1.Primary Cilium-mediated Mechano-metabolic Coupling: Cross-system Homeostatic Regulation of The Nervous, Bone, Vascular, and Renal Systems
Liang-Chen DUAN ; Hao-Liang HU ; Shu-Zhi WANG ; Jia-Long YAN ; Lin-Xi CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):577-592
Primary cilia—those solitary, microtubule-based projections extending from the surface of most eukaryotic cells—are increasingly recognized not merely as cellular appendages, but as sophisticated signaling hubs. By compartmentalizing specific receptors (e.g., GPCRs) and effectors within a microdomain guarded by the transition zone, these organelles function effectively as high-gain sensors capable of integrating mechanical stimuli with metabolic cues. In this review, we examine the pivotal role of primary cilia across the nervous, bone-vascular, and renal landscapes, arguing for a unified “mechano-metabolic coupling” framework. Here, conserved ciliary modules are not static; rather, they are differentially deployed to uphold systemic homeostasis. Within the central nervous system, we position primary cilia as upstream integrators. We highlight how hypothalamic neuronal cilia concentrate metabolic receptors, such as the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), to interpret energy status. Moreover, the recent identification of serotonergic “axon-cilium synapses” points to a direct mode of neurotransmission, wherein 5-HT6 receptors drive nuclear signaling and chromatin accessibility to rapidly modulate gene expression. Through these mechanisms, central cilia modulate sympathetic tone and neuroendocrine output, effectively establishing the mechanical and metabolic “boundary conditions” under which peripheral organs operate. Dysfunction in these central hubs is linked to obesity and neurodevelopmental disorders, including Bardet-Biedl syndrome. In peripheral tissues, cilia serve as versatile mechanotransducers that convert physical forces into biochemical responses. Regarding the bone-vascular system, we discuss the translation of mechanical loads and fluid shear stress into structural remodeling. In osteoblasts, specifically, ciliary integrity is intrinsically linked to cholesterol and glucose metabolism, fine-tuning the balance between Hedgehog and Wnt/β-catenin signaling to govern osteogenesis and bone repair. A similar dynamic exists in the vasculature, where endothelial cilia sense shear stress to modulate KLF4 expression and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition—processes critical for valvulogenesis and vascular remodeling. Meanwhile, in the kidney, tubular cilia act as terminal effectors within a “shear-cilia-metabolism” axis. Here, fluid shear stress engages ciliary signaling to trigger AMPK-mediated lipophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis, thereby securing the ATP supply required for solute transport. Notably, dysregulation of this axis leads to metabolic reprogramming and aberrant proliferation, acting as a hallmark driver of cystogenesis in polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Crucially, this review attempts to dissect the often-conflated logic of cross-system integration by distinguishing 3 non-equivalent pathways: direct communication via ciliary extracellular vesicles, though this remains largely hypothetical in long-range signaling; “physiology-mediated cascades”, where ciliary dysfunction in a single organ—such as the kidney—precipitates systemic pathology through hemodynamic and metabolic shifts (e.g., altered blood pressure, fluid volume, or uremic toxins); and “parallel molecular defects”, where shared genetic mutations in ubiquitous components like the IFT machinery cause simultaneous, independent failures across multiple organ systems. Building on these distinctions, we propose a nested-loop model that links central set-points with peripheral feedback via physiological variables. Furthermore, we construct a “causality-to-translation” roadmap that pinpoints structural repair (e.g., targeting IFT assembly) and metabolic rescue (e.g., AMPK activation or autophagy induction) as promising therapeutic avenues. Ultimately, this framework provides a theoretical basis for deciphering the shared pathological mechanisms of multisystem ciliopathies, offering a strategic guide for the development of targeted interventions that go beyond symptomatic treatment.
2.Research progress on pharmacological effects and mechanism of α-asarone and β-asarone in Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma.
Hao WANG ; Lei GAO ; Jin-Lian ZHANG ; Ling-Yun ZHONG ; Shu-Han JIN ; Xiao-Yan CHEN ; Wen ZHANG ; Jia-Wen WEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2305-2316
Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma is the dried rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii in the family of Tennantiaceae, which has the efficacy of opening up the orifices and expelling phlegm, awakening the mind and wisdom, and resolving dampness and opening up the stomach. Modern studies have shown that volatile oil is the main active ingredient of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, and α-asarone and β-asarone have been proved to be the active ingredients in the volatile oil of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, with pharmacological effects such as anti-Alzheimer's disease, antiepileptic, anti-Parkinson's disease, antidepressant, anticerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, anti-thrombosis, lipid-lowering, and antitumor. By summarising and outlining the pharmacological effects of α-asarone and β-asarone and elucidating the possible mechanisms of their pharmacological effects, we can provide theoretical basis for the further research and clinical application of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma.
Allylbenzene Derivatives
;
Acorus/chemistry*
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Anisoles/chemistry*
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Rhizome/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Humans
;
Animals
3.Alleviation of hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in HL-1 cells by ginsenoside Rg_1 via regulating mitochondrial fusion based on Notch1 signaling pathway.
Hui-Yu ZHANG ; Xiao-Shan CUI ; Yuan-Yuan CHEN ; Gao-Jie XIN ; Ce CAO ; Zi-Xin LIU ; Shu-Juan XU ; Jia-Ming GAO ; Hao GUO ; Jian-Hua FU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2711-2718
This paper explored the specific mechanism of ginsenoside Rg_1 in regulating mitochondrial fusion through the neurogenic gene Notch homologous protein 1(Notch1) pathway to alleviate hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R) injury in HL-1 cells. The relative viability of HL-1 cells after six hours of hypoxia and two hours of reoxygenation was detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8). The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity in the cell supernatant was detected by the lactate substrate method. The content of adenosine triphosphate(ATP) was detected by the luciferin method. Fluorescence probes were used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species(Cyto-ROS) levels and mitochondrial membrane potential(ΔΨ_m). Mito-Tracker and Actin were co-imaged to detect the number of mitochondria in cells. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1, mitochondrial fusion protein 2(Mfn2), and mitochondrial fusion protein 1(Mfn1). The results showed that compared with that of the control group, the cell activity of the model group decreased, and the LDH released into the cell culture supernatant increased. The level of Cyto-ROS increased, and the content of ATP decreased. Compared with that of the model group, the cell activity of the ginsenoside Rg_1 group increased, and the LDH released into the cell culture supernatant decreased. The level of Cyto-ROS decreased, and the ATP content increased. Ginsenoside Rg_1 elevated ΔΨ_m and increased mitochondrial quantity in HL-1 cells with H/R injury and had good protection for mitochondria. After H/R injury, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1 and Mfn1 decreased, while the mRNA and protein expression levels of Mfn2 increased. Ginsenoside Rg_1 increased the mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 and Mfn1, and decreased the mRNA and protein levels of Mfn2. Silencing Notch1 inhibited the action of ginsenoside Rg_1, decreased the mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 and Mfn1, and increased the mRNA and protein levels of Mfn2. In summary, ginsenoside Rg_1 regulated mitochondrial fusion through the Notch1 pathway to alleviate H/R injury in HL-1 cells.
Ginsenosides/pharmacology*
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Receptor, Notch1/genetics*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Mice
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Animals
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Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects*
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Mitochondria/metabolism*
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Cell Line
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Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
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Oxygen/metabolism*
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Cell Hypoxia/drug effects*
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Cell Survival/drug effects*
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Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects*
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Humans
4.Application practice and exploration of artificial intelligence technology in entire industrial chain of traditional Chinese medicine resources.
Hao ZHU ; Sheng GUO ; Hui YAN ; Shu-Lan SU ; Jin-Ao DUAN ; Ping XIAO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2888-2904
With the growing awareness of public health, the value and importance of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) resources have become increasingly prominent. Despite the undeniable significance of TCM in medical treatment and healthcare, the protection, development, and utilization of TCM resources still face numerous challenges. Under the traditional model, the development and utilization of TCM resources heavily rely on manual labor and empirical decision-making, which not only leads to inefficiencies and high costs but also causes serious issues such as unstable drug quality and imbalances in market supply and demand. In the current era of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence(AI) and technology, AI has emerged as a new engine to address many challenges and difficulties throughout the entire TCM resource industry chain. By leveraging AI technology, intelligent management, precise production, and optimized utilization of TCM resources can be achieved, thereby improving efficiency, reducing costs, ensuring stable quality, and balancing market supply and demand. This article primarily explores the application of AI technology in the entire TCM resource industry chain from different perspectives and provides an in-depth analysis of the future development of AI in the TCM industry. It holds significant importance and value in promoting the intelligent development of the TCM sector and facilitating the healthy development of the entire TCM resource industry chain.
Artificial Intelligence
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/economics*
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Humans
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/economics*
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Drug Industry
5.Common detoxification mechanisms in processing of toxic medicinal herbs of the same genus: a case study of Euphorbia pekinensis, E. ebracteolata, and E. fischeriana.
En-Ci JIANG ; Hong-Li YU ; Shu-Rui ZHANG ; Bing-Bing LIU ; Xin-Zhi WANG ; Hao WU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3615-3675
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) processing is a specialized pharmaceutical technique with the primary objective of reducing the toxicity of medicinal substances. Euphorbia pekinensis, E. ebracteolata, and E. fischeriana, all belonging to Euphorbiaceae, are classified as drastic purgative herbs, traditionally used for eliminating retained water, reducing swelling, resolving toxicity, and dispersing masses. However, these herbs are also associated with adverse effects such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Accordingly, they are commonly processed with vinegar, milk, or Terminalia chebula decoction to reduce the toxicity. This review summarizes the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, historical evolution of processing methods, and detoxification mechanisms of the three toxic Euphorbia species. The primary toxic constituents are terpenoids. Specifically, E. ebracteolata and E. fischeriana are rich in diterpenoids, while E. pekinensis contains diterpenoids, triterpenoids, and sesquiterpenoids. Studies have shown that vinegar processing promotes structural transformations of diterpenoids, including ether bond hydrolysis, lactone ring opening, esterification, oxidation, and epoxide ring cleavage, thereby reducing the content and toxicity of these compounds. Milk processing facilitates the dissolution of toxic components into the residual liquid of excipients, leading to decreases in their concentrations in the final decoction pieces. Processing with T. chebula decoction raises the levels of tannin-derived phenolic acids, which antagonize the adverse effects of the intestine. These findings reveal a shared detoxification pattern among the three toxic herbs. Accordingly, this review proposes the concept of a shared detoxification mechanism for toxic herbs belonging to the same family or genus. That is, toxic herbs belonging to the same taxon often exhibit similar toxicological profiles and can undergo detoxification through the same processing methods, reflecting common underlying mechanisms. Investigating such shared mechanisms across multiple species of the same genus offers a promising research strategy. Ultimately, the research into processing-induced detoxification mechanisms provides both theoretical and practical support for ensuring the safety of toxic TCM.
Euphorbia/classification*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/metabolism*
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Humans
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Animals
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Inactivation, Metabolic
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
6.Effect and mechanism of Moringa oleifera leaves, seeds, and velamen in improving learning and memory impairments in mice based on transcriptomic and metabolomic.
Zhi-Hao WANG ; Shu-Yi FENG ; Tao LI ; Wan-Ping ZHOU ; Jin-Yu WANG ; Yang LIU ; Lin ZHANG ; Yuan-Yuan XIE ; Xiu-Lan HUANG ; Zhi-Yong LI ; Lu-Qi HUANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3793-3812
Moringa oleifera, widely utilized in Ayurvedic medicine, is recognized for its leaves, seeds, and velamen possessing traditional effects such as vātahara(wind alleviation), sirovirecaka(brain clearing), and hridya(mental nourishment). This study aims to identify the medicinal part of ■ in the Sārasvata ghee formulation as described in the Bower Manuscript, while investigating the ameliorative effects of different medicinal parts of M. oleifera on learning and memory deficits in mice and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms. A total of 144 male ICR mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: control, model(scopolamine hydrobromide, Sco, 2 mg·kg~(-1)), donepezil(donepezil hydrochloride, Don, 3 mg·kg~(-1)), M. oleifera leaf low-, medium-, and high-dose groups(0.5, 1, 2 g·kg~(-1)), M. oleifera seeds low-, medium-, and high-dose groups(0.25, 0.5, 1 g·kg~(-1)), and M. oleifera velamen low-, medium-, and high-dose groups(0.31, 0.62, 1.24 g·kg~(-1)). Learning and memory abilities were assessed using the passive avoidance test and Morris water maze. Nissl and HE staining were employed to examine histopathological changes in the hippocampus. Transcriptomics and targeted metabolomics were used to screen differential genes and metabolites, with MetaboAnalyst 6.0 and O2PLS methods applied to identify key disease-related targets and pathways. RESULTS:: demonstrated that M. oleifera leaf(1 g·kg~(-1)) significantly ameliorated Sco-induced learning and memory deficits, outperforming M. oleifera seeds(0.25 g·kg~(-1)) and M. oleifera velamen(1.24 g·kg~(-1)). This was evidenced by improved behavioral performance, reversal of neuronal damage, and reduced acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity. Multi-omics analysis revealed that M. oleifera leaf upregulated Tuba1c gene expression through the synaptic vesicle cycle, enhancing glutamate(Glu), dopamine(DA), and acetylcholine(ACh) release via Tuba1c-Glu associations for neuroprotection. M. oleifera seeds targeted the dopaminergic synapse pathway, promoting memory consolidation through Drd2-ACh associations. M. oleifera velamen was associated with the cocaine addiction pathway, modulating dopamine metabolism via Adora2a-DOPAC, with limited relevance to learning and memory. In conclusion, M. oleifera leaf exhibits superior efficacy and mechanistic advantages over M. oleifera seeds and velamen, suggesting that the ■ in the Sārasvata ghee formulation is likely M. oleifera leaf, providing scientific evidence for its identification in ancient texts.
Animals
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Moringa oleifera/chemistry*
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Male
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Mice
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Seeds/chemistry*
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Plant Leaves/chemistry*
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Mice, Inbred ICR
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Memory Disorders/psychology*
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Transcriptome/drug effects*
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Memory/drug effects*
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Learning/drug effects*
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Metabolomics
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Humans
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Maze Learning/drug effects*
7.The application of machine learning in the auxiliary diagnosis of specific learning disorder.
Hao ZHAO ; Shu-Lan MEI ; Jing-Yu WANG ; Xia CHI
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(11):1420-1425
Specific learning disorder (SLD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children that significantly affects academic performance and quality of life. At present, diagnosis mainly relies on standardized tests and professional evaluations, a process that is complex and time-consuming. Multiple studies have shown that machine learning can analyze diverse data, including test scores, handwriting samples, eye movement data, neuroimaging data, and genetic data, to automatically learn the relationships between input features and output labels and achieve efficient prediction. It shows great potential for early screening, auxiliary diagnosis, and research on underlying mechanisms in SLD. This article reviews the applications of machine learning in the auxiliary diagnosis of SLD and discusses its performance when handling different data types.
Humans
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Machine Learning
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Specific Learning Disorder/diagnosis*
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Child
8.Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Analysis of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified.
Guo-Xiang CHEN ; Jian-Shu HAO ; Xue BAI ; Qing-Qing ZHANG ; Hai-Xia AN ; Xiu-Juan HUANG ; Yan-Qing SUN
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(3):753-759
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS).
METHODS:
Clinical data of 10 patients with PTCL-NOS in Gansu Provincial Hospital from May 2016 to June 2023 were collected. The treatment outcomes were evaluated, and the factors affecting prognosis were analyzed.
RESULTS:
The median age of onset for the 10 patients was 60.7 (47-75) years, with 7 males and 3 females. Nine cases received chemotherapy, while one case died suddenly after diagnosis, and the median course of chemotherapy was 6.9 (1-13) courses. Assessing the efficacy, 3 patients achieved complete remission (CR) while 7 patients showed progression. Age, sex, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, Ki-67 and the presence of hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis (HLH) were not statistically correlated with CR rate ( P >0.05). Patients with IPI score 3-5, and Ann Arbor stage III-IV had statistically lower CR rates (both P <0.05). Age, B symptoms, LDH level ,hemoglobin, Ki-67 index and PLR value were not statistically correlated with overall survival (OS) time ( P >0.05). Male, platelet <150×109/L, IPI score 3-5, Ann Arbor stage III-IV, presence of HLH, NLR≥4.05, and LMR <2.81 were statistically correlated with shorter OS (all P <0.05). Among the 10 patients, 3 cases have survived and are still in CR status, while 7 cases have died, with a median survival time of 7.5 (1-85) months.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with IPI score 3-5 and Ann Arbor stage III-IV have low CR rate and poor prognosis. The OS of patients who are male, with platelet <150×109/L, IPI score 3-5, Ann Arbor stage III-IV, complication of HLH, NLR≥4.05, and LMR <2.81 is short, and prognosis is poor.
Humans
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Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral/diagnosis*
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Male
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Prognosis
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Middle Aged
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Female
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Aged
9.Relationship between sterol carrier protein 2 gene and prostate cancer: Based on single-cell RNA sequencing combined with Mendelian randomization.
Jia-Xin NING ; Shu-Hang LUO ; Hao-Ran WANG ; Hui-Min HOU ; Ming LIU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(5):403-411
Objective: To investigate the relationship between the lipid metabolism-related gene sterol carrier protein 2(SCP2) and prostate cancer (PCa) from a multi-omics perspective using single-cell transcriptomes combined with Mendelian randomization. Methods: Single-cell transcriptome data of benign and malignant prostate tissues were obtained from GSE120716, GSE157703 and GSE141445 datasets, respectively. Integration, quality control and annotation were performed on the data to categorize the epithelial cells into high and low SCP2 expression groups, followed by further differential and trajectory analyses. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for SCP2 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) were subsequently downloaded from Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and investigated from the PCa Society Cancer-Related Genomic Alteration Panel for the Investigation of Cancer-Related Alterations (PRACTICAL) to obtain PCa outcome data for Mendelian randomization analysis to validate the causal relationship between SCP2 and PCa. Results: High SCP2-expressing epithelial cells had higher energy metabolism and proliferation capacity with low immunotherapy response and metastatic tendency. Trajectory analysis showed that epithelial cells with high SCP2 expression may have a higher degree of malignancy, and SCP2 may be a key marker gene for differentiation of malignant epithelial cells in the prostate. Further Mendelian randomization results showed a significant causal relationship between SCP2 and PCa development (OR=1.045, 95% CI: 1.010 -1.083, P=0.011). Conclusion: By combining single-cell transcriptome and Mendelian randomization, the role of the lipid metabolism-related gene SCP2 in PCa development has been confirmed, and new targets and therapeutic directions for PCa treatment have been provided.
Humans
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Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics*
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Male
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Mendelian Randomization Analysis
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Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
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Quantitative Trait Loci
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Single-Cell Analysis
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Sequence Analysis, RNA
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Carrier Proteins/genetics*
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Transcriptome
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Lipid Metabolism
10.Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Improving Quality of Life for Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Xin YU ; Si-Yao GONG ; Qin LUO ; Gui-Xing XU ; Hao TIAN ; Qian LI ; Ming CHEN ; Sha YANG ; Shu-Guang YU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(4):360-371
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of acupuncture on advanced cancer patients by meta-analysis.
METHODS:
Nine databases (the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and WanFang Data) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture in advanced cancer patients published from inception to February 13, 2023 and updated to June 1, 2023. Primary outcomes were quality of life (QOL), while secondary outcomes were pain, fatigue, and adverse events (side effects). Data synthesis was performed using RevMan V.5.3 to calculate pooled effect sizes. RoB-2 was used for the risk of bias, and the quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool.
RESULTS:
Totally 17 RCTs involving 1,178 participants were included, 15 of which were pooled for meta-analysis. Most studies demonstrated some concern for the overall risk of bias. The pooled data indicated that acupuncture was associated with improved QOL [mean difference (MD)=6.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.09 to 8.26], pain (MD=-1.18, 95% CI -2.28 to -0.08), and adverse events (risk ratio=0.30, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.57) compared with control groups. Fatigue outcome was not included. Heterogeneity was substantial, and GRADE evidence was very low for both QOL and pain.
CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture could benefit patients with advanced cancer and is considered safe compared with usual care. However, the evidence regarding QOL and pain outcomes requires further validation. It is crucial to encourage the development of high-quality studies to strengthen this evidence. (Registry No. CRD42023423539).
Humans
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Acupuncture Therapy
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Neoplasms/therapy*
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Quality of Life
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Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
;
Treatment Outcome

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