The accumulation of uremic toxins such as urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, and uric acid of patients with renal failure in vivo would lead to aggravated kidney damage. In this study, coated aldehyde oxy-starch (CAO) was used as an adsorbent to investigate its in vitro adsorption performance on renal failure indexes for urea, indoxyl sulfate (INS), monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), uric acid (UA), and creatinine (Cr). The effects of variables such as pH, temperature, concentration, dosage, and time on the adsorption capacity of CAO were systematically investigated, employing analytical techniques of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). The results revealed that CAO exhibited a strong adsorption capacity for urea, INS, and MMA, alongside a moderate adsorption capacity for DMA, UA, and Cr. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO were fitted in pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the adsorption isotherm aligned with the Freundlich adsorption model. The enthalpy change ΔH of urea in adsorption was in the range of 40 to 60 kJ·mol^-1, which demonstrated the presence of strong adsorption force due to the interactions of coordinating groups. The ΔH of UA was greater than 80 kJ·mol^-1, indicating the generation of chemical bonds during the adsorption. Both of them, Gibbs free energy ΔG was less than 0, within the range of -20 to 0 kJ·mol^-1, suggested that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO occurred spontaneously as physical adsorption process. The adsorption entropy ΔS of urea and UA was > 0, which indicated an increase in entropy throughout the adsorption. The infrared spectroscopygram showed the formation of a chemical bond, specifically the imine bond, following the adsorption of urea by CAO, thereby indicating a chemical reaction during the adsorption. This study elucidates the adsorption mechanism of CAO on various indexes of renal failure, providing a scientific basis for its clinical usage.

Objective: To analyze the demographic characteristics of patients with red blood cell transfusion reactions, the usage of red blood cell preparations, and the differences in the composition ratio of adverse reactions based on multi-center data from the Haemovigilance Network, in order to reveal the clinical characteristics of red blood cell transfusion and its underlying issues. Methods: Clinical data of patients who experienced transfusion reactions after red blood cell transfusion in the Haemovigilance Network from 2018 to 2023 were collected. The demographic characteristics of patients who experienced transfusion reactions with different types of red blood cell preparations, the utilization of these preparations, and the differences of the composition ratios of transfusion reactions were analyzed. Count data were expressed as numbers (n) or percentages (%), and comparisons between groups were performed using the Chi-square test. Results: Red blood cell transfusion reactions were more common in females (53.56%), with the majority of patients aged 50-69 years (35.54%). The Han polulation accounted for the vast majority of patients (92.77%), and patients in the hematology and obstetrics/gynecology departments had a relatively high proportion of transfusion reactions (13.26% and 14.26%, respectively). Leukocyte-reduced red blood cells and suspended red blood cells were the most common types of transfusion reactions reported among red blood cell preparations. Allergic reactions and non-hemolytic febrile reactions were the most common transfusion reactions, and there were significant differences in the composition ratios of allergic reactions (χ =869.89, P<0.05) and non-hemolytic febrile reactions (χ =812.75, P<0.05) across various types of red blood cell preparations. Conclusion: There are differences in the demographic characteristics and composition ratio of transfusion reactions among different red blood cell preparations. The management of red blood cell transfusion reactions should be tailored to patient characteristics and conditions, and the selection and use of blood products should be optimized to reduce or avoid the occurrence of transfusion reactions, such as considering the use of washed red blood cells for patients with a history of transfusion allergies or those prone to allergies.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic steatosis. Ubiquitin-specific protease 29 (USP29) plays pivotal roles in hepatic ischemiareperfusion injury and hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in MASLD remains unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects and underlying mechanisms of USP29 in MASLD progression. Methods: USP29 expression was assessed in liver samples from MASLD patients and mice. The role and molecular mechanism of USP29 in MASLD were assessed in high-fat diet-fed and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-fed mice and palmitic acid and oleic acid treated hepatocytes. Results: USP29 protein levels were significantly reduced in mice and humans with MASLD. Hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis were significantly exacerbated by USP29 deletion and relieved by USP29 overexpression. Mechanistically, USP29 significantly activated the expression of genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) under metabolic stimulation, directly interacted with long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 5 (ACSL5) and repressed ACSL5 degradation by increasing ACSL5 K48-linked deubiquitination. Moreover, the effect of USP29 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation and MASLD was dependent on ACSL5. Conclusions USP29 functions as a novel negative regulator of MASLD by stabilizing ACSL5 to promote FAO. The activation of the USP29-ACSL5 axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for MASLD.

ObjectiveTo understand the infection characteristics and drug resistance of carbapenem-resistant Serratia marcescens (CRSM) in a general hospital in Shanghai, and to provide a theoretical basis for clinical anti-infective treatment and prevention of drug-resistant bacteria. MethodsClinical data on cases with CRSM infections detected in clinical specimens at a gradeⅢ level A general hospital in Shanghai from June 2022 to June 2024 were retrospectively collected, and their clinical distributions, factors of hospital-acquired infections, prognosis, and drug-resistant situation were analyzed simultaneously. ResultsA total of 38 cases with CRSM were detected from June 2022 to June 2024, and the number of CRSM strains accounted for 25.00% (38/152) of the number of SM strains. The 38 CRSM infection samples were all derived from sputum. CRSM were distributed in 9 clinical departments, and the top 3 departments having the highest percentages of CRSM among SM strains, were intensive care unit (ICU) (78.79%, 26/33), gastrointestinal surgery department (57.14%, 4/7), and thyroid hernia surgery department (50.00%, 1/2). Among the 38 patients with CRSM infections, 8 cases were identified as hospital-acquired infection, resulting in a hospital-acquired infection rate of 21.05. The mortality rate of the 38 cases of CRSM infected patients within 30 days after detection of CRSM was 23.68% (9/38). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score ≥6.5 points (OR=15.33, P<0.001), septic shock (OR=4.85, P=0.032), and suffering from neoplastic diseases (OR=0.12, P=0.018) were the related factors for death within 30 days after the detection of CRSM in patients with CRSM infection. The results of drug sensitivity test showed that the 38 cases of CRSM exhibited 100.00% (38/38) sensitivity to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tigecycline, or ceftazidime/avibactam; demonstrated high resistance toβ-lactams except for ceftazidime (18.42%, 7/38), the latter of which was one of the third-generation of cephalosporins; showed elevated resistance to fluoroquinolones [levofloxacin (89.47%, 35/38), ciprofloxacin (94.74%, 36/38)]; maintained good tetracycline sensitivity [doxycycline (97.37%, 37/38), minocycline (76.32%, 29/38)]; and displayed high susceptibility to the aminoglycoside gentamicin (94.74%, 36/38) and elevated resistance to tobramycin (86.84%, 34/38). The detection rate of serine carbapenemase in the 38 strains of CRSM was 100.00%, while all strains tested negative for metallo-β-lactamases. ConclusionFrom June 2022 to June 2024, the detection rate of CRSM in a gradeⅢ level A general hospital in Shanghai was relatively high, especially in the ICU. CRSM has a high resistance rate to commonly used antibacterial drugs such as the first and second-generation cephalosporins, quinolones, and polypeptide antibacterial drugs. Therefore the dynamics of drug-resistant bacteria should be tracked in a timely manner to guide the rational clinical application of antibacterial drugs.

ObjectiveRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing neurocognitive performance in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the neurobiological mechanisms linking synaptic pathology, neural oscillatory dynamics, and brain network reorganization remain unclear. This investigation seeks to systematically evaluate the therapeutic potential of rTMS as a non-invasive neuromodulatory intervention through a multimodal framework integrating clinical assessments, molecular profiling, and neurophysiological monitoring. MethodsIn this prospective double-blind trial, 12 AD patients underwent a 14-day protocol of 20 Hz rTMS, with comprehensive multimodal assessments performed pre- and post-intervention. Cognitive functioning was quantified using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA), while daily living capacities and neuropsychiatric profiles were respectively evaluated through the activities of daily living (ADL) scale and combined neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI)-Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD). Peripheral blood biomarkers, specifically Aβ1-40 and phosphorylated tau (p-tau181), were analyzed to investigate the effects of rTMS on molecular metabolism. Spectral power analysis was employed to investigate rTMS-induced modulations of neural rhythms in AD patients, while brain network analyses incorporating topological properties were conducted to examine stimulus-driven network reorganization. Furthermore, systematic assessment of correlations between cognitive scale scores, blood biomarkers, and network characteristics was performed to elucidate cross-modal therapeutic associations. ResultsClinically, MMSE and MOCA scores improved significantly (P<0.05). Biomarker showed that Aβ1-40 level increased (P<0.05), contrasting with p-tau181 reduction. Moreover, the levels of Aβ1-40 were positively correlated with MMSE and MOCA scores. Post-intervention analyses revealed significant modulations in oscillatory power, characterized by pronounced reductions in delta (P<0.05) and theta bands (P<0.05), while concurrent enhancements were observed in alpha, beta, and gamma band activities (all P<0.05). Network analysis revealed frequency-specific reorganization: clustering coefficients were significantly decreased in delta, theta, and alpha bands (P<0.05), while global efficiency improvement was exclusively detected in the delta band (P<0.05). The alpha band demonstrated concurrent increases in average nodal degree (P<0.05) and characteristic path length reduction (P<0.05). Further research findings indicate that the changes in the clinical scale HAMD scores before and after rTMS stimulation are negatively correlated with the changes in the blood biomarkers Aβ1-40 and p-tau181. Additionally, the changes in the clinical scales MMSE and MoCA scores were negatively correlated with the changes in the node degree of the alpha frequency band and negatively correlated with the clustering coefficient of the delta frequency band. However, the changes in MMSE scores are positively correlated with the changes in global efficiency of both the delta and alpha frequency bands. Conclusion20 Hz rTMS targeting dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) significantly improves cognitive function and enhances the metabolic clearance of β-amyloid and tau proteins in AD patients. This neurotherapeutic effect is mechanistically associated with rTMS-mediated frequency-selective neuromodulation, which enhances the connectivity of oscillatory networks through improved neuronal synchronization and optimized topological organization of functional brain networks. These findings not only support the efficacy of rTMS as an adjunctive therapy for AD but also underscore the importance of employing multiple assessment methods—including clinical scales, blood biomarkers, and EEG——in understanding and monitoring the progression of AD. This research provides a significant theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for further exploration of rTMS applications in AD treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Xiaoyao San (XYS), a herbal medicine formula, on exercise capacity and liver mitochondrial metabolomics in a rat model of depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). METHODS: A total of 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (C), CUMS control group (M), Venlafaxine positive treatment group (V), and XYS treatment group (X). Depressive behaviour and exercise capacity of rats were assessed by body weight, sugar-water preference test, open field test, pole test, and rotarod test. The liver mitochondria metabolomics were analyzed by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. TCMSP database and GeneCards database were used to screen XYS for potential targets for depression, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed. RESULTS: Compared with C group, rats in M group showed significantly lower body weight, sugar water preference rate, number of crossing and rearing in the open field test, climbing down time in the pole test, and retention time on the rotarod test (P < 0.01). The above behaviors and exercise capacity indices were significantly modulated in rats in V and X groups compared with M group (P < 0.05, 0.01). Compared with C group, a total of 18 different metabolites were changed in the liver mitochondria of rats in M group. Nine different metabolites and six metabolic pathways were regulated in the liver mitochondria of rats in X group compared with M group. The results of network pharmacology showed that 88 intersecting targets for depression and XYS were obtained, among which 15 key targets such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF were predicted to be the main differential targets for the treatment of depression. Additionally, a total of 1 553 GO signaling pathways and 181 KEGG signaling pathways were identified, and the main biological pathways were AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. CONCLUSION XYS treatment could improve depressive symptoms, enhance exercise capacity, positively regulate the changes of mitochondrial metabolites and improve energy metabolism in the liver of depressed rats. These findings suggest that XYS exerts antidepressant effects through multi-target and multi-pathway.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of ADRB1 Arg389Gly polymorphisms on the efficacy of bisoprolol， thus providing some information for individualized drug therapy. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed， Embase， Cochrane Library， CBM， CNKI， and Wanfang Data to retrieve and find out all relevant literature about bisoprolol and ADRB1 Arg389Gly polymorphism from the inception to May 2023. The retrieved literature was screened and selected according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria， thereafter quality assessment was conducted. RevMan 5.4 software was utilized to perform the meta- analysis for the outcome index. RESULTS Overall 7 literature with 1 339 cases were included. Among them， 4 studies provided the changes in systolic blood pressure （SBP）， diastolic blood pressure （DBP） （ΔSBP and ΔDBP）； 4 involving the change （ΔLVEF） of left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）. Results of the study showed that there was no statistical significance in the improvement of blood pressure between wild-type group （AA） and mutation group （AG+GG） of ADRB1 Arg389Gly treated with bisoprolol {ΔSBP [SMD＝0.17，95%CI （－0.97，1.31）， P＝0.77]， ΔDBP [SMD＝－0.01，95%CI （－0.65，0.62）， P＝0.97]}； there was no statistical significance in the improvement of ΔLVEF [SMD＝－0.61， 95%CI （－2.74，1.53）， P＝0.58] between 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS ADRB1 Arg389Gly gene polymorphism has no significant influence on the improvement of SBP， DBP， and LVEF in cardiovascular patients who use bisoprolol.

Aim To predict and validate the mechanism of wenshen xuanbi tang(WSXBT) in treatment of osteoporosis (OP) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking techniques and in vivo experimental techniques. Methods Network pharmacology was used to screen the key ingredients and core targets of WSXBT for the treatment of osteoporosis. Metascape database was used for gene ontology (GO) biological process enrichment analysis and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis of core targets. AutoDockTools 1. 5. 7 software was applied in molecular docking to simulate the binding activity of key active ingredients to core targets. To study the efficacy of WSXBT on rats with osteoporosis and to verify the related targets and pathways, rat models of osteoporosis were established by excising the bilateral ovaries of rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum OPG, PINP and RANKL content. Biomechanical tester was applied to test the biomechanics of rat femurs. Micro-CT was applied to detect the femoral bone density. Then, Western blot was employed to measure the protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt). Results A total of 156 active ingredients of WSXBT were screened, involving 229 potential targets, 23 core targets and 145 signaling pathways. The molecular docking results showed that five key ingredients, including quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, isobavachin and licochalcone a, possessed good binding ability to the core targets of PIK3R1 and AKT1. The results of in vivo experiments showed that WSXBT could significantly increase bone density, improve bone tissue microstructure, enhance femur biomechanics and increase PINP expression and OPG/RANKL ratio in rats with osteoporosis. Results of WB showed that WSXBT significantly increased p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt ratios. Conclusions WSXBT could improve bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporotic rats through PI3K/ Akt signaling pathway and increasing OPG/RANKL ratio.