1.Downregulation of ubiquitous microRNA-320 in hepatocytes triggers RFX1-mediated FGF1 suppression to accelerate MASH progression.
Liu YANG ; Wenjun LI ; Yingfen CHEN ; Ru YA ; Shengying QIAN ; Li LIU ; Yawen HAO ; Qiuhong ZAI ; Peng XIAO ; Seonghwan HWANG ; Yong HE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4096-4114
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe type of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a leading etiology of end-stage liver disease worldwide, posing significant health and economic burdens. microRNA-320 (miR-320), a ubiquitously expressed and evolutionarily conserved miRNA, has been reported to regulate lipid metabolism; however, whether and how miR-320 affects MASH development remains unclear. By performing miR-320 in situ hybridization with RNAscope, we observed a notable downregulation of miR-320 in hepatocytes during MASH, correlating with disease severity. Most importantly, miR-320 downregulation in hepatocytes exacerbated MASH progression as demonstrated that hepatocyte-specific miR-320 deficient mice were more susceptible to high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol diet (HFHC) or choline-deficient, amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD)-induced MASH compared with control littermates. Conversely, restoration of miR-320 in hepatocytes ameliorated MASH-related steatosis and fibrosis by injection of adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8) carrying miR-320 in different types of diet-induced MASH models. Mechanistic studies revealed that miR-320 specifically regulated fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) production in hepatocytes by inhibiting regulator factor X1 (RFX1) expression. Notably, knockdown of Rfx1 in hepatocytes mitigated MASH by enhancing FGF1-mediated AMPK activation. Our findings underscore the therapeutic potential of hepatic miR-320 supplementation in MASH treatment by inhibiting RFX1-mediated FGF1 suppression.
2.Evolution-guided design of mini-protein for high-contrast in vivo imaging.
Nongyu HUANG ; Yang CAO ; Guangjun XIONG ; Suwen CHEN ; Juan CHENG ; Yifan ZHOU ; Chengxin ZHANG ; Xiaoqiong WEI ; Wenling WU ; Yawen HU ; Pei ZHOU ; Guolin LI ; Fulei ZHAO ; Fanlian ZENG ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Jiadong YU ; Chengcheng YUE ; Xinai CUI ; Kaijun CUI ; Huawei CAI ; Yuquan WEI ; Yang ZHANG ; Jiong LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5327-5345
Traditional development of small protein scaffolds has relied on display technologies and mutation-based engineering, which limit sequence and functional diversity, thereby constraining their therapeutic and application potential. Protein design tools have significantly advanced the creation of novel protein sequences, structures, and functions. However, further improvements in design strategies are still needed to more efficiently optimize the functional performance of protein-based drugs and enhance their druggability. Here, we extended an evolution-based design protocol to create a novel minibinder, BindHer, against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It not only exhibits super stability and binding selectivity but also demonstrates remarkable properties in tissue specificity. Radiolabeling experiments with 99mTc, 68Ga, and 18F revealed that BindHer efficiently targets tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer mouse models, with minimal nonspecific liver absorption, outperforming scaffolds designed through traditional engineering. These findings highlight a new rational approach to automated protein design, offering significant potential for large-scale applications in therapeutic mini-protein development.
3.Automatic Measurement Method for Spatial Resolution of MRI Based on the ACR Phantom
Yu ZHANG ; Hongxia YIN ; Yawen LIU ; Pengling REN ; Yanjun HU ; Tianxin CHENG ; Zhenghan YANG ; Zhenchang WANG ; Hui XU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging 2025;33(6):595-600,606
Purpose To measure the spatial resolution in MRI quality control testing automatically based on the American College of Radiology(ACR)phantom using the support vector machine(SVM)method,and the feasibility,accuracy and measurement speed of this method are explored.Materials and Methods Quality control tests were performed using eight MRI devices at Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University.A retrospective study was conducted on 71 MRI quality control test images collected based on ACR phantoms between 2017 and 2019.The images were preprocessed by binarization,extraction region of interest and so on.An SVM-based classification model was constructed for analyzing the spatial resolution of dot arrays in row and column directions.The dataset was randomly split into a training set and a test set.The generalization performance of the classification model in this study was evaluated through accuracy,precision,recall and F1 score on the test set.Comparing the results of spatial resolution measurements obtained by both manual and automatic method,we demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of the method.Additionally,the time taken for the automatic spatial resolution measurement was recorded.Results In this study,the proposed method of automatically measuring the spatial resolution of ACR phantom test images using SVM was feasible,high accuracy and short time.In classification performance test,the accuracy of the spatial resolution of the row directional latices was 95%,the precision was 100%.The accuracy of the spatial resolution of the column directional latices was 97%,the precision was 100%.Among the test cases,the results of automatic measurements matched those of manual measurements in 13 out of 14 cases.On average,automatic spatial resolution measurement took 0.158 seconds per case.Conclusion This study achieves automatic measurement of spatial resolution in MRI quality control based on the ACR phantom using SVM method.The method demonstrates high accuracy and fast measurement speeds,holding significant implications for future rapid MRI quality control stability testing.
4.Automatic Detection of Quality Control Performance of Radio Frequency Coils Based on ACR Phantom
Yawen LIU ; Hongxia YIN ; Yu ZHANG ; Pengling REN ; Yanjun HU ; Hui XU ; Zhenghan YANG ; Zhenchang WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging 2025;33(6):601-606
Purpose To explore an automatic detection method for quality control performance indicators of radio frequency coils based on American College of Radiology(ACR)phantom,and verify its accuracy stability and computational efficiency.Materials and Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 50 quality control images collected based on ACR phantom in Beijing Friendship Hospital,Capital Medical University from May 2017 to July 2019.The measurement and calculation methods of signal noise ratio(SNR),percent image uniformity(PIU)and percent signal ghosting(PSG)were used to automatically calculate the above indicators using a self-designed program in Python.A simple linear regression analysis on the automatically calculated SNR,PSG and PIU values compared to the manually measured results was performed,and Bland-Altman analysis was used to calculate the percentage difference to evaluate the consistency and bias between the performance indicators calculated by the two methods.The time consumption of two detection methods was compared to verify their computational complexity and efficiency.Results There was a strong correlation between the performance indicators SNR,PSG and PIU of radio frequency coils measured and calculated automatically and manually(r=0.991 4,0.992 8 and 0.909 8,all P<0.0001).The Bland-Altman results showed that most of the data fall within the 95%confidence interval and were evenly distributed.In terms of computational complexity and efficiency,compared to the complex manual delineation and calculation of 2-3 minutes per case,automatic detection could simultaneously obtain SNR,PSG and PIU values in less than 1 second.Conclusion The automatic and manual measurement methods have good consistency,and the automatic detection method is easy to operate,which is helpful for the daily quality control work and performance monitoring of radio frequency coils.
5.Comparative analysis of CT findings in clear cell renal cell carcinoma with and without sarcomatoid
Chuanxian MA ; Chen CHEN ; Yawen YANG ; Shun CHAI ; Zhanlong MA
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(4):617-620
Objective To perform an analytical comparison of CT findings between sarcomatoid clear cell renal cell carcinoma(sccRCC)and grade 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC),to improve preoperative diagnosis for sccRCC.Methods The pathology and imaging data of 18 patients with sccRCC and 23 patients with grade 4 ccRCC were retrospectively analyzed,the differences of non-contrast and contrast-enhanced CT features between the two groups were compared.Results(1)sccRCC and ccRCC demonstrated similar features regarding hemorrhage,calcification,retroperitoneal lymph node enlargement,distant metastasis,invasion of perinephric organs,vascular invasion,and neovascularization around and within the tumor,as well as CT values at different phases.No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)In the sccRCC,solid components were predominant in 6 cases,compared to 16 cases in the ccRCC,showed a significant difference(P=0.017).The ratio of cystic and necrotic areas in sccRCC was 0.66±0.20,and that in ccRCC was 0.51±0.17,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.015).(3)Using a cystic and necrotic area ratio of 0.63 as the diagnostic threshold yields the optimal discriminative performance,with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.732,a sensitivity of 0.611,and a specificity of 0.826.Conclusion sccRCC is distinguished by a significantly higher proportion of cystic and necrotic elements as opposed to the grade 4 ccRCC.
6.Bibliometrics and Visualization of the Regulation of Notch Signaling Pathway by TCM Based on Global Perspective
Hui SHANG ; Licheng RAN ; Rong CHEN ; Yawen SONG ; Yajun WANG ; Lirong CHEN ; Tong YANG ; Mingliang GUO ; Hui HE
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(4):1072-1083
Objective To analyze the research status,hot directions and frontier trends of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of diseases by regulating Notch signaling pathway based on bibliometrics.Methods Based on Citespace and Vosviewer,the literature on the regulation of Notch signaling pathway by traditional Chinese medicine in CNKI and WoSCC was visually analyzed.Results 362 and 85 related literatures were published in Chinese and English respectively until January 2024.Since 2013,the number of literatures published in this field has shown a fluctuating increasing trend.China is the country with the most publications;Hunan University of Chinese Medicine were the institutions with the most publications in the Chinese database,and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine was the institution with the most publications in the English literature database.Combined with the research direction of each research team and keyword clustering and burst analysis,the research hotspots of traditional Chinese medicine regulating Notch signaling pathway are focused on cerebral ischemia,myelosuppression and hepatic fibrosis.Diseases such as Asthma,colorectal cancer have become emerging research directions in recent years.Electroacupuncture therapy to promote stem cell proliferation and treat neurological diseases is one of the frontier research trends in this field.Conclusion Recent years have seen a rapid development of traditional Chinese medicine's disease prevention and treatment that targets Notch signaling pathway.Various expert teams have obtained rich research results,and the research hotspots show a diversified trend.In-depth exploration of this can provide strong evidence for the molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of various diseases.
7.Development of an innovation-oriented curriculum indicator system for nursing science and technology innovation education
Hongli LI ; Yawen ZHANG ; Wen LI ; Yuhan LU ; Xinying YU ; Dong PANG ; Qian PENG ; Qiuli YAO ; Wei ZHANG ; Hong YANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(34):4714-4719
Objective:To construct an indicator system for a nursing science and technology innovation curriculum guided by innovation competence, in order to provide a reference for cultivating innovation ability in nursing students.Methods:The overall research period was from March to December 2024. A nursing innovation curriculum indicator framework was initially developed through literature analysis and brainstorming. From October to December 2024, 19 experts from nine hospitals or universities across five provinces and cities were selected via purposive sampling to participate in two rounds of Delphi consultation. Revisions were made based on expert feedback.Results:Both rounds of expert consultation achieved a 100% response rate. The authority coefficient of the experts was 0.92. The final indicator system included four curriculum elements: course content, course objectives, teaching methods, and assessment, encompassing 14 first-level indicators and 40 second-level indicators.Conclusions:The innovation-oriented indicator system for nursing science and technology education demonstrates good scientific validity and reliability. It offers a foundational framework for advancing innovation-focused nursing education and curriculum design.
8.Correlation between plasma Hcy and the degree of coronary artery calcification in the elderly
Jingyuan GAO ; Qianqian PENG ; Liming HAN ; Yawen WU ; Han YAN ; Jingwei LIU ; Yuyang YANG
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(20):18-21
Objective To investigate the association between plasma homocysteine(Hcy)level and coronary artery calcification(CAC)and its clinical predictive efficacy.Methods A total of 172 patients who underwent coronary CT angiography North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital from April 2019 to May 2021 and CAC score(CACS)>0 were enrolled.According to the CACS value,the subjects were divided into mild calcification group(n=136)and severe calcification group(n=36),and the clinical characteristics of two groups were compared and analyzed.Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to screen the independent influencing factors of CAC severity,and a prediction model was constructed based on the Hcy detection value.The clinical diagnostic value was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results There were significant differences in Hcy,white blood cell count,triglyceride and magnesium ion levels between two groups(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Hcy,white blood cell count and magnesium ion level were independent risk factors for the progression of CAC.Furthermore,a regression model based on Hcy was constructed and ROC curve was fitted to evaluate its predictive efficacy.The results suggested that the predictive model had the best performance when the critical value of Hcy was set at 27.4μmol/L:the sensitivity was 55.6%,the specificity was 97.1%,and the area under the curve was 0.765.Conclusion Hcy serves as an independent risk factor for the severity of CAC and can effectively predict the progression of CAC with high accuracy.
9.Trends in disease burden of aortic aneurysm attributable to high body mass index in China based on GBD data
Yuanyuan ZHANG ; Yawen WANG ; Yangyang DAI ; Liu YANG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(6):1157-1170
Background and Aims:Aortic aneurysm,a major cardiovascular disease with high mortality and disability rates,has emerged as a critical global public health challenge.Elevated body mass index(BMI)has been confirmed as an independent risk factor for aortic aneurysm.However,the long-term trends and heterogeneity of the disease burden attributable to high BMI in China-across sex,age,and region-remain insufficiently studied.This study,based on the Global Burden of Disease(GBD)database,aimed to analyze the changes in the disease burden of high BMI-related aortic aneurysm in China from 1990 to 2021 and compare these trends with those in global and socio-demographic index(SDI)-stratified regions.Methods:Data from GBD 2021 were used to extract mortality rates and disability-adjusted life years(DALY)due to aortic aneurysm attributable to high BMI in China from 1990 to 2021.Age-standardized mortality rate(ASMR)and age-standardized DALY rate(ASDR)were calculated.Long-term trends were assessed using the estimated annual percentage change(EAPC)and Joinpoint regression models.An autoregressive integrated moving average model was applied to project trends from 2022 to 2036.Results:During the study period,deaths and DALY from aortic aneurysms attributable to high BMI in China increased nearly sevenfold.ASMR rose from 1 to 3 per 100 000 population(EAPC=3.91),and ASDR increased from 23 to 74 per 100 000(EAPC=4.11),both showing a marked upward trend.Males consistently bore a higher burden across all age groups,particularly among those aged≥65 years.Decomposition analysis revealed that the increased burden in males was mainly driven by epidemiological improvements,while that in females was primarily attributable to population aging.Compared with the United States and global trends,China exhibited a faster increase in high BMI-related aortic aneurysm burden,which is projected to remain elevated over the next 15 years.Conclusion:The disease burden of aortic aneurysm attributable to high BMI continues to rise in China,with pronounced differences across sex and age.Targeted weight management,health interventions,and early screening strategies are urgently needed for high-risk populations to curb the upward trend and optimize public health resource allocation.
10.Impacts of corneal topography-guided phacoemulsification with transparent corneal incision on efficacy and complications of cataract patients
Fangfang WU ; Lu LU ; Wenwen WU ; Yawen LIU ; Lidong YANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(3):485-489
AIM: To investigate the effect of corneal topography-guided phacoemulsification with transparent corneal incision on cataract patients.METHODS:A total of 92 cataract patients(92 eyes)admitted to our hospital from February 2021 to February 2023 were prospectively selected and randomly divided into two groups: the control group(46 eyes)received the conventional 11:00 clear corneal incision scheme, and the study group(46 eyes)received the steepest meridian clear corneal incision scheme. The uncorrected visual acuity, corneal surface morphology indicators, including surface regularity index(SRI), surface asymmetry index(SAI), and cylinder(CYL), subjective dry eye symptoms questionnaire scoring scale(SDES), tear film break-up time(BUT), and complications were compared between the two groups.RESULTS:All patients completed the follow-up. The uncorrected visual acuity of the study group was significantly better than that of the control group at 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.05); there were statistical significance in the SAI and CYL of both groups of patients at 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.05); the fluctuation levels of SDES and BUT in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group at different time points after surgery(all P<0.05); and there was no statistical difference in complications between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Under the guidance of corneal topography, phacoemulsification through the transparent corneal incision of the steepest meridian of the cornea can improve the uncorrected visual acuity of cataract patients, restore the corneal surface morphology, and have few complications.

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