1.Rapid health technology assessment of toripalimab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Yuping YANG ; Yuan ZHOU ; Qirui TAI ; Mili SHI ; Yijie SHI ; Jieya WANG ; Huan HU ; Yuan ZHANG ; Yi LIU ; Yue WANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(20):2593-2598
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of toripalimab (Tor) combined with chemotherapy (CT) in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) related websites were searched to collect the HTA reports, systematic reviews/meta-analyses and pharmacoeconomic studies of Tor+CT in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC from database/website inception to March 31, 2025. After data extraction and quality evaluation, the results of the included studies were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS A total of eleven studies were included, involving five systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and six pharmacoeconomic studies. Among the five systematic reviews/ meta-analyses, two were of high quality, while there was one each of moderate, low, and very low quality. All six pharmacoeconomic studies were of good quality. In terms of efficacy, compared with CT, Tor+CT significantly improved patients’ progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (P<0.05). In addition, compared with ipilimumab+CT, durvalumab, durvalumab+tremelimumab and sugemalimab+CT, Tor+CT could also improve the PFS (P<0.05). In terms of safety, there was no significant difference in the incidence of grade≥3 adverse events between patients receiving Tor+CT and CT (P>0.05); while Tor+CT had a lower incidence of grade≥3 adverse E-mail: events, compared with camrelizumab+CT, pembrolizumab+ 3233255290@qq.com ipilimumab, nivolumab+CT and atezolizumab+CT (P<0.05).In terms of cost-effectiveness, Tor+CT treatment had certain cost-effectiveness advantages, compared with CT. CONCLUSIONS Compared with CT, other programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors alone, or their combination with CT, Tor+CT for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC has good efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness.
2.Mechanisms of Protein Post-translational Modifications in Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Yi TANG ; Guo-Tai WANG ; Yu-Han JIANG ; Zhong-Qiang CAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(9):2061-2072
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, posing a great threat to human health and life. Despite the tremendous progress in understanding the origin and molecular characterization of hepatocellular carcinoma, there are still few therapeutic options that can significantly increase the survival rate and improve the quality of life of patients. Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are regulatory mechanisms for protein activity, localization, expression, and interactions with other cellular molecules that induce changes in protein properties and functions. More and more studies have demonstrated that PTMs and immunotherapy play an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, even in the immunosurveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma and the treatment and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Traditional types of PTMs include phosphorylation, glycosylation, methylation, and ubiquitination. Phosphorylation affects cancer development and progression by regulating tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, and inhibiting apoptosis. There are two main types of glycosylation: O-glycosylation andN-glycosylation. Abnormal glycosylation not only promotes the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, but also plays an important role in immune recognition and immune escape. Common methylation modifications include DNA methylation, RNA methylation and histone methylation. Among them, histone methylation, as an important epigenetic regulatory mechanism, is of great theoretical and practical significance for understanding the mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma as well as carrying out the corresponding prevention and immunotherapy. Ubiquitination plays an important role in the localization, metabolism, function, regulation and degradation of proteins, and it is regulated at different levels by ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2), ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E3), and a series of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) and is closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy. This paper begins with a brief overview of the importance of PTMs of proteins, discusses the importance of these traditional types of PTMs in hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy, and summarizes the most recent applications of these approaches in hepatocellular carcinoma in order to explore the mechanism of action of PTMs in hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy. Then, we summarize the finding that programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is associated with a variety of conventional types of PTMs, that in-depth study of the mechanisms regulating PD-L1 expression in tumor cells is expected to improve therapeutic efficacy, and that targeting PD-L1 in PTMs is expected to be a new field for exploring hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy in the future. Finally, we discuss the current status of research on PTMs for hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy and provide new insights and future research directions. In addition to the traditional types of PTMs, multiple novel PTMs have also been identified in published research reports, while the relationship between novel PTMs and hepatocellular carcinoma and the types of PTMs to other undiscovered proteins are still poorly understood, and future research will be focused on a more comprehensive knowledge and understanding of PTMs as well as on exploring new types and mechanisms of PTMs. Overall, further investigation of the role of PTMs in tumor immunity could help to discover new biomarkers and to develop more effective and personalized cancer immunotherapies and targeted therapies, expanding our understanding of cancer biology.
3.Application progress of wheeled mobile robot in medical service support
Tai-Hong GUAN ; Lian-Yong XIN ; Lei ZHAO ; Yi LI ; Xiao-Yong CAO
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2024;45(3):86-94
The wheeled mobile robot(WMR)was introduced in terms of concept,development route and application progress in medical service support in the world.The advantages and disadvantages of the WMRs from some countries were analyzed,and the key technologies of WMR were described.It's pointed out the WMR would be enhanced in obstacle-crossing ability,battlefield sensing and information interaction and endurance.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(3):86-94]
4.Comparison of in vivo pharmacokinetics of six active constituents from Shaoyao Gancao Decoction in normal and gastric ulcer rats
He-Rong LI ; Yang JIN ; Huan ZHANG ; Tian-Tai WU ; Jian WEN ; Chao TANG ; Xue-Yi CHENG ; Wen LIU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(11):3572-3578
AIM To compare the in vivo pharmacokinetics of paeoniflorin,paeoniflorin,liquiritin,isoliquiritin,liquiritigenin and glycyrrhizic acid from Shaoyao Gancao Decoction in normal and gastric ulcer rats.METHODS Six rats were randomly assigned into two groups,after which the 75%ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model was established,the gastric tissues were collected.Twelve rats were randomly assigned into two groups and given intragastric administration(9.9 g/kg),after which blood collection was made at different time points,UPLC-MS/MS method was adopted in the determination of plasma concentrations,and main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated.RESULTS Prolonged Tmax(P<0.05,P<0.01)of various active constituents,prolonged T1/2,MRT0-t(P<0.05,P<0.01),increased Cmax,AUC(P<0.05,P<0.01)and decreased Vd/F,CL/F(P<0.05,P<0.01)of paeoniflorin,increased Cmax,AUC(P<0.05,P<0.01)and decreased CL/F(P<0.05)of albiflorin,prolonged MRT(P<0.05),increased AUC(P<0.05)and decreased CL/F(P<0.01)of liquiritin,prolonged MRT(P<0.05,P<0.01)and decreased Vd/F(P<0.05)of isoliquiritin,no obviously changed pharmacokinetic parameters(except for Tmax)of liquiritigenin(P>0.05),and prolonged T1/2,MRT0-∞(P<0.05,P<0.01),increased Cmax,AUC(P<0.05,P<0.01)and decreased CL/F(P<0.01)of glycyrrhizic acid were observable in the model group as compared with those in the normal group.CONCLUSION Gastric ulcer exhibits certain influences on the velocities and degrees of in vivo absorption and metabolism of active constituents from Shaoyao Gancao Decoction.
5.Artificial intelligence predicts direct-acting antivirals failure among hepatitis C virus patients: A nationwide hepatitis C virus registry program
Ming-Ying LU ; Chung-Feng HUANG ; Chao-Hung HUNG ; Chi‐Ming TAI ; Lein-Ray MO ; Hsing-Tao KUO ; Kuo-Chih TSENG ; Ching-Chu LO ; Ming-Jong BAIR ; Szu-Jen WANG ; Jee-Fu HUANG ; Ming-Lun YEH ; Chun-Ting CHEN ; Ming-Chang TSAI ; Chien-Wei HUANG ; Pei-Lun LEE ; Tzeng-Hue YANG ; Yi-Hsiang HUANG ; Lee-Won CHONG ; Chien-Lin CHEN ; Chi-Chieh YANG ; Sheng‐Shun YANG ; Pin-Nan CHENG ; Tsai-Yuan HSIEH ; Jui-Ting HU ; Wen-Chih WU ; Chien-Yu CHENG ; Guei-Ying CHEN ; Guo-Xiong ZHOU ; Wei-Lun TSAI ; Chien-Neng KAO ; Chih-Lang LIN ; Chia-Chi WANG ; Ta-Ya LIN ; Chih‐Lin LIN ; Wei-Wen SU ; Tzong-Hsi LEE ; Te-Sheng CHANG ; Chun-Jen LIU ; Chia-Yen DAI ; Jia-Horng KAO ; Han-Chieh LIN ; Wan-Long CHUANG ; Cheng-Yuan PENG ; Chun-Wei- TSAI ; Chi-Yi CHEN ; Ming-Lung YU ;
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2024;30(1):64-79
Background/Aims:
Despite the high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), approximately 1–3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients fail to achieve a sustained virological response. We conducted a nationwide study to investigate risk factors associated with DAA treatment failure. Machine-learning algorithms have been applied to discriminate subjects who may fail to respond to DAA therapy.
Methods:
We analyzed the Taiwan HCV Registry Program database to explore predictors of DAA failure in HCV patients. Fifty-five host and virological features were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural network. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment.
Results:
The training (n=23,955) and validation (n=10,346) datasets had similar baseline demographics, with an overall DAA failure rate of 1.6% (n=538). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, poor DAA adherence, and higher hemoglobin A1c were significantly associated with virological failure. XGBoost outperformed the other algorithms and logistic regression models, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 1.000 in the training dataset and 0.803 in the validation dataset. The top five predictors of treatment failure were HCV RNA, body mass index, α-fetoprotein, platelets, and FIB-4 index. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the XGBoost model (cutoff value=0.5) were 99.5%, 69.7%, 99.9%, 97.4%, and 99.5%, respectively, for the entire dataset.
Conclusions
Machine learning algorithms effectively provide risk stratification for DAA failure and additional information on the factors associated with DAA failure.
6.Metformin and statins reduce hepatocellular carcinoma risk in chronic hepatitis C patients with failed antiviral therapy
Pei-Chien TSAI ; Chung-Feng HUANG ; Ming-Lun YEH ; Meng-Hsuan HSIEH ; Hsing-Tao KUO ; Chao-Hung HUNG ; Kuo-Chih TSENG ; Hsueh-Chou LAI ; Cheng-Yuan PENG ; Jing-Houng WANG ; Jyh-Jou CHEN ; Pei-Lun LEE ; Rong-Nan CHIEN ; Chi-Chieh YANG ; Gin-Ho LO ; Jia-Horng KAO ; Chun-Jen LIU ; Chen-Hua LIU ; Sheng-Lei YAN ; Chun-Yen LIN ; Wei-Wen SU ; Cheng-Hsin CHU ; Chih-Jen CHEN ; Shui-Yi TUNG ; Chi‐Ming TAI ; Chih-Wen LIN ; Ching-Chu LO ; Pin-Nan CHENG ; Yen-Cheng CHIU ; Chia-Chi WANG ; Jin-Shiung CHENG ; Wei-Lun TSAI ; Han-Chieh LIN ; Yi-Hsiang HUANG ; Chi-Yi CHEN ; Jee-Fu HUANG ; Chia-Yen DAI ; Wan-Long CHUNG ; Ming-Jong BAIR ; Ming-Lung YU ;
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2024;30(3):468-486
Background/Aims:
Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who failed antiviral therapy are at increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study assessed the potential role of metformin and statins, medications for diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidemia (HLP), in reducing HCC risk among these patients.
Methods:
We included CHC patients from the T-COACH study who failed antiviral therapy. We tracked the onset of HCC 1.5 years post-therapy by linking to Taiwan’s cancer registry data from 2003 to 2019. We accounted for death and liver transplantation as competing risks and employed Gray’s cumulative incidence and Cox subdistribution hazards models to analyze HCC development.
Results:
Out of 2,779 patients, 480 (17.3%) developed HCC post-therapy. DM patients not using metformin had a 51% increased risk of HCC compared to non-DM patients, while HLP patients on statins had a 50% reduced risk compared to those without HLP. The 5-year HCC incidence was significantly higher for metformin non-users (16.5%) versus non-DM patients (11.3%; adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio [aSHR]=1.51; P=0.007) and metformin users (3.1%; aSHR=1.59; P=0.022). Statin use in HLP patients correlated with a lower HCC risk (3.8%) compared to non-HLP patients (12.5%; aSHR=0.50; P<0.001). Notably, the increased HCC risk associated with non-use of metformin was primarily seen in non-cirrhotic patients, whereas statins decreased HCC risk in both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients.
Conclusions
Metformin and statins may have a chemopreventive effect against HCC in CHC patients who failed antiviral therapy. These results support the need for personalized preventive strategies in managing HCC risk.
7.Unplanned emergency department visits within 90 days of hip hemiarthroplasty for osteoporotic femoral neck fractures: Reasons, risks, and mortalities
Yang-Yi WANG ; Yi-Chuan CHOU ; Yuan-Hsin TSAI ; Chih-Wei CHANG ; Yi-Chen CHEN ; Ta-Wei TAI
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2024;10(2):66-71
Objectives:
Bipolar hemiarthroplasty is commonly performed to treat displaced femoral neck fractures in osteo porotic patients. This study aimed to assess the occurrence and outcomes of unplanned return visits to the emergency department (ED) within 90 days following bipolar hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures.
Methods:
The clinical data of 1322 consecutive patients who underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasty for osteoporotic femoral neck fractures at a tertiary medical center were analyzed. Data from the patients’ electronic medical records, including demographic information, comorbidities, and operative details, were collected. The risk factors and mortality rates were analyzed.
Results:
Within 90 days after surgery, 19.9% of patients returned to the ED. Surgery-related reasons accounted for 20.2% of the patient’s returns. Older age, a high Charlson comorbidity index score, chronic kidney disease, and a history of cancer were identified as significant risk factors for unplanned ED visits. Patients with uncemented implants had a significantly greater risk of returning to the ED due to periprosthetic fractures than did those with cemented implants (P = 0.04). Patients who returned to the ED within 90 days had an almost fivefold greater 1-year mortality rate (15.2% vs 3.1%, P < 0.001) and a greater overall mortality rate (26.2% vs 10.5%, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of identifying risk factors for unplanned ED visits after bipolar hemiarthroplasty, which may contribute to a better prognosis. Consideration should be given to the use of cemented implants for hemiarthroplasty, as uncemented implants are associated with a greater risk of peri prosthetic fractures.
9.Alterations in immunized antigens of Anisakis pegreffii by ampicillin-induced gut microbiome changes in mice
Myungjun KIM ; Jun Ho CHOI ; Myung-hee YI ; Singeun OH ; Tai-Soon YONG ; Ju Yeong KIM
Parasites, Hosts and Diseases 2024;62(3):351-364
The gut microbiome plays an essential role in host immune responses, including allergic reactions. However, commensal gut microbiota is extremely sensitive to antibiotics and excessive usage can cause microbial dysbiosis. Herein, we investigated how changes in the gut microbiome induced by ampicillin affected the production of IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies in mice subsequently exposed to Anisakis pegreffii antigens. Ampicillin treatment caused a notable change in the gut microbiome as shown by changes in both alpha and beta diversity indexes. In a 1-dimensional immunoblot using Anisakis-specific anti-mouse IgG1, a 56-kDa band corresponding to an unnamed Anisakis protein was detected using mass spectrometry analysis only in ampicillin-treated mice. In the Anisakis-specific anti-mouse IgG2a-probed immunoblot, a 70-kDa band corresponding to heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was only detected in ampicillin-treated and Anisakis-immunized mice. A 2-dimensional immunoblot against Anisakis extract with immunized mouse sera demonstrated altered spot patterns in both groups. Our results showed that ampicillin treatment altered the gut microbiome composition in mice, changing the immunization response to antigens from A. pegreffii. This research could serve as a basis for developing vaccines or allergy immunotherapies against parasitic infections.
10.The storage mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae induces greater lung inflammation than house dust mites in mice
Eun-Min KIM ; Ju Yeong KIM ; You Shine KWAK ; Myung-Hee YI ; Tai-Soon YONG
Parasites, Hosts and Diseases 2024;62(3):365-377
Exposure to storage mite (SM) and house dust mite (HDM) allergens is a risk factor for sensitization and asthma development; however, the related immune responses and their pathology have not been fully investigated. The HDMs Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and SM Tyrophagus putrescentiae are potent allergens that induce asthma. Most SM-related studies have focused on the allergic reactions of individuals by measuring their immunoglobulin (Ig)E expression. Considering the limited research on this topic, the present study aims to investigate the differences in the immune responses induced by HDMs and SMs and histologically analyze lung tissues in a mouse asthma model to understand the differential effects of HDM and SM. The results revealed that all mite species induced airway inflammation. Mice challenged with T. putrescentiae had the highest airway resistance and total cell, eosinophil, and neutrophil counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The SM-sensitized groups showed more severe lesions and mucus hypersecretions than the HDM-sensitized groups. Although the degree of HDM and SM exposure was the same, the damage to the respiratory lung tissue was more severe in SM-exposed mice, which resulted in excessive mucin secretion and increased fibrosis. Furthermore, these findings suggest that SM sensitization induces a more significant hypersensitivity response in mucosal immunity than HDM sensitization in asthma models.

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