1.Preclinical mouse models for studying cholangiocarcinoma
Shanru Yang ; Chaodi Bao ; Yuan Li ; Yangxiang Ou ; Yifan Jiang ; Wenjie Xu ; Dongfang Zheng ; Na Li ; Mengjie Yang ; Fuyan Wang ; Xin Hou
Liver Research 2026;10(1):22-34
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignancy characterized by tumor cells originating in the liver or bile ducts, exhibiting features of cholangiocyte differentiation. It poses a significant clinical challenge due to the limited diagnostic and therapeutic options available. Robust animal models are essential for advancing our understanding of CCA pathogenesis and developing effective treatments. This review provides a comprehensive overview of CCA mouse models, highlighting various approaches, including chemical induction, genetically engineered models, and tumor xenografts. Each model is discussed in terms of its establishment techniques, pathological characteristics, and research significance, with a focus on intrahepatic CCA. Chemical induction models, such as diethylnitrosamine- and azoxymethane-induced models, offer insights into tumorigenesis processes, whereas genetically modified models involving alterations in key genes such as Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, tumor protein 53, and isocitrate dehydrogenase serve as important tools for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying CCA. Xenograft models, including patient-derived xenografts, bridge the gap between experimental research and clinical applications, allowing for precise therapeutic evaluations. By comparing these models, this review underscores their respective advantages and limitations, paving the way for future studies aiming to optimize and innovate CCA modeling strategies.
2.Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment Approaches for Childhood IgA Vasculitis Nephritis from "Heat,Stasis and Deficiency"
Xiaoqing ZHENG ; Yifan LI ; Ying DING ; Shanshan XU ; Long WANG ; Yaping XING ; Wenchao XING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(15):1673-1676
The core pathogenesis of childhood IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN) lies in the intermingled conditions of heat, stasis and deficiency. Deficiency is the fundamental cause, while heat acts as the predominant manifestation at the initial stage, and stasis serves as the key factor leading to protracted illness. Based on this understanding, the overall therapeutic principle of clearing heat and cooling blood, dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals, reinforcing healthy qi and consolidating the root is established. A self-formulated Qingre Zhixue Formula (清热止血方) is used as the basic prescription. According to the characteristics of different disease stages, childhood IgAVN is further classified into three main syndrome types, including blood heat with stasis obstruction, deficiency of both qi and yin, and deficiency of both spleen and kidney, with corresponding syndrome-based treatments. Throughout the treatment process, emphasis is placed on dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals, while protecting the spleen and stomach of children and maintaining healthy qi. This paper provides new perspectives for diagnosis and treatment of childhood IgAVN with traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment Approaches for Childhood IgA Vasculitis Nephritis from "Heat,Stasis and Deficiency"
Xiaoqing ZHENG ; Yifan LI ; Ying DING ; Shanshan XU ; Long WANG ; Yaping XING ; Wenchao XING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(15):1673-1676
The core pathogenesis of childhood IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN) lies in the intermingled conditions of heat, stasis and deficiency. Deficiency is the fundamental cause, while heat acts as the predominant manifestation at the initial stage, and stasis serves as the key factor leading to protracted illness. Based on this understanding, the overall therapeutic principle of clearing heat and cooling blood, dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals, reinforcing healthy qi and consolidating the root is established. A self-formulated Qingre Zhixue Formula (清热止血方) is used as the basic prescription. According to the characteristics of different disease stages, childhood IgAVN is further classified into three main syndrome types, including blood heat with stasis obstruction, deficiency of both qi and yin, and deficiency of both spleen and kidney, with corresponding syndrome-based treatments. Throughout the treatment process, emphasis is placed on dissolving stasis and unblocking collaterals, while protecting the spleen and stomach of children and maintaining healthy qi. This paper provides new perspectives for diagnosis and treatment of childhood IgAVN with traditional Chinese medicine.
4.Association between Chinese visceral adiposity index and the risk of nephrolithiasis.
Wei ZHANG ; Shengqi ZHENG ; Tianchi HUA ; Yifan LI ; Qibing FAN
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2025;54(3):382-389
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the association between Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) and the risk of nephrolithiasis.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 78 438 Chinese adults who underwent ultrasound examinations during health screening at the Health Examination Center of Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University. Participants were divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4 groups) based on CVAI. Multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to evaluate the association between CVAI and nephrolithiasis risk, followed by subgroup analyses to further explore potential relationships. The performance of CVAI in predicting the risk of nephrolithiasis was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
RESULTS:
Increased CVAI was significantly associated with a higher risk of nephrolithiasis, with prevalence rising from 3.36% in the Q1 group to 10.67% in the Q4 group (P<0.01). In adjusted models, CVAI was positively correlated with the prevalence rate of nephrolithiasis (OR=1.002, 95%CI: 1.001-1.004, P<0.01). The risks of nephrolithiasis in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were 1.196-fold (95%CI: 1.069-1.338, P<0.01), 1.260-fold (95%CI: 1.109-1.433, P<0.01), and 1.316-fold (95%CI: 1.125-1.539, P<0.01) higher than in the Q1 group, respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed that CVAI was positively associated with the risk of nephrolithiasis in male participants, individuals aged <60 years, the hypertension group, populations with or without diabetes mellitus, and the normal body mass index subgroup. Genders and age had an interaction effect on the correlation between CVAI and the risk of nephrolithiasis development (both P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis demonstrated that CVAI exhibited superior predictive efficacy compared to waist circumference, body mass index, visceral adiposity index, weight-adjusted waist index, cardiometabolic index and body shape index, with an area under the curve of 0.622.
CONCLUSIONS
In Chinese adults, CVAI is positively associated with the risk of nephrolithiasis development, which may serve as a potential predictive marker for nephrolithiasis.
Humans
;
Nephrolithiasis/etiology*
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Male
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Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Cross-Sectional Studies
;
Adult
;
Intra-Abdominal Fat
;
Risk Factors
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Adiposity
;
Aged
;
Logistic Models
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Obesity, Abdominal/epidemiology*
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East Asian People
5.Improvement of neutral protease activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LX-6 by combined ribosome engineering and medium optimization and its application in soybean meal fermentation.
Yifan ZHU ; Xinyi HUANG ; Tao HAN ; Jiteng WANG ; Xiaoping YU ; Zheng MA
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2025;26(8):805-812
Soybean meal (SBM) prepared by soybean crushing is the most popular protein source in the poultry and livestock industries (Cai et al., 2015) due to its economic manufacture, high protein content, and good nutritional value. Despite these benefits, SBM contains various antigen proteins such as glycinin and β-conglycinin, which account for approximately 70% of the total proteins of the SBM and reduce digestibility and damage intestinal function (Peng et al., 2018). Treating SBM with proteases (neutrase, alcalase, and trypsin) or fermentation can eliminate these antigen proteins (Contesini et al., 2018). Because of its safety and rapid growth cycle, Bacillus strains are considered ideal for the fermentation industry (Yao et al., 2021). SBM fermented by Bacillus yields products with high nutritional value and low levels of antinutritional factors (ANFs), stimulating research in this area (Yuan et al., 2017). Kumari et al. (2023) demonstrated that fermentation with Bacillus species effectively degrades antigen proteins and increases crude protein content. The degradation of antigen proteins relies on protease hydrolysis. Low protease production is the major obstacle hindering the widespread use of microbial fermentation techniques.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/metabolism*
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Fermentation
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Glycine max/metabolism*
;
Soybean Proteins/metabolism*
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Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism*
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Ribosomes/metabolism*
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Globulins
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Antigens, Plant
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Seed Storage Proteins
6.Efficacy comparison of subsequent treatment modalities for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer with partial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Ru WANG ; Zheng LI ; Jugao FANG ; Junfang XIAN ; Qi ZHONG ; Yang ZHANG ; Lizhen HOU ; Hongzhi MA ; Ling FENG ; Shizhi HE ; Qian SHI ; Yifan YANG ; Haiyang LI ; Lingwa WANG ; Xinyu LI
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;60(10):1223-1231
Objective:To compare the survival outcomes of different subsequent treatment regimens in patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) who achieved partial response (PR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on the gross tumor volume regression rate (GTVRR).Methods:This retrospective study included patients with locally advanced HPSCC treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, from January 2011 to December 2023. The cohort included 135 males and 3 females, aged from 35 to 77 years. All patients received 2-3 cycles of TPF regimen (paclitaxel+cisplatin+5-fluorouracil) neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Subsequent treatments included concurrent chemoradiotherapy or surgery combined with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. The impacts of different subsequent treatment modalities on the survivals and prognoses of patients were compared based on GTVRR thresholds of 50% and 70%. The χ 2 test was used to analyze influencing factors; survival analysis and intergroup comparisons were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test; prognostic factors were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results:The 5-year OS and PFS rates were 56.5% and 47.9%, respectively, while, the 10-year OS and PFS rates were 25.8% and 21.2%, respectively. The median OS was 75 months, and the median PFS was 48 months. The laryngeal function preservation rate for the entire cohort was 83.3%. The patients who underwent surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy had significantly better OS and PFS outcomes than those treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy ( P<0.05). Stratification based on GTVRR revealed that the surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy regimen was particularly effective for PR patients with a GTVRR of 30%-70%, showing significantly better OS and PFS compared to the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The optimal subsequent treatment for PR-HPSCC may be surgery-based comprehensive treatment, particularly for patients with a GTVRR of 30%-70%. This study offers valuable insights for the stratified treatment of HPSCC, which could contribute to improving overall patient prognosis.
7.Outcomes of the modified Devine + Shiraki approach in the treatment of severe concealed penis
Xuejun HUANGFU ; Zhiqiang FAN ; Jia ZHENG ; Zhonghua LIU ; Xinglei HONG ; Yifan WANG
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2025;41(11):1152-1158
Objective:To study the outcomes of the modified Devine + Shiraki surgical approach in the treatment of severe concealed penis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of initially treated patients with severe concealed penis admitted to the Department of Urology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from March 2020 to September 2022. The therapeutic effects of three surgical approaches (Devine, Shiraki, and modified Devine + Shiraki) were analyzed and compared. The Devine approach mainly focuses on eliminating the pathological morphology of the concealed penis, thoroughly releasing the penile shaft, and correcting the concealed state; the Shiraki approach emphasizes the rational distribution of skin flaps; the key of the modified Devine + Shiraki approach lies in combining the advantages of the two approaches, achieving both complete correction of the concealed state and rational distribution of skin flaps. Improvements were made to the conventional surgical sequence: skin flap distribution was pre-designed before correcting the concealed penis to avoid difficulties in skin flap arrangement caused by degloving, thereby preventing postoperative complications such as stricture rings, lymphedema, or erectile pain. Three months after the operation, follow-up was performed to assess incision healing, presence of lymphedema or stricture rings, satisfaction with penile exposure, recurrence of the concealed state, urination patency, presence of urethral injury, and normal erectile function. A patient satisfaction survey was conducted 6 months after the operation. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison among the three groups; categorical variables were expressed as case numbers and percentages, and chi-square test was used for comparison among the three groups. Results:Eighty, fifty, and forty-five male children were enrolled in the Devine + Shiraki group, Devine group, and Shiraki group, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in age and body mass index (BMI) among the three groups [age: (7.6±4.5) years vs. (7.2±4.4) years vs. (6.7±4.2) years, F=0.61, P=0.546; BMI: (17.4±3.1) kg/m 2 vs. (17.7±3.2) kg/m 2 vs. (18.0±3.3) kg/m 2,F=0.57, P=0.565]. During surgery, all concealed penile shafts were completely released, and the penile skin was rationally distributed. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 18 months, with an average follow-up time of 13.6 months. At the 3-month postoperative follow-up, all three groups showed satisfactory wound healing with no signs of infection or skin flap necrosis; penile skin coverage was adequate, and all children demonstrated unobstructed urination without evidence of urethral injury; normal erectile function was preserved in all cases, with no reports of erectile dysfunction or pain. The recurrence rate of the concealed penis in the Devine + Shiraki group was significantly lower than that in the Devine group and Shiraki group, with a statistically significant difference [0 (0/80) vs. 6.0% (3/50) vs. 31.1% (14/45), χ2=32.88, P<0.001]; the proportion of patients without postoperative lymphedema and stricture rings in the Devine + Shiraki group was higher than that in the Devine group and Shiraki group, with a statistically significant difference [97.5% (78/80) vs. 70.0% (35/50) vs. 86.7% (39/45), χ2=20.39, P<0.001]. The Devine+ Shiraki, Devine, and Shiraki groups reported postoperative satisfaction in 76 (95.0%), 35 (70.0%), and 31 (68.9%) cases, respectively. Conclusion:The modified Devine + Shiraki surgical approach has definite efficacy, good safety, and a low incidence of complications, and can be used as an option for the treatment of severe concealed penis.
8.Exploration on the Effect of Acupuncture at"Weizhong"on Angiogenesis in Rats with Chronic Blunt Lumbar Muscle Injury Based on PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α Pathway
Dongmei WANG ; Yifan SUN ; Xiulian ZHENG ; Pingping ZHENG ; Jianping LIN ; Qun CHEN ; Shaoqing CHEN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(2):85-90
Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture at"Weizhong"on angiogenesis of chronic blunt injury of lumbar muscle in rats;To explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic lumbar skeletal muscle injury based on PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α signaling pathway.Methods A total of 24 SD male rats were established chronic blunt injury of lumbar muscle model,and were randomly divided into model group,Weizhong group and non-acupoint group,with 8 rats in each group.Another 8 rats of the same age were selected as the blank group.In the Weizhong group,acupuncture intervention was performed on both sides of"Weizhong",while in the non-acupoint group,acupuncture intervention was performed on both sides of"Weizhong"inwardly by 0.5 cm,once a day for 20 minutes each time,for 2 consecutive weeks.The blank group and model group adopted the same grasping fixed posture without any intervention.The body mass and limb grip strength of each group were measured,the lumbar muscle tissue morphology was observed by HE staining,the content of NO in lumbar muscle tissue was detected by ELISA,the expression of VEGF in lumbar muscle tissue was observed by immunofluorescence,the expression of PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway protein in lumbar muscle tissue was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the blank group,body mass and limb grip strength of model group decreased(P<0.01),cell structure of waist skeletal muscle was loosely arranged,red blood cells and nuclear exudation were observed,NO content and positive expression of VEGF in lumbar muscle tissue decreased(P<0.01),and the protein expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT and HIF-1α in lumbar muscle tissue were down-regulated(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the body mass and limb grip strength of rats in Weizhong group increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the arrangement of skeletal muscle cells in the waist was more compact and orderly,and the content of NO and positive expression of VEGF in lumbar muscle tissue were increased(P<0.01),the protein expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT and HIF-1α in lumbar muscle tissue were up-regulated(P<0.01).The effects of Weizhong group was better than those in non-acupoint group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture at"Weizhong"can effectively promote the repair of chronic blunt injury of lumbar muscle in rats.The mechanism may be related to activating the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway to regulate angiogenesis and improve vascular injury.
9.Design for a wireless regulation system based on STM 32 single-chip microcomputer for 3D water tank
Wei LI ; Cheng LIN ; Xiaoqing ZHENG ; Xiaopo KE ; Yifan WANG
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(2):161-164,169
Objective:To design a wireless regulation system based on STM 32 single chip microcomputer for three-dimension(3D)water tank,so as to improve the efficiency of physical verification for radiation.Methods:The wireless regulation system of 3D water tank was designed on the basis of STM32F103 single chip microcomputer and ZigBee technique through combined with regulation and control system for conventional 3D water tank,and the indicators of testing performance was also evaluated.Results:The wireless regulation system for 3D water tank can realize remote control to drive the operation of motor.The accuracy error of the detector was less than 0.2 mm along the x axis,y axis and z axis of the water tank.The repetitive error of the designated position was less than 0.1 mm after the detector repetitively reached the specified location along each axis.The vertical error of motion was less than 0.5 mm when the itinerary was less and equal to 200 mm,and this error was less than 1.0 mm when it was greater than 200 mm.Conclusion:The wireless regulation system of 3D water tank based on STM 32 can improve the information and intelligence levels that are measured and verified by ray beam,which is more in line with the requirement of radiation physics for measurement,and it can provide better technical support for the metrological verification of the equipment of nuclear medicine.
10.Paternal transmission of epigenetic information and its potential impact on offspring health
Zilin ZHENG ; Yifan ZHANG ; Bingrou GUO ; Liandong ZUO
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(11):1027-1031
Recent studies indicate that paternal exposures significantly affect offspring health.Adverse factors such as poor diet,toxin exposure,and stress can reduce semen quality and disrupt epigenetic marks in sperm,leading to changes in off-spring traits.Paternal transgenerational inheritance mainly occurs through epigenetic factors like DNA methylation,histone modi-fication,and non-coding RNAs.While researches have begun to reveal how sperm transmits epigenetic information,paternal epi-genetics largely remains correlational.Increasing concerns about environmental pollution and lifestyle changes have shifted focus to paternal sperm quality and its impact on offspring health before conception.Future studies should explore how different envi-ronmental and male infertility factors influence paternal epigenetics and how specific marks affect embryonic development,ulti-mately enhancing diagnostics,treatments,and preconception care.


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