1.Study on the capture of Helicobacter pylori released from Candida using immunomagnetic bead
Tingting LUO ; Jianchao SUN ; Tingxiu YANG ; Xiaoli XU ; Guzhen CUI ; Qing LUO ; Shuwei ZHUO ; Qi LIU ; Zhenghong CHEN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):402-408
ObjectiveTo investigate the ability of clinically isolated, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-specific gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive gastric, vaginal, and fecal Candida to release H. pylori. MethodsResuscitate 4 strains of H. pylori -specific 16S rDNA and ureA gene PCR-positive Candida strains isolated in laboratory from clinical sources, including 1 strain of gastric Candida, 1 strain of fecal Candida, 2 strains of vaginal Candida and the standard Candida albicans strain ATCC10231 (Ca10231). The presence of H. pylori-specific ureA in the 5 strains of Candida isolates was confirmed by PCR. The aforementioned strains of Candida and H.pylori were inoculated into urea medium and cultured in a constant temperature incubator at 37 ℃. The color change of the medium was observed daily. A change in the medium's color from yellow to red indicated the presence of urease activity. Then, the five strains of Candida and H. pylori were co-incubated with the magnetic beads coated with H. pylori antibodies respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe the presence of bacilli adsorbed on the surface of the magnetic beads. PCR was used to detect the presence of H.pylori-specific 16S rDNA and ureA genes on magnetic beads. ResultsThe PCR analysis of the ureA gene in the four Candida isolates was positive, whereas the Ca10231 strain tested negative. Upon culturing the four Candida isolates on urea medium, the medium color changed from yellow to red which was determined to be urease positive, while the medium containing Ca10231 remained unchanged, which was urease negative. SEM revealed that bacilli could be observed on the surface of magnetic beads co-incubated with the 4 strains of Candida of clinical origin and H.pylori isolate. Specifically, PCR testing of the magnetic beads co-incubated with one vaginal Candida, one gastric Candida and H.pylori isolate showed positive results for the 16S rDNA and ureA genes of H. pylori; however, the PCR tests for the two genes were negative for the magnetic beads co-incubated with the other two Candida isolate. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that H. pylori-specific genes Candida can release H. pylori.
2.Effects of berberine hydrochloride on the expression of urease genes ureA and ureB in Helicobacter pylori and its biofilm
Tingting LUO ; Mengqin LI ; Xue YANG ; Fei WANG ; Zhenghong CHEN ; Cheng LUO ; Tingna QI ; Qi LIU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(8):1355-1363
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of berberine hydrochloride on the expression of urease genes ureA and ureB in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and its biofilm. MethodsThe standard strain 26695 of H. pylori, which was preserved in our laboratory, along with the drug-resistant strains H390, e660, H57, and H389 of H. pylori that were isolated from clinical sources were revived. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of berberine hydrochloride against the planktonic cells of the aforementioned five strains of H. pylori was determined using the broth dilution method. The combined inhibitory effect of berberine hydrochloride and amoxicillin against the aforementioned four strains of clinically resistant H. pylori was assessed using the checkerboard method. TheMIC of berberine hydrochloride against the biofilms of H. pylori strains 26695 and H390 was determined using the broth dilution method. Planktonic cells and biofilms of the aforementioned H. pylori strains 26695 and H390 were co-incubated with berberine hydrochloride at concentrations of 0.5MIC, MIC, and 2MIC for 2, 8, and 24 hours, respectively. Subsequently, urease activity was measured, and the expression levels of the ureA and ureB genes were detected using RT-qPCR. ResultsBerberine hydrochloride exhibited inhibitory effects against both planktonic cells of the antibiotic-sensitive strain 26695 and the antibiotic-resistant strains H390, e660, H57, and H389 of H. pylori. It also demonstrated inhibitory effects against the biofilms formed by strains 26695 and H390. Furthermore, the combined inhibitory effect of berberine hydrochloride and amoxicillin against antibiotic-resistant strains of H. pylori was either synergistic or additive. Berberine hydrochloride inhibited urease activity in both planktonic cells and biofilms of the H. pylori strains 26695 and H390. Furthermore, berberine hydrochloride downregulated the relative expression levels of the ureA and ureB genes in H. pylori and its biofilms. The relative expression levels of the ureA and ureB genes exhibited a dose- and time-dependent decrease with increasing concentrations of berberine hydrochloride and longer co-incubation times (P<0.05). ConclusionBerberine hydrochloride inhibits both planktonic cells and biofilms of H. pylori. When combined with amoxicillin, it exerts additive or synergistic effects against H. pylori. Furthermore, by inhibiting urease activity and downregulating the expression of the ureA and ureB genes in H. pylori, berberine hydrochloride contributes to the reduction in growth of both planktonic cells and biofilms.
3.Outcomes and Influencing Factors of Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: A Retrospective Study Based on 15 Years of Clinical Data from Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Yu ZHANG ; Meiying QUAN ; Chen WANG ; Lejia ZHANG ; Yunwei LI ; Zhenghong LI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(5):1348-1356
To identify clinical outcome of treatment and influencing factors of prognosis of extremely low birth weight infants(ELBWI). Clinical data of ELBWI admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Peking Union Medical College Hospital during the study period(from January, 2010 to December, 2024) were retrospectively collected, and their in-hospital outcomes were recorded. Infants who received active treatment were enrolled in active treatment group, while those who were given up treatment due to family reasons in the absence of severe complications were enrolled in treatment-withdrawal group. According to gestational age, the active treatment group was further subdivided into four subgroups: 23-25+6 weeks, 26-27+6 weeks, 28-29+6 weeks, and ≥30 weeks. Based on year of birth, infants were divided into 2010—2019 group and 2020—2024 group. The Aalen-Johansen competing risk model was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of severe complications. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze factors associated with survival without major complications. A total of 151 ELBWI were enrolled, including 79 males(52.3%) and 72 females(47.7%). The median gestational age was 27.4(26.4, 29.0) weeks, and the median birth weight was 840(750, 930) g. There were 14 cases(9.3%, 14/151) in treatment-withdrawal group, 137 cases(90.7%, 137/151) in the active treatment group. In the active treatment group, 16 infants(11.7%, 16/137) died or were withdrawn from treatment due to severe complications, and 121 infants(88.3%, 121/137) survived at discharge. The survival rates of rescue by gestational age subgroups were as follows: 75.0%(21/28) in the 23-25+6 weeks group, 90.9%(40/44) in the 26-27+6 weeks group, 93.6%(44/47) in the 28-29+6 weeks group, and 88.9%(16/18) in the ≥30 weeks group. Among the 137 actively treated infants, the incidences of moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD), sepsis, severe retinopathy of prematurity, severe intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH), severe necrotizing enterocolitis, and periventricular leukomalacia were 60.6%(83/137), 30.7%(42/137), 12.4%(17/137), 13.1%(18/137), 8.8%(12/137), and 1.5%(2/137), respectively. Compared with the 2010—2019 group, the 2020—2024 group had a higher rate of survival without major complications, a shorter time to full enteral feeding, and a lower incidence of moderate-to-severe BPD( Gestational age is an independent predictor of prognosis in ELBWI. A comprehensive manage-ment strategy oriented toward "improving quality of survival" should be implemented to maximize the quality of survival while ensuring the survival rate of ELBWI.
4.Progress on peripheral blood immunocytes in allergen immunotherapy
Zhenghong SONG ; Jing HE ; Shuxian LI ; Zhimin CHEN
International Journal of Pediatrics 2025;52(4):233-237
Allergen immunotherapy(AIT)can alter the natural course of allergic diseases through immunomodulatory mechanisms and maintain the efficacy after completion. The induction of immune tolerance by AIT is considered to be effective treatment and the mechanism involves the participation of a variety of immune cells,including effector T cells,B cells,dendritic cells,innate lymphoid cells,mast cells and basophils. Studies have found that a variety of immune cells in peripheral blood changed during AIT treatment and the changes of some immune cells were related to the efficacy of AIT,which may provide some theoretical reference for practical clinical activities and may become potential biomarkers for predicting and evaluating the efficacy of AIT. This article reviews the changes of peripheral blood immune cells in the treatment of AIT.
5.Detection of Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter hepaticus in patients with digestive tract diseases
Xiaoli XU ; Qize LI ; Tingting LUO ; Jianchao SUN ; Qing LUO ; Yan WANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Qi LIU ; Zhenghong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(10):1073-1080
This study was aimed at investigating the presence of Helicobacter hepaticus(Hh)infection in patients with digestive tract diseases and evaluating Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection status in patients with digestive tract cancers other than gastric cancer.Fecal samples were collected from 197 patients with digestive tract diseases at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical Uni-versity and from 149 healthy volunteers residing in Guiyang.Hp stool antigen(HpSA)was detected with the colloidal gold method.Af-ter the extraction of fecal DNA,the Hp specific ureA gene and the Hh specific 16S rRNA gene were amplified via nested PCR,and the amplified products were subsequently confirmed through sequencing analysis.The study included 197 patients with digestive system diseases,comprising 135 cases of colorectal cancer,32 cases of chronic gastritis,22 cases of gastric cancer,5 cases of liver cancer,and 3 cases of cholangiocarcinoma.The detection rate of HpSA was 31.5%(62/197).HpSA was detected across all five disease catego-ries,and the highest detection rate was observed in patients with gastric cancer,at 50.0%(11/22),or colorectal cancer,at 24.4%(33/135).The positivity rate of Hp ureA gene PCR was 7.6%(15/197),and sequencing confirmed that the amplified products were in-deed Hp ureA gene fragments.Notably,the highest detection rate was observed in patients with colorectal cancer,at 8.9%(12/135).The positivity rate of Hh 16S rRNA gene PCR was 11.2%(22/197),and sequencing confirmed that the amplified products were in-deed Hh 16S rRNA gene fragments.Hh 16S rRNAgene presence was detected in patients with all five diseases,and the highest detec-tion rate was observed in patients with colorectal cancer,at 11.1%(15/135).Among 149 healthy volunteers,the detection rate of HpSA was 11.4%(17/149),only one case tested positive for the Hp ureA gene,and the Hh 16S rRNA gene was undetectable in all samples.In conclusion,Hh infection was detected in patients with digestive tract diseases.Beyond patients with gastric cancer,the prevalence of Hp infection was also notably high among patients with colorectal cancer,liver cancer,and cholangiocarcinoma.Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the roles of the two species of Helicobacter in the occurrence and progression of digestive tract cancers.
6.Detection of Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter hepaticus in patients with digestive tract diseases
Xiaoli XU ; Qize LI ; Tingting LUO ; Jianchao SUN ; Qing LUO ; Yan WANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Qi LIU ; Zhenghong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(10):1073-1080
This study was aimed at investigating the presence of Helicobacter hepaticus(Hh)infection in patients with digestive tract diseases and evaluating Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection status in patients with digestive tract cancers other than gastric cancer.Fecal samples were collected from 197 patients with digestive tract diseases at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical Uni-versity and from 149 healthy volunteers residing in Guiyang.Hp stool antigen(HpSA)was detected with the colloidal gold method.Af-ter the extraction of fecal DNA,the Hp specific ureA gene and the Hh specific 16S rRNA gene were amplified via nested PCR,and the amplified products were subsequently confirmed through sequencing analysis.The study included 197 patients with digestive system diseases,comprising 135 cases of colorectal cancer,32 cases of chronic gastritis,22 cases of gastric cancer,5 cases of liver cancer,and 3 cases of cholangiocarcinoma.The detection rate of HpSA was 31.5%(62/197).HpSA was detected across all five disease catego-ries,and the highest detection rate was observed in patients with gastric cancer,at 50.0%(11/22),or colorectal cancer,at 24.4%(33/135).The positivity rate of Hp ureA gene PCR was 7.6%(15/197),and sequencing confirmed that the amplified products were in-deed Hp ureA gene fragments.Notably,the highest detection rate was observed in patients with colorectal cancer,at 8.9%(12/135).The positivity rate of Hh 16S rRNA gene PCR was 11.2%(22/197),and sequencing confirmed that the amplified products were in-deed Hh 16S rRNA gene fragments.Hh 16S rRNAgene presence was detected in patients with all five diseases,and the highest detec-tion rate was observed in patients with colorectal cancer,at 11.1%(15/135).Among 149 healthy volunteers,the detection rate of HpSA was 11.4%(17/149),only one case tested positive for the Hp ureA gene,and the Hh 16S rRNA gene was undetectable in all samples.In conclusion,Hh infection was detected in patients with digestive tract diseases.Beyond patients with gastric cancer,the prevalence of Hp infection was also notably high among patients with colorectal cancer,liver cancer,and cholangiocarcinoma.Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the roles of the two species of Helicobacter in the occurrence and progression of digestive tract cancers.
7.Curcumin alleviates septic lung injury in mice by inhibiting TXNIP/TRX-1/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis
Kai CHEN ; Zhaofei MENG ; Jingting MIN ; Jiahui WANG ; Zhenghong LI ; Qin GAO ; Junfeng HU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(9):1805-1813
Objective To investigate whether curcumin alleviates septic lung injury by inhibiting ferroptosis through modulating the TXNIP/TRX-1/GPX4 pathway.Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into Sham group,cecal ligation puncture(CLP)-induced sepsis group,CLP with curcumin treatment(50,100,and 200 mg/kg)groups,and CLP with both curcumin(200 mg/kg)and TRX-1 inhibitor PX-12(25 mg/kg)treatment group.Inflammatory factors,MDA,MPO,and GSH levels in the lung tissue of the mice were detected.Beas-2B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS;1 μg/mL)were treated with 2.5,5,or 10 μmol/L curcumin or with 10 μmol/L curcumin combined with 5 μmol/L PX-12,and the changes in MDA,Fe2+and ROS levels were assessed.Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expressions of TXNIP,TRX-1,GPX4 and X-CT in both the mouse lung tissues and Beas-2B cells.Results The mice with CLP-induced sepsis showed severe lung injury with elevated expressions of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,MDA and MPO and decreased GSH expression.In Beas-2B cells,LPS stimulation significantly increased MDA and Fe2+levels and ROS release,increased TXNIP protein expression,and lowered the protein expression levels of TRX-1,GPX4 and X-CT,and these changes were also observed in the septic mice.Curcumin treatments at different concentrations obviously alleviated lung injury in the septic mice and reduced LPS-induced injury in Beas-2B cells.Curcumin significantly decreased the release of inflammatory factors,MDA and MPO,increased GSH level,lowered Fe2+,MDA and ROS levels,increased TXNIP protein expression,and lowered the protein expressions of TRX-1,GPX4 and X-CT in both septic mouse lung tissues and LPS-stimulated Beas-2B cells.The protective effect of curcumin was effectively blocked by PX-12 treatment.Conclusion Curcumin inhibits ferroptosis and alleviates septic lung injury in mice by elevating TRX-1 and GPX4 and decreasing TXNIP in the lung tissue.
8.Research Progress of Helicobacter pylori-Associated Extragastric Diseases
Jinyang LIU ; Zhenghong CHEN ; Muxi MA ; Yongshuai LIN ; Weiwei TAN
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2024;46(3):414-424
Helicobacter pylori(Hp)is a common Gram-negative bacillus causing gastrointestinal infec-tions.It mainly exists on the surface of gastric epithelial cells and in mucus and is associated with gastric ulcers,gastric cancer,and gastric mucosa-associated lymphomas.Studies have shown that Hp can induce or exacerbate certain extragastric diseases and is associated with the occurrence of coronavirus disease 2019.It is hypothesized that Hp may be indirectly or directly involved in the occurrence and development of diseases by stimulating the production of inflammatory cytokines or inducing cross-immune reactions.In addition,Hp can enter Candida to release toxins continuously and play a role in escaping the recognition of the host immune system and the bacteri-cidal effect of drugs.This article reviews the research progress in Hp-associated extragastric diseases in recent years,aiming to draw the attention of clinical workers to Hp-associated extragastric diseases and enrich the knowledge about Hp infection for formulating countermeasures to avoid the aggravation or triggering of other disea-ses by Hp.
9.Curcumin alleviates septic lung injury in mice by inhibiting TXNIP/TRX-1/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis
Kai CHEN ; Zhaofei MENG ; Jingting MIN ; Jiahui WANG ; Zhenghong LI ; Qin GAO ; Junfeng HU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(9):1805-1813
Objective To investigate whether curcumin alleviates septic lung injury by inhibiting ferroptosis through modulating the TXNIP/TRX-1/GPX4 pathway.Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into Sham group,cecal ligation puncture(CLP)-induced sepsis group,CLP with curcumin treatment(50,100,and 200 mg/kg)groups,and CLP with both curcumin(200 mg/kg)and TRX-1 inhibitor PX-12(25 mg/kg)treatment group.Inflammatory factors,MDA,MPO,and GSH levels in the lung tissue of the mice were detected.Beas-2B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS;1 μg/mL)were treated with 2.5,5,or 10 μmol/L curcumin or with 10 μmol/L curcumin combined with 5 μmol/L PX-12,and the changes in MDA,Fe2+and ROS levels were assessed.Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expressions of TXNIP,TRX-1,GPX4 and X-CT in both the mouse lung tissues and Beas-2B cells.Results The mice with CLP-induced sepsis showed severe lung injury with elevated expressions of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,MDA and MPO and decreased GSH expression.In Beas-2B cells,LPS stimulation significantly increased MDA and Fe2+levels and ROS release,increased TXNIP protein expression,and lowered the protein expression levels of TRX-1,GPX4 and X-CT,and these changes were also observed in the septic mice.Curcumin treatments at different concentrations obviously alleviated lung injury in the septic mice and reduced LPS-induced injury in Beas-2B cells.Curcumin significantly decreased the release of inflammatory factors,MDA and MPO,increased GSH level,lowered Fe2+,MDA and ROS levels,increased TXNIP protein expression,and lowered the protein expressions of TRX-1,GPX4 and X-CT in both septic mouse lung tissues and LPS-stimulated Beas-2B cells.The protective effect of curcumin was effectively blocked by PX-12 treatment.Conclusion Curcumin inhibits ferroptosis and alleviates septic lung injury in mice by elevating TRX-1 and GPX4 and decreasing TXNIP in the lung tissue.
10.Discovery of novel small molecules targeting hepatitis B virus core protein from marine natural products with HiBiT-based high-throughput screening.
Chao HUANG ; Yang JIN ; Panpan FU ; Kongying HU ; Mengxue WANG ; Wenjing ZAI ; Ting HUA ; Xinluo SONG ; Jianyu YE ; Yiqing ZHANG ; Gan LUO ; Haiyu WANG ; Jiangxia LIU ; Jieliang CHEN ; Xuwen LI ; Zhenghong YUAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(11):4914-4933
Due to the limitations of current anti-HBV therapies, the HBV core (HBc or HBcAg) protein assembly modulators (CpAMs) are believed to be potential anti-HBV agents. Therefore, discovering safe and efficient CpAMs is of great value. In this study, we established a HiBiT-based high-throughput screening system targeting HBc and screened novel CpAMs from an in-house marine chemicals library. A novel lead compound 8a, a derivative of the marine natural product naamidine J, has been successfully screened for potential anti-HBV activity. Bioactivity-driven synthesis was then conducted, and the structure‒activity relationship was analyzed, resulting in the discovery of the most effective compound 11a (IC50 = 0.24 μmol/L). Furthermore, 11a was found to significantly inhibit HBV replication in multiple cell models and exhibit a synergistic effect with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and IFNa2 in vitro for anti-HBV activity. Treatment with 11a in a hydrodynamic-injection mouse model demonstrated significant anti-HBV activity without apparent hepatotoxicity. These findings suggest that the naamidine J derivative 11a could be used as the HBV core protein assembly modulator to develop safe and effective anti-HBV therapies.

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