Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, representing a major global health burden with limited disease-modifying therapies. Podocyte injury serves as the core pathological hallmark of DN, and conventional treatments targeting metabolic disorders or hemodynamic abnormalities fail to reverse the progressive decline of renal function. Accumulating evidence over the past decade has established that high glucose-induced podocyte pyroptosis—a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death—is a key driving force in DN progression. Its core molecular mechanism hinges on the activation of the TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome axis. Under sustained hyperglycemic conditions, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated via pathways including the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Concurrently, methylglyoxal (a glucose metabolite) mediates post-translational modification of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). These events collectively trigger the dissociation of TXNIP from thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein. The free TXNIP then translocates to the mitochondria, where it binds to The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and promotes inflammasome assembly. This assembly activates cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1 (caspase-1), which cleaves Gasdermin D (GSDMD) to generate its N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT). GSDMD-NT oligomerizes to form membrane pores, leading to podocyte swelling, rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). These cytokines amplify local inflammatory responses, induce mesangial cell proliferation, and accelerate extracellular matrix deposition, ultimately exacerbating glomerulosclerosis. MCC950, a highly selective NLRP3 inhibitor, exerts its therapeutic effects through a multi-layered mechanism: it binds to the NACHT domain (NAIP, CIITA, HET-E and TP1 domain) of NLRP3 with nanomolar affinity, forming hydrogen bonds with key residues (Lys-42 and Asp-166) within the ATP-hydrolysis pocket to block ATP hydrolysis, thereby locking NLRP3 in an inactive conformational state. Additionally, MCC950 interferes with the protein-protein interaction between TXNIP and NLRP3 and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis to reduce ROS production. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MCC950 dose-dependently reduces proteinuria, restores the expression of podocyte-specific markers (nephrin and Wilms tumor 1 protein, WT1), and alleviates podocyte foot process fusion and glomerulosclerosis in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic models (characterized by absolute insulin deficiency) and db/db type 2 diabetic models (driven by insulin resistance). However, discrepancies in therapeutic outcomes exist across different models—some studies report exacerbated renal inflammation and fibrosis in STZ-induced models—which may stem from differences in disease pathogenesis, intervention timing (early vs. mid-stage disease), and dosing duration. Despite its promising preclinical efficacy, MCC950 faces significant translational challenges, including low oral bioavailability, insufficient podocyte targeting, potential hepatotoxicity, and drug-drug interactions with statins (commonly prescribed to diabetic patients for cardiovascular risk management). Furthermore, off-target effects such as the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 2 have been identified, raising concerns about its safety profile. Nevertheless, its unique mechanism of action—directly blocking podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the TXNIP-NLRP3 axis—endows it with substantial translational value. In the future, strategies to overcome these barriers are expected to advance its clinical application: targeted delivery via nanocarriers (e.g., PLGA-PEG nanoparticles or nephrin antibody-conjugated systems) to enhance renal accumulation and podocyte specificity; precise patient stratification based on biomarkers such as serum IL-18 and renal TXNIP/NLRP3 expression to identify “inflammatory-phenotype” DN patients most likely to benefit; and combination therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—whose metabolic benefits synergize with MCC950’s anti-inflammatory effects. These approaches hold great potential to break through clinical translation bottlenecks, offering a novel, precise anti-inflammatory treatment option for DN and addressing an unmet clinical need for therapies targeting the inflammatory underpinnings of the disease.

Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, representing a major global health burden with limited disease-modifying therapies. Podocyte injury serves as the core pathological hallmark of DN, and conventional treatments targeting metabolic disorders or hemodynamic abnormalities fail to reverse the progressive decline of renal function. Accumulating evidence over the past decade has established that high glucose-induced podocyte pyroptosis—a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death—is a key driving force in DN progression. Its core molecular mechanism hinges on the activation of the TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome axis. Under sustained hyperglycemic conditions, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated via pathways including the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Concurrently, methylglyoxal (a glucose metabolite) mediates post-translational modification of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). These events collectively trigger the dissociation of TXNIP from thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein. The free TXNIP then translocates to the mitochondria, where it binds to The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and promotes inflammasome assembly. This assembly activates cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1 (caspase-1), which cleaves Gasdermin D (GSDMD) to generate its N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT). GSDMD-NT oligomerizes to form membrane pores, leading to podocyte swelling, rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). These cytokines amplify local inflammatory responses, induce mesangial cell proliferation, and accelerate extracellular matrix deposition, ultimately exacerbating glomerulosclerosis. MCC950, a highly selective NLRP3 inhibitor, exerts its therapeutic effects through a multi-layered mechanism: it binds to the NACHT domain (NAIP, CIITA, HET-E and TP1 domain) of NLRP3 with nanomolar affinity, forming hydrogen bonds with key residues (Lys-42 and Asp-166) within the ATP-hydrolysis pocket to block ATP hydrolysis, thereby locking NLRP3 in an inactive conformational state. Additionally, MCC950 interferes with the protein-protein interaction between TXNIP and NLRP3 and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis to reduce ROS production. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MCC950 dose-dependently reduces proteinuria, restores the expression of podocyte-specific markers (nephrin and Wilms tumor 1 protein, WT1), and alleviates podocyte foot process fusion and glomerulosclerosis in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic models (characterized by absolute insulin deficiency) and db/db type 2 diabetic models (driven by insulin resistance). However, discrepancies in therapeutic outcomes exist across different models—some studies report exacerbated renal inflammation and fibrosis in STZ-induced models—which may stem from differences in disease pathogenesis, intervention timing (early vs. mid-stage disease), and dosing duration. Despite its promising preclinical efficacy, MCC950 faces significant translational challenges, including low oral bioavailability, insufficient podocyte targeting, potential hepatotoxicity, and drug-drug interactions with statins (commonly prescribed to diabetic patients for cardiovascular risk management). Furthermore, off-target effects such as the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 2 have been identified, raising concerns about its safety profile. Nevertheless, its unique mechanism of action—directly blocking podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the TXNIP-NLRP3 axis—endows it with substantial translational value. In the future, strategies to overcome these barriers are expected to advance its clinical application: targeted delivery via nanocarriers (e.g., PLGA-PEG nanoparticles or nephrin antibody-conjugated systems) to enhance renal accumulation and podocyte specificity; precise patient stratification based on biomarkers such as serum IL-18 and renal TXNIP/NLRP3 expression to identify “inflammatory-phenotype” DN patients most likely to benefit; and combination therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—whose metabolic benefits synergize with MCC950’s anti-inflammatory effects. These approaches hold great potential to break through clinical translation bottlenecks, offering a novel, precise anti-inflammatory treatment option for DN and addressing an unmet clinical need for therapies targeting the inflammatory underpinnings of the disease.

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between sleep patterns and myopia progression among younger school-age children at a primary school in Changning District of Shanghai, based on the data from the Shanghai Students’ Common Diseases and Health Influencing Factors Monitoring System and a sleep-specific survey, so as to provide data support for myopia prevention and control in this age group. MethodsOne primary school was selected from the common diseases and health influencing factors monitoring system for students in Changning District, Shanghai. A total of 230 first-grade students were included in the study. Myopia and refractive parameters were examined, and sleep patterns were investigated. General demographic characteristics and myopia-related behavior data of the students were also collected. Sleep patterns were evaluated in terms of sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and sleep quality, with the latter assessed using the Chinese version of the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between sleep patterns and myopia progression among these students. ResultsThe results of the regression analyses revealed that the total CSHQ score of the students at baseline survey was (48.85±7.15) points. Their sleep efficiency was (94.49±8.48)%, sleep duration was (9.58±0.93) hours, and the proportion of those with insufficient sleep (<10 hours) was 78.26%. At baseline survey, students’ higher daytime sleepiness scores were associated with lower spherical equivalent (SE) ( β=-0.18, 95%CI: -0.31 to -0.04) and an increased risk of axial length (AL) / corneal radius (CR) ratio >3 (OR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.00 to 2.29), whereas longer sleep duration and higher sleep efficiency were associated with higher SE (β=0.18, 95%CI: 0.05 to 0.32; β=0.17, 95%CI: 0.04 to 0.31, respectively), shorter (AL) (β=-0.15, 95%CI: -0.27 to -0.03; β=-0.13, 95%CI: -0.25 to 0, respectively) and a reduced risk of AL /CR>3 (OR=0.70, 95%CI: 0.51 to 0.96; OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.53 to 0.99, respectively). At baseline survey, children’s higher propensity for sleep problems (OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.04 to 2.78), sleep resistance (OR=2.26, 95%CI: 1.36 to 3.75), and sleep anxiety scores (OR=2.15, 95%CI: 1.33 to 3.48) were all associated with an increased risk of AL/CR >3 at follow-up (all P<0.05). Furthermore, higher sleep anxiety scores predicted prolonged AL at follow-up (β=0.03, 95%CI: 0 to 0.05). According to the mixed-effects model, higher daytime sleepiness scores and prolonged sleep duration were independently linked to reduced right-eye SE (β=-0.05, 95%CI: -0.10 to 0, P<0.05) and shorter right-eye AL (β=-0.05, 95%CI: -0.10 to 0, P<0.05). ConclusionIn this school in Shanghai, there are problems of insufficient and poor-quality sleep among young children. Sleep problems such as sleep resistance, delayed sleep onset, sleep anxiety, and daytime sleepiness among children may accelerate the risk of myopia progression, while longer sleep duration and higher sleep efficiency may serve as protective factors against the occurrence and development of myopia.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of second-stage endovascular therapy for patients with aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) who developed progression of the distal hematoma into dissection-like changes after an initial procedure. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital from July 2020 to December 2022. These patients had previously undergone a first-stage procedure to treat the proximal lesion of an IMH. However, follow-up examinations revealed a persistent distal hematoma, the presence of a distal entry tear, and progression of the hematoma into localized or extensive dissection-like changes, which could be accompanied by localized contrast enhancement. These patients then underwent a second-stage stent-graft intervention. The initial procedures included open surgery with total aortic arch replacement or endovascular stent-graft placement to seal the proximal entry tear. In the second-stage procedure, the aorta was divided into three zones based on its anatomy, and zonal stent-graft placement was performed to seal the entry tear and promote thrombosis of the false lumen. Results A total of 18 patients (15 males, 3 females) were included, with a mean age of (53.5±10.6) years (range, 39 to 76 years). The median operation time was 38.0 (29.5, 58.5) min, and the median intraoperative blood loss was 20.0 (20.0, 30.0) mL. The technical success rate was 100.0%. Intraoperative and postoperative imaging confirmed successful exclusion of the distal entry tear of the IMH, with no endoleak, stenosis or occlusion of visceral branches. There were no major perioperative complications, such as death, paraplegia, or visceral ischemia. During follow-up, complete thrombosis or resolution of the false lumen was observed in all patients. Conclusion For patients with residual entry tears and new-onset dissection-like changes in the distal aorta after the first-stage procedure for IMH, second-stage stent-graft placement can effectively seal the entry tear, promote false lumen thrombosis and hematoma resolution, and improve distal aortic remodeling, demonstrating favorable short- to mid-term outcomes.

Objective To fabricate a large-diameter vascular graft with a pore size gradient structure mimicking that of natural blood vessels, using poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) as base materials through electrospinning and ultrasonic pore-forming techniques, and to evaluate its application potential. Methods A three-layered tubular graft was fabricated from a PCL/PLLA blend (mass ratio 6 : 4) via electrospinning, followed by an ultrasonic pore-forming process to create a gradient porosity. The resulting graft (diameter: 2 cm, length: 4 cm) was implanted into the descending thoracic aorta of an experimental pig using an end-to-end anastomosis. Graft patency and anastomotic sites were monitored by computed tomography angiography (CTA) at 1 and 6 weeks post-surgery. After 2 months, the graft was explanted for systematic evaluation of vascular regeneration and repair through gross examination, histopathology (H&E and elastic fiber staining), immunohistochemistry [for ETS-related gene (ERG), Actin, and Vimentin], and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results Postoperative CTA confirmed excellent graft patency at both 1 and 6 weeks, with no evidence of thrombosis or anastomotic stenosis. Gross examination of the 2-month explant revealed a smooth luminal surface covered by neotissue. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that the graft successfully induced the formation of a three-layered structure resembling a native vessel wall, comprising endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts. Immunohistochemistry further verified coverage of the luminal surface by endothelial cells (ERG-positive), along with the presence of neosmooth muscle (Actin-positive) and fibroblasts (Vimentin-positive). Endothelial cells were observed adhering to the inner surface of the artificial vessel under SEM. Conclusion The biomimetic, three-layered PLLA/PCL large-diameter vascular graft, constructed via electrospinning and ultrasonic pore-forming, exhibits excellent short-term patency and biocompatibility in a large animal model. More importantly, it demonstrates a significant potential to promote host cell infiltration and achieve in situ regeneration of a three-layered vascular wall structure, providing a promising experimental basis for the development of next-generation functional vascular substitutes.

Objective:To clarify the prognostic significance of 1q21 amplification in multiple myeloma(MM),and explore the efficacy and prognosis of ixazomib in the treatment of MM patients with 1q21 amplification.Methods:A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted on 77 patients with newly diagnosed MM who were hospitalized in Zhongshan Hospital,Xiamen University from January 2010 to December 2022.To analyze the clinical features of MM patients with 1q21 amplification,evaluate the mitigation rate and survival treated with ixazomib-based regimens.Results:Among the 77 newly diagnosed MM patients,40 patients had 1q21 amplification,while 37 didn't.Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that 1q21 amplification was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of MM patients(P＜0.05).Compared to patients without 1q21 amplification,those with 1q21 amplification had poorer progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)(both P＜0.05).When the 1q21 amplification ratio exceeded 66.7％,both PFS and OS were worse(P＜0.05).There were no statistical differences in the deep remission rate(≥VGPR),overall response rate and PFS between the 1 q21 amplification positive and negative groups treated with ixazomib-based regimens(P＞0.05),but OS showed a significant difference(P＜0.05).Among the patients who switched to ixazomib treatment from bortezomib,there was a statistically significant difference in the complete response rate(P＜0.05).Compared to other treatment regimens,ixazomib-based regimens resulted in a significant reduction in adverse reactions such as peripheral neuropathy(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Ixazomib-based chemotherapy regimens can overcome the poor prognosis associated with 1q21 amplification and improve mitigation rates and PFS in patients.Ixazomib has low incidence of adverse reactions,good safety profile and prolonged duration of therapy.

Objective:To explore the expression level of m6A methyltransferase ZC3H13 gene in primary acute myeloid leukemia(AML)and its relationship with clinical features and prognosis.Methods:A total of 131 newly diagnosed AML patients and 12 controls were enrolled from July 1,2018 to December 1,2021 in the Hematology Department of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University.RT-qPCR technology was used to detect the expression level of ZC3H13 mRNA in bone marrow(BM)samples.A retrospective analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between ZC3H13 expression level and clinical indicators,gene mutations,and prognosis.Results:The expression level of ZC3H13 mRNA in primary AML patients was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.001).The white blood cell count,proportion of BM blast cells,and relapse rate in the high ZC3H13 expression group were higher than those in the the low ZC3H13 expression group(all P＜0.05),while the Th/Ts ratio was lower(P＜0.01).Univariate survival analysis showed that patients with high expression of ZC3H13 had shorter median overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS)than those with low expression of ZC3H13(both P＜0.05).The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high-risk stratification(OS:HR=1.612,95％CI:1.151-2.257,P=0.005;DFS:HR=1.551,95％CI:1.031-2.335,P=0.035)and high ZC3H13 expression(OS:HR=1.756,95％CI:1.028-2.999,P=0.039;DFS:HR=1.935,95％CI:1.018-3.678,P=0.044)were both independent risk factors for OS and DFS in AML patients.Conclusion:The expression of ZC3H13 in AML patients may be related to tumor burden and immune function.Patients with high expression of ZC3H13 have poor prognosis,and high expression of ZC3H13 is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of AML patients.

Objective:To clarify the prognostic significance of 1q21 amplification in multiple myeloma(MM),and explore the efficacy and prognosis of ixazomib in the treatment of MM patients with 1q21 amplification.Methods:A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted on 77 patients with newly diagnosed MM who were hospitalized in Zhongshan Hospital,Xiamen University from January 2010 to December 2022.To analyze the clinical features of MM patients with 1q21 amplification,evaluate the mitigation rate and survival treated with ixazomib-based regimens.Results:Among the 77 newly diagnosed MM patients,40 patients had 1q21 amplification,while 37 didn't.Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that 1q21 amplification was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of MM patients(P＜0.05).Compared to patients without 1q21 amplification,those with 1q21 amplification had poorer progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)(both P＜0.05).When the 1q21 amplification ratio exceeded 66.7％,both PFS and OS were worse(P＜0.05).There were no statistical differences in the deep remission rate(≥VGPR),overall response rate and PFS between the 1 q21 amplification positive and negative groups treated with ixazomib-based regimens(P＞0.05),but OS showed a significant difference(P＜0.05).Among the patients who switched to ixazomib treatment from bortezomib,there was a statistically significant difference in the complete response rate(P＜0.05).Compared to other treatment regimens,ixazomib-based regimens resulted in a significant reduction in adverse reactions such as peripheral neuropathy(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Ixazomib-based chemotherapy regimens can overcome the poor prognosis associated with 1q21 amplification and improve mitigation rates and PFS in patients.Ixazomib has low incidence of adverse reactions,good safety profile and prolonged duration of therapy.

Objective:To explore the expression level of m6A methyltransferase ZC3H13 gene in primary acute myeloid leukemia(AML)and its relationship with clinical features and prognosis.Methods:A total of 131 newly diagnosed AML patients and 12 controls were enrolled from July 1,2018 to December 1,2021 in the Hematology Department of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University.RT-qPCR technology was used to detect the expression level of ZC3H13 mRNA in bone marrow(BM)samples.A retrospective analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between ZC3H13 expression level and clinical indicators,gene mutations,and prognosis.Results:The expression level of ZC3H13 mRNA in primary AML patients was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.001).The white blood cell count,proportion of BM blast cells,and relapse rate in the high ZC3H13 expression group were higher than those in the the low ZC3H13 expression group(all P＜0.05),while the Th/Ts ratio was lower(P＜0.01).Univariate survival analysis showed that patients with high expression of ZC3H13 had shorter median overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS)than those with low expression of ZC3H13(both P＜0.05).The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high-risk stratification(OS:HR=1.612,95％CI:1.151-2.257,P=0.005;DFS:HR=1.551,95％CI:1.031-2.335,P=0.035)and high ZC3H13 expression(OS:HR=1.756,95％CI:1.028-2.999,P=0.039;DFS:HR=1.935,95％CI:1.018-3.678,P=0.044)were both independent risk factors for OS and DFS in AML patients.Conclusion:The expression of ZC3H13 in AML patients may be related to tumor burden and immune function.Patients with high expression of ZC3H13 have poor prognosis,and high expression of ZC3H13 is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of AML patients.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is an early and significant cardiac structural charac-teristic that contributes to the onset and progression of heart failure(HF).Its mainly structural feature is the abnormally enlarged cardiomyocyte.Effective intervention targets for abnormally en-larged cardiomyocyte remain to be identified.Previous studies have shown that the cellular shape and size can be regulated by the actin related protein 2/3(Arp2/3)complex,which is an actin-binding protein complex involved in the actin nucleation and assembly.However,the roles of the Arp2/3 complex in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy remain unknown.Here our study identifies its no-vel roles in the occurrence and development of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.We found that mRNA levels of all subunits from the Arp2/3 complex are significantly upregulated(P<0.05)in the an-giotensin II(Ang Ⅱ)-induced neonatal rat primary and H9c2 cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.Fur-ther studies showed that siRNA-directed ARPC2 silencing inhibits the reactivation of fetal genes and enlargement of cardiomyocyte area induced by Ang Ⅱ in neonatal rat primary cardiomyocytes(NRCMs)and H9c2 cells(P<0.05).In addition,the upstream activators of the Arp2/3 com-plex including SH3 protein interacting with Nck,90 kD(SPIN90)and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1(Rac1)/WASp family Verprolin-homologous protein-2(WAVE-2)are upregu-lated(P<0.05)in Ang Ⅱ-induced neonatal rat primary and H9c2 cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,indicating the excessive activation of the Arp2/3 complex.We further show that CK666,a specif-ic Arp2/3 complex inhibitor,prevents the reactivation of fetal genes and the enlargement of car-diomyocyte area induced by Ang Ⅱ in NRCMs and H9c2 cells(P<0.05).Our results reveal that the Arp2/3 complex plays a crucial role in Ang Ⅱ-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,which is beneficial to further studies about the molecular mechanisms by which the Arp2/3 complex regu-lates pathological cardiac hypertrophy.