This study investigates the expression pattern and functional significance of EF-hand domain-containing protein 2 (EFHD2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with particular focus on its regulatory effects on tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion. Cellular experimental study was completed from June 2024 to January 2025 in the Basic Laboratory of the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command. TCGA database to determine EFHD2 expression and its clinicopathological correlations. GSCA database to assess methylation patterns and immune infiltration. Model of transient overexpression and knockdown of EFHD2 was constructed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells Hep3B, then RT-qPCR and Western blot were applied to verify the transfection efficiency. CCK-8 and colony formation assays for proliferation assessment, Transwell chambers for migration/invasion quantification. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed via STRING, followed by GO/KEGG enrichment analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the two independent samples t-test. The results showed that EFHD2 demonstrated significant upregulation in HCC tissues versus normal controls ( P<0.05). Elevated EFHD2 expression correlated with advanced clinical stage ( P<0.05) and poor differentiation ( P<0.05). In the CCK-8 assay, the EFHD2 overexpression group demonstrated significantly higher cell viability than the control group, as evidenced by 450 nm relative absorbance values on Day 1 (0.529±0.019 vs. 0.515±0.016, F=0.041, P=0.320), Day 2 (1.356±0.019 vs. 1.094±0.042, F=3.833, P<0.001), Day 3 (2.817±0.049 vs. 2.143±0.124, F=3.833, P<0.001), and Day 4 (3.848±0.015 vs. 3.430±0.021, F=0.469, P<0.001). The EFHD2 knockdown group showed reduced cell viability compared to controls: Day 1 (0.541±0.020 vs. 0.552±0.015, F=0.098, P=0.423), Day 2 (1.154±0.009 vs. 1.326±0.029, F=2.485, P<0.001), Day 3 (2.453±0.041 vs. 2.653±0.031, F=0.479, P<0.001), and Day 4 (3.685±0.038 vs. 3.836±0.021, F=6.804, P<0.001). In colony formation assays, the overexpression group displayed a significant increase in colony numbers (254.667±23.861 vs. 186.000±16.703, F=0.865, P=0.015), whereas the knockdown group exhibited decreased colony formation (229.000±24.637 vs. 306.667±36.501, F=0.988, P=0.038). In Transwell assays, the EFHD2 overexpression group revealed enhanced migratory capacity [ (605.000±72.670) cells vs. (472.667±28.095) cells, F=2.462, P=0.042] and invasive potential [(767.333±21.221) cells vs. (414.333±16.623) cells, F=0.331, P<0.001]. The knockdown group showed attenuated migration [(311.000±71.084) cells vs. (479.667±50.846) cells, F=0.718, P=0.029] and invasion [(247.667±48.263) cells vs. (345.667±32.130) cells, F=0.727, P=0.043] compared to controls. The network of EFHD2-interacting proteins was further constructed by the STRING database, and the GO and KEGG analysis were used to perform bioinformatics analysis reveal that EFHD2 is mainly involved in actin cytoskeleton regulation. In conclusion, EFHD2 is highly expressed in HCC and is involved in the process of proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC.

Objective:To examine the interaction between gender and the visceral adiposity index (VAI) in relation to the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the public Dryad database derived from the NAGALA (NAFLD in the Gifu Area, Longitudinal Analysis) project (1994-2016). Participants were stratified into quartiles based on VAI levels. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to evaluate whether VAI independently predicts T2DM risk. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for each VAI quartile. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine associations across age and body mass index categories. Both multiplicative and additive interaction effects between gender and VAI were assessed. Additionally, gender-specific Cox models were fitted to further explore these associations.Results:A total of 15 453 participants [8 419 males and 7 034 females; mean age, (43.7±8.9) years] were included, with a median follow-up duration of 5.39 years. During follow-up, 373 participants (2.4%) developed T2DM. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher VAI levels were independently associated with increased T2DM risk ( HR=1.16; 95% CI 1.11-1.21), consistent with the results across VAI quartiles. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant trend of increasing T2DM incidence across VAI quartiles ( P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve for VAI in predicting T2DM at 3, 5, and 10 years was 0.755, 0.735, and 0.696, respectively. Sensitivity analyses showed that elevated VAI was associated with increased T2DM risk across all age and body mass index subgroups (all P<0.05). Regarding interaction analysis, the HR (95% CI) for the multiplicative interaction between VAI and gender was 1.22 (1.19-1.26). The relative excess risk of interaction was -1.08 (95% CI -2.96 to -0.06), the attributable proportion of interaction was -0.54 (95% CI -1.35 to -0.01), and the synergy index was 0.48 (95% CI 0.26-0.91), indicating a negative additive interaction. Using low-VAI women as the reference group, the risk of T2DM in high-VAI women was higher ( HR=2.53, 95% CI 1.59-4.02) compared to high-VAI men ( HR=2.01, 95% CI 1.49-2.72). In gender-specific analyses, increasing VAI remained significantly associated with elevated T2DM risk after adjustment in both females ( HR=1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.68) and males ( HR=1.16; 95% CI 1.11-1.22), with consistent findings across VAI quartiles. Conclusions:VAI and gender demonstrated multiplicative and additive interaction in relation to T2DM risk. The association between increasing VAI and T2DM risk was more pronounced in women than in men.

BACKGROUND: Gout is a chronic disease primarily caused by elevated urate levels, severely affecting joint health. Its global distribution varies, and updated data for China are lacking. This study aimed to analyze the current burden and trends of gout globally and in China, examining the burden by gender, age, and risk factors while providing future predictions. METHODS: This descriptive epidemiological secondary analysis utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) 2021 study. Age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), prevalence rate (ASPR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates (ASDR) were used to assess the gout burden. Trends from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed across global regions, genders, and sociodemographic index (SDI) levels. The burden in China was further examined by gender, age, and associated risk factors. The Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to predict future trends. Gout burden in China and the United States was compared. RESULTS: In 2021, gout affected 57 million people globally, with 9.4 million new cases and 1.75 million DALYs. From 1990 to 2021, the ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR increased by 17.2%, 21.9%, and 21.3%, respectively. Males experienced a significantly higher burden, with greater ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR increasing with higher SDI levels. In China, male ASIR, ASPR, and ASDR were over 2.8 times those of females, and the burden increased with age. In 2021, 31.4% of gout-related DALYs in China were attributed to high body mass index and 7.6% to kidney dysfunction. Between 1990 and 2021, the high body mass index-related burden of gout rose annually for both genders, while the kidney dysfunction-related gout burden remained stable. By 2050, the burden of gout in China is expected to continue increasing, with a slower rise in females and a decline in males after an initial increase. However, the overall burden will remain substantial. In comparison, the gout burden will be higher in the United States than in China. CONCLUSIONS Gout is becoming a significant health burden globally and in China, particularly among Chinese males and older individuals. With the aging population and lifestyle changes exacerbating the issue, effective strategies and measures are essential to prevent or reduce gout-related health issues.
Humans ; Gout/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Global Burden of Disease ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years

Objective To explore the clinical value of serum stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1)and macro-phage inflammatory protein-1α(MIP-1α)in predicting biliary tract infection after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)stone removal in patients with common bile duct stones.Methods From January 2022 to January 2024,100 patients with common bile duct stones who underwent ERCP stone removal surgery in Pingdingshan First People's Hospital were collected.They were grouped into an infection group(12 cases)and a non-infection group(88 cases)based on whether biliary tract infection occurred after surgery.The general information of patients in the two groups was compared.ELISA method was used to measure the levels of serum SDF-1 and MIP-1α.Spearman method was applied to analyze the correlation between the severity of infec-tion and serum level of SDF-1 and MIP-1α.ROC curve was applied to analyze the value of serum SDF-1 and MIP-1α to predict biliary tract infection after ERCP stone removal in patients with common bile duct stones.Results A total of 36 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected in the biliary drainage fluid samples of the infection group,among which Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 55.56%and Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 44.44%.The infection group showed significantly higher serum levels of SDF-1 and MIP-1α(P＜0.05).As the infection wors-ened,SDF-1 and MIP-1α levels progressively increased(P＜0.05).The severity of biliary tract infection was sig-nificantly positively correlated with both serum SDF-1 and MIP-1α levels(P＜0.05).For predicting biliary tract in-fection,SDF-1 and MIP-1α exhibited AUC values of 0.761 and 0.825,sensitivities of 63.33%and 66.67%,and specificities of 83.33%and 83.33%,respectively.When combined,the predictive AUC reached 0.977,with a sensitivity of 83.33%and a specificity of 98.33%.Conclusions Serum level of SDF-1 and MIP-1α are significant-ly elevated in patients with common bile duct stones and biliary tract infections after ERCP stone removal surgery,showing a positive correlation with the severity of the infection.The combination of these two biomarkers demon-strates excellent predictive efficacy for postoperative infection.

Objective To investigate the effects of kaempferol on the oxidative damage and apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells induced by hydrogen peroxide(H2O2),as well as its regulatory role in the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(JAK2/STAT3)signaling pathway.Methods Human lens epithelial cells HLE-B3 were cultured in vitro and divided into the blank group(no intervention),the model group(400 pmol?L-1 H2O2),the kaempferol group(400 μmol?L-1 H2O2+40 pmol?L-1 kaempferol),the AG490 group(400 pmol?L-1 H2O2+50 μmol?L-1 JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor AG490),the inhibitor group(400 pmol?L-1 H2O2+40 pmol?L-1 kaempferol+50 μmol?L-1 AG490),and the activator group(400 pmol?L-1 H2O2+40 pmol?L-1 kaempferol+0.5 μmol?L-1 JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway activator C-A1).After 24 h of intervention,Hoechst 33258 staining was used to determine the ap-optosis rate of these cells.Malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)kits were used to detect the levels of MDA and SOD.The protein expression levels of Cysteine aspartic protease 3(Caspase-3),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),JAK2,STAT3,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the blank group,the apop-tosis rate,the MDA level,and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 increased(all P＜0.05)in the model group,while the protein expression levels of SOD and Bcl-2 decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the apoptosis rate,the MDA level,and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 decreased in the kaempferol and AG490 groups(all P＜0.05),while the protein expression levels of SOD and Bcl-2 increased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the kaempferol group,the apoptosis rate,the MDA level,and the protein expression levels of Caspase-3,p-JAK2,and p-STAT3 decreased in the inhibitor group,while the protein expression levels of SOD and Bcl-2 in-creased(all P＜0.05);the changes in the above indicators in the activator group were opposite to those in the inhibitor group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Kaempferol can protect HLE-B3 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage and inhibit their apoptosis by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the early and mid-term efficacy of physician-modified fenestrated endovascular repair combined with inner branch techniques for aortic pathologies complicated by aberrant subclavian artery (ASA).Methods:A retrospective case series was conducted, including 24 patients with ASA-associated aortic pathologies who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with physician-modified fenestration and inner branch reconstruction at 7 centers in China from February 2021 to March 2025. The cohort comprised 18 males and 6 females, with an age of (54.4±11.7) years (range:37 to 80 years). Pathological diagnoses included aortic aneurysm in 7 patients (29.2%), aortic dissection in 11 (45.8%; 6 chronic, 4 subacute, 1 acute), and penetrating aortic ulcer in 6 (25.0%; 3 with concomitant intramural hematoma). Preoperative planning was performed using three-dimensional CT angiographic reconstruction, incorporating both the greater-curvature hemodynamic length and the centerline wall-adherent length. Fenestration sites were verified on three-dimensional printed models, and precise fenestrations were created at the covered stent-graft locations corresponding to the subclavian artery and ASA anatomy. Patients subsequently underwent TEVAR combined with supra-aortic revascularization as indicated, followed by completion ascending aortography to evaluate the sealing of the main stent-graft and the patency of fenestrated or branched stents. Perioperative outcomes, complications, and early-to mid-term clinical efficacy were analyzed.Results:All procedures were technically successful. Immediate angiography identified one case of minor type Ⅳ endoleak that resolved spontaneously on 3-month follow-up CT angiography, and one case of mild type Ⅱ endoleak that was left untreated with a stable false lumen during follow-up. One patient died on postoperative day 7 of an undetermined cause. The mean follow-up period was (23.1±11.3)months (range:3 to 37 months). During follow-up, one patient developed mild bilateral lower-limb weakness 1 month after surgery. Vascular occlusion and spinal cord infarction were excluded, and the symptoms were considered related to postoperative spinal hemodynamic changes; the weakness resolved after blood pressure adjustment without recurrence. No other complications, including upper limb ischemia, spinal cord ischemia, or posterior circulation ischemia, were observed. Throughout follow-up, all branch and main stents remained patent with good structural integrity, without migration or device-related complications.Conclusions:Physician-modified fenestration combined with inner branch techniques for ASA-associated aortic pathologies is technically feasible and yields satisfactory early and mid-term results. Long-term outcomes require further follow-up.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant tumor of the adult central nervous system, with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Radiotherapy (RT) remains a cornerstone of GBM treatment; however, tumor cell resistance to RT severely limits its efficacy. Recently, metabolic reprogramming (MR) has gained widespread attention as a critical mechanism enabling GBM cells to evade RT‐induced stress. In this review, the central roles of glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolic reprogramming in GBM's resistance to RT were outlined, highlighting how GBM remodels metabolic pathways to enhance DNA damage repair, antioxidant defenses, and immune evasion after RT. Although combining metabolic inhibitors with RT has shown potential in improving GBM treatment outcomes, challenges such as overcoming the blood‐brain barrier and addressing tumor heterogeneity remain. The integration of nanomedicine‐based delivery systems and immunotherapy offers new hope for GBM treatment. Future research should focus on developing multidimensional, personalized metabolic targeting strategies, combined with immunotherapy and emerging technologies, to further improve therapeutic outcomes and survival rates for GBM patients.

Objective To explore the differences in clinical characteristics of sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL)between patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and those without-COVID-19.Methods 31 SSNHL patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in a department during the COVID-19 epidemic period(from December 2022 to January 2023)were included as the study group,and 12 SSNHL patients without COVID-19 who received treatment during the non-COVID-19 epidemic period(from December 2021 to January 2022)were co-llected as the control group.Two groups of patients received standardized treatment,and their clinical characteristics and prognosis were compared.Clinical characteristics of SSNHL patients with COVID-19 during the COVID-19 epidemic period were analyzed.Results The time interval from patients developed COVID-19 to the onset of SSNHL in the study group was 3-30 days.The time interval from onset to consultation were 3(1,7)days and 5(4,6)days in the study group and the control group,respectively,with no significant difference(P＞0.05).The average age of patients in the study group was(44.16±13.54)years,which was higher than that of the control group(35.23±9.24)years,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The hearing at damaged fre-quency of the study group improved by 6.5(0.5,24.5)dB after therapy,which was lower than that of the control group(36.0[27.0,38.0]dB),with statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation of the interval of consultation with the average improvement level of hearing at damaged frequency(r=-0.318,P=0.033).The longer the interval,the less the hearing improvement and the worse the therapeutic effect.Corre-lation analysis was further conducted on the time interval from development of COVID-19 to SSNHL onset and the time interval of consultation in patients in the study group,which showed no correlation(r=-0.337,P=0.059).There was no statistically significant difference in the types and degree of SSNHL between two groups of patients(both P＞0.05).After standardized treatment,the rate of ineffective patients in the study group was 56.25％,which was higher than that in the control group(15.38％),and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion After adjusting the COVID-19 prevention and control policies,there are more hospitalized COVID-19 patients with SSNHL,with a higher proportion in patients of older age,with poorer efficacy,and inef-fective treatment.The earlier the treatment for SSNHL patients,the better the effect can achieve.COVID-19 may be a potential inducement and/or etiological factor of SSNHL,and further research is needed.