1.In Vitro Study of ROS-responsive Hydrogel Loaded With Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Neuronal Protection by Regulating Inflammatory Microenvironment
Yang XIAO ; Wei LIU ; Tian-Yi SUN ; Chuan-Lu SHA ; Chun-Lan WANG ; Chang-Yong WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1699-1711
ObjectiveCerebral ischemic injury triggers a complex pathological cascade characterized by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, persistent oxidative stress, and sustained neuroinflammation in the injured brain microenvironment. These events collectively drive mitochondrial dysfunction, microglial overactivation, pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and progressive neuronal apoptosis, ultimately leading to severe and irreversible neurological deficits. However, conventional therapeutic strategies face critical limitations, including poor blood-brain barrier penetration, insufficient local drug concentration, uncontrolled drug release, and off-target systemic side effects. To address this pathological process, we rationally designed and fabricated an injectable ROS-responsive hydrogel loaded with polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) for spatiotemporally controlled antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and neuroprotection in the ischemic injury microenvironment. The present study aimed to systematically characterize the physicochemical properties, ROS-responsive drug release behavior, biocompatibility, and neuroprotective efficacy of this composite hydrogel system in vitro. MethodsPDA NPs were fabricated via oxidative self-polymerization. The ROS-responsive hydrogel was cross-linked using N1-(4-boronobenzyl)-N3-(4-boronophenyl)-N1,N1,N3,N3-tetramethylpropane-1, 3-diaminium (TSPBA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Morphology, particle size, Zeta potential, and structure of PDA NPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microstructure, rheological properties, shear-thinning behavior, and ROS-triggered release profiles of the hydrogel were examined by SEM and rheometry. Biocompatibility was evaluated using HT22 mouse hippocampal neurons with CCK-8 and live/dead staining. An oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model was established to simulate ischemic injury in vitro. ROS levels and neuronal apoptosis were detected by DHE staining and TUNEL assay. Microglial polarization and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were analyzed using immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR in BV-2 microglia. Transwell co-culture was used to verify the indirect neuroprotection mediated by modulated microglia. ResultsCharacterization results confirmed that the as-prepared PDA NPs were monodispersed spherical nanoparticles with uniform diameter and negative surface potential, demonstrating favorable dispersibility and robust ROS-scavenging activity. The TSPBA-PVA hydrogel exhibited a highly porous interconnected network, suitable mechanical strength, and obvious shear-thinning behavior, supporting its application as an injectable implant. More importantly, the hydrogel displayed typical ROS-responsive degradation and on-demand PDA NP release in a ROS-concentration-dependent manner. In vitro cellular experiments demonstrated that the PDA NP-loaded hydrogel possessed excellent biocompatibility with HT22 cells. In the OGD/R model, the hydrogel significantly reduced intracellular ROS accumulation and markedly suppressed neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, the composite hydrogel effectively redirected BV-2 microglia from the pro-inflammatory M1 toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes, downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and reduced inflammatory damage. Transwell co-culture assays further validated that M2-polarized microglia mediated by the hydrogel significantly enhanced the survival of OGD/R-injured HT22 neurons and attenuated apoptosis. ConclusionIn this study, we successfully developed a novel injectable ROS-responsive hydrogel loaded with PDA NPs for synergistic antioxidative and anti-inflammatory neuroprotection. This intelligent hydrogel system enables ROS-triggered on-demand release of PDA NPs, efficiently scavenges excessive ROS, inhibits oxidative stress injury, modulates microglial polarization, and suppresses neuroinflammation, thereby exerting robust neuroprotective effects in vitro. This biomaterial platform provides a promising strategy for the targeted and controlled delivery of bioactive nanomaterials in the central nervous system diseases and establishes a solid experimental foundation for the development of in situ injectable therapies for ischemic brain injury.
2.Era value and new directions of traditional Chinese medicine in preventing and treating osteoporosis from perspective of "bone health program".
Yi-Li ZHANG ; Chuan-Rui SUN ; Kai SUN ; Ai-Li XU ; Hao SHEN ; He YIN ; Ling-Hui LI ; Li-Guo ZHU ; Xu WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):569-574
Facing the requirements of promoting the healthy China initiative and improving people's health, the "bone health program" was proposed in 2024. In-depth development of a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prevention and control system is of strategic significance to the implementation of the "bone health program". Focusing on osteoporosis(OP), a representative disease affecting people's bone health, this paper concludes that accelerating the research on the prevention and control of OP by TCM is conducive to enhancing the knowledge and awareness of OP among the public, and it is beneficial to revealing the evolutionary pattern of OP and improving the understanding and management of this disease. Additionally, it can provide an overall framework for and strengthen the systematicity and completeness of the research on the prevention and treatment of OP by TCM. Meanwhile, it can help to explore new research paradigms and optimize the existing research model, so as to promote innovative breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of bone health-related diseases by TCM. Under the overall layout of the "bone health program", importance should be attached to the early prevention and the innovation of very early diagnosis and intervention of OP. Emphasis should be put on the discovery of the target network of disease and treatment mechanism for revealing the core pathogenesis of OP and the therapeutic mechanism of TCM. In addition to local lesions of the bone and its clinical outcomes, attention should be paid to the development of multiple metabolic complications. The fusion of advanced interdisciplinary technologies should be promoted for OP and its complications, and thus a research and development system based on clinical application scenarios and driven by big data can be built. The measures above will facilitate the progress in the prevention and treatment of OP and other bone diseases by TCM and provide new momentum for enriching and deepening the research connotation of the "bone health program".
Osteoporosis/therapy*
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Humans
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
China
;
Bone and Bones/drug effects*
3.Influence of iron metabolism on osteoporosis and modulating effect of traditional Chinese medicine.
Yi-Li ZHANG ; Bao-Yu QI ; Chuan-Rui SUN ; Xiang-Yun GUO ; Shuang-Jie YANG ; Ping LIU ; Xu WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):575-582
Recent studies have shown that an imbalance in iron metabolism can affect the composition and microstructural changes of bone, disrupting bone homeostasis and leading to osteoporosis(OP). The imbalance in iron metabolism, along with its induced local abnormal microenvironment and cellular iron death, has become a new focal point in OP research, drawing increasing attention from the academic community regarding the regulation of iron metabolism to prevent and manage OP. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), iron metabolism imbalance has potential connections to TCM theories regarding internal organs, as well as treatments aimed at tonifying the kidney, strengthening the spleen, and activating blood circulation. Evidence is continually emerging that TCMs and effective components that tonify the kidney, strengthen the spleen, and activate blood circulation can prevent and manage OP by regulating iron metabolism. This article analyzes the relationship between iron and bone, as well as the effects of TCM formulations on improving iron metabolism and influencing bone metabolism, from the perspectives of iron metabolism mechanisms and TCM interventions, aiming to broaden existing clinical strategies for prevention and treatment and inject new momentum into the field of OP as it moves into a new era.
Osteoporosis/drug therapy*
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Humans
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Iron/metabolism*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Animals
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Bone and Bones/drug effects*
4.Profiling and functional characterization of long noncoding RNAs during human tooth development.
Xiuge GU ; Wei WEI ; Chuan WU ; Jing SUN ; Xiaoshan WU ; Zongshan SHEN ; Hanzhang ZHOU ; Chunmei ZHANG ; Jinsong WANG ; Lei HU ; Suwen CHEN ; Yuanyuan ZHANG ; Songlin WANG ; Ran ZHANG
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):38-38
The regulatory processes in developmental biology research are significantly influenced by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the dynamics of lncRNA expression during human tooth development remain poorly understood. In this research, we examined the lncRNAs present in the dental epithelium (DE) and dental mesenchyme (DM) at the late bud, cap, and early bell stages of human fetal tooth development through bulk RNA sequencing. Developmental regulators co-expressed with neighboring lncRNAs were significantly enriched in odontogenesis. Specific lncRNAs expressed in the DE and DM, such as PANCR, MIR205HG, DLX6-AS1, and DNM3OS, were identified through a combination of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell analysis. Further subcluster analysis revealed lncRNAs specifically expressed in important regions of the tooth germ, such as the inner enamel epithelium and coronal dental papilla (CDP). Functionally, we demonstrated that CDP-specific DLX6-AS1 enhanced odontoblastic differentiation in human tooth germ mesenchymal cells and dental pulp stem cells. These findings suggest that lncRNAs could serve as valuable cell markers for tooth development and potential therapeutic targets for tooth regeneration.
Humans
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RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism*
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Odontogenesis/genetics*
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Tooth Germ/embryology*
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Cell Differentiation
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Mesoderm/metabolism*
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Tooth/embryology*
;
Gene Expression Profiling
;
Sequence Analysis, RNA
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Dental Pulp/cytology*
5.A multicenter study of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China
Li-Xiu SHI ; Jin-Xing FENG ; Yan-Fang WEI ; Xin-Ru LU ; Yu-Xi ZHANG ; Lin-Ying YANG ; Sheng-Nan HE ; Pei-Juan CHEN ; Jing HAN ; Cheng CHEN ; Hui-Ying TU ; Zhang-Bin YU ; Jin-Jie HUANG ; Shu-Juan ZENG ; Wan-Ling CHEN ; Ying LIU ; Yan-Ping GUO ; Jiao-Yu MAO ; Xiao-Dong LI ; Qian-Shen ZHANG ; Zhi-Li XIE ; Mei-Ying HUANG ; Kun-Shan YAN ; Er-Ya YING ; Jun CHEN ; Yan-Rong WANG ; Ya-Ping LIU ; Bo SONG ; Hua-Yan LIU ; Xiao-Dong XIAO ; Hong TANG ; Yu-Na WANG ; Yin-Sha CAI ; Qi LONG ; Han-Qiang XU ; Hui-Zhan WANG ; Qian SUN ; Fang HAN ; Rui-Biao ZHANG ; Chuan-Zhong YANG ; Lei DOU ; Hui-Ju SHI ; Rui WANG ; Ping JIANG ; Shenzhen Neonatal Data Network
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2024;26(5):450-455
Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75%(27/36);boys accounted for 64%(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86%)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53%)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61%)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36%)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75%)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72%)and seizures in 10 neonates(34%).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33%,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44%(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.
6.Clinical features and prognosis of hepatosplenic candidiasis in patients with hematopathy
Danping ZHU ; Rui MA ; Yun HE ; Xueyi LUO ; Wei HAN ; Chuan LI ; Jingrui ZHOU ; Yi LIAO ; Borui TANG ; Longtong LONGKA ; Xiaojun HUANG ; Yuqian SUN
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2024;45(7):683-688
Hepatosplenic candidiasis (HSC) is a rare type of candidiasis that can occur in patients with hematologic malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. At present, there is still a lack of studies on HSC in patients with hematologic disorders. Based on The Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Invasive Fungal Disease in Patients with Hematological Disorders and Cancers (the 6th revision), We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with HSC treated in Peking University Institute of Hematology from 2008 to 2022. Finally, eighteen patients were included, with 1 (5.6%) proven, 2 (11.1%) probable, and 15 (83.3%) possible HSC. Among them, 3 (16.7%) patients occurred after haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 15 (83.3%) patients occurred after chemotherapy. 6 (33.3%) patients had positive blood cultures, including 4 cases of Candida tropicalis and 2 cases of Candida albicans. At 4 weeks of antifungal therapy, 10 (58.8%) patients achieved partial response (PR), At 8 weeks, 1 (6.3%) patients achieved complete response and 10 (62.5%) patients achieved PR. At 6 months after diagnosis, 3 (16.7%) patients died of hematopoietic recurrence, and none of them died of HSC. As a rare fungal infection disease, HSC has a low positive rate of microbiological and histological examinations, a persistent treat cycle, and has difficulty in remission, reminding us of the need for vigilance in patients with hematopoietic disorders and persistent fever.
7.Quality assessment of animal experimental studies on traditional Chinese medicine treatment of cervical radiculopathy.
Tian-Xiao FENG ; Xu WANG ; Han-Mei BU ; Xiao-Kuan QIN ; Chuan-Rui SUN ; Li-Guo ZHU ; Xu WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2024;49(21):5686-5694
This study aims to assess the methodological and reporting quality of animal experimental studies on the treatment of cervical radiculopathy(CR) with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), analyze the deficiencies during the experimental process, and develop the methods to enhance the quality of such studies. The related articles were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The methodological quality and reporting quality of the included studies were evaluated according to the risk of bias tool of the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation(SYRCLE) and the Animal Research: Reporting of in vivo Experiments(ARRIVE) 2.0 guidelines, respectively. A total of 4 086 articles were initially screened, in which 71 articles met the inclusion criteria. The SYRCLE's risk of bias tool revealed selection bias, performance bias, detection bias, and attrition bias of the included studies. The aspects for improvement were identified in the randomization of animal grouping, experimental implementation and outcome assessment, blinding, reporting baseline characteristics, and handling incomplete data. The essential item assessment of the ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines showed high risks in sample size determination, inclusion and exclusion criteria, randomization, blinding, outcome assessment, statistical methods, experimental procedures, and results reporting. Additionally, there were high risks in items recommended by ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines, including study background, ethical statements, animal care, interpretation/scientific implications, generalizability/translation, experimental protocol registration, data availability, and conflict of interest declaration. The existing animal experimental studies about the TCM treatment of CR exhibited methodological and reporting deficiencies. We recommend that researchers refer to the SYRCLE's risk of bias tool and the ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines to rigorously design, implement, and report experiments in a standardized manner, thereby enhancing the scientific, authentic, and reproducible properties of the experiments.
Radiculopathy/therapy*
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Animals
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Humans
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Animal Experimentation/standards*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Research Design/standards*
8.Loss of TET Activity in the Postnatal Mouse Brain Perturbs Synaptic Gene Expression and Impairs Cognitive Function.
Ji-Wei LIU ; Ze-Qiang ZHANG ; Zhi-Chuan ZHU ; Kui LI ; Qiwu XU ; Jing ZHANG ; Xue-Wen CHENG ; Han LI ; Ying SUN ; Ji-Jun WANG ; Lu-Lu HU ; Zhi-Qi XIONG ; Yongchuan ZHU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2024;40(11):1699-1712
Conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) by ten-eleven translocation (TET) family proteins leads to the accumulation of 5hmC in the central nervous system; however, the role of 5hmC in the postnatal brain and how its levels and target genes are regulated by TETs remain elusive. We have generated mice that lack all three Tet genes specifically in postnatal excitatory neurons. These mice exhibit significantly reduced 5hmC levels, altered dendritic spine morphology within brain regions crucial for cognition, and substantially impaired spatial and associative memories. Transcriptome profiling combined with epigenetic mapping reveals that a subset of genes, which display changes in both 5hmC/5mC levels and expression patterns, are involved in synapse-related functions. Our findings provide insight into the role of postnatally accumulated 5hmC in the mouse brain and underscore the impact of 5hmC modification on the expression of genes essential for synapse development and function.
Animals
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Brain/growth & development*
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5-Methylcytosine/metabolism*
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Mice
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Synapses/genetics*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism*
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DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism*
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Dioxygenases/metabolism*
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Cognition/physiology*
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Gene Expression
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Mixed Function Oxygenases/metabolism*
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Epigenesis, Genetic
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Mice, Knockout
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
9.To compare the efficacy and incidence of severe hematological adverse events of flumatinib and imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia.
Xiao Shuai ZHANG ; Bing Cheng LIU ; Xin DU ; Yan Li ZHANG ; Na XU ; Xiao Li LIU ; Wei Ming LI ; Hai LIN ; Rong LIANG ; Chun Yan CHEN ; Jian HUANG ; Yun Fan YANG ; Huan Ling ZHU ; Ling PAN ; Xiao Dong WANG ; Gui Hui LI ; Zhuo Gang LIU ; Yan Qing ZHANG ; Zhen Fang LIU ; Jian Da HU ; Chun Shui LIU ; Fei LI ; Wei YANG ; Li MENG ; Yan Qiu HAN ; Li E LIN ; Zhen Yu ZHAO ; Chuan Qing TU ; Cai Feng ZHENG ; Yan Liang BAI ; Ze Ping ZHOU ; Su Ning CHEN ; Hui Ying QIU ; Li Jie YANG ; Xiu Li SUN ; Hui SUN ; Li ZHOU ; Ze Lin LIU ; Dan Yu WANG ; Jian Xin GUO ; Li Ping PANG ; Qing Shu ZENG ; Xiao Hui SUO ; Wei Hua ZHANG ; Yuan Jun ZHENG ; Qian JIANG
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2023;44(9):728-736
Objective: To analyze and compare therapy responses, outcomes, and incidence of severe hematologic adverse events of flumatinib and imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) . Methods: Data of patients with chronic phase CML diagnosed between January 2006 and November 2022 from 76 centers, aged ≥18 years, and received initial flumatinib or imatinib therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China were retrospectively interrogated. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to reduce the bias of the initial TKI selection, and the therapy responses and outcomes of patients receiving initial flumatinib or imatinib therapy were compared. Results: A total of 4 833 adult patients with CML receiving initial imatinib (n=4 380) or flumatinib (n=453) therapy were included in the study. In the imatinib cohort, the median follow-up time was 54 [interquartile range (IQR), 31-85] months, and the 7-year cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) were 95.2%, 88.4%, 78.3%, and 63.0%, respectively. The 7-year FFS, PFS, and OS rates were 71.8%, 93.0%, and 96.9%, respectively. With the median follow-up of 18 (IQR, 13-25) months in the flumatinib cohort, the 2-year cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) were 95.4%, 86.5%, 58.4%, and 46.6%, respectively. The 2-year FFS, PFS, and OS rates were 80.1%, 95.0%, and 99.5%, respectively. The PSM analysis indicated that patients receiving initial flumatinib therapy had significantly higher cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) and higher probabilities of FFS than those receiving the initial imatinib therapy (all P<0.001), whereas the PFS (P=0.230) and OS (P=0.268) were comparable between the two cohorts. The incidence of severe hematologic adverse events (grade≥Ⅲ) was comparable in the two cohorts. Conclusion: Patients receiving initial flumatinib therapy had higher cumulative incidences of therapy responses and higher probability of FFS than those receiving initial imatinib therapy, whereas the incidence of severe hematologic adverse events was comparable between the two cohorts.
Adult
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Humans
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Adolescent
;
Imatinib Mesylate/adverse effects*
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Incidence
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Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Pyrimidines/adverse effects*
;
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy*
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Treatment Outcome
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Benzamides/adverse effects*
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Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase/drug therapy*
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Aminopyridines/therapeutic use*
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
10.Diagnostic value of a combined serology-based model for minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with compensated cirrhosis
Shanghao LIU ; Hongmei ZU ; Yan HUANG ; Xiaoqing GUO ; Huiling XIANG ; Tong DANG ; Xiaoyan LI ; Zhaolan YAN ; Yajing LI ; Fei LIU ; Jia SUN ; Ruixin SONG ; Junqing YAN ; Qing YE ; Jing WANG ; Xianmei MENG ; Haiying WANG ; Zhenyu JIANG ; Lei HUANG ; Fanping MENG ; Guo ZHANG ; Wenjuan WANG ; Shaoqi YANG ; Shengjuan HU ; Jigang RUAN ; Chuang LEI ; Qinghai WANG ; Hongling TIAN ; Qi ZHENG ; Yiling LI ; Ningning WANG ; Huipeng CUI ; Yanmeng WANG ; Zhangshu QU ; Min YUAN ; Yijun LIU ; Ying CHEN ; Yuxiang XIA ; Yayuan LIU ; Ying LIU ; Suxuan QU ; Hong TAO ; Ruichun SHI ; Xiaoting YANG ; Dan JIN ; Dan SU ; Yongfeng YANG ; Wei YE ; Na LIU ; Rongyu TANG ; Quan ZHANG ; Qin LIU ; Gaoliang ZOU ; Ziyue LI ; Caiyan ZHAO ; Qian ZHAO ; Qingge ZHANG ; Huafang GAO ; Tao MENG ; Jie LI ; Weihua WU ; Jian WANG ; Chuanlong YANG ; Hui LYU ; Chuan LIU ; Fusheng WANG ; Junliang FU ; Xiaolong QI
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2023;46(1):52-61
Objective:To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of serological indicators and evaluate the diagnostic value of a new established combined serological model on identifying the minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:This prospective multicenter study enrolled 263 compensated cirrhotic patients from 23 hospitals in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China between October 2021 and August 2022. Clinical data and laboratory test results were collected, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was calculated. Ammonia level was corrected to the upper limit of normal (AMM-ULN) by the baseline blood ammonia measurements/upper limit of the normal reference value. MHE was diagnosed by combined abnormal number connection test-A and abnormal digit symbol test as suggested by Guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis. The patients were randomly divided (7∶3) into training set ( n=185) and validation set ( n=78) based on caret package of R language. Logistic regression was used to establish a combined model of MHE diagnosis. The diagnostic performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve. The internal verification was carried out by the Bootstrap method ( n=200). AUC comparisons were achieved using the Delong test. Results:In the training set, prevalence of MHE was 37.8% (70/185). There were statistically significant differences in AMM-ULN, albumin, platelet, alkaline phosphatase, international normalized ratio, MELD score and education between non-MHE group and MHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AMM-ULN [odds ratio ( OR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.05-3.14, P=0.038] and MELD score ( OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.20, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for MHE, and the AUC for predicting MHE were 0.663, 0.625, respectively. Compared with the use of blood AMM-ULN and MELD score alone, the AUC of the combined model of AMM-ULN, MELD score and education exhibited better predictive performance in determining the presence of MHE was 0.755, the specificity and sensitivity was 85.2% and 55.7%, respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ( P=0.733). The AUC for internal validation of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.752. In the validation set, the AUC of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.794, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration ( P=0.841). Conclusion:Use of the combined model including AMM-ULN, MELD score and education could improve the predictive efficiency of MHE among patients with compensated cirrhosis.

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