Exosomes are extracellular vesicles commonly detected in numerous body fluids and contain a variety of components such as proteins,nucleic acids,lipids,and metabolites.These components enable exosomes to mediate intercellular communication and impact diverse cellular processes.Recently,research has highlighted that exosomes have a significant regulatory role in numerous aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)occur-rence,development,and drug resistance.Non-coding RANs,a crucial component of exosomes,can regulate the HCC tumour microenvironment with a direct impact on biological behaviours such as tumour growth,metastasis,angiogenesis,and immunomodulation.To this end,exosomes present an interesting avenue for further research in the field of HCC therapy.It is anticipated to become a novel diagnostic,prognostic marker,or therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Our review of the role played by exosomal components in HCC progression over the last five years aims to furnish references and innovative perspectives for early diagnosis,prognosis,and treatment of HCC.

BACKGROUND:Hyperhomocysteinemia is closely related to the function of islet β cells,but its specific molecular mechanism is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of N6 methyltransferase-like 3(METTL3)in homocysteine(Hcy)-induced autophagy of mouse islet β cells. METHODS:The 3rd and 4th generation mouse islet β cells were taken for the experiment.(1)Cell modeling and grouping:cells in control group were not treated with Hcy,while those in homocysteine group were treated with 100 μmol/L Hcy for 48 hours.(2)The mouse islet β-cells were transfected with the plasmids overexpressing Ad-METTL3 and si-METTL3 according to the instructions of LipofectamineTM 2000.Three different interfering fragments were designed,and the one with the best interfering efficiency was verified and screened by PCR.(3)After transfection,the cells were divided into control group,Hcy group,Ad-NC(negative control)+Hcy group,Ad-METTL3+Hcy group,si-NC(negative control)+Hcy group and si-METTL3+Hcy group.(4)qRT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression levels of METTL3 and autophagy-related proteins LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ and p62 in cells.Insulin level was determined by ELISA to evaluate insulin secretion capacity of islet cells.Autophagy-related proteins and insulin level were detected after overexpression and interference with METTL3. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the expression level of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ was increased(P＜0.05),the expression of p62 was significantly reduced(P＜0.05),and the insulin secretion capacity was significantly decreased(P＜0.05)in the Hcy group.Compared with the control group,the protein and mRNA levels of METTL3 were reduced in the Hcy group(P＜0.05).After METTL3 silencing in islet β cells,Hcy further upregulated the expression of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ(P＜0.05),significantly dowregulated the expression of p62(P＜0.05),and increased the insulin level(P＜0.05).After overexpression of METTL3,Hcy significantly decreased the LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ expression and increased the p62 expression in islet β cells(P＜0.05).To conclude,METTL3 is involved in the Hcy-induced autophagy regulation of islet β cells and plays a role in the regulation of insulin secretion.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women,but there is currently a lack of accurate prognos-tic assessment systems.The Naples Prognostic Score(NPS)is a prognostic prediction system that incorporates inflammatory and nutritional indicators.It has been proven to have important clinical utility in predicting the prognosis of patients with malignancies such as colon cancer,gallbladder cancer,endometrial cancer,and lung cancer.In recent years,research has found that NPS may be superior to TNMstaging in predicting the prognosis of breast cancer patients.It is an independent predictor of overall sur-vival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)in breast cancer patients.This suggests that NPS has great potential for applica-tion in predicting the prognosis of breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the Carabelli's traits on permanent maxillary molars in Han Chinese college students.Methods Intraoral photos and plaster models from 803 Han Chinese college students were observed and the Carabelli's traits on permanent maxillary molars were categorized by the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System.Chi-square tests were performed for the comparison of the differences between male and female,permanent maxillary first and second molars.Kendall's tau-b correlation analy-ses were performed for the correlation between bilateral antimeric molars.Results The frequencies of Carabelli's traits on permanent maxillary first and second molars were 37.61％and 3.99％respectively,46.73％and 6.30％in males,27.95％and 1.54％in females,which were statistically significant between permanent maxillary first and second molars(P＜0.01),male and female(P＜0.01).In the positive expression,the low-grade expression(ASUDAS 1-4)was predominant and accounted for 67.37％and 59.52％on the perma-nent maxillary first and second molars.The correlation between bilateral antimeric teeth were statistically significant on permanent max-illary first molars(tau-b=0.756,P＜0.01)and second molars(tau-b=0.477,P＜0.01).Conclusion The Carabelli's traits on perma-nent maxillary molars in Han Chinese college students mostly occur on permanent maxillary first molars with low-grade expression,and understanding this has great anthropological and clinical significance.

Rosuvastatin(RVS)is an excellent drug with anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties in the aca-demic and medical fields.However,this drug faces a series of challenges when used to treat atherosclerosis caused by hyperhomocysteinemia(HHcy),including high oral dosage,poor targeting,and long-term toxic side effects.In this study,we applied nanotechnology to construct a biomimetic nano-delivery system,macrophage membrane(M?m)-coated RVS-loaded Prussian blue(PB)nanoparticles(MPR NPs),for improving the bioavailability and targeting capacity of RVS,specifically to the plaque lesions associated with HHcy-induced atherosclerosis.In vitro assays demonstrated that MPR NPs effectively inhibited the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)/nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3)signaling pathways,reducing pyroptosis and inflammatory response in macrophages.Additionally,MPR NPs reversed the abnormal distribution of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1)/ATP binding cassette transporter G1(ABCA1)/ATP binding cassette transporter G1(ABCG1)caused by HIF-1α,promoting cholesterol efflux and reducing lipid deposition.In vivo studies using apolipoprotein E knockout(ApoE-/-)mice confirmed the strong efficacy of MPR NPs in treating atherosclerosis with favorable bio-security,and the mechanism behind this efficacy is believed to involve the regulation of serum metabolism and the remodeling of gut microbes.These findings suggest that the synthesis of MPR NPs provides a promising nanosystem for the targeted therapy of HHcy-induced atherosclerosis.

AIM:To investigate the role of specific long noncoding RNA SLC25a6(lncSLC25a6)in homocys-teine(Hcy)-induced cuproptosis in cardiomyocytes.METHODS:Rat cardiomyocytes were cultured in vitro and divided into control group and Hcy group.After 48 h of intervention,the expression levels of cuproptosis-related proteins,ferre-doxin 1(FDX1)and heat shock protein 70(HSP70),were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining.The oxidative stress state of cardiomyocytes was assessed using fluorescence staining,and the intracellular Cu2+levels were measured using a copper ion assay kit.Furthermore,the impact of Hcy on the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins in cardiomyocytes was analyzed following overexpression of lncSLC25a6.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,80 μmol/L Hcy significantly accelerated cardiomyocyte damage,with a notable underexpression of lncSLC25a6(P<0.05).Western blot results indicated that,compared with the control group,the expression level of FDX1 in the Hcy intervention group was significantly reduced(P<0.05),while the expression level of HSP70 was significantly elevated(P<0.05),and the expression level of copper ions in cardiomyocytes of the Hcy group was increased(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant reduction in FDX1 fluorescence intensity and a significant increase in HSP70 fluorescence in-tensity in the Hcy group.Further overexpression of lncSLC25a6 significantly mitigated Hcy-induced cuproptosis in cardio-myocytes,resulting in elevated expression of FDX1 and reduced expression of HSP70(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that the expression level of lncSLC25a6 was negatively correlated with FDX1 protein expression(r=-0.676,P=0.046)and positively correlated with HSP70 expression(r=0.680,P=0.044).CONCLUSION:lnc-SLC25a6 significantly mitigates Hcy-induced cuproptosis in cardiomyocytes,positioning it as a potential therapeutic target for managing Hcy-induced cardiac injury.

Objective To study the role of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 9(UBC9)in the pyroptosis of homocysteine-induced macrophages mediated by small ubiquitin-like modifier(SUMO)modification.Methods First,the effects of homocysteine at different concentrations(0 μmol/L,50 μ.mol/L,100 μmol/L,150 μmol/L and 200 μmol/L)on the viability and pyrodeath of mouse macrophages(RAW264.7)were detected by CCK-8 and Western blot.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of UBC9,SUMO-1,and the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in different groups of cells.qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of UBC9 before and after RNA interference and the expression of UBC9,pyrogen-related protein,and SUMO-1 after RNA interference.Results After stimulation with 100 μmol/L homocysteine,the effect of macrophage activity was minimal,and NLRP3 and Caspase-1 were the proteins with the most obvious increase in expression(P＜0.05).Compared with the Control group,the Hcy group's expression of IL-1β and SUMO-1 was increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the Control group,the Hcy group's UBC9 protein and mRNA levels were increased(P＜0.05).The expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β,UBC9,and SUMO-1 was decreased in the si-UBC9+Hcy group compared with the si-NC+Hcy group(P＜0.01).Conclusions Homocysteine induces pyroptosis in macrophages,and its mechanism of action is related to the up-regulation of UBC9 to induce SUMO modification.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of adjusted Narcotrend Index (NI) value guidancecombined with small-dose esketamine for program-controlled closed-loop target-controlled infusion (TCI) system.Methods:Forty-eight American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classificationⅠ or Ⅱpatients, regardless of gender, aged 18-55 yr, with body mass index of 18-25 kg/m 2, scheduled for elective laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia, were assigned to control group (group C, NI baseline value median 36) and esketamine group(group E, NI baseline value median 46) using a random number table method, with 24 cases in each group. Anesthesia induction and maintenance were carried out using effect-site concentration TCI(Schnider model for propofol infusion and Minto model for remifentanil infusion). After the NI value was maintained at 26-46 during anesthesia maintenance, a small dose of esketamine was given (as an intravenous bolus 0.2 mg/kg, followed by an infusion of 5 μg·kg -1·min -1for 30 min) in group E, and the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C. Program-controlled closed-loop TCI was then started, and the target effect-site concentrations of propofol and remifentanil were adjusted every 5 min according to the corresponding preset NI baseline value. The main outcome measures were the percentage of time of NI value maintained in the target range within 1 h after administration of esketamine. Secondary outcome measures were the consumption of propofol and remifentanil, postoperative recovery time, incidence of nausea and vomiting, pain and shivering within 1 h after surgery. Patients were followed for intraoperative awareness on 2nd day after operation. Results:The performance of the program-controlled closed-loop TCI systems was within the safe clinical threshold, with no intraoperative awareness occurred in both groups. The consumption of propofol and remifentanil was significantly reduced in group E as compared to group C( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the percentage of time of NI value maintained in the target range, postoperative recovery time and incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Adjusted NI value guidance combined with small-dose esketamine provides better efficacy when used for program-controlled closed-loop TCI system.

Objective To investigate the association of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL)and severity of coronary stenosis in patients with stable coronary artery disease(SCAD).Methods Totally 144 patients who underwent coronary angiography firstly due to suspected coronary artery disease were enrolled.The patients were divided into SCAD group(n=101)and non-CAD group(n=43),and the clinical data were compared.The SCAD group was fuether divided into three subgroups accoding to Gensini score:mild stenosis group(Gensini<16,n=32),moderate stenosis(16≤Gensini<30,n=33)and severe stenosis group(Gensini≥36,n=35).The clinical data of each group were compared.Odinal Logistic regression was used to analysis the influencing factors of severe stenosis.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was performed to evaluated the ability of NGAL in discriminating severe stenosis.Results Serum NGAL,high sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)level in SCAD group were higher than those in non-CAD group(P<0.01).Comparing with mild and moderate stenosis groups,NGAL and hs-CRP level were more higher in severe stenosis group(P<0.01).Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that NGAL and hs-CRP were independent risk factors for severe coronary stenosis(both P<0.05).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve of NGAL and hs-CRP were 0.771,0.702 respectively(both P<0.01).The difference between two AUCs was 0.069 which was insignificant(P>0.05).Conclusion Serum NGAL increased is closely associated with severe coronary stenosis in patients with SCAD,which has a certain ability of discriminating severity of coronary stenosis.

Objective:To investigate the correlation of the expression of Ephrin A receptor 2(EphA2)and its promoter region DNA hypomethylation with the occurrence of pyroptosis in invasive breast cancer. Methods:The expression level of pyroptosis-related protein EphA2 in normal breast tissue,paracancerous tissues and cancer tissues from 42 breast cancer patients was examined by Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting.The expression level of pyroptosis related protein nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting.The expression levels of apoptosis related proteins Caspase 1 and inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β(IL-1 β)were studied by Western blotting.The DNA methylation level in the promoter region of EphA2 was investigated by nested methylation-specific PCR(nMS-PCR).The expression levels of DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1)and DNA methyltransferase 3a(DNMT3a)were examined by Western blotting.The correlation of the protein expression and methylation level of EphA2 in cancer tissues with the expression NLRP3,Caspase 1,IL-1 β,DNMT1 and DNMT3a was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results:Compared with normal breast tissues and paracancerous tissues,the expression level of EphA2 protein was significantly increased(P＜0.01),while that of NLRP3,Caspasel and IL-1 βwas significantly decreased(P＜0.05)in breast cancer tissues.Meanwhile,compared with normal breast tissues and paracancerous tissues,the DNA methylation level of EphA2 promoter in breast cancer tissues was significantly decreased(P＜0.05),the expression level DNMT3a protein was significantly decreased(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),and the difference in the expression level of DNMT1 protein was not statistically significant.Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression level of EphA2 protein is negatively correlated with that of NLRP3(r=-0.651 2,P＜0.05),Caspasel(r=-0.571 2,P＜0.05),IL-1β(r=-0.654 6,P＜0.05)or DNMT3a(r=-0.537 4,P＜0.05),while the methylation level of EphA2 was positively correlated with the protein expression level of NLRP3(r=0.634 1,P=0.026 8),Caspase1(r=0.672 8,P=0.01 6 5),IL-1 β(r=0.694 0,P=0.01 2 3)and DNMT3a(r=0.687 1,P=0.01 3 6). Conclusion:The expression of EphA2 protein is upregulated in breast cancer tissues is negatively correlated with pyroptosis.DNMT3a may be involved in the process of DNA hypomethylation in the promoter region of EphA2.