1.Integrating Transcriptomics and 3D Organoids to Investigate Mechanism of Periplaneta americana Extract Against Lung Adenocarcinoma
Qiong MA ; Chunxia HUANG ; Jiawei HE ; Yuting BAI ; Xingyue LIU ; Yuxuan XIONG ; Yang ZHONG ; Hengzhou LAI ; Yuling JIANG ; Xueke LI ; Qian WANG ; Yifeng REN ; Xi FU ; Funeng GENG ; Taoqing WU ; Ping XIAO ; Fengming YOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):124-132
ObjectiveTo evaluate the antitumor activity of Periplaneta americana extract(PAE) against human-derived lung adenocarcinoma organoids(LUAD-PDOs) and to elucidate its potential mechanism based on transcriptomics. MethodsFresh tumor and adjacent normal tissues from patients with LUAD were collected to construct LUAD-PDOs and normal lung organoid(Nor-PDOs) models using 3D organoid culture technology. The effective intervention concentration of PAE was determined using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay. Experimental groups included the model group(LUAD-PDOs), normal group, model administration group(LUAD-PDOs+PAE), and normal administration group(Nor-PDOs+PAE). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological structures of PDOs, immunohistochemistry(IHC) was performed to detect the expressions of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and lung adenocarcinoma differentiation markers cytokeratin-7(CK-7) and Napsin A, TUNEL staining was applied to detect cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq) was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs), followed by Gene Ontology(GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA), alongside protein-protein interaction(PPI) network analysis to screen core mechanisms. Finally, key targets were validated by integrating external database analysis with immunofluorescence(IF). ResultsNor-PDOs and LUAD-PDOs that highly recapitulated the pathological characteristics of the primary tissues were successfully established. The CCK-8 assay determined that the effective intervention concentration of PAE was 16 g·L-1. Morphological observation showed that Nor-PDOs exhibited lumen-forming structures, whereas LUAD-PDOs displayed dense, solid structures. CCK-8 and TUNEL assays revealed that, compared with the model group, PAE intervention inhibited the proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells, while showing no significant effect on the viability of Nor-PDOs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 719 DEGs that were significantly reversed after PAE intervention(347 up-regulated and 372 down-regulated)(P<0.05). GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs in the model administration group were significantly enriched in biological processes related to cell cycle regulation compared to the model group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that PAE affected pathways related to proliferation and metabolism, including pathways in cancer and the p53 signaling pathway. GSEA further confirmed that PAE significantly enhanced the activity of the p53 signaling pathway(P<0.05). PPI network analysis indicated that breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein(BRCA1) and checkpoint kinase 1(CHEK1) were the core down-regulated targets in the p53 pathway. IF verified the high expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 in LUAD-PDOs and their significant downregulation after PAE intervention(P<0.05). Furthermore, survival analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database indicated that low expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in patients with LUAD(P<0.05). ConclusionPAE effectively inhibits proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promotes their apoptosis, its anti-tumor mechanism is potentially associated with the activation of the p53 signaling pathway, with BRCA1 and CHEK1 genes likely serving as key downstream targets for the effects of PAE.
2.Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of school influenza outbreaks in Changzhou from 2021 to 2024
Qiong LI ; Jingyi JIANG ; Li GONG ; Jian XU ; Xujian MAO ; Fengming WANG ; Ping YAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2025;39(5):617-622
Objective:To characterize the etiological and genetic features of pediatric influenza outbreaks in Changzhou between 2021 and 2024,with the goal of informing evidence-based prevention strategies and guiding effective management of influenza outbreaks in school settings.Methods:During the period of 2021 to 2024,throat swabs of influenza-like cases from school outbreaks in Changzhou were collected. These samples underwent real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)testing and virus isolation. Epidemiological data were integrated to conduct pathogenetic analysis. The HA genes of isolated strains were amplified and sequenced to perform genetic characterization.Results:Between 2021 and 2024,a total of 256 influenza outbreaks were reported in schools in Changzhou. A total of 3 201 specimens were collected,of which 2 245 were tested positive for influenza viruses,resulting in a positivity rate of 70.13%. The outbreak season was primarily concentrated from December to February each year,with settings predominantly distributed in primary schools(accounting for 73.83%). The predominant epidemic strains were influenza A viruses,including 118 outbreaks caused by H1N1 and 104 by H3N2. A total of 74 influenza virus strains were successfully isolated from positive specimens,and sequencing of the hemagglutinin(HA)gene was completed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that certain B/Victoria lineage strains(e.g.,B/Changzhou/01/2021)clustered closely with the vaccine strain B/Austria/3594/17(bootstrap support:99%). Among influenza H1N1 strains,multiple isolates from 2023—2024 clustered within the same major branch as A/Victoria/4897/2022(bootstrap support:100%). In contrast,the H3N2 strains exhibited a complex evolutionary pattern,showing variable genetic distances to vaccine strains from different years(e.g.,A/Massachusetts/18/2022,A/Darwin/6/2021);some isolates were closely related to vaccine strains,while others were more distantly related and scattered across the phylogenetic tree.Conclusions:The influenza outbreak situation in schools was severe and has significant public health implications. Continuous surveillance is essential,and preventive strategies should be promptly adjusted based on the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of circulating strains.
3.The Scientific Connotation of the Pathogenesis of"Dysfunction of Spleen Transforming Essences"in Colorectal Cancer Based on"Epigenetic-Reprogramming of Glucose Metabolism"
Xiumei FAN ; Wenbo HUANG ; Xueke LI ; Fengming YOU ; Fang LI ; Chong XIAO
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(2):460-465
The key link to colorectal cancer progression is that epigenetic derangements promote reprogramming of glucose metabolism.Based on many studies on the relationship between spleen being the origin of acquired constitution and epigenetics,spleen qi dispersing essence and glucose metabolism,combined with the extensive experience of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of colorectal cancer and the accumulation of researches on glucose metabolism,it is believed that the"epigenetic-reprogramming of glucose metabolism"pathology of colorectal cancer is the microscopic essence of the key pathogenesis of"dysfunction of spleen transforming essences".The"promoting spleen and dispersing essences"method means that"promoting spleen"to reverse epigenetic derangements and"dispersing essences"to regulate reprogramming of glucose metabolism was put forward to treat colorectal cancer.Look forward to enrich the scientific connotation of the pathogenesis of"dysfunction of spleen transforming essences",new ideas and potential empirical basis for traditional Chinese medicine intervention in colorectal cancer were provided.
4.Knowledge map and visualization analysis of pulmonary nodule/early-stage lung cancer prediction models
Yifeng REN ; Qiong MA ; Hua JIANG ; Xi FU ; Xueke LI ; Wei SHI ; Fengming YOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(01):100-107
Objective To reveal the scientific output and trends in pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models. Methods Publications on predictive models of pulmonary nodules/early lung cancer between January 1, 2002 and June 3, 2023 were retrieved and extracted from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and Web of Science database. CiteSpace 6.1.R3 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 were used to analyze the hotspots and theme trends. Results A marked increase in the number of publications related to pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models was observed. A total of 12581 authors from 2711 institutions in 64 countries/regions published 2139 documents in 566 academic journals in English. A total of 282 articles from 1256 authors were published in 176 journals in Chinese. The Chinese and English journals which published the most pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction model-related papers were Journal of Clinical Radiology and Frontiers in Oncology, respectively. Chest was the most frequently cited journal. China and the United States were the leading countries in the field of pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models. The institutions represented by Fudan University had significant academic influence in the field. Analysis of keywords revealed that multi-omics, nomogram, machine learning and artificial intelligence were the current focus of research. Conclusion Over the last two decades, research on risk-prediction models for pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer has attracted increasing attention. Prognosis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, nomogram, and multi-omics technologies are both current hotspots and future trends in this field. In the future, in-depth explorations using different omics should increase the sensitivity and accuracy of pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models. More high-quality future studies should be conducted to validate the efficacy and safety of pulmonary nodules/early-stage lung cancer prediction models further and reduce the global burden of lung cancer.
5.Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanism of berberine for sepsis rats
Wei LI ; Lin ZHANG ; Ting WANG ; Ying LI ; Youlan ZHANG ; Fengming TANG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(15):123-129
Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of berberine for sepsis rats based on kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-relat-ed factor 2(Nrf2)/antioxidant response element(ARE)signaling pathway.Methods Adult health-y rats were randomly divided into normal group(20 rats)and sepsis group(80 rats).The sepsis model in rats of the sepsis group was established by cecal ligation and puncture.According to differ-ent doses of berberine administered by gavage,the sepsis group was further divided into model group(0 mg/kg,without berberine administration),low-dose group(25 mg/kg),medium-dose group(50 mg/kg)and high-dose group(100 mg/kg),with 20 rats in each group.Both the model group and the normal group were given an equal volume of pure water by gavage.Ten rats were randomly selected from each group for a survival test,and they were continuously observed for 5 days to com-pare the survival rates among the groups.Lung,kidney,and liver tissues of rats in each group were collected for hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),Western blot,and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)detection.The pathological tissue changes,serum inflammatory cytokine levels,serum biochemical indicator levels,and the relative expression levels of pathway-related proteins and their mRNAs in each group were observed and compared.Results The survival rates of rats in the medium-dose and high-dose groupsat various time points were all higher than those in the model group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the normal group,the model group showed in-creased levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),serum creatinine(SCr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1 β(IL-β)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).There were obvious pathological injuries in lung,liver,and kid-ney tissues.The relative expression levels of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)proteins and their mRNAs in lung tissues were decreased,while the relative expression levels of Keap1 mRNA and Keap1 protein were increased,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Com-pared with the model group,the serum SCr and BUN levels in the medium-dose group,and the ser-um ALT,AST,SCr and BUN levels in the high-dose group were all decreased,with statistically sig-nificant differences(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the pathological injuries in lung,liver,and kidney tissues of rats in the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups were all alle-viated.The relative expression levels of Nrf2 mRNA and HO-1 mRNA as well as Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in the lung tissues showed a dose-dependent increase,while the relative expression levels of Keap1 mRNA and Keap1 protein exhibited a dose-dependent decrease.The serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the low-dose group,as well as the serum levels of IL-6,IL-1 β and TNF-α in the medium-dose and high-dose groups were all reduced(P<0.05).Conclusion Berberine can alleviate the inflammatory response and activate the antioxidant response in sepsis rats by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.
6.Biological Role of RNF41 in Regulating Proliferation and Metastasis of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells
Qijie WU ; Yong LI ; Yu ZHANG ; Fengming RAN ; Rong DING ; Qi ZHANG ; Yinshan YANG
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2025;46(7):10-17
Objective To explore the role of ring finger protein 41(RNF41)in the initiation and progression of cholangiocarcinoma.Methods The expression levels of RNF41 mRNA and protein in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 84 CHOL patients who underwent total surgical resection at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University and Kunming Ganmei Hospital between January 2010 and December 2016 were analyzed using bioinformatics,Western blot,and immunohistochemistry.The TIMER 2.0 database was used to analyze the impact of RNF41 on the prognosis and survival of CHOL patients and the relationship between RNF41 and tumor clinical characteristics.RNF41 siRNA was transfected into HCC9810,RBE,and HUCCT1 cells.CCK-8,Edu,colony formation,and Western blot assays were conducted to evaluate the changes in proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cells between the RNF41 knockdown group and the control group.Transwell assays and detection of EMT and migration markers were performed to assess changes in the invasion ability of cholangiocarcinoma cells between the RNF41 knockdown and control groups.Western blot was used to examine the effect of RNF41 knockdown on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cholangiocarcinoma cells.Twelve BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups:a control group and an RNF41 knockdown group,with six mice in each group.Tumor formation assays,Western blot assays,and immunohistochemistry staining were carried out to investigate the effect of RNF41 knockdown on tumor growth in nude mice.Results Real-time quantitative fluorescence PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of RNF41 mRNA in cholangiocarcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in the corresponding adjacent non-tumor tissues(P<0.01),and this trend was corroborated at the protein level by immunohistochemical staining.Using the TIMER 2.0 database,we further analyzed the correlation between RNF41 expression and clinicopathological features,including histological grade,tumor stage,lymph node metastasis,and patient survival.The results indicated that elevated RNF41 expression was significantly associated with advanced histological grade and lymph node metastasis in cholangiocarcinoma(P<0.01).Survival analysis demonstrated that high RNF41 expression was closely linked to poor prognosis in patients with cholangiocarcinoma(CHOL).Functional assays,including CCK-8,EdU incorporation,and colony formation,showed that RNF41 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cells compared with the control group.Western blot analysis revealed that,following RNF41 silencing,the expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)marker E-cadherin was markedly upregulated,whereas the levels of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and MMP9 were significantly reduced(P<0.05).These findings were consistent with the results obtained from in vitro experiments(P<0.01).Moreover,in vivo studies showed that RNF41 knockdown suppressed subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice(P<0.05).Conclusion RNF41 plays a critical role in promoting the occurrence and progression of cholangiocarcinoma and is closely associated with adverse clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in patients.The knockdown of RNF41 effectively suppresses the proliferation,invasion,epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),and tumorigenicity of cholangiocarcinoma cells.
7.Expression and significance of serum SBSN in patients with colorectal cancer
Yamei ZHANG ; Fengming YANG ; Daoyuan LI ; Feng YAN
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(16):1990-1994
Objective To investigate the level and significance of serum suprabasin(SBSN)in patients with colorectal cancer(CRC).Methods A total of 200 patients with CRC in Nanjing Medical University Af-filiated Cancer Hospital from October 2023 to October 2024 were selected as the CRC group,200 patients with colorectal polyps were selected as the benign bowel disease(BCD)group,and 177 healthy people were selected as the control group.In addition,the serum SBSN levels of 84 CRC patients 7-10 d after surgery were collect-ed.The levels of SBSN in each group were compared,and the relationship between serum SBSN level and clin-icopathological characteristics of CRC patients was analyzed.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to ana-lyze the influencing factors of CRC.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of serum SBSN alone and in combination with carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and carbo-hydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9)for CRC.Results The serum SBSN level in CRC group was significantly high-er than that in BCD group and control group(P<0.001).Serum SBSN level in CRC patients was associated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis(both P=0.001),but not with other clinicopathological features(P>0.05).Serum SBSN,CEA,CA19-9 were independent risk factors for CRC(P<0.001).ROC curve anal-ysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of SBSN alone in the diagnosis of CRC was 0.734,which was higher than that of CEA(0.611)and CA19-9(0.669)alone,and the AUC of the three combined diagno-sis of CRC was 0.816.The sensitivity and specificity were 70.0%and 81.4%,respectively.The serum SBSN level of CRC patients decreased after operation,and the difference was statistically significant compared with that before operation(P<0.05).Conclusion SBSN is associated with the occurrence,metastasis and progno-sis of colorectal cancer,and has a certain clinical value in the diagnosis and prediction of colorectal cancer.Ser-um SBSN is a potential biomarker for the auxiliary diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
8.Correlation between serum uric acid/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and the risk of hypertension in elderly physical examination populations
Meihao WU ; Tao LI ; Zhiping GUO ; Xiaoxin SHI ; Fengming SU ; Jing WANG ; Dongyao ZHAO ; Huiling CHEN ; Qianying ZHAO ; Changchang QU ; Shangyi WANG
Chinese Journal of Health Management 2025;19(7):515-522
Objective:To explore the correlation between serum uric acid/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR) and the risk of hypertension in elderly physical examination populations.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 1 028 patients aged≥60 years who underwent physical examinations at the Health Management Center of Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from September 2023 to February 2024 were included in this study. The general demographic data, past medical history, physical examination and laboratory examination indicators of the physical examiners were collected, and according to whether they had hypertension or not, they were divided into hypertension group (390 cases) and non-hypertension group (638 cases), and all UHR values were arranged from small to large, and the UHR was divided into three groups by tertiles of UHR, and the general data and blood biochemical indexes between the groups were compared. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between UHR level and body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyceride and other indexes in the elderly population. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between UHR level and hypertension in the elderly population, and the stratification analysis of the physical examination population was carried out according to diabetes, coronary heart disease and dyslipidemia, and the interaction test between groups was carried out.Results:Among the 1 028 geriatric physical examination cases, 580 (56.4%) were males and 448 (43.6%) were females, aged (66.7±5.8) years. UHR levels were higher in the hypertensive group compared to the non-hypertensive group [248.88 (191.19, 322.25) vs 213.52 (165.94, 275.29); Z=-5.445, P<0.05]. With the increase of UHR level, the detection rate of hypertension in the elderly population increased (accounted for 27.8%, 38.2% and 47.8%, respectively; χ2=29.211, P<0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that UHR was positively correlated with body mass index, triglycerides, serum uric acid, serum creatinine and fasting blood glucose ( r=0.318, 0.334, 0.774, 0.474, 0.080; all P<0.05), and negatively correlated with total cholesterol, glomerular filtration rate and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( r=-0.239, -0.303, -0.154; all P<0.05). When the confounding factors were not adjusted (model 1), the risk of hypertension in high UHR group was 2.382 times higher than that in low UHR group and 1.607 times higher than that in medium UHR group; after adjusting for all confounding factors such as age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, junior high school education or below, smoking, alcohol consumption, glomerular filtration rate, etc., the risk of hypertension in the high-level UHR group was 1.732 times higher than that in the low-level UHR group (95% CI: 1.139-2.635) ( P<0.05). The elderly physical examination population was further stratified according to whether there was diabetes, dyslipidemia and coronary heart disease, and it was found that there was no interaction between UHR and diabetes, dyslipidemia and coronary heart disease on the prevalence of hypertension (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Hypertension detection rate increases with higher UHR levels. UHR is closely related to the incidence of hypertension in the elderly population.
9.Interpretation and reflection on Milestones 2.0: a competency-based assessment framework for radiation oncology residents in the United States
Jishi LI ; Linbo CAI ; Jinbo YUE ; Wong Rebecca K ; Kong Fengming (SPRING) ; Chaosu HU ; Fangyun XIE ; Qiaojuan GUO ; Baosheng LI ; Junlin YI
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2025;34(2):183-188
The concept of competency-based standardized residency training is gaining global popularity. However, the process of assessing, continuously evaluating, and conducting final competency evaluations remains challenging. The Milestones 2.0 system, developed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, provides a framework for evaluating competencies in radiation oncology residents. The core objective of this system is to assess sub-competencies within core competencies, categorizing them from novice to expert across 5 levels. Evaluation occurs every 6 months, with the expectation that all residents reach level 4 in all sub-competencies by the end of their training. This approach aims to enhance the standardization of residency evaluations across the United States. This article aims to analyze the Milestones 2.0 competency framework and explore its potential applicability and reference value for standardized radiation oncology residency training in China.
10.Isolation and identification of mosquito-borne viruses in Huachuan county and Huanan county, Heilongjiang province, China
Han CHEN ; Fengming LIU ; Liqin YU ; Fan LI ; Shihong FU ; Qikai YIN ; Qianqian CUI ; Ruichen WANG ; Kai NIE ; Mingjia BAO ; Huanyu WANG ; Songtao XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2025;39(2):182-188
Objective:To investigate the mosquito-borne viruses carried by mosquito specimens collected from Huachuan county and Huanan county in Heilongjiang province.Methods:Mosquito samples were collected locally in 2023 and processed in the laboratory. Homogenates of the mosquitoes were inoculated into cells for virus isolation, followed by molecular and bioinformatics analyses of the viral isolates.Results:In 2023, ten viral isolates were obtained from Anopheles sinensis specimens collected in Heilongjiang province, China. Among these isolates, one was identified as Culex flavivirus (CxFV), one as Menghai rhabdovirus (MRV), and eight as Nam Dinh virus (NDiV). The phylogenetic analysis showed that CxFV belongs to genotype I and is clustered with the strains isolated from Liaoning province in 2011 and Ningxia Hui autonomous Region in 2019 in the same evolutionary branch, with amino acid similarity ranging from 98.2% to 99.2% and nucleotide similarity ranging from 98.8% to 99.2%. The MRV strain belongs to the same evolutionary subclade as the strain detected in Guangdong, with both nucleotide and amino acid similarity of 98.0%. Eight NDiV isolates clustered with the South Korean isolates on the same evolutionary branch, forming an independent evolutionary sub-branch. The nucleotide similarity among these eight isolates ranged from 98.5% to 99.7%, while the amino acid similarity ranged from 98.1% to 99.7%. In comparison, when matched with other NDiV isolates from China, the nucleotide similarity of these eight isolates ranged from 94.1% to 97.8%, and the amino acid similarity ranged from 93.5% to 97.7%.Conclusions:This study represents the first isolation of CxFV, MRV, and NDiV in Heilongjiang province, China, and the findings provide fundamental data for the prevention and control of mosquito-borne viral diseases in this region.

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