1.Mechanism of Wenyang jieyu granules regulating NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway on antidepressant effect in rats
Shuang MENG ; Jie ZHAO ; Xinxin WANG ; Dandan TAN ; Xiaorong ZHOU ; Huimin SUN ; Xiaojuan MA ; Zhenyu FENG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1440-1446
OBJECTIVE To explore the antidepressant mechanism of Wenyang jieyu granules (WYJYG) via the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3)/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC)/Caspase-1 pathway. METHODS A rat model of depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with single-housing for 42 consecutive days.The experiment set up blank group, model group, MCC950 (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor) group (10 mg/kg), fluoxetine group (positive control,2.08 mg/kg),low-dose WYJYG(3.78 g/kg) and high-dose WYJYG group (7.56 g/kg),with 10 rats in each group. From the 22nd day of the experiment, rats in the fluoxetine group, low-dose and high-dose WYJYG groups were intragastrically administered with the corresponding drugs and intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Rats in the MCC950 group were intraperitoneally injected with MCC950 at the corresponding concentration and intragastrically administered with an equal volume of distilled water. Rats in the blank group and model group were given an equal volume of distilled water by gavage and an equal volume of normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. All interventions were performed once a day for 21 consecutive days. Behavioral tests were conducted once a week. After the last administration, the contents of ASC, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 in hippocampal tissues were detected. The protein expressions of NLRP3, cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68), Caspase-1, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein were determined, and neuronal apoptosis was observed. RESULTS After the last administration, compared with the model group, the open-field activity time was significantly prolonged ( P <0.05), and the latency to feed in a novel environment was significantly shortened ( P <0.05) in rats of the high-dose WYJYG group. In hippocampal tissue, the contents of ASC, Iba1, IL-1β, and IL-18, as well as the protein expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and CD68, and the positive rate of neuronal apoptosis were all significantly decreased/downregulated ( P <0.05). Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly upregulated ( P <0.05), and the density of neuronal apoptosis-positive cells was significantly reduced ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS WYJYG play on antidepressant role by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway, reducing microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, and inhibiting hippocampal neurons apoptosis.
2.WW domain-containing ubiquitin E3 ligase 1 regulates immune infiltration in tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer.
Xiaojuan GUO ; Ruijuan DU ; Liping CHEN ; Kelei GUO ; Biao ZHOU ; Hua BIAN ; Li HAN
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(5):1063-1073
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the association of the expression of WW domain-containing ubiquitin E3 ligase 1 (WWP1) with immune infiltration in tumor microenvironment (TME) of ovarian cancer.
METHODS:
Ovarian cancer patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to analyze the association of WWP1 expression with patient prognosis. TISCH2 was utilized to analyze the changes in immune cell subtypes in TME of metastatic tumor and after chemotherapy. The impact of WWP1 on immune cell infiltration, somatic copy number alterations of WWP1 and evolution of immune cell subtypes was evaluated using TIMER and TIGER pseudo-time analysis. A deep learning model was used to analyze TCGA pathological images to investigate the effect of WWP1 on TME of ovarian cancer. RNA-seq analysis was conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes in WWP1-overexpressing SKOV3 cells and validate immune infiltration. Multicolor immunofluorescence assay was used to analyze the immune markers in SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cell xenografts in nude mice.
RESULTS:
The patients with high WWP1 expression levels had significantly lower overall survival rate (P=0.0012). High WWP1 expression levels and Stage IV disease were both associated with a poor prognosis (P<0.05). In metastatic ovarian cancer or after chemotherapy, the percentages of malignant tumor cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts increased in the TME, accompanied by elevated WWP1 levels. WWP1 expression level was positively correlated with pro-tumorigenic immunosuppressive cells (r=0.1323-0.3955, P<0.05) and negatively with tumor-inhibiting immune cells (r=-0.1949- -0.1333, P<0.05). Specific copy number alterations of WWP1 also influenced CD8+ T cell percentage and neutrophil infiltration levels in the TME. RNA-seq analysis of WWP1-overexpressing SKOV3 cells and immunofluorescence assay of the tumor-bearing mice yielded findings consistent with those of bioinformatics analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
WWP1 may serve as a prognostic biomarker and a potential target for immune regulation in the TME of ovarian cancer.
Female
;
Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism*
;
Tumor Microenvironment/immunology*
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Mice, Nude
;
Prognosis
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
3.Research on the innovation of medical humanities teaching in military medical universities by the red doctor spirit
Qiuju ZHANG ; Taishi ZHOU ; Yan WU ; Xiaojuan WU ; Yang JIAO ; Zhenghao LI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(7):909-913
The red doctor spirit is the advanced culture of the Communist Party of China formed under a specific historical and cultural background. It can be summarized as “political firmness, excellent technology, working hard, and healing the wounded and rescuing the dying.” This content has many hidden similarities and integrations with the goal of cultivating humanistic literacy for medical students in military medical universities. This paper aimed to identify the important connection points between the red doctor spirit and the contents and goals of medical humanities teaching, as well as integrate the red doctor spirit into medical humanities teaching by various dimensions, including systematic reconstruction of textbook content, immersive innovation in teaching form, three-dimensional support in resource construction, and innovative implementation of narrative medicine teaching. It also further explored the extension of the red doctor spirit in military medical humanistic literacy, namely, revolutionary humanism and revolutionary heroism, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of medical humanistic teaching.
4.Effect of the multidisciplinary management model on the prognosis of patients with portal hypertension
Changxiang LAI ; Qiyuan TANG ; Zhiyu LI ; Yujin JIANG ; Xuan ZHOU ; Wenjie XIAN ; Ruikun CHEN ; Xiaojuan WU ; Qing HE ; Fang WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(10):2068-2074
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) management model in improving the prognosis of patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. MethodsA total of 86 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who were admitted to Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital from May 2022 to July 2024 were enrolled, and according to whether the MDT treatment regimen was implemented, they were divided into execution group with 51 patients and non-execution group with 35 patients. Baseline clinical data were collected, and the patients were observed in terms of gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver cancer, and death from admission to the end of follow-up (January 2025). The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves for the cumulative incidence rates of endpoint events (gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver cancer, and death), and the Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. The Cox proportional-hazards regression model analysis was used to investigate the effect of MDT management on the prognosis of patients. ResultsThere were significant differences between the execution group and the non-execution group in diameter of the portal vein (t=1.216, P=0.017) and ascites (χ2=4.515, P=0.034) at baseline. The patients were followed up for 14.6±6.2 months, and the survival curve analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the cumulative incidence rate of gastrointestinal bleeding between the two groups (χ2=4.573, P=0.024), while there were no significant differences in the incidence rates of other outcome events between the two groups (all P>0.05). The Cox regression analysis showed that the execution group had a reduced risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (hazard ratio=0.262, 95% confidence interval: 0.110 — 0.630, P=0.003). ConclusionImplementation of the MDT treatment regimen can significantly reduce the short-term risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension, while its long-term benefits require further follow-up verification.
6.Clinical features and prognosis of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis:An analysis of 107 cases
Tongtong MENG ; Weijia DUAN ; Xinyu LI ; Junqi NIU ; Huiguo DING ; Ying HAN ; Wen XIE ; Lu ZHOU ; Bangmao WANG ; Liping GUO ; Jie LI ; Bei JIA ; Lingyi ZHANG ; Liang WANG ; Xiaoqian XU ; Yu WANG ; Xiaojuan OU ; Xinyan ZHAO ; Hong YOU ; Jidong JIA ; Yuanyuan KONG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(7):1337-1343
Objective To describe the clinical features of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC)in China based on a nationwide multicenter patient cohort,and to investigate the risk factors for prognosis.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted among the patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PSC based on the electronic medical record system of seven grade A tertiary hospitals across the country,and related data were extracted.The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups,and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate liver transplant-free survival,and the log-rank test was used for comparison of survival rate between PSC patients with different features.The Cox regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for the prognosis of PSC patients and the interactions between key factors.Results A total of 107 patients were enrolled,among whom 55.6%(55/99)had large-duct PSC and 29.0%(31/107)had comorbidity with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).The positivity rate of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)was 32.9%(24/73),and 50.0%(40/80)of the patients had an increase in IgG/IgM.The median symptom-to-diagnosis interval was 1 year(<1-4.0),and 38.3%(41/107)of the patients had progressed to decompensated cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis.The median liver transplant-free survival time was 114 months(95%confidence interval[CI]:62-166),with a 5-year survival rate of 65.7%.The multivariate analysis showed that an increase in total bile acid(TBA)(hazard ratio[HR]=1.006,95%CI:1.002-1.010,P=0.001)and a prolonged symptom-to-diagnosis interval(HR=1.252,95%CI:1.059-1.480,P=0.009)were independent risk factors for prognosis.The interaction analysis showed that compared with the female patients with TBA<50 μmol/L,both male and female patients with TBA≥50 μmol/L had a significant increase in the risk of liver transplantation or death(male:HR=16.563,95%CI:2.103-130.449,P<0.001;female:HR=17.009,95%CI:2.113-136.934,P<0.001),and compared with the patients with an age of<45 years and a TBA level of<50 μmol/L,the patients with an age of≥45 years and a TBA level of≥50 μmol/L had a significant increase in the risk of liver transplantation or death(HR=10.729,95%CI:1.325-86.859,P=0.026).Compared with the female patients with an symptom-to-diagnosis interval of≤2 years,the male patients with a symptom-to-diagnosis interval of>2 years had an increased risk of liver transplantation or death(HR=4.825,95%CI:1.725-13.644,P=0.003),and compared with the patients with an age of<45 years and a symptom-to-diagnosis interval of≤2 years,the patients with an age of<45 years and a symptom-to-diagnosis interval of>2 years had an increased risk of liver transplantation or death(HR=4.983,95%CI:1.366-18.173,P=0.015).Conclusion Compared with the reports from Western countries,large-duct PSC is also the main type of PSC in China,but with a relatively low proportion,and there is also a relatively low proportion of patients with IBD or positive ANCA.An increase in TBA and a prolonged symptom-to-diagnosis interval are independent risk factors for prognosis,with significant interactions with age and sex.This suggests that early screening and intervention should be enhanced to improve prognosis.
7.Effect of modified TROPIS operation and open and hanging operation on high anal fistula and its effect on postoperative recovery and function
Changliang CHEN ; Guodan JIANG ; Huifeng LIU ; Xiaojuan ZHOU ; Nan LI
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(1):106-109
Objective:To investigate the effects of modified TROPIS surgery, incorporating both open and hanging stitches on the treatment of elevated anal fistula.Methods:For our study, 92 patients with high anal fistula, admitted between Jan. 2023 and Jun. 2024, were selected. They were divided into two categories: the observation group (45 modified TROPIS surgery) and the control group (47 cuts) ,to observe the clinical efficacy, postoperative recovery, quality of life and complications of the two groups.Results:Compared with the control group, the operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospitalization time decreased in the observation group ( P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the healing time of anal fistula in the observation group was (28.01±5.02) d, shorter than that in the control group (35.05±7.09) d, the healing rate was 97.78%, higher than that in the control group (80.85%) , and the recurrence rate was 4.44%, lower than that in the control group (19.14%) ( P<0.05) . The degree of postoperative pain and Wexner anal incontinence score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05) . The life quality score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05) . The complication rate of observation group was lower than that of control group ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The modified TROPIS surgical method evidently provides advantages in anal fistula treatment. It can not only efficiently eliminate infections but also reduce anal movements and decrease the chances of post-surgical injuries and complications, presenting enhanced clinical options and suggesting a promising outlook for traditional anal fistula surgery.
8.Predictive role of dynamic changes in liver stiffness measurement for liver-related endpoint events in chronic hepatitis B
Chenglin SUN ; Shuyan CHEN ; Xiaoning WU ; Jialing ZHOU ; Tongtong MENG ; Bingqiong WANG ; Xinyan ZHAO ; Xiaojuan OU ; Jidong JIA ; Yameng SUN ; Hong YOU
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2025;33(10):993-1000
Objective:To investigate the role of dynamic changes in liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in predicting liver-related end-point events (LREs) occurrence in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with liver fibrosis during long-term antiviral therapy.Methods:Data were collected from CHB patients whose liver biopsy results showed Metavir fibrosis stage F2~F4 or clinically diagnosed cirrhosis. Entecavir antiviral therapy was mainly administered. Follow-up was conducted once every six months. Clinical data such as demographic information, blood routine tests, liver biochemical parameters, HBV virological and serological test results, and LSM were collected. Dynamic changes in LSM were categorized into four types based on LSM levels before treatment (0y) and following two years of antiviral therapy (2y) : (1) LSM 0y < 10 kPa and LSM 2y < 10 kPa, i.e., LSM persisted < 10 kPa; (2) LSM 0y < 10 kPa and LSM 2y ≥ 10 kPa, i.e., LSM increased to ≥ 10 kPa; (3) LSM 0y ≥ 10 kPa and LSM 2y < 10 kPa, i.e., LSM decreased to < 10 kPa; (4) LSM 0y ≥ 10 kPa and LSM 2y ≥ 10 kPa, i.e., LSM persisted ≥ 10 kPa. The predictive role of the dynamic changes of LSM in the occurrence of LREs was analyzed. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for quantitative data. Fisher's exact test was used for categorical data. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Survival curves were plotted and compared using the Kaplan-Meier. Results:A total of 713 CHB cases with liver fibrosis were included, among whom 512 had cirrhosis. The cumulative incidence of LREs following two years of antiviral therapy was low in patients with LSM 0y < 10 kPa during follow-up (all patients: LSM persisted < 10 kPa 1.6% vs. LSM increased to ≥ 10 kPa 0%; cirrhosis subgroup: LSM persisted < 10 kPa 0% vs. LSM increased to ≥ 10 kPa 0%). The 5-year cumulative incidence of LREs following two years of antiviral treatment was significantly higher in patients with LSM0y ≥ 10 kPa than in those with LSM persisting ≥ 10 kPa and those with LSM decreasing to < 10 kPa during follow-up (all patients: LSM persisted ≥ 10 kPa 12.4% vs. LSM decreased to < 10 kPa 3.6%; cirrhosis subgroup: LSM persisted ≥ 10 kPa 12.6% vs. LSM decreased to < 10 kPa 4.3%). Patients with LSM persisting at ≥ 10 kPa had a significantly increased risk of LREs following two years of antiviral treatment compared with those whose LSM decreased to <10 kPa during follow-up after adjusting for age, gender, baseline body mass index, platelet count, and alanine aminotransferase (all patients, aHR=2.96, 95% CI: 1.41~6.24, P=0.005; cirrhosis subgroup, aHR=2.74, 95% CI:1.26~5.95, P=0.011). Conclusions:LSM<10 kPa before antiviral treatment had a lower risk of liver-related endpoint events following two years of treatment among CHB patients with liver fibrosis. LSM ≥10 kPa before antiviral treatment and LSM persisted ≥10 kPa two years following treatment had a significantly higher occurrence risk of liver-related endpoints than LSM<10 kPa following treatment among CHB patients with liver fibrosis.
9.Effect of modified TROPIS operation and open and hanging operation on high anal fistula and its effect on postoperative recovery and function
Changliang CHEN ; Guodan JIANG ; Huifeng LIU ; Xiaojuan ZHOU ; Nan LI
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(1):106-109
Objective:To investigate the effects of modified TROPIS surgery, incorporating both open and hanging stitches on the treatment of elevated anal fistula.Methods:For our study, 92 patients with high anal fistula, admitted between Jan. 2023 and Jun. 2024, were selected. They were divided into two categories: the observation group (45 modified TROPIS surgery) and the control group (47 cuts) ,to observe the clinical efficacy, postoperative recovery, quality of life and complications of the two groups.Results:Compared with the control group, the operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospitalization time decreased in the observation group ( P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the healing time of anal fistula in the observation group was (28.01±5.02) d, shorter than that in the control group (35.05±7.09) d, the healing rate was 97.78%, higher than that in the control group (80.85%) , and the recurrence rate was 4.44%, lower than that in the control group (19.14%) ( P<0.05) . The degree of postoperative pain and Wexner anal incontinence score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05) . The life quality score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05) . The complication rate of observation group was lower than that of control group ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The modified TROPIS surgical method evidently provides advantages in anal fistula treatment. It can not only efficiently eliminate infections but also reduce anal movements and decrease the chances of post-surgical injuries and complications, presenting enhanced clinical options and suggesting a promising outlook for traditional anal fistula surgery.
10.Changes and clinical significance of serum KYN and QA levels in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease complicated with major adverse cardiovascular events
Beibei YAN ; Caomin PAN ; Xianwen SHEN ; Jiang HAN ; Xiaojuan ZHOU
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(6):689-693
Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of serum kynurenine(KYN)and quinolinic acid(QA)levels in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD)complicated with major ad-verse cardiovascular events(MACE).Methods A total of 156 elderly patients with CKD treated in the Fourth People's Hospital of Taizhou from February 2022 to February 2024 were selected as the CKD group,and were divided into the MACE group(n=45)and the non-MACE group(n=111)according to whether they were complicated with MACE.A total of 80 healthy people who underwent physical examination in the Fourth People's Hospital of Taizhou during the same period were selected as the control group.High perform-ance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the serum KYN and QA levels in each group.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for MACE in elderly CKD pa-tients.The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the predictive value of serum KYN and QA for MACE in elderly CKD patients.Results The levels of KYN and QA in CKD group were higher than those in control group(P<0.05).The age,levels of C-reactive protein,24 h urinary protein,KYN and QA in MACE group were higher than those in non-MACE group(P<0.05).The increased levels of 24 h urinary protein,C-reactive protein,KYN and QA were risk factors for MACE in elderly CKD patients(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of combined detection of serum KYN and QA for predicting MACE in elderly CKD patients was 0.920(95%CI 0.891-0.959),which was greater than the AUC of KYN[0.836(95%CI 0.804-0.879)]and QA[0.843(95%CI 0.798-0.887)]alone,and the difference was statistically significant(Z=4.023,3.897,P<0.05).Conclusion The levels of serum KYN and QA are increased in elderly CKD pa-tients with MACE,which are related to renal function.The combination of serum KYN and QA can effectively predict the risk of MACE in elderly CKD patients.

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