1.Association Between MTHFR C677T Gene Polymorphism and Hypertension, Hyperhomocysteinemia and Hyperlipidemia in Tibet Region
Pengchang LI ; Danni MU ; Zhijuan LIU ; Xiaoxing LIU ; Puchi ZEJI ; Liping TIAN ; Honglei LI ; Li'an HOU ; Dandan LI ; Jie WU ; Ling QIU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):280-285
To explore the correlation between MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism and hypertension, hyperhomocysteinemia(Hcy), and hyperlipidemia in the Tibetan population of Tibet. Using a cluster sampling method, participants from high-altitude regions including Ngari Prefecture, Lhasa City, and Nyingchi City in Tibet were enrolled. Differences in MTHFR C677T genotype distribution among individuals with hypertension, HHcy, and hyperlipidemia were analyzed, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between these conditions and the TT genotype. A total of 574 eligible subjects were included, with a mean age of 40.64±12.67 years. Males accounted for 46.7%(268/574) and females 53.3%(306/574). Regional distribution was 34.8%(200/574) from Nyingchi City, 33.1%(190/574) from Lhasa City, and 32.1%(184/574) from Ngari Prefecture. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 117.89±18.98 mm Hg and 79.74±14.88 mm Hg, respectively. The frequency of the TT genotype was significantly higher in the hypertension group than in the non-hypertension group(12.32% The MTHFR C677T TT genotype is significantly associated with hypertension and hyperhomocysteinemia in the Tibetan population, suggesting that this polymorphism may be a genetic risk factor for these diseases in high-altitude regions.
2.Challenges, countermeasures, and key points of ethics review in investigator-initiated clinical trials of unlisted products
Honglei NIAN ; Jihong LI ; Jiyin ZHOU
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(1):31-39
Investigator-initiated clinical trials (IIT) are an important part of scientific and technological activities involving human study participants. Among them, high-quality IIT can be used to support the marketing and registration application of drugs, medical devices, and other products when conditions permit. Currently, there is a huge gap between IIT and industry-initiated clinical trials. The use of unlisted products in IIT has problems, such as lack of regulatory support, insufficient research funding support, the need to improve the ability of clinical research management departments, the weakness of professional clinical research teams, and the difficulty of ethics review to match the demands. The challenges could be addressed by improving regulations and conducting pilot trials on a small scale, guaranteeing adequate research funding, strengthening the construction of clinical research management systems, building professional clinical research teams, ensuring the quality of ethical reviews and strict follow-up reviews, shifting from ethical reviews to a system for protecting research participants, and reinforcing training for researchers. Ethics committees should strictly review key points, such as the risk-benefit ratio, informed consent, research funding, compensation for damages, qualifications and equipment of research team members, and management of conflict of interest.
3.Effects of erythropoietin on restorative dentin formation and expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 after pulp injury
Ruiqing CHENG ; Honglei SUN ; Shuangshuang GENG ; Chao WANG ; Junke LI ; Yanfang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(11):2231-2242
BACKGROUND:Erythropoietin has anti-inflammatory,anti-apoptotic,and pro-bone defect repair effects.To date,fewer studies have been conducted on its effects and molecular mechanism underlying restorative dentin formation after pulp injury. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of erythropoietin on restorative dentin formation after pulp injury. METHODS:(1)Animal experiment:Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into control group(n=16)and experimental group(n=16).In the experimental group,collagen sponges containing erythropoietin were used to directly cap the pulp at the pulp injury,and in the control group,collagen sponges containing PBS were used to directly cap the pulp at the exposed pulp injury.The cavity was then closed with glass ionomer adhesive.After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment,the maxillary bones of the two groups were collected,and the expression of nestin in dentin was detected by immunohistochemistry,and the reparative dentin production was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The maxillae of four Sprague-Dawley rats were taken for immunohistochemical detection of erythropoietin expression in molar and incisor teeth.(2)Cell experiment:Human dental pulp cells,human periodontal ligament cells and human gingival fibroblasts were obtained from human dental tissue,periodontal ligament,and gingival tissue.Real-time reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR)was used to detect the mRNA expression of erythropoietin.Erythropoietin,dentin sialophosphoprotein,dentin matrix protein 1,and nestin mRNA levels in human pulp cells were detected by RT-PCR under induced or uninduced odontoblastic differentiation.After down-regulation of erythropoietin expression or exogenous administration of erythropoietin intervention under induced or uninduced differentiation odontoblastic differentiation,the relative mRNA expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein and dentin matrix protein 1 in human pulp cells was detected by RT-PCR,and the formation of mineralized nodules was detected by alizarin red S staining,and mRNA and protein expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2 were detected by RT-PCR and western blot,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Animal experiment:Compared with the control group,the restorative dentin production and nestin expression were higher in the experimental group after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment.The expression of erythropoietin was weakly positive in pulp,odontoblastic cell layer and periodontal membrane of the rat's first maxillary molar,and strongly positive in odontoblasts.(2)Cell experiment:The mRNA expression of erythropoietin was higher in human dental pulp cells than in the other two types of cells.The mRNA expressions of dentin sialophosphorin,dentin matrix protein 1,nestin,erythropoietin and bone morphogenetic protein 2 in human pulp cells increased and the formation of mineralized nodules during odontoblastic differentiation under induction compared with non-induction conditions.The mRNA expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein,dentin matrix protein 1,nestin,bone morphogenetic protein 2 and the formation of mineralized nodules were decreased in human pulp cells after downregulation of erythropoietin under induced odontoblastic differentiation,and the protein expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 was also decreased.After exogenous erythropoietin intervention,the expression of the above indexes in human dental pulp cells increased.To conclude,erythropoietin can promote the formation of dentin to some extent.
4.Evaluation of the effect of tirofiban bridging combined with aspirin in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction with beyond the thrombolytic time window
Zhenling ZHU ; Honglei HU ; Xuguang GAO ; Yajun LI
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(11):1015-1019
Objective:To analyze the effect and safety of tirofiban bridging combined with aspirin for anti-platelet therapy in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) beyond the thrombolytic time window.Methods:Sixty patients with ACI treated in Beijing Royal Hospital from January 2021 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 30 cases were treated with tirofiban bridging aspirin as the observation group, while 30 cases were treated with aspirin alone as the control group. The total effective rate of clinical treatment, the degree of neurological deficit, the degree of disease outcome and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. The degree of neurological deficit was evaluated using the National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), and the degree of disease outcome was evaluated using the modified Rankin scale (mRS).Results:The overall effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group: 93.3% (28/30) vs. 66.7% (20/30), with a statistically significant difference ( χ2 = 10.97, P<0.01). Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in NIHSS score between the two groups ( P>0.05). However, after treatment, the NIHSS score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group: (2.83 ± 1.87) scores vs. (4.93 ± 3.05) scores, indicating a significant difference ( t = -3.21, P = 0.002). No significant difference was observed in mRS score between the two groups before treatment( P>0.05). After treatment, the observation group showed significantly lower mRS score compared to the control group: 2.00 (1.00, 2.00) scores vs. 3.00 (2.00, 4.00) scores ( P = 0.006). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the observation group and control groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Tirofiban bridging aspirin has stronger inhibitory effect on platelet activity than simple application of aspirin for ACI patients with ultra-thrombolytic window, which can rapidly improve the degree of neurological impairment and daily living ability of patients, and the incidence of adverse reactions has not increased significantly.
5.Proteomics Study on Serum Exosomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients
Honglei HUI ; Ruijia YANG ; Zhixiong ZHANG ; Yanhua LI ; Jizong YANG
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2025;40(5):1-5,15
Objective To explore differentially expressed proteins in the serum exosomes of acute myeloid leukemia(AML)patients and healthy controls by using the proteomics method,and provide new biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of AML.Methods A total of 76 AML patients diagnosed and treated in the First People's Hospital of Honghe State from November 2022 to June 2024 were selected as the experimental group,and 60 healthy physical examination participants were selected as the control group.Tandem Mass Tag(TMT)labeled proteomics was used to identify the differences in protein expression in serum exosomes between the experimental and control groups,and the identified differentially expressed proteins were subjected to bioinformatics analysis.Western-Blot was used to verify the differentially expressed proteins.Results Comparedwith healthy controls,146 aberrantly expressed proteinswere detected in serum exosomes of AML patients,of which 89 were up-regulated and 57 were down-regulated.Among them,Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin(α1-ACT),Angiogenin(ANG),Vitronectin(VIT),Clusterin(Clu),Fibronectin(FN),Keratin type I cytoskeletal-18(KRT18),and actinin alpha4(ACTN4)showed changed significantly.Gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis indicated that differentially expresseproteins were involved in biological processes such as neutrophil immunity,neutrophil degranulation,neutrophil activation immune response,and protein activation cascade,significantly enriched in 25 biological pathways including complement and coagulation cascades,extracellular matrix(ECM)-receptor interaction,and hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1)signaling pathways.Western-blot validation results showed that compared with the control group,the expression levels of ANG,Clu and FN in the serum exosomes of AML patients were significantly increased,while the expression level of ACTN4 was significantly decreased,with statistically significant differences(t=-11.854~18.569,all P<0.05).The expression levels of ANG and FN were correlated with white blood cell count(F=8.888,7.818,all P<0.05)and cytogenetics(F=8.619,7.983,P<0.05).The expression level of Clu protein was correlated with white blood cell count(F=2.571,P<0.05),but not significantly associated with cytogenetics(F=1.886,P>0.05).ANG,FN and Clu showed no significant correlation with FAB classification(F=0.175,0.434,0.042,all P>0.05).Conclusion The expression of exosomal proteins in the serum of AML patients compared to healthy individuals are significant differences,which may serve as serological markers for the diagnosis and treatment of AML.
6.Study on the Relationship between the Expression of Serum circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4 Levels and Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis in Patients with Cholangiocarcinoma
Honglei LI ; Yading XIE ; Jie WU ; Cheng TAN ; Huijuan ZHANG
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2025;40(5):35-39
Objective To investigate the expression changes of serum circRNA membrane bound O-acyltransferase 2(circRNA MBOAT2)and circRNA recombinant actinin 4(circRNA ACTN4)in patients with cholangiocarcinoma and their relationship with prognosis.Methods 96 patients with cholangiocarcinoma treated at the First Hospital of Handan City from January 2020 to January 2022 in Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery were regarded as as the cholangiocarcinoma group.Additionally,85 patients with intraductal stones and 90 healthy volunteers were collected as the stone group and control group,respectively.Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR(qRT-PCR)was applied to detect the expression levels of circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4.χ2 test was applied to analyze the relationship between circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4 and clinical pathological features.Pearson was applied to analyze the correlation between circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4 in patients with cholangiocarcinoma.ROC was applied to analyze the diagnostic value of circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4 in the occurrence of cholangiocarcinoma.COX was applied to analyze the influencing factors of poor prognosis in patients with cholangiocarcinoma.Kaplan-Meier method was applied for survival analysis.Results circRNA MBOAT2(1.24±0.38)and circRNA ACTN4(1.27±0.42)in cholangiocarcinoma group were higher than those in stone group(1.02±0.31,1.05±0.34)and control group(0.83±0.24,0.78±0.21),and the stone group was higher than that in control group,with statistically significance(t=5.016~14.025,all P<0.05).There was a positive correlation between circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4 in patients with cholangiocarcinoma group(r=0.428,P<0.05).Combined diagnosis of MBOAT2 and ACTN4 was better than single diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma(Z=4.063,4.004,all P<0.05);circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4 were correlated with clinical staging and lymph node status(t=5.091~5.984,all P<0.05).Positive lymph node status and elevated levels of circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4 were independent risk factors for mortality(HR=1.527,1.582,1.727,all P<0.05).The cumulative survival rate of patients with high expression of circRNA MBOAT2(23.40%vs 46.94%)and circRNA ACTN4(24.00%vs 47.83%)was lower than that of patients with low expression(χ2=5.809,5.946,all P<0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of circRNA MBOAT2 and circRNA ACTN4 increase with the progression of the disease,and the combination of the two has certain value in diagnosing the occurrence of cholangiocarcinoma.
7.Investigator-Initiated Trials management measures to study the implementation of the whole process management of new requirements and implementation suggestions
Honglei NIAN ; Jihong LI ; Jiyin ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Medical Science Research Management 2025;38(2):114-119
Objective:As the " Administrative Measures for Conducting investigator-initiated Clinical Research in Medical and Health Institutions" promulgated, to explore the key points and difficulties in the management of Investigator-Initiated Trials(IIT) in healthcare institutions, and provide basis for promoting the standardization and high-quality management of IIT.Methods:On the basis of policy text research , through literature investigation and working practice, this paper analyzes new requirements of the Management Measures for clinical trials management and puts forward implementation suggestions.Results:The Administrative Measures put forward new requirements for the implementation and management of clinical trials from the aspects of scientific review and ethical review, and carried out intervention research beyond the scope, clinical research management committee responsibilities. Medical and carried institutions need to strengthen the management of the whole process of clinical trials implementation.Conclusions:Medical and health institutions can strengthen clinical trials management by building the organizational structure of clinical trials whole-process management, hierarchical risk management, taking scientific review as the starting point, opening up all aspects of project management, focusing on process management, and strengthening quality control and quality assurance.
8.Efficacy of non-invasive prenatal testing of fetal free DNA in maternal peripheral blood in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency
Mengyao NI ; Xiangyu ZHU ; Wei LIU ; Leilei GU ; Peixuan CAO ; Ying YANG ; Xing WU ; Chunxiang ZHOU ; Honglei DUAN ; Jie LI
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine 2025;28(2):113-118
Objective:To explore the efficacy of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) of fetal free DNA in maternal peripheral blood in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 184 singleton pregnant women that underwent chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School from June 2014 to December 2022 due to fetal increased NT (≥3.0 mm). These subjects were categorized based on whether the increased NT was accompanied by other high-risk factors into isolated increased NT without advanced maternal age (further subdivided into 3.0 mm≤NT<3.5 mm, 3.5 mm≤NT<4.0 mm, and NT≥4.0 mm subgroups), isolated increased NT with advanced maternal age, increased NT with nasal bone abnormalities, increased NT with other soft markers, and increased NT with structural abnormalities groups. Assuming the sensitivity and specificity of NIPT and expanded NIPT at this center were both 100%, genomic abnormalities outside the detection range of NIPT or expanded NIPT were termed as residual risk of NIPT or expanded NIPT. Chi-square test and Bonferroni correction were used to compare the residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT among the three subgroups of isolated increased NT without advanced maternal age group. Results:(1) In the group of isolated increased NT without advanced maternal age: For the 3.0 mm≤NT<3.5 mm subgroup (329 cases), 19 abnormalities were detected by CMA [12 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, seven cases of pathogenic copy number variation (pCNV)], with residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT both at 2.1% (7/329). For the 3.5 mm≤NT<4.0 mm subgroup (173 cases), 29 abnormalities were detected by CMA (17 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, nine cases of pCNV, three cases of chromosome unbalanced translocation), with residual risks of NIPT at 8.1% (14/173) and expanded NIPT at 7.5% (13/173). For the NT≥4.0 mm subgroup (270 cases), CMA detected abnormalities in 70 cases (50 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, 16 cases of pCNV, three cases of unbalanced translocations, and one case of sex chromosome abnormality combined with pCNV). The residual risk of NIPT was 12.2% (33/270), and the residual risk of expanded NIPT was 7.0% (19/270). The residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT in the 3.0 mm≤NT<3.5 mm subgroup were lower than those in the 3.5 mm≤NT<4.0 mm and NT≥4.0 mm subgroups (Bonferroni correction, all P<0.017). (2) In the group of 92 cases with isolated increased NT and advanced maternal age, CMA detected abnormalities in 36 cases (29 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, five cases of pCNV, one case of trisomy 21 combined with sex chromosome abnormality, and one case of trisomy 18 combined with sex chromosome abnormality). The residual risk of NIPT was 7.6% (7/92), and that of expanded NIPT was 5.4% (5/92). (3) In the group of 49 cases with increased NT combined with nasal bone abnormalities, CMA detected abnormalities in 24 cases (23 cases of chromosome aneuploidy and one case of pCNV). The residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT were both 2.0% (1/49). (4) In the group of 26 cases with increased NT combined with other soft markers, CMA detected abnormalities in nine cases (six cases of chromosome aneuploidy, one case of pCNV, and two cases of chromosome unbalanced translocations). The residual risks of NIPT and expanded NIPT were both 11.5% (3/26). (5) In the group of 245 cases with increased NT combined with structural abnormalities, CMA detected abnormalities in 121 cases (107 cases of chromosome aneuploidy, seven cases of pCNV, four cases of chromosome unbalanced translocations, one case of trisomy 21 combined with trisomy 20, and two cases of trisomy 18 combined with sex chromosome abnormalities). The residual risk of NIPT was 16.7% (41/245), and that of expanded NIPT was 4.1% (10/245). Conclusions:For isolated NT≥3.5 mm or NT≥3.0 mm combined with other high-risk factors, chorionic villus sampling in early pregnancy can be recommended, advancing the timing of prenatal diagnosis from the second trimester to the first trimester. For fetuses with isolated 3.0 mm≤NT<3.5 mm, the 2.1% residual risk of chromosomal abnormalities should be fully informed during counseling, even if the risk of NIPT is low.
9.A case-control study on the attention characteristics of patients with stable schizophrenia
Honglei YANG ; Kang XIE ; Qunshan WANG ; Zhenyue LIU ; Wenjia LIU ; Xinyi GE ; Xianyun LI
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2025;51(1):32-37
Objective To investigate the attention characteristics of patients with stable schizophrenia.Methods Fifty-five stable schizophrenic patients and 55 healthy subjects were included in the study.The attention network test paradigm(ANT paradigm)was used to measure the attention of participants.The observed indexes included reaction time under four cues and three stimulus types and converted reaction time(alerting network,orienting network,and executive control network).Results Under different cue prompts and stimulus conditions,the reaction time of patients with stable-phase schizophrenia was higher than that of the control group(P<0.001).The alerting network[25.43(11.71,42.53)ms vs.39.32(27.46,51.98)ms,P=0.020]and executive control network[96.17(36.32,160.13)ms vs.44.43(18.52,89.73)ms,P<0.001]in the patient group were significantly lower than those in the control group,while there was no significant difference in the orienting network compared to the control group(P=0.136).Conclusion Patients with stable schizophrenia show significant impairment in the efficiency of the alerting and executive control networks,while the orienting network is not significantly impaired.
10.Application of artificial intelligence in the study of cancer diagnosis and treatment research
Honglei LIU ; Yingliang YANG ; Ronghao LI ; Congmin ZHU ; Xu ZHANG
Journal of Capital Medical University 2025;46(3):395-400
As a major global public health concern,cancer has witnessed a continues rise in both incidence and mortality rates.It pose not only a severe threat to human health but also a heavy burden on socioeconomic systems.Despite remarkable advancements in oncology research,critical challenges such as tumor heterogeneity,drug resistance,and limitations in early screening and diagnostic technologies remain to be addressed.Against this backdrop,artificial intelligence(AI),with its unique advantages in big data analysis,pattern recognition,and predictive modeling,has opened new avenues for cancer research.By integrating multi-modal data,including omics,imaging,and clinical information,AI not only accelerates investigations into fundamental tumor mechanisms but also demonstrates immense potential in areas such as early screening,biomarker discovery,and personalized treatment.These advancements have fostered a deeper integration of precision medicine and oncology.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent progresses in the application of AI in cancer diagnosis and treatment research,with a focus on its practical value across diverse data types and clinical scenarios,as well as future directions for its development.

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