Objective To analyze the composition and function of residual cells in pre-transplantation human thymic slices by single-cell transcriptomics sequencing(scRNA-seq),and established a quality assessment method for thymic slices based on the expression levels of molecular markers in the culture supernatant.Methods The discarded thymus from 18 patients with congenital heart disease undergoing surgical treatment in Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University from May 2023 to January 2024 were collected and prepared into thymic slices.After the slices were cultured in vitro for 14 d,scRNA-seq was employed to identify the residual cell types,and gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was performed to analyze the biological function of the residual cells.Then based on the literature concerning thymic slice culture,the molecular markers indicating thymocyte function were screened out.ELISA was applied to detect the changes in protein levels of molecular markers in the supernatant.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted and assess the value of the molecular markers in the supernatant in evaluating the quality of thymic slices with area under the curve(AUC).Then,the qualified and unqualified thymic slices determined by our obtained molecular markers were transplanted subcutaneously into male nude mice(6～8 weeks old,weighing 14～17 g),respectively,and the male nude mice without transplantation of the thymic slices served as control group.Flow cytometry and histologic analysis were utilized to observe the immune reconstitution after transplantation.Results ① scRNA-seq identified 11 cell types in thymic slices,dominated with epithelial cells,fibroblasts,and T cells.GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that epithelial cells were involved in enrichment entries related to chemotaxis,epithelial cell development,cell matrix adhesion and tight junction;fibroblasts were involved in enrichment entries related to extracellular matrix,epithelial cell proliferation,negative regulation of cell migration,and regulation of actin cytoskeleton;T cells were mainly related to T cell differentiation,regulation of T cell activation,T cell apoptosis,and T cell receptor signaling.② Molecular markers,CCL19,CCL21,CXCL12,CXCL16,IL16 and SELL were identified to indicate thymocyte function.Compared with the levels of the first day,the protein secretions of CCL19,CCL21,CXCL12 and CXCL16 were significantly increased during in vitro culture(P<0.05),while the protein secretions of IL16 and L-selectin(protein form of SELL)were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The combined predictor Pre1 from subset of cytokines(IL16 and L-selectin)had the highest value in the quality assessment of thymic slices after 1 d of culture(AUC=0.883),and the combined predictor Pre2 from subset of cytokines(CCL19,CCL21,CXCL12 and CXCL16)had the highest value in the quality assessment after 14 d of culture(AUC=0.948).③ Transplantation in nude mice indicated that the qualified thymic slices could develop to thymus structure in vivo,and effectively increase the proportion of T cells in peripheral blood(P<0.01),while the unqualified thymic slices could not obtain the reconstitution of T cell development.Conclusion The main residual component cells in thymic slices are epithelial cells,fibroblasts and T cells.IL16 and L-selectin can be used as potential indicators to determine the quality of donor thymic samples.CCL19,CCL21,CXCL12 and CXCL16 can effectively evaluate the quality of thymic slices before transplantation.

Objective To explore the potential role and underlying mechanism of the functionally uncharacterized gene Gm49394 on regulating β-cell apoptosis under diabetic conditions.Methods The expression and translational activity of Gm49394 in pancreatic β-cell lines and non-β-cell lines were validated using RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization(RNA-FISH),quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR),Western blotting,and immunofluorescence(IF)assay.The β-cell lines(NIT-1/Min6)with Gm49394 overexpression or knockdown were constructed.The proliferation,apoptosis,mitochondrial function,as well as oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress markers in these β-cell lines under physiological homeostasis or pathological stress conditions,such as high glucose(30 mmol/L),inflammation(10 ng/mL IFN-γ alone or combined with 10 ng/mL IL-6),and hydrogen peroxide(100 μmol/L H2O2)were detected by flow cytometry and Western blotting.Results RNA-FISH and qPCR indicated that Gm49394 was specifically expressed in pancreatic β-cell lines and up-regulated under high glucose or inflammatory stimulation.IF assay and Western blotting showed that Gm49394 had protein-coding activity.Flow cytometry and Western blotting identified that Gm49394 overexpression did not affect β-cell proliferation,but promoted β-cell apoptosis and increased reactive oxygen species(ROS)and mitochondrial superoxide(MitoSOX)levels in β cells under physiological homeostasis or pathological stress conditions(P<0.05).Under physiological conditions,Gm49394 knockdown failed to induce significant alterations on β-cell apoptosis,ROS,or MitoSOX levels.Under pathological stress conditions,Gm49394 knockdown significantly suppressed β-cell proliferation,apoptosis,as well as oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress(P<0.05).Conclusion Gm49394 may promote β-cell apoptosis via oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

This study was designed to explore the immune reconstitution efficacy of human thymic slices transplanted into renal capsule,subcutaneous or muscle of nude mice,and further explore the optimal location of heterotopic transplantation.The thymus tissue discarded from congenital heart disease patients was made into 0.5-1 mm thick tissue sections and cultured in vitro to remove immune cells.H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to assess the residual tissue structure and cell types in thymic slices,while quantitative PCR methods were used to assess the function of residual cells in thymic slices.Then thymic slices were transplanted into the renal capsule,subcutaneous or muscle of nude mice,and the immune reconstitution efficacy was compared by flow cytometry and histology.Data showed that after 14 days of culture in vitro,the clearance rate of T lymphocytes in the thymic slices was more than 90%,and the epithelial cell network structure of the tissue was intact,while a large number of macrophages,dendritic cells and endothelial cells remained.Quantitative PCR results showed that the gene expression levels of epithelial cell markers and secreted cytokines in cultured thymic slices could be effectively maintained.Flow cytometry showed that at 16 weeks after transplantation,the proportion of T cells in peripheral blood of mice in different transplantation groups were significantly increased,whereas the proportion of T cells in muscle group was the highest.In situ histological examination showed that the regeneration of thymus tissue was detected at all three transplant sites.In addition,the graft detection rate was 40%in the renal capsule group,60%in the subcutaneous group and 100%in the musclegroup.In conclusion,the human thymic slices cultured in vitro for 14 days retain a complete thymic matrix microenvironment.Transplantation of human thymic slices can effectively reconstruct the ratio of T cells in nude mice,and the muscle is the most effective transplantation site.

Tumors of the digestive system are one of the most important factors affecting people′s quality of life and have become a serious public health problem globally.Early screening and intervention of tumor markers in high-risk groups for tumors is the key to tumor prevention. Follistatin-related proteins (FRP) are important members of the follistatin family and such proteins are involved in the pathological process of tumors of the reproductive system and respiratory system, among others. In recent years, FRP has attracted extensive attention in the study of digestive system tumors, suggesting that FRP may play a significant role in the development of digestive system tumors, and is a potential marker for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The article reviews the biological function, expression and potential mechanism of action of FRP associated with digestive system tumors, with a view to providing reference for the diagnosis and prevention of digestive system tumors, prognosis assessment and drug development.

Tumors of the digestive system are one of the most important factors affecting people′s quality of life and have become a serious public health problem globally.Early screening and intervention of tumor markers in high-risk groups for tumors is the key to tumor prevention. Follistatin-related proteins (FRP) are important members of the follistatin family and such proteins are involved in the pathological process of tumors of the reproductive system and respiratory system, among others. In recent years, FRP has attracted extensive attention in the study of digestive system tumors, suggesting that FRP may play a significant role in the development of digestive system tumors, and is a potential marker for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The article reviews the biological function, expression and potential mechanism of action of FRP associated with digestive system tumors, with a view to providing reference for the diagnosis and prevention of digestive system tumors, prognosis assessment and drug development.

Numerous studies have reported that the resistance of biofilm bacteria to antibiotics can be up to 10-1 000 fold higher than that of planktonic bacteria. Bacterial biofilms are reported to be responsible for more than 80% of human microbial infection, posing great challenges to the healthcare sector. Many studies have reported that plant extracts and their active ingredients can inhibit the formation and development of bacterial biofilms, including reducing biofilm biomass and the number of viable bacteria in biofilms, as well as eradicating mature biofilms. This review summarized the plant extracts and their active ingredients that are inhibitory to bacterial biofilms, and analyzed the underpinning mechanisms. This review may serve as a reference for the development of plant drugs to prevent and treat biofilm infections.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Humans ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Quorum Sensing

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of a perioperative rehabilitation clinical pathway of acetabular fracture in light of orthopedics rehabilitation team approach. MethodsA prospective randomized control trial was conducted in 82 patients with acetabular fractures who had been admitted from the Emergency Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from June, 2019 to January, 2021. The patients were randomly divided into control group (n = 41) and intervention group (n = 41). The control group was managed routinely, while the intervention group received the rehabilitation clinical pathway, for 24 weeks. The Visual Analogue Score (VAS) of pain, the Barthel Index (BI) and Majeed Pelvic Score were compared. ResultsFinally, 76 patients completed the trial. There was no statistical difference in VAS score between two groups in all periods (|Z| < 1.926, P > 0.05). The BI score was higher in the intervention group than in the control group at discharge, two weeks, six weeks and twelve weeks after operation (|Z| > 2.121, P < 0.05); and no significant difference was found before operation and 24 weeks after operation (|Z| < 1.862, P > 0.05). Majeed Pelvic Score was higher in the intervention group than in the control group two weeks, six weeks, twelve weeks and 24 weeks after operation (|Z| > 2.428, P < 0.05). Six, twelve and 24 weeks after operation, the excellent rate of Majeed Pelvic Score was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (χ² > 6.136, P < 0.05). ConclusionIn comparison with traditional protocol in acetabular fracture, the perioperative rehabilitation clinical pathway was proved effective and of great safety in the light of the integration of orthopedics and rehabilitation mode for improving the function and activities of daily living of patients.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) causes approximately 30% cirrhosis and 53% liver cancer in the world, and is still a serious threat to human health. Treatment CHB through therapeutic vaccination has long been a urgent goal of the medical community. In the past two decades, various therapeutic vaccines have been developed and studied in clinical trials, however, few has achieved satisfactory results. Recently, a nanoparticle therapeutic vaccine for CHB, εPA-44, has entered pahse III clinical trial. Results of phase II trial for εPA-44 showed that the vaccine had good safety profile and achieved profound clinical benefits in patients with CHB. Here, we first introduce the rational of therapeutic vaccine for CHB and summarize the progress of clinical trials. Finally, we t review the phase II clinical trial data of εPA-44 and discuss the posssible impact to the development of next generation therapeutic vaccine for CHB.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of perioperative rehabilitation approaches based on the concept of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for pelvic fractures.Methods:A prospective randomized control trial was conducted to include 114 emergency patients who had been admitted to Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital for surgical treatment of pelvic fractures from June 2019 to December 2020. Of them, 57 were assigned into an intervention group according to a random digits table. They were 42 males and 15 females, aged from 18 to 77 years and subjected to management of pelvic fractures with tentative perioperative ERAS approaches which were adjusted at different stages. The other random 57 patients were assigned into a control group. They were 40 males and 17 females, aged from 17 to 70 years and subjected to management of pelvic fractures with conventional rehabilitation approaches which included postoperative in-hospital consultation and guidance by rehabilitation physicians. The 2 groups were compared in terms of Majeed pelvis scores and Barthel indexes at postoperative 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks, and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores and SF36 scores at postoperative 12 and 24 weeks.Results:A total of 105 patients (55 in the intervention group and 50 in the control group) were completely followed up for 151 to 254 d (mean, 177 d). The 2 groups were comparable due to no significant difference between them in the preoperative general data ( P>0.05). The Majeed scores (44±13, 67±16, 86±14 and 98±7) and Barthel indexes (57±13, 79±16, 95±8 and 100±2) at postoperative 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(35±16, 51±16, 73±14 and 91±12) and (45±19, 67±18, 86±12 and 98±4)] (all P<0.05). At postoperative 12 and 24 weeks, the SF-36 scores (129±15 and 141±6) in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (114±15 and 131±12) ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the pain degree between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In management of pelvic fractures, compared with conventional perioperative rehabilitation approaches, the perioperative ERAS rehabilitation approaches may improve early functional outcomes and thus help the patients restore their activities of daily living earlier.

Immunology is a kind of important basic subject for medical education, involving theories and technologies covering many aspects of disease occurrence, diagnosis, prevention and treatment, and is also the source of new means of medical treatment in the future. Therefore, successful teaching of medical immunology is associated with high-level medical undergraduate education. An appropriate textbook is critical for curriculum construction of immunology. However, little analysis of immunology textbooks has been published. We selected several famous and popular English immunology textbooks and compared their teaching objectives, methods, and contents, concluding the features and targeting readers of each textbooks. Our research results could provide some advices for students to learn immunology theory and researchers to utilize immunology methods, and also give a glimpse of the development trend and direction of immunology.