Objective To investigate the causal relationship between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer by using a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for metabolic syndrome and breast cancer were acquired from the Integrative Epidemiology Unit GWAS database and the GWAS Catalog, with populations encompassing the United States and East Asia. A bidirectional causal design was employed: a forward analysis with metabolic syndrome as the exposure and breast cancer as the outcome, followed by a reverse analysis wherein their roles were interchanged. The inverse-variance weighting (IVW) method was primarily used for effect estimation, supplemented by MR-Egger regression, the weighted median method, the simple mode method, and the weighted mode method. Instrument variable strength was screened using the F-statistic (F>10). Robustness of the results was assessed through heterogeneity tests, horizontal pleiotropy tests, forest plots, and leave-one-out sensitivity analyses. Results The IVW analysis indicated no significant causal relationship between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer (OR=1.00, 95%CI: 0.97-1.03), P>0.05). Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results, suggesting the good robustness of the study findings. Conclusion This study found no evidence to support a causal relationship, either positive or negative, between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of genistein （Gen） on etoposide-induced chondrocyte senescence and its underlying mechanism. MethodsThe C28/I2 cell line was treated with different concentrations of Gen and etoposide， and the cell viability was detected by the CCK-8 assay. The senescence model of C28/I2 chondrocytes was induced by etoposide， with Gen intervention. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase （SA-β-gal） staining was performed to detect the senescence-positive rate and staining characteristics of chondrocytes. The expressions of peroxiredoxin 6 （Prdx6）， cyclin-dependent kinaseto clarify the functional necessity of Prdx6. ResultsCompared with the etoposide group， the C28/I2 chondrocyte viability significantly increased （P<0.01）， the expression ofsenescence-associated proteins p21 and p16 decreased （P<0.01， P<0.05）， the expression of senescence-associated genes p21 and p16 reduced （both P<0.01）， the fluorescence intensity of senescence-associated proteins p21 and p16 was diminished （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the proportion of SA-β-gal-positive cells decreased （P<0.01） in the Gen+etoposide group. Compared with the Control group， the expression of Prdx6 was downregulated in the etoposide group （P<0.05）. Compared with the etoposide group， the expression of Prdx6 was upregulated in the Gen+etoposide group （P<0.01）. Compared with the Control group， the GPx activity significantly decreased in the si-Prdx6 group （P<0.01）. Furthermore， compared with the si-Prdx6 group， the GPx activity increased in the si-Prdx6+Gen group （P<0.05）. Molecular docking results revealed that Gen formed hydrogen bond interactions with the active site of Prdx6. After Prdx6 knockdown， the expression of senescence-associated genes p21 and p16 and the fluorescence intensity of senescence-associated proteins p21 and p16 both increased in the Gen+etoposide+si-Prdx6 group （both P<0.01）. ConclusionGen can inhibit etoposide-induced senescence of C28/I2 chondrocytes by upregulating the expression of Prdx6. This study provides potential drug targets and experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of chondrocyte senescence-related diseases.

Objective To compare the benefits and drawbacks of primary patch expansion versus pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection in patients diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD). Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with PA/VSD who underwent primary right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection surgery at our center between 2010 and 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection: a pericardial tube group and a patch expansion group. Clinical data and imaging findings were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 51 patients were included in the study, comprising 31 males and 20 females, with a median age of 12.57 (4.57, 49.67) months. The pericardial tube group included 19 patients with a median age of 17.17 (7.33, 49.67) months, while the patch expansion group consisted of 32 patients with a median age of 8.58 (3.57, 52.72) months. In both groups, the diameter of pulmonary artery, McGoon index, and Nakata index significantly increased after treatment (P<0.001). However, the pericardial tube group exhibited a longer extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001). The reoperation rate was notably high, with 74.51% of patients requiring further surgical intervention, including 26 (81.25%) patients in the patch expansion group and 12 (63.16%) patients in the pericardial tube group. No statistical differences were observed in long-term cure rates or mortality between the two groups (P＞0.005). Conclusion In patients with PA/VSD, both patch expansion and pericardial tube right ventricular-pulmonary artery connection serve as effective initial palliative treatment strategies that promote pulmonary vessel development and provide a favorable foundation for subsequent radical operations. However, compared to the pericardial tube approach, the patch expansion technique is simpler to perform and preserves some intrinsic potential for pulmonary artery development, making it the preferred procedure.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Microbial communities such as those residing in the human gut are highly diverse and complex, and many with important implications for health and diseases. The effects and functions of these microbial communities are determined not only by their species compositions and diversities but also by the dynamic intra- and inter-cellular states at the transcriptional level. Powerful and scalable technologies capable of acquiring single-microbe-resolution RNA sequencing information in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of complex microbial communities together with their hosts are therefore utterly needed. Here we report the development and utilization of a droplet-based smRNA-seq (single-microbe RNA sequencing) method capable of identifying large species varieties in human samples, which we name smRandom-seq2. Together with a triple-module computational pipeline designed for the bacteria and bacteriophage sequencing data by smRandom-seq2 in four human gut samples, we established a single-cell level bacterial transcriptional landscape of human gut microbiome, which included 29,742 single microbes and 329 unique species. Distinct adaptive response states among species in Prevotella and Roseburia genera and intrinsic adaptive strategy heterogeneity in Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens were uncovered. Additionally, we identified hundreds of novel host-phage transcriptional activity associations in the human gut microbiome. Our results indicated that smRandom-seq2 is a high-throughput and high-resolution smRNA-seq technique that is highly adaptable to complex microbial communities in real-world situations and promises new perspectives in the understanding of human microbiomes.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics* ; Bacteriophages/physiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods* ; Bacteria/virology*

Objective: To explore the association between mental health and muscle strength among Chinese adolescents aged 13- 18, providing a theoretical foundation and intervention strategies for mental health promotion. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2019 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health, including 98 631 Chinese adolescents aged 13- 18. Psychological distress was assessed by using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and mental well being was measured with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well being Scale (WEMWBS). Based on the gender and age specific Z scores of various test items [grip strength, standing long jump, pull ups (for males), and sit ups (for females)], muscle strength index (MSI) was constructed to evaluate the comprehensive level of muscle strength in adolescents. According to the Dual factor Model (DFM) of mental health, participants were categorized into four groups:troubled, symptomatic but content, vulnerable, and complete mental health. Gender differences were analyzed by using Chi-square tests, trends were tested with Cochran-Armitage tests, and multinomial Logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between muscle strength and mental health among adolescents. Results: In 2019, 37.4% of Chinese adolescents aged 13-18 were reported of high mental distress, and 59.9% were reported of low mental well being. Boys had significantly lower rates of high mental distress (35.3%) and low mental well being (55.6%) compared to girls (39.4%, 64.3%), and the differences were of statistical significance ( χ 2=176.13, 780.42, both P <0.05). In 2019, the rate of complete mental health among adolescents showed a downward trend with increasing age ( χ 2 trend = 258.47) and a gradual upward trend with increasing muscle strength levels ( χ 2 trend =123.14)，and both boys and girls exhibited similar trends ( χ 2 trend =103.83, 168.46; 57.00 , 67.34) (all P <0.05). The results of the unordered multiclass Logistic regression model showed that after controlling for confounding factors such as age and gender, when the completely pathological group as a reference, for every 1 unit increase in MSI in adolescents, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 29% ( OR = 1.29); for every unit increase in the Z-score for pull ups, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 6% ( OR =1.06) among boys; for every 1 unit increase in sit up Z score, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 19% ( OR =1.19) among girls (all P <0.05). Conclusions The mental health status of Chinese adolescents is not good enough. Muscle strength is positively associated with mental health.

Objective To analyze the disease burden of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) at the global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021, and to predict the disease burden trend from 2022 to 2026. Methods Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate of EOCRC across 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2021 were obtained. The time trends of these indicators were assessed by calculating the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), and the contributions of ten risk factors to the EOCRC burden were analyzed. The autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used to predict the disease burden from 2022 to 2026. Results From 1990 to 2021, the number of new global EOCRC cases increased from 107 310 to 211 890, with the incidence rising from 3.96 to 5.37 per 100 000 people. In 2021, global EOCRC incidence, mortality, and DALY rate increased with age; males had higher rates than females in terms of incidence, mortality, and DALY rate in all age groups. In 2021, East Asia had the highest number of new cases, deaths, and DALY. From 1990 to 2021, the global EAPC for incidence rate was 0.96%, and death rate was –0.38%. ARIMA model indicated that from 2022 to 2026, the global incidence of EOCRC would continue to rise, while mortality and DALY rate would be expected to decline. Conclusions The disease burden of EOCRC has significantly increased globally from 1990 to 2021, with notable regional, age, and sex differences. By 2026, the mortality and DALY rate of EOCRC will decline, while the incidence is expected to further increase, highlighting the urgency of taking active measures to address the growing trend of EOCRC.

Objective To explore the feasibility and clinical value of endoscopic resection of duodenal papilla tumors with a maximum diameter greater than 3 cm. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of all 12 patients who underwent endoscopic resection of duodenal papilla tumors at the Endoscopy Center of Zhongshan Hospital (Xuhui Hospital), Fudan University and Rongcheng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2017 to May 2023. The size of the tumors all exceeded 3 cm. Results All 12 patients successfully completed the operation, with a complete resection rate of 91.7% (11/12) and an en-bloc resection rate of 91.7% (11/12). One patient experienced delayed bleeding due to unclosed wound during operation and received endoscopic hemostasis; 11 cases underwent partial wound closure operation with pancreatic and biliary stent placement, without perforation or postoperative stenosis. Among them, 2 cases (18.2%) experienced delayed bleeding and received endoscopic hemostasis treatment. After operation, 1 case (8.3%) experienced nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal discomfort, and elevated blood amylase levels, who was later treated conservatively. During the mean follow-up period of 30.5 (1.0-69.0) months, 1 patient experienced recurrence and underwent surgical resection. Conclusions Endoscopic resection of duodenal papilla tumors can treat large diameter duodenal papilla tumors exceeding 3 cm, but postoperative complications may occur and require special attention. Postoperative placement of pancreatic and biliary stents and wound closure may reduce the incidence of complications.

Shengyutang is a famous classical formula of tonic， which is made from Siwutang with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Astragali Radix. It is included in the Catalogue of Ancient Famous Classical Formulas（The First Batch）. Based on the Principles of Key Information Research of Ancient Famous Classical Formulas， this paper used bibliometrics to sort out and research the key information of Shengyutang in the aspects of history， composition， origin and processing， dosage， decocting method， efficacy and indications. After research， it has been found that this formula was first recorded in Lanshi Micang written by LI Dongyuan during the Jin dynasty， composed of Rehmanniae Radix， Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata， Chuanxiong Rhizoma， Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma， Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis taproot. The name of the formula passed down through generations was relatively unified， with clear origins and veins. In later generations， this formula was the mainstream， and adjustments were made to the dosage and composition according to the indication. In the formula， Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus was selected as the origin of Astragali Radix， and the origins of other medicinal materials were consistent with the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Except for Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata， the other medicinal materials were made from raw products， and the dosage form was boiled powder. According to the measurement standard in the Jin dynasty， the recommended usage and dosage were 1.24 g of Rehmanniae Radix， Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata， Chuanxiong Rhizoma， Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma each， 2.07 g of Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis taproot each， crushed into coarse particles that pass through the 4 mesh sieve but can't pass through the 10 mesh sieve， added 1 200 mL of water and boiled to 300 mL， and removed the residue. Shengyutang has the functions of tonifying Qi and blood， and blood intake， treating various sores， and restlessness and insomnia caused by excessive blood flow. In ancient times， this formula was widely used in the treatment of surgical sores， gynecological diseases， deficiency syndrome， etc. In modern clinical practice， it is mostly used to treat gynecological， neurological， musculoskeletal， hematological diseases caused by Qi and blood deficiency. In this paper， the key information of Shengyutang was researched by reviewing relevant ancient literature， in order to provide reference for the modern application and development of this formula.

BACKGROUND:Ligament rupture and defect of the lateral or medial malleolus caused by high-energy injuries are common challenges in foot and ankle surgery.Their neighboring core tendons are often used as grafts to reconstruct the deficient ligaments.It is of paramount importance to investigate the mechanical properties of such tendons in the context of ligament defects to provide a suitable donor tendon.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the interactive dynamics and biomechanical alterations among their core tendons during ankle joint motions under varying degrees of lateral or medial malleolar ligament defect.METHODS:Based on CT imaging data of the left foot of a 50-year-old healthy male,a surface stereolithography model was extracted and constructed using MIMICS software.After Geomagic Wrap software was employed to fit the surfaces,a bone-cartilage-ligament-tendon ankle complex model incorporating varying degrees of ligament deficiencies was created within SOLIDWORKS software.Finite element analysis was then conducted using Ansys Workbench software,and the model's validity was verified through a simulated anterior drawer test.Following validation,the mechanical response of the ankle under the conditions of internal and external rotation,as well as inversion and eversion,was simulated.The variation and distribution patterns of the maximum Von-Mises stress in the peroneus brevis and longus tendons,as well as the anterior and posterior tibial tendons,were observed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In the anterior drawer test,the maximum talar displacement reached 5.208 5 mm,which was similar to the data in the previous literature,thereby the effectiveness of the model was validated.(2)Under four loading conditions,the defect of unilateral single-bundle ligaments exerted minimal influence on the maximum stress of adjacent core tendons,whereas the defect of unilateral multi-bundle ligament significantly increased the maximum tendon stress.Except for the consistently high stress across segments of the anterior tibial tendon,the high-stress regions in the long and short peroneal tendons and posterior tibial tendon were concentrated at their distal ends near the insertions.(3)Regarding the defect of the lateral malleolar ligament,the maximum stress and its variation in the peroneus brevis tendon during inversion and internal rotation were higher than those in the peroneus longus tendon.During inversion under the condition of the defect of the anterior talofibular ligament,the maximum stress in the short peroneal tendon increased by 0.951 2 MPa compared to that of normal condition,while that in the long peroneal tendon decreased by 0.065 1 MPa.Under the condition of the defect of the calcaneofibular ligament during internal rotation,the maximum stress in the short peroneal tendon increased by 2.352 9 MPa,while the maximum stress in the long peroneal tendon decreased by 0.269 2 MPa.(4)During eversion and external rotation under the defect of medial malleolar ligament,the variations in the maximum stress of the anterior and posterior tibial tendons were complex and depended on the type of ligament defect.Notably,full-thickness ligament defect significantly augmented the maximum stress in both tendons.