ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. The main risk factors associated with HCC include viral hepatitis (B and/or C), alcohol abuse, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which progressively advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately evolve into HCC. Surgical resection represents the most effective treatment for HCC, while recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, have provided improved treatment prospects for patients with unresectable HCC. However, the complex metabolic heterogeneity of HCC limits the therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic intermediates acyl-CoA not only provide energy and substrates for numerous biochemical reactions but also serve as donors for protein lysine acylation, a major class of post-translational modification (PTM). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lysine acylation and hepatocarcinogenesis is urgently needed. MethodsThe levels of protein lysine acylation and silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) expression levels in clinical HCC samples were analyzed by Western blot. Quantitative malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples were analyzed by antibody-based affinity enrichment coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining coupled with flow cytometry, and the ability of cells to migrate was assayed by Transwell assays. The enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was quantified. Transgenic mice with hepatic overexpression of SIRT5 were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and primary hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine. ResultsWestern blot analysis indicated that the expression level of SIRT5 was elevated in clinical samples from HCC patients, and the levels of lysine malonylation, glutarylation, and succinylation were significantly reduced in HCC tissues. Knockout of SIRT5 in MHCC-97H and MHCC-97L hepatoma cells suppressed cell proliferation, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples revealed significant enrichment in two major classes of biological processes: core energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, fatty acid beta oxidation) and detoxification and oxidative stress response (e.g., response to toxic substance, chemical carcinogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)). SIRT5 removes malonylation from lysine residues in GSTM1 and restores its detoxification activity, which is crucial for the survival of hepatocytes under stressed conditions. More importantly, in vivo experiment indicated that hepatic-specific overexpression of SIRT5 in mice accelerated diethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating the critical role of SIRT5 in HCC progression. ConclusionThis study highlights the previously unrecognized SIRT5-GSTM1 axis as a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis, and suggests a potential target for the treatment of patients with HCC.

ObjectiveTo compare the differences between wild Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus（WAOF） and cultivated Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus（CAOF） through a traditional quality evaluation system for medicinal materials. MethodsA total of 10 batches of WAOF and 12 batches of CAOF samples were collected from various regions of Hainan province. Relevant analytical methods from the 2020 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China were employed to observe the characteristics of WAOF and CAOF， followed by microscopic identification， thin-layer chromatography（TLC） identification， moisture content（toluene method）， total ash， acid-insoluble ash， water-soluble and alcohol-soluble extracts（hot dipping method）， water-soluble protein， total polysaccharides and total flavonoids（ultraviolet spectrophotometry）， and volatile oil content（method A under general rule 2204）. The contents of five active components（protocatechuic acid， chrysin， kaempferol， tectochrysin and nootkatone） were quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography（UPLC）， and the antioxidant activity was evaluated. Building upon traditional quality evaluation of AOF， quantitative measurements were conducted on its appearance traits including diameter， length， plumpness（diameter/length ratio）， and color. Canonical correlation analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 to explore relationships between appearance traits and intrinsic quality. ResultsNo significant differences were observed between WAOF and CAOF in microscopic observation， TLC identification， moisture content， protocatechuic acid content， kaempferol content， odor， or antioxidant activity measured by 2，2ʹ-azino-bis（3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid）（ABTS） method. WAOF exhibited significantly higher levels in water-soluble extracts， alcohol-soluble extracts， total polysaccharide content， water-soluble protein content， 100-grain weight， length， and total color difference（ΔE^*ab） compared to CAOF（P<0.01）. In contrast， CAOF showed significantly higher levels of total ash， acid-insoluble ash， content of total flavonoids， volatile oil content， chrysin content， tectochrysin content， nootkatone content， diameter， plumpness， lightness（L^*）， red-green chromaticity（a^*）， yellow-blue chromaticity（b^*）， and antioxidant activity measured by 1，1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl（DPPH） method compared to WAOF（P<0.01）. Correlation analysis between 7 phenotypic traits and 8 quality traits revealed that among the phenotypic traits， plumpness， L^*， a^*， and b^* exerted significant influence on intrinsic quality. Among the quality traits， total flavonoids， volatile oils， nootkatone， chrysin， and tectochrysin contributed substantially to intrinsic quality. ConclusionPlumpness， L^*， a^*， and b^* of AOF significantly influence its intrinsic quality， and higher values of these parameters indicate relatively superior intrinsic quality. The comprehensive quality evaluation reveals that CAOF samples collected in this study are superior to their wild counterparts.

Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.

Objective To explore the effects of different education and examination methods on the examination results during the screening/evaluation of patent foramen ovale by contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler(cTCD).Methods Patients who underwent cTCD screening/evaluation for patent foramen ovale in our hospital from May 2023 to February 2024 were retrospectively selected as the research subjects.The patients were divided into the observation group and the control group according to different education and examination methods during the peri-examination period.Patients who received video education,modified Valsalva maneuver,and injection of contrast agent with 20 mL syringe were included into the observation group,and patients who received artificial education,Valsalva maneuver,and injection of contrast agent with 10 mL syringe were included into the control group.The positive detection rate of patent foramen ovale,right-to-left shunt microbubble grading during Valsalva/modified Valsalva maneuver,systolic blood flow velocity,pulsatility index(PI),resistive index(RI),examination duration,total physician-patient communication time,whether occlusion surgery was performed,and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results The positive detection rate of patent foramen ovale by cTCD(82.93%vs.95.92%),the detection rate of the maximum amout(grade Ⅲ)of microbubbles(39.02%vs.61.22%),the total physician-patient communication time during the peri-examination period[11.30(10.00,14.00)minutes vs.8.23(7.00,10.00)minutes],the rate of occlusion surgery(48.78%vs.73.47%),and the total patient satisfaction(80.49%vs.91.84%)showed statistically significant differences between the control group and the observation group(P<0.05).Additionally,the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)for diagnosing patent foramen ovale were 0.718 in the control group and 0.855 in the observation group.Conclusion Peri-examination interventions such as video education,modified Valsalva maneuver,and injection of contrast agent with 20 mL syringe can improve the positive detection rate of patent foramen ovale,reduce ineffective physician-patient communication,and improve patient satisfaction.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Objective:To analyze the genetic characteristics and evolutionary origin of hepatitis B virus (HBV) subgenotype D3 in China in 2020.Methods:Serum samples and demographic details from patients infected with HBV D3 subgenotype were collected. HBV genomic sequences were obtained by nested PCR amplification and subsequent sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis, nucleotide homology, amino acid mutation and evolution rate of the S protein were conducted by comparing with reference sequence using bioinformatics tools.Results:The complete HBV gene sequences of 14 samples of D3 subtype HBV were obtained. Compared with 97 reference sequences, it was found that the sequences with the highest homology were from India, Mongolia, Iran and China, with the homology ranging from 96.0% to 97.9%. Mutations of 24 amino acids were found in 14 strains of D3 subtype. Among them, T131A, Y134F and T140I were associated with immune escape-related mutations. The genetic diversity of HBV D3 subtype increased slowly before 1975, remained relatively constant from 1975 to 2000, and began to decline after 2000. Evolutionary rate analysis showed that samples QGLD D3-02 and 03 originated from a common ancestor with the Iranian reference strain in 1872, and the other 12 samples QGLD D3-04-17 originated from a common ancestor with the Mongolian reference strain in 1843.Conclusions:The gene sequence of HBV D3 subtype in China had the highest homology with reference sequences from India, Iran, Mongolia and China. Evolutionary rate analysis revealed that 14 cases of HBV D3 subtype originated from a common ancestor with reference strains from Mongolia and Iran, which enriched the sequence and evolution information of HBV D3 subtype and provided a reference basis for the molecular epidemiological study of HBV.

Objective To establish a nomogram prediction model for the risk of sarcopenia among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)by LASSO-Logistic regression.Methods From January 2021 to December 2023,2986 elderly T2DM patients who were admitted to The Fifth People's Hospital of Chongqing were enrolled.Based on the 2019 criteria of the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group,they were divided into a T2DM combined with sarcopenia(Sar,n=867)group and simple T2DM group(n=2119).All patients were randomly divided into a model group(n=1990)and a validation group(n=996)in a 2∶1 ratio.Another 528 patients with T2DM admitted to our hospital from January to October 2024 were selected as the external validation group.LASSO regression was used to screen variables.Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of sarcopenia.R language was used to establish a nomogram model.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow curve were used to validate the prediction model.Results The age,proportions of drinking,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,DM complications,DM duration,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),2-hour postprandial plasma glucose,hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c),triglycerides,total cholesterol,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the Sar group were higher than those in the T2DM group(P<0.05).The proportion of male individuals,body mass index,and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the Sar group were lower than those in the T2DM group(P<0.05).LASSO regression identified 8 factors,including gender,age,drinking,hypertension,DM complications,DM duration,FPG,and HbA1c,as predictive variables for T2DM with sarcopenia.Logistic regression analysis showed that gender,age,DM duration,HbA1c,and DM complications were influencing factors for sarcopenia in elderly T2DM patients.The nomogram prediction model showed that the highest scores corresponding to DM complications,DM duration,HbA1c,age,and gender were approximately 100,70,52,43,and 30 points,respectively,with a maximum total score of approximately 295.The area under the ROC curve of the model group,validation group,and external validation group were 0.914,0.822,and 0.777,respectively.The Hosmer-Lemeshow calibration curve showed that the maximum offsets for the model group,validation group,and external validation group were 0.031,0.049,and 0.056,respectively(P=0.929,0.802,and 0.782,respectively).Conclusions Elderly T2DM patients are prone to developing sarcopenia.A nomogram model based on LASSO-Logistic analysis,which includes DM complications,DM duration,HbA1c,age,and gender,can effectively predict the risk of sarcopenia among elderly T2DM patients.

Objective To examine the expression pattern of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)in the intestinal tissues of patients with Crohn's disease(CD),and analyze its mechanistic impact on intestinal epithelial barrier function and inflammatory responses.Methods Ileal tissue samples from Crohn's disease patients and healthy controls were collected.ASK1 protein level was assessed by immunohistochemistry,and its relationship with the Crohn's disease activity index(CDAI)was analyzed.A mouse model of acute colitis was constructed using TNBS,and subjected to qRT-PCR,Western blotting and immunohistochemistry for ASK1 expression,and the association between ASK1 expression and the disease activity index was examined.Lentivirus transfection was employed to create stable Caco-2 cell lines with altered ASK1 expression,and the intestinal barrier integrity and inflammation were assessed by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance(TEER),FITC-dextran leakage,and IL-6,IL-1β levels.Furthermore,the effects of ASK1 expression on Krüppel-like factor 4(KLF4)levels was examined using qRT-PCR and Western blotting.Results ASK1 was highly expressed in the ileum of CD patients and positively correlated with CDAI.In a TNBS-induced mouse model of acute colitis,ASK1 expression was up-regulated and positively correlated with DAI.Inflammation-induced ASK1 overexpression weakened the Caco-2 cell intestinal barrier,whereas ASK1 knockdown strengthened it.Moreover,ASK1 had the capability to enhance the expression of inflammatory factors.Additionally,ASK1 knockdown increased KLF4 expression,while overexpression decreased it,indicating a negative correlation between ASK1 and KLF4.Conclusion ASK1 expression is notably higher in CD and positively correlates with disease activity.ASK1 can influence intestinal barrier integrity and inflammatory factor expression,possibly through its impact on KLF4 expression.

Objective To Investigate the efficacy of modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT)in patients with schizophrenia across different genders.Methods From May 2018 to August 2022,481 patients with schizophrenia were recruited from three psychiatric hospitals in Luzhou,Zigong,and Yibin.According to gender grouping,both groups received adjunctive MECT treatment for two consecutive weeks for a total of six treatments.The differences in positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS)scores before and after treatment,UKU adverse reaction rating scale(UKU),and gastrointestinal symptom rating scale(GSRS)scores were compared between the two groups.Results After quality control,463 cases were followed up for analysis including 246 males and 217 females.Compared with pre-treatment,the total PANSS score and scores on each subscale were significantly reduced in both genders after treatment(P<0.001).When comparing the reduction rates between the groups,the male patients showed a higher reduction rate in negative symptoms than the female patients(31.24%±30.24%vs.25.80%±33.96%,P<0.05).However,there were no significant differences between the two groups in the reduction rates of the total score,positive symptoms,and general psychopathology(P>0.05).The comparison of adverse reactions showed that the frequency of other types of adverse reactions was higher in female patients than in male patients(47.47%vs.37.80%,P<0.05).However,no significant differences were observed in the adverse reactions related to the mental,neurological,autonomic nervous system,and gastrointestinal systems(P>0.05).Correlation analysis revealed that the reduction rate of the PANSS total score was positively correlated with smoking history(r=0.135,P=0.034)and alcohol history(r=0.160,P=0.012)in male patients,while the reduction rate of the PANSS total score was negatively correlated with the disease duration(r=-0.210,P=0.002)and positively correlated with the age of onset(r=0.145,P=0.032)in female patients.Conclusion MECT is significantly effective for both male and female patients with schizophrenia.Compared to female patients,MECT shows a more pronounced effect on negative symptoms in male patients.Additionally,the factors related to the efficacy of MECT differ between genders,indicating that it is necessary to consider the clinical characteristics of patients comprehensively when selecting an MECT treatment plan.

Objective To examine the expression pattern of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)in the intestinal tissues of patients with Crohn's disease(CD),and analyze its mechanistic impact on intestinal epithelial barrier function and inflammatory responses.Methods Ileal tissue samples from Crohn's disease patients and healthy controls were collected.ASK1 protein level was assessed by immunohistochemistry,and its relationship with the Crohn's disease activity index(CDAI)was analyzed.A mouse model of acute colitis was constructed using TNBS,and subjected to qRT-PCR,Western blotting and immunohistochemistry for ASK1 expression,and the association between ASK1 expression and the disease activity index was examined.Lentivirus transfection was employed to create stable Caco-2 cell lines with altered ASK1 expression,and the intestinal barrier integrity and inflammation were assessed by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance(TEER),FITC-dextran leakage,and IL-6,IL-1β levels.Furthermore,the effects of ASK1 expression on Krüppel-like factor 4(KLF4)levels was examined using qRT-PCR and Western blotting.Results ASK1 was highly expressed in the ileum of CD patients and positively correlated with CDAI.In a TNBS-induced mouse model of acute colitis,ASK1 expression was up-regulated and positively correlated with DAI.Inflammation-induced ASK1 overexpression weakened the Caco-2 cell intestinal barrier,whereas ASK1 knockdown strengthened it.Moreover,ASK1 had the capability to enhance the expression of inflammatory factors.Additionally,ASK1 knockdown increased KLF4 expression,while overexpression decreased it,indicating a negative correlation between ASK1 and KLF4.Conclusion ASK1 expression is notably higher in CD and positively correlates with disease activity.ASK1 can influence intestinal barrier integrity and inflammatory factor expression,possibly through its impact on KLF4 expression.