1.Tasquinimod promotes the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin by down-regulating the HDAC4/p21 pathway
Zhao LI ; Ya-Hong WU ; Ye-Qing GUO ; Xiao-Jia MIN ; Ying LIN
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2025;29(2):191-204
To investigate whether Tasquinimod can influence cisplatin resistance in drug-resistant ovarian cancer (OC) cell lines by regulating histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) or p21, we explored its effects on the cell cycle, and associated mechanisms.RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, flow cytometry, CCK8 assay, and immunofluorescence were utilized to investigate the effects of Tasquinimod on gene expression, cell cycle, apoptosis, viability, and protein levels in OC cells. The results showed that Tasquinimod inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis in SKOV3/DDP (cisplatin) and A2780/DDP cells more effectively than DDP alone. In combination with cisplatin, Tasquinimod further enhanced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability in these cell lines, an effect that could be reversed following HDAC4 overexpression. Tasquinimod treatment down-regulated HDAC4, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1, and CDK4 expression and up-regulated the cleaved-Caspase-3, and p21 expression in SKOV3/DDP and A2780/ DDP cells. Additionally, Tasquinimod inhibited DDP resistance in OC/DDP cells. These effects were similarly observed in OC mouse models treated with Tasquinimod. In conclusion, Tasquinimod can improve OC cells' sensitivity to DDP by down-regulating the HDAC4/p21 axis, offering insights into potential strategies for overcoming cisplatin resistance in OC.
2.Role of amino acid metabolism in autoimmune hepatitis and related therapeutic targets
Peipei GUO ; Yang XU ; Jiaqi SHI ; Yang WU ; Lixia LU ; Bin LI ; Xiaohui YU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(3):547-551
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease. The pathogenesis of AIH remains unclear, but it is mainly autoimmune injury caused by the breakdown of autoimmune tolerance due to the abnormal activation of the immune system, while the specific molecular mechanism remains unknown. Recent studies have shown that abnormal amino acid metabolism plays an important role in the development and progression of AIH. This article reviews the research advances in amino acid metabolic reprogramming in AIH, in order to provide a theoretical basis for amino acid metabolism as a new target for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of AIH.
3.Cognition status quo of wild mushroom poisoning and its influencing factors among students in Guizhou Province
ZHOU Qianqian, ZUO Peipei, TIAN Jigui, WU Anzhong, GUO Hua, ZHU Shu
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(3):335-338
Objective:
To assess the awareness and associated factors of wild mushroom poisoning among students in Guizhou Province, so as to provide a scientific foundation for wild mushroom poisoning prevention and control among students.
Methods:
By a multi stage stratified cluster random sampling method, 1 162 students from Guizhou Province were selected in May 2024. The questionnaire survey was administered to evaluate knowledge regarding wild mushroom poisoning. Data were analyzed employing the χ 2 test and Logistic regression model.
Results:
Among the nine questions assessing awareness of wild mushroom poisoning, only three had the awareness rate exceeding 70%. Binary Logistic regression analysis revealed that students who "actively learn about the prevention of wild mushroom poisoning" ( OR=0.48, 95%CI =0.26-0.92) and "spread knowledge about wild mushroom poisoning to others" ( OR=0.47, 95%CI =0.33-0.69) scored higher on the wild mushroom poisoning knowledge questions ( P <0.05). Conversely, students with a habit of consuming wild mushrooms ( OR=1.52, 95%CI =1.15-2.02) scored lower ( P < 0.05 ). 42.3% of the students suggested that scientific dissemination and publicity about wild mushrooms should be intensified.
Conclusions
The awareness rate of wild mushroom poisoning knowledge among students in Guizhou Province requires further attention. Comprehensive knowledge should be disseminated systematically through various channels to further improve students awareness of the prevention and control of wild mushroom poisoning.
4.Effect modification of amino acid levels in association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and metabolic syndrome: A nested case-control study among coking workers
Jinyu WU ; Jiajun WEI ; Shugang GUO ; Huixia XIONG ; Yong WANG ; Hongyue KONG ; Liuquan JIANG ; Baolong PAN ; Gaisheng LIU ; Fan YANG ; Jisheng NIE ; Jin YANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(3):325-333
Background Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with the development of metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the role of amino acids in PAH-induced MS remains unclear. Objective To explore the impact of PAHs exposure on the incidence of MS among coking workers, and to determine potential modifying effect of amino acid on this relationship. Methods Unmatched nested case-control design was adopted and the baseline surveys of coking workers were conducted in two plants in Taiyuan in 2017 and 2019, followed by a 4-year follow-up. The cohort comprised 667 coking workers. A total of 362 participants were included in the study, with 84 newly diagnosed cases of MS identified as the case group and 278 as the control group. Urinary levels of 11 PAH metabolites and plasma levels of 17 amino acids were measured by ultrasensitive performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between individual PAH metabolites and MS. Stratified by the median concentration of amino acids, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model was employed to assess the mixed effects of PAHs on MS. Due to the skewed data distribution, all PAH metabolites and amino acids in the analysis were converted by natural logarithm ln (expressed as lnv). Results The median age of the 362 participants was 37 years, and 83.2% were male. Compared to the control group, the case group exhibited higher concentrations of urinary 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OHPhe), 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-OHPhe), and hydroxyphenanthrene (OHPhe) (P=0.005, P=0.049, and P=0.004, respectively), as well as elevated levels of plasma branched chain amino acid (BCAA) and aromatic amino acid (AAA) (P<0.05). After being adjusted for confounding factors, for every unit increase in lnv2-OHPhe in urine, the OR (95%CI) of MS was 1.57 (1.11, 2.26), and for every unit increase in lnvOHPhe, the OR (95%CI) of MS was 1.82 (1.16, 2.90). Tyrosine, leucine, and AAA all presented a significant nonlinear correlation with MS. At low levels, tyrosine, leucine, and AAA did not significantly increase the risk of MS, but at high levels, they increased the risk of MS. In the low amino acid concentration group, as well as in the low BCAA and low AAA concentration groups, it was found that compared to the PAH metabolite levels at the 50th percentile (P50), the log-odds of MS when the PAH metabolite levels was at the 75th percentile (P75) were 0.158 (95%CI: 0.150, 0.166), 0.218 (95%CI: 0.209, 0.227), and 0.262 (95% CI: 0.241, 0.282), respectively, However, no correlation between PAHs and MS was found in the high amino acid concentration group. Conclusion Amino acids modify the effect of PAHs exposure on the incidence of MS. In individuals with low plasma amino acid levels, the risk of developing MS increases with higher concentrations of mixed PAH exposure. This effect is partly due to the low concentrations of BCAA and AAA.
5.Comparision of aripiprazole and risperidone in improving psychiatric symptoms among chronic schizophrenia patients
Jianfeng WANG ; Bangwen LIU ; Yanyan ZHANG ; Yanping XUE ; Liang GUO ; Yanhai WU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(2):108-114
BackgroundAtypical antipsychotics have been widely used in patients with chronic schizophrenia, and aripiprazole and risperidone are the most commonly used drugs. The mechanism of action of the two is different, while previous studies have provided insufficient credible evidence from multiple perspectives to support the comparative efficacy of the two drugs in improving symptoms in patients with chronic schizophrenia. ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of aripiprazole and risperidone on the improvement of symptoms, prepulse inhibition (PPI), cognitive functioning and neurotrophic factors in patients with chronic schizophrenia, so as to provide effective treatment regimens for these patients. MethodsA total of 86 patients with chronic schizophrenia attending the psychiatry department of the Third People's Hospital of Fuyang from March 2021 to March 2023 and fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10) were enrolled and grouped using random number table method, each with 43 cases. Aripiprazole group was given oral aripiprazole once daily at an initial dose of 5 mg for one week and then gradually increased to a maximum dose of 25 mg. Risperidone group received oral risperidone twice daily at an initial dose of 0.5 mg for one week and then gradually increased to a maximum dose of 3 mg. Treatment in both groups lasted 3 months. Before treatment and 3 months after treatment, Patients were required to complete Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), detection of both strong and weak PPIs in a startle modification passive attention paradigm, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the measurement of neurotrophic factors at baseline and after treatment. The adverse reactions were recorded. Analysis of covariance was used to test the difference between the PANSS score, PPI, WCST and neurotrophic factor levels of the groups, with the pretest used as the covariate. Results3 months after treatment, no statistical difference was found in the scores of PANSS general psychopathology subscale, positive symptom subscale, negative symptom subscale and total score between two groups after treatment (F=0.621, 0.815, 0.743, 0.752, P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in PPI inhibition rate, single intense stimulus amplitude, single intense stimulus latency, prepulse inhibition amplitude, or prepulse inhibition latency (F=0.174, 0.001, 0.183, 0.171, 0.001, P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the total number of WCST tests between two groups (F=0.512, P>0.05), whereas aripiprazole group reported significantly larger total numbers of categories completed and correct responses as well as smaller total numbers of random errors and perseverative errors compared to risperidone group (F=3.737, 4.621, 4.892, 5.130, P<0.05). A significant increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) along with a reduction in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were documented in risperidone group when compared to risperidone group (F=4.414, 3.781, 6.319, P<0.05). No significant difference was demonstrated in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (χ2=0.261, P>0.05). ConclusionAripiprazole may be more beneficial than risperidone in improving cognitive functioning and neurotrophic factor levels in patients with chronic schizophrenia. [Funded by Scientific Research Project of Fuyang Municipal Health Commission in 2021 (number, FY2021-147)]
6.Mechanism of joint injection of Caulophyllum robustum Maxim in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Shaowa LYU ; Yunyu WU ; Quanli LIU ; Yuhan REN ; Yuyan GUO ; Haixue KUANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(8):926-931
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of joint injection of Caulophyllum robustum Maxim in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS The targets of main saponins in C. robustum Maxim were obtained from Swiss Target Prediction, and the RA treatment targets collected from the GeneCards and OMIM database were intercrossed to establish an interaction network based on network pharmacology. Gene ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed. RA model was established by injecting complete Freund’s adjuvant into the back of rabbits for verification. The arthritis index score, knee diameter and pain threshold of rabbits were compared. Pathological examination of rabbit synovial tissue was carried out. The levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in rabbit serum and synovial fluid were detected. The phosphorylation levels of tyrosine protein Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) proteins in rabbit synovium were detected. RESULTS Network pharmacology identified 143 intersection targets between the drug and RA. After the construction of the “drug-component-target” network, the core components of the network were echinocystic acid, oleanolic acid, hederagenin, cauloside A and cauloside C, etc. Additionally, the top 10 core targets of PPI network were SRC, STAT3, MAPK1, EGFR, PIK3CA, MAPK3, GRB2, JUN, PTPN11 and JAK2. The results of KEGG pathway analysis showed that the JAK/STAT signaling pathway was mainly involved in the treatment of RA by joint injection of C. robustum Maxim. Results of validation test showed that compared with model group, joint injection of C. robustum Maxim could reduce the swelling of rabbit knee joint, relieve the hyperplasia of synovial layer, reduce the hyperplasia of lower connective tissue, and reduce the number of inflammatory cells and capillaries. The arthritis index score (excluding low-dose group of C. robustum Maxim), knee diameter, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum and synovial fluid, and the protein phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 were decreased significantly (P<0.05 of P<0.01), while the pain threshold were reduced significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS The core components that may alleviate the inflammatory response of RA in joint injection of C. robustum Maxim could include echinocystic acid, oleanolic acid, hederagenin, cauloside A, and cauloside C. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of JAK/STAT signaling pathway and the reduction of inflammatory responses.
7.Incidence of statutory and keymonitored infectious diseases among students in Beijing from 2016 to 2020
XU Wenjie, BAI Chengxu, CHEN Dongni, XIA Zhiwei, WU Shuangsheng, GUO Xin, YANG Peng
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(4):592-596
Objective:
To analyze the incidence of statutory and keymonitored infectious diseases among school students in Beijing from 2016 to 2020, so as to provide a reference for developing the prevention and control of infectious diseases in schools.
Methods:
A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on student cases aged 6-22 years in Beijing from 2016 to 2020 selected from the China Disease Surveillance Information Reporting Management System. Rate comparisons were performed using the 2 test and trend 2 test.
Results:
From 2016 to 2020, the overall incidence of statutory and keymonitored infectious diseases among students in Beijing showed an upward trend (χ2trend=582.42), the incidence rates of Category B and other infectious diseases exhibited a downward trend (χ2trend=82.71, 18.34), while Category C infectious diseases demonstrated a significant upward trend (χ2trend=911.75) (P<0.01). Among Category B infectious diseases, scarlet fever, bacillary dysentery, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS were predominant, with annual average incidence rates of 61.33/100 000, 35.38/100 000, 13.88/100 000, and 3.78/100 000, respectively. Except for HIV/AIDS, the reported incidence rates of other infectious diseases showed a declining trend. Among Category C infectious diseases, influenza, other infectious diarrhea, hand-foot-mouth disease, and mumps were predominant, with annual average incidence rates of 956.13/100 000, 114.39/100 000, 111.37/100 000, and 28.24/100 000, respectively. Influenza showed a significant upward trend (χ2trend=1 508.30), while the other infectious diarrhea, hand-foot-mouth disease, and mumps exhibited a downward trend (χ2trend=13.84, 25.78, 6.13) (P<0.05). Among other infectious diseases, varicella was predominant (χ2trend=17.47, P<0.05). Scarlet fever, influenza, hand-foot-mouth disease, and mumps had higher incidence rates among primary and middle school students; other infectious diarrhea and varicella were more prevalent among high school students; tuberculosis and bacillary dysentery were more common among high school and college students; and HIV/AIDS had higher incidence rates among college and high school students.
Conclusion
From 2016 to 2020, the incidence of Category B infectious diseases among students in Beijing showed a declining trend, while influenza, a Category C infectious disease, exhibited a significant upward trend.
8.Dosimetric comparison of the heart and its substructures between two hybrid radiotherapy plans following breast-conserving surgery for left-sided breast cancer
Lin GUO ; Hongrong REN ; Meng CHEN ; Chengjun WU ; Yun ZHOU ; Xiaobo RUAN ; Ji DING ; Weiyuan WU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(2):174-178
Objective To compare the dosimetric differences in the heart and its substructures between two hybrid plans for hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in patients with early-stage left-sided breast cancer. Methods A total of 46 patients with early-stage left-sided breast cancer who underwent hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy were randomly selected. Two hybrid radiotherapy plans were used, including hybrid intensity-modulated radiotherapy (H_IMRT) and hybrid volumetric-modulated arc therapy (H_VMAT). The heart and its substructures were contoured, including left anterior descending (LAD), left ventricle (LV), right coronary artery (RCA), and right ventricle (RV). The heart and substructure doses, as well as monitor units, were compared between H_IMRT and H_VMAT. Results Both hybrid plans met the clinical requirements. H_IMRT significantly outperformed H_VMAT for the heart (V10, V30, and Dmean), LAD (V30, V40, Dmax and Dmean), LV (V10, V20 and Dmean), RCA (Dmax, Dmean), and RV (V5, V10, Dmean) (P < 0.001). Additionally, H_IMRT was significantly superior to H_VMAT for heart V5, LAD V20, and RV V20 (P = 0.005, 0.035 and 0.037). For LAD (V15, V40) and LV (V5, V25), H_IMRT was slightly better than H_VMAT, and the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion Both H_IMRT and H_VMAT hybrid radiotherapy plans are suitable for hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in patients with early-stage left-sided breast cancer. H_IMRT is slightly better than H_VMAT in dose sparing for the heart and its substructures.
9.Investigation of tick species in Suizhou City, Hubei Province from 2023 to 2024
Huiya LU ; Fang GUO ; Yibin PAN ; Meng PENG ; Libang WU ; Ye LIN ; Xiaohui LIU ; Xuejie YU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(2):184-189
Objective To investigate the species of ticks in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, so as to provide insights into management of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Methods During the period between May 2023 and June 2024, livestock breeding farms and vegetation neighboring the place of residence of confirmed and suspected patients with tick-borne disease were selected as sampling points in rural areas from Yindian Township, Gaocheng Township, Wanhe Township, Wushan Township, Xiaolin Township, Xihe Township, Hedian Township and Beijiao Street in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, where confirmed and suspected cases with tick-borne diseases had been reported. The parasitic ticks on the body surface of free-range livestock were captured with tweezers in livestock breeding farms, and free ticks on the vegetation surface were captured with the flagging method. Morphological identification of tick samples was performed under a microscope, and the gender and developmental stage of ticks were determined. One engorged adult tick, 2 to 3 blood-feeding but non-engorged adult ticks, 10 to 15 unfed female ticks, 15 to 20 unfed male ticks, and 30 to 40 tick nymphs or larvae were assigned into a group, respectively. Genomic DNA was extracted from tick samples in each group, and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene was amplified. Sequence analysis was performed with the DNASTAR software, and phylogenetic analysis was performed using the software MEGA 7.0. In addition, the phylogenetic tree was generated using the maximum likelihood method based on the Kimura 2 parameter model. Results A total of 2 438 ticks were captured from Suizhou City, Hubei Province during the period between May 2023 and June 2024, including 595 free ticks and 1 483 parasitic ticks. Three developmental stages of ticks were captured, including larvae, nymphs, and adults, and 75.18% (1 899/2 438) of captured ticks were adult, in which 79.04% (1 501/1 899) were female. Morphological and molecular biological assays identified one family, three genera and four species of captured ticks, including 2 425 Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks (99.47%) and one H. flava tick (0.04%) of the genus Haemaphysalis, 11 Rhipicephalus microplus ticks (0.45%) of the genus Rhipicephalus, and one Ixodes sinensis tick (0.04%) of the genus Ixodes in the family Ixodidae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the H. longicornis sequence (SZ49) in this study was clustered with sequences from Yunnan Province (GenBank accession number: MH024510.1), Hebei Province (GenBank accession number: MK450606.1) and Henan Province (GenBank accession number: MZ230645.1) into a clade, and the H. flava sequence (SZ19) in this study was clustered with sequences from Japan (GenBank accession number: MW064044.1), South Korea (GenBank accession number: ON629585.1), and Jiangsu Province (GenBank accession number: PP494741.1) and Hebei Province of China (GenBank accession number: MH520685.1) into a clade, while the R. microplus sequence (SZ8) in this study was clustered with the sequences from India (GenBank accession number: MK621328.1), and Henan Province (GenBank accession number: MT555307.1) and Guizhou Province of China (GenBank accession number: PP446801.1) into a clade. The sequence of I. sinensis (SZ23) in this study had 99.51% homology with that (GenBank accession number: OM368265.1) of ticks sampled from Wuhan City, Hubei Province. Conclusion There are four tick species of H. longicornis, H. flava, R. microplus and I. sinensis in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, and H. longicornis is the dominant species. H. flava is firstly recorded in Suizhou City.
10.Preliminary development of Health Literacy Evaluation Scale for Chinese High School Students
GUO Shihao, ZHU Fan, ZHU Guiyin, QI Tiantian, YANG Shuang, HU Bin, WU Huiyun, JIANG He, MA Yinghua
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(5):676-680
Objective:
To develop a health literacy evaluation scale for Chinese high school students, providing a tool for dynamic monitoring of health literacy among high school students and evaluating the effectiveness of health school construction.
Methods:
Through theoretical research, an evaluation index system for health literacy of Chinese high school students was constructed. Two rounds of Delphi expert consultations were conducted to quantitatively screen the items, and the item pool was revised based on expert opinions to compile the health literacy evaluation scale for Chinese students. Two focus group interviews were held to collect suggestions from health educators, high school teachers, and high school students regarding optimized scale length, question types, difficulty and wording of the scale. The scale was revised accordingly. A pilot survey was conducted in Beijing and Tianjin in November 2024, and the reliability and validity of the scale were evaluated based on the pilot survey data.
Results:
The response rate in both rounds of Delphi expert consultations was over 80%, and the expert authority coefficient was over 0.70. The expert opinions were highly concentrated, and the dispersion was small. The revised item pool based on expert opinions contained 39 items. The revised scale based on the suggestions and opinions collected from the focus group interviews had a moderate number of questions and difficulty level. The pilot survey obtained 800 valid responses, with the response rate of 89.39%. The Cronbach α coefficient of the scale was 0.911, χ 2/df =3.321, the root mean square error of approximation was 0.054, the adjusted goodness-of-fit index was 0.991 , and the factor loadings of some items were less than 0.40.
Conclusion
The health literacy evaluation scale for Chinese high school students demonstrates scientific rigor and practical applicability, with good internal consistency and structural validity.


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