1.Preparation and characterization of RGD modified “core-shell”nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin and study on their anti-tumor effects
Qingling LI ; Jinguang LIU ; Qi ZU ; Qinglong YU ; Shizhen SUN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(16):2017-2023
OBJECTIVE To prepare Arg-Gly-Asp(RGD)-modified doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded “core-shell” nanoparticles (RGD@DOX-LPNs), characterize the nanoparticles, and investigate their antitumor effects. METHODS RGD@DOX-LPNs were prepared using the nanoprecipitation method. Their morphology was examined by visual inspection and electron microscopy. Particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and Zeta potential were determined, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed. Encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), and stability were evaluated. The in vitro release kinetics, mucus diffusion, and tumor cell uptake [tracked using coumarin 6 (COU)] were investigated. The in vivo tissue distribution and gastrointestinal retention [labeled with 11-chloro-1, 1′-dipropyl-3, 3, 3′, 3′-tetramethyl-10, 12- trimethyleneindotricarbocyanine iodide (IR780)] were investigated. Using 4T1 tumor-bearing mice as the experimental subjects, the effects of the prepared formulation on tumor volume, tumor weight, and cell apoptosis rate were evaluated. RESULTS RGD@DOX-LPNs presented as orange transparent liquid with uniform and near-spherical particles. The particle size was (159.67± 8.02) nm, PDI was 0.15±0.06, and Zeta potential was (-19.70±0.79) mV. After modification with RGD, the thermal absorption peak and crystalline diffraction peak of DOX disappeared. EE and DL of RGD@DOX-LPNs were (72.65±4.37)% and (4.62± 0.38)% , respectively. No obvious changes in appearance, particle size, or EE were observed after storage at 4 ℃ and 25 ℃ for 7 days. The cumulative drug release at 4 h was approximately 73%, which was lower than that of free DOX(almost completely released within 1 h). The amount of COU in the first segmental mucus layer of COU-LPNs was significantly lower than that in the corresponding segment of RGD@COU- LPNs, whereas it was significantly higher in the 2nd to 5th segmental mucus layers compared to RGD@COU-LPNs (P<0.01). Cellular uptake of RGD@COU-LPNs was significantly higher than that of COU-LPNs(P<0.05). The isolated tissue fluorescence intensity of RGD@IR780-LPNs was stronger than that of IR780-LPNs, indicating better small intestinal retention. Compared with free DOX and unmodified nanoparticles (DOX-LPNs), RGD@DOX-LPNs exhibited a higher tumor inhibition rate of 65.74%, significantly reduced tumor volume and weight, and increased apoptosis rate(P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS RGD@DOX-LPNs are successfully prepared with sustained release properties, which can improve gastrointestinal mucus retention, enhance cellular uptake of DOX, and have potent antitumor activity against breast cancer.
3.Analysis of cochlear reimplantation surgery and factors influencing postoperative auditory and speech function.
Qingling BI ; Zhongyan CHEN ; Yong LYU ; Wenjing YANG ; Xiaoyu XU ; Yan LI ; Yuan LI
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(5):419-424
Objective:The aim of this study was to present an institution's experience with cochlear reimplantation(CRI), to assess surgical challenges and post-operative outcomes and to increase the success rate of CRI. Methods:We retrospectively evaluated data from 76 reimplantation cases treated in a tertiary center between 2001 and 2022. Clinical features include caused of CRI, type of failure, surgical issues, and auditory speech performance were analyzed. Categorical Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores were used to evaluate pre-and post-CRI outcomes. Our center's consecutive cohort of 1 126 patients had seven patients, while 69 patients were from other cochlear implant centers. Device failure was the most common cause of CRI(68/76), with the remaining cases including flap complications(3/76), magnet displacement(3/76), secondary meningitis(1/76), and foreign bodies around the implant(1/76). Postoperative auditory and speech outcome improved in 31.6%(24/76) of patients, remained unchanged in 63.2%(48/76), and decreased in CAP and SIR scores in 5.2%(4/76) of patients. Postoperatively, the seven patients with cochlear ossification and fibrosis scored lower on the overall CAP and SIR scale than non-ossification individuals, which is a significant factor in surgical success rates and auditory-speech outcomes. Conclusion:CRI surgery is a challenging but relatively safe procedure, and most reimplanted patients experience favorable postoperative outcomes. Medical complications and intracochlear damage are the main causes of poor postoperative results. Therefore, minimally invasive CI has a positive significance for reducing the difficulty of CRI surgery and improving the CI performance.
Humans
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Cochlear Implantation/methods*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Cochlear Implants
;
Male
;
Female
;
Postoperative Period
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Adult
;
Speech
;
Middle Aged
;
Postoperative Complications
;
Replantation
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Cochlea/surgery*
4.Layered double hydroxide-loaded si-NEAT1 regulates paclitaxel resistance and tumor-associated macrophage polarization in breast cancer by targeting miR-133b/PD-L1.
Zhaojun ZHANG ; Qiong WU ; Miaomiao XIE ; Ruyin YE ; Chenchen GENG ; Jiwen SHI ; Qingling YANG ; Wenrui WANG ; Yurong SHI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(8):1718-1731
OBJECTIVES:
To study the molecular mechanisms of LDH-loaded si-NEAT1 for regulating paclitaxel resistance and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization in breast cancer.
METHODS:
qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of lncRNA NEAT1, miR-133b, and PD-L1 in breast cancer SKBR3 cells and paclitaxel-resistant SKBR3 cells (SKBR3-PR). The effects of transfection with si-NEAT1 and miR-133b mimics on MRP, MCRP and PD-L1 expressions and cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis were investigated using qRT-PCR, Western blotting, scratch and Transwell assays, and flow cytometry. Rescue experiments were conducted using si-NEAT1 and miR-133b inhibitor. Human THP-1 macrophages were cultured in the presence of conditioned media (CM) derived from SKBR3 and SKBR3-PR cells with or with si-NEAT1 transfection for comparison of IL-4-induced macrophage polarization by detecting the surface markers. LDH@si-NEAT1 nanocarriers were constructed, and their effects on MRP, MCRP and PD-L1 expressions and cell behaviors of the tumor cells were examined. THP-1 cells were treated with the CM from LDH@si-NEAT1-treated tumor cells, and the changes in their polarization were assessed.
RESULTS:
SKBR3-PR cells showered significantly upregulated NEAT1 and PD-L1 expressions and lowered miR-133b expression as compared with their parental cells. Transfection with si-NEAT1 and miR-133b mimics inhibited viability, promoted apoptosis and enhanced MRP and BCRP expressions in SKBR3-PR cells. NEAT1 knockdown obvious upregulated miR-133b and downregulated PD-L1, MRP and BCRP expressions. The CM from SKBR3-PR cells obviously promoted M2 polarization of THP-1 macrophages, which was significantly inhibited by CM from si-NEAT1-transfected cells. Treatment with LDH@si-NEAT1 effectively inhibited migration and invasion, promoted apoptosis, and reduced MRP, BCRP and PD-L1 expressions in the tumor cells. The CM from LDH@si-NEAT1-treated SKBR3-PR cells significantly downregulated Arg-1, CD163, IL-10, and PD-L1 and upregulated miR-133b expression in THP-1 macrophages.
CONCLUSIONS
LDH@si-NEAT1 reduces paclitaxel resistance of breast cancer cells and inhibits TAM polarization by targeting the miR-133b/PD-L1 axis.
Humans
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MicroRNAs/genetics*
;
RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics*
;
Paclitaxel/pharmacology*
;
Breast Neoplasms/metabolism*
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
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B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism*
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Female
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Tumor-Associated Macrophages
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Apoptosis
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Cell Proliferation
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Macrophages
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Cell Movement
5.Anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects of flavan-4-ol and flavan glycosides from the roots of Pronephrium penangianum.
Feibing HUANG ; Yong YANG ; Qingling XIE ; Hanwen YUAN ; Muhammad AAMER ; Yuqing JIAN ; Ye ZHANG ; Wei WANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(5):593-603
Five new flavan-4-ol glycosides jixueqiosides A-E (1-5) and two new flavan glycosides jixueqiosides F and G (6 and 7), along with twelve known flavan-4-ol glycosides (8-19), were isolated from the roots of Pronephrium penangianum. Comprehensive spectral analyses, X-ray single-crystal diffraction, and theoretical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations established structures and absolute configurations. A single crystal structure of flavan-4-ol glycoside (14) was reported for the first time, while the characteristic ECD and NMR data for all isolated flavan-4-ol glycosides (1-5 , 8-19) were analyzed, establishing a set of empirical rules. Activity screening of these isolates showed that 8 and 9 could inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 7.93 ? 2.85 ?mol?L-1 and 5.87 ? 1.58 ?mol?L-1 (MDA-MB-231), and 2.21 ? 1.38 ?mol?L-1 and 3.52 ? 1.55 ?mol?L-1 (MCF-7), respectively. Western blotting and flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that 8 and 9 dose-dependently induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells by up-regulating BAX, activating caspase-3 and down-regulating BCL-2. Additionally, compound 8 affected autophagy-related proteins, increasing the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin-1 levels to inhibit MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation. Moreover, anti-inflammatory studies indicated that 2, 3, 7, 13, 14, and 18 moderately inhibited tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) release.
Humans
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Plant Roots/chemistry*
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Glycosides/isolation & purification*
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification*
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Flavonoids/isolation & purification*
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Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification*
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Molecular Structure
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Interleukin-6/immunology*
;
Animals
;
Mice
6.Artificial intelligence-assisted design, mining, and modification of CRISPR-Cas systems.
Yufeng MAO ; Guangyun CHU ; Qingling LIANG ; Ye LIU ; Yi YANG ; Xiaoping LIAO ; Meng WANG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(3):949-967
With the rapid advancement of synthetic biology, CRISPR-Cas systems have emerged as a powerful tool for gene editing, demonstrating significant potential in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology. This review comprehensively summarizes the significant progress in applying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to the design, mining, and modification of CRISPR-Cas systems. AI technologies, especially machine learning, have revolutionized sgRNA design by analyzing high-throughput sequencing data, thereby improving the editing efficiency and predicting off-target effects with high accuracy. Furthermore, this paper explores the role of AI in sgRNA design and evaluation, highlighting its contributions to the annotation and mining of CRISPR arrays and Cas proteins, as well as its potential for modifying key proteins involved in gene editing. These advancements have not only improved the efficiency and precision of gene editing but also expanded the horizons of genome engineering, paving the way for intelligent and precise genome editing.
CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics*
;
Artificial Intelligence
;
Gene Editing/methods*
;
RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics*
;
Machine Learning
;
Humans
;
Genetic Engineering/methods*
;
Synthetic Biology
7.WNT7A promotes tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via activating FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 signaling.
Qingling HUANG ; Yi XIAO ; Ting LAN ; Youguang LU ; Li HUANG ; Dali ZHENG
International Journal of Oral Science 2024;16(1):7-7
Wnt signaling are critical pathway involved in organ development, tumorigenesis, and cancer progression. WNT7A, a member of the Wnt family, remains poorly understood in terms of its role and the underlying molecular mechanisms it entails in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). According to the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), transcriptome sequencing data of HNSCC, the expression level of WNT7A in tumors was found to be higher than in adjacent normal tissues, which was validated using Real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Unexpectedly, overexpression of WNT7A did not activate the canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway in HNSCC. Instead, our findings suggested that WNT7A potentially activated the FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway, leading to enhanced cell proliferation, self-renewal, and resistance to apoptosis. Furthermore, in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor model, high expression of WNT7A and phosphorylated STAT3 was observed, which positively correlated with tumor progression. These findings underscore the significance of WNT7A in HNSCC progression and propose the targeting of key molecules within the FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 pathway as a promising strategy for precise treatment of HNSCC.
Animals
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Humans
;
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
;
Carcinogenesis/genetics*
;
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
;
Wnt Signaling Pathway
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Head and Neck Neoplasms/genetics*
;
Wnt Proteins
;
Frizzled Receptors/genetics*
;
Janus Kinase 1
;
STAT3 Transcription Factor
8.Foreign research status of prevention of children s sexual assault from the perspective of perpetrators
ZHOU Shengyi, JIANG Mengting, CHEN Yue, ZHENG Qingling
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(2):291-295
Abstract
In recent years, the research perspective of the prevention and intervention of children s sexual assault abroad has expanded from the victim s perspective of children s self protection education and post mortem remedy to the screening and intervention education of perpetrators in advance, so as to implement the primary prevention of children s sexual assault from the source. The article will summarize the current situation of foreign research on child sexual assault prevention from the perspective of perpetrators, including the target population, prevention practice and forms, so as to provide a reference for the primary prevention of child sexual assault from the perspective of perpetrators in China.
9.Role of Macrophage Polarization in Chronic Low-grade Inflammation of PCOS Based on Theory of Spleen Being in Charge of Defensive Function
Tingting SHANG ; Zixun ZHUANG ; Hua MA ; Bingying FAN ; Qingling REN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(9):211-218
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive endocrine disorder characterized by coexisting reproductive dysfunction and glucolipid metabolic disturbance, affecting 8%-13% of women of reproductive age and 3%-11% of adolescent females. Due to the highly heterogeneous clinical features, symptom-oriented individualized strategies are commonly adopted for the treatment of PCOS. Chronic low-grade inflammation is one of the core mechanisms for the occurrence of PCOS. Macrophages, as foundational cells of innate immunity, play an indispensable role in modulating systemic inflammatory responses. The imbalance of macrophage M1/M2 polarization is involved in chronic low-grade inflammation in PCOS via pathways such as activating pro-inflammatory responses, disrupting ovarian tissue repair, stimulating excessive synthesis of androgens, and promoting the occurrence of insulin resistance. Reshaping the phenotype of macrophages might serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for PCOS. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) holds that spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness is a crucial pathogenesis of PCOS. The spleen, being in charge of defensive function, plays a key role in ensuring normal physiological functions such as transportation and defense against external pathogen during the occurrence and development of PCOS. The imbalance of macrophage polarization resembles the transition from spleen being in charge of defensive function to spleen losing its defensive role in TCM. Therefore, this paper, for the first time, explores the deep connection between macrophage polarization and the pathogenesis of chronic low-grade inflammation in PCOS from the TCM theory of spleen being in charge of defensive function, providing theoretical support and new research directions for the treatment and drug research of PCOS.
10.Clinical Efficacy of Wandai Decoction in Preventing and Treating VVC with Spleen Deficiency-Dampness Abundance Syn-drome and Its Impact on DNA Damage
Yue HAN ; Su SHEN ; Jie FU ; Qingling REN
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(2):190-195
OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical efficacy of Wandai Decoction in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC)with spleen deficiency-dampness abundance and its effect on DNA damage.METHODS 70 VVC patients with spleen deficiency-dampness abundance who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into Wandai Decoction and fluconazole groups,35 cases each.The fluconazole group took 150 mg fluconazole orally once;the Wandai Decoction group took Wandai Decoction orally for 14 d.After treatment,changes in TCM syndrome scores of the two groups of patients were compared;the clinical cure(test of cure,TOC)rate and clinical improvement(CI)rate of the two groups of patients were evaluated;8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OHDG)in the vaginal lavage fluid was detected by colorimetry to assess DNA damage;clinical complete remission(follow up,FU),mycological negative conversion and recurrence rate were evaluated 3 months after treatment.RESULTS After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores of the two groups of patients were improved to varying degrees(P<0.05,P<0.01);the Wandai Decoction group was superior to the fluconazole group(P<0.05,P<0.01);there was no significant difference in TOC,CI,mycology negative conversion between the Wandai Decoction group and the fluconazole group(P>0.05);however,the FU and recurrence rate of the Wandai Decoction group were significantly better than those of the fluconazole group(P<0.05,P<0.01).After treatment,the expression of 8-OHDG in the vaginal lavage fluid of the fluconazole group increased significantly(P<0.001),while there was no significant change in the Wandai Decoction group,which was significantly lower than that of the fluconazole group(P<0.001).CONCLUSION The overall clinical efficacy of Wandai Decoction is equivalent to that of fluconazole,but it is better than fluconazole in improving TCM syndromes and pre-venting recurrence,with the advantage of not aggravating DNA damage in vaginal cells.


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