1.Targeting YAP-TEAD Interaction with Honokiol to Inhibit Melanoma Progression and Metastasis
Chaelin LEE ; Hien Thi Thu DO ; Xiang FEI ; Sanha LEE ; Soonsil HYUN ; Seung-Yong SEO ; Inmoo RHEE
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2026;34(1):154-164
The Hippo-YAP/TEAD pathway plays a central role in melanoma progression by regulating tumor cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Using a NanoLuc Binary Technology (NanoBiT) protein-protein interaction assay, we screened honokiol-based small molecules and identified several analogues that disrupt the YAP-TEAD interaction. HK03 was the most effective analogue, leading to a pronounced reduction in Cyr61 levels and diminished Erk and Akt phosphorylation in B16-F10 melanoma cells. HK03 also blocked epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and impaired melanoma cell migration in wound-healing assays. In vivo, HK03 treatment markedly reduced metastatic burden in a B16-F10 lung metastasis model. These findings suggest that honokiol derivatives, particularly HK03, represent potential lead compounds for targeting the YAP-TEAD axis in melanoma therapy.
2.Platelet-rich plasma injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome
Xiang SHANG ; Fei WANG ; Qiqi YANG ; Tianxin JIANG ; Fen ZHANG ; Sanbing WU ; Yonghui YANG ; Fei LI
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):270-279
Objective:
To determine the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome.
Methods:
One hundred and twenty-eight patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome who visited the Rehabilitation Department and Orthopedics Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to March 2024 and who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into an experimental (n=64) and control group (n=64) using the random number table method. The experimental group was treated with PRP injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion, whereas the control group was treated with normal saline injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. PRP and normal saline injections were administered once every two weeks, a total of four times. Patients were treated with warm acupuncture and moxibustion once a day, six times a week, for four consecutive weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome, visual analog scale (VAS), and Lysholm scores were determined before treatment, at week 4 and week 8 of treatment, and week 16 of follow-up. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), osteoprotegerin (OPG), bone gla protein(BGP), and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels were compared between the two groups before and after 8 weeks of treatment. The clinical efficacy and safety indicators between the two groups were also compared.
Results:
There was no statistical difference in baseline data such as gender, age, disease duration, and body mass index between the two groups of patients. Compared with before treatment, both groups showed decreased WOMAC total and subscale, TCM syndrome total score and symptom scores, and VAS scores, and an increase in Lysholm scores at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment. After treatment, serum IL-6, MMP-3, TNF-α, and COMP levels decreased, whereas serum OPG and BGP levels increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, patients in the experimental group showed decreased WOMAC total and subscale, TCM syndrome total score and symptom scores, and VAS scores, and an increase in Lysholm score at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment. Compared with the control group, patients in the experimental group showed decreased serum IL-6, MMP-3, TNF-α, and COMP levels and an increase in serum OPG and BPG levels after treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the experimental group was 91.94%, higher than that of the control group (81.97%; P<0.05).
Conclusion
PRP injection combined with warm acupuncture and moxibustion can improve various TCM symptoms, improve knee joint function and bone metabolism, and reduce inflammation in patients with knee osteoarthritis and cold dampness obstruction syndrome.
3.Ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Wenjun WU ; Chang LIU ; Shengsheng YAO ; Daming LIU ; Yuan LUO ; Yihan SUN ; Ting RUAN ; Mengyou LIU ; Li SHI ; Mingming XIAO ; Qi ZHANG ; Zhengshuai LIU ; Xingai JU ; Jiahao WANG ; Xiang FEI ; Li LU ; Yang GAO ; Ying ZHANG ; Liying GONG ; Xuanyu CHEN ; Wanli ZHENG ; Xiali NIU ; Xiao YANG ; Huimei CAO ; Shijie CHANG ; Zuoxin MA ; Jianchun CUI
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(3):313-319
Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.
4.Influence of Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy Combined with SRP on the Periodontal Condition,Oral Flora and CRP,PGE2 and IL-8 in Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients with Chronic Periodontitis
Peng-fei YANG ; Cheng-li XIONG ; Jin-xiang LI
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(20):3345-3353
Objective:To observe the influence of antibacterial photodynamic therapy combined with scaling and root planning(SRP)on the periodontal condition,oral flora and C-reactive protein(CRP),prostaglandin E2(PGE2),and interleukin-8(IL-8)in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with chronic periodontitis.Methods:102 patients with chronic periodontitis who were admitted to Fengdu County People's Hospital of Chongqing from January 2023 to October 2024 were prospectively selected,they were divided into control group(received SRP treatment,51 cases)and study group(received antibacterial photodynamic therapy combined with SRP treatment,51 cases)according to random number table method.The clinical efficacy,periodontal condition,oral flora,oral health impact profile-14(OHIP-14)scores,and CRP,PGE2 and IL-8 levels in gingival crevicular fluid between two groups were compared.Result:The clinical total effective rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Clinical attachment loss(CAL),gingival index(GI),probing depth(PD),bleeding index(BI),aggregated bacilli with release lines,fusobacterium nucleatum,porphyromonas gingivalis,OHIP-14 score,CRP,PGE2 and IL-8 levels in gingival crevicular fluid 4 weeks after treatment and 12 weeks after treatment in the study group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Antibacterial photodynamic therapy combined with SRP can effectively improve the periodontal condition,oral flora and CRP,PGE2,IL-8 levels in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with chronic periodontitis,and enhance clinical efficacy.
5.Comparison of effect between TiRobot assisted screw placement and freehand screw placement for lumbar degenerative diseases
Weiyang ZUO ; Qi FEI ; Kuo CHEN ; Yuquan LIU ; Haining TAN ; Lingjia YU ; Xiang LI ; Yong YANG
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(1):30-34
Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TiRobot assisted screw placement in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases.Methods:The clinical data of 165 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases from January 2020 to December 2022 in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyze, and all patients were treated with posterior lumbar decompression and instrumentation. Among them, 46 patients were used the TiRobot assisted screw placement during surgery (robotic-assisted group), and 119 patients underwent freehand screw placement by C-arm X-ray machine fluoroscopy (freehand group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complication and skelalgia visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) before and after operation were recorded. The accuracy of screw placement and rate of proximal facet joint violation were compared between two groups.Results:There were no statistical difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and incidence of complication between two groups ( P>0.05). In the two groups, the 3 d VAS and ODI after operation were significantly lower than those before operation, robot-assisted group: (3.33 ± 1.40) scores vs. (6.54 ± 2.00) scores and (16.96 ± 8.03) scores vs. (43.09 ± 5.48) scores; freehand group: (3.56 ± 1.29) scores vs. (6.55 ± 1.65) scores and (18.89 ± 6.74) scores vs. (44.91 ± 4.96) scores, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there were no statistical difference in VAS and ODI before operation and 3 d after operation between two groups ( P>0.05). A total of 234 screws were implanted in robot-assisted group, and 590 screws were implanted in freehand group. The accuracy of screw placement in robot-assisted group was significantly higher than that in freehand group: 80.77% (189/234) vs. 74.58% (440/590), the rate of proximal facet joint violation was significantly lower than that in freehand group: 2.56% (6/234) vs. 7.29% (43/590), and there were statistical differences ( χ2 = 3.56 and 6.68, P<0.05). Conclusions:The TiRobot assisted screw placement for lumbar degenerative diseases is safe and effective. Compared to freehand technique, the TiRobot assisted method demonstrates higher screw placement accuracy and a lower rate of proximal facet joint violation.
6.Assessment of Genotoxicity of Tissue Engineered Materials Based on Improved in vivo Hepatocyte Unscheduled DNA Synthesis(UDS)Assay
Luan-luan WANG ; Li HOU ; Xiang-yu CHU ; Zi-yi YANG ; Ling-xiao SUN ; Xiao-fei WANG ; Qiu-jin QU ; Jing XU ; Zeng-xiang LIU ; Xiao-xia SUN
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(17):2740-2748
Objective:An in vivo mammalian hepatocyte Unscheduled DNA Synthesis(UDS)test was used to evaluate the genotoxicity of Cross-linked Sodium Hyaluronate Gel and Bone Repair Materials,providing experimental evidence for establishing a UDS testing method for medical devices and materials.Methods:0.9%sodium chloride injection and cottonseed oil were used as the solvent for test materials and negative control,respectively.N-dimethylnitrosamine(NDMA)was used as the positive control for the early sampling times,and 2-acetylaminofluorene(2-AAF)was used as the positive control for the late sampling times.SD rats were administered a single dose for toxic exposure,and liver tissues were collected at 4 h and 16 h,respectively.Hepatocytes were isolated using collagenase perfusion.After labeling with 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU),and the net average fluorescence intensity(NAFI)of cell nuclei and nucleoplasm was measured by fluorescence microscope.Data from 50 cells were used to analyze the DNA repair level.Results:Compared with the negative control groups,the positive control groups(NDMA and 2-AAF)showed highly statistically significant differences in NAFI(P<0.01),indicating successful induction of DNA damage.There was no statistically significant differences between the cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel groups,bone repair material groups and the negative control group(P>0.05),suggesting that these materials did not significantly induce DNA damage under the experimental conditions.Conclusion:This study first applied EdU labeling technology to the in vivo hepatic UDS assay,achieving non-radioactive labeling through click chemistry reactions.Under the conditions of this study,cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel and bone repair materials did not exhibit genotoxicity.In the follow-up,the sample range can be expanded and the observation period can be prolonged to further improve the genotoxicity evaluation system of medical devices.
7.Clinical Observation of the Effect of Kidney Tonifying and Blood Stasis Removing Formula on Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Patients with Osteoporosis Combined with Hemodialysis
Lei WANG ; Fei-ran LI ; Jian-xiang XIAO ; Yan-huan DAI ; Xue-wen WU
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(18):2925-2932
Objective:To explore the effect of kidney-strengthening and blood stasis-eliminating formula on nutritional status and quality of life in patients with osteoporosis combined with hemodialysis.Methods:From January 2024 to January 2025,60 patients with liver and kidney yin deficiency and blood stasis obstruction were selected from the Pizhou City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital's Hemodialysis Center.60 patients were randomly divided into two groups,30 in each group.The matched group received general treatment plus paricalcitol,while the treatment group received the same treatment plus Yishen Zhuyu Fang(a traditional Chinese medicine formula for kidney and blood stasis).The treatment course lasted 12 weeks.Changes in TCM syndrome scores,the Modified Subjective Global Assessment(MQSGA),the Kidney and Life Quality(KDQOLTM-36)scale,lipid levels,and nutritional indicators were compared before and after treatment.Results:After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores in both groups decreased(P<0.05),with a more pronounced decrease in the treatment group(P<0.05).The KDQOLTM-36 score in the treatment group increased(P<0.05),while the increase was not significant in the matched group(P>0.05),indicating that the treatment group performed better than the matched group(P<0.05).Both groups experienced a decrease in the MQSGA score(P<0.05),although the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05),the treatment group showed a more noticeable decline.The TC,TG,LDL,and TG/HDL levels in the treatment group all decreased significantly,while HDL levels increased(P<0.05).In contrast,the TC and HDL levels in the matched group did not change(P>0.05),while the TG,LDL,and TG/HDL levels increased(P<0.05).The treatment group performed significantly better than the matched group(P<0.05).The TRF,Hb,and ALB levels in the treatment group increased(P<0.05),while the increase was not significant in the matched group(P>0.05).The total effective rate of the treatment group was 90%,higher than the matched group(23.3%)(P<0.05).Conclusion:The formula of tonifying the kidney and removing stasis can improve the nutritional status and quality of life of patients with liver and kidney yin deficiency and blood stasis obstruction in hemodialysis combined with osteoporosis.
8.Surveillance and analysis of drug resistance molecular markers in Plasmodium vivax of imported cases in Chongqing
Yao XIANG ; Yan TAN ; Fei LUO ; Jiaojiao CAI ; Zhifeng LI ; Jingru XU ; Jingfu QIU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(7):726-734
This research aimed to comprehensively understand the prevalence of mutation in drug-resistant molecular markers of imported Plasmodium vivax in Chongqing,the Pvmdr1,Pvdhps,Pvdhfr,Pvcrt-o and Pvk12 genes of Plasmodium vivax were systematically analyzed.Blood samples were collected from imported Plasmodium vivax-infected patients in Chongqing between 2011 and 2022.The Pvmdr1,Pvdhps,Pvdhfr,Pvcrt-o,and Pvk12 genes were amplified and then sequenced to precisely evaluate gene mutations.Bioinformatics methods were employed to conduct in depth analysis of the mutation prevalence.Regarding the Pvdhfr gene,mutations at codons 50,57,58,61,99,117,and 199 were detected in 2.9%,23.5%,76.4%,23.53%,2.9%,82.3%,and 5.88%of the samples,respectively.The double-mutant haplotype S58R/S117N was the most prevalent,accounting for 50%,followed by the quadruple-mutant haplotype F57L/S58R/T61M/S117T,which accounted for 11.76%.Among the four types of tandem-repeat variations of Pvdhfr,the wild-type was the most common,and the insertion type was a novel discovery in this study.For the Pvdhps gene,the prevalence among mutation genotypes was relatively low.The single-mutant genotype was dominant,constituting 27.03%.The prevalence of Pvmdr1 mutations at codons 958 and 1076 was 100%and 89.19%,respectively.Among the 37 successfully sequenced samples,K10 insertion was detected in only 8 cases(22.22%).Notably,no non-synonymous mutations of Pvk12 were identified in this study.The cases in this study were imported from various countries of origin.Novel tandem-repeat variation tyres of Pvdhfr and new mutation sites of Pvdhps were identifide,thus enriching the mutation information of imported Plasmodium vivax resistance molecular markers in China.
9.Clinical Efficacy of Tianma Xiongling Zhixuan Tablets in Treating Patients with Hypertension of the Type of Hyperactivity of Liver Yang or Combined with Phlegm and Blood Stasis,and Analysis of Plasma Metabolomics
Zhi-xiang CHEN ; Jun-liu HU ; Man WANG ; Fei-ying WANG ; Yao-wu CHEN ; Mao-wen WANG ; Meng-li JI ; Hui-hui LIU ; Jian-min FAN ; Wen ZHANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(13):2138-2153
Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets in treating hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or comorbid phlegm-stasis syndrome and explore its therapeutic mechanisms through plasma metabolomics.Methods:Thirty-six hypertension patients(4 dropouts)diagnosed with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome were enrolled as the treatment group from June 2022 to September 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,while 30 healthy volunteers with balanced constitutions were recruited as the blank group.Plasma samples were collected from patients pre-and post-treatment and from healthy volunteers.Clinical outcomes,including syndrome scores,office blood pressure(BP),and 24-hour ambulatory BP,were recorded.Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS).Results:Compared with baseline,Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets significantly reduced traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores(P<0.01),office systolic/diastolic BP(P<0.01),and 24-hour ambulatory BP parameters(24-hour mean BP,daytime/nighttime mean BP;all P<0.01).Metabolomic analysis identified 45 differential metabolites between the blank group and pretreatment patients,and 64 metabolites altered post-treatment(VIP>1,P<0.05).Enrichment analysis of 16 overlapping endogenous metabolites revealed that Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets primarily modulated arachidonic acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism pathways.Conclusion:Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets demonstrates significant clinical efficacy in hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome,potentially mediated through regulation of arachidonic acid and sphingolipid metabolism.
10.Mechanism of QingRe HuoXuo Formula against NSCLC based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology
Bin-bin LI ; Jing-tao ZHANG ; Xue LI ; Yi-yang JIANG ; Shuang SONG ; Xiang-dong XU ; Fei XU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(8):1542-1552
Aim To explore the material basis and un-derlying mechanism of Qingre Huoxue Formula(QRHXF)in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)by applying network pharmacology,molecular docking technology and bioinformatics com-bined with animal experiments.Methods TCMSP,ECTM,and BATMAN databases were used to obtain active components and corresponding targets of QRHXF;GEO and DisGeNENT databases were con-ducted to acquire NSCLC-associated differential expres-sion genes.By intersecting them,the common targets were obtained.It was chosen to construct a herb-com-ponent-disease network and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network.Furthermore,DAVID database was used to perform gene ontology(GO)function and Kyo-to encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)path-way enrichment analyses.The molecular docking was presented by adopting Autodock Vina program to verify key targets.RNA-seq datawere downloaded from TC-GA database to obtain differential gene expression.Ka-planMeier(KM)analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between gene expression and overall sur-vival.Mouse subcutaneous tumor model of LLC was established.The effects of QRHXF on body weight,tumor volume and weight were monitored for pharmaco-dynamic analysis.Tumor tissues slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin(HE)for histopathological examination.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)staining was employed for detecting Ki67 and EP300.Western blot was performed to measure the protein expression of TP53,CDK1 and NTRK1.Results The results of net-work pharmacology showed that a total of seven com-mon targets were screened from NSCLC and QRHXF,and the effect of QRHXF on anti-NSCLC may occur via multiple signaling pathways,including cell cycle.The results of molecular docking indicated that the main ac-tive components of QRHXF had low binding energy and stable docking conformation with the molecular target for treating NSCLC.According to bioinformatic analy-sis,there were significant differences in BRCA1,CDK1 and NTRK1 mRNA expression between tumor tissues and normal tissues,which were also prognostic factors for overall survival.Animal experimental research showed QRHXF inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth(P<0.01)and improved the quality of life in mice with NSCLC.After QRHXF intervention,the density of tumor cells was significantly reduced,and necrotic are-as were increased.The expressions of Ki67 and EP300 were significantly decreased.Compared with the model group,Western blot showed up-regulation of TP53 and NTRKA(P<0.05),whereas CDK1 were down-regu-lated(P<0.05).Conclusion QRHXF exerted anti-NSCLC effects by regulating NTRK1,EP300,TP53,CDK1 and inducing cell cycle,cell cycle arrest and in-hibiting tumor growth,metastasis and angiogenesis.


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