1.Inhibitory effects of different concentrations of auranofin on M1 macrophage function and its therapeutic potential in diabetic wound healing
Hongfei PAN ; Zhenbing ZHUANG ; Baiyun XU ; Zhangyang YANG ; Kairui LIN ; Bingqing ZHAN ; Jinghan LAN ; Heng GAO ; Nanbo ZHANG ; Jiayu LIN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(6):1390-1397
BACKGROUND:During diabetic wound healing,the sustained activation of M1 macrophages exacerbates the inflammatory response and hinders wound repair.Auranofin,an anti-inflammatory drug,has not been clearly studied for its effects on M1 macrophages and its potential role in diabetic wound healing.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different concentrations of auranofin on the biological function of M1 macrophages and evaluate its potential application in diabetic wound healing.METHODS:RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells were used as research models.M1 polarization was induced using different concentrations of interferon-γ and lipopolysaccharide.M1 macrophages were treated with 1 and 2 μmol/L auranofin.Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to evaluate the effect of auranofin on cell viability.Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect mRNA expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.ELISA was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α in the supernatant.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of nuclear factor-κB(p65),phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK),and total MAPK proteins.Additionally,6-8-week-old male C57BL/6J and db/db diabetic mice were used for wound healing experiments,with the mice divided into C57 control,db/db control and auranofin treatment groups,each containing six animals.Dorsal skin defect modeling and treatment with intraperitoneal injection of auranofin were performed to observe wound healing in mice.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Cell experiments showed that co-treatment with interferon-y(10 ng/mL)and lipopolysaccharide(100 ng/mL)significantly induced M1 polarization in RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells,resulting in increased mRNA expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.Treatment with auranofin(1 and 2 μmol/L)reduced the mRNA expression of these inflammatory factors in the cells and inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors in the cell supernatant.(2)Auranofin treatment significantly suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-κB(p65)and phosphorylated MAPK signaling pathways.(3)Animal experiments showed that auranofin promoted wound healing in db/db diabetic mice,suggesting that auranofin has strong anti-inflammatory effects and may facilitate the healing of wounds in diabetic mice.
2.Inhibitory effects of different concentrations of auranofin on M1 macrophage function and its therapeutic potential in diabetic wound healing
Hongfei PAN ; Zhenbing ZHUANG ; Baiyun XU ; Zhangyang YANG ; Kairui LIN ; Bingqing ZHAN ; Jinghan LAN ; Heng GAO ; Nanbo ZHANG ; Jiayu LIN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(6):1390-1397
BACKGROUND:During diabetic wound healing,the sustained activation of M1 macrophages exacerbates the inflammatory response and hinders wound repair.Auranofin,an anti-inflammatory drug,has not been clearly studied for its effects on M1 macrophages and its potential role in diabetic wound healing.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different concentrations of auranofin on the biological function of M1 macrophages and evaluate its potential application in diabetic wound healing.METHODS:RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells were used as research models.M1 polarization was induced using different concentrations of interferon-γ and lipopolysaccharide.M1 macrophages were treated with 1 and 2 μmol/L auranofin.Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to evaluate the effect of auranofin on cell viability.Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect mRNA expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.ELISA was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α in the supernatant.Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of nuclear factor-κB(p65),phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK),and total MAPK proteins.Additionally,6-8-week-old male C57BL/6J and db/db diabetic mice were used for wound healing experiments,with the mice divided into C57 control,db/db control and auranofin treatment groups,each containing six animals.Dorsal skin defect modeling and treatment with intraperitoneal injection of auranofin were performed to observe wound healing in mice.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Cell experiments showed that co-treatment with interferon-y(10 ng/mL)and lipopolysaccharide(100 ng/mL)significantly induced M1 polarization in RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells,resulting in increased mRNA expression of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.Treatment with auranofin(1 and 2 μmol/L)reduced the mRNA expression of these inflammatory factors in the cells and inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors in the cell supernatant.(2)Auranofin treatment significantly suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-κB(p65)and phosphorylated MAPK signaling pathways.(3)Animal experiments showed that auranofin promoted wound healing in db/db diabetic mice,suggesting that auranofin has strong anti-inflammatory effects and may facilitate the healing of wounds in diabetic mice.
3.Clinical and Neuroelectrophysiological Features of Autoimmune Nodopathy
Hongfei TAI ; Xunyan HUANG ; Songtao NIU ; Bin CHEN ; Yuzhi SHI ; Xingao WANG ; Fan JIAN ; Hua PAN ; Zaiqiang ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(2):191-199
To summarize the clinical characteristics, antibody spectrum and neuroelectrophysiological features of autoimmune nodopathy(AN), and to explore the phenotypic differences among different antibody-positive subgroups. The clinical and electrophysiological data of patients definitely diagnosed with AN in Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from October 2018 to January 2026 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 33 patients with AN were included. Antibody examination results showed that, anti-neurofascin(NF)155 antibody was the most prevalent, detected in 17 patients(51.50%), followed by anti-contactin-1(CNTN1) antibody in 8 patients(24.24%). Anti-NF186 antibody(4 cases, 12.12%), anti-contactin-associated protein 1(Caspr1) antibody(2 cases, 6.06%) and dual-target antibody positivity(2 cases, 6.06%) were relatively uncommon. The main clinical manifestations of AN patients included symmetric distal paresthesia of the extremities(32 cases, 96.97%), limb weakness(31 cases, 93.93%) and sensory ataxia(25 cases, 75.76%). Different antibody-positive subgroups presented distinct phenotypic features: patients with positive anti-NF155 antibody had a relatively younger age of onset, chronic onset and a high incidence of tremor, which was dominated by immunoglobulin(Ig)G4 subclass antibodies; patients with positive anti-CNTN1 antibody had a relatively advanced age of onset, mostly presented with acute or subacute onset, and were prone to complicated nephrotic syndrome; patients with positive anti-NF186 antibody had relatively mild nerve conduction damage; patients with anti-Caspr1 antibody manifested acute or subacute onset, with relatively elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level and 24-h intrathecal IgG synthesis rate. The prominent neuroelectrophysiological manifestations of AN included decreased motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, prolonged distal latency, frequent non-compressive conduction block and abnormal temporal dispersion. Definite sensory nerve action potentials could not be elicited in more than half of the patients. Patients with AN show high heterogeneity in clinical and neuroelectrophysiological characteristics, and different antibody-positive subgroups correspond to specific clinical and neuroelectrophysiological phenotypes.
4.Mechanism of action of mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex in treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease
Xinyu ZHANG ; Lijuan DAN ; Xiaojie YOU ; Jie MU ; Hongfei SONG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(8):1952-1959
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver condition closely associated with dysregulated lipid metabolism, with the central pathological event of mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocytes. The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) complex is a key molecular apparatus regulating mitochondrial calcium (mtCa2+) homeostasis, and mtCa2+ overload due to its dysfunction plays a critical role in the progression of MAFLD. This article systematically elaborates on the pathogenesis of MAFLD, with a particular focus on how the central signaling axis of “MCU complex dysfunction-mtCa2+ overload” drives the disease progression of MAFLD by disrupting energy metabolism, activating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, triggering the NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome, and inducing cell death. It also points out that traditional Chinese medicine can exert an interventional effect on multiple downstream pathways through various targets and has shown unique advantages and a significant potential in alleviating MAFLD by maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and targeting the MCU complex, and therefore, it is expected to provide new strategies for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD.
5.Research progress on the pre-treatment and engineering modification of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in chronic wound repair
Yunlong LI ; Xi HUANG ; Yanbiao ZHANG ; Hongfei DONG ; Wei XUE ; Bo HUANG ; Xianhui LI
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2025;41(5):534-542
In recent years, studies have demonstrated that exosomes can replace mesenchymal stem cell for chronic wound repair. However, exosomes have some problems such as poor targeting, low availability and low yield, which collectively limit their therapeutic efficacy in chronic wound treatment. Maximizing the therapeutic benefits of exosomes is the primary challenge that needs to be overcome when used for chronic wound repair. Studies have shown that the treatment potential of exosomes can be further developed by pretreatment and engineering modification of exosomes. This article reviewed the research progress of exosome pretreatment and engineering modification in chronic wound repair, and provided reference for subsequent research and clinical application.
6.Clinical outcomes of small-size grafts in auxiliary liver transplantation for the treatment of portal hypertension
Hongfei JU ; Lin WEI ; Liying SUN ; Wei QU ; Zhigui ZENG ; Haiming ZHANG ; Yule TAN ; Jun WANG ; Fuxiao XIE ; Zhijun ZHU
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2025;33(11):1050-1057
Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of using small and ultra-small sized grafts for in situ auxiliary liver transplantation in the treatment of portal hypertension.Methods:A prospective single-arm cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent liver transplantation at Beijing Friendship Hospital from December 2014 to July 2025 were included. Intraoperative portal vein pressure was routinely monitored, with the target regulation for portal vein blood flow set at<15 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and follow-up continued until September 2025. The primary endpoints were the patient's status and graft survival. The secondary endpoints were small-for-size syndrome and perioperative complications. The small-for-size syndrome was graded according to the 2023 International Liver Transplantation Society consensus statement.Results:A total of 33 cases were enrolled. Among them, 22 had ultra-small size grafts, 11 had small-size grafts, 28 had living donor grafts, and five had split grafts. The graft-to-recipient weight ratio in living donor liver transplantation was 0.31%~0.79%, while in split liver transplantation it was 0.45%~1.02%. Intraoperative portal vein pressure of ≥15 mmHg was observed in 11 cases, who underwent portal vein blood flow adjustment via splenic artery ligation (2 cases), partial splenectomy (8 cases), and/or restrictive portocaval shunting (1 case), after which all patients achieved the target portal vein pressure. All cases completed at least one month of follow-up, with 28 cases following for more than one year, and the median follow-up period was 36.5 months. Early-stage postoperative small-for-size syndrome occurred in eight cases (24.2%, 8/33), all classified as grade A, with improvements following supportive treatment. Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo≥Ⅲ) occurred in three cases (9.1%, 3/33). The one-year survival rate was 92.9% (26/28). The overall survival rate at the end of follow-up was 90.9% (30/33). No patients experienced graft loss or death due to small-for-size syndrome. Graft tissue tested negative for hepatitis B core antibody and covalently closed circular DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion was achieved following second-stage residual liver resection and under a combined strategy of potent nucleos(t)ide analogs and hepatitis B immunoglobulin in ten cases of hepatitis B-related disease.Conclusions:With standardized portal vein blood flow monitoring and individualized portal vein blood flow adjustment, in situ auxiliary liver transplantation can safely and effectively use small and even ultra-small sized grafts, thereby significantly expanding graft sources and ensuring donor and recipient safety. These findings warrant further validation and promotion in multicenter controlled studies.
7.The association between the radiation field including the heart of breast cancer radiotherapy and the occurrence of coronary artery disease in patients
Wenhui CAI ; Wenduo ZHANG ; Hongfei LI ; Qinhong WU ; Mingyuan ZHU ; Hailei LIN ; Huimin LI ; Yuzhu LU ; Qiuzi ZHONG ; Xue YU
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2025;34(7):677-683
Objective:To investigate whether there is an association between the total dose of breast cancer radiotherapy, the mean dose of radiation field involving the heart and its substructures, and the long-term incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1125 patients with breast cancer who received radiotherapy with radiation fields involving the hear at Beijing Hospital from January 2009 to June 2022. The heart and its substructures of 54 patients were manually delineated, trained an automatic delineation model, and applied this model to the original radiotherapy planning images to automatically extract dosimetric parameters for the heart and substructures in the original plan. Based on the follow-up results, 1125 breast cancer patients were categorized into the CHD event group ( n=19) and non-event group ( n=1106). Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Chi-square test and adjustment for confounding factors using inverse probability weighting were used to compare the mean radiation dose received by the heart and its substructures, age at presentation, history of smoking, history of alcohol consumption, history of hypertension, and history of diabetes between two groups. The influencing factors of CHD were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results:The mean heart dose ( P=0.035), mean dose of right atrium ( P=0.049), right coronary artery ( P=0.013), septum ( P=0.045), and right ventricle ( P=0.039) of the event group were higher than that of the non-event group, and the differences were statistically significant. History of alcohol consumption was an independent risk factor for long-term CHD events in the breast cancer patients ( OR=7.35,95% CI: 1.56-25.58, P=0.004). After adjusting for confounding factors using inverse probability weighting, age at presentation was an independent risk factor for long-term CHD events ( OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, P=0.004). Conclusions:In the breast cancer population with traditional high-risk factors of CHD receiving radiotherapy, the possibility of CHD probably remains high even if the dose of radiation field involving the heart and its substructures is low. Compared to traditional risk factors of CHD, the mean dose to the heart and its substructures in the radiation field of breast cancer patients exerts less impact on the occurrence of CHD after radiotherapy.
8.Epidemiological characteristics of human metapulmonaryvirus in hospitalized children with respiratory infections in Hebei Province
Hongfei DU ; Mengchuan ZHAO ; Xiaoshuang ZHANG ; Shanshan ZHOU ; Jing HUANG ; Xinguang LIU
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(2):93-98
Objective:To explore the epidemiological characteristics of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in children hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infections in Hebei, and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of acute respiratory tract infections in children in Hebei.Methods:Retrospectively, 41 499 children hospitalized in Hebei Children′s Hospital for acute respiratory tract infections from January 2017 to December 2021 were included to analyze the morbidity of children of different genders and ages, and in different seasons, and to statistically analyze the epidemiological data such as the positive detection rate of hMPV, the detection rates of mixed infections with other pathogens, and the clinical diagnosis.Results:The overall positive detection rate of hMPV in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections from 2017 to 2021 was 5.94%(2 464/41 499), with the highest positive detection rate of hMPV in the age group of 3 to 4 years (7.66%, 520/6 789) and the lowest in the age group of ≥5 years (2.89%, 180/6 225), with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.001); the positive detection rates in male and female children were respectively 5.97%(1 496/25 056) and 5.94%(968/16 443), and the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The positive detection rates of hMPV from 2017 to 2021 were 5.10%(408/7 998), 9.64%(915/9 491), 4.27%(426/9 969), 5.91%(368/6 226), and 4.44%(347/7 815), respectively, and the positive detection rate of hMPV in 2018 was significantly higher than that in the other years ( P<0.001). hMPV circulated throughout the year, with obvious seasonality, with the highest positive detection rate in spring and winter.The mixed detection rate of hMPV with other respiratory pathogens was 42.74% (1 053/2 464), of which mixed detection with rhinovirus was the most common, with a mixed detection rate of 48.24%(508/1 053).Clinical diagnosis of hPMV-positive children was mostly bronchopneumonia. Conclusions:hMPV is one of the important pathogens in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections in Hebei, which is common in children under 5 years of age and can occur throughout the year, with peak epidemics in winter and spring. Mixed infections of hMPV with other respiratory pathogens are common and can increase the risk of worsening clinical symptoms in children.
9.Clinical value of transcriptome mRNA sequencing-derived SLC12A1 gene in heart failure patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction
Mengwei WANG ; Hongfei LIU ; Yunqiang ZHANG ; Ze HOU ; Xinyi WANG ; Yingnan YE ; Zifan WANG ; Yuxin ZHANG ; Kegang JIA
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;48(8):1071-1079
Objective:To explore the relationship between the differential genes derived from transcriptome mRNA sequencing and prognosis among heart failure patients with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Methods:This was a case-control study. Ten patients with HFmrEF and 10 patients with HFpEF treated at TEDA International Cardiovascular Disease Hospital from November 2021 to January 2022 were selected and differentially expressed genes were screened by transcriptome mRNA sequencing. Ten healthy people served as control group. In addition, 50 patients with HFmrEF, 62 patients with HFpEF, who were treated at TEDA International Cardiovascular Disease Hospital at the same period, were selected as validation groups, 57 healthy people served as control validation group. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of differential genes in each group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the differential diagnosis and prognostic value of differential genes in these patients. Patients were followed up regularly to document adverse events within 1 year after discharge including cardiac death and readmission for heart failure. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and tested by log rank test. Cox regression analysis was used to explore whether differential mRNA was risk factors for poor prognosis in HFmrEF and HFpEF patients.Results:A total of four genes were differentially expressed (three upregulated and one downregulated gene) between the HFmrEF group and HFpEF group (adjust P<0.05). SLC12A1, C15orf48 and SPP1 were associated with the progress of cardiovascular disease, and selected for validation in the clinical cohort. RT-qPCR results showed that the gene expression of SLC12A1 in the HFmrEF group was significantly higher than that in the HFpEF group ( P<0.001). The AUC for the adjunctive differential diagnostic value of SLC12A1 for HFmrEF and HFpEF was 0.802 ( P<0.001) and the AUC of SLC12A1 with a cut-off value of 6.634 was 0.737 ( P=0.003) in determining poor prognosis in patients with HFpEF. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with SLC12A1≤6.634 had a higher incidence of adverse cardiac events than patients with SLC12A1 >6.634 ( P=0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of adverse cardiac events in the SLC12A1 ≤6.634 group was 6.787 times higher than in the SLC12A1 >6.634 group ( HR=6.787, P=0.011). Conclusions:Transcriptome mRNA sequencing analysis is valuable for detecting clinical relevant differentially expressed genes in HFmrEF and HFpEF patients, among which SLC12A1 can be used as a novel molecular biomarker to aid the differential diagnosis of HFmrEF and HFpEF. In addition, SLC12A1 may be used as an adjunctive biomarker for the prognosis evaluation in patients with HFpEF.
10.Discussion on the formation mechanism of drug prices in the context of new medical reform
Hongfei CAI ; Kexin YU ; Zhitao ZHANG ; Jian ZHANG ; Na TIAN
Modern Hospital 2025;25(4):579-581
In the context of the new medical reform,the formation mechanism of drug prices is one of the important is-sues of this round of medical reform.Drug prices involve the interests of drug companies,hospitals,patients,and other parties,so it is particularly important to establish a reasonable mechanism for the formation of drug prices to safeguard the interests of all parties.This paper first analyzes the characteristics of drugs and the drug market,and then discusses the actual situation and challenges faced by the formation mechanism of drug prices.On this basis,it proposes basic principles for drug pricing and opti-mization recommendations for the formation mechanism of drug prices in the context of the new medical reform.This can provide a reference for the country to formulate relevant drug price policies and promote the rational development of drug prices.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail