1.Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Analysis of Extracranial Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor in Children
Shihan ZHANG ; Wen ZHAO ; Mei JIN ; Hongjun FAN ; Xisi WANG ; Libing FU ; Tong YU ; Yan SU
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):34-42
To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumor (eMRT) in children, and to provide a reference for the clinical treatment of this disease. A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of children with newly diagnosed eMRT who were admitted and treated in the Department of Pediatric Oncology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, from March 2009 to December 2024. The clinical characteristics were summarized, and survival analysis and prognostic risk factor analysis were conducted. A total of 43 children with eMRT were included in this study, the median age at diagnosis of all patients was 20 months (range: 2-138 months). Among them, 24 cases were malignant renal rhabdoid tumors and 19 cases were extracranial, extrarenal rhabdoid tumors. Of the 43 children, 23 cases (53.5%) were complicated with distant metastasis. Twenty-nine (67.4%) underwent primary tumor resection. Among the children, 24 (55.8%) underwent gross total resection (GTR), 5 (11.6%) partial resection, and 14 (32.6%) biopsy only. Their 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 40.8%, 35.3%, and 33.3%, respectively ( Children with eMRT have an overall poor prognosis. A diagnostic age < 12 months is an independent risk factor for higher mortality in these children. Further large-scale, long-term follow-up studies are needed to explore the prognostic factors of this disease.
2.Nanopackaged Astaxanthin Improves Demyelination in Multiple Sclerosis Model Mice by Scavenging Excessive Endogenous Formaldehyde
Wan-Jia LÜ ; Xin ZENG ; Zhi-Qian TONG ; Yang XING ; Xu YANG ; Mei-Na WU ; Ping MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):442-457
ObjectiveMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS); however, its underlying neurological pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Endogenous formaldehyde (FA), a metabolic byproduct of methylation-demethylation cycles, has recently been implicated in neurotoxicity, oxidative damage, and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate whether excessive FA contributes to myelin sheath demyelination in mice and to evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of two FA-elimination strategies: sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), a classical FA scavenger, and polyethylene glycol-modified astaxanthin nanoparticles (PEG-ATX@NPs), a brain-targeted nano-antioxidant formulation. MethodsA chronic demyelination model was established by feeding female C57BL/6J mice a diet containing 0.2% cuprizone (CPZ) for four weeks, followed by a two-week intervention period. Eighty mice were randomly assigned to four groups: NS (normal saline), CPZ+NS, CPZ+NaHSO3, and CPZ+PEG-ATX@NPs. Behavioral tests, including open-field, Y-maze, and pole-climbing assays, were conducted to assess locomotor activity, motor coordination, and working memory. FA levels in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord were measured using an Na-FA fluorescent probe and quantified via in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence imaging. Neuroinflammatory responses were evaluated by measuring TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels using ELISA, while oxidative stress was assessed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescence intensity. Demyelination was examined via Luxol fast blue staining, and microglial activation was analyzed by Iba1 immunofluorescence. Correlation analyses were performed to explore relationships among FA levels, inflammatory cytokines, ROS intensity, and behavioral parameters. ResultsCompared with the NS group, mice in the CPZ+NS group exhibited significant weight loss, impaired motor coordination and memory, and markedly reduced myelin regeneration (P<0.05). FA levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly elevated in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord (P<0.05). FA-associated fluorescence in brain and spinal tissues, as well as ROS intensity across all tissues examined, also increased substantially (P<0.05). CPZ treatment induced pronounced microglial activation and severe demyelination in the corpus callosum (P<0.01). Both NaHSO3 and PEG-ATX@NPs effectively reduced FA accumulation in the brain and spinal cord, attenuated demyelination, suppressed microglial activation, decreased inflammatory cytokine levels, and improved motor and cognitive performance. These results confirm that CPZ induced severe demyelination accompanied by oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and abnormal FA accumulation. Following intervention with either NaHSO3 or PEG-ATX@NPs, endogenous FA levels in the CNS were substantially reduced. Both treatments alleviated demyelination and significantly decreased the number of activated microglia. Levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord were downregulated. Behavioral performance improved significantly, as evidenced by enhanced locomotor activity, better coordination, and improved memory function. These findings indicate that both FA-scavenging agents mitigate CPZ-induced biochemical and behavioral abnormalities. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that excessive endogenous FA is closely associated with cognitive impairment, inflammatory dysregulation, and demyelination in a CPZ-induced chronic demyelination mouse model. Clearing abnormally elevated FA effectively reduces neuroinflammation, suppresses microglial overactivation, decreases oxidative stress, and alleviates demyelination, ultimately improving motor and cognitive outcomes in mice. These results suggest that targeting endogenous FA represents a promising therapeutic strategy for MS and other demyelinating disorders. Further investigations are warranted to explore the long-term safety, dosage optimization, and molecular pathways involved in FA-mediated neurotoxicity.
3.Nanopackaged Astaxanthin Improves Demyelination in Multiple Sclerosis Model Mice by Scavenging Excessive Endogenous Formaldehyde
Wan-Jia LÜ ; Xin ZENG ; Zhi-Qian TONG ; Yang XING ; Xu YANG ; Mei-Na WU ; Ping MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):442-457
ObjectiveMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS); however, its underlying neurological pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Endogenous formaldehyde (FA), a metabolic byproduct of methylation-demethylation cycles, has recently been implicated in neurotoxicity, oxidative damage, and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate whether excessive FA contributes to myelin sheath demyelination in mice and to evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of two FA-elimination strategies: sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), a classical FA scavenger, and polyethylene glycol-modified astaxanthin nanoparticles (PEG-ATX@NPs), a brain-targeted nano-antioxidant formulation. MethodsA chronic demyelination model was established by feeding female C57BL/6J mice a diet containing 0.2% cuprizone (CPZ) for four weeks, followed by a two-week intervention period. Eighty mice were randomly assigned to four groups: NS (normal saline), CPZ+NS, CPZ+NaHSO3, and CPZ+PEG-ATX@NPs. Behavioral tests, including open-field, Y-maze, and pole-climbing assays, were conducted to assess locomotor activity, motor coordination, and working memory. FA levels in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord were measured using an Na-FA fluorescent probe and quantified via in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence imaging. Neuroinflammatory responses were evaluated by measuring TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels using ELISA, while oxidative stress was assessed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescence intensity. Demyelination was examined via Luxol fast blue staining, and microglial activation was analyzed by Iba1 immunofluorescence. Correlation analyses were performed to explore relationships among FA levels, inflammatory cytokines, ROS intensity, and behavioral parameters. ResultsCompared with the NS group, mice in the CPZ+NS group exhibited significant weight loss, impaired motor coordination and memory, and markedly reduced myelin regeneration (P<0.05). FA levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly elevated in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord (P<0.05). FA-associated fluorescence in brain and spinal tissues, as well as ROS intensity across all tissues examined, also increased substantially (P<0.05). CPZ treatment induced pronounced microglial activation and severe demyelination in the corpus callosum (P<0.01). Both NaHSO3 and PEG-ATX@NPs effectively reduced FA accumulation in the brain and spinal cord, attenuated demyelination, suppressed microglial activation, decreased inflammatory cytokine levels, and improved motor and cognitive performance. These results confirm that CPZ induced severe demyelination accompanied by oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and abnormal FA accumulation. Following intervention with either NaHSO3 or PEG-ATX@NPs, endogenous FA levels in the CNS were substantially reduced. Both treatments alleviated demyelination and significantly decreased the number of activated microglia. Levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord were downregulated. Behavioral performance improved significantly, as evidenced by enhanced locomotor activity, better coordination, and improved memory function. These findings indicate that both FA-scavenging agents mitigate CPZ-induced biochemical and behavioral abnormalities. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that excessive endogenous FA is closely associated with cognitive impairment, inflammatory dysregulation, and demyelination in a CPZ-induced chronic demyelination mouse model. Clearing abnormally elevated FA effectively reduces neuroinflammation, suppresses microglial overactivation, decreases oxidative stress, and alleviates demyelination, ultimately improving motor and cognitive outcomes in mice. These results suggest that targeting endogenous FA represents a promising therapeutic strategy for MS and other demyelinating disorders. Further investigations are warranted to explore the long-term safety, dosage optimization, and molecular pathways involved in FA-mediated neurotoxicity.
4.Preparation and In Vitro Degradation Characteristics Analysis of Poly(lactic-co-glycolide)Microspheres Based on Microfluidic Process
Bao-Cheng WANG ; Cong-Yu MA ; Ke WANG ; Si-Tong ZHENG ; Xiao-Yan ZHANG ; Yue-Mei ZHAO ; Xun ZHAO ; Jian-Bin PAN ; Zheng-Song GAO ; Hai-Wei SHI ; Yao-Zuo YUAN ; Hong-Yuan CHEN
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(4):621-630
Poly(lactic-co-glycolide)(PLGA)is a key excipient in long-acting sustained-release preparations,and its degradation properties directly affect the drug release behavior.In this study,PLGA microspheres were prepared by microfluidic techniques,and the morphology changes of the microspheres were observed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).In alkaline environment,due to the accelerated hydrolysis of ester bonds,the surface of the microspheres was rapidly dissolved and eroded,and the degradation rate was significantly higher than that in acidic environment.High temperature accelerated the degradation of PLGA microspheres.Under neutral and alkaline conditions,the microspheres showed aggregation and adhesion.Under acidic conditions,the microspheres gradually decomposed into irregular fragments.The high ionic strength further promoted the surface corrosion of the microspheres,especially under extreme pH conditions.Simultaneously,PLGA microspheres encapsulating coumarin were prepared to simulate the microsphere formulation.The release rate of coumarin after degradation of the microspheres under different conditions was observed by measuring the absorbance with ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry.The results were consistent with those of the blank microspheres.This study revealed that the degradation of PLGA microspheres was significantly pH-dependent,temperature sensitive and ion strength responsive.These findings not only helped to understand and optimize the long-term stability and controlled release performance of drug-carrying microspheres,but also provided a theoretical basis for further improvement of PLGA-based drug carrier design.
5.Sensitive Detection of Nitrofurazone by Electrochemical Sensor Based on Platinum Nanoparticles Functionalized Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks-derived Porous Carbon and Carbon Nanotubes
Tong CHANG ; Feng-Lin ZHANG ; Mei-Jie GUO ; Yi-Yan BAI ; Jian-Fang QIN ; Hai-Ying YANG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(11):1908-1920,中插49-中插52
Nitrofurazone(NFZ)is an antibiotic that is used as a veterinary drug in aquaculture.NFZ abuse can lead to a series of environmental and health issues,making it crucial to establish a rapid and highly sensitive method for NFZ detection.In this study,platinum nanoparticle(PtNPs)-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework(ZIF-8)was used as a precursor,and PtNPs functionalized nitrogen doped porous carbon(NC)was obtained through pyrolysis.Pt@NC was combined with multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)and cast onto a glassy carbon electrode(GCE)surface to construct an electroch-emical sensor.Electrochemical tests revealed that Pt@NC/WCNT/GCE exhibited an electrochemical active area of 0.066 cm2 and a heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant(k0)of 2.03×10-3 cm/s,which were higher than other materials.Compared with the electrodes modified by other materials,the NFZ generated the highest peak current of irreversible reduction peak on the Pt@NC/WCNT/GCE electrode.In comparison with Pt@ZIF-8/WCNT/GCE,after pyrolysis and carbonization treatment,the reduction current of NFZ increased by 2.19 times,and the reduction peak potential shifted positively by 19 mV simultaneously.When compared with NC/WCNT/GCE,the PtNPs in the composite material enhanced the NFZ current by 4.25 times.Additionally,the experimental conditions for detecting NFZ using the sensor were optimized,including the carbonization temperature of Pt@ZIF-8,ratio of Pt@NC to CNT,loading amount of the modified material,and electrolyte pH.Under the optimized conditions,the sensor demonstrated a linear detection range for NFZ of 0.20-240 μmol/L,a sensitivity of 9.995 μA/((μmol/L)?cm2)and a limit of detection(LOD)of 0.06 μmol/L.The sensor exhibited excellent anti-interference capability,good reproducibility,and stability,with spiked recoveries for NFZ in water samples ranging from 94.6%to 105.6%.This study provided a novel electrochemical sensing approach for NFZ detection.
6.Levels and clinical significance of miR-17-5p and miR-141-3p in the serum of children with bacterial meningitis
Ziming TAN ; Mei ZHANG ; Tong LI ; Jun WANG ; Qiong LUO
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(9):1051-1055
Objective To investigate the levels and clinical significance of microRNA(miR)-17-5p and miR-141-3p in the serum of children with bacterial meningitis(BM).Methods A total of 111 children with BM ad-mitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from May 2019 to May 2022 were in-cluded as the study group,and another 111 healthy children who underwent physical examinations were in-cluded as the control group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to measure the ex-pression levels of serum miR-17-5p and miR-141-3p.Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between serum miR-17-5p,miR-141-3p levels and inflammatory factors in children with BM.Multivariate Lo-gistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of BM occurrence.Receiver operating character-istic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the diagnostic value of miR-17-5p and miR-141-3p levels for BM.Re-sults The serum levels of miR-17-5p and miR-141-3p in the study group were obviously lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),while the serum levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),inter-feron-γ(IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,and IL-6 in the study group were high-er than those in the control group(P<0.05).According to Pearson correlation analysis,miR-17-5p and miR-141-3p were negatively correlated with CRP,PCT,IFN-γ,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6(P<0.05).According to multivariate Logistic analysis,CRP,PCT,IFN-γ,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 were risk factors affecting the occur-rence of BM(P<0.05),while miR-17-5p and miR-141-3p were protective factors affecting the occurrence of BM(P<0.05).According to the ROC curve,the area under the curve(AUC)of serum level of miR-17-5p for diagnosing BM was 0.756,and the AUC of serum level of miR-141-3p for diagnosing BM was 0.720.The AUC of the combination of the two for diagnosing BM was 0.819,which was larger than that of single detec-tion(Zcombination vs.miR-17-5p=2.278,Zcombination vs.miR-141-3p=2.425,P<0.05).Conclusion The expression levels of miR-17-5p and miR-141-3p in the serum of children with BM are reduced.The two are related to the levels of inflammatory factors,and their combined detection has a high diagnostic value for BM.
7.Bibliographical cataloging for ancient TCM books
Hongtao LI ; Weina ZHANG ; Lin TONG ; Jingpeng DENG ; Qian ZHAO ; Honglei WANG ; Naiying LIU ; Mei SHI ; Qiang LIU ; Ying LIN ; Xiaohong ZHANG ; Lili FENG ; Mingrui ZHANG ; Yanqiu LUO ; Guangkun CHEN ; Yan DONG ; Bin LI ; Sihong LIU ; Bing LI ; Chen LI ; Meng LI ; Rui WANG ; He LU
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(6):729-740
With reference to the Information and Documentation-Resource Description (GB/T 3792-2021) and Bibliographical Description for Ancient Chinese Books (GB/T 3792.7-2008) and other cataloging standards and rules, drawing on the practical experience of cataloging ancient TCM books, Bibliographical Cataloging for Ancient TCM Books was formulated. This standard specifies the entry items and their order of ancient TCM books, cataloging identifier, cataloging text, cataloging information source, and cataloging item details. The standard can provide standardized and unified guiding principles and methods for the work of ancient TCM books, and promote the sharing and utilization of ancient TCM books.
8.GOLM1 promotes cholesterol gallstone formation via ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis livers
Yi-Tong LI ; Wei-Qing SHAO ; Zhen-Mei CHEN ; Xiao-Chen MA ; Chen-He YI ; Bao-Rui TAO ; Bo ZHANG ; Yue MA ; Guo ZHANG ; Rui ZHANG ; Yan GENG ; Jing LIN ; Jin-Hong CHEN
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):409-425
Background/Aims:
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation.
Methods:
The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation.
Results:
MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs.
Conclusions
In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.

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