1.The role of very-long-chain fatty acids in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease
Jiaqi KONG ; Tingting REN ; Rui LIU ; Guizhong ZHOU ; Chuanlong ZHU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(8):1946-1951
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, and it has become a major global health issue. Excessive lipid accumulation in the liver is the core pathological event of MAFLD, which triggers lipotoxicity and leads to cell apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammatory cascades by mediating endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, organelle dysfunction, and ferroptosis, thereby promoting the progression of simple hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis and fibrosis. In this process, very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), as essential components of cell membranes and lipid metabolism, have attracted increasing attention for their role in lipotoxicity mechanisms. This article reviews the role of VLCFAs in lipid metabolism processes and lipotoxicity mechanisms, focusing on how VLCFAs participate in metabolic regulation through key proteins and disrupt cell membranes to induce oxidative stress, and how their metabolites and derivatives drive inflammatory responses, ultimately promoting the progression of MAFLD.
2.The prognostic value of preoperative aspartate transaminase to alanine transaminase ratio in urothelial cancer: a systematic review and Meta-analysis
Zhengqing BAO ; Zhenhua LIU ; Haizhui XIA ; Jie WANG ; Guizhong LI ; Jianwei WANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(2):161-167
Objective: To explore the association between preoperative aspartate transaminase to alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) ratio and the outcomes of urothelial cancers. Methods: After a systematic search of Web of Science,PubMed and Embase before Aug.2024,14 studies were included in the Meta-analysis.The hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival (OS),cancer-specific survival (CSS),and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed using STATA 15.0 software. Results: The Meta-analysis included a total of 8190 patients.Urothelial cancer patients with an elevated preoperative AST/ALT ratio had worse OS (HR=1.92,95% CI:1.38-2.67,P<0.001),CSS (HR=2.12,95% CI:1.48-3.05,P<0.001),and RFS (HR=1.63,95% CI:1.27-2.10,P<0.001).In subgroup analyses,preoperative AST/ALT ratio had a better predictive value for OS,CSS,and RFS in patients with bladder cancer than in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma,and a better predictive value in Asian population than in Caucasian population (P<0.001). Conclusion: A high preoperative AST/ALT ratio is associated with poor OS,CSS and RFS in urothelial cancers,particularly among the Asian population.
3.Correlation analysis between perirenal fat thickness and severity of closed renal trauma
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(3):236-239
Objective: To analyze the relationship between perirenal fat thickness (PFT) and the severity of closed renal trauma,so as to provide reference for treatment selection and prediction of the severity of injury. Methods: The clinical data of 73 patients with unilateral closed renal trauma due to traffic accidents treated in our hospital during Jan.2012 and Dec.2022 were reviewed.According to American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST),the patients were classified into mild group (AAST Ⅰ-Ⅲ) and severe group (AAST Ⅳ-Ⅴ).The PFT of the healthy kidneys during injury was measured on the PACS software CT images,and the correlation between PFT and severity of injury was analyzed using logistic regression.The difference in PFT between patients across treatment modalities using one-way ANOVA. Results: The mean age of patients was (44.7±17.1) years.There were 16 patients (21.9%) in the severe group and 57 (78.1%) in the mild group,the mean PFT being (5.5±1.9) mm.The severe group had significantly lower PFT than the mild group \[(4.4±1.4) mm vs. (5.8±2.0) mm,P=0.003\].After age,gender,body mass index,diabetes,protective devices and complicated organ injuries were adjusted,multivariable logistic analysis indicated that increased PFT was associated with lower risk of severe injury (OR=0.628,95% CI:0.430-0.918,P=0.016).One-way ANOVA analysis showed statistically significant differences in PFT among patients with conservative,interventional and surgical treatment options \[(5.8±2.0)mm vs.(4.4±1.5)mm vs.(4.5±1.1)mm,P=0.034\]. Conclusion: PFT,which is closely related to the severity of closed renal trauma,is a reliable indicator to predict the severity of injury and the choice of treatments.
4.Mass spectral database-based methodologies for the annotation and discovery of natural products.
Fengyao YANG ; Zeyuan LIANG ; Haoran ZHAO ; Jiayi ZHENG ; Lifang LIU ; Huipeng SONG ; Guizhong XIN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(4):410-420
Natural products (NPs) have long held a significant position in various fields such as medicine, food, agriculture, and materials. The chemical space covered by NPs is extensive but often underexplored. Therefore, high-throughput and efficient methodologies for the annotation and discovery of NPs are desired to address the complexity and diversity of NP-based systems. Mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as a powerful platform for the annotation and discovery of NPs. MS databases provide vital support for the structural characterization of NPs by integrating extensive mass spectral data and sample information. Additionally, the released annotation methodologies, based on a variety of informatics tools, continuously improve the ability to annotate the structure and properties of compounds. This review examines the current mainstream databases and annotation methodologies, focusing on their advantages and limitations. Prospects for future technological advancements are then discussed in terms of novel applications and research objectives. Through a systematic overview, this review aims to provide valuable insights and a reference for MS-based NPs annotation, thereby promoting the discovery of novel natural entities.
Biological Products/chemistry*
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Mass Spectrometry/methods*
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Databases, Factual
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Drug Discovery/methods*
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Humans
5.Role and mechanism of long non-coding RNA HSFAS in hypertrophic scar analyzed using RNA pull-down combined mass spectrometry
Tongtong XIA ; Fang MA ; Haoyuan SUN ; Honglin LIU ; Zhenghao ZHANG ; Jiaqi YANG ; Huiping ZHANG ; Kai WU ; Jiangyong SHEN ; Yideng JIANG ; Guizhong LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(12):2492-2499
BACKGROUND:Previous studies found that the proliferative scar-specific long non-coding RNA lncRNA HSFAS is a novel biomarker that can be used in the diagnosis of hypertrophic scar,but how it functions in hypertrophic scar is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role and mechanism of lncRNA HSFAS in hypertrophic scar.METHODS:Fresh scar tissue and surrounding normal skin tissue samples from three patients with hypertrophic scar were collected,and tissue immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of lncRNA HSFAS in frozen sections of two skin tissues. Primary fibroblasts were isolated from proliferative scarred skin tissue and normal skin tissue and cultured by enzyme digestion method. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of lncRNA HSFAS in cells. The proteins bound to lncRNA HSFAS were detected by RNA pull-down combined mass spectrometry. GO and KEGG were used to analyze the main functions and pathways of lncRNA HSFAS involved in hypertrophic scar progression. The targeted binding of lncRNA HSFAS to proteins was determined by catRAPID and RPISeq website analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with normal skin tissue and fibroblasts from normal skin tissue,the expression of lncRNA HSFAS in human hypertrophic scar tissue and primary fibroblasts from hypertrophic scar tissue was significantly increased (P<0.05). There were 510 proteins clearly bound to lncRNA HSFAS by RNA pull-down combined mass spectrometry. The results of GO and KEGG analyses showed that these proteins were mainly involved in RNA splicing and processing,chromosome synthesis and separation,and cell cycle. Among them,the proteins involved in RNA splicing and processing included scaffold attachment factor B2 and DICER1,and the binding fraction with lncRNA HSFAS was higher. The results of bioinformatics analysis showed that lncRNA HSFAS was bound to scaffold attachment factor B2 and DICER1 proteins. To conclude,lncRNA HSFAS may affect gene expression by interacting with scaffold attachment factor B2 and DICER1 proteins to regulate RNA splicing and processing modification,thus promoting the occurrence and development of hypertrophic scar.
6.Role and mechanism of long non-coding RNA HSFAS in hypertrophic scar analyzed using RNA pull-down combined mass spectrometry
Tongtong XIA ; Fang MA ; Haoyuan SUN ; Honglin LIU ; Zhenghao ZHANG ; Jiaqi YANG ; Huiping ZHANG ; Kai WU ; Jiangyong SHEN ; Yideng JIANG ; Guizhong LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(12):2492-2499
BACKGROUND:Previous studies found that the proliferative scar-specific long non-coding RNA lncRNA HSFAS is a novel biomarker that can be used in the diagnosis of hypertrophic scar,but how it functions in hypertrophic scar is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role and mechanism of lncRNA HSFAS in hypertrophic scar.METHODS:Fresh scar tissue and surrounding normal skin tissue samples from three patients with hypertrophic scar were collected,and tissue immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of lncRNA HSFAS in frozen sections of two skin tissues. Primary fibroblasts were isolated from proliferative scarred skin tissue and normal skin tissue and cultured by enzyme digestion method. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of lncRNA HSFAS in cells. The proteins bound to lncRNA HSFAS were detected by RNA pull-down combined mass spectrometry. GO and KEGG were used to analyze the main functions and pathways of lncRNA HSFAS involved in hypertrophic scar progression. The targeted binding of lncRNA HSFAS to proteins was determined by catRAPID and RPISeq website analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with normal skin tissue and fibroblasts from normal skin tissue,the expression of lncRNA HSFAS in human hypertrophic scar tissue and primary fibroblasts from hypertrophic scar tissue was significantly increased (P<0.05). There were 510 proteins clearly bound to lncRNA HSFAS by RNA pull-down combined mass spectrometry. The results of GO and KEGG analyses showed that these proteins were mainly involved in RNA splicing and processing,chromosome synthesis and separation,and cell cycle. Among them,the proteins involved in RNA splicing and processing included scaffold attachment factor B2 and DICER1,and the binding fraction with lncRNA HSFAS was higher. The results of bioinformatics analysis showed that lncRNA HSFAS was bound to scaffold attachment factor B2 and DICER1 proteins. To conclude,lncRNA HSFAS may affect gene expression by interacting with scaffold attachment factor B2 and DICER1 proteins to regulate RNA splicing and processing modification,thus promoting the occurrence and development of hypertrophic scar.
7.Targeted delivery of rosuvastatin enhances treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia-induced atherosclerosis using macrophage membrane-coated nanoparticles
Liu DAYUE ; Yang ANNING ; Li YULIN ; Li ZHENXIAN ; You PEIDONG ; Zhang HONGWEN ; Quan SHANGKUN ; Sun YUE ; Zeng YALING ; Ma SHENGCHAO ; Xiong JIANTUAN ; Hao YINJU ; Li GUIZHONG ; Liu BIN ; Zhang HUIPING ; Jiang YIDENG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(9):1301-1319
Rosuvastatin(RVS)is an excellent drug with anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering properties in the aca-demic and medical fields.However,this drug faces a series of challenges when used to treat atherosclerosis caused by hyperhomocysteinemia(HHcy),including high oral dosage,poor targeting,and long-term toxic side effects.In this study,we applied nanotechnology to construct a biomimetic nano-delivery system,macrophage membrane(M?m)-coated RVS-loaded Prussian blue(PB)nanoparticles(MPR NPs),for improving the bioavailability and targeting capacity of RVS,specifically to the plaque lesions associated with HHcy-induced atherosclerosis.In vitro assays demonstrated that MPR NPs effectively inhibited the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)/nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3)signaling pathways,reducing pyroptosis and inflammatory response in macrophages.Additionally,MPR NPs reversed the abnormal distribution of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1)/ATP binding cassette transporter G1(ABCA1)/ATP binding cassette transporter G1(ABCG1)caused by HIF-1α,promoting cholesterol efflux and reducing lipid deposition.In vivo studies using apolipoprotein E knockout(ApoE-/-)mice confirmed the strong efficacy of MPR NPs in treating atherosclerosis with favorable bio-security,and the mechanism behind this efficacy is believed to involve the regulation of serum metabolism and the remodeling of gut microbes.These findings suggest that the synthesis of MPR NPs provides a promising nanosystem for the targeted therapy of HHcy-induced atherosclerosis.
8.Experience of mesenteric sector fixation in mesenteric torsion treatment
Liangbi ZHOU ; Yun LUO ; Wenhao FENG ; Zhili WAN ; Long HUANG ; Guizhong LI ; Bin LIU ; Haiping ZENG ; Lijie LUO ; Wei WANG
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2024;27(5):510-513
Objective:The preliminary results was reported regarding the treatment of mesenteric torsion by mesenteric fixation in the last decade, especially preventing recurrence of mesenteric torsion by mesenteric fan-shaped fixation.Methods:We selected 12 patients who received emergency operation in Chongqing Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from December 2010 to March 2022. All of them were made a definite diagnose of mesenteric torsion by the preoperative CT scan or exploratory laparotomy. The recurrence of mesenteric torsion will be prevented by taking the operation of mesenteric fan-shaped fixation. This technique is suitable for the patient who is suffering total mesenteric torsion, but enteric necrosis is excluded affirmatively. The operation is consists of the following progress: (1) Exploratory laparotomy to check for necrosis of the bowel and for lesions other than torsion. (2) Mesenteric torsion derotation.(3) Mesenteric linear fixation; the right posterior lower border of the small mesentery (terminal ileal mesentery) is intermittently sutured to the posterior peritoneum of the right lower quadrant to increase the width of the base of the small mesentery. (4) Mesenteric fan-shaped fixation, which is fan-shaped to the lower left and fixed in the posterior peritoneum, shortening the length of the mesentery and further increasing the width of the mesentery and posterior peritoneal fixation.Results:A total of 12 patients with mesenteric torsion were treated by operation for 15 times in all. Among them, 3 cases received resection of most small bowel were performed without recurrence; 3 patients received only derotation for a total of 4 times, 2 cases recurred, 1 of them recurred twice; 4 cases underwent derotation and mesenteric linear fixation,and 1 case recurred. Four patients with derotation and mesenteric fan-shaped fixation recovered well without recurrence.Conclusion:Mesenteric fan-shaped fixation may be an effective operative type to reduce or avoid postoperative recurrence of mesenteric torsion.
9.Experience of mesenteric sector fixation in mesenteric torsion treatment
Liangbi ZHOU ; Yun LUO ; Wenhao FENG ; Zhili WAN ; Long HUANG ; Guizhong LI ; Bin LIU ; Haiping ZENG ; Lijie LUO ; Wei WANG
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2024;27(5):510-513
Objective:The preliminary results was reported regarding the treatment of mesenteric torsion by mesenteric fixation in the last decade, especially preventing recurrence of mesenteric torsion by mesenteric fan-shaped fixation.Methods:We selected 12 patients who received emergency operation in Chongqing Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from December 2010 to March 2022. All of them were made a definite diagnose of mesenteric torsion by the preoperative CT scan or exploratory laparotomy. The recurrence of mesenteric torsion will be prevented by taking the operation of mesenteric fan-shaped fixation. This technique is suitable for the patient who is suffering total mesenteric torsion, but enteric necrosis is excluded affirmatively. The operation is consists of the following progress: (1) Exploratory laparotomy to check for necrosis of the bowel and for lesions other than torsion. (2) Mesenteric torsion derotation.(3) Mesenteric linear fixation; the right posterior lower border of the small mesentery (terminal ileal mesentery) is intermittently sutured to the posterior peritoneum of the right lower quadrant to increase the width of the base of the small mesentery. (4) Mesenteric fan-shaped fixation, which is fan-shaped to the lower left and fixed in the posterior peritoneum, shortening the length of the mesentery and further increasing the width of the mesentery and posterior peritoneal fixation.Results:A total of 12 patients with mesenteric torsion were treated by operation for 15 times in all. Among them, 3 cases received resection of most small bowel were performed without recurrence; 3 patients received only derotation for a total of 4 times, 2 cases recurred, 1 of them recurred twice; 4 cases underwent derotation and mesenteric linear fixation,and 1 case recurred. Four patients with derotation and mesenteric fan-shaped fixation recovered well without recurrence.Conclusion:Mesenteric fan-shaped fixation may be an effective operative type to reduce or avoid postoperative recurrence of mesenteric torsion.
10.Role and mechanism of DNMT1 in regulating LSM4 in Hcy-induced hepatocyte apoptosis in mice
Tongtong XIA ; Fang MA ; Honglin LIU ; Zhenghao ZHANG ; Hanshuang DING ; Yinju HAO ; Huiping ZHANG ; Kai WU ; Yun JIAO ; Yideng JIANG ; Guizhong LI
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(11):34-42
Objective To study the effect of DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1)on sm-like protein-4(LSM4)in hepatocyte apoptosis in mice induced with Hcy.Methods 12 ApoE-/-mice were divided into two groups:normal diet(ND,n=6)and high methionine diet(HMD,n=6)groups.Normal hepatocytes of NCTC1469 were divided into a normal group(control,0 μL/L Hcy),Hcy intervention group(Hcy,100 μL/L Hcy),NC siRNA-transfected control group(si-NC group,0 μmol/L Hcy),LSM4 siRNA-transfected group(si-LSM4 group,0 μmol/L Hcy),DNMT1 siRNA-transfected group(si-DNMT1 group,0 μmol/L Hcy),NC siRNA-transfected Hcy intervention group(Hcy+si-NC group,100 μmol/L Hcy),LSM4 siRNA-transfected Hcy intervention group(Hcy+si-LSM4 group,100 μmol/L Hcy),and DNMT1 siRNA-transfected Hcy intervention group(Hcy+si-DNMT1 group,100 μmol/L Hcy).Analysis of the expression of LSM4 in various tissues was conducted using the NCBI database.Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)and Western blot were used to detect differences in LSM4 protein expression in mouse tissues(HMD and ND)and hepatocytes(control and Hcy).Western blot was used to detect the expression of Bcl2-associated X(Bax)and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2).The cell apoptosis rate in the Control,Hcy,Hcy+si-NC,and Hcy+si-LSM4 groups were detected by flow cytometry.MethPrimer online software was used to analyze the CpG islands of LSM4 promoter region.The expression of LSM4 in the Hcy+si-DNMT1 group was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.Results The expression of LSM4 in HMD,Hcy group was higher than that in the ND and Control group(P<0.05).Bax protein expression was significantly higher,but Bcl-2 was significantly lower in Hcy group compared with those of the Control group(P<0.05).The expression of Bax protein was significantly lower,but the level of Bcl-2 was significantly higher in the Hcy+si-LSM4 group compared with those in the Hcy+si-NC group(P<0.05).The cell apoptosis rate in the Hcy group was higher than that in the Control group(P<0.05),while the apoptosis rate in the Hcy+si-LSM4 group was lower than that in the Hcy+si-NC group(P<0.05).MethPrimer database analysis showed that the promoter region of LSM4 was GC-rich,and there was one CpG island.Compared with the Hcy+si-NC group,the Hcy+si-DNMT1 group's expression of LSM4 protein was increased(P<0.05).Conclusions DNMT1 regulates LSM4 hypomethylation to increase its expression,thereby promoting Hcy-induced apoptosis of mouse hepatocytes.

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