1.Allogeneic lung transplantation in miniature pigs and postoperative monitoring
Yaobo ZHAO ; Ullah SALMAN ; Kaiyan BAO ; Hua KUI ; Taiyun WEI ; Hongfang ZHAO ; Xiaoting TAO ; Xinzhong NING ; Yong LIU ; Guimei ZHANG ; He XIAO ; Jiaoxiang WANG ; Chang YANG ; Feiyan ZHU ; Kaixiang XU ; Kun QIAO ; Hongjiang WEI
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(1):95-105
Objective To explore the feasibility and reference value of allogeneic lung transplantation and postoperative monitoring in miniature pigs for lung transplantation research. Methods Two miniature pigs (R1 and R2) underwent left lung allogeneic transplantation. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity tests and blood cross-matching were performed before surgery. The main operative times and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) after opening the pulmonary artery were recorded during surgery. Postoperatively, routine blood tests, biochemical blood indicators and inflammatory factors were detected, and pathological examinations of multiple organs were conducted. Results The complement-dependent cytotoxicity test showed that the survival rate of lymphocytes between donors and recipients was 42.5%-47.3%, and no agglutination reaction occurred in the cross-matching. The first warm ischemia times of D1 and D2 were 17 min and 10 min, respectively, and the cold ischemia times were 246 min and 216 min, respectively. Ultimately, R1 and R2 survived for 1.5 h and 104 h, respectively. Postoperatively, in R1, albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) decreased, and alanine aminotransferase increased; in R2, ALB, GLB and aspartate aminotransferase all increased. Urea nitrogen and serum creatinine increased in both recipients. Pathological results showed that in R1, the transplanted lung had partial consolidation with inflammatory cell infiltration, and multiple organs were congested and damaged. In R2, the transplanted lung had severe necrosis with fibrosis, and multiple organs had mild to moderate damage. The expression levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 increased in the transplanted lungs. Conclusions The allogeneic lung transplantation model in miniature pigs may systematically evaluate immunological compatibility, intraoperative function and postoperative organ damage. The data obtained may provide technical references for subsequent lung transplantation research.
2.COLEC12high tumor-associated macrophages orchestrate lenvatinib resistance and cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma via paracrine NRG1-HER2/HER3 signaling
Jianxing ZHANG ; Liang QIAO ; Zongfeng WU ; Dinglan ZUO ; Shanshan HUANG ; Shaoru LIU ; Zhenkun HUANG ; Yi ZENG ; Yu LI ; Yichuan YUAN ; Chenwei WANG ; Wei HE ; Jiliang QIU ; Yunfei YUAN ; Yi NIU ; Binkui LI
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):772-786
Background/Aims:
Lenvatinib resistance remains a critical barrier in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms and strategies for reversing resistance remain incompletely understood.
Methods:
Integrated transcriptomics of lenvatinib-resistant patient tumors and an acquired-resistance murine model identified a novel macrophage subpopulation. Functional validation employed CRISPR-SAM screening, conditioned medium (CM) assays, subcutaneous/orthotopic xenografts, patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Mechanistic studies included ChIP-qPCR, co-immunoprecipitation, and pharmacologic targeting. Clinical relevance was assessed in a retrospective cohort.
Results:
Resistant HCC exhibited significant enrichment of a COLEC12high TAM subset , which correlated with poor survival and treatment response. These TAMs secreted neuregulin-1 (NRG1) , activating HER2/HER3-AKT signaling in tumor cells to drive cancer stemness and lenvatinib resistance. Mechanistically, in TAMs COLEC12 sequestered STAT1 in the cytoplasm, preventing its phosphorylation, and thereby derepressing STAT3-mediated NRG1 transcription. Depletion of NRG1 reversed the stemness phenotypes and resensitized tumors to lenvatinib both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, high NRG1 expression predicted an inferior lenvatinib response and shorter survival. Crucially, the bispecific anti-HER2/HER3 antibody zenocutuzumab restored lenvatinib efficacy in PDOs, PDXs, and murine models.
Conclusions
Our work establishes the COLEC12high TAM/NRG1 axis as a master regulator of therapeutic resistance and identifies NRG1 as a predictive biomarker, providing a clinically actionable strategy to overcome lenvatinib resistance in HCC.
3.The first record of Anopheles messeae (Diptera: Culicidae) parasitized by water mites in China
Xue-ru CHEN ; Wen-zhen YAO ; Yu-hao LI ; Gui-chang LI ; Tao MENG ; Qun-ling FENG ; Xin-hui LIU ; Li-hong QIAO ; Xiang-ting WU ; Xue-feng ZHANG ; Cheng-lin LI ; Xue-cheng DONG ; Da-wei WANG ; Xiao-yan SI ; Yu-hong GUO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(1):53-57
Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.
4.Engineered iNKNKG2A KO cells possess HLA-E specific anti-tumor activity
Wenhua QIAO ; Yi XU ; Peng DONG ; Wei HE ; Hui CHEN ; Jianmin ZHANG
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(5):599-607
Objective To target at the NKG2A-HLA-E inhibitory axis,a pluripotent stem cell(iPSC)-derived geneti-cally engineered natural killer cells(NK cells)with NKG2A knockout(NKG2A KO-iNK)were prepared and then their tumor-killing efficacy was evaluated in vitro.Methods NKG2A was knocked out in iPSCs using gene-editing technology.These cells were then differentiated into NKG2A KO-iNK cells.Surface markers at each differentiation stage were analyzed by flow cytometry.Western blot confirmed NKG2A knockout,and flow cytometry assessed expres-sion of activating receptors(NKG2D)and natural cytotoxicity receptors(NKp30,NKp44,NKp46)in NKG2A KO-iNK cells.Cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines with varying human leukocyte antigen E(HLA-E)expression level was evaluated via lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)release assay.Results Co-transfection of iPSCs with Cas9 pro-tein and three small-guide RNAs(sgRNAs)targeting at exons 1 and 2 of the KLRC1 gene(encoding NKG2A)suc-cessfully generated monoclonal NKG2A-knockout iPSCs(NKG2A KO-iPSCs)with a single T-base insertion in exon 1.During iPSC differentiation into NK cells,CD34 expression reached 30%-50%at the embryoid body(EB)stage(day 8),while CD56 and CD 16 expression exceeded 80%by day 28.Western blot confirmed complete NKG2A knockout in NKG2A KO-iNK cells.Flow cytometry revealed comparable expression level of activating receptor NKG2D and cytotox-icity receptors(NKp30,NKp44,NKp46)between NKG2A KO-iNK and wild-type iNK(WT-iNK)cells.The LDH assay results indicated that the cytotoxic activity of NKG2A KO-iNK cells against the HLA-E highly-expressed B-cell precursor leukemia cell line Nalm6 cells was significantly higher than that of WT-iNK cells,while there was no signif-icant difference between them and human myeloma cell line H929 cells with low HLA-E expression and human hepa-tocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 cells with almost no HLA-E expression.Interferon-γ(IFN-γ)pretreatment up regulated HLA-E expression in Nalm6 cells,further amplifying NKG2A KO-iNK-mediated cytotoxicity.Conclusions By disrupting the NKG2A-HLA-E inhibitory axis,NKG2A KO-iNK cells exhibit markedly enhanced in vitro cytotoxic-ity against HLA-E-high tumor cells.This result highlights their potential function as a novel adoptive cell therapy strategy for cancers reliant on HLA-E-mediated immune evasion.
5.Impact of strengthened link quality of intervention measures on incidence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in ICU patients
Wenzhi HUANG ; Fu QIAO ; Jingwen LI ; Linzhi CHENG ; Yuhua DENG ; Zhiyong ZONG ; Wei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(17):2561-2565
OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of measures dominated by intensifying link quality on prevention and control of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)among general ICU patients.METHODS The conventional intervention measures were taken from Jan.2016 to Oct.2020,which was assigned as the pre-inter-vention period;the intervention measures dominated by enhancement of link quality were taken for the general ICU patients(the study group)from Nov.2020 to Oct.2021,which was set as the intervention period,the inter-vention measures were taken for the neurosurgery ICU patients and the surgery ICU patients(the control group).A two-group interrupted time series of a quasi-experimental study was analyzed,and whether or not the intervention measures could reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the general ICU patients was evaluated.RESULTS A total of 23 713 case-times of patients from three ICU wards were enrolled in the study.The incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the general ICU patients was 4.49 cases per thousand patient-days during intervention period,3.71 cases per thousand patient-days during pre-intervention pe-riod,and there was no significant difference(u=-1.412,P=0.079);it was lower than 7.06 cases per thousand patient-days during nearly one year before the intervention period(from Nov.2019 to Oct.2020),and there was significant difference(u=3.128,P=0.002).The result of analysis of the interrupted time series showed that there was significant difference in the slope change between the study group and the control group after the inter-vention(P=0.035),indicating that the intervention measures could reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associ-ated infection in the study group,and there was significant difference in the changing trend between the study group and the control group.CONCLUSIONS The prevention and control measures for CRKP dominated by the link quality management can effectively reduce the incidence of CRKP hospital-associated infection among the gen-eral ICU patients.The prevention and control strategies may provide reference for prevention and control of CRKP in ICUs of other medical institutions.
6.Study on underscreening among cervical cancer in Wuxiang County,Shanxi Province
Huike WANG ; Yitong ZHU ; Xiaopin SHI ; Bo ZHANG ; Jinxiu HAN ; Lihong ZHAO ; Lanfen WEI ; Hanyue DING ; Youlin QIAO
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(12):5-9
Objective To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of underscreening among cervical cancer screening participants in Wuxiang County,Shanxi Province in 2019,providing evidence-based support for optimizing mobilization strategies.Methods Data from cervical cancer screening programs conducted between 2019 and 2024 in Wuxiang County were retrospectively collected.The follow-up screening behaviors of women screened in 2019 were analyzed,and factors associated with underscreening were identified.Results A total of 3759 women underwent cervical cancer screening in 2019.Among them,492 women(13.09%)with abnormal primary screening results requiring follow-up in 12 months,yet only 43(8.74%)completed;2154 women(57.30%)with negative liquid-based cytology testing(LCT)results needed re-screening after 3 years,701(32.54%)completed;1113 women(29.61%)with negative HPV/combined results needed re-screening after 5 years,734(65.95%)completed.Overall,2299 women(60.69%)exhibited underscreening.Multivariate analysis showed that underscreening was more likely among community residents than rural residents(OR=2.309,P=0.018),older women(OR=1.065,P<0.001),those in organized screening compared to opportunistic screening(OR=3.789,P<0.001),those undergoing LCT(OR=4.607,P<0.001)or combined screening instead of human papillomavirus testing(OR=3.624,P<0.001),and those with abnormal screening results(OR=6.859,P<0.001).Conclusion Substantial proportions of cervical cancer screening participants demonstrate poor adherence to guideline-recommended screening intervals,and particularly need to focus on older women and those with abnormal screening results.Implementation of electronic screening record systems and emphasizing knowledge of periodical screening in health education could enhance compliance with"70%screening coverage"target for cervical cancer prevention.
7.Report of surveillance data of abdominal(pelvic)soft tissue infections based on regional nosocomial infection surveillance platform of Suzhou from 2020 to 2023
Jingxue LIU ; Xiuzhen WANG ; Meizhen QIAO ; Junji ZHANG ; Wei DING ; Shukai ZHU ; Meijuan JIN ; Xiaochao SONG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(5):758-763
OBJECTIVE To explore the distribution and drug resistance of the pathogens causing the abdominal(pelvic)soft tissue infections in secondary or above medical institutions of Suzhou so as to provide bases for pre-vention and control of the infections.METHODS The surveillance data of abdominal(pelvic)soft tissue infections that were reported regularly from 58 member institutions of Suzhou from Jan.2020 to Dec.2023 were collected from the regional nosocomial infection surveillance platform by Suzhou nosocomial infection management and qual-ity control center.Totally 26 tertiary hospitals and 32 secondary hospitals were involved.RESULTS Most of the 1178 strains of pathogens were isolated from the tertiary hospitals,the proportion of gram-negative bacteria was the highest;Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecium ranked the top 3 species.The constituent ratio of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)strains the was highest among the mul-tidrug-resistant organisms.The K.pneumoniae and CRKP strains were sensitive to tigecycline;the E.coli strains were highly sensitive to carbapenems,minocycline and piperacillin-tazobactam;Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains were highly resistant to most of the antibiotics;Enterobacter cloacae strains were highly resistant to ampi-cillin-sulbactam but were highly sensitive to carbapenems;the drug resistance rate of the A.baumannii strains to tigecycline was less than 5%;the drug resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to ticarcillin-clavulanic acid was highest.CONCLUSIONS The abdominal(pelvic)soft tissue infection is always mixed infections.The pathogens show severe drug resistance.It is necessary to strengthen the surveillance of etiological spectrum and drug resistance and conduct targeted guidance for clinical practice of diagnosis and treatment.
8.Research Progress on the Efficacy and Safety of Deflazacort in the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Tingting XU ; Wei ZUO ; Xin LIU ; Shaohong WANG ; Zhuo SUN ; Junmei SHANG ; Luyao QIAO ; Bo ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(2):248-257
Deflazacort,as a glucocorticoid medication,is conductive to improving motor function and muscle strength,delaying the loss of ambulation,enhancing pulmonary function,reducing the risk of scoliosis,slowing the progression of cardiomyopathy,and increasing survival rates in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD).In February 2017,the U.S.Food and Drug Administration(FDA)approved deflazacort for the treatment of DMD.In May 2024,deflazacort entered Peking Union Medical College Hospital for desig-nated use through the " temporary import" pathway.This article provides an overview of deflazacort from the perspectives of its mechanism of action,pharmacokinetics,clinical efficacy,and adverse effects,aiming to offer a reference for its rational and safe application in clinical practice.
9.Functionalized self-assembled micelles enhance effect of tranexamic acid in treatment of cutaneous hyperpigmentation
Junlong QI ; Junyi LIU ; Yuzhou HE ; Wei QIANG ; Shiying ZHANG ; Qiao LIU ; Hongda ZHU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(28):6061-6069
BACKGROUND:Topical administration of tranexamic acid can be used for anti-skin pigmentation,but its large polarity makes it difficult to break through the cuticle barrier and cell membrane when administered topically,and the subcutaneous accumulation concentration is not easy to reach the effective therapeutic concentration.OBJECTIVE:To design functionalized self-assembled micelles to enhance the anti-pigmentation effect of tranexamic acid.METHODS:The plant polyphenol derivative epigallocatechin gallate palmitate and metformin were used as carrier materials.The self-assembled micelles with synergistic anti-pigging activity and enhanced drug permeability were prepared by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction.The nanoscale properties and stability of self-assembled drug-loaded micelles were tested,and their transdermal permeability was evaluated,and their biocompatibility and cellular effects were investigated.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Functional self-assembled drug-carrying micelles with average particle size of(176.27±5.23)nm,polydispersity coefficient of 0.23±0.02,and the Zeta potential of(-25.67±0.98)mV had good stability.The mass concentrations of tranexamic acid and metformin in the self-assembled drug-carrying micelles were(20.03±0.12)and(6.67±0.08)mg/mL,respectively.The drug loadings of tranexamic acid and metformin in the self-assembled drug-carrying micelles were(19.97±0.12)%and(6.65±0.08)%,respectively.(2)In vitro transdermal results showed that the self-assembled drug-carrying micelles had higher penetration and intradermal retention per unit skin area,and could penetrate and diffuse to deeper parts of the skin.(3)MTT assay results demonstrated that undrug-loaded self-assembled micelles containing tranexamic acid 50-250 μg/mL had no toxic effects on mouse fibroblasts and mouse skin melanoma cells.The self-assembled drug-carrying micelles containing tranexamic acid 500 μg/mL had a slight toxic effect on mouse skin melanoma cells.The self-assembled drug-carrying micelles containing 50-500 μg/mL of tranexamic acid did not cause hemolysis and had good biological safety.(4)In vitro cell culture results showed that self-assembled drug-carrying micelles containing 500 μg/mL tranexamic acid could significantly inhibit the tyrosinase activity and melanin release of mouse skin melanoma cells,and the inhibitory effect was stronger than that of tranexamic acid solution or metformin solution alone.These results indicated that functionalized self-assembled micelles could synergize with tranexamic acid to inhibit tyrosinase activity,reduce melanin synthesis,and enhance the anti-skin pigmentation effect of tranexamic acid.
10.Simultaneous detection of 16 cephalosporin drugs in blood by UPLC-MS/MS
Yunqian LI ; Mengmeng LI ; Jing QIAO ; Shiyang QIN ; Baihui CHEN ; Kongwen ZHU ; Juanna WEI ; Yongtao LIU ; Junlei ZHANG ; Chenghao WU ; Guobin XIN
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;40(3):324-329,337
Objective To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 16 cephalosporin antibiotics of the fourth generation in whole blood by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS),including representative drugs such as cefalexin,cefuroxime axetil,cefetamet pivoxil,ceftizoxime,cefodizime,cefteram pivoxil,cefpodoxime proxetil,cefditoren pivoxil,cefminox sodium,cefoperazone,cefpirome,cefoxitin,cefamandole nafate,cefquinome sulfate,cefpiramide,and ceftiofur.Methods Whole blood was pretreated with acetonitrile for protein precipitation and then determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.The liquid phase used a Hypersil GOLD? C18 column(2.1 mm ×100 mm,1.9 μm).The organic phase was 0.1%formic acid methanol solution,and the aqueous phase was 0.1%formic acid aqueous solution(containing 10 mmol/mL ammonium formate)for gradient elution.Detection was performed in electrospray positive ionization mode with selected reaction monitoring(SRM).Results The 16 drugs showed good linearity within their respective concentration ranges,with R2 values all greater than 0.99.Limits of detection for cefminox sodium and cefpiramide were 50 and 20 ng/mL,respectively,and for the remaining 14 drugs were all lower than 5 ng/mL.The relative standard deviations(RSDs)of intra-day and inter-day precisions at four spiked concentrations for the 16 drugs were all no higher than 10%(n=5).Accuracy ranged within±15%for mosg drugs,except for cefamandole nafate,ceftiofur,and cefetamet pivoxil at the lower limit of quantification,which showed accuracy within±20%.Extraction recoveries exceeded 80%for all compounds.Conclusion This method has high detection sensitivity,rapid speed,and good repeatability for the simultaneously determination of 16 cephalosporin antibiotics in whole blood.


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