BACKGROUND: T cell dysfunction, which includes exhaustion, anergy, and senescence, is a distinct T cell differentiation state that occurs after antigen exposure. Although T cell dysfunction has been a cornerstone of cancer immunotherapy, its potential in transplant research, while not yet as extensively explored, is attracting growing interest. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) has been shown to play a pivotal role in inducing T cell dysfunction. METHODS: A novel ultra-low-dose combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin, targeting IRF4 inhibition, was employed to investigate T cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine secretion, expression of T-cell dysfunction-associated molecules, effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, and allograft survival in both in vitro and BALB/c to C57BL/6 mouse cardiac transplantation models. RESULTS: In vitro , blockade of IRF4 in T cells effectively inhibited T cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and significantly upregulated the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), Helios, CD160, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA-4), markers of T cell dysfunction. Furthermore, it suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17. Combining ultra-low-dose Trametinib (0.1 mg·kg -1 ·day -1 ) and Rapamycin (0.1 mg·kg -1 ·day -1 ) demonstrably extended graft survival, with 4 out of 5 mice exceeding 100 days post-transplantation. Moreover, analysis of grafts at day 7 confirmed sustained IFN regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) inhibition, enhanced PD-1 expression, and suppressed IFN-γ secretion, reinforcing the in vivo efficacy of this IRF4-targeting approach. The combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin synergistically inhibited the MAPK and mTOR signaling network, leading to a more pronounced suppression of IRF4 expression. CONCLUSIONS Targeting IRF4, a key regulator of T cell dysfunction, presents a promising avenue for inducing transplant immune tolerance. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel ultra-low-dose combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin synergistically suppresses the MAPK and mTOR signaling network, leading to profound IRF4 inhibition, promoting allograft acceptance, and offering a potential new therapeutic strategy for improved transplant outcomes. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying pharmacological mechanisms and facilitate translation to clinical practice.
Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Interferon Regulatory Factors/metabolism* ; Heart Transplantation/methods* ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Sirolimus/therapeutic use* ; Pyridones/therapeutic use* ; Graft Survival/drug effects* ; Pyrimidinones/therapeutic use* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

Objective:To evaluate the changes of right atrial volume and function in patients with atrial septal defect（ASD）by four-dimensional ultrasound automatic quantitative technology，and to explore the predictive value and clinical significance for ASD with pulmonary arterial hypertension（PAH）.Methods:Sixty-one patients with ASD and 32 healthy volunteers（control group）who attended Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University，Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from March 2023 to April 2024 were prospectively collected，and classified ASD patients into ASD without PAH group（non-PAH group， n=30）and ASD with PAH group（PAH group， n=31）according to whether or not they had PAH，and obtained right atrial reserve，ductal，systolic longitudinal and circumferential strains（RASr，RAScd，RASct，RASr-c，RAScd-c，RASct-c），right atrial minimal，maximal，and presystolic volumes（RAVmin，RAVmax，and RAVpreA），and calculated right atrial total，passive，and active ejection fraction（RAEF，RAPEF，RAAEF）. The ultrasound parameters and clinical data were compared between groups. Pearson's linear correlation was applied to analyse the correlation between the parameters（RASr，RAA，PASP，NT-proBNP）and mean pulmonary artery pressure（mPAP）. ROC curves were plotted and the area under the curve（AUC）was calculated to analyse the value of the four-dimensional strain parameters of the right atrium in independently and jointly predicting the combination of ASD with PAH. Results:①Compared with the control group，RAVmin，RAVmax，and RAVpreA were elevated in the non-PAH and PAH groups，and the absolute values of RAPEF and RAScd were decreased，whereas the absolute values of RAEF，RAAEF，RASr，RASct，RASr-c，and RASct-c were elevated in the non-PAH group，and decreased in the PAH group（all P<0.05）；compared with the non-PAH group，only RAVmin，RAVmax，and RAVpreA were elevated in the PAH group，and the rest of the above parameters were reduced，with statistically significant differences（all P<0.05）. ②The right atrial four-dimensional strain parameter RASr had the highest predictive value for ASD combined with PAH，with an AUC of 0.876，a specificity of 83.3%，and a sensitivity of 77.4%，respectively. ③RASr was negatively correlated with mPAP（ r=-0.591， P<0.001）and RAA，PASP and NT-proBNP were positively correlated with mPAP（ r=0.539，0.697，0.616；all P<0.001）. ④The predictive value of RASr combined with RAA，PASP，and NT-proBNP was superior for ASD combined with PAH（AUC=0.933）. Conclusions:Four-dimensional ultrasound automatic quantitative technology can effectively evaluate the changes of right atrial volume and function in patients with ASD. ASD patients without PAH have increased right atrial reserve and pump function，and decreased right atrial pipeline function. The right atrial function of ASD patients with PAH is significantly reduced，and the impairment is more severe. Among the right atrial four-dimensional strain parameters，RASr has the highest efficacy in predicting ASD combined with PAH. Moreover，the combination of RASr with RAA，PASP，and NT-proBNP has the best predictive efficacy for ASD combined with PAH，which holds significant clinical value.

BACKGROUND: Previous evidence showed that ambient air pollution and cardiovascular mortality are related. However, there is a lack of evidence towards the modification effect of long-term lifestyle on the association between short-term ambient air pollution and death from cardiovascular events. METHOD: A total of 14,609 death from major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were identified among the China Kadoorie Biobank participants from 2013 to 2018. Ambient air pollution exposure including particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5), SO₂, NO₂, CO, and O₃ from the same period were obtained from space-time model reconstructions based on remote sensing data. Case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression was applied to estimate the effect of short-term exposure to air pollutants on MACE mortality. RESULTS: We found MACE mortality was significantly associated with PM_2.5 (relative percent increase 2.91% per 10 µg/m³ increase, 95% CI 1.32-4.53), NO₂ (5.37% per 10 µg/m³ increase, 95% CI 1.56-9.33), SO₂ (6.82% per 10 µg/m³ increase, 95% CI 2.99-10.80), and CO (2.24% per 0.1 mg/m³ increase, 95% CI 1.02-3.48). Stratified analyses indicated that drinking was associated with elevated risk of MACE mortality with NO₂ and SO₂ exposure; physical inactivity was associated with higher risk of death from MACE when exposed to PM_2.5; and people who had balanced diet had lower risk of MACE mortality when exposed to CO and NO₂. CONCLUSIONS The study results showed that short-term exposure to ambient PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, and CO would aggravate the risk of cardiovascular mortality, yet healthy lifestyle conduct might mitigate such negative impact to some extent.
Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Life Style ; Aged ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Cross-Over Studies ; East Asian People

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on functional connectivity (FC) of thalamic subregions in patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional investigation. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were retrospectively collected from 56 PMS patients (PMS group) and 66 healthy controls (control group) recruited from various universities and hospitals in Nanning between November 2021 and June 2024. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data and fMRI data during taVNS immediate stimulation (2 Hz, 25 Hz) were acquired from subjects during their late luteal phase. Using thalamic subregions (anterior thalamic nucleus, lateral nucleus, ventral nucleus, medial nucleus, central nucleus, posterior nucleus) as seeds, two-sample t-tests or paired t-tests were employed to analyze alterations in thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and the regulatory effects of taVNS on these changes. Independent samples t-test were used to compare the differences in clinical and laboratory indicators between the PMS group and the control group. The relationship between taVNS regulation of thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and thalamic internal functional connectivity were analyzed using mediation effect analysis. Results:Compared to the control group, patients in the PMS group showed increased scores on the Daily Record of Severity of Problems, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale 17, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 14 during the late luteal phase ( P<0.05). At baseline, PMS patients exhibited higher FC between the left thalamic lateral nucleus and the left insula, and lower FC between the left medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, and ventral nucleus of the thalamus and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) compared to the control group (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 2 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation in PMS group, FC between the left thalamic medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the right MFG, as well as the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleu and the left MFG increased compared to baseline levels; meanwhile, FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the left insula decreased compared to baseline levels (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 25 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation, the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleus and the right MFG decreased compared to the baseline level (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). Mediation effect analysis showed that the FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus and the left lateral nucleus mediated part of the association between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-left insula and the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-left putamen/insula; there were significant direct effects between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left posterior nucleus and FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left insula, as well as between the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the left MFG and FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the right MFG. Conclusions:taVNS can modulate abnormal FC of the left thalamic subregions in PMS patients, restoring it toward normalization. The regulatory effects of 2 Hz stimulation are more pronounced than those of 25 Hz stimulation. This modulation primarily operates through two pathways: the left thalamic lateral nucleus-left insula-left thalamic ventral nucleus pathway and the left MFG-left thalamic ventral nucleus-right MFG.

Ivonescimab is a humanized bispecific antibody targeting human vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGF-A)and programmed death protein-1(PD-1).It was approved by National Medi-cal Products Administration on May 24th,2024,and can be used in combination with pemetrexed and carboplatin for locally advanced or positive EG-FR gene mutation after treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)tyrosine kinase inhib-itor.This paper mainly introduces the research progress of the world's first PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody ivonescimab,and summarizes the mecha-nism of action,pharmacokinetics,phase Ⅰ-Ⅲ clinical trials and drug safety.

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on functional connectivity (FC) of thalamic subregions in patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional investigation. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were retrospectively collected from 56 PMS patients (PMS group) and 66 healthy controls (control group) recruited from various universities and hospitals in Nanning between November 2021 and June 2024. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data and fMRI data during taVNS immediate stimulation (2 Hz, 25 Hz) were acquired from subjects during their late luteal phase. Using thalamic subregions (anterior thalamic nucleus, lateral nucleus, ventral nucleus, medial nucleus, central nucleus, posterior nucleus) as seeds, two-sample t-tests or paired t-tests were employed to analyze alterations in thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and the regulatory effects of taVNS on these changes. Independent samples t-test were used to compare the differences in clinical and laboratory indicators between the PMS group and the control group. The relationship between taVNS regulation of thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and thalamic internal functional connectivity were analyzed using mediation effect analysis. Results:Compared to the control group, patients in the PMS group showed increased scores on the Daily Record of Severity of Problems, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale 17, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 14 during the late luteal phase ( P<0.05). At baseline, PMS patients exhibited higher FC between the left thalamic lateral nucleus and the left insula, and lower FC between the left medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, and ventral nucleus of the thalamus and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) compared to the control group (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 2 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation in PMS group, FC between the left thalamic medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the right MFG, as well as the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleu and the left MFG increased compared to baseline levels; meanwhile, FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the left insula decreased compared to baseline levels (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 25 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation, the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleus and the right MFG decreased compared to the baseline level (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). Mediation effect analysis showed that the FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus and the left lateral nucleus mediated part of the association between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-left insula and the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-left putamen/insula; there were significant direct effects between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left posterior nucleus and FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left insula, as well as between the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the left MFG and FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the right MFG. Conclusions:taVNS can modulate abnormal FC of the left thalamic subregions in PMS patients, restoring it toward normalization. The regulatory effects of 2 Hz stimulation are more pronounced than those of 25 Hz stimulation. This modulation primarily operates through two pathways: the left thalamic lateral nucleus-left insula-left thalamic ventral nucleus pathway and the left MFG-left thalamic ventral nucleus-right MFG.

Ivonescimab is a humanized bispecific antibody targeting human vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGF-A)and programmed death protein-1(PD-1).It was approved by National Medi-cal Products Administration on May 24th,2024,and can be used in combination with pemetrexed and carboplatin for locally advanced or positive EG-FR gene mutation after treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)tyrosine kinase inhib-itor.This paper mainly introduces the research progress of the world's first PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody ivonescimab,and summarizes the mecha-nism of action,pharmacokinetics,phase Ⅰ-Ⅲ clinical trials and drug safety.

Objective:To evaluate the changes of right atrial volume and function in patients with atrial septal defect（ASD）by four-dimensional ultrasound automatic quantitative technology，and to explore the predictive value and clinical significance for ASD with pulmonary arterial hypertension（PAH）.Methods:Sixty-one patients with ASD and 32 healthy volunteers（control group）who attended Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University，Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from March 2023 to April 2024 were prospectively collected，and classified ASD patients into ASD without PAH group（non-PAH group， n=30）and ASD with PAH group（PAH group， n=31）according to whether or not they had PAH，and obtained right atrial reserve，ductal，systolic longitudinal and circumferential strains（RASr，RAScd，RASct，RASr-c，RAScd-c，RASct-c），right atrial minimal，maximal，and presystolic volumes（RAVmin，RAVmax，and RAVpreA），and calculated right atrial total，passive，and active ejection fraction（RAEF，RAPEF，RAAEF）. The ultrasound parameters and clinical data were compared between groups. Pearson's linear correlation was applied to analyse the correlation between the parameters（RASr，RAA，PASP，NT-proBNP）and mean pulmonary artery pressure（mPAP）. ROC curves were plotted and the area under the curve（AUC）was calculated to analyse the value of the four-dimensional strain parameters of the right atrium in independently and jointly predicting the combination of ASD with PAH. Results:①Compared with the control group，RAVmin，RAVmax，and RAVpreA were elevated in the non-PAH and PAH groups，and the absolute values of RAPEF and RAScd were decreased，whereas the absolute values of RAEF，RAAEF，RASr，RASct，RASr-c，and RASct-c were elevated in the non-PAH group，and decreased in the PAH group（all P<0.05）；compared with the non-PAH group，only RAVmin，RAVmax，and RAVpreA were elevated in the PAH group，and the rest of the above parameters were reduced，with statistically significant differences（all P<0.05）. ②The right atrial four-dimensional strain parameter RASr had the highest predictive value for ASD combined with PAH，with an AUC of 0.876，a specificity of 83.3%，and a sensitivity of 77.4%，respectively. ③RASr was negatively correlated with mPAP（ r=-0.591， P<0.001）and RAA，PASP and NT-proBNP were positively correlated with mPAP（ r=0.539，0.697，0.616；all P<0.001）. ④The predictive value of RASr combined with RAA，PASP，and NT-proBNP was superior for ASD combined with PAH（AUC=0.933）. Conclusions:Four-dimensional ultrasound automatic quantitative technology can effectively evaluate the changes of right atrial volume and function in patients with ASD. ASD patients without PAH have increased right atrial reserve and pump function，and decreased right atrial pipeline function. The right atrial function of ASD patients with PAH is significantly reduced，and the impairment is more severe. Among the right atrial four-dimensional strain parameters，RASr has the highest efficacy in predicting ASD combined with PAH. Moreover，the combination of RASr with RAA，PASP，and NT-proBNP has the best predictive efficacy for ASD combined with PAH，which holds significant clinical value.

Objective To analyze the relationship between the fat content of supraspinatus muscle measured by spectral CT fat-muscle material decomposition technology and the tendon tear severity(TTS)of supraspinatus,as well as shoulder joint function.Methods A total of 108 patients were prospectively selected to undergo routine MRI and spectral CT imaging of the shoulder joints.The patients were divided into normal,degenerative,partial tear,and full-thickness tear groups based on MRI findings.A fat-muscle material decomposition image was generated through spectral analysis to measure the fat content of supraspinatus muscle.The differences in fat content of supraspinatus muscle between the groups were compared,and correlation analyses were performed between the fat content of supraspinatus muscle and the clinical baseline characteristics,symptom duration,and Constant-Murley scores in patients with supraspinatus tendon tears.Results Comparison of supraspinatus muscle fat content among the four groups:the full-thickness tear group＞the partial tear group＞the degenerative group＞the normal group(P＜0.05).There was a strong positive cor-relation between the supraspinatus muscle fat content and the supraspinatus TTS(r=0.654,P＜0.05).Among patients with partial and full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon,there was a moderate positive correlation between supraspinatus muscle fat content and patient age(r=0.393,P＜0.05),a weak positive correlation with gender(r=0.199,P＜0.05),with higher fat content observed in females compared to males,no significant correlation with symptom duration(r=0.037,P＞0.05),a moderate positive correla-tion with body mass index(BMI)(r=0.463,P＜0.05),and a moderate negative correlation with Constant-Murley score(r=-0.316,P＜0.05).Conclusion In patients with rotator cuff tears,the quantitative fat content of supraspinatus muscle based on spectral CT fat-muscle material decomposition technology is strongly positively correlated with rotator cuff injury degree,and is also correlated with patient age,gender,BMI,and the strength of the shoulder joint muscles and range of the motion.

Objective:To describe the population and area distribution differences in the prevalence of urinary incontinence in middle-aged and elderly adults in 10 areas in China.Methods:A total of 24 913 participants aged 45-95 years who completed the third resurvey of China Kadoorie Biobank during 2020-2021 were included. The prevalence of urinary incontinence was assessed by an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and urinary incontinence was classified as only stress urinary incontinence, only urgency urinary incontinence and mixed urinary incontinence. The prevalence of urinary incontinence and its subtypes were reported by sex, age and area, and the severity of urinary incontinence and treatment were described.Results:The average age of the participants was (65.4±9.1) years. According to the seventh national census data in 2020, the age-standardized prevalence rates of urinary incontinence was 25.4% in women and 7.0% in men. The age-standardized prevalence rates of only stress, only urgency and mixed incontinence were 1.7%, 4.2% and 1.2% in men and 13.5%, 5.8% and 6.1% in women, respectively. The prevalence rates of urinary incontinence and all subtypes in men and the prevalence of urinary incontinence and all subtypes except only stress urinary incontinence in women all increased with age ( P<0.001). After adjusting for age, the prevalence of urinary incontinence in both men and women were higher in rural area than in urban area ( P<0.001). The treatment rates in men and women with urinary incontinence were 15.4% and 8.5%, respectively. Conclusions:The prevalence of urinary incontinence was high in middle-aged and elderly adults in China, and the prevalence rate was higher in women than in men, but the treatment rate of urinary incontinence was low.