1.A Single-Arm Phase II Clinical Trial of Fulvestrant Combined with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy of ER+/HER2– Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Integrated Analysis of 18F-FES PET-CT and Metabolites with Treatment Response
Qing SHAO ; Ningning ZHANG ; Xianjun PAN ; Wenqi ZHOU ; Yali WANG ; Xiaoliang CHEN ; Jing WU ; Xiaohua ZENG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):126-139
Purpose:
This Phase II trial was objected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding fulvestrant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)– locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the association of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) and metabolites with efficacy.
Materials and Methods:
Fulvestrant and EC-T regimen were given to ER+/HER2– LABC patients before surgery. At baseline, patients received 18F-FES PET-CT scan, and plasma samples were taken for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included total pathologic complete response (tpCR) and safety.
Results:
Among the 36 patients enrolled, the ORR was 86.1%, the tpCR rate was 8.3%. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 22%. The decrease in ER value in sensitive patients was larger than that in non-sensitive patients, as was Ki-67 (p < 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake values, total lesion ER expression of 18F-FES PET-CT in sensitive patients were significantly higher than those in non-sensitive patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly correlated with Miller and Payne grade and the change in ER expression before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirteen differential expressed metabolites were identified, which were markedly enriched in 19 metabolic pathways.
Conclusion
This regimen demonstrated acceptable toxicity and encouraging antitumor efficacy. 18F-FES PET-CT might serve as a tool to predict the effectiveness of this therapy. Altered metabolites or metabolic pathways might be associated with treatment response.
2.A Single-Arm Phase II Clinical Trial of Fulvestrant Combined with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy of ER+/HER2– Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Integrated Analysis of 18F-FES PET-CT and Metabolites with Treatment Response
Qing SHAO ; Ningning ZHANG ; Xianjun PAN ; Wenqi ZHOU ; Yali WANG ; Xiaoliang CHEN ; Jing WU ; Xiaohua ZENG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):126-139
Purpose:
This Phase II trial was objected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding fulvestrant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)– locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the association of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) and metabolites with efficacy.
Materials and Methods:
Fulvestrant and EC-T regimen were given to ER+/HER2– LABC patients before surgery. At baseline, patients received 18F-FES PET-CT scan, and plasma samples were taken for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included total pathologic complete response (tpCR) and safety.
Results:
Among the 36 patients enrolled, the ORR was 86.1%, the tpCR rate was 8.3%. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 22%. The decrease in ER value in sensitive patients was larger than that in non-sensitive patients, as was Ki-67 (p < 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake values, total lesion ER expression of 18F-FES PET-CT in sensitive patients were significantly higher than those in non-sensitive patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly correlated with Miller and Payne grade and the change in ER expression before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirteen differential expressed metabolites were identified, which were markedly enriched in 19 metabolic pathways.
Conclusion
This regimen demonstrated acceptable toxicity and encouraging antitumor efficacy. 18F-FES PET-CT might serve as a tool to predict the effectiveness of this therapy. Altered metabolites or metabolic pathways might be associated with treatment response.
3.A Single-Arm Phase II Clinical Trial of Fulvestrant Combined with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy of ER+/HER2– Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Integrated Analysis of 18F-FES PET-CT and Metabolites with Treatment Response
Qing SHAO ; Ningning ZHANG ; Xianjun PAN ; Wenqi ZHOU ; Yali WANG ; Xiaoliang CHEN ; Jing WU ; Xiaohua ZENG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):126-139
Purpose:
This Phase II trial was objected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding fulvestrant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)– locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the association of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) and metabolites with efficacy.
Materials and Methods:
Fulvestrant and EC-T regimen were given to ER+/HER2– LABC patients before surgery. At baseline, patients received 18F-FES PET-CT scan, and plasma samples were taken for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included total pathologic complete response (tpCR) and safety.
Results:
Among the 36 patients enrolled, the ORR was 86.1%, the tpCR rate was 8.3%. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 22%. The decrease in ER value in sensitive patients was larger than that in non-sensitive patients, as was Ki-67 (p < 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake values, total lesion ER expression of 18F-FES PET-CT in sensitive patients were significantly higher than those in non-sensitive patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly correlated with Miller and Payne grade and the change in ER expression before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirteen differential expressed metabolites were identified, which were markedly enriched in 19 metabolic pathways.
Conclusion
This regimen demonstrated acceptable toxicity and encouraging antitumor efficacy. 18F-FES PET-CT might serve as a tool to predict the effectiveness of this therapy. Altered metabolites or metabolic pathways might be associated with treatment response.
4.Efficacy of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation combined with limbal relaxing incision in treatment of cataract patients with corneal astigmatism
Guangping GAO ; Xiaoliang ZHANG ; Rui ZHANG ; Yanzhi SANG
Academic Journal of Naval Medical University 2025;46(4):545-549
Objective To investigate the corrective effect of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation combined with limbal relaxing incision(LRI)on cataract patients with corneal astigmatism.Methods A total of 39 patients(41 eyes)with cataract complicated by corneal astigmatism(the astigmatism was-2.0 to-0.5 D)who visited Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from Sep.2023 to May 2024 were enrolled.During phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation,LRI was performed to correct corneal astigmatism.Preoperative corneal astigmatism was measured using corneal topography and IOLMaster.Corneal astigmatism was re-examined 1 and 3 months after surgery,and Alpins method was used to analyze the changes of corneal astigmation before surgery and 1 month after surgery.The primary vector parameters,such as target induced astigmatism vector(TIA),surgically induced astigmatism vector(SIA),difference vector(DV),correction index and flattening index(FI),were observed.Results The preoperative corneal astigmatism was(-1.07+0.27)D,which was decreased to(-0.53+0.23)D 1 month postoperatively and(-0.55+0.24)D 3 months postoperatively(both P<0.05).Vector analysis of corneal astigmatism showed that the TIA was(1.07+0.27)D,SIA was(0.99+0.42)D,DV was(0.53+0.24)D;correction index was 0.93+0.36(the ideal value is 1),suggesting slight undercorrection;the median of the angle of error had an absolute value of 18.15°,and the interquartile range was 15.19°;and the flattening effect was(0.70+0.45)D,the FI was 0.65+0.42,and the success rate was(50.42+19.29)%.Conclusion The combination of LRI with cataract surgery for correcting corneal astigmatism has demonstrated favorable corrective outcomes,especially for the correction of low to moderate corneal astigmatism.
5.Military cross-cutting symptom scale and its reliability and validity
Xiaoliang WEI ; Tao ZHANG ; Kaitian SHI ; Yi ZHANG ; Yonghai BAI ; Taosheng LIU
Academic Journal of Naval Medical University 2025;46(6):817-823
Objective To develop a military cross-cultural symptom scale(MCCSS)and evaluate its reliability and validity.Methods The dimensions and items of the scale were determined through literature analysis,questionnaire surveys,group discussions,expert consultations,and pre-experiments.Cluster sampling was employed to collect data from the participants to examine the psychometric properties of the scale.Results The MCCSS comprised 38 items across 9 factors:depression,anxiety,somatic symptoms,misanthropic tendency,sleep problems,compulsions,psychotic symptoms,stress trauma,and defensiveness.Item analysis revealed that the 37 items(except 1 forced-choice item)exhibited correlations from 0.538 to 0.875 with the total scale score(all P<0.01),with critical ratios ranging from 5.190 to 28.149,indicating good discriminative power.The Cronbach's α coefficients for the total scale and subscales ranged from 0.825 to 0.972,and the Spearman-Brown split-half reliability coefficients ranged from 0.747 to 0.955.The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that x2/df=3.419,standardized root mean square residual=0.033,root mean square error of approximation=0.073,normed fit index=0.868,incremental fit index=0.903,Tucker-Lewis index=0.887,comparative fit index=0.902,and the scale's first-order 9-factor model fit well.The loads of each item on the factor to which it belonged ranged from 0.597 to 0.954(all P<0.01).The correlation coefficients between the scale and the scale for criterion-related validity ranged from 0.392 to 0.773(all P<0.01),and the correlation coefficients between the scale and the scale for convergent validity ranged from 0.257 to 0.519(all P<0.01).Conclusion The MCCSS in this study has good reliability and validity and can be used as a mental health testing and screening tool for military personnel.
6.Characteristics of cardiac lesions in 17 patients with Fabry disease
Junlan YANG ; Zhiyuan WEI ; Bin WANG ; Zuolin LI ; Jingyuan CAO ; Li SUN ; Weiwei YU ; Shijun ZHANG ; Weiming HE ; Aihua ZHANG ; Xiaoliang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2025;53(5):529-536
Objectives:To summarize the characteristics of Fabry′s disease with cardiac involvement.Methods:This was a single-center, cross-sectional, retrospective study. Patients with Fabry disease who were admitted to Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from January 2022 to March 2023 were included. Clinical data, laboratory results, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance findings of enrolled patients were collected. Clinical presentations and imaging features of patients with Fabry′s disease with cardiac involvement were summarized and analyzed.Results:A total of 17 patients from 8 families were included, with 9 males and diagnosis age of (44.35±13.72) years. Cardiac involvement and other organ involvement were presented in all patients and the heart was the most vulnerable organ (17/17). 24 h electrocardiogram showed frequent sinus arrhythmia in 3 patients. Echocardiography showed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in 1 patient, myocardial hypertrophy in 13 patients, and left ventricular wall thickness ≥13 mm in 10 patients. Mitral regurgitation was observed in 11 patients and tricuspid regurgitation in 12 patients. Two patients underwent two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, both revealing reduced regional longitudinal strain of the left ventricle, primarily in the basal segments. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in 2 patients, myocardial hypertrophy in 16 patients, and left ventricular wall thickness≥13 mm in 14 patients. T1 value was reduced in 16 patients, with late gadolinium enhancement observed in 9 patients and “pseudo-normalization” of T1 values in 1 patient. The most susceptible target organ besides the heart was the kidneys (14/17), followed by the central nervous system (9/17). Additional findings inclucling cutaneous angiokeratoma in 4 patients, peripheral neuropathy with burning pain and hypohidrosis or hyperhidrosis in 6 patients, and corneal vortex opacities in 2 patients.Conclusion:The main manifestations of cardiac involvement in Fabry′s disease are decreased cardiac function, left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. Advanced imaging techniques such as two-dimensional speckle tracking, T1 Mapping, and late gadolinium enhancement are useful in detecting myocardial pathological changes of Fabry′s disease.
7.Mechanisms and research progress of circular RNAs in radon exposure-induced diseases
Jia ZHANG ; Xiaoliang LI ; Jianlei RUAN ; Jianxiang LIU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(2):303-308
Radon, the only naturally occurring radioactive noble gas, is among the most common radioactive nuclides to which humans are exposed. Radon can induce various biological effects in the human body and is a risk factor for lung cancer. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable, tissue-specific, and abundantly expressed in body fluids. circRNAs can regulate gene expression and play an important role in the development of cancer. In this paper, we summarized the changes in the expression and function of circRNAs, highlighting the potential mechanisms of circRNAs in radon exposure-induced cancers. Our results provided theoretical support for the use of circRNAs as a biomarker of radon exposure-induced radiation damage, and offer a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of radon exposure-induced diseases.
8.Functional analysis of a nitrate-induced GARP transcription factor AhNIGT1.2 in peanut nodulation.
Xiaoliang LI ; Haitong HE ; Suqin HE ; Luyao WANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Zhaosheng KONG ; Lixiang WANG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(2):657-669
Peanut, a major economic and oil crop known for the high protein and oil content, is extensively cultivated in China. Peanut plants have the ability to form nodules with rhizobia, where the nitrogenase converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia nitrogen that can be utilized by the plants. Analysis of nodule fixation is of positive significance for avoiding overapplication of chemical fertilizer and developing sustainable agriculture. In this study, AhNIGT1.2, a member of the NIGT family predominantly expressed in peanut nodules, was identified by bioinformatics analysis. Subsequent spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that AhNIGT1.2 was highly expressed in nodules and showed significant responses to high nitrogen, low nitrogen, high phosphorus, low phosphorus, and rhizobia treatments. Histochemical staining indicated that the gene was primarily expressed in developing nodules and at the connection region between mature nodules and peanut roots. The fusion protein AhNIGT1.2-GFP was located in the nucleus of tobacco epidermal cells. The AhNIGT1.2-OE significantly increased the number of peanut nodules, while AhNIGT1.2-RNAi reduced the number of nodules, which suggested a positive regulatory role of AhNIGT1.2 in peanut nodulation. The AhNIGT1.2-OE in roots down-regulated the expression levels of NRT1.2, NRT2.4, NLP1, and NLP7, which indicated that AhNIGT1.2 influenced peanut nodulation by modulating nitrate transport and the expression of NLP genes. The transcriptome analysis of AhNIGT1.2-OE and control roots revealed that overexpressing AhNIGT1.2 significantly enriched the differentially expressed genes associated with nitrate response, nodulation factor pathway, enzymes for triterpene biosynthesis, and carotenoid biosynthesis. These findings suggest that AhNIGT1.2 play a key role in peanut nodulation by regulating nitrate transport and response and other related pathways. This study gives insights into the molecular mechanisms of nitrogen and phosphorus in regulating legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation, and sheds light on the development of legume crops that can efficiently fix nitrogen in high nitrogen environments.
Arachis/physiology*
;
Nitrates/metabolism*
;
Plant Proteins/physiology*
;
Transcription Factors/metabolism*
;
Plant Root Nodulation/physiology*
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
;
Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism*
;
Nitrogen Fixation
9.Comparison of the efficacy of fully visualized endoscopic posterior transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for single-segment lumbar degenerative disease
Longwei LU ; Yao CHEN ; Jialong XU ; Junwen GU ; Xiaoliang LI ; Hailong ZHANG ; Peijian TONG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2025;45(2):77-85
Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of endoscopic posterior transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-PTLIF) and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) in the treatment of single-segment lumbar degenerative diseases.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 56 patients with single-segment lumbar degenerative diseases treated at Xiuzhou District People's Hospital between September 2020 and March 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical approach: the Endo-PTLIF group (24 cases, 11 males and 13 females; mean age: 56.5±8.4 years, range: 43-72 years) and the MIS-TLIF group (32 cases, 10 males and 22 females; mean age: 54.5±10.4 years, range: 37-73 years). Perioperative parameters, visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), lumbar lordosis (LL), disc height (DH), and dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCA) were compared between the two groups.Results:No significant differences were observed between the two groups in baseline characteristics, preoperative VAS, ODI, LL, DH, or DSCA ( P>0.05). However, the operative time in the Endo-PTLIF group (173.9±12.3 minutes) was significantly longer than in the MIS-TLIF group (136.5±19.5 minutes, P<0.05). Similarly, the Endo-PTLIF group required more fluoroscopy exposures (15.9±1.8) than the MIS-TLIF group (13.0±1.6, P<0.05). In contrast, intraoperative blood loss in the Endo-PTLIF group (68.9± 12.9 ml) was significantly lower than in the MIS-TLIF group (126.7±35.4 ml, P<0.05). Additionally, the Endo-PTLIF group had a shorter hospital stay [7.00 (6.25, 7.75) days] compared to the MIS-TLIF group [10.00 (9.25, 11.00) days, P<0.05]. At one week and one month postoperatively, the Endo-PTLIF group had significantly lower back pain VAS scores [2.00 (2.00, 3.00) and 2.00 (2.00, 2.00), respectively] and a lower ODI (25.83%±3.83%) compared to the MIS-TLIF group [3.00 (2.25, 4.00), 2.50 (2.00, 3.00), and 30.09%±4.02%, respectively; P<0.05]. Beyond one month postoperatively, there were no significant differences in leg pain VAS scores between the groups, and back pain VAS and ODI showed no significant differences after six months ( P>0.05). At the final follow-up, the excellent and good rates, according to MacNab criteria, were 95.8% in the Endo-PTLIF group and 93.8% in the MIS-TLIF group, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). At 12 months postoperatively, both groups showed significant improvements in LL, DH, and DSCA compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05), but there were no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). The fusion rates were 96% in the Endo-PTLIF group and 94% in the MIS-TLIF group, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). Complications included one case of dural tear in the Endo-PTLIF group, and one case of dural tear and one case of incision infection in the MIS-TLIF group. Conclusion:Endo-PTLIF achieves comparable clinical efficacy to MIS-TLIF in the treatment of single-segment lumbar degenerative diseases, with the added advantages of reduced intraoperative blood loss and faster postoperative recovery.
10.Treatment of severe calciphylaxis with different sodium thiosulfate usage: a case report and literature review
Mingrui YAO ; Tian XU ; Hong LIU ; Li SUN ; Liyuan ZHANG ; Xiaoliang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nephrology 2025;41(5):372-375
Calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriopathy (CUA), is a rare arteriosclerosis disease characterized by skin ischemia and necrosis with severe pain, which occurs in end-stage renal disease patients. The efficacy of sodium thiosulfate (STS) in CUA has been widely verified and affirmed. However, there is no unified standard for the use of STS at home and abroad.This article introduced a case of severe CUA patient who had achieved good results under different STS usage treatments, and summarized the different STS usage treatments for CUA combined with literature.

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