Objective To explore the correlations of serum heat shock protein 70(Hsp70),high-mobility group box 1(HMGB1),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),and cognitive impair-ment(CI)in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD).Methods A total of 117 patients with CSVD who were treated at Kailuan General Hospital from July 2023 to July 2024 were selected as study subjects(CSVD group).According to varied scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE),they were divided into CI group(54 cases)and non-CI group(63 cases).Additionally,120 healthy individuals who underwent health check-ups during the same period were selected as con-trol group.Clinical data of all subjects were collected.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the expression levels of Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP in serum.The Spearman method was employed to analyze the correlations of serum Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP levels with the occurrence of CI in CSVD patients.Logistic multivariate regression analysis was conducted to screen for influencing factors of CI in CSVD patients.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of serum Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP levels for CI in CSVD patients.Results The serum levels of Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP in the CSVD group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in gender,age,body mass index,smoking history,drinking history,nature of CSVD,education level,triglyc-erides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),Trail Making Test-A(TMT-A),Trail Making Test-B(TMT-B),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)between the CI group and the non-CI group(P＞0.05).The levels of uric acid(UA),serum Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP in the CI group were higher than those in the non-CI group,while the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MOCA)score was lower than that in the non-CI group(P＜0.05).The serum levels of Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP in CSVD patients were negatively correla-ted with MMSE scores(r=-0.458,-0.525,-0.431,P＜0.05)and MOCA scores(r=-0.462,-0.583,-0.484,P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP were influencing factors for CI in CSVD patients(P＜0.05).The areas under the curve(AUC)for serum Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP levels and their combined prediction of cognitive function in CSVD patients were 0.734,0.769,0.766,and 0.902,respectively.The predictive ef-ficacy of the combined prediction was better than that of individual indicators(P＜0.05).Conclu-sion The serum levels of Hsp70,HMGB1,and GFAP are elevated in CSVD patients,which are closely related to the occurrence of CI.The combined detection of these three proteins has a high predictive value for CI in CSVD patients.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of sepsis-induced myocardial injury and microbial distribution.Methods:It was a retrospective observational study conducted from Jan 2023 to Dec 2023 in the Department of Emergency Intensive Care Medicine, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University. Patients meeting the sepsis 3.0 criteria were included, excluding those with underlying cardiovascular diseases or incomplete data. Patients were categorized into myocardial injury (SIMI) and non-myocardial injury (Non-SIMI) groups based on troponin levels. General patient information, laboratory results, microbial findings, and prognostic indicators were collected. Differences in clinical parameters between the two groups were compared. Factors showing statistical differences in univariate analysis were further analyzed using multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors for SIMI. Conduct propensity score matching among Pulmonary infection patients who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage high-throughput sequencing to compare microbial distribution between groups. Bracken was used to estimate species-level abundance from Kraken2 results, and α and β diversity analyses were conducted on the metagenomic samples.Results:A total of 179 patients were included in the study, with 98 (54.4%) in the Non-SIMI group and 81 (45.5%) in the SIMI group. There were 69 deaths overall (38.5%), with 23 (23.7%) in the Non-SIMI group and 46 (56.8%) in the SIMI group (χ 2=20.347, P<0.01). The 28-day survival curve indicated survival rates in the SIMI group were significantly lower compared to the Non-SIMI group (Log Rank χ 2=21.270, P<0.01). Univariate analysis revealed that fungal infection rate ( P=0.007), C-reactive protein ( P=0.021), procalcitonin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine transaminase, and lactate levels were higher in the SIMI group compared to the Non-SIMI group (all P<0.01), prothrombin time was prolonger ( P<0.01) and APACHEⅡ scores were higher ( P<0.01), while serum albumin, base excess, and platelet levels were lower (all P<0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that fungal infection ( OR=3.441, P=0.015) was a risk factor for SIMI, whereas base excess and platelets were protective factors ( OR=0.845, 0.988, both P<0.01). Comparison of bronchoalveolar lavage high-throughput sequencing results in the pulmonary infection subgroup showed the relative abundance of Haemophilus paraininfluenzae in Non-SIMI group was higher than SIMI group among the top 20 species ( P=0.013). There were no statistically significant differences in microbial αand β-diversity between the two groups. Conclusions:The incidence of SIMI is relatively highamong sepsis patients and it affects their prognosis. Risk factors for SIMI include fungal infection, decreased platelet count, and reduced base excess levels. Among patients with pulmonary infections, there is a lower risk of SIMI associated with Haemophilus influenzae infection.

AKT,also known as Protein Kinase B(PKB),plays a critical role in cell proliferation and metabolism.There are three isoforms of AKT:AKT1,AKT2,and AKT3.The effects of these isoforms on the pluripotency and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells(mESCs)remain unclear.This study aims to explore the impact of three AKT isoform-specific knockouts on the self-renewal and differen-tiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology,AKT isoform-spe-cific knockout cell lines were established.The phenotypic and molecular changes were analyzed through Western blotting,flow cytometry,qRT-PCR,CCK-8 assays,Alkaline Phosphatase(AP)staining,and RNA-seq.The construction of AKT isoform-specific knockout cell lines was successful.The loss of AKT1 and AKT2 inhibited the proliferation of mESCs.The knockout of any single AKT isoform did not affect the expression of pluripotency genes at both mRNA or protein levels.However,during embryoid body forma-tion,the deletion of any of the three AKT isoforms affected the mRNA expression levels of genes in all three germ layers.Transcriptome analysis showed that compared to wild-type mESCs,995,547,and 429 differentially expressed genes(|log2FC|≧1,P＜0.05)were identified inAKT1,AKT2,and AKT3 isoform-specific knockout cells,respectively.There was some overlap in the differentially expressed genes regulated by these three isoforms.In conclusion,the independent knockout of AKT isoforms does not af-fect the maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells,but they are crucial for differentia-tion.The three AKT isoforms can collectively regulate gene expression while retaining their own regulato-ry specificity.This study provides a foundation for understanding the unique and overlapping roles of AKT isoforms in stem cell biology,highlighting their importance in maintaining stem cell function and differen-tiation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution of thalassemia (referred to as "thalassemia") gene variant types in the population of the Wuhan area, aiming to provide a genetic basis for the precise prevention and control as well as clinical diagnosis of thalassemia in the Wuhan region. METHODS: In this study, 2 133 suspected thalassemia patients and individuals undergoing prenatal screening who visited the Department of Hematology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neurology at Wuhan First Hospital from October 2022 to October 2024 were selected as the research subjects. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients. The common 27 thalassemia genotypes of α- and β-thalassemia were initially screened using fluorescence PCR melting curve analysis technology. For samples where the fluorescence PCR melting curve results indicated unknown variants or where the clinical phenotype was inconsistent with the common genotypes, Sanger sequencing technology was used for review and verification. RESULTS: Among the 2 133 specimens analyzed, common thalassemia gene variants were detected in 210 cases (9.85%, 210/2 133). A total of 156 cases (8.05%, 156/1 938) of thalassemia gene variants were detected in females and 54 cases (27.69%, 54/195) in males. A total of 94 cases (4.41%, 94/2 133) of α-thalassemia were detected, including 46 cases (2.16%, 46/2 133) of silent α-thalassemia, 47 cases (2.20%, 47/2 133) of mild α-thalassemia, and 1 case (0.05%, 1/2 133) of intermediate α-thalassemia. Additionally, 111 cases of β-thalassemia were identified (5.20%, 111/2 133), including 51 cases of β/β⁺ thalassemia (2.39%, 51/2 133), 59 cases of β/β⁰ thalassemia (2.77%, 59/2 133), and 1 case of β⁺/HbE thalassemia (0.05%, 1/2 133). αβ-composite thalassemia gene variants were detected in 5 cases (0.23%, 5/2 133), including 1 complex variant with a genotype of --^SEA/αα combined with CD41-42 (-TTCT) and 29(A>G), representing a heterozygous variant of three genotypes. Rare globin gene variants were detected in 3 cases, including HBB:c.60C>T, HBB:c.-146G>T, and HBA2:c.*12G>A. CONCLUSION The Wuhan region exhibits a relatively high prevalence of thalassemia genes with notable gender disparities. While maintaining focus on thalassemia screening for females, enhanced males screening efforts and genetic counseling should be implemented in future prevention programs.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Genotype ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; China ; Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Genetic Variation

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is an essential tool for tissue acquisition in solid pancreatic tumors. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) by cytologists ensures diagnostic accuracy. However, the universal application of the ROSE is limited by its availability. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of determining the end of the procedure based on the results of in-room cytological evaluation by trained endosonographers (IRCETE). Methods: A training course focusing on the cytological interpretation of common pancreatic tumors was provided to the three endosonographers. After training, the decision to terminate EUS-FNB was made based on IRCETE results. The diagnostic accuracy, concordance rate of diagnostic categories, and sample adequacy were compared with those determined by board-certified cytologists and macroscopic on-site evaluation (MOSE). Results: We enrolled 65 patients with solid pancreatic tumors, most of whom were malignant (86.2%). The diagnostic accuracy was 90.8% when the end of the procedure was determined based on IRCETE, compared to 87.7% and 98.5% when determined by MOSE and cytologists, respectively (p=0.060). Based on the cytologists’ results, the accuracy of IRCETE in diagnostic category interpretation was 97.3%. Conclusions In the absence of ROSE, IRCETE can serve as a supplementary alternative to MOSE in determining the end of tissue sampling with a high accuracy rate.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine combined with conventional-dose cisplatin(70 mg/m2,day 2)versus split-dose cisplatin(35 mg/m2,days 1 and 8)in neo-adjuvant therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer(MIBC).Methods The clinical data of 33 MIBC patients receiving(gemcitabine+cisplatin,GC)-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Department of Urology of Xinhua Hospital,during Jan.2021 and Aug.2024 were retrospectively analyzed,including 18(54.5％)patients treated with a conventional-dose regimen(GC group),and 15(45.5％)patients treated with a split-dose regimen(GCs group).The efficacy endpoints and incidence/severity of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the two groups(P＞0.05).No significant differences were observed in the complete response rate(CR:33.3％vs.22.2％),objective response rate(ORR:66.7％vs.61.1％),or disease control rate(DCR:80.0％vs.88.9％)between the GCs and GC groups(P＞0.05).The GCs group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of chemotherapy-related renal injury(6.7％vs.38.9％,P＜0.05),while the occurrence of other adverse events was comparable between the two groups.Notably,the GCs group demonstrated significantly attenuated nephrotoxicity,as evidenced by markedly smaller changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate[eGFR:(4.5±4.7)％vs.(18.0±11.8)％]and serum creatinine[SCr:(5.7±5.6)％vs.(20.2±19.5)％]compared to the GC group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared with the conventional-dose regimen,the split-dose regimen maintains equivalent clinical efficacy of GC-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy while significantly reducing chemotherapy-related nephrotoxicity,thereby providing MIBC patients with a safer therapeutic option.

This study aims to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on neuroinflammation in AD mice and explore the mechanisms of neuroinflammation regulated by the blood-brain barrier,lipopolysaccharide(LPS)displacement,and glial cell activation.Twenty 3-month-old male APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were used,which were randomly divided into a sedentary group(SE-AD)and an aerobic exercise group(Run-AD),and 10 3-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were used as the control group(WT).The Run-AD group underwent 12 weeks of aerobic training.The results of the water maze showed that aerobic exercise improved the learning and memory capacity of AD mice(P＜0.05).The results of H&E stai-ning and Nissl staining showed that aerobic exercise reduced necrotic cells and inflammatory cell infiltra-tion in the cerebral cortex,as well as nuclear condensation in the CA1 and GD regions of the hippocam-pus(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and increased the area of Nissl bodies in the cerebral cortex and hippocam-pal CA3 and DG regions.Western blotting and ELISA results showed that aerobic exercise increased the expression of Occludin,ZO-1 and Claudin-5 proteins in the brain(P＜0.01),and decreased the levels of LPS in the brain(P＜0.01).The qRT-PCR results exhibited that aerobic exercise decreased the ex-pression of TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB,IL-1β,and TNF-α mRNA(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The results of immunofluorescence staining revealed that aerobic exercise reduced the fluorescence area of brain IL-1βand TNF-α proteins(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),as well as the fluorescence area of Iba-1,GFAP,and TLR4 proteins in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).There was a high degree of overlap between Iba-1 and TLR4 fluorescence in the cerebral cortex,and GFAP was localized around Iba-1.In summary,aerobic exercise attenuates neuroinflammation in AD mice by protecting the blood-brain barrier,reducing the displacement of LPS,and subsequently weakening the immune activation of microglia to regulate the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to alleviate neuroinflammation.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is currently the most prevalent malignancy and the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Although the early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presents a relatively good prognosis, a considerable number of lung cancer cases are still detected and diagnosed at locally advanced or late stages. Surgical treatment combined with perioperative multimodality treatment is the mainstay of treatment for locally advanced NSCLC and has been shown to improve patient survival. Following the standard methods of neoadjuvant therapy, perioperative management, postoperative adjuvant therapy, and other therapeutic strategies are important for improving patients' prognosis and quality of life. However, controversies remain over the perioperative management of NSCLC and presently consensus and standardized guidelines are lacking for addressing critical clinical issues in multimodality treatment. METHODS: The working group consisted of 125 multidisciplinary experts from thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiotherapy, epidemiology, and psychology. This guideline was developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The clinical questions were collected and selected based on preliminary open-ended questionnaires and subsequent discussions during the Guideline Working Group meetings. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched for available evidence. The GRADE system was used to evaluate the quality of evidence and grade the strengths of recommendations. Finally, the recommendations were developed through a structured consensus-building process. RESULTS: The Guideline Development Group initially collected a total of 62 important clinical questions. After a series of consensus-building conferences, 24 clinical questions were identified and corresponding recommendations were ultimately developed, focusing on neoadjuvant therapy, perioperative management, adjuvant therapy, postoperative psychological rehabilitation, prognosis assement, and follow-up protocols for NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS This guideline puts forward reasonable recommendations focusing on neoadjuvant therapy, perioperative management, adjuvant therapy, postoperative psychological rehabilitation, prognosis assessment, and follow-up protocol of NSCLC. It standardizes perioperative multimodality treatment and provides guidance for clinical practice among thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiotherapists, aiming to reduce postoperative recurrence, improve patient survival, accelerate recovery, and minimize postoperative complications such as atelectasis.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms/therapy* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Perioperative Care