1.Predicting Invasive Non-mucinous Lung Adenocarcinoma IASLC Grading: A Nomogram Based on Dual-energy CT Imaging and Conventional Features.
Kaibo ZHU ; Liangna DENG ; Yue HOU ; Lulu XIONG ; Caixia ZHU ; Haisheng WANG ; Junlin ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(8):585-596
BACKGROUND:
Lung adenocarcinoma is an important pathohistologic subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Invasive non-mucinous pulmonary adenocarcinomas (INMA) tend to have a poor prognosis due to their significant heterogeneity and diverse histologic components. Establishing a histologic grading system for INMA is crucial for evaluating its malignancy. In 2021, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) proposed that a new histological grading system could better stratify the prognosis of INMA patients. The aim of this study was to establish a visualized nomogram model to predict INMA IASLC grading preoperatively by means of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), fractal dimension (FD), clinical features and conventional CT parameters.
METHODS:
A total of 112 patients with INMA who underwent preoperative DECT were retrospectively enrolled from March 2021 to January 2025. Patients were categorized into low-intermediate grade and high grade groups based on IASLC grading. The clinical characteristics and conventional CT parameters, including baseline features, biochemical markers, and serum tumor markers, were collected. DECT-derived parameters, including iodine concentration (IC), effective atomic number (eff-Z), and normalized IC (NIC), were collected and determined as NIC ratio (NICr) and fractal dimension (FD). Univariate analysis was employed to compare differences in conventional characteristics and DECT parameters between the two groups. Variables demonstrating statistical significance were subsequently incorporated into a multivariate Logistic regression analysis. A nomogram model integrating clinical data, conventional CT parameters, and DECT parameters was developed to identify independent predictors for IASLC grading of INMA. The discriminatory performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
RESULTS:
Multivariate analysis identified smoking history [odds ratio (OR)=2.848, P=0.041], lobulation sign (OR=2.163, P=0.004), air bronchogram (OR=7.833, P=0.005), eff-Z in arterial phase (OR=4.266, P<0.001), and IC in arterial phase (OR=1.290, P=0.012) as independent and significant predictors for IASLC grading of INMA. The nomogram model constructed based on these indicators demonstrated optimal predictive performance, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.804 (95%CI: 0.725-0.883), with specificity and sensitivity of 85.3% and 65.7%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The nomogram model based on clinical features, imaging features and spectral CT parameters have a large potential for application in the preoperative noninvasive assessment of INMA IASLC grading.
Humans
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Nomograms
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Female
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*
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Lung Neoplasms/pathology*
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Aged
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Retrospective Studies
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Adenocarcinoma of Lung/pathology*
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Neoplasm Grading
;
Adult
2.BRD4 regulates m6A of ESPL1 mRNA via interaction with ALKBH5 to modulate breast cancer progression.
Haisheng ZHANG ; Linlin LU ; Cheng YI ; Tao JIANG ; Yunqing LU ; Xianyuan YANG ; Ke ZHONG ; Jiawang ZHOU ; Jiexin LI ; Guoyou XIE ; Zhuojia CHEN ; Zongpei JIANG ; Gholamreza ASADIKARAM ; Yanxi PENG ; Dan ZHOU ; Hongsheng WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1552-1570
The interaction between m6A-methylated RNA and chromatin modification remains largely unknown. We found that targeted inhibition of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) by siRNA or its inhibitor (JQ1) significantly decreases mRNA m6A levels and suppresses the malignancy of breast cancer (BC) cells via increased expression of demethylase AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5). Mechanistically, inhibition of BRD4 increases the mRNA stability of ALKBH5 via enhanced binding between its 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) with RNA-binding protein RALY. Further, BRD4 serves as a scaffold for ubiquitin enzymes tripartite motif containing-21 (TRIM21) and ALKBH5, resulting in the ubiquitination and degradation of ALKBH5 protein. JQ1-increased ALKBH5 then demethylates mRNA of extra spindle pole bodies like 1 (ESPL1) and reduces binding between ESPL1 mRNA and m6A reader insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), leading to decay of ESPL1 mRNA. Animal and clinical studies confirm a critical role of BRD4/ALKBH5/ESPL1 pathway in BC progression. Further, our study sheds light on the crosstalks between histone modification and RNA methylation.
3.Effect of deletion of G protein-coupled receptor 107 on the biological behaviour of HaCaT cells
Jing Wang ; Wei Zhao ; Deping Xu ; Kainan Liao ; Dandan Zang ; Haisheng Zhou
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(3):385-391
Objective :
To construct a human keratinocyte-forming cell line(HaCaT) with stable knockout of the G protein-coupled receptor 107(GPR107) gene, and to preliminarily investigate the effect of GPR107 deletion on the biological behaviour of HaCaT cells.
Methods :
Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, HaCaT cells with knockout ofGPR107gene were constructed and monoclonal cells with GPR107 deletion were obtained by limited dilution method. Genomic DNA was amplified using Western blot and PCR and sequenced to validate the single-cell clones with knockdown of GPR107. The cell cycle changes were detected by flow cytometry; cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8; apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry; changes in cell differentiation markers were detected by Western blot; cell migration ability was analyzed by cell scratch assay and other methods.
Results :
LentiCas9-Blast and plenti-guide-RNA-GPR107 plasmids were successfully transfected into HaCaT cells, 21 monoclonal cell lines were obtained by limited dilution, and Western blot showed that the GPR107 expression was significantly reduced in 8 of them; PCR sequencing of the cellular genome was used, which resulted in the obtainment of C4 and 2D8GPR107-/-HaCaT monoclonal cell lines. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry assay showed thatGPR107gene deletion resulted in G0G1phase block, significantly weakened proliferation ability and increased apoptosis level of HaCaT cells. Western blot found that the differentiation of HaCaT cells accelerated after knockdown ofGPR107. Additionally the results of the cell scratch assay indicated that the migration ability of HaCaT cells was enhanced after knockdown ofGPR107. The results showed that the migration ability of HaCaT cells was enhanced after knockdown ofGPR107.
Conclusion
HaCaT cell line withGPR107gene deletion is successfully constructed, GPR107 deletion blocks the G0G1phase of HaCaT cells, which inhibiting the proliferation of HaCaT cells and promoted apoptosis, and it was found that the differentiation and migration of HaCaT cells were enhanced after knocking downGPR107.
4.Application value of multi-phase left atrial appendage CTA imaging with pulmonary artery monitoring in preoperative evaluation of left atrial appendage closure
Bocheng WANG ; Yunting MEI ; Bingyi FANG ; Qiufang ZHU ; Haoqing PAN ; Haisheng LIANG ; Bingbing SUN ; Can WANG ; Jing ZHOU
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(6):1356-1360
Objective To investigate the application value of 320-slice wide-detector multi-phase left at-rial appendage computed tomography angiography(LAA-CTA)with pulmonary artery(PA)monitoring in the preoperative evaluation of left atrial appendage closure.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 110 patients who underwent LAA-CTA before left atrial appendage closure.Among them,47 patients underwent single-phase enhanced scanning with superior vena cava(SVC)monitoring(con-trol group),and 63 patients underwent multi-phase enhanced scanning with pulmonary artery monitoring(study group).The differences in imaging effects of the left atrial appendage under different monitoring points and phase imaging methods were compared,as well as the accuracy of comparing with the diagnostic results of transesophageal ultrasound(TEE),and the differences in the presentation of thrombus,perithrombus,and hypoperfusion areas in the left atrial appendage.Results The study group could comprehensively display the multi-phase CT value changes of different components(thrombus,peri-thrombotic viscosity,normal blood)within the left atrial appendage cavity,and its evaluation of lesion size and progression was superior to that of the control group.Using TEE as the gold standard,the study group demonstrated better diagnostic ac-curacy for different components and normal regions within the left atrial appendage cavity compared to the control group(P<0.001).Additionally,the study group improved the detection rate of peri-thrombotic vis-cosity,clearly delineated thrombus boundaries,and enhanced diagnostic accuracy(P<0.001).Conclusion Multi-phase LAA-CTA with pulmonary artery monitoring can effectively evaluate the morphological dimensions,thrombus,and peri-thrombotic CT manifestations of the left atrial appendage.It is simple to operate,with an accuracy rate close to the gold standard,providing reliable imaging evidence for preoperative evaluation of left atrial appendage closure.
5.Value of MRI-DWI and ASL in evaluating the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Haisheng FU ; Yonggui ZHOU ; Xuexin WANG
Journal of Navy Medicine 2025;46(10):1036-1041
Objective To explore the value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging(MRI-DWI)and arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging(ASL)in evaluating the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods A total of 103 patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received synchronous radiotherapy and chemotherapy in Qinghai Armed Police Corps Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected as research subjects.The apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)of the primary tumor,the volume of primary tumor(GTVnx),the volume of the primary tumor+the volume of retropharyngeal lymph nodes(GTVnx+RLN),and the tumor blood flow(TBF)of ASL quantitative perfusion parameters were compared between effective 73 case and ineffective patients(30 case)before and after chemoradiotherapy.The receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curves were used to evaluate the value of ADC,GTVnx,GTVnx+RLN and TBF in predicting the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.Univariate method was used to analyze the basic data of patients,and Logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of chemoradiotherapy of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Results After concurrent chemoradiotherapy,73 patients were included in the effective group,including 36 patients achieving complete remission(CR)and 37 patients achieving partial remission(PR);30 patients were included in the ineffective group,including 25 patients achieving stable disease(SD)and 5 patients achieving disease progression(PD).Before and after treatment,ADC,GTVnx,GTVnx+RLN in the effective group were significantly lower than those in the ineffective group,and TBF in the effective group was higher than that in the ineffective group(P<0.05).The changes of ADC,GTVnx,GTVnx+RLN,and TBF before and after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the effective group were significantly higher than those in the ineffective group(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)values of ADC,GTVnx,GTVnx+RLN,and TBF for predicting the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were 0.727,0.555,0.753,and 0.791,respectively.The results of logistic regression model showed that high levels of ADC,GTVnx and GTVnx+RLN,low level of TBF,TNM stage Ⅳ,and low tumor differentiation before treatment were independent risk factors for poor efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients(P<0.05).Conclusion Elevated baseline of ADC,GTVnx and GTVnx+RLN and reduced TBF are correlated with poorer outcomes following chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma,serving as potential predictive biomarkers.
6.Amlodipine promotes autophagy by inhibiting
Wei Zhao ; Deping Xu ; Kainan Liao ; Chunlin Cai ; Dandan Zang ; Haisheng Zhou
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(7):1179-1186
Objective :
To explore the effects of the antihypertensive drug Amlodipine on calcium influx and autoph- agy in human podocytes ( HPC) .
Methods :
HPC cells were routinely cultured in vitro. HPC cells were treated with angiotensin Ⅱ ( Ang Ⅱ ) ,the L-type Ca2 + blocker Amlodipine alone or in combination.The Ca2 + imaging system was used to detect the transient changes in the intracellular Ca2 + flux of HPC cells in real time after drug treatment.Western blot was employed to detect the changes in the ratio of autophagy marker proteins LC3B-Ⅱ/ LC3B-Ⅰ , and the expression levels of Beclin-1,P62,as well as apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax.Flow cytometry was used to detect the number of Fluo-4AM positive cells at 488 nm to analyze the level of intracellular Ca2 + influx in HPC cells.Lyso-Tracker Green live cell staining was applied to analyze the fluorescence intensity of lysosomes.Flow cytometry was also used to detect the apoptosis rate of HPC cells.
Results :
Compared with the control group,in the Ang Ⅱ group,the transient Ca2 + flux and the number of Fluo-4AM positive cells increased significantly (P<0. 001) .The ratio of autophagy marker proteins LC3B-Ⅱ/ LC3B-Ⅰ (P<0. 001) and the pro- tein expression of Beclin-1 (P<0. 01) decreased significantly,while the expression of P62 increased (P<0. 01) . The fluorescence intensity of lysosomes weakened (P<0. 05) ,the apoptosis rate increased (P<0. 0001) ,the ex- pression of apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 decreased (P <0. 01 ) ,and the protein level of Bax increased (P < 0. 001) .Compared with the control group,in the Amlodipine group,the number of Fluo-4AM positive cells de- creased significantly (P<0. 001) ,the ratio of LC3B-Ⅱ/ LC3B-Ⅰ (P<0. 001) and the protein expression of Bec- lin-1 (P<0. 001) increased,the protein expression of P62 decreased (P<0. 05) ,the fluorescence intensity of ly- sosomes enhanced (P<0. 01) ,the apoptosis rate decreased (P<0. 01) ,the protein expression of Bcl-2 increased (P<0. 001) ,and the protein level of Bax decreased (P<0. 001) .Compared with the Ang Ⅱ group,in the Ang Ⅱ + Amlodipine group,the number of Fluo-4AM positive cells decreased significantly (P<0. 001) ,the ratio of LC3B-Ⅱ/ LC3B-Ⅰ (P<0. 01) and the protein expression of Beclin-1 increased (P<0. 05) ,the protein level of P62 decreased (P<0. 01) ,the fluorescence intensity of lysosomes increased (P <0. 05) ,the apoptosis rate de- creased (P<0. 001) ,the protein expression of Bcl-2 increased (P <0. 001 ) ,and the protein level of Bax de- creased (P<0. 001) .
Conclusion
Amlodipine inhibits calcium influx,promotes autophagy and inhibits apoptosis in human podocytes,which is useful in preventing the development of hypertensive nephropathy.
7.The roles of LMO4 in endothelial cells differentiation and angiogenesis from murine embryonic stem cells
Minghua Xiang ; Zhenzhen Tu ; Yue Wang ; Haisheng Zhou
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(1):1-7
Objective :
To examine the role of LMO4 in the regulation of endothelial cell differentiation and angio- genesis in murine embryonic stem cells (mESC) .
Methods :
Mouse Lmo4 cDNA was obtained from MEL cells by using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and subcloned into the expression vector pFG to generate the pFLG ,in which contained Flk-1 promoter to drive Lmo4 expresses in only FLK-1 + cells.The mESC were transfected with pFG or pFLG plasmids and subsequently screened with geneticin ( G418) to produce cell clones. These cell clones were named mESC /pFG and mESC /pFLG ,respectively. The mESC /pFG and mESC /pFLG were cultured in the differentiation medium for either 4 days or 10 days to generate embryoid bodies (EB) .The 10-day embryoid bodies ( 10 d-EBs) carrying the pFG and pFLG vectors were subsequently stimulated to generate the blast-colony forming cells (BL-CFC) ,which indicated the presence of hemangioblasts.The endo- thelial cell sprouting analysis was performed by using 10 d-EBs.The expression of the interest genes was detected by using qualitative RT-PCR or Western blot analysis.
Results :
The pFLG expression vector was successfully con- structed through PCR identification.The mESC /pFG and mESC /pFLG cells were obtained after transfected with the pFG or pFLG vectors and selected by G418.The cells spontaneously differentiate to generate EBs,in which some green fluoresce cells were present.Western blot analysis showed that a significant increase in LMO4 expression in both 4 d-EB and 10 d-EB when compared to mESC.BL-CFC analysis showed that the 4 d-EB/ pFLG had a higher cloning efficiency ( 7. 70% ± 1. 27% ) ,comparing with that of the 4 d-EB/ pFG ( 1. 15% ± 0. 48% ) ( P = 0. 021) .Quantitative RT-PCR results showed that the expression of Flk-1,C-kit,Tie-2 and Ve-cad genes in 10 d- EBs /pFLG increased more than 2-fold compared to 10 d-EBs /pFG.The endothelial cell sprouting analysis result showed a significant increase in the number and length of new blood vessels in 10 d-EB/ pFLG compared to 10 d- EB/ pFG (P<0. 05) .
Conclusion
Overexpression of LMO4 promotes hemangioblast differentiation from mESC, and benefits for endothelial cell differentiation and angiogenesis.
8.Effect of bluetongue virusinfection on type Ⅰ interferon response in BHK-21 cells
Shimei LUO ; Yunyi CHEN ; Qisha LI ; Yanmei ZHOU ; Yifei WANG ; Xinyu LIAO ; Xuer-Ou HU ; Yuanjian WEI ; Mengqin LI ; Meng ZHU ; Xun ZHANG ; Beirui CHEN ; Xianping MA ; Jiarui XIE ; Meiling KOU ; Haisheng MIAO ; Fang LI ; Huashan YI
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;44(8):1639-1644,1690
Bluetongue virus is an arbovirus that seriously harms ruminants such as sheep,this study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of bluetongue virus infection and host cell interferon antiviral immune response.The study was conducted to characterize the mRNA expression of inter-feron pathway genes by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,as well as Western blot analysis of MDA5,TRAF3,RIG-Ⅰ,and TBK1 protein expression in BHK-21 cells induced by BTV with a multiplicity of infections(MOI)of 1 for 18,24,and 36 h.The results showed that the most pro-nounced changes in the expression of interferon signaling pathway genes were observed at 24 h of induction,the gene mRNA expression levels of the IFN-α,IFN-β,RIG-Ⅰ,TBK1,MDA5,VISA,and TRAF3 genes were upregulated.However,the mRNA expression levels of IKKε and TRAF6 genes were downregulated.At the protein level,MDA5 and TBK1 proteins were upregulated while RIG-1 and TRAF3 proteins were downregulated,which showed that BTV infection induces a typeⅠ interferon immune response in BHK-21 cells.This study lays the foundation for further exploring the antiviral immunity mechanism of IFN-Ⅰ signaling pathway regulatory genes in host cells infected with BTV infection.
9.The absence of GPR108 results in decreased inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis mice
Yintao Zhang ; Ping Yang ; Dandan Zang ; Zhenzhen Tu ; Ruyue Xu ; Haisheng Zhou
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(11):1896-1902
Objective:
To investigate the effect of G protein-coupled receptor 108(GPR108) gene knockout on systemic inflammation in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced sepsis mice.
Methods:
Male C57BL/6 mice and GPR108 gene knockout mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: WT group, WT-LPS group, KO group, KO-LPS group. The physiological characteristics of mice in different groups were observed, and the morphological changes of liver and lung tissues were observed. Macrophages were extracted from bone marrow and subjected to flow cytometry to detect their M1 polarization status. The expression levels of IL-6 in liver and lung tissues, macrophages, and serum were also measured.
Results:
KO-LPS group mice showed significant liver and lung tissue damage, with a significantly greater number of bone marrow-derived macrophages polarizing towards M1 in the KO-LPS group compared to the WT-LPS group. Additionally, at the tissue, cellular, and serum levels, the expression of IL-6 in the KO-LPS group mice was significantly higher than that in the WT-LPS group mice(P<0.05).
Conclusion
During the systemic inflammatory infection induced by LPS in mice, the lack of GPR108 exacerbates the systemic inflammatory response. GPR108 has an inhibitory effect on the inflammatory response in mice with LPS-induced sepsis.
10.The role and mechanism of urate in the development of interstitial fibrosis in chronic kidney disease
Ping YANG ; Deping XU ; Ziwen TONG ; Qiong CHEN ; Ruyue XU ; Haisheng ZHOU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(7):1206-1212
Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of urate in chronic kidney disease complicated with renal interstitial fibrosis(CKD-RIF).Methods Mice were continuously fed with a diet containing 0.2%adenine for a duration of 9 weeks to establish mice models with CKD-RIF.By the end of the 9-week experimental periods,collected blood samples from the posterior orbital venous plexus of mice to measure renal functions and serum urate concentrations prior to euthanizing the mice.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining(PAS)were used to investigate the pathological alternations in kidney tissues.Masson's trichrome staining was used to observe the extent of renal fibrosis.Urate staining was used to detect urate deposition in renal tissues.Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of target molecules.Scratch tests were used to ex-amine the migration abilities of cells treated with different concentrations of uric acid.Results The kidney function analysis showed that a significant increase in the levels of serum urea nitrogen(P=0.006 4),creatinine(P=0.008 0)and urate(P=0.000 7)in the CKD-RIF mice compared with the normal control group.The results of HE staining and PAS staining showed a significance of renal tubule injury and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the model group.Masson's trichrome staining showed that a marked increase in collagen deposition in the model group.The results of urate staining showed a significant presence of urate crystals in kidney tissue of the model group when compared to the control group.Animal tissue immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry analysis showed a significant increase in the expression levels of vimentin,α-SMA and TGF-β1 in the model group in comparison to the control group.Conversely,in the model group,E-cadherin levels exhibited a dramatic reduction compared to the control group.The findings from the scratching tests showed that uric acid significantly enhanced cell migration.Western blot analysis showed a dramatic increase in the expression levels of vimentin and α-SMA,while E-cadherin exhibited significant decrease in the cells subjected to uric acid treatment.Conclusion Urate stimulates the secre-tion of TGF-β1 by renal tubule epithelial cells and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation,thereby ex-acerbating renal interstitial fibrosis in CKD.


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