1.PPARα activation alleviates lithocholic acid-induced liver injury by inhibiting pyroptosis
Hang-Fei Liang ; Chuo-Ying Mai ; Xuan Li ; Jia-Ning Tian ; Hai-Guo Su ; Min Huang ; Jian-Hong Fang ; Hai-Tao Wang ; Xiao Yang ; Hui-Chang Bi
Liver Research 2026;10(2):177-188
Background and aims
The mechanism of cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is unclear, and effective therapies are lacking. While peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) agonists show potential hepatoprotective effect and pyroptosis is implicated in hepatocellular damage, how PPARα activation mitigates lithocholic acid (LCA)-induced pyroptosis remains unknown.
Methods
The hepatoprotective effect of PPARα agonists was evaluated in a mouse model of intrahepatic cholestasis induced by LCA. Liver injury was assessed via serum biochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining, and electron microscopy. Pyroptosis pathways were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and co-immunoprecipitation.
Results
Combined morphological, histopathological, and biochemical analyses confirmed that PPARα activation protects against CLI. Compared with LCA treatment alone, PPARα activation significantly attenuated the elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the increased TUNEL-positive cells, and the formation of hepatocyte membrane pores. Mechanistically, PPARα activation suppressed both NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1)/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, PPARα agonist pretreatment inhibited activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) signaling pathways.
Conclusions
PPARα protects against LCA-induced CLI by inhibiting both NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis associated with NF-κB and APAF-1/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis associated with the FOXO1 signaling pathway.
2.The Research Progress of Second Cancer Onset in Myeloprolifera-tive Neoplasms——Review
Jing-Yun ZOU ; Shi-Xuan WANG ; Fei LI
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1825-1828
Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms(MPNs)are at risk of developing solid tumors.Although the connection between MPN and solid tumors has been widely discussed,the cause remains to be explored.Some studies show that the MPN is considered to trigger a second cancer,but others suggest both diseases seem to share the same origin.In recent years,more and more studies have found that genetic susceptibility,drugs,chronic inflammation,immune function abnormalities and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential are related to the development of second cancers.In this review,we try to summarize the new advances of biological characteristics and pathogenesis of second cancers in MPNs.
3.Establishment and Validation of a Prognostic Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Macrophage-Ferroptosis-Related Genes
Yu-yao WANG ; Yuan-ping LIU ; Rui-xuan WANG ; Xuan-he CHANG ; Han-qing FEI ; Huan WANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(16):2585-2597
Objective:This study aimed to integrate RNA-seq data to identify key genes associated with macrophage-ferroptosis and develop a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods:We retrieved a dataset from the GEO database containing transcriptome data and clinical information for 163 samples.Macrophage-related genes were identified using WGCNA and immune infiltration analyses.Ferroptosis-related genes from the FerrDbV2 database were intersected with differentially expressed genes to obtain significant macrophage-ferroptosis-related genes.Hub genes were screened via protein interaction network construction,and key genes were identified using four machine learning algorithms.These genes exhibited significant expression differences between cancer and normal tissues and were closely linked to patient prognosis.ROC curve and KM survival analyses were performed,and expression levels were validated at the transcriptome and proteome levels.Results:Four key genes RRM2,KIF20A,PCK2,and PDK4 were identified and evaluated.RRM2 and KIF20A demonstrated high importance in classification prediction models and reliable performance in ROC and KM analyses(AUC>0.9,P<0.05).These genes regulate cancer cell proliferation/survival and macrophage polarization/function,influencing the tumor microenvironment and HCC progression.Conclusion:RRM2 and KIF20A regulate cancer cell proliferation and survival,modulate macrophage polarization and function,and influence the immune response in the tumor microenvironment.They can serve as prognostic biomarkers and potential immunotherapy targets for hepatocellular carcinoma.
4.Enriching Vitamin C in Tomato Fruits by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated SlCSN5B Gene Editing
Xuan-Sen AN ; Yan-Wei WANG ; Wen-Chao TIAN ; Ya-Juan REN ; Peng-Fei AI
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(3):460-469
Subunit 5B of constitutively photomorphogenic 9 signalosome(CSN5B)is an inhibitory factor for the biosynthesis of vitamin C in the L-galactose synthesis pathway in plants.To create mutants with richer vitamin C in tomato fruits,a dual-target vector of pKSE402-SlCSN5Bwas constructed and trans-formed into the breeding parent of 1912.Based on the molecular biological assay and DNA sequencing,17 transgenic positive lines were determined,and 6 lines of them were genetically mutated at the target site of SlCSN5B,with an editing efficiency of 35.3%.Among the mutants,2 lines were homozygous mu-tants,csn5b-6 with 180 bp deletion and csn5b-8 with 3 bp deletion.The biological traits of two types of deficiency homozygotes without exogenous T-DNA insertion derived from the T1 generation were observed,and there were no significant differences in phenotypes of the plant and fruit.Through physiological tes-ting of red-ripe fruits from T,generation lines of csn5b-6,the GMPase activity and the vitamin C content significantly increased by 43%and 37.8%,respectively,the content of hydrogen peroxide significantly decreased by 25.9%,and the content of soluble solids did not obviously change,compared with the wild type.There were no significant differences in plant traits and physiological characteristics between T1 gen-eration lines of csn5b-8 and the wild type.Based on gene expression analysis and protein structure predic-tion,the results showed that the gene of SlCSN5B normally transcribed,and the loss of large peptide seg-ments of CSN5B encoded by SlCSN5B caused changes in its structure to affect functioning,which led to an increase of vitamin C content in the line of csn5b-6-1 1.The findings suggest that the vitamin C content of tomato fruit can be improved by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SlCSN5B gene editing,which provides the valuable resources for high-quality breeding in tomato.
5.Analysis of factors influencing right atrial strain in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Jin-xin XU ; Jie-xuan ZHENG ; Tao-ran HUANG ; Dong-ling LUO ; Yuan ZHU ; Cao-jin ZHANG ; Hong-wen FEI
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(5):249-259
Objective To analyze the correlation between right atrial strain at various stages and various influencing factors in patients with pulmonary hypertension,and to explore the role of right atrial strain in the assessment of pulmonary hypertension.Methods A total of 239 cases diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension who underwent echocardiography and complete right heart catheterization at hospital from October 2021 to December 2023 were included.Conventional ultrasound parameters such as right heart strain,right atrial area(RA area),inferior vena cava diameter(IVC diameter),and collapse rate of the inferior vena cava(IVC diameter changes)were measured.The heart rate(HR)corresponding to the ultrasound images were recorded.General information such as age and gender,as well as catheter data including mean right atrial pressure(mRAP),mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP),and pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR),were collected.The relationship between right atrial strain and its influencing factors was analyzed,and further analysis was conducted by dividing into shunt group and non-shunt group based on the presence or absence of left-to-right shunt disease.Results The correlation with RA reservoir strain(RASr)from high to low is RV global strain(RV4CSL),RV free wall strain(RVFWSL),RA area,IVC diameter,mRAP,age,HR,and PVR;the correlation with RAconduit strain(RAScd)from high to low is RV4CSL,RVFWSL,RA area,IVC diameter,mRAP,age,PVR,and HR;the correlation with RA contraction strain(RASct)from high to low is RA area,RV4CSL,RVFWSL,mRAP,IVC diameter,and HR.The collapse rate of the inferior vena cava is correlated with strain at various stages of the right atrium;gender is correlated with RASr and RASct.Conclusions Right atrial strain can reflect changes in right atrial function,with the highest correlation to right ventricular strain and right atrial area.Right atrial strain can indicate the severity of right ventricular function and right atrial remodeling,serving as an evaluative index for the condition and treatment outcomes of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
6.Causal association between erectile dysfunction and the risk of myocardial infarction:A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Ye-tong ZHANG ; Xue-fei DING ; Yu-xuan SHANG ; Shang WU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(8):684-691
Objective:To evaluate the association between erectile dysfunction(ED)and myocardial infarction(MI)using two sample Mendelian randomization.Methods:A Mendelian randomization study was conducted using comprehensive data on ED and MI from extensive genome-wide association data.Using inverse variance weighted analysis for causal relationships,and correct for confounding factors using multivariate Mendelian randomization,the potential mediating effects were evaluated as well.Based on Gene-card data,the genes related to ED and MI were identified.Molecular docking was used to reveal spontaneously bound drug molecules.Results.Our study found that exposure to ED was a risk factor for MI(OR:1.001 0,95%CI:1.000 2-1.001 8,P=0.017 7),which also held true in the validation dataset(OR:1.028 5,95%CI:1.005 0-1.052 6,P=0.017 2).No statistically significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was found.The results of reverse Mendelian randomization analysis showed any reverse causal re-lationship between ED and MI.In multivariate Mendelian randomization analysis,after excluding confounding factors(excluding tri-glycerides and high-density lipoprotein),the P-value remained less than 0.05,and the OR ranged from 1.000 1 to 1.000 7,indica-ting that ED was still a risk factor for MI.In the mediation analysis,it was found that the current mediation ratio of smoking to MI was 13.06%.In summary-data-based mendelian randomization analysis,it was found that the gene PTPN11 was a common target gene for MI and ED(OR=0.990,P<0.001).Subsequent molecular docking with sildenafil,clopidogrel,and dapoxetine could spontaneous-ly bind to the PTPN11 gene receptor.Conclusion:There is a causal relationship between ED and MI,with smoking as a potential mediating factor,and the gene PTPN11 being a co-target gene.
7.Analysis of factors influencing right atrial strain in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Jin-xin XU ; Jie-xuan ZHENG ; Tao-ran HUANG ; Dong-ling LUO ; Yuan ZHU ; Cao-jin ZHANG ; Hong-wen FEI
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(5):249-259
Objective To analyze the correlation between right atrial strain at various stages and various influencing factors in patients with pulmonary hypertension,and to explore the role of right atrial strain in the assessment of pulmonary hypertension.Methods A total of 239 cases diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension who underwent echocardiography and complete right heart catheterization at hospital from October 2021 to December 2023 were included.Conventional ultrasound parameters such as right heart strain,right atrial area(RA area),inferior vena cava diameter(IVC diameter),and collapse rate of the inferior vena cava(IVC diameter changes)were measured.The heart rate(HR)corresponding to the ultrasound images were recorded.General information such as age and gender,as well as catheter data including mean right atrial pressure(mRAP),mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP),and pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR),were collected.The relationship between right atrial strain and its influencing factors was analyzed,and further analysis was conducted by dividing into shunt group and non-shunt group based on the presence or absence of left-to-right shunt disease.Results The correlation with RA reservoir strain(RASr)from high to low is RV global strain(RV4CSL),RV free wall strain(RVFWSL),RA area,IVC diameter,mRAP,age,HR,and PVR;the correlation with RAconduit strain(RAScd)from high to low is RV4CSL,RVFWSL,RA area,IVC diameter,mRAP,age,PVR,and HR;the correlation with RA contraction strain(RASct)from high to low is RA area,RV4CSL,RVFWSL,mRAP,IVC diameter,and HR.The collapse rate of the inferior vena cava is correlated with strain at various stages of the right atrium;gender is correlated with RASr and RASct.Conclusions Right atrial strain can reflect changes in right atrial function,with the highest correlation to right ventricular strain and right atrial area.Right atrial strain can indicate the severity of right ventricular function and right atrial remodeling,serving as an evaluative index for the condition and treatment outcomes of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
8.Study on intestinal protection and mechanism of magnolol in neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis
Hai-yan FENG ; Yue ZHANG ; Mao XU ; Kai-qi TAN ; Yi WANG ; Zhuo-lin CHEN ; Yu-fei CHEN ; Shao-xuan CHEN ; Yang ZHAO ; Cui LIU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1728-1735
Aim To investigate the intestinal protection and possible mechanism of magnolol(MG)in newborn rats with necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC).Methods The rats were randomly divided into control group(Ctrl group),model group(NEC group)and treatment group(MG group).The NEC model was induced by hypoxia,cold stimulation,deep formula milk and LPS intragastric administration in 7-day-old rats for four days.They were killed after five days of treatment with MG(20 mg·kg-1).HE staining was used to observe the intestinal pathological injury.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of IL-1 β,TNF-α,NL-RP3,ASC,caspase-1 and tight junction protein in the distal ileum of rats.Colon contents were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing to understand the gut microbio-ta.Results MG improved the body mass and intesti-nal injury of NEC neonatal rats.The expressions of in-testinal IL-1β,TNF-α,NLRP3,ASC and caspase-1 proteins were down-regulated,and the expressions of Claudin,Occludin and ZO-1 proteins were up-regula-ted.16S rDNA showed that MG increased the diversity of intestinal flora,and at the phylum level,MG in-creased the abundance of firmicutes and bacteroides in NEC model,and decreased the abundance of pro-teobacteria.At the genus level,MG treatment in-creased the abundance of Lactobacillus,unclassified_Muribaculaceae,Racteroides,but decreased the abun-dance of Escherichia_Shigella,Rodentibacter and Fuso-bacterium.Conclusion MG intervention can protect the intestinal tract of NEC rats by potentially improving barrier function,and regulating the intestinal microbiota through the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway.
9.Design of intelligent airborne soldier physical training system based on human body composition analysis
Lin YANG ; Zheng LIU ; Yu-shan YE ; Jian-fei PANG ; Jing HE ; Xuan-zi ZHOU ; Qiong WANG ; Xin-sheng CAO ; Tao LIU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(2):16-23
Objective To design an intelligent airborne soldier physical training system based on human body composition analysis to solve the problems in diversity of training mode,targeted training plan and high incidence of military training-related injuries.Methods The intelligent airborne military physical training system was designed with B/S architecture and developed with Python language,which was composed of four functional modules for airborne soldier information acquisition,trainee physical fitness state assessment,physical fitness training program recommendation and airborne soldier physical fitness training program evaluation.The airborne soldier information acquisition module collected and analyzed the trainee physiological parameter information with a human body composition analyzer,clarified the parameter characteristics related to physical training with considerations on military physical training requirements and constructed a trainee physical fitness assessment parameter model;the trainee physical fitness state assessment module established an evaluation model based on machine learning to realize stage-by-stage physical fitness evaluation for airborne soldiers;the physical fitness training program recommendation module was constructed based on the physical training feature similarity algorithm and graph embedding theory to provide decision making assistance for program development of airborne military physical training;the airborne soldier physical fitness training program evaluation module compared the physical fitness and evaluation results before and after training by means of list and chart,and updated the training program based on the evaluation results by calling the physical training program recommendation module.Results The intelligent airborne soldier physical training system contributed to forming an individualized physical fitness training recommendation mechanism after trainee body evaluation,modifying training program based on comparison and feedback for stage-by-stage training evaluation,so as to decrease the incidence of military training-related injuries while increasing the training efficiency.Conclusion The system developed improves airborne soldier physical training in rationality and reliability,and provides references for intelligent military training of the PLA.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(2):16-23]
10.Stratified mucin-producing epithelial neoplastic lesions of the cervix:clinicohistologic and molecular pathological characteristics
Yaling LIU ; Xian HUANG ; Fei WANG ; Quanquan HU ; Lanlan XUAN
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2025;32(3):301-308
Objective:To investigate the clinicohistologic and molecular pathological characteristics of invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinoma(ISMC).Methods:The clinicopathological data,immunohistochemistry,alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff(AB/PAS)staining,molecular detection and PD-L1 expressions of 11 cases of ISMC and 4 cases of stratified mucin-producing intraepithelial lesion(SMILE)in the pathological database of Anqing Medical Center of Anhui Medical University/Anqing Municipal Hospital and the first Affiliated hospital of Wannan Medical School/Yijishan Hostital between January of 2018 and March of 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:ISMC patients often presented with irregular vaginal bleeding.Morphologically,the cells containing mucus in the cytoplasm were arranged in stratified layers,surrounded by a palisade,and the tumor cells might be signet ring-shaped or have clear cytoplasm.ISMC might occur in both pure and mixed forms.ISMC had highly invasive biological characteristics.CK7,p16,p40 and(or)p63 were expressed focally or positively in the form of palisades around the cancer nests.AB-PAS staining was positive.HPV test results:HPV16/18 was positive in ISMC(1/4);HPV16/18 was positive before surgery(4/6);no HPV was detected in SMILE;all ISMC cases expressed PD-L1.Eight ISMC patients were successfully followed up for 4-39 months(average 20.50 months),and four SMILE patients for 1-25 months(average 8.25 months).All followed-up patients survived;however,one ISMC patient developed multi-organ metastases post-surgery.Conclusion:ISMC has unique morphological characteristics and immunophenotypes,indicated by high invasiveness and poor prognosis.All ISMC are PD-L1 positive,suggesting that these patients may benefit from PD-L1 immunotherapy.


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