1.Impact of hyperglycemia on liver fibrosis and end-stage liver disease in patients with comorbidities of chronic hepatitis B and steatotic liver disease
Xueli ZHANG ; Lina JIANG ; Meng LI ; Shuhong LIU ; Jingmin ZHAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(4):831-839
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinicopathological features of patients with comorbidities of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and steatotic liver disease (SLD), to investigate the impact of hyperglycemia on the risk of liver fibrosis and end-stage liver diseases (ESLD), and to provide a basis for the clinical management of such population. MethodsA total of 668 adult patients with CHB-SLD confirmed by liver biopsy in The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2011 to December 2019 were enrolled, and a retrospective cohort was established with the time of liver biopsy as the baseline and the onset of ESLD as the endpoint. All patients were followed up to March 31, 2024. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed at a ratio of 1∶4 to balance baseline features between groups, resulting in 82 patients in the hyperglycemia group and 281 in the non-hyperglycemia group. The two groups were compared in terms of metabolic profiles, laboratory markers, and histopathological features. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed quantitative data between two groups. The chi-square test or Fisher exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors for advanced fibrosis (AF), and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Cox proportional-hazards regression model were used to determine the influencing factors for the development of ESLD. ResultsCompared with the non-hyperglycemia group, the hyperglycemia group had a significantly higher number of factors for metabolic disorders, a significantly higher degree of hepatic steatosis, and a significantly higher detection rate of AF (all P<0.05). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hyperglycemia was a risk factor for AF (odds ratio = 1.753, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.017 — 3.023, P=0.043). The survival analysis showed that hyperglycemia increased the risk of ESLD (χ2=4.340, P=0.037). The multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that hyperglycemia was a significant metabolic risk factor for ESLD in patients with AF (adjusted hazard ratio=3.208, 95%CI: 1.201 — 8.568, P=0.020). ConclusionHyperglycemia can increase the risk of AF and ESLD in CHB-SLD patients. Clinical monitoring and active management should be strengthened for patients who have already developed AF and hyperglycemia.
2.Effect Modification by Total Bilirubin on the Association Between Hypertension and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Zhang XIA ; Xueli CAI ; Yingying YANG ; Shan LI ; Mengxing WANG ; Xuan WANG ; Tiemin WEI ; Yongjun WANG ; Yilong WANG ; Yuesong PAN
Journal of Stroke 2026;28(1):85-96
Background:
and Purpose Bilirubin has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. Herein, we investigated whether total bilirubin (TBIL) modifies the association between hypertension and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).
Methods:
Data were obtained from the PolyvasculaR Evaluation for Cognitive Impairment and vaScular Events study. TBIL and direct bilirubin (DBIL) levels were assayed using fasting venous blood samples. Indirect bilirubin (IBIL) was calculated by subtracting DBIL from TBIL. TBIL was stratified as ≤17 μmol/L and >17 μmol/L based on the biological relevance of Gilbert’s syndrome. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg, self-reported hypertension history, or current use of antihypertensive agents. White matter hyperintensity, lacunes, cerebral microbleeds, and enlarged perivascular spaces were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging and used to rate CSVD burden according to the criteria proposed by Wardlaw et al. and Rothwell et al.
Results:
This study included 3,061 participants, with a mean age of 61.2±6.7 years and 46.5% males. After adjusting for confounders, hypertension was associated with increased odds of presence of CSVD (Wardlaw: odds ratio [OR]=1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–2.44, P<0.001; Rothwell: OR=1.84, 95% CI 1.43–2.38, P<0.001) and higher modified total CSVD burden (common OR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.45–2.36, P<0.001) in participants with TBIL ≤17 μmol/L but not in TBIL >17 μmol/L (P for interaction <0.05). Johnson–Neyman analyses showed cut-off concentrations of 22.3–22.4 μmol/L for effect modification by TBIL. IBIL contributed to effect modification, whereas DBIL did not.
Conclusions
Mildly elevated TBIL may modify the association between hypertension and CSVD.
3.Generation and countermeasures of ambiguous medical records in DRG application
Shujuan FAN ; Xueli YAN ; Meng ZHANG ; Yuan SHAO ; Wen ZHANG ; Huang ZUO
Modern Hospital 2025;25(3):371-374
Objective To analyze the reasons and influencing factors of ambiguous medical records,and propose targe-ted intervention strategies.Methods The medical records discharged from the Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery of a large Class Ⅲ hospital in Xi'an from January 2023 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected,and the medical records groups and ambiguous medical records were screened through the DRG information platform.The clinical features,defect causes and risk factors of ambiguous cases were analyzed statistically.Results There were 4 124 discharged cases in the year,of which 77 were ambiguous cases,accounting for 1.87%.Compared with the non-ambiguous group,more patients in the ambig-uous group adopted a self-funded approach,experienced a transfer and a longer hospital stay.The proportion of surgery and trau-ma in ambiguous group was higher,but the proportion of tumor patients was lower.Due to DRG grouping rules,64 cases(83.1%)were divided into ambiguous groups,which was the primary direct cause.Binary Logistic regression indicated that self-paid medical treatment(OR=2.2),transfer(OR=4.8),hospitalization ≥7 days(OR=3.1),trauma(OR=15.0),and total cost>20 000 yuan(OR=1.7)were the risk factors for ambiguous disease cases(P<0.05),while tumor disease was the pro-tective factor(OR=0.6,P<0.05).Conclusion The emergence of ambiguous medical records involves many aspects such as clinical diagnosis and treatment,hospital management,health policy and so on,which has an important impact on hospital per-formance and medical insurance fund.Only by strengthening the level of hospital management,improving the quality of informa-tion system,and promoting the coordination and communication between doctors,management and patients,can we effectively re-duce the occurrence of ambiguous medical records.
4.Synthesis of the serotonin derivative 5-PT and establishment of a research system for protein serotonylation
Shuyu XIAO ; Aziguli TULAMATI ; Yan YANG ; Zhigang ZHANG ; Xiaomei YANG ; Chang DU ; Xueli ZHANG
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(2):211-221
Objective·To establish a research framework for serotonylation of proteins and to provide a methodological basis for the identification of serotonylated proteins.Methods·The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Genotype-Tissue Expression(GTEx)databases were used to analyze the expression of the transglutaminase 2(TGM2)gene,which encodes the key enzyme for serotonylation,and the solute carrier family 6(SLC6A4)gene,which encodes the serotonin transporter(SERT),in normal and pan-cancer tissues.5-Propargyltryptamide(5-PT),a serotonin derivative,was synthesized stepwise from serotonin hydrochloride,and its structure was characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),proton nuclear magnetic resonance(1H-NMR),carbon nuclear magnetic resonance(13C-NMR),and time-of-flight mass spectrometry(TOF-MS).The intracellular uptake of 5-PT in the human pancreatic cancer cell line AsPC-1 and mouse immune cells,including CD4+T cells,CD8+T cells,and bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMDMs),was detected by using flow cytometry.Click chemistry,co-immunoprecipitation,and mass spectrometry analysis techniques were employed to identify serotonylated proteins,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was performed.Results·Bioinformatics analysis indicated that TGM2 and SLC6A4 were widely expressed in various normal tissues and across pan-cancer tissues.The flow cytometry results showed that the synthesized 5-PT can be taken up into the human pancreatic cancer cell line AsPC-1 and mouse immune cells,including CD4+T cells,CD8+T cells,and BMDMs,via the SERT.Mass spectrometry analysis data showed that a significant amount of serotonylated proteins were enriched in various cells treated with 5-PT.KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that these proteins were involved in important pathways related to glycolysis and amino acid synthesis.Conclusion·By using the synthesized 5-PT,multiple serotonylated proteins are enriched in various cell types.A research system for identifying serotonylated proteins has been successfully established,providing a relatively simple and efficient method for studying protein serotonylation.
5.Research progress of anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibody in ulcerative colitis
Menghua FAN ; Ailing LIU ; Yueyuan WANG ; Hao ZHANG ; Xueli DING
Chinese Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2025;09(4):351-357
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, primarily involving the colon and rectum. Characterized by recurrent episodes and prolonged disease course, UC requires dynamic monitoring and evaluation. Current commonly used methods for disease monitoring and assessment include C-reactive protein (CRP), fecal calprotectin (FC), and colonoscopy. However, CRP lacks specificity, FC fails to effectively differentiate UC from Crohn's disease, while colonoscopy involves complex bowel preparation, is invasive, and suffers from poor patient compliance. Therefore, there is an urgent clinical need to identify non-invasive biological markers with high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis and evaluation of UC. Recent studies have demonstrated that anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies hold significant value in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and disease assessment of UC, potentially emerging as an important clinical biomarker. This article reviews the research progress of anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies in UC for reference.
6.Identification of potential biomarkers of proliferative diabetic retinopathy based on proteomics and transcriptomics data
Yeanqi JIN ; Junbin LIU ; Xiang FANG ; Guanrong WU ; Haoxian ZHU ; Xinyu CHEN ; Mengya LIU ; Shuoxin LIAO ; Fangfang LI ; Xueli ZHANG ; Qianli MENG
Recent Advances in Ophthalmology 2025;45(8):622-628
Objective To identify potential biomarkers for proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)using proteomics and transcriptomics data.Methods In this study,the proteomics dataset(PXD046630)and two transcriptomics datasets(GSE60436 and GSE102485)were derived from the aqueous humor samples and fibrovascular membranes of PDR patients,respectively.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified via R software,specifically the limma and edgeR pack-ages.The shared DEGs between PXD046630 and GSE60436 were analyzed via protein-protein interaction(PPI),Gene On-tology(GO)enrichment,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses.The key DEGs were validated in GSE102485 via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.A quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)assay was used to confirm the mRNA of these candidate biomarkers in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs)cultured in high glucose and low oxygen conditions.Results A total of 59 shared DEGs and 26 hub genes were identified from the PXD046630 and GSE60436 datasets.KEGG analysis revealed that six pathways,inclu-ding extracellular matrix-receptor interaction,proteoglycans in cancer,and complement and coagulation cascades,were enriched in 12 key DEGs.Fibronectin 1(FN1),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3(TIMP3),complement factor H(CFH),decorin(DCN),and lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2(LRP2)were identified as potential biomarkers on the basis of their AUC values being greater than 0.900(CI≥95%).The mRNA expression levels of FN1,CFH,and LRP2 were significantly increased in HRMECs cultured in high glucose and low oxygen conditions.Conclusion FN1,CFH,and LRP2 are potential biomarkers for PDR,and further studies are needed to explore their roles and therapeutic potential in PDR.
7.Application value of clinical-radiomics nomogram in preoperative prediction of liver kinase B1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer
Qunfang ZHANG ; He XU ; Hui ZHOU ; Deshun LIU ; Xueli ZHANG ; Zongyu XIE
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(2):211-216
Objective To investigate the application value of clinical-radiomics nomogram in predicting the expression of liver kinase B1(LKB1)in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)before surgery.Methods A total of 140 NSCLC patients were randomized into training group(n=106)and validation group(n=34)according to the ratio of 7∶3.The training group was used as the study cohort to screen the clinically independent predictors and radiomics characteristics related to LKB1 expression,and the clinical model,radiomics model and clinical-radiomics nomogram model were constructed,respectively.The predictive performance of the three models was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve in the training group,and validated in the validation group.The calibration curve was used to assess the consistency between the predicted results of nomogram model and the actual observations,and the decision curve was used to evaluate the clinical benefit of the nomogram model.Results The clinical model consisted of pathological type and hilal/mediastinal lymphadenopathy,the radiomics model consisted of Radiomics score(Radscore),and the nomogram model consisted of Radscore,pathological type and hilal/mediastinal lymphadenopathy.In the training group,the area under the curve(AUC)of the nomogram model,radiomics model and clinical model was 0.884,0.843 and 0.788,respectively.In the validation group,the AUC of the three models were 0.976,0.851,and 0.912,respectively.The calibration curve analysis showed good consis-tency between the predicted results of nomogram model and the actual observations,and the decision curve showed that the model had good clinical benefit.Conclusion Radiomics combined with clinical risk factors can effectively predict the expression of LKB1 in NSCLC patients before surgery,so as to contribute to the formulation of therapeutic strategies in clinical practice.
8.The optimization and practice of case-based learning in integrated curriculum of the digestive system
Xueli TIAN ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng GUO ; Zhanbing LIU ; Hangyan WANG ; Xinxia TIAN ; Shigang DING
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(4):518-523
Objective:To explore and evaluate the optimization and application of case-based learning (CBL) in the reform practice for integrated curriculum of the digestive system.Methods:The 174 undergraduate students majoring in eight-year clinical medicine enrolled in 2019 at the Peking University Health Science Center were selected as research objects. CBL was used in the integration and optimization of the digestive system curriculum. These included increasing class hours, selecting disease modules, lesson preparation involving multi-disciplinary teachers, and joint teaching. Upon completion of teaching, a comprehensive evaluation of teaching effectiveness was conducted through questionnaires administrated to teachers and students, feedback from supervision experts, and scores of students. SPSS 21.0 was used for the t-test and a reliability analysis was conducted on the questionnaire results. Results:Teachers, students, and supervision experts were highly satisfied with CBL. More than 95% of teachers believed that joint teaching facilitated the sharing of diverse professional knowledge among teachers, enhanced the in-depth instruction of imaging knowledge, promoted the transformation of teaching ideas, and improved teaching ability. More than 70% of students agreed that joint teaching deepened their understanding of diseases, stimulated learning interest, and established a theoretical foundation for clinical practice. The average score of class performance was (47.60±2.41) points (a total score of 50 points). The answers of students to case-based questions in final exams were satisfactory. The average score of final evaluation was (82.24±8.82) points.Conclusions:The optimization and application of CBL in the integrated curriculum of the digestive system is highly accepted by teachers and students. This method improves the interest of learning and facilitates the establishment of overall medical thinking and clinical thinking in students.
9.Synthesis of the serotonin derivative 5-PT and establishment of a research system for protein serotonylation
Shuyu XIAO ; Aziguli TULAMATI ; Yan YANG ; Zhigang ZHANG ; Xiaomei YANG ; Chang DU ; Xueli ZHANG
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(2):211-221
Objective·To establish a research framework for serotonylation of proteins and to provide a methodological basis for the identification of serotonylated proteins.Methods·The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Genotype-Tissue Expression(GTEx)databases were used to analyze the expression of the transglutaminase 2(TGM2)gene,which encodes the key enzyme for serotonylation,and the solute carrier family 6(SLC6A4)gene,which encodes the serotonin transporter(SERT),in normal and pan-cancer tissues.5-Propargyltryptamide(5-PT),a serotonin derivative,was synthesized stepwise from serotonin hydrochloride,and its structure was characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),proton nuclear magnetic resonance(1H-NMR),carbon nuclear magnetic resonance(13C-NMR),and time-of-flight mass spectrometry(TOF-MS).The intracellular uptake of 5-PT in the human pancreatic cancer cell line AsPC-1 and mouse immune cells,including CD4+T cells,CD8+T cells,and bone marrow-derived macrophages(BMDMs),was detected by using flow cytometry.Click chemistry,co-immunoprecipitation,and mass spectrometry analysis techniques were employed to identify serotonylated proteins,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was performed.Results·Bioinformatics analysis indicated that TGM2 and SLC6A4 were widely expressed in various normal tissues and across pan-cancer tissues.The flow cytometry results showed that the synthesized 5-PT can be taken up into the human pancreatic cancer cell line AsPC-1 and mouse immune cells,including CD4+T cells,CD8+T cells,and BMDMs,via the SERT.Mass spectrometry analysis data showed that a significant amount of serotonylated proteins were enriched in various cells treated with 5-PT.KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that these proteins were involved in important pathways related to glycolysis and amino acid synthesis.Conclusion·By using the synthesized 5-PT,multiple serotonylated proteins are enriched in various cell types.A research system for identifying serotonylated proteins has been successfully established,providing a relatively simple and efficient method for studying protein serotonylation.
10.A prospective study of impact of spicy food intake on risk for cardio/cerebrovascular disease in residents aged 30-79 years
Ziyang LUO ; Xiaofang CHEN ; Xiaofang CHEN ; Xia WU ; Xiaoyu CHANG ; Zhuo WANG ; Xueli ZHANG ; Jun LYU ; Canqing YU ; Pei PEI ; Dianjianyi SUN ; Xianping WU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(7):1150-1159
Objective:To explore the association between spicy food intake and the risk for cardio/cerebrovascular diseases.Methods:Data were collected from the China Kadoorie Biobank project conducted in Pengzhou, Sichuan Province. Using the Cox proportional hazards regression model, we analyzed the associations of the frequency of spicy food intake, spicy level, types of spicy food, and the age when regular intake of spicy food began (intake in 1 day/week), with the risk for cardio/cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, the associations with the risks for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) were analyzed.Results:A total of 54 859 study participants were included in the study, in whom 49 320 had spicy food intake (89.90%). In these participants, 37 680 (68.69%) had spicy food intake in 6-7 days/week, 5 036 (9.18%) had spicy food intake in 1-5 days/week, and 6 604 (12.03%) had spicy food intake once a week; 5 539 (10.10%) had never/almost never had spicy food intake. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, compared with those who never/almost never had spicy food intake, intake of spicy food was associated with reduced risks for IHD (intake in 6-7 days/week: HR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.78-0.95), cerebrovascular diseases (intake in 6-7 days/week: HR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.96), and IS (intak in 6-7 days/week: HR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.76-0.95). With the increase of spicy food intake frequency, the risk for cardio/cerebrovascular disease decreased (intake in 1-5 days/week: HR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.85-0.98; intake in 6-7 days/week: HR=0.89, 95% CI: 0.84-0.94) (trend test P<0.001). However, no statistical association was found between spicy food intake and the risk for HS. In terms of spicy level, after adjusting for multiple confounding factors, compared with those who never/almost never had spicy food intake, intake of spicy food was associated with reduced risk for cardio/cerebrovascular disease (moderate: HR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.82-0.90) and cerebrovascular disease (moderate: HR=0.90, 95% CI: 0.84-0.97). With the increase of spicy level, the risk for IHD decreased (moderate: HR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.79-0.93; strong: HR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.74-0.95) (trend test P<0.001). After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, compared with those who never/almost never had spicy food intake, intake of any type of spicy food was associated with reduced risk for cardio/cerebrovascular disease, IHD, and cerebrovascular disease. Regulat intake of spicy food from age 0-10 years was associated with reduced risk for cardio/cerebrovascular disease, IHD, and cerebrovascular disease. Regular intake of spicy food from age 11-20 years reduced the risk for cardio/cerebrovascular disease and IHD. There was no significant association between the regular intake of spicy food from age 21-79 years and the risks for cardio/cerebrovascular disease, IHD and cerebrovascular disease. Conclusion:The intake of spicy food could reduced the risk for cardio/cerebrovascular diseases, IHD, cerebrovascular diseases and IS in residents aged 30-79 years in Sichuan.

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