1.Simvastatin alleviates kidney ischemia reperfusion injury by inhibiting ferroptosis
Zhihui FU ; Zhongzhong LIU ; Qifa YE ; Qi XIAO ; Qin DENG ; Jiansheng XIAO ; Biqi FU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(1):45-52
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of simvastatin pretreatment on kidney ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in mice. MethodsFifteen male C57BL/6 mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into three groups: Sham operation group (Sham group), kidney IRI group (IR group), and simvastatin pretreatment+kidney IRI group (SIM group). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of kidney tissue and detection of serum creatinine (SCr) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were used to evaluate kidney injury. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected to evaluate oxidative stress. The contents of ferrous iron (Fe2+) and ferric iron (Fe3+) in kidney tissue were detected, and the morphological changes of mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscope. The relative expression levels of Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and acyl-coa synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) protein in kidney tissue were detected. ResultsCompared with the IR group, the SIM group had significantly reduced renal tubular injury and decreased contents of Scr and LDH in serum (P < 0.001). It also showed increased expression of SOD and GSH and decreased expression of MDA and ROS (P < 0.01). Simvastatin pretreatment reduced the contents of Fe2+ and Fe3+ in the tissues (P < 0.01) and alleviated mitochondrial damage. It also promoted the expression of KLF2 (P < 0.01), up-regulated the expression of ferroptosis-related protective proteins GPX4 and SLC7A11, and down-regulated the expression of ferroptosis-related damage protein ACSL4 (P < 0.05). ConclusionSimvastatin pretreatment may inhibit kidney ferroptosis by promoting the expression of KLF2 to alleviate kidney IRI.
2.New Progress in Research on Zhizichi Tang
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):295-305
Zhizichi Tang (栀子豉汤), first recorded in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases (《伤寒杂病论》) by ZHANG Zhongjing, a medical sage during the Han dynasty, is one of the classical prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It plays an important role in the clinical practice of TCM because of its dispersing and transparent characteristics. It is one of the representative parts of “dispersing fire stagnation” and is used mainly for the treatment of various symptoms caused by heat depression in the chest and diaphragm. Pharmacological research has found that it has multiple effects, such as sedative hypnosis and anti-depression, inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, regulating the intestinal flora, improving insulin resistance and endocrine metabolism disorders, reducing liver toxicity, and protecting the nerve and heart. Clinical studies have confirmed that its treatment of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other diseases has few side effects and high safety. Combined with the analysis of TCM syndrome and pharmacological effects, Zhizichi Tang also shows potential in treating other diseases such as heart, lung system, spleen and stomach, liver system, endocrine, and metabolic system diseases. Therefore, the authors, by searching Chinese and foreign literature, especially in recent five years, systematically reviewed and summarized the research progress on Zhizichi Tang in six aspects of TCM syndrome, dosage and administration, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, clinical application, and adverse reactions, aiming to provide a reference for further research and clinical application of Zhizichi Tang.
3.Protective mechanism of tanshinone on acute liver failure induced by D-galactosamine in rats
Yanting XIAO ; Danxia HUANG ; Fengrui HUANG ; Zhihui ZHAO
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(7):58-63,70
Objective To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of tanshinone ⅡA on D-galactosamine(D-GalN)-induced acute liver failure in rats.Methods SD rats were randomly di-vided into control group,model group(intraperitoneal injection of 1.1 g/kg D-GalN),low-dose group(intraperitoneal injection of 1.1 g/kg D-GalN+daily gavage of 25 mg/kg tanshinone ⅡA),and High-dose group(intraperitoneal injection of 1.1 g/kg D-GalN+daily gavage of 50 mg/kg tan-shinone ⅡA).Liver function indicators[aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GT)]were measured using a Hitachi7600-210 biochemical an-alyzer,and serum total bilirubin(TBIL)and direct bilirubin(DBIL)levels were determined.The mitotic index(MI)and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)positivity in liver tissues were examined.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-10,and IL-6 in rats from each group.Kits were employed to measure superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH),and malondialdehyde(MDA)contents in liver tissues of rats from each group.The TUNEL method was adopted to detect hepatocyte apoptosis rates in liver tissues,and immunoblotting was used to assess the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(p-ERK1/2)and extracellular signal-regu-lated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2)proteins in liver tissues.Results Compared with the control group,the model group exhibited increased p-ERK1/2 protein expression(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,both the low-dose and high-dose groups showed decreased p-ERK1/2 protein expres-sion(P<0.05).The model group had an increased hepatocyte apoptosis index compared with the control group(P<0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups demonstrated decreased hepato-cyte apoptosis indices compared with the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the model group had increased MDA levels and decreased SOD and GSH levels(P<0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups exhibited decreased MDA levels and increased SOD and GSH levels compared with the model group(P<0.05).The model group showed increased levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-10,and IL-6 compared with the control group(P<0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups had decreased levels of TNF-α,IL-1 β,IL-10,and IL-6 compared with the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the model group had decreased MI and PCNA positivity rates(P<0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups exhibited increased MI and PCNA positivity rates compared with the model group(P<0.05).The model group had in-creased AST,ALT,γ-GT,TBIL and DBIL values compared with the control group(P<0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups showed decreased AST,ALT,γ-GT,TBIL and DBIL val-ues compared with the model group(P<0.05).Conclusion Tanshinone ⅡA may alleviate D-GalN-induced acute liver failure in rats through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.
4.Research progress on the role and changes of natural killer cells in sepsis
Zhihui PENG ; Haipeng YAN ; Zhenghui XIAO
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2024;31(2):141-145
Sepsis is the organ dysfunction caused by infection.It is one of the most common critical diseases in clinic.Its morbidity and mortality are increasing year by year,which has seriously threatened human health.Innate immunity is the first line of defense against pathogens.Nature killer(NK)cells are important cells involved in the regulation of innate immunity in sepsis,and can play an important role on the progression of sepsis by secreting cytokines,inducing apoptosis and mediating cytotoxic effects.It has been found that the changes of NK cells in the early stage of sepsis are related to the prognosis of the disease.Therefore,further study on the role of NK cells in sepsis can provide a new idea for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of sepsis,and contribute to the early identification of sepsis and the improvement of prognosis.This review summarized the role and changes of NK cell in sepsis.
5.Research Advances in the Association Between Alzheimer's Disease and Double-Stranded RNA-Dependent Protein Kinase
Yi GONG ; Xingyang XIAO ; Yousheng HU ; Yiwei XIE ; Zhihui WU
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2024;46(3):425-434
Alzheimer's disease(AD)is a severe threat to human health and one of the three major causes of human death.Double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase(PKR)is an interferon-induced protein kinase involved in innate immunity.In the occurrence and development of AD,PKR is upregulated and continu-ously activated.On the one hand,the activation of PKR triggers an integrated stress response in brain cells.On the other hand,it indirectly upregulates the expression of 3-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 and facilitates the accumulation of amyloid-β protein(Aβ),which could activate PKR activator to further activate PKR,thus forming a sustained accumulation cycle of Aβ.In addition,PKR can promote Tau phosphorylation,thereby reducing microtubule stability in nerve cells.Inflammation in brain tissue,neurotoxicity resulted from Aβaccumulation,and disruption of microtubule stability led to the progression of AD and the declines of memory and cognitive function.Therefore,PKR is a key molecule in the development and progression of AD.Effective PKR detection can aid in the diagnosis and prediction of AD progression and provide opportunities for clinical treat-ment.The inhibitors targeting PKR are expected to control the activity of PKR,thereby controlling the progression of AD.Therefore,PKR could be a target for the development of therapeutic drugs for AD.
6.Psychological experience of patients with breast cancer during rehabilitation: a Meta synthesis of qualitative studies
Hong CHEN ; Xuecheng JIANG ; Fa XIAO ; Wenxin XIE ; Yuanyuan LUO ; Min LI ; Lyuting YAN ; Zhihui YANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(13):1730-1737
Objective:To systematically integrate qualitative studies on psychological experience of breast cancer patients in rehabilitation period, so as to provide basis for improving psychological care and rehabilitation efficacy.Methods:Qualitative research on psychological experience of breast cancer patients during rehabilitation was electronically retrieved in databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang data, and China Biology Medical disc. The search period was from database establishment to September 2023. The quality evaluation of the literature was conducted using the 2020 version of the quality evaluation criteria for qualitative research of the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Health Care Center. The results were integrated using the aggregative Meta integration method.Results:A total of 18 articles were included. Sixty-six research topics were extracted and categorized into 10 new categories, forming three integrated results, namely, psychological adjustment of patients with negative emotions and rehabilitation needs in the process of coping, family and social factors affecting patient rehabilitation experience, and patients perceiving that the healthcare system was not yet perfect.Conclusions:Medical and nursing staff should pay attention to the psychological problems of breast cancer patients in the rehabilitation period, understand their rehabilitation needs, provide targeted counseling and services, pay attention to the family and social support factors of breast cancer patients, help them improve their quality of life, and actively promote rehabilitation.
7.Application of 9-gene panel in assisting fine needle aspiration cytology to diagnose thyroid cancer
Yanqi ZHANG ; Huan ZHAO ; Linlin ZHAO ; Yue SUN ; Cong WANG ; Zhihui ZHANG ; Tian QIU ; Xin YANG ; Ting XIAO ; Huiqin GUO
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2024;46(11):1049-1057
Objective:To evaluate the utility of the 9-gene panel as a differential diagnostic method for thyroid nodules within determinate cytological diagnosis and as a parallel diagnostic method for thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.Methods:579 liquid-based cytology samples from 544 patients were collected after thyroid FNA diagnosis in our hospital from December 2014 to April 2021. Mutations at any site of 9 genes, namely, BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, KRAS, GNAS, RET, TERT, TP53, and PIK3CA as recorded by the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Taking postoperative histopathology and cytology results with definite benign or malignant diagnosis as the gold standard, the diagnostic efficacy of the 9-gene panel as a reclassified method for thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytological diagnosis and as a parallel diagnostic method for thyroid FNA cytology were evaluated and compared with that of the BRAF V600E single-gene detection method.Results:Of the 579 thyroid nodules, 196 (33.85%) were Bethesda Ⅱ, 11 (1.90%) were Bethesda Ⅲ, 31 (5.35%) were Bethesda Ⅳ, 27 (4.66%) were Bethesda Ⅴ, and 314 (54.23%) were Bethesda Ⅵ, as diagnosed by thyroid FNA cytology. Among these 579 thyroid nodules, 275 were tested positive for 9-gene mutations, with a mutation rate of 47.5%. Of the 329 thyroid nodules surgically removed, 30 (9.12%) were benign, 5 (1.52%) were borderline, and 294 (89.36%) were malignant. Regarding borderline nodules as malignant nodules, the mutation rates of the 9 genes in the 299 malignant thyroid nodules from high to low were BRAF 62.21% (186/299), NRAS 5.02% (15/299), HRAS 1.00% (3/299), PIK3CA 0.67% (2/299), GNAS 0.67% (2/299), KRAS 0.33% (1/299), TP53 0.33% (1/299), TERT 0.33% (1/299) and RET 0.00% (0/299). The malignant risks of the 9 genes from high to low were BRAF 100% (186/186), PIK3CA 100.00% (2/2), GNAS 100.00% (2/2), TERT 100.00% (1/1), TP53 100.00% (1/1), NRAS 78.95% (15/19), HRAS 75.00% (3/4), and KRAS 50.00% (1/2). For thyroid nodules of Bethesda Ⅲ-Ⅳ (indeterminate diagnosis), the sensitivity (SN) of the 9-gene panel in diagnosing thyroid cancer is 34.48% (10/29), the specificity (SP) is 61.54% (8/13), and the accuracy is 42.86% (18/42); whereas the SN of the BRAF V600E detection method is 0%. Therefore, the diagnostic efficiency of the 9-gene panel is significantly better than that of BRAF V600E single gene detection. For thyroid nodules of Bethesda Ⅱ-Ⅵ, the SN of the 9-gene panel in diagnosing thyroid cancer was 68.83% (254/369), the SP was 90.00% (189/210), the accuracy was 76.51% (443/579), and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.79; whereas the SN of BRAF V600E single-gene detection in diagnosing thyroid cancer was 63.69% (235/369), the SP was 99.52% (209/210), the accuracy was 76.68% (444/579), and the AUC was 0.82. The SP of BRAF V600E detection is higher than that of the 9-gene panel ( P<0.01), but there is no significant difference in SN, accuracy (both P>0.05), and AUC ( Z=0.85, P=0.396) between them. Gene mutations indicating poor prognosis were detected in 4 nodules of papillary thyroid carcinoma and 1 nodules of follicular thyroid carcinoma, including 2 nodules with TERT and BRAF V600E co-mutations, 1 nodule with TP53 mutation, and 2 nodules with PIK3CA mutation. Conclusions:As a reclassified method for thyroid lesions with indeterminate cytological diagnosis, the 9-gene panel is better than BRAF V600E single gene detection. As a parallel diagnostic method of thyroid FNA cytology, the 9-gene panel has similar diagnostic efficacy as BRAF V600E single-gene detection. The 9-gene panel can detect individual cases with gene mutations indicating poor prognosis. The identification of patients with these special gene mutations has certain implications for the clinical management of them.
8.Application of 9-gene panel in assisting fine needle aspiration cytology to diagnose thyroid cancer
Yanqi ZHANG ; Huan ZHAO ; Linlin ZHAO ; Yue SUN ; Cong WANG ; Zhihui ZHANG ; Tian QIU ; Xin YANG ; Ting XIAO ; Huiqin GUO
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2024;46(11):1049-1057
Objective:To evaluate the utility of the 9-gene panel as a differential diagnostic method for thyroid nodules within determinate cytological diagnosis and as a parallel diagnostic method for thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.Methods:579 liquid-based cytology samples from 544 patients were collected after thyroid FNA diagnosis in our hospital from December 2014 to April 2021. Mutations at any site of 9 genes, namely, BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, KRAS, GNAS, RET, TERT, TP53, and PIK3CA as recorded by the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Taking postoperative histopathology and cytology results with definite benign or malignant diagnosis as the gold standard, the diagnostic efficacy of the 9-gene panel as a reclassified method for thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytological diagnosis and as a parallel diagnostic method for thyroid FNA cytology were evaluated and compared with that of the BRAF V600E single-gene detection method.Results:Of the 579 thyroid nodules, 196 (33.85%) were Bethesda Ⅱ, 11 (1.90%) were Bethesda Ⅲ, 31 (5.35%) were Bethesda Ⅳ, 27 (4.66%) were Bethesda Ⅴ, and 314 (54.23%) were Bethesda Ⅵ, as diagnosed by thyroid FNA cytology. Among these 579 thyroid nodules, 275 were tested positive for 9-gene mutations, with a mutation rate of 47.5%. Of the 329 thyroid nodules surgically removed, 30 (9.12%) were benign, 5 (1.52%) were borderline, and 294 (89.36%) were malignant. Regarding borderline nodules as malignant nodules, the mutation rates of the 9 genes in the 299 malignant thyroid nodules from high to low were BRAF 62.21% (186/299), NRAS 5.02% (15/299), HRAS 1.00% (3/299), PIK3CA 0.67% (2/299), GNAS 0.67% (2/299), KRAS 0.33% (1/299), TP53 0.33% (1/299), TERT 0.33% (1/299) and RET 0.00% (0/299). The malignant risks of the 9 genes from high to low were BRAF 100% (186/186), PIK3CA 100.00% (2/2), GNAS 100.00% (2/2), TERT 100.00% (1/1), TP53 100.00% (1/1), NRAS 78.95% (15/19), HRAS 75.00% (3/4), and KRAS 50.00% (1/2). For thyroid nodules of Bethesda Ⅲ-Ⅳ (indeterminate diagnosis), the sensitivity (SN) of the 9-gene panel in diagnosing thyroid cancer is 34.48% (10/29), the specificity (SP) is 61.54% (8/13), and the accuracy is 42.86% (18/42); whereas the SN of the BRAF V600E detection method is 0%. Therefore, the diagnostic efficiency of the 9-gene panel is significantly better than that of BRAF V600E single gene detection. For thyroid nodules of Bethesda Ⅱ-Ⅵ, the SN of the 9-gene panel in diagnosing thyroid cancer was 68.83% (254/369), the SP was 90.00% (189/210), the accuracy was 76.51% (443/579), and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.79; whereas the SN of BRAF V600E single-gene detection in diagnosing thyroid cancer was 63.69% (235/369), the SP was 99.52% (209/210), the accuracy was 76.68% (444/579), and the AUC was 0.82. The SP of BRAF V600E detection is higher than that of the 9-gene panel ( P<0.01), but there is no significant difference in SN, accuracy (both P>0.05), and AUC ( Z=0.85, P=0.396) between them. Gene mutations indicating poor prognosis were detected in 4 nodules of papillary thyroid carcinoma and 1 nodules of follicular thyroid carcinoma, including 2 nodules with TERT and BRAF V600E co-mutations, 1 nodule with TP53 mutation, and 2 nodules with PIK3CA mutation. Conclusions:As a reclassified method for thyroid lesions with indeterminate cytological diagnosis, the 9-gene panel is better than BRAF V600E single gene detection. As a parallel diagnostic method of thyroid FNA cytology, the 9-gene panel has similar diagnostic efficacy as BRAF V600E single-gene detection. The 9-gene panel can detect individual cases with gene mutations indicating poor prognosis. The identification of patients with these special gene mutations has certain implications for the clinical management of them.
9.How far are we from the ideal iliac vein stent
Hanyu LI ; Jianbin XIAO ; Zhihui ZHANG
Journal of Surgery Concepts & Practice 2024;29(6):472-476
The iliac vein plays a crucial role in the reflux of venous blood from the pelvic and lower extremity regions. Due to its unique anatomical characteristics, iliac vein is susceptible to iliac vein compression syndrome (May-Thurner syndrome) and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Iliac vein stent placement has emerged as the preferred treatment for these conditions. Through the concerted efforts of clinicians and engineers, various types of iliac vein stents have been developed. This article aimed to elaborate on the physiological anatomy ofiliac vein and the characteristics of the iliac vein diseases, analyze the features of different iliac vein stents currently used in clinic, and explore potential future development direction of iliac vein stents.

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