanced the detection rate of pertussis. Among laboratory-confirmed cases, the proportion of atypical symptoms was the highest in adults, suggesting that laboratory testing should be combined to diagnose programs of pertussis. For infants under 3 months, worsening nighttime cough and apnea increase the diagnostic specificity, while for individuals aged 3 to 9 years old, worsening nighttime cough and night sweats increase the diagnostic specificity.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of roxadustat on thyroid function and to identify the associated factors in patients undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD).Methods:This study was a single-center retrospective study. PD patients who received roxadustat or recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January 2020 and June 2024 were included. The general and clinical information as well as laboratory indexes were collected. Serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were compared before and after treatment initiation. Hemoglobin (Hb) responses were also observed between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors associated with thyroid function changes.Results:A total of 120 patients were enrolled, with an age of (55.17±16.42) years, including 66 males (55.0%). There were 81 patients received roxadustat (roxadustat group) and 39 patiens received rHuEPO (rHuEPO group). Compared to the rHuEPO group, the roxadustat group had a higher proportion of patients with diabetes ( χ 2= 4.172, P=0.041), a shorter PD vintage ( Z=-3.406, P=0.002), a lower serum level of total cholesterol ( Z=-2.082, P=0.037) and a lower level of fasting blood glucose ( Z=-2.589, P=0.010). Following treatment with roxadustat, the levels of FT4 ( Z=-5.349, P<0.01) and TSH ( Z=-3.720, P<0.01) decreased significantly. In contrast, no significant changes in FT4 or TSH levels were observed in the rHuEPO group (both P>0.05). For both roxadustat and rHuEPO groups, there were no significant changes in FT3 levels after treatment (both P>0.05). Multivariate analysis identified that higher baseline TSH (TSH≥2.27 μIU/ml, OR=1.581, 95% CI 1.196-2.089, P=0.001) and roxadustat exposure ( OR=3.432, 95% CI 1.410-8.355, P=0.007) as independent associated factors of subsequent TSH decline, and identified that higher baseline FT4 (FT4≥14.9 pmol/L, OR=1.390, 95% CI 1.162-1.662, P=0.001) and roxadustat exposure ( OR=5.798, 95% CI 2.225-15.113, P=0.001) as independent associated factors of subsequent FT4 decline. The degrees of hemoglobin changes after roxadustat or rHuEPO treatment did not differ significantly between roxadustat group and rHuEPO group ( t=-1.062, P=0.290). Of the 31 patients who underwent a second thyroid function test during roxadustat treatment, 24 continued with the original regimen, while 7 discontinued roxadustat. Among 24 patients who maintained roxadustat treatment, TSH ( Z=-0.400, P=0.689) and FT4 ( t=0.143, P=0.888) remained stable between the second and third tests. All 7 patients who discontinued roxadustat treatment showed TSH rebound and the changes of TSH levels were more significant than that in continuers ( Z=-2.505, P=0.012). FT4 recovery occurred in only 3 of them, with no significant difference in FT4 change between discontinuers and continuers ( Z=-0.685, P=0.493). Conclusions:Roxadustat commonly suppresses TSH and FT4, but not FT3, in PD patients. Baseline levels of TSH and FT4 are key associated factors of the inhibitory effect of roxadustat on thyroid function. This suppression does not intensify with prolonged exposure and is reversible after discontinuation, with TSH levels normalizing more quickly than FT4. Roxadustat-induced thyroid suppression does not compromise its efficacy in treating renal anemia.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the buds of Aralia chinensis L.var.nuda Nakai and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The 70％ethanol extract from the buds of A.chinensis var.nuda was isolated and purified by silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,ODS and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their anti-inflammatory activities in vitro were evaluated by RAW264.7 model.RESULTS Sixteen compounds were isolated and identified as 4-(2,2-dibutoxyethyl)phenol(1),trans-linalool-3,7-oxide-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),2'-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoyl)glyceryl β-D-galactopyranoside(3),quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(3'→ O-3''')quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside(4),syringaresinol-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(5),p-hydroxybenzaldehyde(6),7α-hydroxystigmasterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(7),trans-p-hydroxy cinnamic acid methyl ester(8),funingensin A(9),3,4-dihydroxy-acetophenone(10),N-acetyltyramine(11),3,4-di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid(12),chlorogenic acid(13),aralia cerebroside(14),caffeic acid methyl ester(15),tetradecanoic acid(16).The IC50values of compounds 8,10,12 and 13 were(22.19±1.59),(35.25±1.30),(13.38±0.72),(15.73±1.16)μmol/L,respectively.CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new compound,2-13 are isolated from genus Aralia for the first time.Compounds 8,10,12,13 exhibit significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activities.

Objective To investigate the current status and analyze the factors affecting the osteoporosis knowledge among orthopedic nurses,and to provide references for improving osteoporosis knowledge among orthopedic nurses.Methods We investigated 5 681 orthopedic nurses from 621 hospitals in 31 provinces(autonomous regions/municipalities)using a convenient sampling method from September 2023 to November 2023.We collected information using a general information questionnaire and osteoporosis knowledge assessment tool.We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors.Results A total of 5 204 orthopedic nurses were included.The total mean score of osteoporosis knowledge assessment tool of nurses was[13.00(12.00,14.00)],and 23.48％nurses had a low level of osteoporosis awareness.Logistic regression analysis showed that the age,title and position of the nurses,location of the hospital,the level of the hospital,whether to conduct the fracture liaison service/to set up the refracture prevention team,whether to use calcium tablets/vitamin D,whether to carry out anti-osteoporosis drug therapy,and whether to conduct topical lectures on osteoporosis or secondary fractures,were the factors that affected orthopedic nurses'knowledge of osteoporosis(P＜0.05).Conclusion The osteoporosis knowledge of orthopedic nurses needs to be improved.Nursing managers should carry out personalized interventions from both hospital and nurse levels to improve the osteoporosis knowledge of orthopedic nurses in our country.

Objective A cross-sectional survey on the postoperative home care status and barriers was conducted among elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures nationwide,in order to provide a basis for promoting the improvement of standardized home care for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures.Methods From October to November 2023,a survey on the current situation and barriers of home environment protection was conducted among elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures in the orthopedic wards of 594 hospitals across 31 provinces(autonomous regions/municipalities directly under the central government)using a convenience sampling method.Results A total of 14,349 questionnaires were distributed,and 12,496 valid questionnaires were collected,resulting in an effective response rate of 87.09％.Among the patients,5,502 cases(44.03％)had implemented home-based prevention and treatment of osteoporosis before the fracture.2 095(16.77％)of the patients experienced a subsequent fracture,of which 65.11％of the patients who experienced a subsequent fracture received medication intervention after the initial fracture,while 19.86％of the patients who experienced a subsequent fracture did not comply with the treatment for osteoporosis after the initial fracture.Additionally,77.66％(n=1 627/2 095)of the patients received community medical services after the initial fracture.Barriers to care factors in the home environment after fracture from the patient's perspective presented the complexity of the social-ecological system model in 6 dimensions at 2 levels:micro(basic personal situation,physiological factors,psychological factors,and behavioural factors),and meso(social support factors,and healthcare worker factors).Conclusion In the vast majority of elderly patients in China,before osteoporotic fracture,home-based measures to prevent osteoporosis have not been adequately implemented;after the initial osteoporotic fracture,the pathway of re-fracture prevention and management in the patient's home environment is not yet complete and its popularity needs to be improved;the barriers to home care faced by elderly patients with osteoporotic fracture are complex.It is recommended to promote effective linkages among hospitals,community health centres and families to strengthen the closed-loop management of re-fracture prevention and management.

Fluorescent probes L1 to L5 containing two recognition sites based on Schiff base were prepared for detection of Al3+.The probes were constituted by introducing two salicylaldehyde derivatives through hydrazide groups on isophthalic hydrazide.Among them,a fast turn-on fluorescence probe L1 for Al3+with high fluorescence quantum yield was found.The recognition performance and mechanism of probe L1 to Al3+were studied by multiple analysis methods.The results showed that probe L1 could rapidly and highly selectively recognize Al3+by fluorescent enhancement at 446 nm and the detection limit was as low as 4.65 nmol/L,and it was found that L1 complexed with Al3+in the molar ratio of 1:1.In addition,the calculation results of density functional theory(DFT)showed that two binding sites in the probe molecule connected two different Al3+,and each Al3+connected two adjacent probe molecules.Using quinine sulfate as a reference,the fluorescence quantum yield of L1-Al3+complex was as high as 30%.Probe L1 could also be applied to the detection of Al3+in real water samples.

Background: s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated. Methods: In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs. Results: Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment. Conclusions We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.

Purpose: Zinc finger protein 639 (ZNF639) is often found within the overlapping amplicon of PIK3CA, and previous studies suggest its involvement in the pathogenesis of esophageal and oral squamous cell carcinomas. However, its expression and significance in breast cancer remain uncharacterized. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of ZNF639 was performed using tissue microarrays.Functional studies, including colony formation, Transwell cell migration, and in vivo metastasis, were conducted on breast tumor cells with ZNF639 knockdown via small interfering RNA transfection. Results: Reduced ZNF639 immunoreactivity was observed in 82% of the breast cancer samples, independent of hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, ZNF639 expression was associated with favorable survival outcomes, including recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.89) and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.16– 1.05). ZNF639 knockdown increased clonogenicity, cell motility, and lung metastasis in NOD/ SCID mice. Following the ZNF639 knockdown, the expression of Snail1, vimentin, and C-C chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) was upregulated, and the changes in cell phenotype mediated by ZNF639 were reversed by the subsequent knockdown of CCL20. Conclusion Low ZNF639 expression is a novel prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival in patients with breast cancer.