Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality, characterized by poor prognosis due to its high proliferative and invasive potential. Tumor metabolic reprogramming, particularly involving glucose metabolism, is essential for tumor survival. This study investigates the role of the Hippo pathway effector transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in regulating gluconeogenesis and promoting tumorigenesis in HCC. Methods: TAZ expression in HCC was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas data and validated in clinical samples and cell lines. TAZ was overexpressed or silenced in HCC cell lines to evaluate its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The expression and prognostic relevance of the gluconeogenesis-related genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) were examined, along with their correlation with TAZ expression. Tumor growth was assessed in nude mice. Interactions between TAZ and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were investigated using co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Results: TAZ was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. TAZ overexpression enhanced proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and promoted migration and invasion. In contrast, PCK1 and G6PC were downregulated in HCC and showed a negative correlation with TAZ expression. Conclusion TAZ modulates gluconeogenesis and accelerates tumor growth, whereas its knockdown attenuates tumor progression. TAZ interacts with GR, suppressing its transcriptional activity on gluconeogenic gene promoters.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the multimorbidity patterns and core diseases among hospitalized patients in different age groups and to explore the impacts of multimorbidity patterns on hospitalization costs. METHODS: Electronic medical records of adult inpatients (aged ≥18 years) from Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2023 were collected. The multimorbidity status involving 53 specific diseases was analyzed across different age groups. Association rule mining was used to identify common multimorbidity patterns. Complex network analysis was used to identify core diseases within the multimorbidity networks. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the impact of different multimorbidity patterns on hospitalization costs. RESULTS: The prevalence of multimorbidity among the 359 402 adult inpatients was 38.51%, with higher rates observed in males (43.60%) and elderly patients (58.29%). Association rule mining identified 15 common multimorbidity patterns, which exhibited differences across age groups. The most prevalent multimorbidity pattern overall was "diabetes→hypertension" (support=7.04%, confidence=62.17%, lift=2.17). In the young adult group, the most prevalent pattern was "dyslipidemia→chronic liver disease" (support=1.19%, confidence=53.17%, lift=6.04). In the middle-aged group, it was "diabetes→hypertension" (support=4.84%, confidence=50.28%, lift=2.15). In the elderly group, it was "coronary heart disease, diabetes→hypertension" (support=2.38%, confidence=77.43%, lift=1.63). Complex network analysis revealed that the core diseases within multimorbidity networks differed across age groups. The core disease identified in the young adult group was chronic liver disease (degree centrality=50, betweenness centrality=0.055, closeness centrality=0.963). Core diseases in the middle-aged group included hypertension, chronic liver disease, and diabetes (all with degree centrality=52, betweenness centrality=0.022, closeness centrality=1.000). Core diseases in the elderly group comprised hypertension, diabetes, malignant tumors, chronic liver disease, thyroid disease, anemia, and arrhythmia (all with degree centrality=52, betweenness centrality=0.009, closeness centrality=1.000). Generalized estimating equations analysis indicated that, most multimorbidity patterns were significantly associated with increased hospitalization costs. However, the magnitude of cost increase varied across different multimorbidity patterns. Specifically, hospitalization costs for patients with patterns such as "heart failure→hypertension", "stroke→hypertension", "malignant tumor, diabetes→hypertension", "stroke, diabetes→hypertension", and "diabetes, heart failure→hypertension" were more than double those of patients without any target diseases. CONCLUSIONS Multimorbidity patterns and core diseases among hospitalized patients differ significantly across age groups, and different patterns exert varying impacts on hospitalization costs. These findings underscore the necessity for age-stratified and multimorbidity pattern specific management strategies.
Humans ; Multimorbidity ; Male ; Hospitalization/economics* ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Electronic Health Records ; Aged, 80 and over ; Hospital Costs ; China/epidemiology* ; Hypertension/economics* ; Liver Diseases/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVE To understand the drug resistance,serotypes,virulence-associated genes and epidemiologi-cal characteristics of group B Streptococcus(GBS)isolated from puerpera in this area so as to provide bases for prevention of mother-to-infant infections.METHODS Totally 67 strains of GBS were isolated from obstetrics out-patient department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from Jan.2023 to Dec.2023.The spe-cies of the strains were identified by VITEK MS,the drug susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffu-sion method.Multilocus sequencing types,capsular types,virulence genes and drug resistance genes were analyzed by means of whole genome sequencing technique.RESULTS The 67 strains of GBS were sensitive to penicillin,vancomycin,ceftriaxone and linezolid;the drug resistance rates to erythromycin and clindamycin were 76.12％and 55.22％,respectively.All strains fell into 7 serotypes,with serotype V predominant;21 sequence types were in-volved,with ST529 most prevalent;8 clonal complexes(CCs)were involved,with CC12 most common.Totally 17 types of drug resistance genes were identified,and the carrying rate of macrolide resistance gene ErmB was highest.Among all the virulence genes except for the adhesion genes fbsA and fbsB,the carrying rates of 18 genes involving in invasion,adhesion,and immune evasion-associated virulence genes were more than 86.57％;67.16％of the strains co-expressed both PI-1 and PI-2a pilus islands.CONCLUSIONS The drug resistance rate of the GBS strains isolated from the puerpera is high,and the strains carry multiple drug resistance genes and viru-lence genes and present with molecular clonal diversity.The serotype V/ST529 is the predominant clone,for which the prevention and control should be strengthened.

Objective To study whether electroacupuncture(EA)attenuates traumatic brain injury(TBI)by down-regulating glutamate carboxypeptidase Ⅱ(GCPII)gene expression in rats.Methods Rats were divided into Sham group(n=10),TBI group(n=11),TBI+EA group(n=11),TBI+EA+GCPII-NC group(n=11)and TBI+EA+GCPII-OE group(n=11).Sham group rats underwent sham surgery,while other groups rats underwent TBI modeling using an electronic brain injury instrument.The rats in Sham group and TBI group were fed normally,and the rats in other groups were treated with electroacupuncture for 14 days.On the basis of electroacupuncture treatment,rats in TBI+EA+GCPII-NC group and TBI+EA+GCPII-OE group were injected with GCPII-NC and GCPII-OE,respectively.After treatment,the cognitive function of rats was evaluated by neurological function score and Morris water labyrinth task.HE and TUNEL staining were performed on brain tissue.The water content,glutamate(Glu)content,calcium(Ca2+)concentration,superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in brain tissue of rats in each group were measured.The mRNA or protein expression of GCPII,Bax,Bcl2 and cleaved caspase-3 in brain tissue were detected by qRT-PCR or Western blot.Results Compared with Sham group,the expression of mRNA and protein of GCPII in TBI group increased,the neurological function score and escape latency increased,the number of crossing the platform decreased,the water content increased,the cortex showed obvious damage,the content of Glu increased,the concentration of calcium increased,the levels of SOD,CAT and GSH-Px decreased,the level of MDA increased,the positive rate of TUNEL increased,the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein increased,and the expression of Bcl2 protein decreased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with TBI group,the expression level of mRNA and protein of GCPII in TBI+EA group decreased,the neurological function score and escape latency decreased,the number of crossing platform increased,the water content decreased,the morphology of cortex improved obviously,the content of Glu decreased,the concentration of calcium decreased,the level of SOD,CAT and GSH-Px increased,the level of MDA decreased,the positive rate of TUNEL decreased,the expression level of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein decreased,and the expression level of Bcl2 protein increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with TBI+EA group and TBI+EA+GCPII-NC group,the expression level of mRNA and protein of GCPII in TBI+EA+GCPII-OE group increased,neurological function score and escape latency increased,the number of crossing platform decreased,water content increased,cortical injury aggravated,Glu content increased,calcium concentration increased,SOD,CAT and GSH-Px levels decreased,MDA level increased,TUNEL positive rate increased,Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression increased,and the expression of Bcl2 protein decreased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion By down-regulating the expression of GCPII gene,electroacupuncture reduced the content of glutamate in the brain tissue of TBI rats,thereby inhibiting calcium overload,oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in the brain tissue,and thereby improving cognitive function and alleviating brain injury.

Objective To study whether electroacupuncture(EA)attenuates traumatic brain injury(TBI)by down-regulating glutamate carboxypeptidase Ⅱ(GCPII)gene expression in rats.Methods Rats were divided into Sham group(n=10),TBI group(n=11),TBI+EA group(n=11),TBI+EA+GCPII-NC group(n=11)and TBI+EA+GCPII-OE group(n=11).Sham group rats underwent sham surgery,while other groups rats underwent TBI modeling using an electronic brain injury instrument.The rats in Sham group and TBI group were fed normally,and the rats in other groups were treated with electroacupuncture for 14 days.On the basis of electroacupuncture treatment,rats in TBI+EA+GCPII-NC group and TBI+EA+GCPII-OE group were injected with GCPII-NC and GCPII-OE,respectively.After treatment,the cognitive function of rats was evaluated by neurological function score and Morris water labyrinth task.HE and TUNEL staining were performed on brain tissue.The water content,glutamate(Glu)content,calcium(Ca2+)concentration,superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in brain tissue of rats in each group were measured.The mRNA or protein expression of GCPII,Bax,Bcl2 and cleaved caspase-3 in brain tissue were detected by qRT-PCR or Western blot.Results Compared with Sham group,the expression of mRNA and protein of GCPII in TBI group increased,the neurological function score and escape latency increased,the number of crossing the platform decreased,the water content increased,the cortex showed obvious damage,the content of Glu increased,the concentration of calcium increased,the levels of SOD,CAT and GSH-Px decreased,the level of MDA increased,the positive rate of TUNEL increased,the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein increased,and the expression of Bcl2 protein decreased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with TBI group,the expression level of mRNA and protein of GCPII in TBI+EA group decreased,the neurological function score and escape latency decreased,the number of crossing platform increased,the water content decreased,the morphology of cortex improved obviously,the content of Glu decreased,the concentration of calcium decreased,the level of SOD,CAT and GSH-Px increased,the level of MDA decreased,the positive rate of TUNEL decreased,the expression level of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein decreased,and the expression level of Bcl2 protein increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with TBI+EA group and TBI+EA+GCPII-NC group,the expression level of mRNA and protein of GCPII in TBI+EA+GCPII-OE group increased,neurological function score and escape latency increased,the number of crossing platform decreased,water content increased,cortical injury aggravated,Glu content increased,calcium concentration increased,SOD,CAT and GSH-Px levels decreased,MDA level increased,TUNEL positive rate increased,Bax and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression increased,and the expression of Bcl2 protein decreased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion By down-regulating the expression of GCPII gene,electroacupuncture reduced the content of glutamate in the brain tissue of TBI rats,thereby inhibiting calcium overload,oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in the brain tissue,and thereby improving cognitive function and alleviating brain injury.

OBJECTIVE To understand the drug resistance,serotypes,virulence-associated genes and epidemiologi-cal characteristics of group B Streptococcus(GBS)isolated from puerpera in this area so as to provide bases for prevention of mother-to-infant infections.METHODS Totally 67 strains of GBS were isolated from obstetrics out-patient department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from Jan.2023 to Dec.2023.The spe-cies of the strains were identified by VITEK MS,the drug susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffu-sion method.Multilocus sequencing types,capsular types,virulence genes and drug resistance genes were analyzed by means of whole genome sequencing technique.RESULTS The 67 strains of GBS were sensitive to penicillin,vancomycin,ceftriaxone and linezolid;the drug resistance rates to erythromycin and clindamycin were 76.12％and 55.22％,respectively.All strains fell into 7 serotypes,with serotype V predominant;21 sequence types were in-volved,with ST529 most prevalent;8 clonal complexes(CCs)were involved,with CC12 most common.Totally 17 types of drug resistance genes were identified,and the carrying rate of macrolide resistance gene ErmB was highest.Among all the virulence genes except for the adhesion genes fbsA and fbsB,the carrying rates of 18 genes involving in invasion,adhesion,and immune evasion-associated virulence genes were more than 86.57％;67.16％of the strains co-expressed both PI-1 and PI-2a pilus islands.CONCLUSIONS The drug resistance rate of the GBS strains isolated from the puerpera is high,and the strains carry multiple drug resistance genes and viru-lence genes and present with molecular clonal diversity.The serotype V/ST529 is the predominant clone,for which the prevention and control should be strengthened.

Objective To explore the effect of deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR)algorithm combined with"double low"[low voltage(kV)and low contrast agent dosage]technique on the image quality of coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)in overweight patients compared with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction(ASIR-V)and filtered back projection(FBP).Methods Fifty-two patients with body mass index(BMI)between 25.1 kg/m2and 28 kg/m2 who underwent CCTA scanning were prospectively selected,all of whom scanned on a GE Revolution APEX-CT with a tube voltage of 80 kV,a smart mA(500-1 300 mA),a noise index of 30,and a contrast dosage of 0.5 mL/kg;four groups of images were reconstructed for each patient,FBP,50％ASIR-V,DLIR-M,and DLIR-H.The CT and SD values of the aorta(AO)root,the proximal segment of the right coronary artery(RCA),the left circumflex(LCX),the left anterior descending branch(LAD)and the pericardial fat were measured,and the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were calculated.Two doctors experienced in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease were selected to subjectively score the reconstructed images using a double-blind method.The SD value,SNR value,CNR value and subjective scores of images in the four groups were compared.Results In the objective image quality evaluation,there were statistically significant differences in SD value,SNR value and CNR value of reconstructed images in the four groups(P＜0.05).As the four groups of reconstruction algorithms FBP,50％ASIR-V,DLIR-M,and DLIR-H were changed sequentially,the image SD value gradually decreased,the SNR value and CNR value gradually increased,and the DLIR-H group had the lowest SD value and the highest SNR and CNR values.In the subjective image quality evaluation,the subjective scores of the two doctors had good consistency(Kappa value=0.900),and the difference between them was statistically significant(P＜0.001).The subjective scores of DLIR-M and DLIR-H groups were higher.Conclusion DLIR algorithm combined with"double-low"technique can significantly improve the CCTA image quality of overweight patients,which is better than 50％ASIR-V and FBP.

Breast cancer （BC） ranks first in the incidence rate of female malignant tumor， the notable features of which include high invasive behavior， high malignant degree and poor prognosis. Resveratrol， a plant antioxidant， has been identified as a potential therapeutic agent for the occurrence and progress of BC. This article explores the mechanism of resveratrol intervention in BC by evaluating several in vitro and in vivo studies. It was found that resveratrol can weaken the proliferation and survival ability of BC cells， suppress their growth， metastasis， and invasion， and reverse their resistance to adriamycin by promoting cell apoptosis， regulating autophagy， inhibiting glycolysis and regulating the tumor microenvironment， expressions of matrix metalloproteinases， epithelial-mesenchymal transition and drug-resistant proteins， etc. The limited number of clinical trial studies on resveratrol， mainly focusing on prevention effect of it on breast cancer， may be one of the reasons that affect the comprehensive evaluation of the anti-cancer efficacy of resveratrol.

Breast cancer （BC） ranks first in the incidence rate of female malignant tumor， the notable features of which include high invasive behavior， high malignant degree and poor prognosis. Resveratrol， a plant antioxidant， has been identified as a potential therapeutic agent for the occurrence and progress of BC. This article explores the mechanism of resveratrol intervention in BC by evaluating several in vitro and in vivo studies. It was found that resveratrol can weaken the proliferation and survival ability of BC cells， suppress their growth， metastasis， and invasion， and reverse their resistance to adriamycin by promoting cell apoptosis， regulating autophagy， inhibiting glycolysis and regulating the tumor microenvironment， expressions of matrix metalloproteinases， epithelial-mesenchymal transition and drug-resistant proteins， etc. The limited number of clinical trial studies on resveratrol， mainly focusing on prevention effect of it on breast cancer， may be one of the reasons that affect the comprehensive evaluation of the anti-cancer efficacy of resveratrol.

Objective:To explore the risk factors of oral-mucosal pressure injury (OMPI) in patients with tracheal intubation in ICU and to establish a nomogram model.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 640 patients with oral tracheal intubation admitted to ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January to May 2023 were selected as the research objects. They were divided into the occurrence group ( n=286) and the non-occurrence group ( n=354) according to whether OMPI occurred or not. Binomial Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors for OMPI in patients with tracheal intubation in ICU. A risk nomogram model was created based on independent risk factors, and internal verification was conducted by Bootstrap repeated sampling method. Results:OMPI occurred in 286 of 640 ICU patients with tracheal intubation. Binomial Logistic regression analysis showed that high APACHEⅡ score, modified Beck oral score greater than or equal to 11 points, use of sedative drugs, prone ventilation, long retention time of tracheal catheter, low oxygenation index less than 200 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and tracheal catheter fixation frequency of 1 time /24 h were the risk factors for OMPI in patients with tracheal intubation in ICU ( P<0.05). A risk nomogram model for OMPI in patients with tracheal intubation in ICU was established based on independent risk factors. The results showed that the predictive performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of subjects was 0.918, 95% confidence interval was 0.897 to 0.938) and calibration (χ 2 value of 4.647, P=0.795) of the risk nomogram model for OMPI in patients with tracheal intubation in ICU were good. When the threshold probability was 0 to 1, the decision curve showed that the model had good clinical effectiveness. Conclusions:The OMPI risk nomogram model of tracheal intubation patients in ICU established in this study has good calibration and differentiation, which can be used as an effective tool for screening high-risk patients.