1.Preparation,characterization,and in vitro antitumor activity of Gambogic acid-loaded intelligent responsive liposome-hydrogel nanopreparation
Yu CHEN ; Shengnan HUANG ; Ziang WANG ; Yunlong ZHAO ; Gaojian WEI ; Sinan WU ; Yanbin GUAN ; Xiali ZHU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(5):613-619
OBJECTIVE To prepare an intelligent responsive liposome-hydrogel nanopreparation co-loaded with gambogic acid (GA), and characterize its antitumor activity in vitro . METHODS GA-ICG-Lip-gel was prepared by ethanol injection and cold dissolution, incorporating GA and the photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG). The appearance and microscopic morphology of GA-ICG-Lip-gel were observed, its encapsulation efficiency and drug loading capacity were measured, and its photothermal conversion performance, photothermal stability, and infrared imaging properties were investigated, along with the determination of its in vitro release profile. Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were used as objects to investigate the effects of GA-ICG-Lip-gel (or with near-infrared light irradiation) on cell viability, migration ability, and the cellular uptake capacity of GA-ICG-Lip-gel. RESULTS GA-ICG-Lip-gel existed in a solution state at room temperature and transformed into a gel state at 37 ℃. Its microstructure was dense with small pores, and its encapsulation efficiency and drug loading were (96.07±0.86) % and (6.28±1.16) %, respectively. After exposure to near-infrared light, the temperature of GA-ICG-Lip-gel rose above 42 ℃, with no significant attenuation observed in the heating curve. The heating efficiency was dependent on both the irradiation time and drug concentration. Compared to media without gelatinase, the cumulative release rate of GA-ICG-Lip-gel increased in media containing gelatinase. In vitro studies showed that GA-ICG-Lip-gel could be efficiently taken up by MCF-7 cells; GA-ICG-Lip-gel significantly inhibited the viability and migration ability of MCF-7 cells ( P <0.05), and this inhibitory effect was further enhanced under near-infrared light irradiation. CONCLUSIONS This study successfully prepares GA-ICG-Lip-gel, which exhibits favorable photothermal conversion properties and temperature/enzyme dual-responsive drug release characteristics, and demonstrates significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells.
2.Analysis of the current situation and influencing factors of platelet supply in medical institutions
Xuan WU ; Ting ZHANG ; Xiaozhen GUAN ; Yang YU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(3):339-345
Objective: To systematically analyze the current status and influencing factors of platelet supply in medical institutions across China, and to explore the problems and future development directions of the existing supply models. Methods: From February 25 to March 5, 2025, a web-based questionnaire survey was performed. A self-designed questionnaire was distributed to staff in the blood transfusion departments of medical institutions nationwide in China. Data on the current status and influencing factors of platelet supply were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 2 268 responses were collected in this survey, with 1 366 valid questionnaires finally included, covering 33 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government across China. The survey revealed that platelet supply in Chinese medical institutions exhibited a pattern of "sufficient in the eastern region, stable in the central region, and scarce in the western region": adequate in East China; generally favorable in South China except Guangxi; centered on Beijing and Tianjin in North China; basically met but with insufficient reserves in Central China; subject to seasonal fluctuations in Northeast China; only meeting the baseline supply in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan in Southwest China; and notably short in Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang in Northwest China. Family donor mobilization was required in 81.2% (1 109/1 366) of institutions, whereas this proportion was only 12.7% (173/1 366) among institutions with sufficient supply. Tertiary hospitals constituted the main users, among which tertiary Class A hospitals had the highest sufficiency rate, and secondary Class B hospitals showed the most pronounced shortage. A total of 84% (1 147/1 366) of institutions lacked a professional management team; only 19% (266/1 366) had an inventory warning system, of which 88% (234/266) considered it effective. Platelet reservation required 3 days in 33% (458/1 366) of institutions. The mandatory transfusion rate was 30.55% (29/118) when the reservation lead time exceeded 3 days, representing an increase of 5.98% compared with 24.57% (55/180) in the same-day reservation group. For optimization, most institutions called for improved blood donation services, strengthened education and incentives, establishment of regional coordination and policy collaboration, and supplementary suggestions focused on technologies for extending platelet shelf life. Conclusion: Regional imbalance in platelet supply across China is prominent, with supply shortages in some provinces, reliance on family donor mobilization in most institutions, weak grassroots support capacity, imperfect management systems, and supply timeliness constraining clinical practice. Systematic improvements are needed in optimizing blood donation services, strengthening regional coordination, improving relevant policies, and developing platelet preservation technologies, so as to enhance the level of supply security and patient safety.
3.Thyroid Hormone Network Regulation in MASLD: Mechanisms and Targeted Therapies
Wen-Ping XIAO ; Yang MA ; Heng GUAN ; Sha WAN ; Wen HAN ; Bing-Bing LUO ; Wu-Feng WANG ; Fang LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):643-661
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately 32%-38% of the adult population and posing a growing public health burden. MASLD represents a continuous disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), progressive hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathological core of MASLD lies in disruption of hepatic lipid metabolic homeostasis, characterized by an imbalance among de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-mediated lipid export. This metabolic disequilibrium subsequently drives inflammatory injury and fibrotic progression. Among the multiple regulatory pathways involved, thyroid hormone (TH) signaling has emerged as a central regulator of hepatic metabolic homeostasis. The liver is a major peripheral target organ of TH action, where TH predominantly exerts its metabolic effects through thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ). Large-scale epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that hypothyroidism is significantly associated with increased MASLD prevalence, more severe histological injury, and advanced hepatic fibrosis, suggesting that dysregulation of TH signaling may participate throughout the entire MASLD disease spectrum. At the molecular level, TH regulates hepatic lipid metabolism by coordinating suppression of lipogenesis, enhancement of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and promotion of VLDL assembly and secretion through integrated genomic actions of the T3-TRβ axis and non-genomic signaling pathways. Across different stages of MASLD, TH signaling exerts stage-dependent protective effects. In the steatosis stage, TH improves metabolic flexibility by modulating insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and lipid droplet clearance, thereby alleviating early lipotoxic stress. During progression to MASH, TH attenuates inflammatory amplification by improving mitochondrial homeostasis, suppressing activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and modulating the gut-liver axis microenvironment. In advanced stages, TH signaling influences hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition, partly through interaction with the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMAD pathway, while alterations in intrahepatic TH availability, mediated by dynamic changes in iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (DIO1), contribute to fibrosis progression and hepatocellular dedifferentiation. In hepatocellular carcinoma, coordinated downregulation of TRβ and DIO1 establishes a tumor-associated hypothyroid state that promotes metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression. The clinical relevance of TH signaling in MASLD has been underscored by the recent approval of Resmetirom, a liver-targeted TRβ‑selective agonist, for the treatment of non-cirrhotic MASH with moderate-to-severe fibrosis (F2-F3). This approval represents a landmark transition from mechanistic understanding to metabolism-centered precision therapy in MASLD. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Resmetirom not only improves key histological endpoints, including MASH resolution and fibrosis regression, but also favorably modulates atherogenic lipid profiles, highlighting the therapeutic potential of selectively targeting hepatic TH pathways. This review systematically summarizes the multidimensional regulatory roles of TH across the MASLD disease spectrum and discusses emerging diagnostic and therapeutic implications of TH-based interventions, aiming to inform future mechanistic research and optimize clinical management strategies.
4.Clinical application of KASP-based RHCE genotyping in RhD-positive patients
Xiaoyu LIAN ; Mengdan LI ; Xiaoyu GUAN ; Li TIAN ; Chenying WANG ; Di WU ; Tianqiong LUO ; Xiaolin DU ; Xin JI ; Haixia XU ; Jue WANG ; Ling LI ; Zhong LIU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(5):596-602
Objective: To develop a RHCE genotyping assay based on kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) and assess its clinical accuracy for RhCE blood group determination. Methods: KASP primers were designed to interrogate three RHCE loci: the 109 bp insertion/deletion in intron 2, c. 307T>C, and c. 676C>G. A total of 1 194 RhD-positive inpatients from Chengdu were typed by both KASP genotyping and manual tube serology. Discordant samples (n=10) were retested by both methods and further resolved by Sanger sequencing. An additional 377 cases were tested for the c. 48C>G locus to evaluate the predictive accuracy of individual loci and combined locus testing for RhC antigen. Results: Genotyping concordance with serology was 100.0% for both the c. 676C>G locus (RhE/Rhe) and the c. 307T>C locus (Rhc). For RhC prediction using the 109 bp insertion, overall accuracy was 99.7% (1 191/1 194); the 3 discordant cases were confirmed by Sanger sequencing to be false negatives attributable to 109 bp deletion in intron 2. Testing the c. 48C>G allele for RhC prediction yielded 7 false positives, with an accuracy of 98.1% (370/377). RhC antigen status was determined by combining the 109 bp insertion and the c. 48C allele. After excluding 10 samples with inconsistent results between the two loci, the accuracy reached 100% in the remaining 367 samples. When both loci were applied in combination, accuracy reached 100% in the 367 cases with concordant results. Among the 1 194 patients, CCee (45.8%) and CcEe (31.7%) were the most common RhCE phenotypes. The e antigen had the highest positivity rate (92.2%), and the Ce haplotype was the most frequent (66.9%). Conclusion: The KASP-based RHCE genotyping method achieves high accuracy for clinical RhCE typing. Combining the 109 bp insertion/deletion with the c. 48C allele significantly improves RhC antigen prediction compared with either locus alone. This method was applied to RhCE genotyping of 1 194 RhD-positive inpatients in Chengdu, providing local RhCE phenotype and haplotype distribution data to support RhCE-matched transfusion practice.
5.Clinical Research on Guizhi Fulingwan in Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: A Review
Muxin GUAN ; Jiaxing FENG ; Mengyi ZHU ; Yu WANG ; Xiaoke WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):296-303
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common gynecological malignant tumor in clinical practice. In the early stage,it is often asymptomatic,while in the late stage,it mainly presents with non-specific symptoms such as abdominal distension,poor appetite,and dull abdominal pain. Some patients may also have cachexia such as weight loss and anemia. Early diagnosis is difficult,and the mortality rate ranks first among gynecological malignant tumors,making OC a major challenge in clinical treatment. The classic Chinese medicine formula Guizhi Fulingwan comes from the Jingui Yaolue and has the effects of promoting blood circulation,removing blood stasis,and reducing abdominal lumps. In recent years,it has been widely used to treat OC with good results. This article summarized the clinical application of Guizhi Fulingwan in the treatment of OC from two aspects:The analysis of its basic prescriptions and clinical research. In terms of basic prescriptions,the formula has the ability to promote blood circulation,remove blood stasis,and reduce abdominal lumps. It can exert therapeutic effects considering both water and blood aspects and reduce abdominal lumps, with characteristics of simultaneous Yang warming and heat clearing and parallel supplementation and elimination. Through the methods of "circulation" and "supplementation", it strengthens the body,dispels evil,and eliminates underlying symptoms. In clinical studies,Guizhi Fulingwan can be applied to various stages of patients with OC,which not only promotes the recovery of the body after OC surgery but also can be combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy to synergistically treat advanced OC and enhance treatment efficacy. In addition,the formula can also alleviate various adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy,with high safety,improve patients' quality of life,prolong survival,and optimize tumor control effects. Based on the above analysis,this article elaborated on the current clinical research status of Guizhi Fulingwan combined with Western medicine in the treatment of OC and proposed suggestions and improvements to address the shortcomings in current clinical research,so as to provide reference for the clinical application of this formula in the treatment of OC and the construction of a combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment model.
6.Clinical Research on Guizhi Fulingwan in Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: A Review
Muxin GUAN ; Jiaxing FENG ; Mengyi ZHU ; Yu WANG ; Xiaoke WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):296-303
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common gynecological malignant tumor in clinical practice. In the early stage,it is often asymptomatic,while in the late stage,it mainly presents with non-specific symptoms such as abdominal distension,poor appetite,and dull abdominal pain. Some patients may also have cachexia such as weight loss and anemia. Early diagnosis is difficult,and the mortality rate ranks first among gynecological malignant tumors,making OC a major challenge in clinical treatment. The classic Chinese medicine formula Guizhi Fulingwan comes from the Jingui Yaolue and has the effects of promoting blood circulation,removing blood stasis,and reducing abdominal lumps. In recent years,it has been widely used to treat OC with good results. This article summarized the clinical application of Guizhi Fulingwan in the treatment of OC from two aspects:The analysis of its basic prescriptions and clinical research. In terms of basic prescriptions,the formula has the ability to promote blood circulation,remove blood stasis,and reduce abdominal lumps. It can exert therapeutic effects considering both water and blood aspects and reduce abdominal lumps, with characteristics of simultaneous Yang warming and heat clearing and parallel supplementation and elimination. Through the methods of "circulation" and "supplementation", it strengthens the body,dispels evil,and eliminates underlying symptoms. In clinical studies,Guizhi Fulingwan can be applied to various stages of patients with OC,which not only promotes the recovery of the body after OC surgery but also can be combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy to synergistically treat advanced OC and enhance treatment efficacy. In addition,the formula can also alleviate various adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy,with high safety,improve patients' quality of life,prolong survival,and optimize tumor control effects. Based on the above analysis,this article elaborated on the current clinical research status of Guizhi Fulingwan combined with Western medicine in the treatment of OC and proposed suggestions and improvements to address the shortcomings in current clinical research,so as to provide reference for the clinical application of this formula in the treatment of OC and the construction of a combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment model.
7.Study on meal preferences of school aged children based on discrete choice experiment
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(1):45-49
Objective:
To explore the relative importance of different food attributes and levels in food decision making of school aged children, and to understand their meal preferences, so as to provide the evidence for formulating precise intervention strategies for dietary behaviours of school aged children.
Methods:
From May to June 2024, a total of 854 children aged 11 to 15 years old were selected from 2 middle schools (each school in urban and rural areas) in both Hubei Province and Anhui Province by stratified cluster random sampling method to conduct a D-optimal discrete choice experiment. The mixed Logit model was used to analyze children s preference for meal attributes and different levels, and to calculate the relative importance (RI) of attributes and willingness to pay (WTP) in meal choices.
Results:
The included five food attributes had statistical significance on meal choice of school aged children ( P <0.05). The relative importance of food attributes affecting the meal choices of school aged children in descending order were dining mode ( RI =31.26%), food varieties ( RI =30.56%), cooking method( RI =23.84%), taste( RI =8.06%) and price ( RI =6.27%). Among them, school aged children preferred home cooked meals ( β =0.74) (WTP=86.3 yuan),varied foods(grain/tubers+vegetables+fish, meat, eggs and beans) ( β =0.61) (WTP=71.9 yuan), fried/roasted cooking ( β =0.51) and spicy taste ( β =0.33).Price was negatively correlated with meal choices( β =-0.01) ( P <0.05). Based on residential area and body mass index (BMI), the stratified analysis showed that dining mode was highest in the relative importance for rural children with overweight and obese children ( RI =31.28%,34.17%), both of whom preferred home cooked meals ( β =0.76, 0.91), and meals containing fish, meat, eggs and beans with grain/tubers or grain/tubers and vegetables in terms of food choice (area: β =0.53, 0.53 ; BMI: β =0.55, 0.56) ( P <0.05).
Conclusions
School aged children have different preferences for different attributes of meals. The quality of school meals should be improved,the cost of buying healthy meals should be reduced,targeted family health education should be carried out,and healthy cooking methods should be advocated.
8.Inhibitory Effects of the Slit Guidance Ligand 1-3’ Untranslated Region on the Fibrotic Phenotype of Cardiac Fibroblasts
Ya WANG ; Huayan WU ; Yuan GAO ; Rushi WU ; Peiying GUAN ; Hui LI ; Juntao FANG ; Zhixin SHAN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):466-474
ObjectiveTo study the regulatory effect of the partial sequence within the 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR) of slit guidance ligand 1 (Slit1) (Slit1-3’UTR) on the fibrotic phenotypes of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and its potential mechanism. MethodsThe adenovirus vector was used to overexpress the 1526nt sequence of Slit1-3’UTR in ICR neonatal mouse CFs (mCFs). The expression of fibrosis-related genes in mCFs, such as collagen type 1 alpha1(COL1A1), collagen type 3 alpha3 (COL3A1) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by Western blot assay. The effect of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt on the proliferation and migration of mCFs was assessed by EdU staining and Trans-well assays. Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) was used to treat mCFs, and the impact of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt on the fibrotic phenotypes of Ang Ⅱ-induced mCFs was evaluated. After overexpression of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt, miR-34a-5p mimic was transfected into mCFs, followed by actinomycin D treatment to detect the mRNA stability of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt, and the levels of miR-34a-5p and its target gene SIRT1(si-SIRT1) in mCFs were determined. The effects of miR-34a-5p and small interfering RNA targeting SIRT1 on the Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt-mediated regulation of fibrotic phenotypes were also determined. ResultsAdenovirus-mediated overexpression of Slit 1-3’UTR 1526nt was achieved in mCFs. Overexpression of Slit 1-3’UTR 1526nt markedly inhibited the expression of the fibrosis-related genes, proliferation and migration of mCFs and fibrotic phenotypes of Ang Ⅱ. The results of actinomycin D assay showed that miR-34a-5p inhibited the stability of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt in mCFs, while the level of miR-34a-5p was reduced in mCFs with overexpression of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt. Transfection of miR-34a-5p promoted the fibrotic phenotypes, and reversed the inhibitory effect of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt on the fibrotic phenotypes of mCFs. Overexpression of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt significantly increased the level of miR-34a-5p target gene SIRT1 in mCFs. Transfection of miR-34a-5p and si-SIRT1 consistently reversed the inhibitory effects of Slit1-3’UTR 1526nt on the fibrotic phenotypes of mCFs. ConclusionSlit1-3’UTR1526nt inhibits the fibrotic phenotypes of mCFs by binding to miR-34a-5p and increasing the expression of its target gene of SIRT1.
9.Role and clinical application prospect of epigenetics in lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Junjiao XU ; Sutong LIU ; Qizhen ZHANG ; Yajie GUAN ; Beilei CUI ; Wenjing WU ; Minghao LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1161-1166
Epigenetic mechanisms play a crucial role in the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially among lean individuals. The research on related epigenetic mechanisms has provided new clues and directions for revealing the underlying causes and treatment strategies of NAFLD. This article introduces the role of epigenetics in the development and progression of NAFLD among lean individuals in recent years, analyzes the latest research advances in the epigenetics of NAFLD in this population, and briefly describes the basic concepts of epigenetics, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA regulation. This article also discusses how epigenetic alterations impact the pathogenesis, disease progression, and treatment strategies of NAFLD in lean individuals.
10.A case-control study on association between shift work and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Can LIU ; Jing FAN ; Weile WU ; Wenjiong LIANG ; Yulong LIAN ; Suzhen GUAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(7):827-832
Background With economic development and globalization, shift work has become prevalent across industries. Its relationship with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attracts increasing attention. Objective To thoroughly explore the relationship between shift work and T2DM, and analyze the impacts of specific shift patterns on T2DM, so as to provide a basis for formulating reasonable shift schedules. Methods We conducted a 1:2 matched case-control study among adults (20-60 years) who ordered occupational health examinations at the Wuxi No.8 People's Hospital from November to December 2023. The case group comprised 200 T2DM patients, while the controls were 400 age-stratified matched non-diabetic individuals. General demographic characteristics, behavioral habits, medical history, and shift work exposure data (including shift patterns, frequency, and length of service) 5 years prior to diagnosis were collected through standardized questionnaires. Logistic regression adjusted for selected confounders was employed to evaluate the association between shift work and T2DM. Results The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that shift work was associated with an increased risk of T2DM. After adjusting for confounding factors, shift workers had a 3.55 times higher risk of being diagnosed T2DM compared to non-shift workers (OR=3.55, 95%CI: 1.026, 12.263). The risk varied across different shift patterns, and the three-shift two-rotation system showed the highest risk (OR=4.17, 95%CI: 1.921, 9.035), followed by the two-shift system (OR=2.94, 95%CI: 2.016, 4.281) and four-shift three-rotation system (OR=2.66, 95%CI: 1.611, 6.093). Workers with more than 3 monthly shift days had a 2.74-fold increased risk (95%CI: 1.658, 4.512) compared to non-shift workers. Additionally, working more than 8 h daily (OR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.185, 2.562) and having more than 20 years of service (OR=2.51, 95%CI: 1.581, 3.976) were both significantly associated with a higher T2DM risk. The trend tests revealed that each incremental increase in monthly shift days and length of service elevated T2DM risk by 2.61 times (95%CI: 1.813, 3.765) and 1.49 times (95%CI: 1.147, 1.931), respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion Shift work is an independent risk factor for T2DM, with three-shift two-rotation system posing the highest risk. Shift frequency, daily working hours, and length of service are all significant factors affecting the risk of T2DM. These findings support industry-specific shift policy reform and targeted glucose monitoring and health interventions are recommended for workers engaged in high-risk shift patterns (e.g., three-shift two-rotation system, frequent shifts) and those with prolonged shift work history (>20 years).


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