1.Gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk: an observational and Mendelian randomization study.
Yuanyue ZHU ; Linhui SHEN ; Yanan HUO ; Qin WAN ; Yingfen QIN ; Ruying HU ; Lixin SHI ; Qing SU ; Xuefeng YU ; Li YAN ; Guijun QIN ; Xulei TANG ; Gang CHEN ; Yu XU ; Tiange WANG ; Zhiyun ZHAO ; Zhengnan GAO ; Guixia WANG ; Feixia SHEN ; Xuejiang GU ; Zuojie LUO ; Li CHEN ; Qiang LI ; Zhen YE ; Yinfei ZHANG ; Chao LIU ; Youmin WANG ; Shengli WU ; Tao YANG ; Huacong DENG ; Lulu CHEN ; Tianshu ZENG ; Jiajun ZHAO ; Yiming MU ; Weiqing WANG ; Guang NING ; Jieli LU ; Min XU ; Yufang BI ; Weiguo HU
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(1):79-89
This study aimed to comprehensively examine the association of gallstones, cholecystectomy, and cancer risk. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to estimate the observational associations of gallstones and cholecystectomy with cancer risk, using data from a nationwide cohort involving 239 799 participants. General and gender-specific two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further conducted to assess the causalities of the observed associations. Observationally, a history of gallstones without cholecystectomy was associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-4.28), liver and bile duct cancer (aOR=2.46, 95% CI 1.17-5.16), kidney cancer (aOR=2.04, 95% CI 1.05-3.94), and bladder cancer (aOR=2.23, 95% CI 1.01-5.13) in the general population, as well as cervical cancer (aOR=1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.56) in women. Moreover, cholecystectomy was associated with high odds of stomach cancer (aOR=2.41, 95% CI 1.29-4.49), colorectal cancer (aOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.18-2.85), and cancer of liver and bile duct (aOR=2.58, 95% CI 1.11-6.02). MR analysis only supported the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer. This study added evidence to the causal effect of gallstones on stomach, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder cancer, highlighting the importance of cancer screening in individuals with gallstones.
Humans
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Mendelian Randomization Analysis
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Gallstones/complications*
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Female
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Male
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Cholecystectomy/statistics & numerical data*
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Middle Aged
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Risk Factors
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Aged
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Adult
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Neoplasms/etiology*
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Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology*
2.Quercetin mitigates HIV-1 gp120-induced rat astrocyte neurotoxicity via promoting G3BP1 disassembly in stress granules.
Pengwei HUANG ; Jie CHEN ; Jinhu ZOU ; Xuefeng GAO ; Hong CAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(2):304-312
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the effect of quercetin for mitigating HIV-1 gp120-induced astrocyte neurotoxicity and its underlying mechanism.
METHODS:
Primary rat astrocytes were isolated and treated with quercetin, HIV-1 gp120, or gradient concentrations of quercetin combined with HIV-1 gp120. The formation of stress granules (SGs) in the treated cells was observed with immunofluorescence assay, and the levels of oxidative stress markers and protein expressions were measured using specific assay kits and Western blotting. HIV-1 gp120 transgenic mice were treated with quercetin (50 mg/kg) by gavage for 4 weeks, and the changes in cognitive functions and oxidative stress levels were examined by behavioral assessments, oxidative stress index analysis in serum, and immunohistochemical and Western blotting of the brain tissue.
RESULTS:
In primary rat astrocytes, treatment with quercetin significantly reduced HIV-1 gp120-induced SG formation, increased the levels of antioxidant indexes, decreased the levels of oxidative substances, and up-regulated protein level associated with SG depolymerization. In the transgenic mouse models, quercetin obviously improved the cognitive function of the rats, reduced oxidative stress levels, and promoted the expression of proteins associate with SG depolymerization in the brain tissues.
CONCLUSIONS
Quercetin mitigates HIV-1 gp120-induced astrocyte neurotoxicity and cognitive function impairment by inhibiting oxidative stress, enhancing expressions of SG depolymerization-related proteins, and promoting SG disassembly, suggesting the value of quercetin as a potential therapeutic agent for neuroprotection in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
Animals
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Quercetin/pharmacology*
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Astrocytes/metabolism*
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HIV Envelope Protein gp120
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Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
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Rats
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Stress Granules/drug effects*
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Cells, Cultured
3.Akkermansia muciniphila gavage improves gut-brain interaction disorders in gp120 transgenic mice.
Jiachun LUO ; Sodnomjamts BATZAYA ; Xuefeng GAO ; Jingyu CHEN ; Zhengying YU ; Shasha XIONG ; Hong CAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(3):554-565
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the effect of A. muciniphila gavage on intestinal microbiota and gut-brain interaction disorders (DGBIs) in gp120tg transgenic mouse models of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND).
METHODS:
Intestinal microbiota was detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing in 6-, 9-, and 12-month-old wild-type (WT) mice and gp120tg transgenic mice. The 12-month-old WT and transgenic mice were divided into 2 groups for daily treatment with PBS or A.muciniphila gavage (2×108 CFU/mouse) for 6 weeks. After the treatment, immunohistochemistry, ELISA and qPCR were used to detect changes in colonic expression levels of glycosylated mucins, MBP and IL-1β, eosinophil infiltration, serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, and colonic expressions of occludin, ZO-1, IL-10, TNF-α and INF-γ mRNA. Morris water maze test and immunofluorescence assay were used to assess learning and spatial memory abilities and neuronal damage of the mice.
RESULTS:
Compared with WT mice, the transgenic mice exhibited significantly lowered Simpson's diversity of the intestinal microbiota with reduced abundance of Akkermansia genus, increased serum LPS levels and decreased colonic expression of glycosylated mucin. A.muciniphila gavage obviously ameliorated the reduction of glycosylated mucin in the transgenic mice without causing significant changes in body weight. The 12-month-old gp120tg mice had significantly decreased cdonic expressions of Occludin and ZO-1 with increased eosinophil infiltration and TNF-β, INF-γ and IL-1β levels and obviously lowered IL-10 level; all these changes were significantly mitigated by A.muciniphila gavage, which also improved cognitive impairment and neuronal loss in the hippocampus and cortex of the transgenic mice.
CONCLUSIONS
The gp120tg mice have lower intestinal microbiota richness and diversity than WT mice. The 12-month-old gp120tg mice have significantly reduced Akkermansia abundance with distinct DGBIs-related indexes, and A. muciniphila gavage can reduce intestinal barrier injury, colonic inflammation and eosinophil activation, cognitive impairment and brain neuron injury in these mice.
Animals
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Mice, Transgenic
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome
;
Mice
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Brain
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HIV Envelope Protein gp120/genetics*
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Akkermansia
;
Disease Models, Animal
5.Construction and validation of predictive model for gastric precancerous lesions based on urea breath test,serum pepsinogen and gastrin-17
Juan HONG ; Xin JIANG ; Sicong HOU ; Yanbing DING ; Xuefeng GAO
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(13):1-6,12
Objective To construct and validate a predictive model for gastric precancerous le-sions based on urea breath test,serum pepsinogen(PG)and gastrin-17(G-17).Methods Partici-pants who underwent endoscopic screening for upper gastrointestinal tumors were retrospectively en-rolled as study subjects.Using random function,all participants were divided into training cohort of 2,788 cases(comprising 1,290 cases in precancerous lesion group and 1,498 cases in control group)and validation cohort of 1,194 cases(comprising 581 cases in precancerous lesion group and 613 cases in control group)at a ratio of 7 to 3.A simple model was established based on urea breath test,PG and G-17.Clinical data between the precancerous lesion group and the control group in the training cohort were compared.A predictive model for gastric precancerous lesions was constructed u-sing multifactorial Logistic regression analysis,and a scoring model for gastric precancerous lesions(the complete model)was developed based on this predictive model.The complete model,the simple model,the new ABC method,and the Li's score were all included in the validation cohort to compare the predictive performance of the four models.Results Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis indicated that male,smoking,positive Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection,PG Ⅱ ≥10.19 μg/L,the ratio of PG Ⅰ to PG Ⅱ(PGR)≤11.87,and G-17 ≥3.82 pmol/L were independent risk factors for gastric precancerous lesions(P<0.05).A predictive model for gastric precancerous lesions was constructed based on these risk factors,and the complete model was established based on the predic-tive model.The total score ranged from 0 to 12(with 6 to 12 indicating a high-risk population for gastric precancerous lesions and 0 to 5 indicating a low-risk population).When the complete model,the simple model,the new ABC method,and the Li's score were included in the validation cohort for comparison,the predictive values of the complete model and the simple model were similar.Both models demonstrated higher sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and accuracy compared to the new ABC method and the Li's score.Furthermore,the diag-nostic value of the simple model in the high-sensitivity region was slightly superior to that of the com-plete model.Conclusion The simple model constructed based on the urea breath test,PG and G-17 exhibits favorable predictive efficacy,calibration,and clinical utility,and is of positive signifi-cance for the early identification of patients with gastric precancerous lesions.
6.Research progress on function and mechanism of ubiquitin-specific protease 11 in tumorigenesis and development
Caimin LI ; Jiajia LI ; Sicong HOU ; Xuefeng GAO
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(17):126-132
Ubiquitination is a crucial post-translational modification that is extensively involved in the regulation of protein activity,signal transduction,and the maintenance of genomic stability.As an important member of the deubiquitinating enzyme(DUB)family,ubiquitin-specific protease 11(USP11)dynamically regulates the stability and function of key tumor proteins by targeting specific substrates for deubiquitination.This,in turn,influences various biological behaviors of tumor cells,including proliferation,apoptosis,migration,invasion,metastasis,and drug resistance,ultimately exhibiting a dual role in either promoting or inhibiting cancer.This article systematically reviewed the relevant research progress on the role of USP11 in tumorigenesis and development and provided an in-depth analysis of the specific mechanisms by which USP11 participates in cellular biological behav-iors,aiming to offer a theoretical basis for the future development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting USP11,the formulation of combination drug strategies,and the identification of effective biomarkers.
7.Initial dose and safety of cadmium-antidote GMDTC for intravenous infusion
Qile ZHAO ; Yuting GAO ; Wei HU ; Zhiyong ZHONG ; Xuefeng REN ; Xiaojiang TANG
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(3):257-264
Objective To investigate the initial dose and safety of intravenous infusion of sodium (s)-2-(dithiocarboxylato((2R,3R,4R,5R,6R)-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexyl) amino)-4-(methylthio) butanoate (GMDTC) for the displacement of cadmium. Methodsi) Efficacy test. The New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into model group, calcium disodium edetate (EDTA) group and GMDTC low-, medium- and high-dose groups after cadmium poisoning using 2.5 cadmium chloride dihydrate. Rabbits in EDTA group were intravenously injected with EDTA dipotassium at a dose of 93.5 mg/kg body weight, rabbits in the three doses groups were intravenously injected of GMDTC at doses of 12.0, 36.0, and 108.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The rabbits in the control group (separate set) and model group were intravenously injected with equal volumes of 0.9% sodium chloride solution, administered for five consecutive days per week for 1, 2, and 4 weeks. ii) Toxicity test. Specific pathogen free SD rats were randomly divided into solvent control group and low-, medium- and high-dose groups. In the acute toxicity test, the rats in the three-dose groups were intravenously injected of GMDTC at doses of 200.0, 800.0 and 3 000.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. In the long-term toxicity test, the rats in the three-dose groups were intravenously injected GMDTC at doses of 100.0, 500.0 and 2 000.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively, once a day for four consecutive weeks, with a recovery period of four weeks. The rats in the solvent control group were given an equal volume 0.9% sodium chloride solution intravenously at the same time. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) were detected. Resultsi) In the one week treatment experiment, the 24 hours urinary cadmium levels of rabbits in the three doses groups were higher than those in the model group at the same time point (all P<0.05). In the two weeks treatment experiment, the 24 hours urinary cadmium levels of rabbits in medium-dose and high-dose groups at the three time points were higher than those in the model group at the same time point (all P<0.05). In the four weeks treatment experiment, the 24 hours urinary cadmium level on the 19th day of rabbits in the low-dose group was higher than that in the model group at the same time point (P<0.05), and the 24 hours urinary cadmium levels of rabbits in medium- and high-dose groups at the five time points were higher than those in the model group at the same time point (all P<0.05), except for the rabbits of fifth day of the medium-dose group. The kidney cadmium levels of rabbits in the low-dose group after four week of treatment and in the medium- and high-dose groups after one, two, and four weeks of treatment decreased compared with the model group (all P<0.05). No obvious adverse effects were observed during the treatment. ii) The MTD of GMDTC in rats administered intravenously in a single dose was 3 000.0 mg/kg body weight. During the period of intravenous infuseion with GMDTC for four consecutive weeks, the blood drug level reached the peak at the end of the first and last administrations (eight min), and no clinical adverse reactions were observed during this period of time, nor was there any apparent accumulation. The NOAEL for intravenous infusion of GMDTC for four consecutive weeks in rats was 500.0 mg/kg body weight. Conclusion The initial dose of the GMDTC injection in the cadmium poisoning rabbit was 36.0 mg/kg body weight, and the recommended initial dose for human is 480.0 mg/person. Intravenous infusion of GMDTC is characterized by rapid absorption, rapid elimination, and no accumulation.
8.Sinusoidal alternating electromagnetic field accelerates fracture healing in rats
Yuhai GAO ; Xuefeng HOU ; Zhenlong WEI ; Keming CHEN
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2024;53(4):419-426
Objective:To investigate the effect of sinusoidal alternating electromagnetic field(SEMF)on fracture healing and its mechanism.Methods:Femoral fracture model was established using specific pathogen free male Wistar rats.Thirty rats were randomly divided into the control and SEMF groups with 15 rats in each group.The SEMF group was given 50 Hz 1.8 mT for 90 min every day,while the control group was not treated.X-ray examinations were performed every two weeks to determine the formation of bone scabs.Three rats from both groups were sacrificed after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment.Protein was extracted from the fractured femurs,and the expression of type Ⅰ collagen(COL-1),osterix(OSX),Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2),and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)was detected by Western blotting.After 8 weeks,the femur on the operated side was taken for micro-CT scanning to observe fracture healing,angiography to observe blood vessel growth,and organs such as hearts,livers,spleens,lungs,and kidneys were taken for safety evaluation by hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE staining).Results:The bone scab scores of the SEMF group were significantly higher than those of the control group after 2,4,6,and 8 weeks of treatment(all P<0.01).The fracture healing of the SEMF group was better than that of the control group after 8 weeks,and the bone volume scores of the two groups were 0.243±0.012 and 0.186±0.008,respectively(P<0.01);the number of blood vessels in the SEMF group was also more than that of the control group after 8 weeks.Western blotting results showed that the expressions of COL-1,OSX,RUNX2,and VEGF were higher in the SEMF group than those in the control group after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment(all P<0.05).HE staining showed that histopathological results of the examined organs were normal in both groups.Conclusion:SEMF can accelerate fracture healing by promoting the expression of osteogenic factors and vascular proliferation without significant adverse effects.
9.Sodium-hyaluronate-modified calcium peroxide nanoparticles induce pyroptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro
Yidu TIAN ; Shengbao GAO ; Kewen GONG ; Yingjue HE ; Yang LI ; Xuefeng BU
Journal of Army Medical University 2024;46(13):1535-1544
Objective To investigate the role of sodium-hyaluronate-modified calcium peroxide nanoparticles(SH-CaO2 NPs)in inducing pyroptosis in human gastric cancer cells and its possible mechanisms.Methods Transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),infrared spectroscopy,and zeta potential test were used to confirm the synthesis of SH-CaO2 NPs.Cell scratch assay and CCK-8 assay were employed to observe the impacts of SH-CaO2 NPs on the migration and proliferation of human gastric cancer cell line HGC-27.The generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was observed with confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM)and quantified with flow cytometry in the cells after SH-CaO2 NPs treatment or with pretreatment with ROS inhibitor NAC.Furthermore,the effects of pretreatment of NLRP3 inhibitor(MCC950)and Caspase-1 inhibitor(VX765)on the proliferative activity and on expression of their own and their downstream GSDMD in HGC-27 cells were also investigated with CCK-8 assay,immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting.Results TEM images,XRD,infrared spectroscopy,and zeta potential test confirmed the successful preparation of SH-CaO2 NPs.Cell scratch assay and CCK-8 assay showed that application of SH-CaO2 NPs for 24 h significantly inhibited the proliferation of HGC-27 cells(P<0.001),while,CLSM and flow cytometry indicated the treatment also promoted the production of ROS(P<0.001).Pretreatment of ROS inhibitor NAC resulted in up-regulation of NLRP3,and increased expression levels of cleaved Caspase-1 and N-terminal fragment of GSDMD(P<0.001),while pretreatment of both NLRP3 inhibitor and Caspase-1 inhibitor could reverse the process.Conclusion SH-CaO2 NPs inhibit cell viability of human gastric cancer,which may mediate the inflammatory response and pyroptosis by activating the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway.
10.Talaketides A-G,linear polyketides with prostate cancer cytotoxic activity from the mangrove sediment-derived fungus Talaromyces sp.SCSIO 41027
Chunmei CHEN ; Xueni WANG ; Wenxuan FANG ; Jiaqi LIANG ; Jian CAI ; Dehua YANG ; Xiaowei LUO ; Chenghai GAO ; Xiangxi YI ; Yonghong LIU ; Xuefeng ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2024;22(11):1047-1056
Seven novel linear polyketides,talaketides A-G(1-7),were isolated from the rice media cultures of the mangrove sed-iment-derived fungus Talaromyces sp.SCSIO 41027.Among these,talaketides A-E(1-5)represented unprecedented unsaturated lin-ear polyketides with an epoxy ring structure.The structures,including absolute configurations of these compounds,were elucidated through detailed analyses of nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)and high-resolution mass spectrometry(HR-MS)data,as well as elec-tronic custom distributors(ECD)calculations.In the cytotoxicity screening against prostate cancer cell lines,talaketide E(5)demon-strated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on prostate cancer PC-3 cell lines,with an IC50 value of 14.44 μmol·L-1.Moreover,com-pound 5 significantly inhibited the cloning formation of PC-3 cell lines and arrested the cell cycle in S-phase,ultimately inducing ap-optosis.These findings indicate that compound 5 may serve as a promising lead compound for the development of a potential treat-ment for prostate cancer.

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