1.Acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase 2-mediated acetyl-coenzyme A accumulation promotes mitophagy and tumor growth via increased H3K27ac in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma
Shan LI ; Jie HU ; Yihan YAN ; Xinrui LIU ; Xiao DONG ; Huijun LIANG ; Xin TANG ; Junji TAO ; Rong ZHANG ; Yuan HU ; Ailong HUANG ; Kai WANG ; Ni TANG
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):661-682
Background/Aims:
Acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) is one of the most essential metabolites in cell metabolism but its function and concentration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive and controversial.
Methods:
A comprehensive analysis of acetyl-CoA levels and acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) expression across a range of samples, including patient specimens from both hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive and HBV negative HCC individuals, HBV-transgenic mouse HCC models, and multiple cell lines. Furthermore, to evaluate the functional significance of ACSS2 in HBV-related HCC, we implemented both genetic and pharmacological inhibition strategies targeting ACSS2. Molecular mechanism and mitophagy assessment were revealed by cleavage under target and tagmentation sequencing, RNA sequencing, bioinformatic analyses, transmission electron microscopy and JC-1 staining.
Results:
Our study revealed a distinct metabolic signature of HBV-related HCC, marked by elevated acetyl-CoA, which was driven by ACSS2. ACSS2 was upregulated by the carbohydrate response element-binding protein in HBV-related HCC. Furthermore, ACSS2 improved tumor cell proliferation, an effect that was dependent on its enzymatic activity. Mechanistically, ACSS2-induced acetyl-CoA accumulation activated voltage-dependent anion channels 1 transcription through increased H3K27ac occupancy, which subsequently promoted mitophagy and HBV-related HCC tumorigenesis. Notably, targeting ACSS2 by depletion or inhibition with a catalytic inhibitor significantly suppressed tumor growth.
Conclusions
These findings not only illustrate the interplay between metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic modification, and tumorigenesis in the context of HBV infection, but also highlight ACSS2 as a novel metabolic vulnerability in HBV-related HCC. Therefore, targeting ACSS2 could be a novel strategy against HBV-related HCC.
2.Effect of Graft Composition on Viral Infection and Survival after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Fan LIU ; Shan WANG ; Qiu-Juan ZHU ; Tao WANG ; Wei-Wei TIAN ; Rong GONG ; Zhi-Lin GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1803-1808
Objective:To investigate the effect of infusing different doses of graft cells on viral infections and survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).Methods:Clinical data of 99 patients with hematological diseases who underwent allo-HSCT in Shanxi Bethune Hospital were retrospectively analysed.The proportion of mononuclear cells(MNC)was counted microscopically,the proportions and absolute counts of CD34+cells and lymphocyte subsets(including CD3+T,CD4+T,CD8+T,CD4+CD8+T,B,and NK cells)were detected by flow cytometry,and the infusion dose of each cell types was calculated.The patients were divided into high-dose group and low-dose group based on the median value of the infused cell dose.The effects of different doses of various graft cells on post-transplant viral infections(CMV,EBV,BKV)and survival were analyzed.Results:The low-dose MNC(<7.97 × 108/kg)and high-dose CD4+CD8+T cell(≥3.02 × 106/kg)groups had a higher Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)infection rate(P=0.031;P=0.020).The high-dose CD34+cell group and low-dose CD3+T,CD8+T and natural killer(NK)cell groups showed a trend toward higher EBV infection rates,but the differences were not statitsically significant(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the rates of EBV infection between the high-dose and low-dose groups of CD4+T and B cells(P>0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that the doses of MNC and CD4+CD8+T cells in the graft were independent factors influencing EBV infection(P=0.023;P=0.016).The doses of cells in the graft showed no significant impact on CMV and BKV infection,or patient survival(P>0.05).Conclusion:Infusing a lower dose of MNC and a higher dose of CD4+CD8+T cells increases the risk of EBV infection,but does not affect the survival outcome.
3.Construction of artificial intelligence neuroimaging education platform for medical imaging students in clinical practice stage and pre-service resident trainees
Ruili LI ; Zhuangzhi SU ; Miao ZHANG ; Dongdong RONG ; Yi SHAN ; Jie LU
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(2):150-154
Artificial intelligence technology brings new opportunities for the reform and innovation of medical imaging teaching and training models. We took the lead in building an artificial intelligence neuroimaging education platform. The platform included four modules: imaging case library, intelligent interactive learning, self-test and exercise, and online exam. The platform enables a more flexible and convenient education mode, a precise and individualized training method, which can motivate the enthusiasm and initiative of medical imaging students and resident trainees in learning, promote the rapid integration of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice, and improve the efficiency and quality of residency training.
4.Correlation between lifestyle and cognitive decline in rural people aged 40 years and older in Xi'an:a 4-year prospective cohort study
Rong ZHOU ; Yu ZHANG ; Hongmei CAO ; Suhang SHANG ; Liangjun DANG ; Shan WEI ; Jingyi WANG ; Qiumin QU ; Yan QU
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(5):775-782
Objective To investigate the effect of lifestyle on cognitive decline in rural people aged 40 years and older in Xi'an.Methods This was a prospective cohort study.People aged 40 years and older in two villages in Huyi District were selected as the study population.They completed the baseline survey from October 2014 to March 2015 as well as two follow-up visits in 2016 and 2018,respectively.A comprehensive score of lifestyle was calculated based on factors including smoking,drinking,exercise,and diet collected at the baseline.The Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)was used to evaluate global cognitive function at both baseline and follow-up;a≥4-point decrease in MMSE score from the baseline was defined as marked cognitive decline.Multivariable Logistic regression,propensity score correction,and propensity score matching were used to investigate the relationship between lifestyle and cognitive decline.Results A total of 1 348 participants were ultimately enrolled and 56(4.2%)of them met the criteria for marked cognitive decline(△MMSE≥4-points).Among them,386(28.6%)people had smoking history,184(13.6%)were drinkers,214(15.9%)lacked physical activity,and 400(29.7%)ate a diet high in oil and salt.Generally,304(22.6%)met the definition of the unhealthy lifestyle(comprehensive score<6),which means more than one of the four subscales was unhealthy or more than two were relatively unhealthy.Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that unhealthy lifestyle was positively associated with marked cognitive decline(OR=2.838,95%CI:1.302-5.525,P=0.005).Propensity-score adjusted model yielded very similar results(OR=2.786,95%CI:1.371-5.661,P=0.005).Propensity score matching was performed to further balance the differences in covariates between the two groups.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis conducted in the matched population revealed that the risk of marked cognitive decline was still higher in those with unhealthy lifestyle(OR=3.994,95%CI:1.582-12.176,P=0.006).Conclusion Unhealthy lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline in cognitively normal people aged 40 years and older.
5.Effects of Aqueous Extract of Corn Silk Combined with Training on Exercise Function and Glycolipid Metabolism in Mice with Metabolic Syndrome
Yi-lin LIU ; Zi-ling SONG ; Ting ZHOU ; Ji-ping CHEN ; Zi-han LIN ; Yu-xuan ZHANG ; Ji-qiang ZENG ; Shan-rong ZHANG ; Zhi-peng WU ; Chen LU ; Ying ZHU
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(15):2411-2420
Objective:To investigate the effects of combination therapy with aqueous extract of corn silk(CS)and training on exercise capacity and glycolipid metabolism in mice with metabolic syndrome(MS).Methods:In this study,db/db mice were used as the animal model of MS.The mice were administered aqueous extract of CS via gavage and subjected to different intensities of training for 12 weeks(3 months).The specific experimental design was as follows:24 db/db mice were randomly divided into four groups on average:negative control group(NC),aqueous extract of CS group(CS),aqueous extract of CS+moderate-intensity training group(CS+MT),and CS aqueous extract of CS+high-intensity training group(CS+HT).The maximum running speed,forelimb grip strength,body weight and fasting blood glucose of mice were measured before and after treatment.After the intervention,oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)and insulin tolerance test(ITT)were conducted to assess glucose metabolism,while serum triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)levels were measured to evaluate lipid metabolism.Results:After 3 months of intervention,there were significant differences in the maximum running speed and forelimb grip strength among the four groups(P<0.05).The maximum running speed and forelimb grip strength of CS group,CS+MT group and CS+HT group were higher than those of NC group(P<0.05).The CS+MT group exhibited higher forelimb grip strength,and the CS+HT group showed higher maximum running speed and forelimb grip strength compared to the CS group(P<0.05),while no significant difference was found between the CS+MT and CS+HT groups(P>0.05).Significant differences in body weight were observed among the four groups after 3 months of intervention(P<0.05).Specifically,the CS+MT and CS+HT groups exhibited significantly lower body weight compared to both the NC and CS groups(P<0.05),with the CS+MT group having the lowest body weight(P<0.05).Fasting blood glucose levels also differed significantly among the groups after 2 and 3 months of intervention(P<0.05).The CS,CS+MT,and CS+HT groups had lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to the NC group(P<0.05),with the CS+MT and CS+HT groups showing the lowest levels(P<0.05).No significant difference was found between the CS+MT and CS+HT groups(P>0.05).After 3 months of intervention,significant differences in the area under the curve(AUC)of OGTT and ITT were observed among the four groups(P<0.05).The AUC of OGTT and ITT were significantly lower in the CS,CS+MT,and CS+HT groups compared to the NC group(P<0.05).The CS+MT and CS+HT groups exhibited the lowest AUC values for both OGTT and ITT(P<0.05),with the CS+MT group showing the lowest AUC for OGTT(P<0.05).Significant differences in serum lipid levels were observed among the four groups after 3 months of intervention(P<0.05).TG,TC,and LDL-C levels were significantly lower,while HDL-C levels were higher in the CS,CS+MT,and CS+HT groups compared to the NC group(P<0.05).The CS+MT group had the lowest TG levels and the highest HDL-C levels compared to the CS+HT group(P<0.05),with no significant differences in TC and LDL-C levels between these two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Aqueous extract of CS combined with different intensity training can significantly improve the exercise capacity and glycolipid metabolism of MS mice and reduce body weight,especially CS combined with MT treatment is more effective in improving lipid metabolism.In addition,when combined with HT,aqueous extract of CS can also play an auxiliary role in reducing the side effects of high-intensity exercise and improving the therapeutic effect.
6.Exploration of the Prevention and Treatment of Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritoneal Fibrosis with Invigorating Qi,Detoxif-ying,and Resolving Stasis Method Based on Collateral Disease Theory
Yongqing YOU ; Manshu YU ; Yun SHAN ; Rong XU ; Jin YAN ; Jinyi SUN ; Meixiao SHENG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(8):1021-1026
Peritoneal fibrosis(PF)is an important reason that restricts long-term treatment of peritoneal dialysis(PD).Based on the theory of collateral disease,PF is considered to be an abdominal collateral disease,with dampness as the main pathogenic factor,and collateral qi deficiency and stagnation,toxicity and blood stasis as the core pathogenesis.The peritoneum is chronically exposed to an inflammatory microenvironment induced by non-biocompatible peritoneal dialysis fluid,reflecting the pathogenic mechanism of dampness-induced pathology.The resultant pathological processes,including damage of peritoneal mesothelial cells,accumulation of inflammatory mediators and metabolic products,and angiogenesis—elucidate the scientific connotation of dampness impairing collaterals and inducing deficiency,toxicity,and stasis.On this basis,the treatment principles of invigorating qi,detoxifying,resolving stasis and unblocking collaterals were proposed,and the Qixue Huazheng prescription was formed with Astragalus as the main ingredient and Centella asiatica and Ligusticum wallichii as the compatibility,which provides a reference for the prevention and treatment of PD-relat-ed PF by traditional Chinese medicine.
7.Exploration of the Prevention and Treatment of Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritoneal Fibrosis with Invigorating Qi,Detoxif-ying,and Resolving Stasis Method Based on Collateral Disease Theory
Yongqing YOU ; Manshu YU ; Yun SHAN ; Rong XU ; Jin YAN ; Jinyi SUN ; Meixiao SHENG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(8):1021-1026
Peritoneal fibrosis(PF)is an important reason that restricts long-term treatment of peritoneal dialysis(PD).Based on the theory of collateral disease,PF is considered to be an abdominal collateral disease,with dampness as the main pathogenic factor,and collateral qi deficiency and stagnation,toxicity and blood stasis as the core pathogenesis.The peritoneum is chronically exposed to an inflammatory microenvironment induced by non-biocompatible peritoneal dialysis fluid,reflecting the pathogenic mechanism of dampness-induced pathology.The resultant pathological processes,including damage of peritoneal mesothelial cells,accumulation of inflammatory mediators and metabolic products,and angiogenesis—elucidate the scientific connotation of dampness impairing collaterals and inducing deficiency,toxicity,and stasis.On this basis,the treatment principles of invigorating qi,detoxifying,resolving stasis and unblocking collaterals were proposed,and the Qixue Huazheng prescription was formed with Astragalus as the main ingredient and Centella asiatica and Ligusticum wallichii as the compatibility,which provides a reference for the prevention and treatment of PD-relat-ed PF by traditional Chinese medicine.
8.Correlation Analysis between Immune Cells in Graft and Early Immune Reconstitution after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Shan WANG ; Fan LIU ; Qiu-Juan ZHU ; Tao WANG ; Rong GONG ; Wei-Wei TIAN ; Zhi-Lin GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(4):1173-1180
Objective:To investigate the correlation between the types and quantities of immune cells in the graft and early immune reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT)and their influence on clinical prognosis.Methods:The clinical data of 83 patients with hematological diseases who received allo-HSCT in Shanxi Bethune Hospital from September 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The number of mononuclear cells(MNC),CD34+cells and lymphocyte subsets(including CD3+T,CD3+CD4+T(Th),CD3+CD8+T(Ts),NK cells and B cells)infused into the recipients was counted,and the peripheral blood lymphocytes were detected before conditioning and on days 14,30,60 and 100 post-HSCT.Results:Multivariate analysis showed that the number of MNC in the graft affected the recovery of CD4+T lymphocytes after HSCT,and the number of CD4+T lymphocytes in the graft affected the recovery of NK cells and B cells after HSCT.The patient age,donor sex,stem cell source,degree of HLA matching,use of ATG before HSCT,the occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD)after HSCT,and viral infection all affect the early cellular immune reconstitution post-HSCT.The number of infused cells had no significant impact on the median engraftment time for neutrophils and platelets after HSCT.Patients with lower numbers of CD3+T,CD4+T and B cells in the graft were more prone to viral infection after HSCT.However,the cells in the graft had no significant effect on disease recurrence or mortality.Conclusion:The recovery rate of lymphocyte count after allo-HSCT varies.The numbers of MNC and CD4+T cells in the graft may be related to the cellular immune reconstitution after HSCT,while the numbers of CD34+,CD3+T,CD8+T,NK and B cells have no significant effect on the cellular immune reconstruction.The numbers of CD3+T,CD4+T and B cells in the graft were negatively correlated with viral infection after HSCT,but the cellular components of the graft have no obvious influence on hematopoietic reconstitution,disease recurrence,death,recurrence-free survival(RFS)and overall survival(OS)after HSCT.
9.Common fault treatment of fluorine multifunctional module during automatic synthesis of 18F-PSMA
Gao-shi CAI ; Hui WANG ; Jiang-shan HUANG ; Chao YANG ; Rong-rong HU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(2):112-116
The basic structure and working principle of the fluorine multifunctional module were described in brief.Six cases of common faults of the fluorine multifunctional module during automatic synthesis of 18F-PSMA were introduced in terms of the cause and maintenance.References were provided for treating similar faults.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(2):112-116]
10.Effect of Graft Composition on Viral Infection and Survival after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Fan LIU ; Shan WANG ; Qiu-Juan ZHU ; Tao WANG ; Wei-Wei TIAN ; Rong GONG ; Zhi-Lin GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1803-1808
Objective:To investigate the effect of infusing different doses of graft cells on viral infections and survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).Methods:Clinical data of 99 patients with hematological diseases who underwent allo-HSCT in Shanxi Bethune Hospital were retrospectively analysed.The proportion of mononuclear cells(MNC)was counted microscopically,the proportions and absolute counts of CD34+cells and lymphocyte subsets(including CD3+T,CD4+T,CD8+T,CD4+CD8+T,B,and NK cells)were detected by flow cytometry,and the infusion dose of each cell types was calculated.The patients were divided into high-dose group and low-dose group based on the median value of the infused cell dose.The effects of different doses of various graft cells on post-transplant viral infections(CMV,EBV,BKV)and survival were analyzed.Results:The low-dose MNC(<7.97 × 108/kg)and high-dose CD4+CD8+T cell(≥3.02 × 106/kg)groups had a higher Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)infection rate(P=0.031;P=0.020).The high-dose CD34+cell group and low-dose CD3+T,CD8+T and natural killer(NK)cell groups showed a trend toward higher EBV infection rates,but the differences were not statitsically significant(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the rates of EBV infection between the high-dose and low-dose groups of CD4+T and B cells(P>0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that the doses of MNC and CD4+CD8+T cells in the graft were independent factors influencing EBV infection(P=0.023;P=0.016).The doses of cells in the graft showed no significant impact on CMV and BKV infection,or patient survival(P>0.05).Conclusion:Infusing a lower dose of MNC and a higher dose of CD4+CD8+T cells increases the risk of EBV infection,but does not affect the survival outcome.

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