1.VEGF Inhibitor–Associated Side Effects in Antitumor Therapy and Intervention Strategies
Lu LIU ; Wanting SUN ; Shuning YAO ; Zhenyu CHEN ; Yuefei WANG ; Jing YANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(4):289-300
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors are drugs that target and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. By blocking the signaling pathway of VEGF and its receptor, they suppress tumor proliferation and play a crucial role in tumor treatment. However, their side effects, such as hypertension, proteinuria, hand-foot skin reactions, and myelosuppression, during treatment seriously affect patients' treatment compliance and quality of life. The development of intervention strategies for the side effects of VEGF inhibitors is of great importance for tumor treatment. This article reviews the clinical characteristics and toxic mechanisms of common side effects caused by VEGF inhibitors during tumor treatment and summarizes intervention strategies that combine traditional Chinese and Western medicines. Drug dosages were precisely monitored and adjusted to achieve antitumor treatment. Patients' discomfort symptoms are improved through prescriptions that act by tonifying qi and promoting blood circulation, strengthening the spleen, and tonifying the kidney. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicines is used to treat patients, thus providing a safe and effective treatment plan for patients with cancer.
2.Vonoprazan-based quadruple therapy is non-inferior to esomeprazole-based quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, phase 3 study.
Zhiqiang SONG ; Qin DU ; Guoxin ZHANG ; Zhenyu ZHANG ; Fei LIU ; Nonghua LU ; Liqun GU ; Shingo KURODA ; Liya ZHOU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(22):2938-2946
BACKGROUND:
Owing to the high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) in China, bismuth-containing quadruple therapies have been recommended for H. pylori eradication. This study compared the efficacy and safety of quadruple regimens containing vonoprazan vs . esomeprazole for H. pylori eradication in a patient population in China.
METHODS:
This was a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study. Patients with confirmed H. pylori infection were randomized 1:1 to receive quadruple therapy for 14 days: amoxicillin 1000 mg and clarithromycin 500 mg after meals, bismuth potassium citrate 600 mg before meals, plus either vonoprazan 20 mg or esomeprazole 20 mg before meals, all twice daily. The primary outcome was the eradication rate of H. pylori , evaluated using a 13 C urea breath test at 4 weeks after treatment. The non-inferiority margin was at 10%.
RESULTS:
The study included 510 patients, 506 of whom completed the follow-up assessment. The primary analysis revealed eradication rates of 86.8% (210/242) and 86.7% (208/240) for vonoprazan and esomeprazole therapy, respectively (treatment difference: 0.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.95, 6.17; non-inferiority P = 0.0009). Per-protocol analysis showed eradication rates of 87.4% for vonoprazan and 86.3% for esomeprazole (treatment difference: 1.2%; 95% CI: -5.03, 7.36; non-inferiority P = 0.0004). Vonoprazan and esomeprazole were well tolerated, with similar safety profiles.
CONCLUSION:
Vonoprazan was found to be well-tolerated and non-inferior to esomeprazole for eradicating H. pylori in patients from China.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04198363.
Humans
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Esomeprazole/therapeutic use*
;
Double-Blind Method
;
Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Helicobacter pylori/pathogenicity*
;
Pyrroles/therapeutic use*
;
Sulfonamides/therapeutic use*
;
Adult
;
Clarithromycin/therapeutic use*
;
Amoxicillin/therapeutic use*
;
Aged
;
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use*
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Pyrrolidines/therapeutic use*
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Drug Therapy, Combination
;
Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
3.Intermittent hypoxia aggravates asthma inflammation via NLRP3/IL-1β-dependent pyroptosis mediated by HIF-1α signalling pathway.
Ling ZHOU ; Huojun ZHANG ; Lu LIU ; Fengqin ZHANG ; Lingling WANG ; Pengdou ZHENG ; Zhenyu MAO ; Xiaoyan ZHU ; Guisha ZI ; Lixiang CHEN ; Xiaojing CAI ; Huiguo LIU ; Wei LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(14):1714-1729
BACKGROUND:
Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease and intermittent hypoxia is increasingly recognized as a factor that may impact disease progression. The present study investigated whether intermittent hypoxia (IH) could aggravate asthma by promoting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)/interleukin (IL)-1β-dependent pyroptosis and the inflammatory response and further elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms involved.
METHODS:
A total of 49 patients diagnosed with severe bronchial asthma and diagnosed by polysomnography were enrolled at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, between January 2022 and December 2022, and their general data and induced sputum were collected. BEAS-2B cells were treated with IL-13 and subjected to IH. An ovalbumin (OVA)-treated mouse model was also used to assess the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on asthma. Pyroptosis, the inflammatory response, and related signalling pathways were assessed in vivo and in vitro .
RESULTS:
In this study, as the apnoea and hypopnea index (AHI) increased, the proportion of patients with uncontrolled asthma increased. The proportions of neutrophils and the levels of IL-6, IL-8, HIF-1α and NLRP3 in induced sputum were related to the AHI. NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis, which could be mediated by the HIF-1α signalling pathway, was activated in IL-13 plus IH-treated BEAS-2B cells and in the lungs of OVA/CIH mice. HIF-1α downregulation significantly reduced lung pyroptosis and ameliorated neutrophil inflammation by modulating the NLRP3/IL-1β pathway both in vitro and in vivo . Similarly, pretreatment with LW6, an inhibitor of HIF-1α, effectively blocked the generation of inflammatory cytokines in neutrophils. In addition, administration of the NLRP3 activator nigericin obviously increased lung neutrophil inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS
Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a risk factor for asthma exacerbation. IH aggravates neutrophil inflammation in asthma via NLRP3/IL-1β-dependent pyroptosis mediated by the HIF-1α signalling pathway, which should be considered a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of asthma with OSAHS.
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
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Humans
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Asthma/metabolism*
;
Animals
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Pyroptosis/physiology*
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism*
;
Mice
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Signal Transduction/physiology*
;
Male
;
Hypoxia/metabolism*
;
Female
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
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Adult
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Inflammation/metabolism*
;
Middle Aged
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
4.Systematic characterization of full-length RNA isoforms in human colorectal cancer at single-cell resolution.
Ping LU ; Yu ZHANG ; Yueli CUI ; Yuhan LIAO ; Zhenyu LIU ; Zhi-Jie CAO ; Jun-E LIU ; Lu WEN ; Xin ZHOU ; Wei FU ; Fuchou TANG
Protein & Cell 2025;16(10):873-895
Dysregulated RNA splicing is a well-recognized characteristic of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, its intricacies remain obscure, partly due to challenges in profiling full-length transcript variants at the single-cell level. Here, we employ high-depth long-read scRNA-seq to define the full-length transcriptome of colorectal epithelial cells in 12 CRC patients, revealing extensive isoform diversities and splicing alterations. Cancer cells exhibited increased transcript complexity, with widespread 3'-UTR shortening and reduced intron retention. Distinct splicing regulation patterns were observed between intrinsic-consensus molecular subtypes (iCMS), with iCMS3 displaying even higher splicing factor activities and more pronounced 3'-UTR shortening. Furthermore, we revealed substantial shifts in isoform usage that result in alterations of protein sequences from the same gene with distinct carcinogenic effects during tumorigenesis of CRC. Allele-specific expression analysis revealed dominant mutant allele expression in key oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Moreover, mutated PPIG was linked to widespread splicing dysregulation, and functional validation experiments confirmed its critical role in modulating RNA splicing and tumor-associated processes. Our findings highlight the transcriptomic plasticity in CRC and suggest novel candidate targets for splicing-based therapeutic strategies.
Humans
;
Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
RNA Isoforms/metabolism*
;
Single-Cell Analysis
;
RNA Splicing
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
;
RNA, Neoplasm/metabolism*
;
Transcriptome
5.N-terminal domain of Rep encoded by beet severe curly top virus mediates suppression of RNA silencing and induces VIM5 expression.
Jingyu XU ; Jianxin LU ; Zhenyu YU ; Meijie HU ; Chengkai GUO ; Zhongqi QIU ; Zhongqi CHEN
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(10):3956-3968
Geminiviruses cause substantial crop yield losses worldwide. The replication initiator protein (Rep) encoded by geminiviruses is indispensable for geminiviral replication. The Rep protein encoded by beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV, genus Curtovirus, family Geminiviridae) induces VARIANT IN METHYLATION 5 (VIM5) expression in Arabidopsis leaves upon BSCTV infection. VIM5 functions as a ubiquitination-related E3 ligase to promote the proteasomal degradation of methyltransferases, resulting in reduction of methylation levels in the BSCTV C2-3 promoter. However, the specific domains of Rep responsible for VIM5 induction remain poorly characterized. Although Rep proteins from several geminiviruses act as viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs), whether BSCTV Rep also possesses VSR activity remains to be illustrated. In this study, we employed a transient expression system in the 16c-GFP transgenic and the wild-type Nicotiana benthamiana plants to analyze the VSR and the VIM5-inducing activities of different truncated Rep proteins haboring distinct domains. We found that the N-terminal domain (amino acids 1-180) of Rep suppressed GFP silencing in 16c-GFP transgenic N. benthamiana leaves. The minimal N-terminal fragment (amino acids 1-104) induced VIM5 expression upon co-infiltration, while C-terminal truncations lacked VIM5-inducing activity. Our results indicate that the N-terminal domain of Rep encoded by BSCTV mediates the suppression of RNA silencing and induces VIM5 expression. Thus, our findings contribute to a better understanding of interactions between geminiviral Rep and plant hosts.
Geminiviridae/genetics*
;
Nicotiana/metabolism*
;
Arabidopsis/metabolism*
;
RNA Interference
;
Viral Proteins/metabolism*
;
Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism*
;
Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism*
;
Protein Domains
;
Plant Diseases/virology*
;
Methyltransferases/metabolism*
;
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism*
;
DNA Helicases/genetics*
6.Therapeutic development strategies for modulating GLI1-DNA interactions
Zhenyu QIAO ; Yongfu LUO ; Yaoye PEI ; Xiangyang LI ; Mengchen LU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(4):432-443
The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is a critical transduction system regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis during embryonic development. Its aberrant activation is closely associated with the pathogenesis of malignancies such as basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastoma. Although Smoothened (SMO)-targeting inhibitors have received clinical approval, their therapeutic efficacy is limited by acquired resistance mutation and compensatory pathway activation. Glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1), the terminal effector transcription factor of the Hh pathway, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target due to its tumor-specific overexpression and lower propensity for resistance induction. However, GLI1 is classified as an "undruggable" target due to the absence of well-defined ligand-binding pockets, low inhibitory activity, and poor drug-like properties. Currently, no GLI1 inhibitor has entered clinical trials. This review systematically analyzes multidimensional modulation strategies (e.g., allosteric modulation, protein-protein interaction disruption, targeted protein degradation) for targeting transcription factors, based on the structural and functional features of GLI1-DNA interaction combined with recent advances in structural biology and chemical biology, offering new paradigms to overcome therapeutic barriers against undruggable targets.
7.Effect of DRG Reform and Its Impact on Different Hospital Departments
Zhenyu SHI ; Feng LU ; Ping HE ; Dawei ZHU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(5):1038-1044
To analyze the effect of diagnosis related group(DRG) reform in 2022 and its impact on patients in different departments, and create a policy environment that promotes the implementation of DRG. The data of this study were collected from the database of discharge records of secondary and tertiary hospitals in Beijing, including 1 603 989 discharge records of urban employee medical insurance inpatients. This study constructed a difference in difference model and used the event study method to test the parallel trend assumption. Firstly, the hospital-month level aggregated data was used to analyze the effects of DRG reform on inpatient cost per admission, average length of stay, proportion of patients with 30-day read-mission, proportion of patients with 60-day readmission and the proportion of patients admitted through outpatients. Then, the aggregated monthly data of the departments of internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology and oncology were used to further analyze the influence of DRG reform on the utilization of inpatient services in different departments. DRG reform reduced the inpatient cost per admission by about 9.79% and the length of stay per admission by about 5.35%, but had no significant effect on readmission risk and the proportion of patients admitted through outpatients. It reduced the inpatient cost per admission in the departments of internal medicine, surgery and obstetrics and gynecology, and reduced the length of stay per admission of inpatients in the departments of internal medicine and surgery. However, the reform had no significant effect on the readmission risk and the proportion of patients admitted through outpatients for all the four departments. The DRG reform in Beijing reduced the inpatient cost per admission, but it is necessary to regularly monitor the medical behavior and pay more attention to the role of other payment methods in making up for the deficiencies of DRG. The impact of DRG reform on different departments is varied, so appropriate supportive policies should be formulated to secure the beneficial development of DRG reform.
8.Factors influencing the severity of alcohol use disorder and the construction of risk prediction model
Xuezhi YANG ; Bing LU ; Wan WEI ; Zhen ZENG ; Sigui HU ; Yongkang CAO ; Zhenyu MA
Sichuan Mental Health 2024;37(2):131-136
BackgroundAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common chronic and relapsing psychiatric disorders. Identifying severe AUD early and intervening promptly is crucial to prevent irreversible harm. Currently, the assessment of AUD severity primarily relies on psychiatric examination by clinicians, and there is limited research on the factors influencing AUD severity and the development of prediction models. ObjectiveTo analyze the factors influencing AUD severity, and construct a risk prediction model to aid in the assessment of disease progression in AUD patients. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 358 first-time hospitalized patients admitted to Nanning Fifth People's Hospital from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2022. These patients met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for AUD. Basic patient data was collected, and the patients were divided into two groups based on disease severity: mild-moderate group (n=330) and severe group (n=1 028). The patients were randomly divided into training and test sets in a 7∶3 ratio. A Logistic regression model was constructed in the training set, and the predictive ability of the model for disease severity was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in the test set. ResultsCompared with the mild-moderate group, the severe group had a higher proportion of patients living in urban areas (χ2=7.804), were farmers (χ2=17.991), had a higher frequency of alcohol consumption (more than 1 to 2 drinks/day) (χ2=35.267), had a higher age at first drinking (t=-3.858), had a greater number of comorbid somatic disorders (Z=-22.782), and had higher proportions of γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (χ2=259.940) and total bilirubin abnormalities (χ2=148.552) (P<0.01). Logistic analysis conducted in the training set showed that being a farmer (OR=2.024, 95% CI: 1.352~3.029), having an older age at first drinking (OR=1.075, 95% CI: 1.025~1.129), drinking outside of mealtimes (OR=3.988, 95% CI: 2.408~6.606), having total bilirubin abnormalities (OR=1.034, 95% CI: 1.000~1.069), and having more comorbid somatic diseases (OR=4.386, 95% CI: 2.636~7.298) were identified as risk factors for disease severity in AUD patients. The area under curve (AUC) for this model in the test set was 0.906. ConclusionIn psychiatric hospitals, being a farmer, having an older age at first drinking, drinking outside of mealtimes, having abnormal total bilirubin levels, and having comorbidities with somatic illnesses may be risk factors for severe AUD.
9.Influencing factors of adaptive ability development of children aged 2 - 6 in China
Jiayin CUI ; Ruili LI ; Lihong WANG ; Xiaoguo ZHENG ; Huimin YANG ; Liqi ZHU ; Shuling GUO ; Lu ZHAO ; Wenhua ZHAO ; Zhenyu YANG ; Qian ZHANG ; Yuying WANG ; Tao XU ; Bowen CHEN
Chinese Journal of Child Health Care 2024;32(3):280-285
【Objective】 To investigate the development of adaptability in children aged 2 - 6, and to explore its influencing factors, so as to provide reference for promoting the development of adaptability in young children. 【Methods】 Data were from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for Children in China, and 3 319 children aged 2 - 6 and their parents from 28 sites across 14 provinces were recruited in this study.The Development Scale for Children Aged 0 - 6 years (WS/T 580-2017) was used to measure the developmental quotient of children′s adaptive ability, and a survey questionnaire was used to collect relevant information about children and their parents. 【Results】 Among 3 319 children aged 2 - 6, the proportion of slightly low or low level of adaptability, moderate adaptability development, good and excellent adaptability development was 7.68%,66.25% and 26.06%, respectively.The proportion of children aged 5 - 6 with good and excellent adaptability was lower in 3-year-old and 4-year-old groups (χ2=59.29, P<0.05).Multiple stepwise linear regression showed that children′s gender (β=0.06), gestational age of birth (β=-0.05), only child (β=-0.04), left-behind child (β=-0.04), the main caregiver (β=-0.06), and the education level of parents (β=0.09, 0.10), whether parents actively pay attention to children′s emotions (β=-0.06) and whether children play with homemade toys (β=-0.04) were the influencing factors of children′s adaptive development quotient.Girls, full-term children, only children, non-left-behind children, children with parents as main caregivers, parents with a high level of education, parents who often take the initiative to pay attention to children′s emotions, and children who play with homemade toys had a higher level of adaptability development quotient. 【Conclusions】 The development level of adaptability in children aged 2 - 6 in China is mostly above the average level and is related to multiple factors.Targeted intervention work can be carried out on relevant factors in order to promote the development of children′s adaptability.
10.Study on Quality Evaluation of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix through UPLC Fingerprint Combined with Chemometrics Analysis and Multi Index Component Content Determination
Guangming HE ; Xiaoying LU ; Tianrui XIA ; Feifei XIE ; Rui LUO ; Weisheng LYU ; Yueyi LIANG ; Zhenyu LI ; Xiuzhi LI ; Jianxiang ZHANG ; Xiangdong CHEN ; Dongmei SUN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(8):126-132
Objective To establish the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC)chromatographic fingerprint of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix;To determine the contents of ferulic acid,nodakenin,ammijin,notopterol,isoimperatorin and volatile oil of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix from different producing areas;To provide reference for quality evaluation of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix.Methods Waters BEH C18 chromatographic column(2.1 mm×150 mm,1.7 μm)was used,with mobile phase acetonitrile-0.02%formic acid aqueous solution gradient elution,flow rate 0.25 mL/min,column temperature 25℃,detection wavelength 330 nm,injection volume 2 μL.UPLC fingerprints of 25 batches of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix were established,and the similarity analysis and chemometrics analysis were carried out.The contents of ferulic acid,nodakenin,ammijin,notopterol and isoimperatorin were determined simultaneously,and the contents of volatile oil was determined by steam distillation method.Results Totally 23 common fingerprint peaks were calibrated,11 known components were identified.According to the results of the cluster analysis and principal component analysis,25 batches of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix samples were divided into 3 categories,and the 6 potential differential components were screened out by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA).The results showed that the contents of notopterol and volatile oil from Sichuan Province were higher than those from Gansu Province and Qinghai Province.Conclusion The method established in the study is accurate and reliable,which can provide scientific basis and reference for the quality evaluation and control of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix.

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