The tumor microenvironment is a crucial factor in tumor occurrence and progression. The hypoxic microenvironment is widely present in tumor tissue and is a key endogenous factor accelerating tumor deterioration. The "blood stasis toxin" theory, as an emerging perspective in tumor research, is regarded as the unique "soil" in tumor progression from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) due to its dynamic evolution mechanism, which closely resembles the formation of the hypoxic microenvironment. Scientifically integrating TCM theories with the biological characteristics of tumors and exploring precise syndrome differentiation and treatment strategies are key to achieving comprehensive tumor prevention and control. This article focused on the hypoxic microenvironment of the tumor, elucidating its formation mechanisms and evolutionary processes and carefully analyzing the internal relationship between the "blood stasis toxin" theory and the hypoxic microenvironment. Additionally, it explored the interaction among blood stasis, toxic pathogens, and hypoxic environment and proposed micro-level prevention and treatment strategies targeting the hypoxic microenvironment based on the "blood stasis toxin" theory, aiming to provide TCM-based theoretical support and therapeutic approaches for precise regulation of the hypoxic microenvironment.
Humans ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects* ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in response evaluation and relapse monitoring for patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). METHODS: The clinical characteristics, efficacy and survival of 38 PMBCL patients in our hospital from January 2010 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The ctDNA monitoring was conducted by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). RESULTS: Among the 38 patients, 26 cases were female, and 32 cases were diagnosed with Ann Arbor stage I-II. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate and progression-free survival (PFS) rate were 74.7% and 61.7%, respectively. Males and those with high aaIPI scores (3 points) had a relatively poor prognosis. The NGS results of 23 patients showed that STAT6 (65.2%), SOCS1 (56.5%), and TNFAIP3 (56.5%) were the most common mutated genes. Patients with stable disease (SD)/progressive disease (PD) exhibited enrichment in cell cycle, FoxO, and TNF signaling pathways. A total of 29 patients underwent end-of-treatment PET/CT (EOT PET/CT), and 16 of them received ctDNA monitoring with 12 negative. Among 6 patients with EOT PET/CT positive (Deauville 4), 4 underwent ctDNA monitoring, and 3 of them were negative, being still in continuous remission without any subsequent anti-tumor therapy. CONCLUSION CtDNA may be combined with PET/CT to assess efficacy, monitor relapse, and guide treatment of PMBCL.
Humans ; Circulating Tumor DNA/blood* ; Female ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Mutation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and adverse reactions of CAG regimen combined with venetoclax, chidamide, and azacitidine in the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: 15 elderly AML patients aged≥60 years old who were admitted to the Hematology Department of our hospital from May 2022 to October 2023 were treated with the CAG regimen combined with venetoclax, chidamide and azacitidine, and the efficacy, treatment-related adverse events, overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: After one course of treatment, 11 out of 15 patients achieved complete response (CR), 3 patients achieved CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), and 1 patient died due to prior infection before efficacy evaluation, and the overall response rate (ORR) was 93.3% (14/15). The median follow-up time was 131 (19-275) days, with median OS and EFS both remaining unreached. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis showed that among the 15 patients, 13 were detected with gene mutations, and there were 7 genes with mutation frequencies of more than 10%, including ASXL1 (4 cases), RUNX1 (4 cases), BCOR (3 cases), DNMT3A (3 cases), STAG2 (2 cases), IDH1/2 (2 cases), and TET (2 cases). Among the 13 patients with detectable mutations, 12 patients achieved composite response (CR+CRi). The average recovery time of white blood cell count was 14.6 days after chemotherapy, and the average recovery time of platelets was 7.7 days after chemotherapy. The main adverse event was myelosuppression, with 10 patients accompanied by infection. Except for 1 patient who died due to septic shock during chemotherapy, no patients experienced serious complications such as heart, liver, or kidney damage during the treatment process. CONCLUSION The CACAG+V regimen, which combines the CAG regimen with venetoclax, chidamide, and azacitidine, can be applied in the treatment of elderly AML patients, demonstrating good safety and induction remission rate.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use* ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use* ; Aminopyridines/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Azacitidine/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Benzamides/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Treatment Outcome ; Middle Aged ; Cytarabine ; Aclarubicin ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

OBJECTIVE: The study aim was to investigate the effects of exposure to multiple environmental organic pollutants on cardiopulmonary health with a focus on the potential mediating role of oxidative stress. METHODS: A repeated-measures randomized crossover study involving healthy college students in Beijing was conducted. Biological samples, including morning urine and venous blood, were collected to measure concentrations of 29 typical organic pollutants, including hydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs), bisphenol A and its substitutes, phthalates and their metabolites, parabens, and five biomarkers of oxidative stress. Health assessments included blood pressure measurements and lung function indicators. RESULTS: Urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OH-PHE) ( β = 4.35% [95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.85%, 7.97%]), 3-hydroxyphenanthrene ( β = 3.44% [95% CI: 0.19%, 6.79%]), and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (4-OH-PHE) ( β = 5.78% [95% CI: 1.27%, 10.5%]) were significantly and positively associated with systolic blood pressure. Exposures to 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR) ( β = 3.05% [95% CI: -4.66%, -1.41%]), 2-OH-PHE ( β = 2.68% [95% CI: -4%, -1.34%]), and 4-OH-PHE ( β = 3% [95% CI: -4.68%, -1.29%]) were negatively associated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity. These findings highlight the adverse effects of exposure to multiple pollutants on cardiopulmonary health. Biomarkers of oxidative stress, including 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and extracellular superoxide dismutase, mediated the effects of multiple OH-PAHs on blood pressure and lung function. CONCLUSION Exposure to multiple organic pollutants can adversely affect cardiopulmonary health. Oxidative stress is a key mediator of the effects of OH-PAHs on blood pressure and lung function.
Humans ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Male ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Young Adult ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Adult ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/urine* ; Beijing

OBJECTIVES: To propose a hypothesis that aloe-emodin may inhibit scar tissue fibrosis through thrombospondin-1(THBS1)-PI3K-Akt pathway. METHODS: By cultivating fibroblasts derived from scar tissue after cleft palate surgery in humans, aloe emodin of different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 μmol/L) was added to the cells which activity was detected. At the same time, transcriptome sequencing was performed on scar tissue and cells, and bioinformatics methods were used to explore potential targets and signaling pathways of scar tissue fibrosis. RESULTS: Aloe-emodin had a concentration dependent inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation,with the 40 μmol/L concentration group showing the most significant effect. The results of tissue and cell sequencing indicated that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway, and shared a common differential gene which was THBS1. The ORA analysis results indicated that differentially expressed genes, including THBS1, were significantly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Aloe emodin may inhibit the PI3K-Akt pathway by downregulating THBS1, thereby reducing the proliferation activity of fibroblasts derived from postoperative palatal scar tissue.
Thrombospondin 1/genetics* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Fibroblasts/cytology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Fibrosis ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Cicatrix/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Anthraquinones/pharmacology* ; Cells, Cultured

Gastric cancer ranks fifth in global cancer mortality,which is highly aggressive and heterogeneous.How-ever,the research and treatment of gastric cancer is hindered by short of research models that may characterize the developmental properties of gastric cancer.Gastric cancer organoid is a multicellular three-dimensional structure de-veloped in vitro,which can mimic the structure and function of native gastric cancer.Gastric cancer organoids have great application potential and development prospects in establishing gastric cancer research models,mimicking the tumor microenvironment,high-throughput screening of drugs,discovering new therapeutic targets,predicting clinical therapeutic responses,and guiding individualized treatment.In this paper,the progress of gastric cancer or-ganoids in basic research and clinical application is reviewed aiming for promoting the progress of preclinical re-search and supporting the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.

Objective To observe the effect of ciprofol on hemodynamics in elderly patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunctionfrom induction of anesthesia to incision.Methods Eighty-two elderly patients,42 males and 40 females,aged 65-90 years,BMI 18.5-30.0 kg/m2,ASA physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ,undergoing non-cardiac surgery under elective general anesthesia were enrolled.The patients were ran-domly divided into two groups:ciprofol group(group C)and propofol group(group P),41 patients in each group.Anesthesia induction was performed using ciprofol at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg in group C or propofol at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg in group P.The number of patients with hypotension between anesthesia induction and skin incision were recorded.HR,SBP,DBP,and cardiac index(CI)were recorded immediately before an-esthesia induction(T0),3 minutes after induction(T1),immediately after tracheal intubation(T2),3 mi-nutes after tracheal intubation(T3),5 minutes after tracheal intubation(T4),and 10 minutes after tracheal intubation(T5).Intraoperative use of vasoactive drugs,the incidence of injection pain,bucking,movement and bradycardia from induction of anesthesia to incision were recorded.The occurrence of adverse reactions such as postoperative agitation,nausea and vomiting within 48 hours after surgery were also recor-ded.Results Compared with group P,the incidence of hypotension in group C from induction of anesthesia to incision was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with T0,HR at T1—T5 in the two groups slowed down significantly(P<0.05),and SBP,DBP,and CI were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with group P,CI in group C was significantly higher at T5(P<0.05),and the incidence of in-jection pain was significantly decreased(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in HR,SBP and DBP between two groups at different time points.There was no significant differences in the rates of ephed-rine,phenylephrine and atropine,bucking,intraoperative movement,bradycardia,postoperative agitation and nausea and vomiting within 48 hours after surgery between the two groups.Conclusion Ciprofol has a smaller impact on the hemodynamics of elderly patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and can be safely used for anesthesia induction in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Objective:To explore the application effects of scenario simulation combined with checklist-based teaching in clinical decision-making ability training of nursing interns in burn department.Methods:This study was a randomized controlled study. A total of 53 nursing interns who met the inclusion criteria and underwent internships at Institute of Burn Research of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University), which was hereinafter referred to as the hospital, from July 2023 to March 2024 were randomly assigned to convention group ( n=25, 5 males and 20 females, aged (21.6±0.8) years) and joint group ( n=28, 6 males and 22 females, aged (21.2±1.3) years) using the envelope method. The nursing interns in convention group and joint group respectively received conventional teaching and scenario simulation combined with checklist-based teaching based on conventional teaching for clinical decision-making training. Before and after the training, the theoretical examination and skill assessment were performed on nursing interns, the clinical decision-making ability of nursing interns was evaluated with a clinical decision-making ability measurement questionnaire designed for undergraduate nursing students. After training, the satisfaction of the instructors on nursing interns' learning and the satisfaction of the nursing interns on the instructors' teaching were investigated by the instructors' satisfaction questionnaire and nursing interns' satisfaction questionnaire in the hospital, respectively. Results:After training, the theoretical examination and skill assessment scores of nursing interns in joint group were significantly higher than those in convention group (with Z values of -5.73 and -6.26, respectively, P<0.05). The theoretical examination (with Z values of -6.07 and -6.45, respectively, P<0.05) and skill assessment (with Z values of -6.08 and -6.48, respectively, P<0.05) scores of nursing interns in joint group and convention group after training were significantly higher than those before training. After training, the total scores of clinical decision-making ability and the scores of adaptability to clinical environment, clinical thinking, nurse-patient communication skills, and comprehensive basic quality of nursing interns in joint group (97.00 (95.42, 98.02), 18.00 (17.00, 19.00), 25.00 (24.10, 27.00), 19.00 (18.00, 20.75), and 20.00 (19.00, 21.75), respectively) were significantly higher than those in convention group (87.90 (86.30, 90.30), 16.00 (14.50, 17.00), 24.00 (22.35, 25.00), 17.00 (15.00, 18.00), and 17.50 (16.00, 20.00), with Z values of -6.24, -3.45, -2.90, -3.68, and -3.27, respectively, P<0.05). The total scores of clinical decision-making ability and the scores of adaptability to clinical environment, clinical thinking, knowledge structure, nurse-patient communication skills, and comprehensive basic quality of nursing interns in joint group after training were significantly higher than those before training (with Z values of -6.43, -5.21, -5.44, -4.31, -5.02, and -6.32, respectively, P<0.05). Except for the scores of nurse-patient communication skills, the total scores of clinical decision-making ability and the scores of adaptability to clinical environment, clinical thinking, knowledge structure, and comprehensive basic quality of nursing interns in convention group after training were significantly higher than those before training (with Z values of -6.06, -5.06, -5.71, -3.76, and -5.90, respectively, P<0.05). After training, the total scores of satisfaction of the instructors on nursing interns' learning and the scores of learning ability and professional competence in joint group were significantly higher than those in convention group (with Z values of -4.55, -5.45, and -3.21, respectively, P<0.05); the total scores of satisfaction of the nursing interns on the instructors' teaching and the scores of teaching ability and professional competence in joint group were significantly higher than those in convention group (with Z values of -5.95, -5.99, and -5.34, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusions:Scenario simulation combined with checklist-based teaching can effectively enhance the theoretical and skill levels, clinical thinking, and nurse-patient communication skills of nursing interns in burn department, as well as improve teaching and learning satisfaction.

Oral diseases concern almost every individual and are a serious health risk to the popula-tion.The restorative treatment of tooth and jaw defects is an important means to achieve oral function and support the appearance of the contour.Based on the principle of"learning from the nature",Deng Xu-liang's group of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology has proposed a new concept of"microstructural biomimetic design and tissue adaptation of tooth/jaw materials"to address the worldwide problems of difficulty in treating dentine hypersensitivity,poor prognosis of restoration of tooth defects,and vertical bone augmentation of alveolar bone after tooth loss.The group has broken through the bottle-neck of multi-stage biomimetic technology from the design of microscopic features to the enhancement of macroscopic effects,and invented key technologies such as crystalline/amorphous multi-level assembly,ion-transportation blocking,and multi-physical properties of the micro-environment reconstruction,etc.The group also pioneered the cationic-hydrogel desensitizer,digital stump and core integrated restora-tions,and developed new crown and bridge restorative materials,gradient functionalisation guided tissue regeneration membrane,and electrically responsive alveolar bone augmentation restorative membranes,etc.These products have established new clinical strategies for tooth/jaw defect repair and achieved inno-vative results.In conclusion,the research results of our group have strongly supported the theoretical im-provement of stomatology,developed the technical system of oral hard tissue restoration,innovated the clinical treatment strategy,and led the progress of the stomatology industry.