OBJECTIVE: Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) is a risk factor that correlates with poor prognosis across multiple tumor types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to define HCC subtypes based on CRD and explore their individual heterogeneity. METHODS: To quantify CRD, the HCC CRD score (HCCcrds) was developed. Using machine learning algorithms, we identified CRD module genes and defined CRD-related HCC subtypes in The Cancer Genome Atlas liver HCC cohort (n = 369), and the robustness of this method was validated. Furthermore, we used bioinformatics tools to investigate the cellular heterogeneity across these CRD subtypes. RESULTS: We defined three distinct HCC subtypes that exhibit significant heterogeneity in prognosis. The CRD-related subtype with high HCCcrds was significantly correlated with worse prognosis, higher pathological grade, and advanced clinical stages, while the CRD-related subtype with low HCCcrds had better clinical outcomes. We also identified novel biomarkers for each subtype, such as nicotinamide n-methyltransferase and myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate-like 1. CONCLUSION We classify the HCC patients into three distinct groups based on circadian rhythm and identify their specific biomarkers. Within these groups greater HCCcrds was associated with worse prognosis. This approach has the potential to improve prediction of an individual's prognosis, guide precision treatments, and assist clinical decision making for HCC patients. Please cite this article as: Li XJ, Chang L, Mi Y, Zhang G, Zhu SS, Zhang YX, et al. Integrated-omics analysis defines subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma based on circadian rhythm. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 445-456.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Circadian Rhythm/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Male ; Female ; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Machine Learning ; Computational Biology

OBJECTIVE: To examine the mechanistic of organochlorine-associated changes in lung function. METHODS: This study investigated 76 healthy older adults in Jinan, Shandong Province, over a five-month period. Personal exposure to organochlorines was quantified using wearable passive samplers, while inflammatory factors and thyroid hormones were analyzed from blood samples. Participants' lung function was evaluated. After stratifying participants according to their thyroid hormone levels, we analyzed the differential effects of organochlorine exposure on lung function and inflammatory factors across the low and high thyroid hormone groups. Mediation analysis was further conducted to elucidate the relationships among organochlorine exposures, inflammatory factors, and lung function. RESULTS: Bis (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether (BCIE), was negatively associated with forced vital capacity (FVC, -2.05%, 95% CI: -3.11% to -0.97%), and associated with changes in inflammatory factors such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-8, and IL-13 in the low thyroid hormone group. The mediation analysis indicated a mediating effect of IL-2 (15.63%, 95% CI: 0.91% to 44.64%) and IL-13 (13.94%, 95% CI: 0.52% to 41.07%) in the association between BCIE exposure and FVC. CONCLUSION Lung function and inflammatory factors exhibited an increased sensitivity to organochlorine exposure at lower thyroid hormone levels, with inflammatory factors potentially mediating the adverse effects of organochlorines on lung function.
Environmental Exposure ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/metabolism* ; China ; Ethyl Ethers/metabolism* ; Environmental Monitoring ; Thyroid Hormones/blood* ; Lung/physiology* ; Inhalation Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Air Pollution/statistics & numerical data* ; Air Pollutants/metabolism* ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the impact of foam macrophages (FMs) on the intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and identify the molecular mechanisms influencing MTB survival. METHODS: An in vitro FM model was established using oleic acid induction. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to identify the key molecular pathways involved in FM-mediated MTB survival. RESULTS: Induced FMs effectively restricted MTB survival. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed distinct changes in gene and metabolite expression in FMs during MTB infection compared with normal macrophages. Integrated analyses identified significant alterations in the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, indicating that its activation contributes to the FM-mediated restriction of MTB survival. CONCLUSIONS FMs inhibit MTB survival. The cAMP signaling pathway is a key contributor. These findings enhance the understanding of the role of FMs in tuberculosis progression, suggest potential targets for host-directed therapies, and offer new directions for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis/physiology* ; Transcriptome ; Metabolomics ; Foam Cells/microbiology* ; Humans ; Metabolome ; Tuberculosis/microbiology* ; Gene Expression Profiling

OBJECTIVE: To assess the independent and combined effects of air pollutants, meteorological factors, and greenspace exposure on new tuberculosis (TB) cases. METHODS: TB case data from Shanghai (2013-2018) were obtained from the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental data on air pollutants, meteorological variables, and greenspace exposure were obtained from the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. We employed a distributed-lag nonlinear model to assess the effects of these environmental factors on TB cases. RESULTS: Increased TB risk was linked to PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, and rainfall, whereas NO ₂, SO ₂, and air pressure were associated with a reduced risk. Specifically, the strongest cumulative effects occurred at various lags: PM _2.5 ( RR = 1.166, 95% CI: 1.026-1.325) at 0-19 weeks; PM ₁₀ ( RR = 1.167, 95% CI: 1.028-1.324) at 0-18 weeks; NO ₂ ( RR = 0.968, 95% CI: 0.938-0.999) at 0-1 weeks; SO ₂ ( RR = 0.945, 95% CI: 0.894-0.999) at 0-2 weeks; air pressure ( RR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.447-0.816) at 0-8 weeks; and rainfall ( RR = 1.404, 95% CI: 1.076-1.833) at 0-22 weeks. Green space exposure did not significantly impact TB cases. Additionally, low temperatures amplified the effect of PM _2.5 on TB. CONCLUSION Exposure to PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, and rainfall increased the risk of TB, highlighting the need to address air pollutants for the prevention of TB in Shanghai.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Meteorological Concepts ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Air Pollution ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development. METHODS: A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected. RESULTS: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ ² = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Infant, Newborn ; Viremia/virology* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepacivirus/physiology* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology* ; Young Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood*

OBJECTIVE: Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans, mammals, vertebrates, and arthropods. However, the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear. METHODS: Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses. Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences. RESULTS: Fifty-eight poxvirus species, representing two subfamilies and 20 genera, were identified, with 212 poxviral sequences assembled. A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes. These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents, archaea, and arthropods. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses. These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer, gene recombination, and gene mutations, thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts. This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.
Animals ; Poxviridae/physiology* ; Ticks/virology* ; Phylogeny ; Transcriptome ; Evolution, Molecular ; Poxviridae Infections/virology* ; Genome, Viral

Objective:To investigate the patterns of mutation evolution in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during treatment and the possible clinical significances.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. A total of 103 AML patients who were hospitalized at the Affiliated Yuebei People's Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University from November 2019 to August 2021 and underwent high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to detect the mutations of 128 AML-related genes in bone marrow samples were selected. Based on the NGS results, the somatic gene mutations in samples of patients collected at initial diagnosis (73 cases), complete remission (CR) (30 cases), non-remission (NR) (23 cases), and recurrence (12 cases) were analyzed, and the targeted drugs involved in the gene mutations detected in NR and recurrence samples were summarized.Results:The median age [ M ( Q1, Q3)] of onset for 103 patients was 58 (48, 66) years, including 64 males (61%) and 39 females (39%); 86 cases (83%) were primary AML, and 17 cases (17%) were secondary AML; at the initial diagnosis, 51 cases (50%) had normal karyotypes, 34 cases (33%) had abnormalities, and 18 cases (17.5%) were unknown. Compared with the CR samples, the mutation frequencies of FLT3 [29% (21/73) vs. 3% (1/30)], NPM1 [27% (20/73) vs. 3% (1/30)], NRAS [22% (16/73) vs. 3% (1/30)], and IDH2 [14% (10/73) vs. 0 (0/30)] were all higher in the initial diagnosis samples, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05); compared with the initial diagnosis sample, the median number of gene mutations in each CR sample was lower [4 (2, 5) vs. 7 (5, 9)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the median number of gene mutations in each patient between the initial diagnosis samples and the NR samples, the initial diagnosis samples and the recurrence samples, and the NR samples and the recurrence samples (all P > 0.05). Analysis of 14 patients with NGS data at initial diagnosis and CR showed that the same gene mutations could be detected at initial diagnosis and CR, such as DNAH23 (3 cases), USH2A (3 cases), etc; partial gene mutations were detected at initial diagnosis but were not detected at CR, including NRAS (5 cases), FLT3 (3 cases), ANKRD26 (3 cases), NPM1 (3 cases), ETV6 (3 cases), etc; ARID1B (1 case) and DNMT3A (1 case) were negative for mutations at initial diagnosis but positive upon reaching CR. Analysis of 14 patients with NGS data at initial diagnosis and NR showed that most gene mutations persisted at initial diagnosis and NR, such as DNMT3A (5 cases), NRAS (5 cases), KRAS (3 cases), RUNX1 (3 cases), etc; the mutant genes detected at initial diagnosis but not detected at NR included USH2A (2 cases), PCLO (2 cases), ATM (2 cases), FAT1 (2 cases), etc; partial gene mutations were not detected at initial diagnosis but were detected at NR, such as FAT1 (2 cases), TCF3 (2 cases), etc. Analysis of 5 patients with NGS data at CR and recurrence showed that some gene mutations were detected at both CR and recurrence, such as BCORL1 (1 case), ARID2 (1 case), SETD2 (1 case), VEGFC (1 case), etc; FLT1 (1 case) and GNAS (1 case) gene mutations were detected at CR but not detected at recurrence; at recurrence, some gene mutations that were not detected at CR were also detected, such as ANKRD26 (1 case), WT1 (1 case), etc. Among the 23 NR samples and 12 recurrence samples, the targets of drugs approved by US Food and Drug Administration or in clinical trials were detected in 14 (61%) and 5 (42%) samples respectively, including IDH1, IDH2, FLT3, KIT, KRAS, NRAS, SF3B1, U2AF1, and SRSF2. Conclusions:The number of gene mutations in AML patients during CR is significantly less than that at initial diagnosis, some gene mutations disappear when CR is achieved through treatment, but the majority of gene mutations persist during the treatment period, including NR and recurrence, suggesting that monitoring through NGS technology can help understand the evolution of gene mutations during AML treatment and discover the potential therapeutic targets.

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 explore the efficacy and feasibility of hypomethylating agent (HMA) as preventive therapy in children with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods:A retrospective cohort study. Data from 173 children who underwent allo-HSCT for high-risk AML at Children′s Hospital of Soochow University between August 2019 and April 2023 were analyzed. Participants were categorized into a trial group receiving HMA and a control group. Further classification was based on HMA courses:≥4 and <4 courses. The efficacy and safety of HMA preventive treatment after allo-HSCT were evaluated. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method with Log-Rank testing, the Fine-Gray model was used to assess cumulative relapse rates and Cox regression was used to identify prognostic factors. Adverse events during HMA were descriptively analyzed.Results:Among 173 patients, there were 100 males (57.8%) and 73 females (42.2%), with the age of 81 (34,127) months. The starting time of HMA was 123 (91, 191) d post-transplant, continuing 4.0 (3.0, 6.5) courses and the follow-up period was 24 (13, 32) months. The trial group (53 cases) showed better 2-year overall survival (OS) rate ((88.6±5.6)% vs. (76.6±4.3)%, χ 2=5.00, P=0.025) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rate ((89.2±4.7)% vs. (56.2±4.8)%, χ 2=15.75, P<0.001) than control group (120 cases). The 2-year OS rates and RFS rates were similar between ≥4 courses group (31 cases) and <4 courses group (22 cases)(both P>0.05). The cumulative relapse rate in the trial group was significantly lower ((10.8±0.2)% vs. (35.2±0.2)%, χ 2=10.84, P=0.001) than control group. Among children with molecular relapse, 8 cases (8/30, 26.7%) in the control group had hematological relapse compared to 1 case (1/2) in the trial group ( χ 2=0.81, P=0.369). The differences in incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Cox regression analysis revealed that minimal residual disease (MRD) positivity detected by flow cytometry before allo-HSCT and chronic GVHD were independent risk factors for OS (both P<0.05).The HMA preventive treatment was an independent protective factor for RFS, while age ≥10 years and MRD positivity detected by PCR before allo-HSCT were independent risk factors for RFS (all P<0.05). In trial group, 38 cases experienced grade 3 to 4 adverse events (71.7%). Conclusion:HMA is safe as preventive treatment in post-transplant children with high-risk AML, which can reduce the relapse risk and doesn't increase the risk of GVHD.

Aim To study the correlation between es-trogen metabolism function of intestinal flora and liver fibrosis disease phenotype and differential intestinal bacteria by fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT).Methods C57BL/6J male mice were divided into normal group(Control-M),liver fibrosis Model group(Model),FMT-1 group(normal mice fecal microbiota transplantation from liver fibrosis mice),and FMT-2 group(liver fibrosis mice fecal microbiota transplanta-tion from female mice).The model group was induced by high fat and high glucose combined with low dose of CCl4 for 16 weeks.In the FMT group,the bacteria were destroyed by mixed antibacterial solution and then the corresponding fecal microbiota solution was given.The model group was established in the FMT-2 group and the model group at the same time.Liver function(ALT,AST)was detected by biochemical methods;liver inflammation(IL-1α,IL-6)was detected by ELISA;liver pathology was detected by HE and Mas-son methods;the expressions of α-SMA,collagen Ⅰ,estrogen receptor ERα,ERβ and GPER were detected by Western blot;estrogen metabolic enzymes β-glucu-ronidase and β-glucosidase in intestinal flora were de-tected by double antibody sandwich assay;gut microbi-ota was detected by 16S rDNA method;the correlation between estrogen metabolic enzymes,estrogen receptors and disease phenotypes and disease-related differential bacteria was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results Liver function,inflammation and fibrosis in-dices were significantly higher in the model group than those in the control-M group and significantly lower in the FMT-2 group than in the model group;estrogen metabolic enzymes of the intestinal flora significantly increased in the model group compared to the control-M group and significantly decreased in the FMT-2 group compared to the model group;the model group showed a significant increase in ERβ and GPER and a significant decrease in ERα compared to the control-M group,while the FMT-2 group showed a significant de-crease in ERβ and GPER and a significant increase in ERα compared to the model group;the FMT-2 group increased the enterobacterial abundance and diversity reduced by modelling;estrogen metabolic enzymes,es-trogen receptor ERβ and GPER were all positively cor-related with the disease phenotype,while the opposite was true for ERα;estrogen metabolic enzymes were positively correlated with Allobaculum,Ruminococcus and Alistipes,and negatively correlated with Akkerman-sia,Lactobacillus and Prevotella.Conclusions Fecal microbiota transplantation in female mice can alleviate liver fibrosis in male mice,which is related to the im-provement of estrogen metabolism of intestinal flora.