1.Expert consensus on the phase 0 clinical trials of positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals (2025 edition)
Lu WANG ; Jinghao WANG ; Kuan HU ; Dongning YAO ; Benzhi CAI ; Chen SHI ; Baofeng YANG ; Rui WANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(15):1825-1831
OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for standardizing the conduct of positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals’ phase 0 clinical trials (hereinafter referred to as “phase 0 clinical trials”) and advancing the development of innovative drug by medical institutions. METHODS Initiated by the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, a panel of experts consisting of pharmacy, clinical medicine and medical ethics from multiple institutions was established to investigate the current landscape, and discuss the necessary conditions, procedures, and other aspects for conducting phase 0 clinical trials in medical institutions by integrating relevant national policies, regulations and expert consensus. Finally, an agreement was reached to formulate this consensus. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Currently, most medical institutions have deficiencies in pharmaceutical care during the management of radiopharmaceuticals and the phase 0 clinical trials. In conjunction with the Expert Consensus on the Establishment of Nuclear Pharmacist Positions, this consensus explicitly defines the responsibilities of nuclear pharmacists in the phase 0 clinical trials on the basis of the Expert Consensus for the Application of Positron Emission Tomography Radioligands for Translational Study in the Phase 0 Clinical Trials (2020 edition), providing a guidance for high-quality participation of nuclear pharmacists from medical institutions in China in phase 0 clinical research. Additionally, in consideration of some constraints imposed by current relevant regulations, this consensus also proposes strategic recommendations, such as encouraging medical institutions to form a consortium, leading to the establishment of dedicated bases or industrial parks, holding significant implications to strengthen institutional capacity for advancing radiopharmaceutical innovation through phase 0 clinical trials.
2.Obesity-driven oleoylcarnitine accumulation in tumor microenvironment promotes breast cancer metastasis-like phenotype.
Chao CHEN ; Hongxia ZHANG ; Lingling QI ; Haoqi LEI ; Xuefei FENG ; Yingjie CHEN ; Yuanyuan CHENG ; Defeng PANG ; Jufeng WAN ; Haiying XU ; Shifeng CAO ; Baofeng YANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Xin ZHAO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):1974-1990
Obesity is a significant risk factor for cancer and is associated with breast cancer metastasis. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which alterations in systemic metabolism affect tumor microenvironment (TME) and consequently influence tumor metastasis remains inadequately understood. Herein, we found that perturbations in circulating metabolites induced by obesity promote metastasis-like phenotypes in breast cancer. Oleoylcarnitine (OLCarn) concentrations were elevated in the serum of obese mice and humans. Administration of exogenous OLCarn induces metastasis-like characteristics in breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, OLCarn directly interacts with the Arg176 site of adenylate cyclase 10 (ADCY10), leading to the activation of ADCY10 and enhancement of cAMP production. Mutations at Arg176 prevent OLCarn from binding to ADCY10, disrupting the ADCY10-mediated activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway. This activation promotes transcription factor 4 (TCF4)-dependent kinesin family member C1 (KIFC1) transcription, thereby driving breast cancer metastasis. Conversely, the neutralization of both ADCY10 and KIFC1 through knockdown or pharmacological inhibition abrogates the oncogenic effects mediated by OLCarn. Hence, obesity-induced systemic environmental changes lead to the aberrant accumulation of OLCarn within the TME, making it a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for breast cancer.
3.Palmitoylated SARM1 targeting P4HA1 promotes collagen deposition and myocardial fibrosis: A new target for anti-myocardial fibrosis.
Xuewen YANG ; Yanwei ZHANG ; Xiaoping LENG ; Yanying WANG ; Manyu GONG ; Dongping LIU ; Haodong LI ; Zhiyuan DU ; Zhuo WANG ; Lina XUAN ; Ting ZHANG ; Han SUN ; Xiyang ZHANG ; Jie LIU ; Tong LIU ; Tiantian GONG ; Zhengyang LI ; Shengqi LIANG ; Lihua SUN ; Lei JIAO ; Baofeng YANG ; Ying ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(9):4789-4806
Myocardial fibrosis is a serious cause of heart failure and even sudden cardiac death. However, the mechanisms underlying myocardial ischemia-induced cardiac fibrosis remain unclear. Here, we identified that the expression of sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1 (SARM1), was increased significantly in the ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, dilated cardiomyopathy patients (GSE116250) and fibrotic heart tissues of mice. Additionally, inhibition or knockdown of SARM1 can improve myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function of myocardial infarction (MI) mice. Moreover, SARM1 fibroblasts-specific knock-in mice had increased deposition of extracellular matrix and impaired cardiac function. Mechanically, elevated expression of SARM1 promotes the deposition of extracellular matrix by directly modulating P4HA1. Notably, by using the Click-iT reaction, we identified that the increased expression of ZDHHC17 promotes the palmitoylation levels of SARM1, thereby accelerating the fibrosis process. Based on the fibrosis-promoting effect of SARM1, we screened several drugs with anti-myocardial fibrosis activity. In conclusion, we have unveiled that palmitoylated SARM1 targeting P4HA1 promotes collagen deposition and myocardial fibrosis. Inhibition of SARM1 is a potential strategy for the treatment of myocardial fibrosis. The sites where SARM1 interacts with P4HA1 and the palmitoylation modification sites of SARM1 may be the active targets for anti-fibrosis drugs.
4.A novel feedback loop: CELF1/circ-CELF1/BRPF3/KAT7 in cardiac fibrosis.
Yuan JIANG ; Bowen ZHANG ; Bo ZHANG ; Xinhua SONG ; Xiangyu WANG ; Wei ZENG ; Liyang ZUO ; Xinqi LIU ; Zheng DONG ; Wenzheng CHENG ; Yang QIAO ; Saidi JIN ; Dongni JI ; Xiaofei GUO ; Rong ZHANG ; Xieyang GONG ; Lihua SUN ; Lina XUAN ; Berezhnova Tatjana ALEXANDROVNA ; Xiaoxiang GUAN ; Mingyu ZHANG ; Baofeng YANG ; Chaoqian XU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5192-5211
Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by an elevated amount of extracellular matrix (ECM) within the heart. However, the persistence of cardiac fibrosis ultimately diminishes contractility and precipitates cardiac dysfunction. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of cardiac fibrosis. Here, we elucidate the functional role of a specific circular RNA CELF1 in cardiac fibrosis and delineate a novel feedback loop mechanism. Functionally, circ-CELF1 was involved in enhancing fibrosis-related markers' expression and promoting the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), thereby exacerbating cardiac fibrosis. Mechanistically, circ-CELF1 reduced the ubiquitination-degradation rate of BRPF3, leading to an elevation of BRPF3 protein levels. Additionally, BRPF3 acted as a modular scaffold for the recruitment of histone acetyltransferase KAT7 to facilitate the induction of H3K14 acetylation within the promoters of the Celf1 gene. Thus, the transcription of Celf1 was dramatically activated, thereby inhibiting the subsequent response of their downstream target gene Smad7 expression to promote cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, Celf1 further promoted Celf1 pre-mRNA transcription and back-splicing, thereby establishing a feedback loop for circ-CELF1 production. Consequently, a novel feedback loop involving CELF1/circ-CELF1/BRPF3/KAT7 was established, suggesting that circ-CELF1 may serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis.
5.Cardiomyocyte-specific long noncoding RNA Trdn-as induces mitochondrial calcium overload by promoting the m6A modification of calsequestrin 2 in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Xiaohan LI ; Ling LIU ; Han LOU ; Xinxin DONG ; Shengxin HAO ; Zeqi SUN ; Zijia DOU ; Huimin LI ; Wenjie ZHAO ; Xiuxiu SUN ; Xin LIU ; Yong ZHANG ; Baofeng YANG
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(2):329-346
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a medical condition characterized by cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload in cardiomyocytes have been recognized as biological hallmarks in DCM; however, the specific factors underlying these abnormalities remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of a cardiac-specific long noncoding RNA, D830005E20Rik (Trdn-as), in DCM. Our results revealed the remarkably upregulation of Trdn-as in the hearts of the DCM mice and cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose (HG). Knocking down Trdn-as in cardiac tissues significantly improved cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in the DCM mice. Conversely, Trdn-as overexpression resulted in cardiac damage resembling that observed in the DCM mice. At the cellular level, Trdn-as induced Ca2+ overload in the SR and mitochondria, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses identified calsequestrin 2 (Casq2), a primary calcium-binding protein in the junctional SR, as a potential target of Trdn-as. Further investigations revealed that Trdn-as facilitated the recruitment of METTL14 to the Casq2 mRNA, thereby enhancing the m6A modification of Casq2. This modification increased the stability of Casq2 mRNA and subsequently led to increased protein expression. When Casq2 was knocked down, the promoting effects of Trdn-as on Ca2+ overload and mitochondrial damage were mitigated. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of DCM and suggest Trdn-as as a potential therapeutic target for this condition.
Animals
;
Diabetic Cardiomyopathies/pathology*
;
RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics*
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Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism*
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Mice
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Calsequestrin/genetics*
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Calcium/metabolism*
;
Male
;
Sarcoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism*
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Methyltransferases/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Mitochondria, Heart/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
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Mitochondria/metabolism*
6.Emd-D inhibited ovarian cancer progression via PFKFB4-dependent glycolysis and apoptosis.
Xin ZHAO ; Chao CHEN ; Xuefei FENG ; Haoqi LEI ; Lingling QI ; Hongxia ZHANG ; Haiying XU ; Jufeng WAN ; Yan ZHANG ; Baofeng YANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(4):431-442
Ovarian cancer poses a significant threat to women's health, necessitating effective therapeutic strategies. Emd-D, an emodin derivative, demonstrates enhanced pharmaceutical properties and bioavailability. In this study, Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assays and Ki-67 staining revealed dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation by Emd-D. Migration and invasion experiments confirmed its inhibitory effects on OVHM cells, while flow cytometry analysis demonstrated Emd-D-induced apoptosis. Mechanistic investigations elucidated that Emd-D functions as an inhibitor by directly binding to the glycolysis-related enzyme PFKFB4. This was corroborated by alterations in intracellular lactate and pyruvate levels, as well as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and hexokinase 2 (HK2) expression. PFKFB4 overexpression experiments further supported the dependence of Emd-D on PFKFB4-mediated glycolysis and SRC3/mTORC1 pathway-associated apoptosis. In vivo experiments exhibited reduced xenograft tumor sizes upon Emd-D treatment, accompanied by suppressed glycolysis and increased expression of Bax/Bcl-2 apoptotic proteins within the tumors. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate Emd-D's potential as an anti-ovarian cancer agent through inhibition of the PFKFB4-dependent glycolysis pathway and induction of apoptosis. These results provide a foundation for further exploration of Emd-D as a promising drug candidate for ovarian cancer treatment.
Female
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Humans
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Ovarian Neoplasms/physiopathology*
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Phosphofructokinase-2/genetics*
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
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Glycolysis/drug effects*
;
Animals
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Mice
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Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
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Emodin/administration & dosage*
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Mice, Nude
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Hexokinase/metabolism*
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Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
7.Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma:a clinicopathologic study of fourteen cases
Baofeng YANG ; Libing FU ; Nan ZHANG ; Xingfeng YAO ; Jiatong XU ; Xiaoxing GUAN ; Jianwen WANG ; Lejian HE
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2024;40(8):818-823
Purpose To study the clinical and pathological features of angiomatoid fibrous histocytoma(AFH)and to ex-plore its diagnosis,differential diagnosis and prognosis.Meth-ods The clinicopathological and follow-up data were analyzed in 14 cases of AFH,and the literatures were reviewed.Results There were 11 males and 3 females.The age ranged from 11 months to 12 years and 11 months,with average 5.9 years.3 cases were located in limbs,and 5 cases in trunk,5 cases in head and neck region,and 1 of intracranial tumor.Histological-ly,14 cases were composed of fibrous capsules and lymphocyte sheaths,and cell nucleus were vacuolar,forming fascicles with focal whirling and synteny.Intralesional pseudoangiomatous spaces were noted in 9 cases.Calcification was found in 2 ca-ses.2 cases showed high mitotic acticity(11/10 HPF).Scle-rosing and/or myxoid stroma was seen in 3 cases.Tumors were immunopositive for desmin(10/14),EMA(12/14),CD99(12/14),SMA(9/12),ALK(7/8),and the average of Ki67 index was 16%.7 cases harbored EWSR1 rearrangenent(part-ner gene not identified),2 cases had EWSR1-ATF1 fusion and 2 EWSR1-CREB1 fusion.Clinical follow-up information was a-vailable for 14 cases(average 46 months).All the 14 cases were alive without recurrence and metastasis.Conclusion AFH is a borderline or low-grade malignant tumor,often demon-strates indolent behavior in children,but rarely recurs and me-tastasizes.The diagnosis and differential diagnosis require a comprehensive analysis of clinical features,histopathologic changes,immunohistochemical finding and EWSR1 or FUS gene detection results.
8.Practice of Cybersecurity Risk Management in Large Hospitals Based on a Situational Awareness Platform
Baofeng SUN ; Weiyi ZHANG ; Yang YANG ; Yuhong LI
Journal of Medical Informatics 2024;45(10):81-85
Purpose/Significance To analyze the network security risk events monitored by the situational awareness platform of large hospitals,to find out the causes,and to put forward solutions and suggestions for improvement.Method/Process Taking the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University as an example,the paper analyzes risk events on the situational awareness platform,screens the risky ter-minals on the hospital intranet,carries out rectification and reinforcement,analyzes the department distribution and causes of risky termi-nals,and puts forward suggestions for improvement.Result/Conclusion The number of risky terminals in medical and technical depart-ments is large,mainly due to the lack of management and the lack of full coverage of antivirus software.Through the rectification and rein-forcement of risky terminals,the number of network security risk events has been significantly reduced.Strengthening the hospital terminal security management,enhancing staff awareness of network security,and strengthening network security protection in different areas can ef-fectively reduce the incidence of hospital network security risk events and improve the hospital network security protection capability.
9.The novel anthraquinone compound Kanglexin prevents endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in atherosclerosis by activating FGFR1 and suppressing integrin β1/TGFβ signaling.
Yixiu ZHAO ; Zhiqi WANG ; Jing REN ; Huan CHEN ; Jia ZHU ; Yue ZHANG ; Jiangfei ZHENG ; Shifeng CAO ; Yanxi LI ; Xue LIU ; Na AN ; Tao BAN ; Baofeng YANG ; Yan ZHANG
Frontiers of Medicine 2024;18(6):1068-1086
Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) disrupts vascular endothelial integrity and induces atherosclerosis. Active integrin β1 plays a pivotal role in promoting EndMT by facilitating TGFβ/Smad signaling in endothelial cells. Here, we report a novel anthraquinone compound, Kanglexin (KLX), which prevented EndMT and atherosclerosis by activating MAP4K4 and suppressing integrin β1/TGFβ signaling. First, KLX effectively counteracted the EndMT phenotype and mitigated the dysregulation of endothelial and mesenchymal markers induced by TGFβ1. Second, KLX suppressed TGFβ/Smad signaling by inactivating integrin β1 and inhibiting the polymerization of TGFβR1/2. The underlying mechanism involved the activation of FGFR1 by KLX, resulting in the phosphorylation of MAP4K4 and Moesin, which led to integrin β1 inactivation by displacing Talin from its β-tail. Oral administration of KLX effectively stimulated endothelial FGFR1 and inhibited integrin β1, thereby preventing vascular EndMT and attenuating plaque formation and progression in the aorta of atherosclerotic Apoe-/- mice. Notably, KLX (20 mg/kg) exhibited superior efficacy compared with atorvastatin, a clinically approved lipid-regulating drug. In conclusion, KLX exhibited potential in ameliorating EndMT and retarding the formation and progression of atherosclerosis through direct activation of FGFR1. Therefore, KLX is a promising candidate for the treatment of atherosclerosis to mitigate vascular endothelial injury.
Animals
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Atherosclerosis/prevention & control*
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Mice
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Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Anthraquinones/pharmacology*
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Humans
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Integrin beta1/metabolism*
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Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects*
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Male
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Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/drug effects*
10.Development status of novel spectral imaging techniques and application to traditional Chinese medicine
Qi WANG ; Yong ZHANG ; Baofeng YANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2023;13(11):1269-1280
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is a treasure of the Chinese nation,providing effective solutions to current medical requisites.Various spectral techniques are undergoing continuous development and provide new and reliable means for evaluating the efficacy and quality of TCM.Because spectral tech-niques are noninvasive,convenient,and sensitive,they have been widely applied to in vitro and in vivo TCM evaluation systems.In this paper,previous achievements and current progress in the research on spectral technologies(including fluorescence spectroscopy,photoacoustic imaging,infrared thermal imaging,laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy,hyperspectral imaging,and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy)are discussed.The advantages and disadvantages of each technology are also presented.Moreover,the future applications of spectral imaging to identify the origins,components,and pesticide residues of TCM in vitro are elucidated.Subsequently,the evaluation of the efficacy of TCM in vivo is presented.Identifying future applications of spectral imaging is anticipated to promote medical research as well as scientific and technological explorations.

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