Based on the theory of "cold qi generates turbidity" described in the Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）， together with the physiological characteristics of children， who are considered to have an inherent insufficiency of the lung， spleen， and kidney， and the clinical features of recurrent refractory nephrotic syndrome （RNS）， this article proposes that the pathogenesis of RNS in children is characterized by yang deficiency with internal cold， turbidity arising from cold， latent turbidity transforming into toxin， activation by newly contracted pathogens， and turbid toxins damaging the collaterals. The core pathogenesis is identified as yang deficiency， turbidity coagulation， and collateral damage. Accordingly， the general treatment principle is warming yang and eliminating turbidity， with coordination of three methods including warming yang to strengthen the body's foundation， promoting yang to relieve constraint， and raising yang while replenishing qi. Zhenwu Decoction （真武汤） is employed as the basic prescription with modification according to syndrome differentiation， to achieve an effect eliminating turbidity and arresting leakage， restoring kidney function by unblocking the collaterals， and consolidating recovery to prevent relapse.

BackgroundPrevious studies have identified a close relationship among psychological neglect and abuse， negative affect， different stages of adolescence， and suicidal ideation. However， the mechanisms underlying the impact of psychological abuse and neglect on suicidal ideation among left-behind adolescents remain unclear， and this field of research is still in its relative infancy. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between psychological neglect/abuse and suicidal ideation among left-behind adolescents， as well as the mediating role of negative affect and the moderating effect of different stages of adolescence， so as to provide insights for preventing and intervening suicidal ideation in this population. MethodsFrom November 2021 to May 2022， a cluster random sampling technique was utilized to select 2 309 left-behind adolescents in western China. Assessments were conducted using the Child Psychological Abuse and Neglect Scale （CPANS）， the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation （PANSI） and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children （PANAS-C）. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated across all samples， and Process 4.1 was employed to test the mediating role of negative affect and the moderating role of different stages of adolescence in the pathway linking psychological abuse/neglect to suicidal ideation. ResultsA total of 2 119 left-behind adolescents （mean age： 14.94±1.20 years） completed the study， with males comprising 51.34% （1 088/2 119） and females 48.66% （1 031/2 119）.Among left-behind adolescents， scores on CPANS psychological neglect subscale showed positive correlations with both psychological abuse subscale scores and PANAS-C negative affect subscale scores （r=0.446， 0.496， P<0.01）. Additionally， CPANS psychological neglect and psychological abuse subscale scores were also positively correlated with PANSI scores （r=0.487， 0.508， P<0.01）. Furthermore， PANAS-C negative affect subscale scores demonstrated a positive correlation with PANSI scores （r=0.499， P<0.01）. Negative affect partially mediated the relationship between psychological abuse/psychological neglect and suicidal ideation， with effect sizes of 0.166 （95% CI： 0.141~0.191） and 0.131 （95% CI： 0.112~0.152）. Different stages of adolescence moderated the latter part （negative emotion → suicidal ideation） of the indirect mediation path from psychological neglect to suicidal ideation through negative affect （β=-0.066， P<0.01）. ConclusionBoth psychological neglect and psychological abuse may influence suicidal ideation among left-behind adolescents via negative affect. Moreover， different stages of adolescence may moderate the indirect path from psychological neglect to suicide ideation through negative affect.

Objective To screen the independent influencing factors for gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB)in hospitalized patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)and to construct and validate a no-mogram prediction model.Methods A total of 440 CHD patients who developed GIB during hospi-talization were selected as GIB group,and another 320 CHD patients hospitalized in the department of cardiovascular medicine were randomly selected as non-GIB group.The clinical data of the two groups were analyzed and compared.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen the indepen-dentinfluencing factors for GIB.Based on these factors,a nomogram prediction model for the risk of GIB in hospitalized CHD patients was constructed.The entire dataset was randomly divided into train-ing set(n=532)and validation set(n=228)in a 7∶3 ratio.The performance of the nomogram model was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve,and decision curve analysis(DCA).Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index(BMI),history of digestive system diseases,CHD classification,albumin,white blood cell count,monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR),and low-density lipoprotein were all independent influencing factors for GIB in CHD patients(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis indicated that the nomo-gram model(excluding low-density lipoprotein)constructed based on independent influencing factors exhibited good discrimination in both the training set(area under the curve:0.839,95％CI,0.805 to 0.873)and the validation set(area under the curve:0.810,95％CI,0.751 to 0.868).Calibration curve analysis demonstrated good consistency between the predicted probabilities and the observed incidence of GIB in hospitalized CHD patients in both the training and validation sets.DCA results revealed that the nomogram model had a good clinical net benefit.Conclusion The nomogram model constructed based on independent influencing factors has good predictive performance for the risk of GIB in hospitalized CHD patients and can provide a basis for clinicians to promptly identify GIB and adjust medication regimens.

Anxiety disorder is a major symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with a comorbidity rate of ~40%. However, the neural mechanisms of the emergence of anxiety in ASD remain unclear. In our study, we found that hyperactivity of basolateral amygdala (BLA) pyramidal neurons (PNs) in Shank3 InsG3680 knock-in (InsG3680^+/+) mice is involved in the development of anxiety. Electrophysiological results also showed increased excitatory input and decreased inhibitory input in BLA PNs. Chemogenetic inhibition of the excitability of PNs in the BLA rescued the anxiety phenotype of InsG3680^+/+ mice. Further study found that the diminished control of the BLA by medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and optogenetic activation of the mPFC-BLA pathway also had a rescue effect, which increased the feedforward inhibition of the BLA. Taken together, our results suggest that hyperactivity of the BLA and alteration of the mPFC-BLA circuitry are involved in anxiety in InsG3680^+/+ mice.
Animals ; Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism* ; Basolateral Nuclear Complex/metabolism* ; Mice ; Anxiety/metabolism* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Male ; Gene Knock-In Techniques ; Pyramidal Cells/physiology* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Pathways/physiopathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microfilament Proteins

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and genetic alterations of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL).Methods:Three cases of UESL diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 2020 to 2023 were retrospectively collected. The clinical, histomorphological, immunohistochemical, and genetic profiles were reviewed and analyzed.Results:The cohort comprised of three patients, including one male and two females, aged 7, 9, and 15 years, respectively. Tumor locations were in the right lobe of the liver in two cases, and in both the right and left lobes in one case. One case exhibited tumor rupture with hemorrhage. Gross examination revealed solid tumors in gray-red fleshy appearance, with areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of irregularly shaped spindle and polygonal cells arranged in bundles or sheets with varying density, scattered within a myxoid matrix containing giant tumor cells and eosinophilic globules. The tumor cells were positive for Vimentin, CD56, CD68, and bcl-2, with a Ki-67 index of 30%-80%. INI1 expression was retained, while p53 exhibited a mutant pattern. CKpan, CK7, CK19, EMA, HepPar-1, Arginase-1, AFP, CD34, S-100, Myogenin, and MyoD1 were negative. All three cases harbored TP53 missense mutations. Case 1 also showed MDM2 copy number amplification (class Ⅰ mutation), and case 2 exhibited a frameshift mutation in exon 10 of TSC2 (class Ⅱ mutation). Additionally, several class Ⅲ mutations were identified in all three cases. Germline testing for tumor-related genetic variants in case 2 revealed a missense mutation in exon 12 of DICER1, an in-frame insertion mutation in exon 8 of MSH2, and a missense mutation in exon 30 of TSC2.Conclusion:UESL is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor of the liver, predominantly affecting children, with distinctive clinicopathological features and genetic alterations. TP53 mutations may play a key role in the pathogenesis of this tumor.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and genetic alterations of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL).Methods:Three cases of UESL diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 2020 to 2023 were retrospectively collected. The clinical, histomorphological, immunohistochemical, and genetic profiles were reviewed and analyzed.Results:The cohort comprised of three patients, including one male and two females, aged 7, 9, and 15 years, respectively. Tumor locations were in the right lobe of the liver in two cases, and in both the right and left lobes in one case. One case exhibited tumor rupture with hemorrhage. Gross examination revealed solid tumors in gray-red fleshy appearance, with areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of irregularly shaped spindle and polygonal cells arranged in bundles or sheets with varying density, scattered within a myxoid matrix containing giant tumor cells and eosinophilic globules. The tumor cells were positive for Vimentin, CD56, CD68, and bcl-2, with a Ki-67 index of 30%-80%. INI1 expression was retained, while p53 exhibited a mutant pattern. CKpan, CK7, CK19, EMA, HepPar-1, Arginase-1, AFP, CD34, S-100, Myogenin, and MyoD1 were negative. All three cases harbored TP53 missense mutations. Case 1 also showed MDM2 copy number amplification (class Ⅰ mutation), and case 2 exhibited a frameshift mutation in exon 10 of TSC2 (class Ⅱ mutation). Additionally, several class Ⅲ mutations were identified in all three cases. Germline testing for tumor-related genetic variants in case 2 revealed a missense mutation in exon 12 of DICER1, an in-frame insertion mutation in exon 8 of MSH2, and a missense mutation in exon 30 of TSC2.Conclusion:UESL is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor of the liver, predominantly affecting children, with distinctive clinicopathological features and genetic alterations. TP53 mutations may play a key role in the pathogenesis of this tumor.

Background and aims:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a tumor of high heterogeneity and complexity,which poses significant challenges to effective treatment and patient prognosis because of its immune evasion characteristics.To address these issues,single-cell technology and machine learning methods have emerged as a promising approach to identify genes associated with immune escape in HCC.This study aimed to develop a prognostic risk score model for HCC by identifying intrinsic immune-evasion genes(IIEGs)through single-cell technology and machine learning,providing insights into immune infiltration,enhancing predictive accuracy,and facilitating the development of more effective treatment strategies.Materials and methods:The study utilized data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to analyze gene expression profiles and clinical data related to intrinsic immune evasion in patients with HCC.Various tools,including the Human Protein Atlas,cBioPortal,single-cell analysis,machine learning,and Kaplan-Meier plot,were used to analyze IIEGs.Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to explore po-tential mechanisms.In addition,the abundance of infiltrating cells in the tumor microenvironment was investigated using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis,CIBERSORT,xCELL,and tumor immu-nophenotype algorithms.The expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment 1(GPAA1)was examined in the clinical sample of HCC by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,Western blotting,and immunohistochemical staining.Results:Univariate Cox analysis identified 63 IIEGs associated with the prognosis of HCC.Using random forest,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis,and support vector machine,a risk score model consisting of six IIEGs(carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2,aspartate transcarbamylase,and dihydroorotase(CAD),phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis class U(PIGU),endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex subunit 3(EMC3),centrosomal protein 55(CEP55),autophagy-related 10(ATG10),and GPAA1)developed,which was validated using 10 pairs of HCC and adjacent non-cancerous samples.Based on the calculated median risk score,HCC samples were categorized into high-and low-risk groups.The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the high-risk group had a worse prognosis compared with the low-risk group.Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated the accurate predictive capability of the risk score model for HCC prognosis.Furthermore,immune infiltration analysis showed a positive correlation between the risk score model and 40 immune checkpoint genes as well as Th2 cells.Conclusions:A prognostic risk score model was formulated by six IIEG signatures and showed promise in predicting the prognosis of patients diagnosed with HCC.The utilization of the IIEG risk score as a novel prognostic index,together with its significance as a valuable biomarker for immunotherapy in HCC,provides benefit for patients with HCC in determining therapeutic strategies for clinical application.

Fluorine is an important element widely present in nature, and moderate intake can prevent dental caries and promote bone development. However, long-term excessive intake can lead to fluorosis, damaging tissues or organs such as teeth, bones, heart muscle, and blood vessels. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) play an important role in the repair process of bone injury due to their excellent multi-directional differentiation potential. Therefore, studying BMSCs is of great value in the treatment of fluorosis caused by fluoride poisoning. This article summarize the progress on the effect of fluoride on BMSCs, providing new ideas for the study of the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of fluorosis.

Objective:To investigate the value of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA) and pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) in predicting mortality of pediatric sepsis in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) from Southwest China.Methods:This was a prospective multicenter observational study. A total of 447 children with sepsis admitted to 12 PICU in Southwest China from April 2022 to March 2023 were enrolled. Based on the prognosis, the patients were divided into survival group and non-survival group. The physiological parameters of SIRS, pSOFA and PCIS were recorded and scored within 24 h after PICU admission. The general clinical data and some laboratory results were recorded. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the predictive value of SIRS, pSOFA and PCIS in mortality of pediatric sepsis.Results:Amongst 447 children with sepsis, 260 patients were male and 187 patients were female, aged 2.5 (0.8, 7.0) years, 405 patients were in the survival group and 42 patients were in the non-survival group. 418 patients (93.5%) met the criteria of SIRS, and 440 patients (98.4%) met the criteria of pSOFA≥2. There was no significant difference in the number of items meeting the SIRS criteria between the survival group and the non-survival group (3(2, 4) vs. 3(3, 4) points, Z=1.30, P=0.192). The pSOFA score of the non-survival group was significantly higher than that of the survival group (9(6, 12) vs. 4(3, 7) points, Z=6.56, P<0.001), and the PCIS score was significantly lower than that of the survival group (72(68, 81) vs. 82(76, 88) points, Z=5.90, P<0.001). The predictive value of pSOFA (AUC=0.82) and PCIS (AUC=0.78) for sepsis mortality was significantly higher than that of SIRS (AUC=0.56) ( Z=6.59, 4.23, both P<0.001). There was no significant difference between pSOFA and PCIS ( Z=1.35, P=0.176). Platelet count, procalcitonin, lactic acid, albumin, creatinine, total bilirubin, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and international normalized ratio were all able to predict mortality of sepsis to a certain degree (AUC=0.64, 0.68, 0.80, 0.64, 0.68, 0.60, 0.77, 0.75, 0.76, all P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with SIRS, both pSOFA and PCIS had better predictive value in the mortality of pediatric sepsis in PICU.

Objective:To label mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with 89Zr-oxine complex, and assess its characteristics of PET imaging in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) model (MRL/lpr mice). Methods:SLE mice were screened by 18F-FDG PET imaging. 89Zr-oxine was prepared and used for labeling MSCs (10 6 MSCs and 1 MBq 89Zr-oxine). 89Zr-oxine-labeled MSCs (0.2 MBq) were injected into MRL/lpr mice and BALB/c mice (each n=5) via tail vein at a dose of 1.2×10 6 cells per mouse, and followed with microPET imaging in vivo at 2 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injection. The percentage activity of injection dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) was calculated. Independent-sample t test was used to analyze the data. Results:MSCs was successfully labeled with 89Zr-oxine, with the labeling efficiency of 20% and cell viability >90%. MicroPET imaging showed that MSCs were mainly distributed in lungs and the liver sites at 2 h after injection. The number of MSCs homing to kidneys of MRL/lpr mice ( n=5) increased significantly 24 h after the injection, and the renal uptake of MSCs in MRL/lpr mice was much higher than that in BALB/c mice ((8.28±1.27) vs (4.33±0.94) %ID/g; t=3.54, P=0.024). The renal uptake increased firstly and then decreased and then leveled off, indicating MSCs homing to kidneys. Conclusions:A method for 89Zr-oxine labeling of MSCs is successfully established. 89Zr-labeled MSCs can home to kidneys of SLE mice. PET imaging of 89Zr-labeled MSCs can be effectively used to explore the in vivo distribution and migration behavior of transplanted MSCs during the treatment of diseases such as SLE.