1.Development and Application of the PROTAC Technique in Castrate-resistant Prostate Cancer
Si-Jia WANG ; Cheng XU ; Wen-Min CHEN
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(5):653-663
Abnormal signaling in the androgen receptor(AR)signaling pathway is critical for prostate cancer development and progression,so inhibition of AR activity through androgen deprivation therapy(ADT)is an important means to control the development of prostate cancer in the early stage.However,most patients relapse and develop castrate-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC)within 6~20 months.Sur-gery and radiotherapy are still the major treatments for CRPC,but there are adverse effects such as urina-ry symptoms and sexual dysfunction.The first and second generatiosn of novel AR inhibitors can effec-tively treat CRPC.However,resistance to these chemicals is inevitable,and thus many patients may ex-perience recurrence.Resistance to AR inhibitors mainly consists of AR mutations,splice variant forma-tion and amplification,which have been shown to play an important role in CRPC.Also,aberrant activa-tion of cyclin dependent kinase(CDKs)and epigenetic alterations(e.g.histone modifications and DNA methylation)have been reported to be associated with prostate cancer progression.Proteolysis targeting chimeras(PROTACs)have unique advantages in CRPC therapy by virtue of their unique mechanism of action,ability to target non-druggable proteins,and specific binding to targets.In this review,we sum-marize the development of PROTAC technology for the treatment of CRPC by targeting different structural domains of AR,CDKs and epigenetic markers,and discuss the future prospects and challenges of PRO-TACs in the therapeutic field.
2.Effect of empagliflozin combined with levosimendan on plasma Collagen Ⅰ,CTGF and α-SMA levels in patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure
Jin-feng ZHANG ; Xin-cheng SI ; Jing ZHANG ; Yan-qing FENG ; Lu ZHANG ; Peng-fei MIAO
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;34(3):344-350
Objective:To explore the effect of empagliflozin combined with levosimendan on plasma levels of type Ⅰcollagen(Collagen Ⅰ),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF),and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)and heart failure(HF).Methods:This randomized controlled study enrolled 106 CHD+HF patients admitted to Linfen Central Hospital between June 2022 and June 2023.Patients were divid-ed into control group(n=53,treated with levosimendan)and combined treatment group(n=53,received addition-al empagliflozin).Both groups were treated for 12 weeks.The total effective rate,exercise endurance,cardiac function,levels of HF biomarkers,inflammatory factors,myocardial fibrosis indexes and incidence of adverse reac-tions were compared between two groups.Results:The total effective rate of combined treatment group was signif-icantly higher than that in the control group(94.34%vs.81.13%,P<0.001).Compared with patients in the con-trol group,those in the combined treatment group had significant higher cardiac output(CO)[(4.62±0.89)L/min vs.(3.90±0.75)L/min],left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)[(55.42±6.09)%vs.(48.97±5.74)%]and 6-minute walking distance(6MWD)[(405.69±56.47)m vs.(295.65±41.32)m](P<0.001 all),and signifi-cant lower levels of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)[(192.06±29.02)pg/ml vs.(313.58±20.98)pg/ml],soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2(sST2)[(53.33±5.79)μg/L vs.(60.04±6.88)μg/L],interleukin-1β(IL-1β)[(18.16±5.42)ng/L vs.(21.07±6.31)ng/L],high-sensitive C-reactive protein(hsCRP)[(1.69±0.41)mg/L vs.(1.98±0.56)mg/L],tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)[(0.87±0.26)ng/L vs.(1.19±0.32)ng/L],Collagen Ⅰ[(162.58±30.55)μg/L vs.(189.98±41.32)μg/L],CTGF[(114.26±14.89)μg/L vs.(125.87±19.47)μg/L]andα-SMA[(90.63±19.57)μg/L vs.(101.39±23.62)μg/L](P<0.05 or<0.01).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between two groups(15.09%vs.16.98%,P=0.791).Conclusion:Empagliflozin combined with levosimendan has a significant therapeutic effect in patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure,which calld significantly improve cardiac function,exercise endurance,reduce levels of heart failure biomarkers and inflammatory factors,and inhibit myo-cardial fibrosis.
3.Effects of key molecules in m6A methylation modification on the replication and proliferation of Japanese encephalitis virus
Zhi-rong CHENG ; Min YAO ; Xue-yun LI ; Chao-jie CHAI ; Pin-xiang DANG ; Si-yu WANG ; Fang-lin ZHANG ; Xin LYU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(2):150-157
This study was aimed at investigating the effects of demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)and methyltransferase methyltransferase like protein 3(METTL3),key molecules in N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification,on the replication and proliferation of Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV).Recombinant lentiviruses were generated by packaging the FTO and green fluorescent protein into lentiviral vectors.Neuro2a cells,a mouse neuroblastoma cell line,were infected with the lentivirus,and stable FTO-expressing cell lines were obtained through puromycin selection.Successful overexpression of FTO was confirmed through fluorescence microscopy,real-time quantitative PCR,and western blot analysis.When Neuro2a cells overexpressing FTO were infected with JEV,the overexpression of FTO decreased JEV replication in the cells,and increased the expression of interferon(IFN)and related molecules.Additionally,treatment of JEV-infected Neuro2a cells with the METTL3-specific inhibitor STM2457 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in JEV replication and viral protein expression.These findings suggested that lowering m6A methylation levels inhibits JEV replication,thus shedding light on the regulatory role of methylation modification in JEV replication.
4.Geneticevolution and pathogenicity analysis of a duck-derived H4N1 subtype avian influenza virus
Qiuyan MAO ; Huitong SI ; Yaxin ZHANG ; Shuo LIU ; Cheng PENG ; Wenming JIANG ; Hualei LIU
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(5):1002-1008
To comprehend the genetic evolutionary characteristics and biological properties of the H4N1 subtype avian influenza virus(AIV)in China,this study conducted whole genome sequen-cing,genetic evolutionary analysis,and pathogenicity test in BALB/c mice of a duck-derived H4N1 subtype AIV strain(DK/GX/E1424/20)isolated from the live poultry market in the southern re-gion in 2020.The results indicated that the cleavage site motif of the HA protein was PEKASR/GLF,which conformed to the characteristics of low pathogenic AIV.All the eight gene fragments were situated in the Eurasian lineage,and the homology of AIV-related genes of the H1N1,H3N8,H4N6,H6N1,and H10N8 subtypes isolated from wild waterfowl was the highest,representing a recombinant virus strain.Without prior adaptation,it replicated effectively in the lungs and turbi-nates of mice,with viral titers of 3.00 and 2.08 log10EID50/mL respectively,and induced weight loss in infected mice.This study suggested that this virus had significant genetic diversity and low pathogenicity in mice,posing a potential risk for mammalian infection.
5.Establishment of amachine learning-based precision recruitment method at the county level
Xiaoyan FU ; Zihan ZHANG ; Fang ZHAO ; Chunlan ZHOU ; Wenbiao LIANG ; Cheng YU ; Yingzhi YAN ; Wei SI ; Weibin TAN ; Hui XUE
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(12):1752-1758
Objective: To establish a machine learning-based precision blood donor recruitment model at the county level and assess its generalizability and applicability. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using blood donation and SMS recruitment data from the Taicang Branch of the Suzhou Blood Center between 2019 and 2024. Multiple machine learning algorithms were employed, including extreme gradient boosting, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, and multilayer perceptron. These were combined with techniques such as synthetic minority oversampling, undersampling, and cost-sensitive learning (using MFE and MSFE loss functions). Model parameters were optimized through grid search to identify the best-performing model. Results: In a prospective comparative study against conventional methods, the machine learning models increased the recruitment success rate among high-willingness donors by an average of 129.15%, and the recruitment efficiency per SMS improved by 125.02% compared with the traditional method. Under full-scale SMS sending, the recruitment rate per SMS increased by 42.61%, and SMS sending efficiency improved by 31.77%, significantly enhancing recruitment performance. Conclusion: This study represents the first application of a machine learning-based precision donor recruitment model at the county-level in China. The precise recruitment framework not only improves recruitment efficiency and reduces recruitment costs but also demonstrates strong scalability and generalizability. It provides a scientific and feasible intelligent pathway to ensure the safety and sustainability of the blood supply.
6.Investigation of Effects of Ultrasound on Red Blood Cell Membranes Using Cryo-Electron Tomography
Yang YU ; Si-Hang CHENG ; Guan-Fang ZHAO ; Hui-Li WANG ; Hai-Jiao XU ; Hong-Da WANG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(1):74-83
Ultrasound technology has been applied in the biomedical field,particularly in drug delivery and cell processing.In this study,the effects of different ultrasound power levels(40 W to 100 W)and time durations(1 min,5 min,or 5 min discontinuously)on the morphology of human red blood cells(hRBCs)membranes were systematically investigated using cryo-electron tomography(Cryo-ET).The hRBCs membranes were firstly subjected to ultrasound at power levels of 40 W and 60 W for 5 min each.Cryo-ET observations revealed minimal morphological changes in the hRBCs membranes following the 40 W treatment,with the membrane structure remaining relatively intact and only minor undulations appearing on the membrane surface.These undulations might result from the mild mechanical stress induced by ultrasound,which was insufficient to disrupt the overall membrane structure.At power of 60 W,the hRBCs membranes largely preserved their structural integrity.When the ultrasonic power was increased to 80 W,the structural damage to the hRBCs membranes became more severe.Cryo-ET images showed irregular ruptures and larger pores on the membrane surface,indicating a significant compromise in membrane integrity.At ultrasound power of 100 W,the hRBCs membranes were completely disrupted,resulting in the formation of numerous membrane fragments,and a complete loss of membrane continuity.To further explore the effects of ultrasound duration on erythrocyte membrane morphology,the ultrasonic power was fixed at 100 W and the impacts of varying treatment durations(1 min,5 min,and intermittent ultrasound)on the membrane structure were systematically investigated.After 1 min of ultrasonic treatment,Cryo-ET images showed minimal changes in erythrocyte membrane morphology.Although some small pores and undulations appeared on the membrane surface,the overall structure remained relatively intact.As the ultrasound duration extended to 5 min,the degree of membrane damage increased significantly.Cryo-ET images revealed extensive rupture and detachment of the membrane,with continuity being severely compromised.As to treatment alternating 1 min of ultrasound with 1 min of rest,for a total of 5 min of ultrasound exposure,Cryo-ET observations showed the integrity of the membrane-cytoskeleton attachment remained.Under intermittent ultrasound treatment,although some pores and ruptures were observed on the membrane surface,the overall structure remained more intact compared to continuous ultrasonic treatment.This preservation might be due to the intermittent treatment providing buffer periods for the membrane,allowing partial recovery after mechanical stress,thereby reducing the cumulative damage caused by continuous ultrasound.This work provided experimental basis for further understanding of mechanism of ultrasound induced change of cell membrane and cytoskeleton.
7.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.
8.Multi-center clinical study on the efficacy and safety of combined lienal polypeptide injection therapy in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Qi CHENG ; Yunxiao SHANG ; Han ZHANG ; Jiujun LI ; Ning CHEN ; Lishen SHAN ; Nan YANG ; Lihua NING ; Xuemei BAI ; Jianhua LIU ; Yuling HAN ; Jichun WANG ; Jing LI ; Yong FENG ; Liyun LIU ; Li CHEN ; Si LIU ; Qinzhen ZHANG ; Jia ZHENG ; Fengchao LI ; Sukun LU ; Yun ZHANG ; Xiaoyi CHAI
International Journal of Pediatrics 2025;52(3):204-210
Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of combined lienal polypeptide injection therapy in the treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)in children aged 3 to 14 years old in multiple clinical centers.Methods:A randomized,controlled,multi-center clinical study design was adopted.A total of 240 hospitalized children aged 3 to 14 years old with MPP from 7 hospitals from September 1,2023 to January 31,2024 were included.According to the severity of pneumonia,they were divided into the mild MPP group with 80 cases and the severe MPP/refractory MPP(SMPP/RMPP)group with 160 cases,and then randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group at a ratio of 1 ∶1,using the random number table method.After screening,subjects entered a treatment period of 5 to 7 days.The control group was treated with azithromycin,while the experimental group was treated with azithromycin plus lienal polypeptide injection .The recovery of lung CT,length of hospital stay,duration of fever,cough score,whether mild cases developed into severe or refractory cases,duration of hormone use,use of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG),bronchoscopy treatment,and immune function were observed between the two groups to evaluate the efficacy of lienal polypeptide injection.Adverse events after medication,vital signs,blood routine,urine routine,liver function,myocardial enzymes,renal function,and electrocardiogram were observed to evaluate the safety. Results:A total of 231 subjects have completed the trial in the 7 hospitals,including 118 cases in the experimental group and 113 cases in the control group.Main observation index:the rate of lung CT aggravation in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group(2.6% vs 15.3%, P<0.01),and the difference was statistically significant.Secondary indexes:there were no statistically significant differences in the length of hospital stay,duration of fever,cough score,duration of hormone use,whether IVIG treatment was used,the number of bronchoscopy treatment cases,and immunoglobulin between the two groups(all P>0.05).However,the rate of cases of plastic bronchitis(PB)found under bronchoscopy in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group(0 vs 18.8%, P=0.03),and the difference was statistically significant.Among the mild MPP(72 cases),there were no statistically significant differences in the length of hospital stay,duration of fever,cough score,duration of hormone use,whether IVIG treatment was used,the number of bronchoscopy treatment cases,and the improvement rate of lung CT between the two groups(all P>0.05).However,compared with the control group,the rate of cases developing into SMPP/RMPP in the experimental group was less(24.3% vs 48.6%, P=0.03),and the difference in IgG before and after treatment was small[0.53(-0.04,1.18)g/L vs 1.33(0.48,2.25)g/L, P=0.01].Among the SMPP/RMPP cases(159 cases),the rate of cases of PB found under bronchoscopy in the experimental group was less than that in the control group(0 vs 20%, P=0.04),and the rate of cases with aggravated lung CT in the experimental group was less than that in the control group(1.3% vs 19.5%, P<0.01),and the improvement rate of lung CT in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group(88.8% vs 75.3%, P=0.03),with statistically significant differences.There were no statistically significant differences in the length of hospital stay,duration of fever,cough score,duration of hormone use,whether IVIG treatment was used,the number of bronchoscopy treatment cases,and immunoglobulin between the two groups(all P>0.05).Two cases in the experimental group developed rashes,which improved after the drug was discontinued.There were no serious adverse reactions such as abnormal vital signs like dyspnea and cyanosis due to the use of lienal polypeptide injection.There were no obvious changes in blood routine,liver function,myocardial enzymes,renal function,electrocardiogram,and urine routine values before and after medication compared with the baseline. Conclusion:The combined use of lienal polypeptide injection in the treatment of MPP in children can reduce the probability of the transformation from mild cases to SMPP/RMPP,reduce the rate of aggravation of the image findings,promote the absorption of lung inflammation,reduce the rate of PB found under bronchoscopy,and has good safety.
9.Clinical value of preoperative intestinal ultrasound in predicting early postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease
Zhuohua LIANG ; Jie ZHOU ; Wenjie CHENG ; Si QIN ; Guangjian LIU
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(7):623-629
Objective:To investigate the value of preoperative intestinal ultrasound parameters in predicting early postoperative recurrence(EPR)in patients with Crohn's disease(CD).Methods:Ninety-five patients with CD who underwent I-stage intestinal resection at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from March 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into EPR group ( n=50) and non-EPR (NEPR) group ( n=45) based on recurrence within one year postoperatively. Differences in preoperative intestinal ultrasound parameters including bowel wall thickness,bowel wall stratification, color Doppler grading, mesenteric fat hypertrophy (MFH) , mesenteric lymphadenopathy, abscess/fistula, abdominal effusion, and clinical factors such as preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were compared between the two groups. The predictive values of ultrasound parameters with statistically significant differences between the two groups were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictive factors associated with EPR in patients with CD. Results:During the 1-year follow-up,EPR occurred in 52.6%(50/95)patients with CD. Among clinical factors,preoperative CRP and ESR levels showed statistically significant differences between the EPR and NEPR groups(all P<0.05). For ultrasound parameters,the incidences of mesenteric fat hypertrophy(MFH)and abscess/fistula were significantly higher in the EPR group than the NEPR group(all P<0.05). MFH demonstrated a significantly higher AUC value for predicting EPR compared to abscess/fistula(0.797 vs.0.617, P=0.002). Univariate Logistic analysis showed that CRP,ESR,MFH and abscess/fistula were candidate variables for diagnosing EPR(all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that MFH( OR=13.800, P<0.001)and the laboratory measure CRP( OR=1.015, P=0.030)were effective predictive factors for EPR. Conclusions:Preoperative intestinal ultrasound parameter MFH may serve as a valuable predictor for assessing EPR risk in patients with CD.
10.Hernia uterine inguinale: association of Müllerian anomaly with ipsilateral renal agenesis and key points of diagnosis and treatment
Fei YUE ; Xianke SI ; Xi CHENG ; Jianwen LI
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(9):1157-1160
The contents of the female inguinal hernia include abdominal organs such as ovaries and fallopian tubes, and most of these are the result of sliding hernias. However, it is worth noting for surgeons specialized in hernia and abdominal wall surgery that there is a rare clinical diagnosis of hernia uterine inguinale, which is commonly seen in the Müllerian anomaly. Combined with relevant research progress at home and abroad, as well as the clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with inguinal uterine hernia caused by Müllerian duct anomaly, the authors systematically introduce the clinical manifes-tations, key diagnosis and treatment points of female Müllerian duct anomaly in the inguinal region.

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