Objective To investigate the mechanism of Yes-associated protein 1(YAP1)ameliorating aristolochic acid 1(AAI)-induced liver injury in mice based on untargeted metabolomics techniques.Methods There were 83-week-old male hepatocyte-specific Yap1 gene knockout mice(genotyped as Yap1Flox/Flox,Albumin-Cre,aka.Yap1LKO)were randomly selected as the Yap1LKO+AAI group,and 8 Yap1Flox control mice as the Yap1Flox+AAI group.Both groups were injected intraperitoneally with AAI at a dose of 2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1 for 14 consecutive days.Genotypes were identified by tail PCR;serum alanine transaminase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST)activities were determined by microplate assay;histopathological changes of liver tissue were observed by HE staining;and the protein expression of YAP1 in liver tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry.The untargeted metabolomics approach was used to analyze the liver tissue differential metabolites,and the samples were analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbit trap high-resolution mass spectrometry,and the differential metabolites were screened by principal component analysis(PCA),Partial least square-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA),and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA);using HMDB database and METLIN database to identify metabolites,and the pathway enrichment of differential metabolites was analyzed by KEGG database.Results(1)After 14 days of AAI induction,the increase of body mass in Yap1LKO mice was lower than that in Yap1Flox mice,but there was no statistical significance(P＞0.05).On day 14,compared with the Yap1Flox+AAI group,the serum ALT and AST enzyme activities in the Yap1LKO+AAI group of mice were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the histopathological damage of the liver was significantly aggravated.The livers of the Yap1Flox mice had a positive protein expression of YAP1,whereas the Yap1LKO mice did not have a positive protein expression of YAP1.(2)A total of 139 differential metabolites with significant changes(VIP＞1 and P＜0.05)were screened by metabonomic analysis;compared with Yap1LKO+ AAI group,62 liver metabolites in Yap1Flox+AAI group were up-regulated,including choline,taurine,hypotaurine,α-linolenic acid,eleostearic acid,chenodeoxycholic acid and so on.Seventy-seven metabolites were down-regulated including glycerophosphocholine,L-phosphatidylcholine,L-glutamine,L-serine,L-glutathione,5-methionine,phenylalanine,glucose 6-phosphate,lactic acid,uric acid glycosides,etc..KEGG-enriched pathways were mainly choline metabolism,glycerophospholipid metabolism,insulin resistance,glutathione metabolism,etc..Conclusion Hepatocyte-specific Yap1 gene knockout exacerbated AAI-induced liver injury in mice,and YAP1 was involved in the regulation of choline metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism through the up-regulation of unsaturated fatty acids,such as choline and taurine,which ameliorated AAI-induced liver injury in mice.

Objective:To study the value of coronary flow reserve (CFR) via dynamic single photon emission computed tomography (D-SPECT) in evaluating coronary microcirculation dysfunction (CMD) in patients with heart failure.Methods:A prospective research method was adopted. One hundred and ninety-four patients with heart failure from September 2019 to September 2020 in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were selected. The patients were tested for CFR using D-SPECT, and CFR<2 was defined as CMD. The general data were recorded, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, heart rate, smoking history, New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart function classification, comorbidities and medication situation. The laboratory test results were recorded, including blood urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, blood uric acid, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). The left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by cardiac ultrasound. After discharge, patients were followed up in outpatient or telephone contact, with the primary endpoint event being a composite endpoint consisting of cardiovascular death and heart failure readmission. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of CFR. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was draw, and the log-rank test was used to evaluate the effect of CFR on prognosis.Results:Among 194 patients, 133 patients had CMD (CMD group), and the incidence of CMD was 68.56%; 61 patients did not have CMD (non-CMD group). There were no statistical differences in gender composition, BMI, smoking history proportion, blood pressure, heart rate, hypertension rate, atrial fibrillation rate, diabetes mellitus rate, renal dysfunction rate, medication situation, LAD, LVEDD, IVST, PASP, blood urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, blood uric acid, eGFR and hs-CRP between two groups ( P>0.05). The age, rate of NYHA heart function classification Ⅲ to Ⅳ grade, rate of myocardial infarction or revascularization history, LVESD, cTnT and NT-proBNP in CMD group were significantly higher than those in non-CMD group: (60.7 ± 14.0) years old vs. (55.9 ± 15.8) years old, 54.89% (73/133) vs. 26.23% (16/61), 22.56% (30/133) vs. 1.64% (1/61), (48.8 ± 13.1) mm vs. (44.6 ± 11.4) mm, 0.023 (0.015, 0.046) μg/L vs. 0.015 (0.010, 0.023) μg/L and 1 591 (751, 3 409) ng/L vs. 1 132 (288, 1 860) ng/L, the LVEF was significantly lower than that in non-CMD group: (40.9 ± 14.2)% vs. (45.5 ± 14.1)%, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis result showed that the cTnT was an risk factor of CFR ( β = - 0.18, 95% CI - 0.82 to - 0.06, P = 0.025). The median followed up time was 230 (136 to 330) d, 10 patients were lost to follow-up, with 58 patients in CMD group completing follow-up and 126 patients in the non-CMD group. The incidences of primary endpoint event and heart failure readmission in CMD group were significantly higher than those in non-CMD group: 23.02% (29/126) vs. 3.45% (2/58) and 15.87% (20/126) vs. 3.45% (2/58), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there was no statistical difference in incidence of cardiovascular death between two groups ( P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis result showed that the event free survival rate in CMD group was significantly lower than that in non-CMD group, and there was statistical difference (log-rank χ2 = 11.92, P<0.01). Conclusions:CMD is highly prevalent in patients with heart failure, and it is associated with poor prognosis. Improving CMD for improving coronary microcirculation may be potential targets for the treatment of heart failure.

Objective To investigate the expression significance and prognostic value of long non-coding RNA tumor susceptibility candidate gene 9(lncRNA CASC9)and YKT6 in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).Methods A total of 110 patients with OSCC treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2016 to January 2018 were selected as the study objects.The mRNA expression of lncRNA CASC9 and YKT6 in OSCC cancer tissue and adjacent tissues was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect YKT6 protein expression in OSCC cancer tissue and adjacent tissues.Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze the influence of different lncRNA CASC9 and YKT6 mRNA expression on the prognosis of OSCC patients.Cox regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors of OSCC.Results The lncRNA CASC9 and YKT6 mRNA expression in OSCC cancer tissues were 3.12±0.57 and 2.69±0.42,respectively,which were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues(1.02±0.25,1.13±0.21),and the differences were statistically significant(t=35.386,34.843,P＜0.05).The positive rate of YKT6 protein in OSCC cancer tissues was 81.82％(90/110),which was higher than that in adjacent tissues[9.09％(10/110)],and the difference was statistically signifi-cant(x2=117.333,P＜0.05).There was a positive correlation between lncRNA CASC9 mRNA expression and YKT6 mRNA expression in OSCC cancer tissues(r=0.788,P＜0.001).The lncRNA CASC9 and YKT6 mRNA expressions in cancer tissues of OSCC with TNM stages m to Ⅳ,low differentiation and lymph node metastasis were higher than those in cancer tissues of OSCC with TNM stages Ⅰ to Ⅱ,high school differenti-ation and no lymph node metastasis,the difference was statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The 5-year cu-mulative survival rate of lncRNA CASC9 high expression group and YKT6 mRNA high expression group was lower than that of lncRNA CASC9 low expression group and YKT6 mRNA low expression group,and the difference was statistically significant(Log-rank X2=7.080,8.741,P=0.008,0.003).High expression of ln-cRNA CASC9,high expression of YKT6 mRNA,TNM stage m to Ⅳ,low differentiation and lymph node me-tastasis were prognostic risk factors in OSCC patients.Conclusion The expression of lncRNA CASC9 and YKT6 in OSCC cancer tissue is elevated,which can be used as tumor markers to evaluate the prognosis of OS-CC patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of AIDS and tuberculosis(TB)co-infection on CD8+T lymphocytes.Methods Serum CD8+T cells and CD4+T cells were analyzed and compared between human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)alone patients(n=200),TB alone patients(n=200),and HIV/TB co-infection patients(n=200).Results CD8+T cells were significantly higher in HIV alone group compared to HIV/TB co-infection group and TB alone group(x2=128.779,P＜0.001).The level of CD8+T lymphocytes in HIV/TB co-infection group and HIV alone group was higher than normal level(ZHIV/TB=8.343,PHIV/TB＜0.001,ZHIV=7.988,PHIV＜0.001).The CD8+T cells in TB alone group decreased significantly compared with normal levels(ZTB=8.682,PTB＜0.001).The levels of CD4+T cells in the three groups of patients were all lower than normal(ZHIV=11.088,PHIV＜0.001,ZTB=5.562,PTB＜0.001,ZHIV/TB=12.077,PHIV/TB＜0.001).The stratified analysis of CD8+T cell levels by CD4+T cell counts,showed that when CD4+T cell count was≤100 cells/μL,the level of CD8+T cells in HIV alone group was higher than that in TB alone group.HIV alone group had higher CD8+T cells than HIV/TB co-infection group,and the level of CD8+T cells in HIV/TB co-infection group was significantly lower than normal(Z0-100=1.604,P0-100=0.109).When CD4+T cells ≥101 cells/μL,HIV/TB co-infection group had higher CD8+T cells than TB alone group.HIV alone group had higher CD8+T cells than TB alone group.When CD4+T cells＞500 cells/μL,CD8+T cell levels were within the normal range in all three groups of patients.Taking the HIV alone group as a reference,with the decrease of CD4+T cell count,the CD8+T cell count decreased more significantly in TB alone group and HIV/TB co-infection group than in HIV alone group(slope was 0.344 and 0.216,respectively,P＜0.001).Conclusions With the decline of CD4+T cells,both HIV/TB co-infection and TB alone are associated with decrease in CD8+T cells,and the decrease in the TB alone group is more prominent.

ObjectiveTo explore the differences in human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype among patients with varying stages of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). MethodsThis retrospective study included 113 patients with CIN who were treated at the Third People’s Hospital of Hangzhou from April 2020 to March 2023. The patients were divided into three groups based on the progression of CIN: CIN Ⅰ (n=30), CIN Ⅱ (n=42), and CIN Ⅲ (n=41). The influencing factors of CIN progression were analyzed, and HPV genotyping was performed logistic regression analysis was used to examine relationship between HPV genotypes and the degree of CIN progression, and the interaction between HPV genotypes and CIN progression-related factors were assessed. ResultsHPV genotype analysis revealed that HPV16, HPV58, HPV18, and HPV52 were the most common genotypes among CIN patients. The proportion of negative HPV cases in CIN I patients (53.33%) was significantly higher than that in CIN Ⅱ (33.33%) and CIN Ⅲ (0) patients. The infection rates and multiple infection rates of HPV16, HPV58, HPV18, and HPV52 (3.33%, 3.33%, 0, 0, 0.) were significantly lower in CIN Ⅰ patients compared to CIN Ⅱ (7.14%, 4.76%, 2.38%, 4.76%, 2.38%) and CIN Ⅲ patients (24.39%, 19.51%, 12.20%, 14.63%, 12.20%) (P<0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, HPV16, HPV18, HPV52, and HPV58 remained significantly associated with the progression of CIN (P<0.05). Having ≥2 sexual partners (OR=3.529, 95%CI: 2.756~6.925, P=0.025), abnormal discharge odor (OR=5.684, 95%CI: 2.439~8.942, P=0.036), contact bleeding (OR=2.679, 95%CI: 1.627~3.192, P=0.018), and chronic cervicitis (OR=3.894, 95%CI: 1.952~4.931, P=0.031) were independent factors influencing the progression of CIN. HPV16, HPV18, HPV52, HPV58 exhibited positive interactions with the number of sexual partners, abnormal discharge odor, contact bleeding, and chronic cervicitis (P<0.05). ConclusionHPV16, HPV58, HPV18, and HPV52 are the most common genotypes of HPV infection in CIN patients, which are positively correlated with the degree of CIN progression. These genotypes are also closely related to factors influencing CIN progression.

Objective:To analyze and determine the clinical and genetic characteristics of children with Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome(HVDAS).Methods:Clinical data of 6 children with HVDAS treated at the First Hospital of Peking University from November 2018 to October 2022 and their family members were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Whole exome sequencing was performed on children and their family members to identify the genetic variants.Genotype and phenotype correlation was analyzed.Results:(1) Clinical analysis results: among the 6 children, there were 5 boys and 1 girl, and their age at diagnosis ranged from 11 months and 17 days to 12 years and 9 months.Six patients all presented with developmental delays/intellectual disabilities; (2) Genetic analysis results: 6 de novo ADNP variants were discovered in 6 children, including 1 initial codon deletion variant c. 1_2del, 2 nonsense variants c. 1175dup, p.(Tyr392*) and c. 2213C>G, p.(Ser738*), and 3 frameshift variants c. 2632dup, p.(Ser878Lysfs*3), c.1695_1696insATGGTATGTATGTATGTATG, p.(Val566Metfs*8) and c. 2120_2123del, p.(Asn707Serfs*8).All variants were classified as pathogenic variants by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.Except the c. 2213C>G, p.(Ser738*), the other 5 variants are all novel variants that have not been reported before. Conclusions:All of the 6 cases of HVDAS showed typical clinical manifestations, and expanded the phenotype spectrum of microcephaly and tall stature.Six de novo mutations were discovered, expanding the ADNP mutation spectrum and providing accurate genetic counseling and prenatal genetic diagnosis of the disease.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of whole exome sequencing (WES), as a molecular diagnosis technique, for adult patients with genetic diseases.Methods:The present retrospective analysis included 445 adult patients (ages 18-80 years) with suspected genetic diseases who underwent whole exome sequencing (WES) from August 2021 to December 2022. The pathogenicity classification of each variant was assessed in accordance with the recommendations developed by the American Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics.Results:The overall positive rate of WES among adult patients with suspected genetic diseases was 28.08% (125/445). The highest positive rate was observed in the age group of 41-50 years (34.33%, 23/67). Among the diagnosed genetic diseases, those affecting the cardiovascular system (63.16%, 84/133), nervous system (18.05%, 24/133), and endocrine system (13.53%, 18/133) ranked as the top three. The most common genetic diseases identified through WES in adult patients were hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (18.80%, 25/133), dilated cardiomyopathy (16.54%, 22/133), Marfan syndrome (15.04%, 20/133), epilepsy (9.02%, 12/133), and familial hypercholesterolemia (4.51%, 6/133). The main causative genes identified included FBN1 (14.29%, 19/133), MYBPC3 (9.02%, 12/133), MYH7 (9.02%, 12/133), LDLR (3.76%, 5/133), TTN (3.76%, 5/133), and TNNI3 (3.01%, 4/133).Conclusion:Applying the WES technique in clinical practice can improve the diagnostic rate of adult genetic diseases, especially in adult patients with suspected genetic conditions involving the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and endocrine system.

The effect of anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) immunotherapy is limited in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression increased in liver tumor cells in early HCC, and Akkermansia muciniphila abundance decreased in the colon. The response to anti-PD-1 treatment is associated with A. muciniphila abundance in many tumors. However, the interaction between A. muciniphila abundance and YAP1 expression remains unclear in HCC. Here, anti-PD-1 treatment decreased A. muciniphila abundance in the colon, but increased YAP1 expression in the tumor cells by mice with liver tumors in situ. Mechanistically, hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout (Yap1^LKO) maintained bile acid homeostasis in the liver, resulting in an increased abundance of A. muciniphila in the colon. Yap1 knockout enhanced anti-PD-1 efficacy. Therefore, YAP1 inhibition is a potential target for increasing A. muciniphila abundance to promote anti-PD-1 efficacy in liver tumors. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), acting as YAP1 inhibitor, increased A. muciniphila abundance to sensitize anti-PD-1 therapy. A. muciniphila by gavage increased the number and activation of CD8⁺ T cells in liver tumor niches during DHA treatment or combination with anti-PD-1. Our findings suggested that the combination anti-PD-1 with DHA is an effective strategy for liver tumor treatment.

The basic information and clinical data of 4 Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) patients in the Pediatric Outpatient Department of the Peking University First Hospital from January 2014 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Genetic diagnoses were performed using the whole exon sequencing assay.The genotype-phenotype correlation analysis was then performed.All patients presented with intellectual disability/developmental delay, especially the most-common manifestation in language disability.Patient 2 had an autism behavior.Four novel variations of the SHANK3 gene were found in this study, including the c. 2861delC p. (S955Pfs*109), c.3166delC p. (A1039Afs*39), c.3711_3723delGCCCAGCCCCCGG p. (L1241Lfs*29) and c. 2223+ 1G>A.All of them were analyzed as new pathogenic variations according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria.The present study expan-ded the mutant spectrum of the SHANK3 gene, which provided a basis for further accurate genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis of PMS.

Objective:To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of three children with 22q13 deletion syndrome. .Methods:Clinical data were collected and copy number variations in the patients and their parents were detected by using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq). The DECIPHER, ClinGen, OMIM, PubMed and Gene Review databases were retrieved for pathogenicity analysis. .Results:The common phenotypes of the three children have included variable global developmental delay, among which speech delay was the most obvious. Patient 1 had abnormalities of corpus callosum shown by magnetic resonance imaging. Patient 2 had dental crowding, pale skin, thick palms, hypotonia, and other facial features. Patient 3 had the mildest symptoms including language dysfunction, which has caught up with the development and improved significantly. All of the three children had harbored de novo deletions of 22q13.33q13.33 region, which spanned 0.84 Mb, 8.70 Mb and 0.90Mb and involved 37, 126, and 34 genes, respectively.Conclusion:Above finding has enriched the clinical and genetic characteristics of 22q13 deletion syndrome and laid a foundation for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.