1.Research progress on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine regulating metabolic reprogramming to improve breast cancer
Zhenyu ZHANG ; Weixia CHEN ; Bo FENG ; Jilei LI ; Sizhe WANG ; Meng ZHU ; Chunzheng MA
China Pharmacy 2026;37(2):250-256
Metabolic reprogramming, as one of the core hallmarks of malignant tumors, plays a key role in the occurrence, development and treatment of breast cancer (BC). Abnormal changes in glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, as well as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathways significantly influence the pathogenesis and progression of BC. Studies have shown that various active components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (such as berberine, matrine, quercetin, curcumin, etc.) and their compound formulations (e.g. Xihuang pill, Danzhi xiaoyao powder, Yanghe decoction, etc.) can inhibit the proliferation and migration of BC cells and induce apoptosis by regulating key metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, lipid synthesis, and amino acid metabolism. TCM demonstrates multi-target and holistic regulatory advantages in intervening in BC metabolic reprogramming, showing significant potential in modulating key molecules like hypoxia inducible factor-1α, hexokinase-2, pyruvate kinase M2, lactate dehydrogenase A, glucose transporter-1, fatty acid synthase, and signaling pathways such as AKT/mTOR. However, current researches still focus predominantly on glucose metabolism, with insufficient mechanistic studies on lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, the TCA cycle, and OXPHOS. The precise targets, molecular mechanisms, and clinical translation value of these interventions require further validation and clarification through more high-quality experimental studies and clinical trials.
2.Epigenetic drug combination induced the expression of FMR1NB in oral carcinoma
Yuxuan ZHANG ; Huan XIE ; Yanjing WANG ; Feng LI ; Guojian WANG ; Weixia NONG ; Chang LIU ; Bin LUO ; Xiaoxun XIE ; Ning SHEN ; Qingmei ZHANG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(5):761-766
Objective To investigate the effects of DNA demethylation drugs combined with histone deacetylase in-hibitors on fragile X mental retardation 1 neighbor protein (FMR1NB) expression and its promoter methylation in human oral cancer cells and try to find a strategy of weakening the heterogeneity of FMR1NB expression.Methods Human oral cancer cell lines Cal27 and SCC-9 were treated with decitabine (DAC) , an inhibitor of DNA meth-yltransferase, combined with trichostatin A (TSA) and valproic acid (VPA), inhibitors of histone deacetylase.Then reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) , quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of FMR1 NB and pyrosequencing was used to detect the methylation of FMR1NB promoter.Results Compared with the blank control group, DAC and its combination with TSA and VPA significantly induced the expression of FMR1NB mRNA and protein in Cal27 and SCC-9 cells.Compared with DAC alone group, FMR1NB mRNA expression of each DAC-combined drug groups significantly increased, but FMR1NB protein did not significantly change in Cal27 cells; for SCC-9 cells, except for DAC+TSA group, the mRNA and protein levels of FMR1NB significantly increased in all other groups.In addition, there was no signifi-cant difference in the expression of FMR1 NB mRNA and protein between the three-combined drugs group and two-combined drugs groups.Further methylation assay showed that the methylation level of the overall FMR1NB promot-er and its each CpG site measured were reduced to varying degrees in all treatment groups except for three-combina-tion drug group of SCC-9.Conclusion DAC and its combination with TSA and VPA can enhance the expression of FMR1NB by mediating the demethylation of FMR1NB promoter, wherein the enhanced expression effect of the com-bination of the two drugs is stronger, suggesting that they have the potential to weaken the heterogeneity of FMR1NB expression and improve the immunotherapy effect of oral cancer.
3.Value of Cuproptosis genes and characteristic genes in predicting prognosis,immunity and tumor microenvironment in acute myeloid leukemia
Yinzhen LI ; Weixia NONG ; Mei ZHANG ; Dongsheng RUI ; Wei LEI ; Wenli BAI ; Rui LI ; Yazhou ZHANG ; Kui WANG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(6):1013-1022
Objective To screen Cuproptosis genes and characteristic genes for differential prognosis in acute mye-loid leukemia(AML)and explore their prognosis in AML as well as their biological roles and correlations in the immune and tumor microenvironment.Methods AML clinical,transcriptome,genomic,and copy number data were downloaded from three major databases,TCGA,GEO,and UCSC,and Cuproptosis genes were collected from published studies.From the perspective of multiomics,the effects of Cuproptosis gene and characteristic gene on survival,immunity,tumor microenvironment,stem cell correlation and drug sensitivity were studied by various bioinformatics methods,meta-analysis and secondary typing.Results One Cuproptosis gene was identified as a differential prognostic gene in AML and five characteristic genes were identified as influencing the prognosis of AML patients by influencing Cuproptosis,and a prognostic model was established.The differential genes were mainly concentrated in mitochondrial activity,REDOX enzyme and energy metabolism.In terms of immunity,macrophage M0,neutrophils,activated memory CD4 T cells and Tregs were positively correlated with risk score,while macro-phage M2,resting mast cells,immature CD4 T cells,helper follicular T cells and memory B cells were negatively correlated with risk score.In terms of tumor microenvironment,the immune cell score of the low-risk group was lower than that of the high-risk group,and in the total score,the tumor microenvironment score of the low-risk group was also lower than that of the high-risk group,indicating that the tumor purity of the high-risk group was lower than that of the low-risk group.However,there was no significant association between stem cells in the high-risk and low-risk groups,and a total of 14 drugs were found to be sensitive to treat AML.Conclusion Cuproptosis gene and characteristic gene are closely related to immune and tumor microenvironment in AML by constructing a prognostic model of AML.
4.Mortality and probability of premature death due to four chronic diseases in Taizhou City
WU Danhong ; WANG Weixia ; WANG Liangyou ; QIAO Dongju ; HUANG Yilu ; ZHANG Yan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(5):428-431,436
Objective:
To understand the mortality and probability of premature death due to malignant tumors, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the basis for the improvement of chronic diseases prevention and control strategies.
Methods:
The death data of the four chronic diseases among local residents in Taizhou City from 2019 to 2022 were collected through Taizhou Chronic Disease Information Management System, and the crude mortality, standardized mortality (standardized by the data of the seventh national population census in 2020) and probability of premature death were calculated. The trends in mortality and probability of premature death were analyzed using annual percent change (APC). The attainment of probability of premature death due to the four chronic diseases were evaluated using the target values and predicted values in 2025 and 2030.
Results:
There were 119 899 deaths from the four chronic diseases in Taizhou City from 2019 to 2022, with the crude mortality of 494.48/105 and the standardized mortality of 410.68/105, which was no significant changing trend (APC=4.680% and -2.795%, both P>0.05). The probability of premature death decreased from 10.39% to 8.69% (APC=-6.027%, P<0.05). The crude mortality and standardized mortality in males were higher than those in females (562.13/105 vs. 424.08/105; 461.67/105 vs. 353.81/105; both P<0.05). The crude mortality and standardized mortality in rural areas were higher than those in urban areas (499.65/105 vs. 480.52/105; 429.20/105 vs. 365.68/105; both P<0.05). The probability of premature death in women and rural residents showed downward trends (APC=-8.210% and -7.558%, both P<0.05) from 2019 to 2022. The standardized mortality and probability of premature death due to malignant tumors showed downward trends (APC=-6.090% and -8.019%, both P<0.05). The crude mortality of diabetes showed an upward trend (APC=18.654%, P<0.05). The predicted values for probability of premature death due to due to the four chronic diseases in 2025 and 2030 were 7.27% and 5.40%, respectively, and were lower than the target values of 10.02% and 8.77%.
Conclusions
From 2019 to 2022, there was no significant trends in the mortality of four chronic diseases in Taizhou City, with rural men being the key population for prevention and control. The probability of premature death showed a downward trend, and it was expected to achieve the target in 2025 and 2030.
5.Liquid biopsy using urinary cell-free DNA is significant in the detection and treatment of urologic diseases
Yuting LIU ; Weixia LI ; Mengchen XIE ; Yangyang GUO ; Xin WANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2024;29(4):379-382
Urine is produced from the urinary system, and urinary cell-free DNA (cfDNA) carries genomic DNA directly secreted from urinary system.Urine samples are non-invasive, unlimited in quantity and easy to obtain, making urinary cfDNA a promising biomarker for urologic diseases.This article reviews the progress of clinical application of urinary cfDNA in urologic diseases.
6.Expert Consensus on Clinical Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine:Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Juan JIAO ; Jinyang TANG ; Xiujuan HOU ; Mengtao LI ; Dongfeng LIANG ; Yuhua WANG ; Weixia JING ; Guangtao LI ; Qin ZHANG ; Yongfeng ZHANG ; Guangyu LI ; Qian WANG ; Yang YANG ; Jin HUO ; Mei MO ; Jihua GUO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Quan JIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):216-222
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a refractory, chronic non-articular rheumatic disease characterized by widespread pain throughout the body, for which there are no satisfactory therapeutic drugs or options. There are rich Chinese medical therapies, and some non-drug therapies, such as acupuncture, Tai Chi, and Ba-Duan-Jin, have shown satisfactory efficacy and safety and definite advantages of simultaneously adjusting mind and body. FMS is taken as a disease responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2018. In order to clarify the research progress in FMS and the clinical advantages of TCM/integrated Chinese and Western medicine, the China Academy of Chinese Medicine organized a seminar for nearly 20 experts in Chinese and Western medicine, including rheumatology, psychology, acupuncture and moxibustion, and encephalopathy, with the topic of difficulties in clinical diagnosis and treatment of FMS and advantages of TCM and Western medicine. The recommendations were reached on the difficulties in early diagnosis and solutions of FMS, mitigation of common non-specific symptoms, preferential analgesic therapy, TCM pathogenesis and treatment advantages, and direction of treatment with integrated Chinese and Western medicine. FMS is currently facing the triple dilemma of low early correct diagnosis, poor patient participation, and unsatisfactory benefit from pure Western medicine treatment. To solve the above problems, this paper suggests that rheumatologists should serve as the main diagnostic force of this disease, and they should improve patient participation in treatment decision-making, implement exercise therapy, and fully utilize the holistic and multidimensional features of TCM, which is effective in alleviating pain, improving mood, and decreasing adverse events. In addition, it is suggested that FMS treatment should rely on both TCM and Western medicine and adopt multidisciplinary joint treatment, which is expected to improve the standard of diagnosis and treatment of FMS in China.
7.Application of AI diagnostic system in the evaluation of CHD patients in high-altitude areas
Xueyan WANG ; Haihua BAO ; Shengbao WEN ; Yuntai CAO ; Weixia LI ; Mei YAN
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(5):733-737
Objective To explore the application of diagnostic system with artificial intelligence(AI)in the evaluation of patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)at high altitude.Methods A total of 318 pa-tients underwent coronary CT angiography(CTA)at the hospital from January to December 2022 were pro-spectively collected.According to the altitude gradient,the patients were divided into the 2 000-3 000 m group and>3 000 m group.Coronary angiography(CAG)was used as the gold standard to verify the diag-nostic performance of AI diagnostic system.Coronary artery diagnosis system with AI technology and CT de-rived fractional flow reserve(CT-FFR)measurement system were used to evaluate the plaque structure char-acteristics and hemodynamic changes in the two groups of patients.Results Calcified plaques and vulnerable plaques in the>3 000 m group were more than those in the 2 000-3 000 m group(χ2=3.976,6.482,P= 0.046,0.011).The incidence of multi-vessel coronary artery disease,moderate stenosis,severe stenosis and complete occlusion in the>3 000 m group was higher than that in the 2 000-3 000 m group,and the inci-dence of single-vessel coronary artery disease and mild stenosis in the 2 000-3 000 m group was higher than that in the>3 000 m group(P<0.05).The incidence of CT-FFR≤0.80 and<0.70 in the>3 000 m group was higher than that in the 2 000-3 000 m group(χ2=4.782,28.118,P=0.029,<0.001).The comparison with the gold standard showed that this method has high sensitivity,specificity,and diagnostic consistency(P<0.001).Conclusion The coronary diagnosis system with AI technology has certain value in the system-atic evaluation of coronary artery characteristics and hemodynamic changes in CHD patients at high altitude.
8.Renal leukocyte chemokine type 2 amyloidosis: a clinicopathological analysis of fifteen cases
Xiangyang WANG ; Weixia HAN ; Siyu CHEN ; Dan NIU ; Xinyu WANG ; Chen WANG
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2024;53(8):809-815
Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features of renal leukocyte chemokine type 2 amyloidosis (ALECT2).Methods:The prevalence, clinical characteristics, renal histopathological features, and renal outcome of 15 patients with ALECT2 by kidney biopsy were collected in the Department of Kidney Pathology, Shanxi Medical University Second Hospital, Taiyuan, China from January 1993 to December 2023. Immunohistochemistry and mass spectrometry for amyloid proteins were carried out.Results:Fifteen patients with ALECT2 were included in the study, representing 12.93% (15/116) of the renal biopsy-proven amyloidosis cases. There were 5 males and 10 females. The median age at diagnosis was 61 years. All patients had various degrees of proteinuria; 7 patients had nephrotic syndrome; 3 patients had renal insufficiency; 7 patients had microscopic hematuria. Renal biopsy showed that strongly orangophilic amyloid proteins distributed mainly in the renal cortical interstitium, vascular walls, the glomerular mesangium and/or glomerular basement membrane. Eight cases were diagnosed with ALECT2 alone and 7 cases combined with other renal diseases, including 4 cases with membranous nephropathy, 2 cases with IgA nephropathy, and 1 case with subacute tubular interstitial nephropathy. ALECT2 patients with concurrent renal disease showed a higher proteinuria level than those without (3.48 g/24 h versus 4.58 g/24 h). All patients were corroborated by immunohistochemistry to exhibit the specific location of LECT2 in the amyloid fibrils. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed LECT2 polypeptide in 9 patients. Except two patients with worsening renal function, the others showed stable renal function during the mean follow-up period of 12.5 months.Conclusions:ALECT2 is the second common type of renal amyloidosis in our center. The majority of ALECT2 patients show concurrent renal diseases, with a high rate of membranous nephropathy. Amyloid deposits distribute mainly in the cortical interstitium of the kidney, the glomerular mesangium and vascular walls. Mass spectrometry is the most sensitive and specific method for detecting LECT2 amyloidosis.
9.HUVEC-Based OGD/R Injury Model to Study the Effect of Danggui-Chuanxiong Herb Pair Medicine on the Main Pharmacological Components on VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Qiuru JI ; Wenjuan NI ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Shuqi ZHANG ; Yali WU ; Lu NIU ; Kun LI ; Weixia LI ; Jinfa TANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;26(3):691-703
Objective To study the effects of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair medicine on vasoactive substances,adhesion factors,inflammatory factors,and VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways,in order to elucidate the mechanism of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair on the treatment of ischemic stroke(IS).Methods The oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)was constructed,and the cell viability was detected by cell proliferation kit(CCK-8 method)to explore the optimal modeling time of seven components;The release of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)was detected by cytotoxicity kit;The expression of related cytokines was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);The mRNA expression of key proteins in the signaling pathway was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Reoxygenation after 6 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation of HUVEC is the best modeling time.High-dose chlorogenic acid group,ferulic acid group,senkyunolide H,low-dose and medium-dose butylidenephthalide group,medium-dose and high-dose senkyunolide A and ligustilide groups significantly decreased LDH leakage rate(P<0.05,P<0.01);The expression of IL-6 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,caffeic acid,butenylphthalide,senkyunolide H and senkyunolide A was significantly increased,the expression of IL-1 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid and senkyunolide A was significantly decreased,the expression of VEGF,ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid and senkyunolide H was significantly decreased,the expression of NF-κB in the cells of the partial dose group of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid,senkyunolide H and ligustilide was significantly decreased,the expression of PAI-1 in the cells of ferulic acid and senkyunolide H partial dose group decreased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01);The mRNA relative expression levels of ERK,VEGF,NF-κB,VEGFR2 and MMP9 were significantly down-regulated in the cells of chlorogenic acid,ferulic acid,caffeic acid,butylidenephthalide and senkyunolide A partial dose group,while the mRNA relative expression levels of AKT were significantly up-regulated in the cells of senkyunolide H and senkyunolide A partial dose groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion The medicinal components of Danggui-Chuanxiong herb pair may play a role in IS by inhibiting the mRNA expression of adhesion factor,inflammatory factor and key protein of VEGF-PI3K-AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in HUVEC.
10.18F-FDG PET/CT semi-quantitative parameters for predicting clinical stage Ⅰa—Ⅲa lung adenocarcinoma spreading through air spaces
Zhenzhen WANG ; Xiaotian LI ; Xingyu MU ; Yulong ZENG ; Weixia CHONG ; Jie QIN ; Zuguo LI ; Xueqin ZHAO ; Yang WU ; Cuiping XU ; Wei FU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2024;40(5):735-739
Objective To observe the value of 18F-FDG PET/CT semi-quantitative parameters for predicting spread through air spaces(STAS)of clinical stage Ⅰa—Ⅲa lung adenocarcinoma.Methods Data of 85 patients with clinical stage Ⅰa—Ⅲ a lung adenocarcinoma who underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into positive group(n=23)or negative group(n=62)according to whether pathology showed STAS or not.Clinical and PET/CT data were compared between groups,and logistic analysis was performed to explore the efficacy of each parameter for predicting STAS.Results Significant differences of gender,carcinoma embryonic antigen,clinical stage,pathological grade,micropapillary growth and proportion were found between groups(all P<0.05).The maximum,the mean,the peak standard uptake value(SUVmax,SUVmean,SUVpeak),as well as the maximum,the mean and the peak standard uptake value normalized by lean body mass(SULmax,SULmean,SULpeak),also the total lesion glycolysis(TLG)in positive group were all significantly higher than those in negative group(all P<0.05).Patients'gender,proportion of micropapillary growth,SUVmax and SULmax were all independent risk factors of STAS of clinical stage Ⅰa—Ⅲa lung adenocarcinoma.The area under the curve(AUC)of the above parameters for predicting STAS was 0.666,0.912,0.839 and 0.842,respectively,and of the combination was 0.957.Conclusion 18 F-FDG PET/CT semi-quantitative parameters SUVmax and SULmax were helpful for predicting STAS of clinical stage Ⅰa—Ⅲ a lung adenocarcinoma,and further combination of gender and proportion of micropapillary growth could improve diagnostic efficacy.


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