1.Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Abelmoschi Corolla Total Flavonoids in Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in IgA Nephropathy
Shuying SONG ; Changqing WEN ; Luwan XING ; Yan ZHANG ; Haitao GE ; Fujiang WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):153-161
ObjectiveTo elucidate the mechanism by which total flavonoids of Abelmoschi Corolla (TFA) treat immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) through serum metabolomics analysis. MethodsSPF-grade male SD rats were randomly assigned into six groups (n=10): blank, model, low-dose TFA (TFA-L, 27 mg·kg-1), medium-dose TFA (TFA-M, 54 mg·kg-1), high-dose TFA (TFA-H, 108 mg·kg-1), and losartan potassium (LST, 4.5 mg·kg-1) groups. The remaining five groups, excluding the blank group, were modeled with bovine serum albumin (BSA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Specifically, from weeks 1 to 10, BSA was administered via gavage every other day, and a mixture of castor oil and CCl4 was injected subcutaneously once a week, with LPS injected into the tail vein at weeks 6 and 8. After successful modeling, each intervention group was administrated with the medication prepared with distilled water once daily by gavage for a continuous period of 4 weeks. The levels of 24-hour urinary total protein (24 h UP) and serum creatinine (SCr) were quantified by kits, and the serum IgA level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Renal pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Renal IgA deposition was assessed by immunofluorescence (IF). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were employed to detect the expression of ER stress-related factors. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to screen differential metabolites for analysis, and key metabolites arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were validated. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed increased 24-hour urine protein (24 h UP) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels (P<0.01), obvious renal pathological damage, elevated serum IgA level (P<0.01), increased renal AA and PGE2 levels (P<0.01), and up-regulated protein levels of COX-2, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (P-EIF2α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), and spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s) in the renal tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the intervention groups showed reductions in 24 h UP and SCr levels (P<0.05, P<0.01), alleviated renal pathological injury, decreased serum IgA level (P<0.05, P<0.01), and reduced renal AA and PGE2 levels (P<0.01). Western blot and IHC results showed that TFA reduced the levels of COX-2, GRP78, P-EIF2α, ATF4, IRE1α, and XBP1s in the renal tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomics results indicated that 51 commonly differential metabolites were found among the normal, model, and TFA-M groups. TFA ameliorated IgAN by affecting metabolic pathways related to the biosynthesis of arachidonic acid and arginine through L-aspartic acid, prostaglandin 2α, leukotriene B4, leukotriene D4, among others. ConclusionTFA can regulate the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway, thereby modulating ER stress, reducing renal damage, and ameliorating IgA nephropathy.
2.Evaluation of the application effectiveness and optimization strategies of confidential unit exclusion in Zhengzhou
Dan LIU ; Hongwei MA ; Tao WEN ; Yonglei LYU ; Mengru JI ; Ge SONG ; Huanyu LIU ; Mengdi FAN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(3):379-383
Objective: To evaluate the practical effectiveness of confidential unit exclusion (CUE) in ensuring blood safety in Zhengzhou, analyze its application characteristics and existing problems, and provide a basis for optimizing blood safety management strategies. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on CUE data handled by Henan Red Cross Blood Center from January 2019 to December 2024. Parameters such as the number of cases, demographic characteristics, reasons for exclusion, and time of report were statistically analyzed and compared with those of non-CUE. Results: From 2019 to 2024, the CUE reporting rate in Zhengzhou was 0.002 6% (40/1 547 666). CUE donors were predominantly male (65.00%, 26/40), aged 18-34 years (47.50%, 19/40), had college degree orabove (50.00%, 20/40), and were employees of enterprises or public institutions (32.50%, 13/40). Among the 40 CUE blood units, only one was reactive for anti-TP, while all others were qualified. The main reasons for CUE were recent vaccination (32.50%, 13/40), medical conditions unsuitable for donation (27.50%, 11/40), and high-risk sexual behavior (17.50%, 7/40). A total of 70.00% of reports occurred within 24 hours after donation, during which none of the corresponding blood units had been released; all units reported after more than 7 days had already been issued for clinical use, with no adverse transfusion reactions reported upon follow-up. Conclusion: The confidential unit exclusion program has played an active role in establishing a supplementary information feedback channel for blood donors. The procedure can be optimized by strengthening interactive communication and confirmation before donation, improving the accuracy of donors' self-assessment, and expanding convenient and rapid information-based reporting channels.
3.Silencing progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP) suppresses sorafenib resistance and enhances sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Fanlin Zeng ; Cuifu Fang ; Yijiang Wu ; Ling Yin ; Yilong Ge ; Honghui Zhang ; Caixin Song ; Yifeng Cai ; Binhui Xie ; Jian Wu
Liver Research 2026;10(1):82-92
Background and aims
As a ferroptosis inducer, sorafenib, a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has a significant antitumor effect. Nonetheless, HCC patients frequently develop sorafenib resistance. Here, we investigated the impacts of progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP), which controls sorafenib resistance and tumorigenesis in HCC. Furthermore, we investigated the function of PAEP and the underlying molecular mechanisms that cause HCC ferroptosis when sorafenib is applied.
Methods
Western blot analysis, cell proliferation, colony formation and animal experiments were performed to investigate the function of PAEP in sorafenib resistance and tumorigenesis in HCC. We detected the levels of reactive oxygen species, iron, and malondialdehyde and preformed transmission electron microscopy to investigate the relationship between PAEP and ferroptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assay was performed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of PAEP that cause HCC ferroptosis.
Results
PAEP was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues, and this was associated with a poor clinical prognosis. PAEP silencing dramatically reduced HCC cells’ malignant phenotype. We found that sorafenib-induced ferroptosis was more sensitive to HCC cells with PAEP knockdown. Furthermore, the orthotopic cell line-derived xenograft mouse model results showed that sorafenib sensitivity can be effectively increased in vivo by PAEP knockdown. We determined that transferrin (TF) was a PAEP target using the String database, and we further supported this finding with Co-IP analysis. Additionally, on sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in HCC cells, TF partially reversed the effects of PAEP knockdown.
Conclusions
Our research indicates that PAEP may be a potential biomarker for predicting sorafenib resistance in HCC and disruption of PAEP expression may be a potential cancer-directed therapeutic option for HCC.
4.Effects of Electrothermal Acupuncture on the HIF-1α/S1P/S1PR3 Pathway and Macrophage Polarization in Epididymal White Adipose Tissue of Obese Model Mice
Xiaobo GE ; Yuanyuan LI ; Jiangyan WEI ; Limin NIE ; Xin YANG ; Quan MIAO ; Mina WANG ; Yawei XI ; Luopeng ZHAO ; Yine SONG ; Xinru SUN ; Lu LIU ; Bin LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(20):2227-2235
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism underlying the weight loss effect of electrothermal acupuncture (ETA) in diet-induced obese (DIO) model mice based on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3) signaling pathway-mediated macrophage polarization. MethodsAn obesity mouse model was established by continuously feeding at a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. Twenty successfully modeled obese mice were randomly divided into a model group and an electrothermal acupuncture (ETA) group with 10 mice per group, both of which continued to receive the HFD till week 12. Another 10 mice were assigned to the normal group and fed a standard chow diet continuously for 12 weeks. Starting from week 9 of the experiment, mice in the ETA group received electrothermal acupuncture stimulation at Zhongwan (CV12), bilateral Tianshu (ST25), and bilateral Zusanli (ST36) for 30 minutes per session, with the instrument current set at (40±0.5)mA and a constant temperature of (40±0.5)℃. Mice in the normal group and the model group were restrained in the same manner for 30 minutes without acupuncture. All interventions were performed once every other day for a total of 4 weeks. Ten hours after the final intervention, the body weight, waist circumference, and body length of mice in each group were measured, and Lee's index was calculated. Serum biochemical analysis was performed to assess fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr). Serum leptin (LEP) and adiponectin (ADPN) levels, as well as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), were detected by ELISA. Histomorphological changes in eWAT were monitored via HE staining. Flow cytometry was used to analyze macrophage subtype-related indexes in eWAT, including the total proportion of macrophages, the proportion of M1 macrophages, the proportion of M2 macrophages, and the M1/M2 ratio. Antibody array technology was used to determine the levels of differentially expressed inflammatory factors in eWAT between the model and blank groups, as well as between the ETA and model groups. Western blot and qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α and S1PR3 in the eWAT, respectively. ResultsCompared to the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased body weight, Lee's index, waist circumference, and FBG, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, AST, and ALT levels, upgraded LEP and S1P levels, decreased ADPN level and ADPN/LEP ratio, elevated proportion of M1 macrophages and the M1/M2 ratio, reduced proportion of M2 macrophages, and upregulated protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α and S1PR3 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). With the exception of HDL-C, all the abovementioned indicators in the ETA group were significantly improved compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Analysis of differentially expressed inflammatory cytokines revealed that, compared to the normal group, the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70) in the eWAT of the model group were elevated; conversely, the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-6, and interleukin-23 (IL-23) in the eWAT of the ETA group decreased compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionETA exerts a weight-reducing effect in obese model mice, and the mechanism may involve inhibition of the HIF-1α/S1P/S1PR3 signaling pathway activation, which shifts macrophage polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype, thereby alleviating chronic inflammation.
5.The clinical study of azacitidine and lenalidomide combination in myelodysplastic neoplasm patients with TP53 mutations
Xin YAN ; Chenghao GUO ; Chan YANG ; Chengqi LIN ; Dandan SONG ; Zhimei CAI ; Ying WANG ; Lian WANG ; Zheng GE
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(11):1044-1051
Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of azacitidine combined with lenalidomide in MDS patients and explore potential mechanisms of therapeutic response.Methods:Sixteen MDS patients with TP53 mutations received azacitidine plus lenalidomide at ZhongDa Hospital, Southeast University (January 2021–June 2025). Efficacy and safety were assessed, and TP53 mutation status was correlated with treatment response. Whole-transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics were used to explore molecular biomarkers associated with therapeutic efficacy.Results:Sixteen patients (median age 69.5 years, range 52–82; 8 males, 8 females) were enrolled. According to the Molecular International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-M), 1, 2, and 13 patients were classified as median low, high, and very high risk, respectively. Among 16 TP53-mutated patients, 11 had biallelic mutations and 5 had monoallelic mutations. Overall response rate was 56.3% (9/16), composite complete remission rate (CRc) was 31.3% (5/16), and hematology improvement rate was 25% (4/16). Among TP53-mutated patients, the response rate was 56.3% (9/16), with variant allele frequency dropping from 65.6% to 16.5% in responders ( P=0.017). In patients with TP53 mutations and complex karyotype, response rate was 53.8% (7/13), with 57.1% (4/7) showing disappearance of CK post-treatment. The most common grade 3–4 nonhematologic adverse events were infections (9/16, 56.3% ), including pneumonia (4/16, 25.0% ), gastrointestinal infections (3/16, 18.8% ), perianal infections (1/16, 6.3% ) and sepsis (1/16, 6.3% ). High CBX8 expression may be linked to treatment response. Conclusion:Azacitidine plus lenalidomide is an effective and safe therapy for MDS, including patients with TP53 mutations and complex karyotypes. Treatment markedly reduces TP53 variant allele frequency in responders, and high CBX8 expression may predict therapeutic response.
6.Building a "six-in-one" community cough and asthma center under a "dual-contract physician" model: a preliminary evaluation
Jianling SONG ; Yunfeng ZHANG ; Shuping ZHENG ; Zheng YE ; Xiaopan LI ; Ben FENG ; Leiming GE ; Yao LIU ; Qihao YAN ; Jiani WANG ; Fulai SHEN ; Sunfang JIANG
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(11):1429-1433
This report evaluates the preliminary outcomes of a "six-in-one" integrated cough and asthma center developed under a dual-contract physician model at the Changfeng Community Health Service Center in Putuo District, Shanghai. By combining the efforts of family doctors and medical specialists, the center integrated six core functions-clinical treatment, prevention, nursing, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and nutrition-into a seamless management system covering screening, diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up. Supported by specialist guidance and teaching clinics, the model significantly enhanced comprehensive respiratory disease management capabilities within the community setting. The initiative not only improved patient health outcomes but also strengthened multidisciplinary collaboration and resource efficiency, offering a replicable example for improving chronic disease management in primary care through integrated and coordinated service delivery.
7.Development and implementation of a community-based integrated general-specialist teaching clinic model: enhancing competency pathways for community general practitioners through the "dual-contracting" program
Zheng YE ; Jianling SONG ; Shuping ZHENG ; Leiming GE ; Jie WU ; Jiaoyu LIU ; Fulai SHEN
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(9):1172-1176
Since 2017, Changfeng Community Health Service Center in Putuo District, Shanghai, has innovatively integrated the "Dual-Contracting" program by combining integrated general-specialist outpatient services with teaching clinics. This integration has progressively evolved into a comprehensive general practitioner (GP) training model. This model cultivates competencies encompassing: core service delivery, specialized disease diagnosis and treatment, complex case management, chronic disease management within specialties, teaching and mentoring skills, and capacities for self-reflection and continuous learning. It effectively bridges the training objectives and needs for GPs across both pre-service and in-service stages. Against the backdrop of senior medical experts being deployed to primary care settings, this model not only systematically enhances the professional competencies of community GPs but also optimizes medical resource utilization and elevates the overall quality of healthcare services.
8.Applications of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer
Kunkun GE ; Xin JIN ; Jianguo ZHONG ; Xiaoyue SUN ; Huangsheng XIE ; Sibo PENG ; Jingliang GAN ; Lingling ZU ; Song XU
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2025;47(11):1057-1065
Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumours with the highest morbidity and mortality rates worldwide today, posing a major threat to human health. Accurate diagnosis and standardised treatment play a crucial role in improving the survival rate of lung cancer patients. In recent years, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about significant changes in the medical field, providing a new diagnostic and treatment model for lung cancer, and making a series of breakthroughs in lung cancer diagnostic imaging, pathological diagnosis, surgical oncology, radiotherapy, and drug development and treatment. This article introduces the current status of AI application in the field of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, and extensively discusses the current challenges and future prospects, hoping to provide references and suggestions for future clinical practice.
9.Effect of galectin-3 on lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation, migration, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokine production in human gingival fibroblasts
Wenjing SONG ; Wenyan KANG ; Shaohua GE
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2025;60(8):886-896
Objective:To investigate the effects of galectin-3 (Gal-3) expression on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proliferation, migration, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokine production in human gingival fibroblasts (GF) as well as its mechanism, thus laying the foundation for an in-depth discussion of the regulatory role of Gal-3 in periodontitis and its mechanisms.Methods:Gingival tissues from 6 periodontally healthy subjects undergoing crown lengthening were collected at the Department of Periodontology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University from December 2022 to December 2023. GFs were extracted and cultured by collagenase digestion. Lentivirals with multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 were used to achieve knockdown and overexpression of Gal-3 gene in GFs, whose efficiencies of Gal-3 gene were detected by using immunofluorescence, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. Negative control of knockdown (shNC)+LPS group, Gal-3 knockdown (shGal-3)+LPS group, negative control of overexpression (oeNC)+LPS group, and Gal-3 overexpression (oeGal-3)+LPS group were established, respectively. 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), Ki67 staining, scratch migration assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technology, immunofluorescence assay and RT-qPCR were used to investigate the effects of Gal-3 on LPS-induced proliferation, migration, apoptosis, ROS, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 expression. The effects of Gal-3 knockdown on the expression of differential genes and the enrichment of signaling pathways in LPS-induced GFs were investigated by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).Results:More than 80% of GFs were successfully transfected by shGal-3 MOI 40 and oeGal-3 MOI 70. Immunofluorescence results showed that the morphologies of GFs were normal after lentiviral transfection, and green fluorescence could be distributed in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and cell membrane. The results of RT-qPCR and Western blotting assay showed that the expressions of Gal-3 at the gene and protein levels in shGal-3 group (0.26±0.01, 0.26±0.03, respectively) were significantly lower than those in the shNC group (1.00±0.03, 1.00±0.09, respectively) ( P<0.001); the expressions of Gal-3 at the gene and protein levels in the oeGal-3 group (4.26±0.05, 3.94±0.34) were significantly higher than those in the oeNC group (1.00±0.00, 1.00±0.24, respectively) ( P<0.001). EdU, Ki67 experiments showed that the percentage of GFs proliferation was significantly lower in the shGal-3+LPS group [(16.99±1.79)%, (13.48±0.95)%, respectively] than in the shNC+LPS group [(33.86±3.84)%, (35.63±1.62)%, respectively] ( P<0.05), and the proliferation ratio of GFs was significantly increased in the oeGal-3+LPS group [(45.36±1.56)%, (45.83±1.50)%, respectively] compared to the oeNC+LPS group [(34.47±1.02)%, (33.66±3.14)%, respectively] ( P<0.05). The results of scratch migration assay showed that the migration ratio of GFs in shGal-3+LPS group significantly decreased compared to the shNC+LPS group [(25.07±0.01)% vs (57.84±0.00)%] ( P<0.001), whereas the oeGal-3+LPS group significantly facilitated the migration ratio of GFs compared to the oeNC+LPS group [(74.70±0.03)% vs (53.36±0.01)%] ( P<0.001). The results of TUNEL experiments showed that LPS stimulation with shGal-3 promoted apoptosis of GFs ( P<0.05), whereas oeGal-3 inhibited apoptosis of GFs ( P<0.001). Immunofluorescence experiments and RT-qPCR results showed that knockdown of Gal-3 significantly reduced ROS production, IL-6 and IL-8 expression levels at the gene level in GFs ( P<0.001), whereas overexpression of Gal-3 significantly increased the production of ROS and the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 at the gene level in GFs ( P<0.001). RNA-seq results showed that differential genes caused by Gal-3 knockdown under LPS conditions were significantly enriched in biological processes such as cellular response to type Ⅰinterferon in the Gene Ontology database and in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database for NOD-like receptor, RIG-I like receptor and other signaling pathways. Conclusions:Gal-3 knockdown inhibited LPS-induced proliferation, migration, ROS, IL-6 and IL-8 production, and promoted apoptosis of GFs, while overexpression had the opposite effect. This process might be closely linked to the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway.
10.Management model for surgical consumables based on DIP combined with clinical pathways
Liqiu JIANG ; Jingjing GUO ; Song ZHOU ; Ling TAO ; Ge SHI
Journal of Navy Medicine 2025;46(9):928-933
Objective To achieve the goal of standardized use of surgical consumables and reasonable cost control by the diagnosis-intervention packet(DIP)total control combined with clinical pathways.Methods Four DIP clinical groups implementing clinical pathways were selected as pilot disease groups.Cases from 2019 to 2020 served as control group,develop a diagnosis and treatment plan based on clinical pathways and pathway form combined with the actual situation of the hospital.Cases from 2021 to 2023 formed experimental groups:experimental group 1(added control measures of the inventory of surgical consumables on the basis of the control group),and experimental group 2(added total DIP control measures to the experimental group 1).The average hospitalization costs and average costs of disposable surgical consumables were compared to evaluate the practical outcomes.Results There were significant differences in the average hospitalization costs and average costs of disposable surgical consumables among the three groups(P<0.05).Further pairwise comparisons showed that the average hospitalization costs and average costs of disposable surgical consumables in experimental group 2 were significantly lower than those in experimental group 1 and the control group(P<0.05).The average hospitalization costs in all pilot disease groups except the group undergoing transurethral ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy in the experimental group 1 were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the average costs of disposable surgical consumables in all pilot disease groups in the experimental group 1 were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion The management plan based on DIP combined with clinical pathways can improve the management effect of surgery-related consumables and effectively reduce the costs.


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