1.Research progress on strategies to target intestinal microbiota to improve drug resistance in tumor immunotherapy
Hui-ling LI ; Bi-qing LIU ; Ying-nan FENG ; Xin HU ; Lan ZHANG ; Xian-zhe DONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):260-268
A growing body of research points out that gut microbiota plays a key role in tumor immunotherapy. By optimizing the composition of intestinal microbiota, it is possible to effectively improve immunotherapy resistance and enhance its therapeutic effect. This article comprehensively analyzes the mechanism of intestinal microbiota influencing tumor immunotherapy resistance, expounds the current strategies for targeted regulation of intestinal microbiota, such as traditional Chinese medicine and plant components, fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics and dietary therapy, and explores the potential mechanisms of these strategies to improve patients' resistance to tumor immunotherapy. At the same time, the article also briefly discusses the prospects and challenges of targeting intestinal microbiota to improve tumor immunotherapy resistance, which provides a reference for related research to help the strategy research of reversing tumor immunotherapy resistance.
2.Effect of Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan on Mitochondrial Biogenesis in BMSCs Through PGC-1α/PPARγ
Ying YANG ; Xiuzhi FENG ; Yiran CHEN ; Zhimin WANG ; Xian GUO ; Yanling REN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):28-36
ObjectiveBased on the TCM theory of "Yang transforms materials to Qi while Yin constitutes material form", this paper explored the effects of Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan on the molecular mechanism of mitochondrial biogenesis during the adipogenic differentiation process of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by mediating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), providing theoretical support for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) using Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan. MethodsBMSCs were divided into a blank group, Zuogui Wan (ZGW) group, Yougui Wan (YGW) group, and Progynova group. Cell identification was performed using flow cytometry. The growth curves of BMSCs were plotted using the methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method, and the effects of Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan on the proliferation of BMSCs were detected. The Oil red O staining method was used to detect lipid droplet formation. The Western blot method was used to detect the expression of adipogenesis-related factors PPARγ, CCAAT/enharcer-binding protein (C/EBP)α, C/EBPβ, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) protein, brown adipose tissue-related (BAT) proteins PGC-1α, uncoupcing protein 1 (UCP1), PR domdin-containing protein 16 (PRDM16), mitochondrial biogenesis-related PGC-1α, nuclear respiratory factor 1 (Nrf1), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). The expression of adipogenesis-related factors PPARγ, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, LPL genes, and the copy number of cytochrome B (CytoB mtDNA) gene was detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Mitochondrial ultrastructure was detected using transmission electron microscopy. ResultsCompared with that in the blank group, the proliferation ability of BMSCs in each treatment group increased continuously as the intervention progressed, and lipid droplets significantly decreased after the drug intervention. The mRNA and protein expression levels of adipogenesis-related factors PPARγ, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, and LPL were significantly downregulated (P<0.01), while those of the BAT-related factors PGC-1α, UCP1, PRDM16 were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). The number of mitochondria increased, accompanied by reduced swelling. The double membrane and cristae structure were clear, and the internal cristae rupture was reduced. The copy number of CytoB mtDNA in each treatment group was significantly increased (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of mitochondrial biogenesis-related PGC-1α, Nrf1, Nrf2, and TFAM in each treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.01). ConclusionBoth Zuogui Wan and Yougui Wan can prevent and treat PMOP by intervening in mitochondrial biogenesis in BMSCs through PGC-1α/PPARγ.
3.Construction and Validation of a Large Language Model-Based Intelligent Pre-Consultation System for Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yiqing LIU ; Ying LI ; Hongjun YANG ; Linjing PENG ; Nanxing XIAN ; Kunning LI ; Qiwei SHI ; Hengyi TIAN ; Lifeng DONG ; Lin WANG ; Yuping ZHAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(9):895-900
ObjectiveTo construct a large language model (LLM)-based intelligent pre-consultation system for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to improve efficacy of clinical practice. MethodsA TCM large language model was fine-tuned using DeepSpeed ZeRO-3 distributed training strategy based on YAYI 2-30B. A weighted undirected graph network was designed and an agent-based syndrome differentiation model was established based on relationship data extracted from TCM literature and clinical records. An agent collaboration framework was developed to integrate the TCM LLM with the syndrome differentiation model. Model performance was comprehensively evaluated by Loss function, BLEU-4, and ROUGE-L metrics, through which training convergence, text generation quality, and language understanding capability were assessed. Professional knowledge test sets were developed to evaluate system proficiency in TCM physician licensure content, TCM pharmacist licensure content, TCM symptom terminology recognition, and meridian identification. Clinical tests were conducted to compare the system with attending physicians in terms of diagnostic accuracy, consultation rounds, and consultation duration. ResultsAfter 100 000 iterations, the training loss value was gradually stabilized at about 0.7±0.08, indicating that the TCM-LLM has been trained and has good generalization ability. The TCM-LLM scored 0.38 in BLEU-4 and 0.62 in ROUGE-L, suggesting that its natural language processing ability meets the standard. We obtained 2715 symptom terms, 505 relationships between diseases and syndromes, 1011 relationships between diseases and main symptoms, and 1 303 600 relationships among different symptoms, and constructed the Agent of syndrome differentiation model. The accuracy rates in the simulated tests for TCM practitioners, licensed pharmacists of Chinese materia medica, recognition of TCM symptom terminology, and meridian recognition were 94.09%, 78.00%, 87.50%, and 68.80%, respectively. In clinical tests, the syndrome differentiation accuracy of the system reached 88.33%, with fewer consultation rounds and shorter consultation time compared to the attending physicians (P<0.01), suggesting that the system has a certain pre- consultation ability. ConclusionThe LLM-based intelligent TCM pre-diagnosis system could simulate diagnostic thinking of TCM physicians to a certain extent. After understanding the patients' natural language, it collects all the patient's symptom through guided questioning, thereby enhancing the diagnostic and treatment efficiency of physicians as well as the consultation experience of the patients.
4.Isolation,identification and genome-wide analysis of a strain of Klebsiella pneu-moniae type ST-4263 from Kole pigs
Guixian ZHOU ; Shihui WU ; Minle WANG ; Yixiao LIAO ; Shuang LI ; Zemin YANG ; Ming WEN ; Simei XIAN ; Ying YANG
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(8):1679-1687,1695
The 16S rRNA sequencing,whole genome sequencing and drug sensitivity tests were used to identify the isolates molecularly and to detect and analyse their virulence genes,resistance genes and drug resistance.The results showed that the isolate was highly homologous to Klebsiella pneumoniae X4 and located on the same branch by 16S rRNA sequence analysis,and it was named as KLKp10.Whole genome sequencing results showed that the KLKp10 genome was 5 342 841 bp in length,containing 5 138 genes,346 repetitive segments,6 rRNAs and 81 tRNAs,with a GC con-tent of 57.30%.MLST analysis showed that KLKp10 belongs to the ST-4263 type.The functions of 4 097 of the genes encoding proteins were classified and annotated by COG,and there were also 382 genes with unknown functions.A total of 50 functional classifications were involved in the an-notation results based on the GO database;33 kinds of signaling pathways were covered based on the signaling pathway annotations in the KEGG database.A total of 443 virulence genes were screened in the VFDB database,of which 339 belonged to the Set A database and could encode 124 virulence factors.The 101 resistance genes were predicted by comparing with the CARD database,among which there were more resistance genes against β-lactam antibiotics.The results of drug sensitivity test showed that KLKp10 was highly sensitive to ceftazidime,gentamicin,azithro-mycin,chloramphenicol,norfloxacin,ofloxacin,and enrofloxacin;moderately sensitive to ceftriax-one,neomycin,kanamycin,and streptomycin;and resistant to ciprofloxacin,tetracycline,amoxicil-lin,and penicillin.In this study,we systematically revealed the gene-wide characterization,virulence factors and drug resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae KLKp10 of Kole pig origin,which provides important data support for the study of Klebsiella pneumoniae at the overall level of its genome.
5.Difference in liver toxicity between normal rats and Yin deficiency rats treated with psoralen and preliminary exploration of its mechanism
Tian-xian PEI ; Fu-zhen LI ; Meng-ying CHEN ; Xue-tong WANG ; Li-zhen QIU ; Heng-yu XI ; Kun ZHOU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):843-850
Aim To study the difference in hepatotox-icity of psoralen on normal rats and Yin-deficiency rats from the perspective of lipid metabolism,so as to help explain the mechanism of psoralen cautiously used in patients with Yin deficiency recorded in ancient books.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into the nor-mal control group(carboxymethyl cellulose-Na,CMC-Na),normal administration group(CMC-Na+psor-alen),Yin-deficiency control group(CMC-Na+thy-roxine)and Yin-deficiency administration group(CMC-Na+thyroxine+psoralen).The model of Yin-deficiency was established by thyroxine(1 mg·kg-1)for ten days,and then psoralen(200 mg·kg-1)was given for three days.The serum indexes related to liver injury were detected by automatic biochemical analy-zer,the morphological changes of liver tissue were ob-served using HE and oil red O staining,and the relative transcription levels of lipid metabolism related enzymes and mRNA of transporter and endoplasmic reticulum stress related factors were detected using Real-time PCR.Results After intragastric administration of psoralen for three days,compared with the normal group,the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),total bile acid(TBA)and triglyeride(TG)in Yin deficiency group increased more significantly,while TC,ALB and TP de-creased more significantly,and liver HE and oil red O staining showed more obvious lipid degeneration.TG synthesis factors adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC),fatty acid synthase(FASN)and sterolregulatory element binding protein-1(SREBP-1)were down-regulated more significantly,TG transport factors mili-total pro-tein(MTP)and lipoprotein pipase(LPL)were down-regulated more evidently,fatty acid β-oxidation related factors carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A(CPT1A),carnitine/organic cation transporter 2(OCTN2)and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-alpha(PPARα)were down-regulated more apparently,TC transporter adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter G8(ABCG8)and bile acid receptor farne-soid X receptor(FXR)were down-regulated more ob-viously,and endoplasmic reticulum stress factor activa-ting transcription factor 4(ATF4)was up-regulated more significantly.Conclusions Psoralen can cause more severe hepatotoxicity in Yin deficiency rats than that in normal administration group,and its mechanism may be related to the disorder of hepatic lipid metabo-lism,aggravation of hepatic cholestasis and steatosis,and activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress re-sponse.
6.Analysis of lipid data from 2014 to 2024 based on over 2.6 million cases from a hospital in Shanghai
Jingrong XIAN ; Jing ZHU ; Ying XIONG ; Xincen DUAN ; Baishen PAN ; Beili WANG ; Wei GUO
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;48(7):842-850
Objective:To analyze the trend of lipid changes in patients and individuals undergoing physical examination at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from 2014 to 2024, providing evidence for the formulation of cardiovascular disease prevention and control strategies.Methods:A total of 2 657 835 individuals (general population) who underwent lipid testing during medical visits or physical examinations at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2024, were selected. Among them, 6 234 individuals who were tested consecutively for 11 years were considered as the fixed population. Lipid levels were analyzed across different genders and age groups. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were analyzed. The trends in lipid changes and the abnormal rates of TC (≥5.18 mmol/L) and LDL-C (≥3.40 mmol/L) in both the general and fixed populations were statistically analyzed.Results:The median age of the general population was 53 (41, 63) years, with 1 498 533 males (56.4%); 1 149 662 individuals (43.3%) were from the physical examination group. The median age of the fixed population was 52 (39, 62) years, with 3 262 males (52.3%); 2 955 individuals (47.4%) were from the physical examination group. Over an 11-year period, the logarithmically transformed TG (lnTG) in the general population slightly increased from 1.35 mmol/L to 1.36 mmol/L (Sen slope=0.007 mmol·L -1·year -1; S=27, P=0.043). Although there were fluctuations in TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C, the trends were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). However, in the subset of the population undergoing regular health check-ups, TC showed a steady increase over time ( S=27, P=0.043). Within a fixed population over the same 11-year period, there were no statistically significant changes in lipid profiles ( P>0.05). Nevertheless, in the fixed subset undergoing regular health check-ups, both TC and lnTG exhibited an upward trend (TC: S=27, P=0.043; lnTG: S=31, P=0.020), while in the fixed subset seeking medical attention, TC and LDL-C demonstrated a downward trend (TC: S=-31, P=0.020; LDL-C: S=-27, P=0.043). Trends in lipid profiles varied among different genders and age groups. Specifically, both men and women aged 20-<40 years old showed an increase in TC, abnormal TC rates, and abnormal LDL-C rates ( P<0.05). Conversely, in the fixed population, women over 60 years old exhibited a decrease in TC, abnormal TC rates, and abnormal LDL-C rates ( P<0.05). Conclusion:During the period from 2014 to 2024, there were slight fluctuations in the average lipid levels of both the general and fixed populations. Notably, TC, abnormal TC rates, and abnormal LDL-C rates increased among men and women aged 20-<40 years old, while these parameters decreased among women over 60 years old in the fixed population.
7.Learning curves of normal real-life vaginal delivery for residents in department of obstetrics and gynecology
Yan XU ; Jun GUAN ; Chang-en XU ; Qing-ying ZHANG ; Xian XIA
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(4):544-549
Objective To investigate the learning curve of real-life vaginal delivery,including its difficult steps and influencing factors,to optimize the future training of vaginal delivery for residents in department of obstetrics and gynecology.Methods From 25 Sep 2020 to 12 Mar 2022,OBGYN residents without previous experiences in vaginal delivery were prospectively enrolled in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University.Residents performed normal vaginal delivery under the supervision of senior obstetricians and midwives.The performance score(PS)of vaginal delivery and its 9 steps were evaluated via a questionnaire fulfilled by the supervisor once each delivery was finished.Logistic regression models were performed for univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the factors that might be correlated with the PS.Results Eventually,233 deliveries performed by 60 residents were analyzed.Results showed that more than 10 deliveries were needed for 70%of residents to obtain minimal competence of vaginal delivery.Perineal protection,delivery of the fetal head,delivery of the fetal shoulders and repair of episiotomy or laceration were found to be the most difficult steps,which required more practices to achieve minimal competence level.Univariate analyses showed the delivery experience,the times of observation/simulation/training,and humanistic care skills might influence the total PS(P<0.05).However,only delivery experience(OR=1.43,95%CI:1.22-1.67)and the times of observation(OR=1.02,95%CI:1.00-1.04)were found to be independently correlated with the total PS in multivariate analyses.Conclusion More than 10 real-life practices were required to achieve the minimal competence of normal vaginal delivery.Enhancing the training on the four difficult steps of vaginal delivery might improve the learning efficiency when delivery opportunities are limited.
8.Development and validation of a patient-specific quality assurance tool based on fast Monte Carlo and treatment log file in proton therapy
Hong-ying FENG ; Tian-yu PENG ; Jie SHAN ; Yong-hong ZHANG ; Bin-hang ZHANG ; Xian-bao YUAN ; Wei LIU
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(4):550-559
Objective To develop and validate a fast Monte Carlo(MC)-based patient-specific quality assurance(PSQA)tool using the treatment log files that is suitable to be used in the online adaptive radiotherapy for pencil beam scanning proton therapy(PBSPT-ART).Methods The proposed tool first used the delivery log file of a PBSPT plan to reversely reconstruct the PBSPT(rPBSPT)plan,and then used an in-house developed graphic processing unit(GPU)-accelerated virtual particle MC(VPMC)dose engine to calculate the dose distribution of the rPBSPT plan.The rPBSPT dose calculated by VPMC was then compared to the rPBSPT dose calculated by another independent MC dose engine(MCsquare),using 3D gamma analysis to verify the accuracy of VPMC calculation.As a demonstration of the feasibility of developed log file-based PSQA,the VPMC calculated dose of the rPBSPT plan was compared to the pre-delivery second check dose of the corresponding PBSPT plan calculated by MCsquare,using 3D gamma analysis.3D gamma analysis employes a criterion of 2 mm/2%/10%.Twenty patients with different disease sites were representatively selected to validate the efficiency and accuracy of the tool.Results The average calculation time of a rPBSPT plan by VPMC was(5.88±4.00)s in the accuracy verification.Compared to MCsquare,the passing rate of the 3D gamma analysis was 99.47%±0.72%.In the proposed PSQA tool demonstration,the passing rate of comparing the VPMC calculated rPBSPT dose to MCsquare calculated second check dose of the corresponding PBSPT plan was 98.91%±0.92%.Conclusion The accuracy and efficiency of the tool can meet the requirements of PSQA in the online PBSPT-ART workflow.
9.Preliminary investigation into the role of Sneathia Sanguinegens in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion
Fu-ju ZHAO ; Xian-yang HU ; Lu LIU ; Xi-xi HUANG ; Fei-fei WANG ; Jing GAO ; Mei-rong DU ; Chun-mei YING
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(1):99-106,138
Objective To investigate the role of Sneathia sanguinegens(S.sanguinegens)in the development of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion(URSA).Methods A case-control study was conducted to analyze the vaginal flora characteristics of 65 patients with URSA and 18 healthy controls through 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Toxicity profile of S.sanguinegens on human cervical cancer cells(ME-180),human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)and human placental choriocarcinoma cells(JEG-3)was analyzed at the cellular level to assess the mechanism of it in adverse pregnancy outcomes.And S.sanguinegens was used to infect C57BL/6J mice to explore the toxic effect on living organisms.Results The relative abundance of Sneathia was increased in patients with URSA compared with healthy controls.It was positively correlated with the number of miscarriages,and was attributed to S.sanguinegens.We also found that S.sanguinegens damaged ME-180,JEG-3 and HUVEC cells.The degree of cellular damage was related to the level of S.sanguinegens added.Intravenous infection with S.sanguinegens caused inflammatory damage in several organs and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen.Conclusion S.sanguinegens is closely related to URSA and should be emphasized in patients with high vaginal bacterial load.
10.Balanophora polysaccharide improves kidney injury in mice with diabetic nephropathy via regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway
Tian-ying SONG ; Xiao-ling ZHOU ; Jian-hong GAO ; Yi-duo HE ; Chao-xi TIAN ; Xian-bing CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1659-1664
Aim To study the renal protective effect of balanophora polysaccharide(BPS)on diabetic nephrop-athy(DN)mice and explore the related mechanisms.Methods A DN mouse model was induced using a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ),which was indicated by fasting blood glucose higher than 11.1 mmol·L-1,accompa-nied by diabetic symptoms such as polydipsia,polydia-gia,polyuria and weight loss,then BPS intervention was performed.Body weight and fasting blood glucose of each group mice were detected;automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect blood creatinine(SCr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),24 h urinary protein(24 h UP),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)content;ELISA was applied to determine serum inflammatory factor interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)level;HE and Masson staining were employed to observe renal his-topathological morphology;Western blot was used to de-tect Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88),nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)for pro-tein expression.Results Compared with the model group,after BPS,body weight and fasting blood glucose decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05);SCr,BUN,24 h UP,TC,TG and ALT significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05);the levels of the proinflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly reduced(P<0.01 or P<0.05);renal tissue injury and fibrosis decreased;TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB protein expression significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Conclusion BPS has a protective effect on the kidneys of DN mice,re-ducing the blood glucose level,improving liver and kid-ney function,alleviating renal tissue damage and renal fibrosis,and reducing inflammation response.Its mecha-nism may be related to the regulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

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