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- Abstract：Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis is a major food-borne zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis（AC）， representing a significant threat to human health. Upon infection， AC larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and migrate through the liver and lungs to the central nervous system （CNS）. This process leads to various pathological conditions characterized by pronounced eosinophilia， most notably eosinophilic meningitis， encephalitis， ocular complications， and pneumonia. Elucidating the mechanisms of AC-induced tissue damage and its molecular pathogenesis is essential for the prevention and effective treatment of angiostrongyliasis. This review systematically synthesizes recent advances from multi-omics， pathology， and immunology to explore the mechanisms of infection， multi-organ pathogenesis， and host immune regulation. The goal is to provide a theoretical framework for enhancing diagnostic precision， optimizing clinical treatments， and strengthening epidemiological control of this disease.Keywords：Angiostrongylus cantonensis;eosinophilia meningitis;pathogenesis;immunomodulation;multi-omics761|1703|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveSeveral molecular markers were evaluated for their reliability in detecting Angiostrongylus cantonensis in wild rodent feces and for determining the infection status of these rodents.MethodsA total of 128 wild rodents were captured in Huashan Town， Huadu district， Guangzhou. Their fecal samples were collected and total DNA was extracted with the FastDNA SPIN Kit for Soil. PCR amplification was performed to obtain cytb， cox I and ITS2 gene fragments， followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetical analysis.ResultsAmong all 128 fecal samples， only 5 had clean PCR bands and unambiguous cytb sequences suitable for reliable species identification. The infection rate of A. cantonensis was 7.58% （5/66） in Rattus norvegicus， whereas no cytb fragments were detected in Rattus tanezumi， Rattus losea， Suncus murinus and Bandicota indica. These data indicate that R. norvegicus is a highly suitable host for A. cantonensis， and the cytb gene serves as an effective molecular marker for detecting A. cantonensis in wild rodent feces.ConclusionThe cytb is an effective molecular marker for detecting A. cantonensis in wild rodent feces， enabling long-term surveillance of its prevalence and potential public health threat.Keywords：Angiostrongylus cantonensis;cytb;wild rodent;feces;investigation323|601|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Acan-Gal-1 regulates macrophage immune phenotypes and Annexin A2/S100A10 membrane translocation in Angiostrongylus cantonensis.MethodsImmunofluorescence assay （IFA） was performed to determine the subcellular localization of Annexin A2 and S100A10 in macrophages. Flow cytometry and ELISA were used to assess functional changes in macrophage. siRNA interference of Annexin A2 was used to detect the effect of Acan-Gal-1 on various indicators. The expression levels of related genes and proteins were analyzed by Western blot， qRT-PCR， and ELISA methods. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted to characterize the structural features of Acan-Gal-1， and sequence alignment and molecular interaction prediction were performed to explore its potential interaction with Annexin A2.ResultsThis study found that Acan-Gal-1 can reverse LPS-induced promotion of macrophage migration and phagocytic function； it significantly upregulated M2-type markers in macrophages （Arg-1， IL-10， TGF-β） while inhibiting the expression of M1-type markers （iNOS， IL-6， IL-1β） induced by LPS. Acan-Gal-1 reduced the protein levels of Annexin A2 in macrophages under an immunologically activated state； after interfering with Annexin A2 expression， Acan-Gal-1 not only fails to induce macrophages to transition to an immunologically inhibitory phenotype but also fails to inhibit LPS-induced transition of macrophages to an immunologically activated phenotype. Although Acan-Gal-1 did not affect the expression of Annexin A2 or its chaperone protein S100A10 in macrophages， it markedly promoted their translocation to the plasma membrane.ConclusionsAcan-Gal-1 facilitates the enrichment of the Annexin A2/S100A10 complex at the macrophage membrane， thereby exerting immunomodulatory effects on macrophage polarization.Keywords：Acan-Gal-1;macrophage polarization;annexin A2;S100 calcium binding protein A10;classically activated macrophage;alternatively activated macrophage;Angiostrongylus cantonensis295|750|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
Key Food-borne Parasitic Diseases: A Special Topic on Prevention and Control of Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis
- Abstract：The central nervous system （CNS） has long been regarded as an "immune privilege" region. However， evidence in the past decade has demonstrated that the CNS maintains intricate communication with the peripheral immune system through a series of border structures. These CNS border structures include meninges， choroid plexus， perivascular spaces， skull bone marrow， and deep cervical lymph nodes. They not only serve as physical barriers but also as niches enriched in immune cells， functioning as critical hubs for antigen drainage and signal transmission. Under homeostatic conditions， these structures work synergistically to sustain immune balance and neural function. In pathological states， they mediate inflammatory responses， immune cell recruitment， and tissue repair， playing pivotal roles in the initiation and progression of major CNS disorders such as ischemic stroke， tumors， infections， neuroinflammation， and neurodegenerative diseases. This review systematically summarizes the anatomical organization and immune features of CNS border structures， with a focus on their functions in both homeostatic and pathological conditions. Incorporating the latest research findings， we also explore their potential as therapeutic targets for CNS diseases.Keywords：central nervous system;border structure;border-associated immunity;neuroimmune interaction;immune microenvironment413|2872|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide， yet their pathogenic mechanisms and functional repair remain incompletely understood. The emergence and development of human induced pluripotent stem cells （hiPSC） have provided unprecedented opportunities for cardiovascular disease research， and markedly enhanced our understanding of cardiovascular disease mechanisms. This review summarizes recent advances in cardiovascular cells and cardiac organoids derived from hiPSC， and presents our team's related research findings in this field. It highlights the induction and differentiation of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and non-myocytes， as well as their roles in disease modeling， functional repair， drug screening， and mechanistic investigation. Furthermore， the current applications of hiPSC-derived cardiac organoids in cardiovascular disease research are also discussed.Keywords：human induced pluripotent stem cell;cardiovascular diseases;cardiomyocytes;non-myocytes;cardiac organoids478|900|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
Invited Review
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo describe the characteristics of cardiorespiratory fitness levels in the baseline population of the South China Cohort， and to identify the potential contributing factors.MethodsFace-to-face surveys and physical examinations were conducted to collect information on demographic characteristics， medical histories， medications， lifestyles， and physical activity conditions. After excluding individuals with missing cardiorespiratory fitness-related data and covariates including physical activity and dietary information， a total of 77 024 participants aged 25 to 85 were included. Cardiorespiratory fitness levels were evaluated using a non-exercise algorithm， and low cardiorespiratory fitness level was defined as below the lower tertile of the population distribution. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the distribution of low cardiorespiratory fitness level， and log-binomial regression and ordered logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness with demographic characteristics， socioeconomic factors， lifestyle factors （including alcohol consumption and dietary diversity）， and chronic diseases conditions （including diabetes， hypertension， pulmonary diseases， and cardiovascular diseases）.ResultsCardiorespiratory fitness levels showed a sufficiently normal distribution in both male and female group. We found that the proportion of low cardiorespiratory fitness level was higher among Han ethnicity， those with an educational level below 9th grade， households with an annual income of more than 100 000 Yuan， as well as those who drank alcohol at least one time per week and who exhibited low dietary diversity （all P＜0.001）. Ethnicity， socioeconomic status， lifestyle factors， and chronic diseases were found to be statistically associated with cardiorespiratory fitness levels in the South China population （all P＜0.001）.ConclusionCardiorespiratory fitness levels varied across different population groups in South China， with ethnicity， socioeconomic status， lifestyle factors， and chronic diseases serving as key determinants. Therefore， it is recommended that the public pay attention to cardiorespiratory fitness， as strengthening population-level monitoring and interventions for cardiorespiratory fitness carries significant public health implications.Keywords：cardiorespiratory fitness;South China;distribution;contributing factors;population characteristic173|462|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo investigate the temporal trend of weight-adjusted-waist index （WWI） and its association with the risk of incident cardiovascular diseases （CVD） among middle-aged and older Chinese adults.MethodsBased on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study （CHARLS）， this research enrolled participants aged 45 and above with complete physical measurement data from the 2011， 2013， and 2015 waves. Complex sampling weights were applied to calculate the mean WWI， and the Mann-Kendall test was used to analyze its trend. From the 2011 baseline survey， individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease or missing key covariates were further excluded. New-onset cardiovascular outcome events were collected during follow-up until 2020. Participants were categorized into Q1–Q4 groups based on baseline WWI quartiles. Multivariable log-binomial regression models were constructed to assess the association between WWI and CVD， while restricted cubic splines were employed to evaluate potential nonlinear relationships. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to verify the robustness of the findings.ResultsFrom 2011 to 2015， the weighted mean WWI among Chinese middle-aged and older adults remained generally stable （2011： 11.17±1.68； 2013： 11.28±1.35； 2015： 11.24±1.59； P for trend <0.05）. During the longitudinal follow-up， 1 784 incident CVD cases were documented. After multivariable adjustment， each unit increase in WWI was associated with a 17% increased risk of CVD （RR： 1.17， 95%CI： 1.10-1.24）. Compared with the Q1 group， the risk of CVD in the Q2， Q3， and Q4 groups increased by 23% （RR： 1.23， 95% CI： 1.07-1.40）， 27% （RR： 1.27， 95% CI： 1.11-1.44）， and 40% （RR： 1.40， 95% CI： 1.22-1.60）， respectively. A significant linear trend was observed between the increasing WWI and elevated CVD risk （P for trend <0.001）. Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger association in participants aged 45-60 years （P for interaction <0.05）. The results of sensitivity analysis were consistent with the main research results.ConclusionsThe overall trend of WWI level in the middle-aged and elderly population in China is stable from 2011 to 2015. The higher level of WWI is associated with an increased risk of CVD， suggesting that WWI may be used as a simple and effective indicator to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular metabolism in middle-aged and elderly people.Keywords：weight-adjusted-waist index;cardiovascular diseases;obesity;China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study;longitudinal study279|835|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
Healthy China 2030: A Special Topic on the Whole-cycle Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases
- Abstract：In recent years， with the emergence of large language models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek into the public domain， artificial intelligence （AI） has become one of the most rapidly developing fields of the 21st century. As AI continues to evolve， new models are constantly emerging， particularly through the integration of multimodal data that enables more comprehensive information capture and analysis， demonstrating significant value in supporting clinical anesthesia decision-making. Preoperatively， AI can assist in evaluating patients’ overall health status， aid in selecting appropriate anesthesia methods， and predict potential risks such as difficult airways. Intraoperatively， AI can collaborate with anesthesiologists to monitor physiological parameters and optimize anesthesia management strategies， especially in predicting hypotension and improving automated drug infusion control systems. Postoperatively， AI can predict pulmonary complications， postoperative delirium， and major adverse cardiovascular events， thereby accelerating recovery and improving long-term survival.This article analyzes recent advances in AI technology in medicine worldwide， systematically reviews its application scenarios in clinical anesthesia， and provides detailed accounts of progress in preoperative risk assessment， formulation of personalized anesthesia plans， intraoperative monitoring and decision support， postoperative recovery， and long-term follow-up. It further highlights the need for future research to strengthen multimodal database construction， enhance model generalizability， develop explainable frameworks， and improve ethical governance. By summarizing current achievements and challenges， this review offers valuable reference for anesthesiologists and researchers， underscores the role of AI in driving the intelligent transformation of anesthesiology， and provides guidance for subsequent research directions.Keywords：artificial intelligence;deep learning;anesthesia;perioperative management;pain diagnosis treatment946|3187|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：Ischemic stroke （IS） is the second leading cause of death worldwide， characterized by high morbidity and disability rates. Small ubiquitin-related modifier （SUMO） modification， a crucial post-translational modification， plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of IS. This review elucidates the relationship between SUMOylation and IS by detailing how SUMOylation regulates key pathological processes， including neuroinflammation， mitochondrial dynamics， apoptosis， oxidative stress， and angiogenesis. Furthermore， it summarizes potential therapeutic targets of SUMOylation for IS treatment， aiming to provide new directions for clinical management.Keywords：ischemic stroke;SUMOylation;pathological mechanism;therapeutic target;review283|875|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：Cancer bone metastasis is a common and lethal complication of advanced solid tumors including breast， prostate， and lung cancers， severely impacting patients’ quality of life and survival outcomes. The bone metastasis microenvironment （BME） is characterized by high heterogeneity and profound immunosuppression， which serves as a fertile soil for tumor colonization and growth， and is a key reason for the poor response to conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy， as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors. This review systematically elaborates on the composition and functional remodeling of key cellular components within the BME， including the transformation of myeloid cells from immune surveillance cells to tumor-promoting “accomplices”， the functional exhaustion of T lymphocytes （especially CD8+ T cells） and the immunosuppression mediated by regulatory T cells， as well as the pathological reprogramming of bone-resident cells such as osteoclasts， osteocytes， and osteoblasts under the influence of tumor cells. The review highlights the intricate interaction networks among these cells and unveils the pivotal roles of key signaling axes， DKK1/CHI3L3， osteopontin， and TIGIT/PD-1， in mediating CD8+ T cell dysfunction and facilitating local and systemic immune evasion. Based on this， this article comprehensively summarizes the emerging therapeutic strategies for this complex microenvironment， mainly including： targeting specific subsets of immune cells to reverse immunosuppression， combining multiple immune checkpoint blockades， intervening in the pathological behaviors of bone resident cells， as well as cutting-edge technical platforms such as bone-targeted drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology and engineered cell therapies. By systematically synthesizing current research advances， this review aims to provide a solid theoretical foundation and forward-looking directions for deepening the understanding of the immunology of cancer bone metastasis and developing effective and precise treatment strategies.Keywords：cancer bone metastasis;immune microenvironment;myeloid cells;immunotherapy;targeted therapy626|1947|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：Spinal cord injury （SCI）， a prevalent neurological disorder， is primarily caused by mechanical trauma， leading to extensive impairments in sensory， motor， and autonomic functions， significantly compromising patients' quality of life. Accumulating evidence indicates that various forms of regulated cell death （RCD）， including apoptosis， necroptosis， autophagy， pyroptosis， ferroptosis， and copper-dependent cell death， play critical roles in the pathogenesis and progression of SCI， with notable interplay among these pathways. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of RCD-related mechanisms in SCI and highlight recent advances in therapeutic strategies targeting cell death inhibitors， stem cell transplantation， and tissue engineering approaches， thereby providing insights for future basic research and clinical interventions.Keywords：spinal cord injury （SCI）;regulated cell death （RCD）;apoptosis;autophagy;pyroptosis;ferroptosis;cuproptosis;research progress220|1240|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
Review
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo investigate the changes and effects of fatty acid metabolism in folic acid （FA）-induced kidney injury and diabetic nephropathy （DN） mouse models.MethodsThe FA-induced kidney injury model was established via intraperitoneal injection of FA. Nine adult C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated to two groups： saline control group （Saline， n=5） and FA intervention group （n=4）. Mice in the FA group received a single intraperitoneal injection of FA （250 mg/kg）， whereas those in the Saline group were administered an equivalent volume of normal saline. The DN model was constructed using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin （STZ） injection. Eleven adult C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups： normal diet control group （ND， n=6） and DN model group （DN， n=5）. The ND group was fed a normal diet throughout the experiment； the DN group was maintained on a high-fat diet for 8 weeks， followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ （100 mg/kg）， and then continued on the high-fat diet until week 16. （1） Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） and sirius red staining were used to observe pathological changes in the kidneys of the four groups of mice. （2） RNA-Seq was performed on mouse kidney tissues to screen for differentially expressed genes （DEGs）， followed by Gene Ontology （GO）， Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG）， and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis （GSEA）. RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of fatty acid synthesis and fibrosis-related genes. Lipid droplet accumulation was assessed by Oil Red O staining on frozen kidney sections. （3） Human renal cortical proximal tubular epithelial cells （HK-2） and proximal tubular epithelial cells （PTECs） were treated with 10 ng/mL recombinant human TGF-β1 or high glucose. RT-qPCR was used to measure the mRNA levels of fatty acid synthesis and fibrosis-related genes in HK-2 cells. Lipid droplet accumulation in HK-2 cells and PTECs was detected using Bodipy 493/503 staining. （4） HK-2 cells were treated with 100 µmol/L palmitic acid （PA）. Bodipy 493/503 staining was used to evaluate lipid droplet accumulation. （5） SA-β-gal staining was used to assess senescence in kidney tissues from all four mouse groups. Cellular senescence and the expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype （SASP） factors in PA-treated HK-2 cells were assessed using SA-β-gal staining， Western blot， and RT-qPCR. The effect of PA-treated PTECs on renal fibroblast activation was assessed by immunofluorescence.Results（1） Both FA and DN groups showed pathological changes in kidney tissue， including renal tubular structural damage and collagen fiber deposition. （2） DEGs in both FA and DN groups were significantly enriched in metabolism-related pathways， especially lipid metabolism pathways. Compared to the Saline control， the expression of fatty acid synthesis genes Srebp1 and Fasn was significantly upregulated in the FA group （Srebp1： t=2.445， P=0.044 4； Fasn： t=2.571， P=0.037 0）. Compared to the ND group， Srebp1， Acc1， and Fasn gene expression was upregulated in the DN group （Srebp1： t=3.354， P=0.010 0； Acc1： t=2.602， P=0.031 5； Fasn： t=2.358， P=0.046 1）. The fibrosis-related gene Col1a1 was also upregulated in both FA and DN groups （FA： t=2.628， P=0.034 0； DN： t=3.602， P=0.007 0）， accompanied by pathological signs of lipid accumulation. （3） In HK-2 cells treated with TGF-β1 or high glucose， the mRNA expression levels of SREBP1 （F=15.41， P=0.004 3； TGFβ： P=0.002 9； HG： P=0.045 2）， ACC1 （F=30.30， P=0.000 7； HG： P=0.001 4）， and FASN （F=18.76， P=0.002 6； TGFβ： P=0.001 7； HG： P=0.031 0） were significantly upregulated. Both treatments also induced lipid accumulation in HK-2 cells and PTECs. （4） There was an increase in senescent cells in the kidneys of both the FA and DN groups. PA treatment induced lipid accumulation， accelerated senescence， and activated fibroblasts in renal tubular epithelial cells.ConclusionsTranscriptional abnormalities of lipid metabolism-related genes were observed in the kidneys of both FA-induced kidney injury and diabetic nephropathy models. Excessive fatty acid synthesis leads to lipid accumulation， which induces senescence in PTECs and ultimately promotes the development and progression of fibrosis.Keywords：folic acid-induced kidney injury;diabetic nephropathy;fatty acid metabolism;lipid accumulation;cellular senescence;fibrosis243|1067|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Astragaloside Ⅳ （AS-Ⅳ） on D-galactose （D-gal）-induced cardiomyocytes senescence and its potential mechanisms.MethodsUsing H9C2 cardiomyocytes as a model， D-gal was used to induce cardiomyocyte senescence. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay， senescenceextent was evaluated via β-galactosidase （SA-β-Gal） staining， reactive oxygen species （ROS） levels were measured to assess intracellular oxidative stress， apoptosis extent was determined using the TUNEL assay， and qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses were conducted to examine the expression levels of senescence-related genes and proteins （p21、p53） and key genes （STING， CXCL10， and MX-1） and proteins （STING， cGAS， p-IRF3/IRF3） of the stimulator of interferon genes （STING） pathway.ResultsThe 50 g/L D-gal significantly reduced myocardial cell viability， increased SA-β-Gal positivity， apoptosis rate， and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels， and upregulated the expression of p16， p21， and STING， cGAS， p-IRF3/IRF3 pathway proteins （P< 0.05）； After intervention with 200 μmol/L of AS-Ⅳ， cell viability was significantly enhanced， the SA-β-Gal-positive rate decreased， intracellular reactive oxygen species levels decreased， oxidative stress damage was alleviated， myocardial cell apoptosis was inhibited， and the mRNA and protein levels of aging-related p21 and p53 were downregulated （P＜0.05）. Further detection of STING pathway-related molecules showed that 200 μmol/L of AS-IV inhibited D-galactose-induced STING mRNA and protein expression and reduced p-IRF3/IRF3 protein expression levels， as demonstrated by qRT-PCR and Western blot results. However， the SA-β-Gal positivity rate， intracellular reactive oxygen species （ROS） levels， DNA damage results， and Western blot findings suggested that the STING agonist （STING agonist-7） could reverse the ameliorative effects of AS-Ⅳ on D-galactose-induced cardiomyocytes senescence.ConclusionAS-Ⅳ may mitigate D-gal-induced cardiomyocytes senescence by inhibiting STING pathway activation， providinga new strategy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular senescence-related diseases.Keywords：Astragaloside Ⅳ;D-galactose;STING pathway;cardiomyocytes;senescence344|971|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
Preclinic Research
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo explore the clinical potential of magnetic resonance elastography （MRE） for assessing the stiffness of common intracranial tumors.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 47 patients with brain tumors who underwent surgical treatment at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between April 2023 and September 2024. The cohort included 10 cases of glioma， 12 cases of vestibular schwannoma， and 25 cases of meningioma. All patients underwent multiparameter MRI and MRE preoperatively. After co-registering MRE images with contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted images， three regions of interest （ROIs） were placed in the areas of maximum and minimum tumor stiffness respectively to measure the shear stiffness values， and the mean was calculated as the average shear stiffness. Additionally， one ROI was placed in the white matter and one in the grey matter of the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle at the basal ganglia level to obtain normal reference values. A neurosurgeon， blind to the MRE results， graded the intraoperative tumor stiffness based on surgical videos using a 5-point scale （1： soft； 5： hard）. Intraclass correlation coefficient （ICC） was used to assess inter-observer consistency. Analysis of variance （ANOVA） and nonparametric tests were employed to compare the differences of shear stiffness values between groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation between elasticity values and clinicopathological parameters. The discriminatory efficacy of shear stiffness values for tumor types was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves.ResultsThe ICCs for elasticity values measured by two physicians in the hardest and softest tumor areas were 0.868 and 0.831， respectively （both P＜ 0.01）. The maximum， minimum， and average shear stiffness values of meningiomas［（1.91±0.28） m/s， （1.66±0.25） m/s， （1.78±0.26） m/s， respectively］ were significantly higher than those of gliomas［（1.59±0.23） m/s， （1.42±0.23） m/s， （1.50±0.22） m/s， respectively （P＜0.05）］. The shear stiffness values of vestibular schwannomas［（1.70±0.30） m/s， （1.51±0.23） m/s， （1.61±0.26） m/s， respectively） were lower than those of meningiomas and higher than those of gliomas， but these differences were not statistically significant （both P＞0.05）. The shear stiffness values of white matter were significantly higher than that of grey matter［（1.63±0.08） m/s vs. （1.39±0.12） m/s， P＜0.05）］. In the overall sample， the maximum， minimum， and average shear stiffness values were significantly positively correlated with the intraoperative hardness grade （rs = 0.591， rs = 0.541， rs = 0.571， respectively； all P＜0.001）， negatively correlated with WHO grade （rs = -0.458， rs = -0.458， rs = -0.480， respectively； all P＜0.01）， but showed no correlation with Ki-67 （all P＞0.05）.ConclusionMRE can be used to assess the stiffness of intracranial tumors and to some extent differentiate between tumor types， which aids in formulating more individualized preoperative surgical plans.Keywords：magnetic resonance elastography;glioma;vestibular schwannoma;meningioma;stiffness264|796|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing（mNGS） in patients with sepsis admitted to the Emergency Intensive Care Unit（EICU），evaluate its role in guiding precision antimicrobial therapy， and to identify key factors influencing mNGS positivity and patient prognosis.MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed clinical data from 524 patients with sepsis admitted to the EICU of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital， Sun Yat-sen University， from November 2020 to October 2024. The positive detection rate， pathogen spectrum， and concordance between mNGS and conventional culture were compared. Factors including infection site， underlying diseases， and immune status associated with mNGS positivity were evaluated. The impact of adjusting antimicrobial therapy based on mNGS results on patient prognosis was also analyzed.ResultsThe positive detection rate of mNGS was significantly higher than that of conventional culture （85.11% vs. 47.14%， P ＜ 0.001）. mNGS enabled rapid identification of rare pathogens and mixed infections， with higher positivity observed in immunosuppressed patients and those with hematological disorders （P ＜ 0.05）. Adjustment of antimicrobial therapy based on mNGS results showed no significant difference in short-term clinical response； however， 28-day mortality differed significantly among groups （adjusted group 39.1%， non-adjusted group 76.3%， supportive group 31.4%； χ²= 22.44， P ＜ 0.001）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age and mechanical ventilation as independent factors associated with pathogen positivity. Age， coronary heart disease， SOFA score， bilirubin level， and the use of mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality， whereas platelet count and renal function showed protective associations. Patients whose antimicrobial therapy was adjusted based on mNGS results demonstrated a trend toward clinical improvement， shorter antibiotic duration， faster fever resolution， and lower 28-day case fatality rate.ConclusionmNGS demonstrates high sensitivity and broad pathogen coverage for etiological diagnosis in EICU sepsis patients and provides critical support for precision antimicrobial therapy. Patient age， underlying diseases， disease severity， and organ function are key determinants of pathogen detection and short-term prognosis， offering valuable guidance for risk stratification and optimization of therapeutic strategies.Keywords：mNGS;sepsis;EICU;pathogen detection;precision antimicrobial therapy891|1742|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo explore the long-term dynamic trajectories of fasting blood glucose （FBG） and insulin resistance （IR） in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） and their influencing factors.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 1 896 T2DM patients registered at Tongren Hospital from May 2020 to May 2025. Based on longitudinal follow-up data of FBG and fasting insulin， joint latent class mixed models （JLMM） were applied to identify FBG-IR trajectories. Univariate and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine demographic characteristics， lifestyle， and clinical determinants of trajectory type.ResultsFour distinct FBG-IR trajectories were identified： stable FBG-IR （9.76%）， rising FBG-stable IR （5.01%）， stable FBG-elevated IR （75.90%）， and elevated FBG-IR （9.34%）. Compared with the stable FBG-IR group， age ≥60 years was protective against the elevated FBG-stable IR trajectory （OR=0.55， 95%CI：0.33-0.92， P=0.023）. Highereducation increased the risk of stable FBG-elevated IR （OR=1.40， 95%CI：1.01-1.94， P=0.046）. Abnormal blood pressure was associated with lower risks of stable FBG-elevated IR （OR=0.66， 95%CI：0.48-0.92， P=0.013） and elevated FBG-IR （OR=0.48， 95%CI：0.31-0.74， P=0.001）. Non-drinkers were less likely to belong to the stable FBG-elevated IR trajectory （OR=0.39， 95%CI：0.16-0.95， P=0.038）.ConclusionsThe evolution trajectory of FBG and IR in T2DM patients shows significant heterogeneity. The majority of patients have a deterioration of IR first. Age， education level， blood pressure， and alcohol consumption are the main influencing factors. Joint assessment of FBG and IR is helpful for early identification of high-risk individuals and guiding individualized intervention.Keywords：type 2 diabetes mellitus;fasting blood glucose;insulin resistance;trajectory analysis;risk factors321|1088|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo investigate the mutation status of the MET gene in tumor patients， with a focus on its expression in lung cancer tissues and its impact on patient prognosis， providing theoretical basis and potential targets for precise diagnosis and treatment of the tumors.MethodsA total of 1，627 tumor patient samples were collected from January 2021 to September 2025. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to conduct DNA-level gene detection on 137 tumor patients with MET mutations. The distribution of mutation sites in exons and introns， as well as the occurrence frequencies of MET gene amplification and gene fusion were analyzed， with particular attention paid to the mutation frequencies of each exon and the high-frequency variant types. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to analyze the expression levels of c-MET protein in tumor tissues of the 137 patients. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted on tumor tissues of 9 patients with MET gene exon 14 skipping mutations to study the association between c-MET protein expression and this specific mutation type. RNA sequencing results， immunohistochemical staining data， and follow-up prognosis of lung cancer from the GEPIA2 database and TCGA database were comprehensively analyzed to explore the potential relationship between MET gene expression in tumor tissues and patient prognosis.ResultsAmong 1，627 tumor patients， 137 MET mutation patients were detected， including 93 males with an average age of （66.85±9.61） years and 44 females with an average age of （59.43±11.08） years. Lung cancer was the most common tumor type （117 cases）. MET gene expression was lower in breast cancer and glioblastoma multiforme， but higher in lung cancer and colorectal cancer as compared with the expression in normal tissues. Survival analysis showed that patients with high MET gene expression in lung adenocarcinoma had a shorter overall survival time than those with low expression. A total of 961 mutations were detected by next-generation sequencing， including 547 exon mutations and 374 intron mutations. MET gene amplification was found in 13 cases and gene fusion in 27 cases. The highest mutation frequency was in exon 2， followed by exon 5， exon 4， and exon 19. High-frequency variant types included c.2890C>A （p.L964M） on exon 4 and c.3028G>T （p.D1010Y） on exon 5. The c-MET protein expression was closely related to the type of gene mutation. Missense mutations often led to positive or strongly positive c-MET protein expression， while nonsense mutations often resulted in weak or absent c-MET protein expression. Among the 9 patients with MET gene exon 14 skipping mutations， the c-MET protein expression score was mostly 0 - 1， with only 1 case scoring 2. Among the 117 lung cancer patients， the incidence rate was higher in males than in females， and more common among stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ patients than among stage I-Ⅱ patients. Out of the 41 patients treated with surgery + targeted drugs （gutemitinib， savolitinib）， 8 cases of recurrence or metastasis were found during follow-up.ConclusionMET gene mutations exhibit specific mutation characteristics in different tumor types， and its expression levels show significant differences between various tumor tissues and normal tissues. It is closely related to the poor prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients. We found that c-MET protein expression is closely related to the type of MET gene mutation， especially in patients with MET gene exon 14 skipping mutations， which presents a characteristic expression pattern. This provides an important basis for the preliminary screening using immunohistochemistry in clinical practice.Keywords：tumor;MET mutation;lung cancer;clinical pathological features;14th exon skipping mutation268|615|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of droplet digital PCR （ddPCR） for detecting Candida infections in critically ill patients.MethodsA ddPCR assay for Candida detection was established and optimized， including design of primers and probes， optimization of PCR reaction， and validation of analytical specificity and cutoff threshold. Clinical specimens were analyzed by ddPCR and fungal culture in parallel to assess clinical performance and reliability.ResultsThe ddPCR assay demonstrated high analytical specificity for Candida detection. The sensitivity and specificity of ddPCR for detecting Candida in clinical samples were 0.583 （95%CI： 0.433， 0.721） and 0.962 （95%CI： 0.924， 0. 982）. The ddPCR detection results were consistent with the fungal culture results （Kappa=0.604， P<0.05）. The total assay time for ddPCR was approximately 7 hours， substantially shorter than conventional fungal culture.ConclusionThe ddPCR assay provides reliable and rapid detection of Candida in critically ill patients with markedly reduced turnaround time compared with conventional culture. Given its high specificity and operational efficiency， the ddPCR-based method holds significant potential for clinical implementation as a complementary diagnostic tool.Keywords：Candida;droplet digital PCR;clinical diagnosis;candidiasis;candidemia234|388|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
- Abstract：ObjectiveTo explore the advantages and feasibility of visual nephroscope-assisted one-step puncture in the establishment of percutaneous nephrolithotomy （PCNL） channels.MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent PCNL in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2024 to June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether the visual nephroscope-assisted one-step puncture was used to establish the percutaneous renal channel， the patients were divided into an observation group （n=32） and a control group （n=50）. The clinical data （such as Guy's stone score of kidney stones， degree of hydronephrosis， number of channels， etc.） and postoperative recovery conditions （such as postoperative complications， degree of hemoglobin decrease， acute kidney injury， etc.） of the two groups were compared.ResultsA total of 51 channels were established in the observation group， and all channels were successfully established. A total of 59 channels were established in the control group， among which 2 cases lost the channel during dilation and were punctured again. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in age （P=0.049）， number of channels （P=0.034） and size of channels （P<0.001）， while there were no significant differences in other general data. The results of postoperative complications in the observation group and the control group showed that： in the observation group， the incidences of acute kidney injury， systemic inflammatory response syndrome （SIRS）， and pleural effusion were 12.50% （4/32）， 9.38% （3/32）， and 6.25% （2/32） respectively， and the incidences of blood transfusion， embolism， and perirenal hematoma were all 0； in the control group， the incidences of acute kidney injury， SIRS， and pleural effusion were 8.00% （4/50）， 6.00% （3/50）， and 2.00% （1/50） respectively， the incidences of blood transfusion and embolism were 2.00% （1/50 for each）， and the incidence of perirenal hematoma was 4.00% （2/50）.ConclusionVisual nephroscope-assisted one-step puncture may quickly and accurately establish the percutaneous renal channel， which is effective and safe in PCNL.Keywords：percutaneous renal access;urinary calculi;visual nephroscope;one-step technique214|308|0<HTML><L-PDF> <Meta-XML>Updated：2026-01-20
Clinical Research
