Objective To investigate the effect of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (hnRNP U) on the migration and proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods Based on the TCGA database, a pan-cancer analysis was performed for the expression level of the hnRNP U gene in various tumor tissues. The datasets of patients with NSCLC subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) were collected, and the Kaplan-Meier curves was used for survival analysis. Western blot was used to measure the relative protein expression level of hnRNP U in NSCLC cell lines (H460, A549, H1299, Anip973, PC9) and the human normal lung epithelial cell line Beas-2B. H1299 cells were divided into groups A and B, and A549 cells were divided into groups C and D. The cells in groups A and C were transfected with an empty Myc vector, while those in groups B and D were transfected with a Myc-hnRNP U overexpression plasmid. Cell scratch assay and plate colony formation assay were used to measure the migration and proliferation abilities of cells in each group. Results The analysis based on the TCGA database showed that in the patients with LUAD and LUSC, the expression level of hnRNP U in tumor tissue was significantly higher than that in the corresponding adjacent normal tissue (P<0.05), and the expression level of hnRNP U in tumor tissue was significantly negatively correlated with the disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate of LUAD patients and the overall survival rate of LUSC patients (P<0.05). The results of Western blot showed that compared with Beas-2B cells, there was a significant increase in the relative protein expression level of hnRNP U in A549, Anip973, H460, and H1299 cells (F=28.118,t_LSD=-8.576--2.462,P<0.05). The results of cell scratch assay and plate colony formation assay showed that compared with group A, group B had significant increases in cell migration rate and the number of plate colonies, and compared with group C, group D had significant increases in these two indicators (t=-13.539-3.859,P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of hnRNP U is upregulated in both the tumor tissue of NSCLC patients and NSCLC cell lines, and the high expression of hnRNP U can promote the migration and proliferation of NSCLC cells.

Objective To investigate the effect of circCDYL on the activation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and its underlying mechanism. Methods Cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from neonatal SD rats and cultured. The cells were divided into groups A to D. Group A was not treated with reagents, Group B was treated with angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ), Group C was transfected with si-NC and then treated with Ang Ⅱ, Group D was transfected with si-circCDYL and then treated with Ang Ⅱ. RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression level of circCDYL and the relative mRNA expression levels of extracellular matrix-related genes (Col1a1, Col3a1, FN1). Cell proliferation was assessed using EdU staining and the CCK-8 assay. The expression level of α-SMA was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The phosphorylation level of Smad2 protein was detected by Western blot. Results RT-qPCR showed that the relative expression of circCDYL in rat cardiac fibroblasts gradually increased over time after Ang Ⅱ treatment for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h (F=338.30,P<0.05). Compared with group C, group D showed significantly reduced relative expression of circCDYL (F=16.06,q=5.98,P<0.05). EdU staining showed that the proportion of EdU-positive cells in group D was significantly reduced compared with that in group C (F=14.76,q=7.19,P<0.05). CCK-8 assay showed that between 12 and 72 h of culture, the absorbance values of group D were significantly lower than those of group C (F=24.19-303.60,q=25.35-31.75,P<0.05). RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot respectively showed that compared with group C, group D exhibited significantly reduced relative mRNA expression levels of Col1a1, Col3a1, and FN1, mean fluorescence intensity of α-SMA, and p-Smad2/Smad2 ratio (F=16.66-86.28,q=5.48-10.99,P<0.05). Conclusion circCDYL promotes the activation of rat cardiac fibroblasts, and the mechanism may be related to the promotion of Smad2 phosphorylation in the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of parthenolide (PN) on ferroptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells and its mechanism of action. Methods A549 cells were treated with different concentrations of PN and deferoxamine (DFO), and CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell viability. A549 cells were divided into groups A, B, C, and D. The cells in group A were not given any drug treatment. The cells in group B were treated with PN (30 μmol/L). The cells in groups C and D were pretreated with DFO (50 μmol/L) for 1 hour; then, the cells in group C were further treated with DFO (50 μmol/L), while those in group D were treated with PN (30 μmol/L)+DFO (50 μmol/L). Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe mitochondrial structure; JC-1 assay was used to measure mitochondrial membrane potential; DCFH-DA staining, ferrous iron fluorescence assay, thiobarbituric acid assay, and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) assay were used to measure the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Fe²⁺, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) in each group; Western blot was used to measure the protein relative expression levels of DRP1, SLC7A11, GPX4, TFR1, and FSP1 in each group. Results CCK-8 assay showed that A549 cell viability gradually decreased with the increase in PN concentration, and DFO could reverse this effect (F=144.80-4 287.00,q=11.68-57.47,P<0.05). Transmission electron microscopy showed that group B exhibited marked mitochondrial shrinkage and loss of cristae structure, accompanied by cell membrane rupture and vacuolization, and group D showed significant improvements in mitochondrial morphology compared with group B. Measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential showed that group B had a significantly lower mitochondrial membrane potential than group A, and groups C and D had a significantly higher mitochondrial membrane potential than group B (F=514.70,q=42.75-46.68,P<0.05). Biochemical analyses showed that compared with group A, group B had a significantly lower level of GSH and significantly higher levels of Fe²⁺, ROS, and MDA, and compared with group B, group D had a significantly higher level of GSH and significantly lower levels of Fe²⁺, ROS, and MDA (F=57.24-11 646.00,q=14.88-218.70,P<0.05). Western blot showed that compared with group A, group B had significantly higher protein expression levels of DRP1 and TFR1 and significantly lower protein expression levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11, and compared with group B, group D had significantly lower protein expression levels of DRP1 and TFR1 and a significantly higher protein expression level of SLC7A11 (F=160.60-14 969.00,q=5.68-278.30,P<0.05). Conclusion PN can induce ferroptosis in A549 cells, possibly by inhibiting signal transduction along the SLC7A11-GSH-GPX4 axis.

Objective To construct T cell receptor-engineered T (TCR-T) cells targeting human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pp65_495-503, and to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity against HCMV-infected glioblastoma (GBM) cells. Methods Flow cytometry sorting was used to obtain HCMV pp65 antigen-specific T cells, and HCMV-pp65-specific TCRα/β sequences were cloned and constructed into lentiviral expression vectors. Lentivirus was packaged in 293T cells and were used to transfect CD8⁺ T cells, which were then expanded under stimulation with various cytokines. HCMV TCR-T cells were prepared, and flow cytometry was used to measure the proportion of CD8⁺ NLVPMVATV⁺ cells within HCMV TCR-T cells. U-87 MG cells were divided into group A (no treatment) and group B (infected with HCMV AD169 strain), and after 48 hours, Western Blot was used to measure the relative protein expression level of pp65 in both groups. HCMV TCR-T cells were co-cultured with the target cells from groups A and B at different effector-to-target (E/T) ratios (50∶1, 30∶1, 20∶1, 10∶1, 5∶1, and 1∶1) for 12 and 24 hours, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was used to observe the cytotoxicity of HCMV TCR-T cells against the two groups of target cells. Results Flow cytometry showed that after 13 days of expansion, CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells accounted for 86.15% in HCMV TCR-T cells, and CD8⁺ NLVPMVATV⁺ cells accounted for 74.65%. Western Blot showed that compared with group A, group B had a significant increase in the relative protein expression level of pp65 (t=19.01,P<0.01). LDH assay showed that after co-culture for 12 and 24 hours, there were significant differences in the cytotoxicity rate of HCMV TCR-T cells against the cells in groups A and B at different E/T ratios (F=3.37-112.30,P<0.05). The cytotoxicity rate of HCMV TCR-T cells against the cells in group B was significantly increased compared with that in group A at all E/T ratios (F=19.54-428.97,P<0.05). Conclusion TCR-T cells targeting HCMV pp65_495-503 are successfully constructed in this study, and these cells exhibit efficient and specific in vitro cytoto-xicity against HCMV-infected GBM cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of Tenacissoside G on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells and to elucidate its underlying mechanism. Methods Human gastric cancer MGC803 cells were randomly assigned to groups A-D. Group A cells were cultured under normal conditions without intervention; group B cells were treated with Tenacissoside G; group C cells were treated with Tenacissoside G and infected with an adeno-associated virus empty vector (AAV-NC); group D cells were treated with Tenacissoside G and infected with an overexpression AAV vector carrying the Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) gene. Cell viability, migration rate, invasion number, and apoptosis rate were measured using the MTT assay, wound-healing assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Specific pathogen-free 6-week-old BALB/c-nu nude mice were assigned to groups Ⅰ-Ⅳ. MGC803 cells were injected subcutaneously into the right axilla of each mouse. Mice in group Ⅱ received intraperitoneal injections of Tenacissoside G-saline solution every other day; mice in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ received intraperitoneal injections of Tenacissoside G-saline solution and tail vein injections of AAV-NC and AAV-RhoA, respectively; mice in group Ⅰ received equal doses of saline every other day by intraperitoneal and tail vein injections. On day 21 after tumor establishment, tumor tissues were harvested, and the proportions of PCNA-positive and TUNEL-positive cells were assessed by immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining, respectively. The expression levels of proteins related to the RhoA/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway in the cells and tumor tissues were measured by Western blotting. Results Compared with group A, group B cells showed signi-ficantly reduced cell viability, migration rate, invasion number, and relative expression levels of RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 proteins, while the apoptosis rate was significantly increased. Compared with group C, group D cells showed significantly increased cell viability, migration rate, invasion number, and relative expression levels of RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 proteins, while the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased (F=49.06-968.01,q=11.25-54.95,P<0.05). Compared with group Ⅰ, tumor tissues from group Ⅱ mice showed significantly decreased proportion of PCNA-positive cells and relative expression levels of RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 proteins, while the proportion of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly increased. Compared with group Ⅲ, tumor tissues from group Ⅳ mice showed significantly increased proportion of PCNA-positive cells and relative expression levels of RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2 proteins, while the proportion of TUNEL-po-sitive cells was significantly decreased (F=47.20-397.34,q=11.78-34.59,P<0.05). Conclusion Tenacissoside G may exert an anti-gastric cancer effect by downregulating the expression of proteins in the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells and promoting their apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of miR-892b on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Methods RT-qPCR was used to measure the relative expression level of miR-892b in osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63, U2OS) and the human osteoblast cell line hFOB1.19. U2OS cells were divided into group A (transfected with mimic NC), group B (transfected with miR-892b mimic), group C (transfected with inhibitor NC), and group D (transfected with miR-892b inhibitor). CCK-8 assay was used to measure the absorbance value of each group at 24, 48, and 72 hours of culture after transfection; Transwell assay was used to measure the number of migrating cells in each group; Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of the apoptosis-related protein Bax and the key protein p-NF-κB in the NF-κB signaling pathway. Results RT-qPCR showed that compared with the hFOB1.19 cells, the MG-63 and U2OS cells showed a significant reduction in the relative expression level of miR-892b (F=73.59,t_Dunnett=7.83,9.92,P<0.05). CCK-8 assay showed that at 24, 48, and 72 hours of culture, group B had a significantly lower absorbance value than group A, while group D had a significantly higher absorbance value than group C (F=5.91-31.23,P<0.05). Compared with group A, group B had a significant reduction in the number of migrating cells, a significant increase in the protein expression level of Bax, and a significant reduction in the protein expression level of p-NF-κB; compared with group C, group D had a significant increase in the number of migrating cells, a significant reduction in the protein expression level of Bax, and a significant increase in the protein expression level of p-NF-κB (t=3.64-7.16,P<0.05). Conclusion There is a relatively low expression level of miR-892b in osteosarcoma cells, and miR-892b may regulate the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by affecting the NF-κB pathway.

Objective To investigate the effects of nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4)-mediated ferritinophagy on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity. Methods Twelve 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into groups A and B. Mice in group B were intraperitoneally injected with DOX, while those in group A received an equal volume of normal saline. Rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells were divided into groups C to L. Groups C, E, and I were cultured under normal conditions; groups D, F, and J were treated with DOX; group G was treated with the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 plus DOX; group H was treated with the iron chelator deferoxamine plus DOX; and groups K and L were transfected with si-NC and si-NCOA4, respectively, and then treated with DOX. Additional H9c2 cells were treated with DOX and cultured for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. Wes-tern blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of NCOA4 and FTH1 in mouse heart tissues from the two groups and in each cell group. Cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in the two groups of mice were measured using an LDH assay kit. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in mouse heart tissues and in each cell group were mea-sured using an MDA assay kit. Ferrous ion (Fe²⁺) levels in mouse serum and in each cell group were measured using a ferrous ion colorimetric assay kit. Results Animal experiments showed that compared with group A, group B exhibited significantly increased serum LDH and Fe²⁺ levels, and cardiac tissue MDA level and NCOA4 protein expression level, and significantly decreased FTH1 protein expression level (t=3.69-16.15,P<0.001). Cell experiments showed that compared with group C, group D exhibited significantly decreased cell viability, and significantly increased MDA and Fe²⁺ levels (t=6.58-81.23,P<0.001). Compared with 0 h, NCOA4 protein expression level in H9c2 cells was significantly increased and FTH1 protein expression level was significantly decreased after 24 h of DOX treatment (F=11.04,6.46,q=5.92,5.53,P<0.05). Compared with group E, group F showed significantly decreased cell viability and significantly increased MDA level. Compared with group F, groups G and H showed significantly increased cell viability and significantly decreased MDA levels (F=35.40,195.70,q=4.89-24.03,P<0.01). Compared with group I, group J showed significantly decreased cell viability and significantly increased MDA and Fe²⁺ levels. Compared with group J, group L showed significantly increased cell viability and significantly decreased MDA and Fe²⁺ levels (F=67.45-565.90,q=9.63-303.60,P<0.001). Conclusion DOX-induced cardiotoxicity is closely associated with NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy in cardiomyocytes, and inhibition of NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy alleviates DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of 1, 7-dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine) on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-treated neuronal cells and on the brain tissue of model mice with ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, as well as the underlying mechanism. Methods Primary cortical neurons were divided into a control group, an OGD/R group, and an OGD/R+paraxanthine group, which were treated with normal neuronal culture medium, OGD/R, and OGD/R plus paraxanthine, respectively. The viability of neurons in the three groups was measured by CCK-8 assay. The expression level of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) in the neurons from the three groups was detected by Western blot. C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a Sham group, an I/R group, and an I/R+paraxanthine group. Mice in the Sham group underwent sham operation (external carotid arteriotomy only), those in the I/R group were subjected to I/R model establishment (middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1.5 h followed by reperfusion), and those in the I/R+paraxanthine group received I/R model establishment plus paraxanthine treatment (intraperitoneal injection of paraxanthine immediately after reperfusion). At 24 h after reperfusion, the modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was used to assess the degree of neurological impairment in each group. TTC staining was used to observe the cerebral infarct volume in each group, and the percentage of infarct volume relative to the total brain volume was calculated. Results The neuronal viability in the OGD/R+paraxanthine group was significantly higher than that in the OGD/R group (F=115.30,t=3.86,P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the relative expression levels of p-Akt in the OGD/R group and the OGD/R+paraxanthine group were significantly increased (F=15.07,t=9.81, 4.55,P<0.05). Compared with the I/R group, the mNSS of mice in the I/R+paraxanthine group was significantly decreased (F=49.05,t=2.33,P<0.05), and the cerebral infarct volume was significantly reduced (F=675.30,t=9.12,P<0.05). Conclusion Paraxanthine has a certain protective effect against OGD/R-induced neuronal injury and I/R-induced cerebral infarction in mice. The underlying mechanism may be related to the upregulation of p-Akt levels in neurons.

Objective To investigate the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM)-targeting basic fibroblast growth factor (EBP-bFGF)/angiopoietin-1 mimetic peptide (AMP)/ECM hydrogel on neurological function recovery in ischemic stroke model rats. Methods Thirty male SD rats aged 6-8 weeks and weighing 250-280 g were used to establish a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model. The rats were randomly divided into groups A-C, with 10 rats in each group. Each group received a single 25 μL injection of different hydrogel formulations into the cerebral ischemic region: group A received ECM hydrogel, group B received EBP-bFGF/ECM hydrogel, and group C received EBP-bFGF/AMP/ECM hydrogel. On days 7 and 14 after model establishment, neuromotor function was evaluated using grip strength test, rotarod test, and open field test. On day 14 after model establishment, brain tissues of rats in each group were dissected and isolated, and morphological characteristics were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression levels of neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), β-Ⅲ tubulin (Tuj1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vascular endothe-lial cadherin (VE-cadherin), and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in brain tissues of rats, to evaluate the status of neurons, blood vessels, and the blood-brain barrier. Results On days 7 and 14 after model establishment, compared with groups A and B, rats in group C showed significantly increased grip strength, rotation speed at fall and latency to fall in the rotarod test, as well as significantly increased center-zone residence time and maximum speed in the open field test (F=7.669-26.840,q=3.911-11.940,P<0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining showed that, compared with groups A and B, the brain tissue structure of rats in group C was more intact, with a significantly increased number of Nissl bodies (F=8.520,q=5.604,4.217,P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the numbers of NeuN- and Tuj1-positive neurons, the numbers of vWF- and α-SMA-positive blood vessels, and the mean fluorescence intensities of VE-cadherin and ZO-1 in group C were significantly higher than those in group A; additio-nally, the number of Tuj1-positive neurons, the number of vWF-positive blood vessels, and the mean fluorescence intensity of ZO-1 in group C were significantly higher than those in group B (F=4.350-27.760,q=4.141-10.540,P<0.05). Conclusion The EBP-bFGF/AMP/ECM hydrogel constructed in this study can effectively promote neuromotor function recovery and neurovascular unit regeneration in the infarct area in ischemic stroke model rats.

Objective To investigate the association of the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with the core pathological biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the cognitive function of AD. Methods A total of 497 subjects were selected from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, and related data were collected, including the levels of CSF MMPs (MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-10, and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio), the core biomarkers for AD (Aβ₄₂, phosphorylated tau [P-tau], and total tau [T-tau]), and cognitive function scores (MMSE, ADNI_MEM, ADNI_EF, ADNI_LAN, and ADNI_VS). The multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess whether the levels of CSF MMPs had a linear association with the core pathological biomarkers of AD and the cognitive function of AD. The linear mixed-effects model was used to evaluate the effect of the levels of CSF MMPs on cognitive decline. A mediation analysis was used to assess the mediating effect of the core pathological biomarkers of AD in the association between CSF MMPs and cognitive function. Results The multiple linear regression analysis showed that CSF MMP-10, MMP-3, and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio were positively associated with the levels of CSF P-tau and T-tau (P<0.05), while CSF MMP-10 was negatively associated with CSF Aβ₄₂ (P<0.05), and the level of CSF MMP-10 was negatively associated with ADNI_MEM, ADNI_EF, ADNI_LAN, and ADNI_VS scores (P<0.05). The linear mixed-effects model analysis showed that the high level of CSF MMP-10 was associated with the rapid reductions in cognitive function scores such as ADNI_MEM, ADNI_EF, ADNI_LAN, and ADNI_VS (P<0.05). The mediation analysis showed that CSF Aβ₄₂, P-tau, and T-tau mediated the association between CSF MMP-10 and cognitive function. Conclusion CSF MMP-10 level is significantly associated with the core pathological biomarkers of AD and cognitive decline in AD, and CSF MMP-10 may be involved in cognitive decline by affecting the core pathological biomarkers of AD.

Objective To investigate the analgesic effect of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior-intercostobrachial nerve block in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Methods A total of 70 patients who were scheduled to undergo modified radical mastectomy for malignant breast tumors in our hospital from June to December 2023 were enrolled and randomly divided into: non-nerve block group (group C), erector spinae plane block group (group E), and serratus anterior-intercostobrachial nerve block group (group S). The patients in group E and group S were given corresponding ultrasound-guided fascial space nerve block at 30 minutes before anesthesia induction, and then all patients underwent modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. The three groups were compared in terms of the amount of sufentanil used during surgery, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at 12 hours after surgery, postoperative extubation time, postoperative awakening time, the incidence rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting, the use of analgesics at 24 hours after surgery, and numeric rating scale (NRS) score for sleep quality at 24 hours after surgery. Results Compared with group C, group S and group E had a significantly lower amount of sufentanil used during surgery, a significantly lower VAS score at 12 hours after surgery, significantly shorter postoperative extubation time and awakening time, and a significantly lower NRS score for sleep guality at 24 hours after surgery (H=10.80-45.21,Z=2.55-6.22,P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the incidence rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting between groups (P>0.05). Compared with group E, group S had a significantly lower amount of sufentanil used during surgery (Z=2.88,P<0.05). Conclusion Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior-intercostobrachial nerve block can provide satisfactory intraoperative and postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy and reduce the amount of sufentanil used during surgery, and therefore, it holds promise for further clinical application.

Objective To investigate the association between changes in immunohistochemical (IHC) marker levels before and after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and treatment efficacy in breast cancer, and construct a predictive scoring model for therapeutic response based on these changes. Methods A total of 161 patients with breast cancer who received NAT at the Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of our hospital between May 2023 and December 2024 were enrolled. Clinical data were collected, including age, body mass index, menstrual status, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis status, pathological type, histological grade, molecular subtype, NAT regimen, IHC marker levels before and after treatment, as well as post-treatment efficacy evaluations based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, Miller-Payne (MP) grading, and residual cancer burden (RCB) grading. Changes in IHC marker levels before and after treatment were calculated, and different weights were assigned according to breast cancer molecular subtypes to construct a dynamic scoring model for predicting NAT efficacy. Five-fold cross-validation was used to assess the correlations of dynamic scores with MP and RCB grades, and ordinal multinomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate the independent association between dynamic scores and MP grading. Based on MP grading, NAT efficacy was categorized as favorable (G3-4) or unfavorable (G1-2). A full model (including clinical indicators and dynamic scores) and a basic model (clinical indicators only) were constructed, and binary logistic regression was used to identify independent inf-luencing factors of NAT efficacy in both models. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the dynamic scoring model, full model, and basic model. The optimal cutoff value of the dynamic score was determined using the Youden index. Results Five-fold cross-validation showed that higher dynamic scores were associated with higher MP grades (r=0.503-0.567, P<0.001) and lower RCB grades (r=-0.585--0.531, P<0.001). Ordinal multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated a significant positive association between dynamic scores and MP grades (P<0.001). Binary logistic regres-sion analysis demonstrated that histological grade Ⅲ and the dynamic score based on IHC marker level changes were independent influencing factors of NAT efficacy in the full model (P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the areas under the curves for the full model, basic model, and dynamic scoring model were 0.872, 0.809, and 0.792, respectively, indicating superior predictive performance of the full model. The optimal cutoff value for the dynamic score was 7.8; scores ≥7.8 indicated favorable response, whereas scores <7.8 indicated unfavorable response. Conclusion The IHC marker-based dynamic scoring model established in this study, when combined with clinical indicators, demonstrates good predictive performance for NAT efficacy in breast cancer. This model may serve as an effective supplement to existing evaluation systems and provides a basis for individualized assessment of NAT response in breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of socket shield technique versus immediate implant placement on the labial soft tissue contour for single maxillary anterior teeth. Methods A total of 48 patients who received implant treatment of the maxillary central incisor in Department of Implant Dentistry in our hospital from June 2020 to August 2025 were enrolled, and according to the surgical procedure, the patients were divided into immediate implant group with 25 patients and socket shield technique group with 23 patients. Optical scanning data of the surgical sites were collected before surgery and at 6 and 12 months after surgery, and the digital three-dimensional model deviation analysis algorithm was used to measure the root mean square (RMS) and average deviation (AVG) between the labial contour of the surgical site at each time point and the preoperative contour. Results At 6 and 12 months after surgery, compared with the immediate implant group, the socket shield technique group had significant reductions in the RMS and AVG between the labial contour of the surgical site at each time point and the preoperative contour (t=-4.58--3.06, P<0.05). Both groups had significant increases in these indicators from 6 months to 12 months after surgery (t=4.72-10.88, P<0.001). Conclusion Compared with conventional immediate implant placement, immediate implant placement assisted by the socket shield technique can effectively maintain the stability of labial soft tissue contour at the surgical site in patients with a single missing maxillary anterior tooth.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for hospital costs in patients undergoing surgery for malignant thyroid tumor based on the DRG model, and to provide a reference for scientific and effective control of hospital costs. Methods A total of 2 040 patients who underwent surgery in a tertiary comprehensive hospital in Qingdao from January to December 2024 were enrolled as subjects, and 13 indicators were collected as the external influencing factors for total hospital costs, including age, sex, total length of hospital stay (preoperative/postoperative hospital stay), number of comorbidities, number of surgeries (or procedures), and extent of thyroidectomy. Total hospital costs were collected from all patients as internal components, including eight items such as general medical service fee, examination/testing/diagnosis fee, and surgical treatment costs. A Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between internal components and total hospital costs, the non-parametric tests were used to perform the univariate analysis of external influencing factors, and a multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was used to investigate the independent influencing factors for total hospital costs. Results The Spearman correlation analysis showed that surgical treatment costs, examination/testing/diagnosis fee, and material costs had the strongest correlation with total hospital costs (r=0.64-0.79,P<0.05). The univariate analysis showed that there were higher total hospital costs in patients with an older age, a longer total length of hospital stay, longer preoperative/postoperative hospital stay, a higher number of comorbidities, a larger number of surgeries (or procedures), the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis or nodular goiter, functional cervical lymph node dissection, and total thyroidectomy (compared with the patients undergoing partial thyroidectomy) (H=4.00-159.07,Z=-20.75--4.24,P<0.05). The multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that the extent of thyroidectomy, total length of hospital stay, the number of surgeries (or procedures), the presence or absence of nodular goiter, and preoperative hospital stay were independent influencing factors for total hospital costs (B=178.35-4 141.61,t=3.25-24.78,P<0.05). Conclusion There are various influencing factors for the total hospital costs of patients undergoing surgery for thyroid malignant tumor, among which the extent of thyroidectomy, the total length of hospital stay, and the number of surgeries (or procedures) are the main external independent influencing factors, and material costs, surgical treatment cost, and examination/testing/diagnosis fee are the key internal costs.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of absence of nasogastric tube after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in patients with early gastric cancer. Methods A total of 300 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent ESD at Endoscopy Center of The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2021 to December 2023 were enrolled, and according to the presence or absence of nasogastric tube after surgery, they were divided into control group (with the presence of nasogastric tube) and test group (without nasogastric tube), with 150 patients in each group. Related data were collected and compared between the two groups, including preoperative duration, postoperative duration, total length of hospital stay, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) comfort score, duration of nasogastric tube indwelling, total drainage volume, and postoperative complications. Results Time, group, and the interaction between time and group had a significant impact on the VAS score of patients in both groups (F_time=240.345, F_group=206.252, F_time*group=682.609,P<0.05). The test group showed no significant change in VAS score at various time points (P>0.05), while in the control group, VAS score gradually decreased over time (F=273.746,P<0.05), and the test group had a significantly lower VAS score than the control group at all time points (F=4.917-41.463,P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the test group had significantly shorter postoperative duration and total length of hospital stay and a significantly lower proportion of patients with complications (t=4.252, 2.133, χ²=7.485,P<0.05). In the control group, the duration of nasogastric tube indwelling was (2.16±1.20)d, the total drainage volume was (225.40±230.04)mL, and the patients with nasogastric tube indwelling for ≤2 d accounted for 68%. Conclusion Absence of nasogastric tube after ESD can significantly improve the degree of comfort in patients with early gastric cancer, reduce postoperative complications, and shor-ten postoperative duration and total length of hospital stay, which aligns with the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery, and therefore, it holds promise for clinical application.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of stent-assisted coil embolization (SAC) versus flow diverter (FD) in the treatment of vertebral artery aneurysms (VAA). Methods A total of 73 patients with unruptured VAA who underwent endovascular treatment in our hospital from August 2016 to August 2025 were enrolled, and according to the surgical procedure, they were divided into SAC group with 39 patients and FD group with 34 patients. The patients were observed in terms of the follow-up indicators including the incidence rate of perioperative complications, cerebral angiography findings, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, and in-stent stenosis (ISS). Safety assessment was performed based on the incidence rate of complications, mRS score, and the incidence rate of ISS during the perioperative period and follow-up, and the efficacy of treatment was assessed based on aneurysm occlusion and recurrence. Results Compared with the SAC group, the FD group had a significantly shorter time of operation (Z=-5.635, P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in other general data between the two groups (P>0.05). One patient in the SAC group experienced a perioperative ischemic complication, and one patient in the FD group pre-sented with unstable walking during postoperative follow-up, with an mRS score of ≤2 for all patients. There were no significant differences in aneurysm occlusion and the incidence rate of ISS between the two groups (P>0.05), whereas the FD group had a significantly lower postoperative recurrence rate of aneurysm than the SAC group (P<0.05). Conclusion Both FD and SAC are safe and effective in the treatment of VAA, and FD is associated with a shorter time of operation and a lower postoperative recurrence rate, showing greater clinical advantages.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver disease caused by the combined effect of genetic susceptibility, metabolic disorders, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and environmental factors. With the changes in modern lifestyle, the global prevalence rate of MAFLD has reached approximately 38%, making it a major public health issue. Although recent studies have made significant breakthroughs in the pathogenesis of MAFLD such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, abnormal inflammatory signaling pathways, and gut microbiota imbalance and have identified potential therapeutic targets such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and farnesoid X receptor, there is still a lack of specific therapeutic drugs in clinical practice. Lifestyle intervention is the main standard therapy for MAFLD, and although surgical treatment has unique advantages, it is also associated with the issues such as surgical risks and postoperative complications; therefore, there is an urgent need to explore precise treatment strategies. This article systematically reviews the research advances in the pathogenesis and treatment of MAFLD, in order to provide a theoretical basis for developing individualized treatment regimens for MAFLD.