OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of adult AML patients with NUP98::HOXA9 fusion gene. METHODS: From May 2017 to October 2023， among 2 113 AML patients who visited the Hematology Department of our hospital, patients with NUP98 rearrangements were screened. The clinical characteristics, chromosome karyotypes, immunophenotypes, gene mutations, treatment efficacy and prognosis of the patients with NUP98::HOXA9 positive were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 2 113 AML patients, there were 18 cases with NUP98 rearrangement, including 14 NUP98::HOXA9 positive cases, with a detection rate of 0.66% (14/2 113). The median age of the NUP98::HOXA9 positive patients was 42.5 (23-64) years old. The most common chromosome karyotype was t(7; 11)(p15; p15). The immunophenotypes of all patients expressed CD13, CD33, CD117 and CD38, and most patients expressed CD34 and cMPO, while only a few expressed HLA-DR. Second-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed to detect genetic mutations associated with leukemia in all 14 patients, and the genes exhibiting a high frequency of mutation were WT1 (10/14), TET2 (7/14), and FLT3-ITD (6/14). Additionally, mutations were also observed in KRAS/NRAS, IDH1, and KIT. Of the 13 patients who received treatment, 9 achieved complete remission (CR), and all 3 patients who received azacytidine(AZA)+ venetoclax (VEN) regimen achieved CR after the first course of treatment. Within this cohort, 6 patients were classified as relapsed/refractory (6/13). 4 patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), of which two achieved long-term survival. The median follow-up time was 12 (2.1-65.0) months, while the median overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were recorded as 11.4 months and 9.6 months, respectively. CONCLUSION The most common type of NUP98 rearrangement in adults AML patients is NUP98::HOXA9 , which is often accompanied by somatic mutations in WT1, TET2, and FLT3-ITD. These patients are prone to relapse, have short survival time, and generally face poor prognoses. Hopefully, utilization of the AZA+VEN regimen is anticipated to enhance the rate of induced remission in the patients, and some patients may prolong their survival through allo-HSCT. However, more effective treatment methods are still needed to improve the overall prognosis of these patients.
Humans ; Adult ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/genetics* ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Mutation ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the functional roles and underlying mechanisms of neferine in the context of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension and vascular dysfunction. METHODS: Male mice were infused with Ang II to induce hypertension and randomly divided into treatment groups receiving neferine or a control vehicle based on baseline blood pressure using a random number table method. The hypertensive mouse model was constructed by infusing Ang II via a micro-osmotic pump (500 ng/kg per minute), and neferine (0.1, 1, or 10 mg/kg), valsartan (10 mg/kg), or double distilled water was administered intragastrically once daily for 6 weeks. A non-invasive blood pressure system, ultrasound, and hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed to assess blood pressure and vascular changes. RNA sequencing and network pharmacology were employed to identify differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) and pathways. Vascular ring tension assay was used to test vascular function. A7R5 cells were incubated with neferine for 24 h and then treated with Ang II to record the real-time Ca²⁺ concentration by confocal microscope. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot were used to evaluate vasorelaxation, calcium, and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 pathway. RESULTS: Neferine treatment effectively mitigated the elevation in blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, aortic thickening in the abdominal aorta of Ang II-infused mice (P<0.05). RNA sequencing and network pharmacology analysis identified 355 DETs that were significantly reversed by neferine treatment, along with 25 potential target genes, which were further enriched in multiple pathways and biological processes, such as ERK1 and ERK2 cascade regulation, calcium pathway, and vascular smooth muscle contraction. Further investigation revealed that neferine treatment enhanced vasorelaxation and reduced Ca²⁺-dependent contraction of abdominal aortic rings, independent of endothelium function (P<0.05). The underlying mechanisms were mediated, at least in part, via suppression of receptor-operated channels, store-operated channels, or voltage-operated calcium channels. Neferine pre-treatment demonstrated a reduction in intracellular Ca²⁺ release in Ang II stimulated A7R5 cells. IHC staining and Western blot confirmed that neferine treatment effectively attenuated the upregulation of p-ERK1/2 both in vivo and in vitro, which was similar with treatment of ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Neferine remarkably alleviates Ang II-induced elevation of blood pressure, vascular dysfunction, and pathological changes in the abdominal aorta. This beneficial effect is mediated by the modulation of multiple pathways, including calcium and ERK1/2 pathways.
Animals ; Angiotensin II ; Male ; Benzylisoquinolines/therapeutic use* ; Network Pharmacology ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Mice ; Hypertension/chemically induced* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Calcium/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the antidepression mechanisms of Xiaoyaosan (XYS), a classic Chinese prescription, from the perspective of energy metabolism in the brain and intestinal tissues. METHODS: Chronic unpredictable mild stress model-a classic depression rat model-was established. Effects of XYS on behaviors and gastrointestinal motility of depressed rats were investigated. Effects of XYS on energetic charge (EC), adenosine triphosphate-related enzymes, and key enzymes of energy metabolism in both hippocampus and jejunum tissues of depressed rats were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography, biochemical analysis, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to construct a correlation network of "behavior-brain energy metabolism-intestinal energy metabolism" of depression. RESULTS: XYS significantly reduced the abnormal behaviors that observed in depressed rats and increased the EC and the activity of Na⁺-K⁺-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase in hippocampus and jejunum tissues of depressed rats. XYS restored the key energetic pathways that had been interrupted by depression, including glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, XYS exhibited antidepressive effects in terms of regulating energy metabolism in tissues of both brain and intestine. CONCLUSION XYS significantly corrected the disturbances in EC and energy metabolism-related enzymes of both brain and intestinal tissues, alleviating both core and concomitant symptoms of depression. The current findings underscore the role of energy metabolism in the antidepressive activity of XYS, providing a fresh perspective on depression, and novel research strategies for revealing the mechanism of actions of traditional Chinese medicines on multi-site and multi-symptom diseases. Please cite this article as: Xiao MT, Wang SY, Wu XL, Zhao ZY, Wang HM, Liu HM, Qin XM, Liu XJ. Antidepressant mechanism of Xiaoyaosan: A perspective from energy metabolism of the brain and intestine. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):706-720.
Animals ; Energy Metabolism/drug effects* ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Brain/drug effects* ; Male ; Depression/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Intestines/drug effects* ; Hippocampus/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is sensitive to ferroptosis, a new form of programmed cell death that occurs in most tumor types. However, the mechanism through which ferroptosis modulates HCC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the oncogenic role and prognostic value of FANCD2 and provide novel insights into the prognostic assessment and prediction of immunotherapy. METHODS: Using clinicopathological parameters and bioinformatic techniques, we comprehensively examined the expression of FANCD2 macroscopically and microcosmically. We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify the prognostic value of FANCD2 in HCC and elucidated the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of FANCD2 in oncogenesis by promoting iron-related death. RESULTS: FANCD2 was significantly upregulated in digestive system cancers with abundant immune infiltration. As an independent risk factor for HCC, a high FANCD2 expression level was associated with poor clinical outcomes and response to immune checkpoint blockade. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that FANCD2 was mainly involved in the cell cycle and CYP450 metabolism. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively elucidate the oncogenic role of FANCD2. FANCD2 has a tumor-promoting aspect in the digestive system and acts as an independent risk factor in HCC; hence, it has recognized value for predicting tumor aggressiveness and prognosis and may be a potential biomarker for poor responsiveness to immunotherapy.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis* ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Immunotherapy ; Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D2 Protein/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism*

Objective This study aimed to evaluate whether the onset of the plateau phase of slow hepatitis B surface antigen decline in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with intermittent interferon therapy is related to the frequency of dendritic cell subsets and expression of the costimulatory molecules CD40,CD80,CD83,and CD86. Method This was a cross-sectional study in which patients were divided into a natural history group(namely NH group),a long-term oral nucleoside analogs treatment group(namely NA group),and a plateau-arriving group(namely P group).The percentage of plasmacytoid dendritic cell and myeloid dendritic cell subsets in peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes and the mean fluorescence intensity of their surface costimulatory molecules were detected using a flow cytometer. Results In total,143 patients were enrolled(NH group,n = 49;NA group,n = 47;P group,n = 47).The results demonstrated that CD141/CD1c double negative myeloid dendritic cell(DNmDC)/lymphocytes and monocytes(%)in P group(0.041[0.024,0.069])was significantly lower than that in NH group(0.270[0.135,0.407])and NA group(0.273[0.150,0.443]),and CD86 mean fluorescence intensity of DNmDCs in P group(1832.0[1484.0,2793.0])was significantly lower than that in NH group(4316.0[2958.0,5169.0])and NA group(3299.0[2534.0,4371.0]),Adjusted P all<0.001. Conclusion Reduced DNmDCs and impaired maturation may be associated with the onset of the plateau phase during intermittent interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objective To explore characteristics of clinical parameters and cytokines in patients with drug-induced liver injury(DILI)caused by different drugs and their correlation with clinical indicators. Method The study was conducted on patients who were up to Review of Uncertainties in Confidence Assessment for Medical Tests(RUCAM)scoring criteria and clinically diagnosed with DILI.Based on Chinese herbal medicine,cardiovascular drugs,non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs),anti-infective drugs,and other drugs,patients were divided into five groups.Cytokines were measured by Luminex technology.Baseline characteristics of clinical biochemical indicators and cytokines in DILI patients and their correlation were analyzed. Results 73 patients were enrolled.Age among five groups was statistically different(P=0.032).Alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(P=0.033)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)(P=0.007)in NSAIDs group were higher than those in chinese herbal medicine group.Interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)in patients with Chinese herbal medicine(IL-6:P<0.001;TNF-α:P<0.001)and cardiovascular medicine(IL-6:P=0.020;TNF-α:P=0.001)were lower than those in NSAIDs group.There was a positive correlation between ALT(r=0.697,P=0.025),AST(r=0.721,P=0.019),and IL-6 in NSAIDs group. Conclusion Older age may be more prone to DILI.Patients with NSAIDs have more severe liver damage in early stages of DILI,TNF-α and IL-6 may partake the inflammatory process of DILI.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for circular superficial esophageal cancer.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 74 consecutive cases of circular superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with ESD at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019. The success rate of ESD, curative resection rate, incidence of complications, and additional treatment were mainly observed.Results:One case was transferred to surgery, and the remaining 73 cases successfully completed ESD treatment. The success rate of ESD was 98.6%. Postoperative pathology of ESD revealed that 39 cases achieved curative resection, with a curative resection rate of 53.4% (39/73). Intraoperative muscle layer injury occurred in 15 cases (20.5%), and intraoperative perforation occurred in 1 case (1.4%). Two cases (2.7%) experienced delayed bleeding, and one case (1.4%) experienced delayed perforation. Eleven cases were lost to follow-up, and the remaining 62 cases received follow-up for 36.4±19.0 months. Among the follow-up cases, 12 underwent additional surgery and 5 cases additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Among the 57 patients with follow-up data who did not underwent surgery, 49 developed esophageal stenosis after ESD, with an incidence rate of 86.0%.Conclusion:ESD for circular superficial esophageal cancer is generally safe, but it is prone to muscle layer injury during the operation, with a low curative resection rate, a high incidence of postoperative esophageal stenosis, and a high proportion of additional surgical procedures.

Objective To investigate the associations of reproductive health indicators with lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)among women aged 40 years and above.Methods From Jul to Sep,2021,female subjects aged 40 years and above were randomly selected from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank for COPD screening.A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics and reproductive health indicators.Linear regression was used to analyze the effects of reproductive health indicators on forced vital capacity(FVC)and forced expiratory volume in the first second(FEV1).Logistic regression was also used to analyze the effects of reproductive health factors on FVC as a percentage of the predicted value(FVC%Pred)and FEV1%Pred as well as on COPD.Results A total of 1876 women aged 40 years and above were enrolled with mean age of(62.1±8.2)years old,among them,78.1%were menopausal,and 40.9%had been pregnant≥3 times.Multivariate analysis showed that FVC and FEV1 decreased in postmenopausal women,but menopause was not associated with a decrease in their percentage of predicted values.Pregnancies≥3 times was a risk factor for COPD(for 3 times,OR=4.92,95%CI:1.48-19.95,P<0.05;for≥4 times,OR=9.06,95%CI:2.32-41.57,P<0.01),while pregnancies of 2 times did not increase the risk of COPD.Conclusion In women aged 40 years and above,menopause is associated with poorer FVC and FEV1,and excessive pregnancy(≥3 times)is a risk factor for COPD.

Objective To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of therapy of tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation(shortened as Bushen Huoxue method)combined with cyclosporine plus androgen for the treatment of aplastic anemia(AA).Methods Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of Bushen Huoxue method combined with cyclosporine plus androgen(trial group)versus cyclosporine plus androgen alone(control group)for the treatment of AA were retrieved from the major domestic and oversea databases,and then high-quality RCTs that met the inclusion criteria were screened.RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.Results A total of 6 RCTs involving 365 patients were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that the total effective rate of AA in the trial group was significantly superior to that of the control group[OR=4.43,95%CI(2.50,7.84);P＜0.000 01].The trial group was superior to the control group on improving the peripheral blood indicators such as hemoglobin(HGB)level[MD=14.85,95%CI(10.66,19.05);P＜0.000 01],white blood cell(WBC)level[MD=0.61,95%CI(0.21,1.01);P=0.003],platelet(PLT)level[MD=16.51,95%CI(9.28,23.75);P＜0.000 01],and did not increase the incidence of adverse reactions such as hirsutism[OR=0.24,95%CI(0.10,0.61);P=0.003],acne[OR=0.30,95%CI(0.13,0.66);P=0.003],and abnormal liver function[OR=0.28,95%CI(0.09,0.83);P=0.02].Conclusion Bushen Huoxue method combined with cyclosporine plus androgen for the treatment of AA is superior to the use of cyclosporine plus androgen alone on enhancing clinical efficacy and improving the peripheral blood indicators,and has certain advantages in reducing the incidence of adverse reactions.

Objective To investigate the effects of Tianma Jiannao Granules(derived from Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction)combined with hyperbaric oxygen on cognitive function,activities of daily living(ADL),and the expression levels of serum inflammatory factors,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9),homocysteine(Hcy)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)in patients with vascular dementia(VD).Methods A total of 100 VD patients with wind-phlegm and stasis obstruction type were randomly divided into a trial group and a control group,50 cases in each group.The patients in the two groups were given symptomatic treatment such as controlling blood pressure,lowering blood glucose and regulating blood lipid.Additionally,the control group was given Oxiracetam Capsules orally,and the trial group was given Tianma Jiannao Granules orally combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment covered 12 weeks.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)scores,ADL scores,and the expression levels of serum inflammatory factors,neurotransmitters,apoptosis-related factors,MMP-9,Hcy and SOD in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.Results(1)The scale scoring showed that after treatment,the TCM syndrome scores and ADL scores of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the MMSE scores were significantly increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The decrease of TCM syndrome scores and ADL scores and the increase of MMSE scores in the trial group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(2)After treatment,the serum levels of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP)and interleukin 6(IL-6)in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of serum TNF-α,CRP and IL-6 levels in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the serum levels of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine(NE),dopamine(DA)and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)in the two groups were significantly increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the increase of serum NE,DA and 5-HT levels in the trial group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the serum level of apoptosis-related factor of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)in the two groups was significantly increased compared with that before treatment(P＜0.05),and the levels of serum soluble apoptosis-related factors(sFAS)and their ligands(sFASL)were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The increase of serum HO-1 level and the decrease of serum sFAS and sFASL levels in the trial group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)After treatment,the serum SOD level in the two groups was significantly increased compared with that before treatment(P＜0.05),and the levels of serum MMP-9 and Hcy were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The increase of serum SOD level and the decrease of serum MMP-9 and Hcy levels in the trial group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Tianma Jiannao Granules combined with hyperbaric oxygen is effective on improving the cognitive function and ADL of VD patients,and has certain effects on counteracting inflammatory response and oxidation and on regulating the expression of neurotransmitters.