1.Mechanism of Shengmai Injection Against Cerebral Ischemia Based on Proteomics
Jingtong LIU ; Shaowei HU ; Mengli CHANG ; Jing XU ; Qingqing CAI ; Xinghong LI ; Liying TANG ; Huanhuan WANG ; Hongwei WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):57-67
ObjectiveTo evaluate pharmacological effects of Shengmai injection(SMI)on cerebral ischemia and study its neuroprotective mechanism. MethodsMale specific pathogen-free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a model group, a low-dose SMI group(3 mL·kg-1), a middle-dose SMI group(6 mL·kg-1), a high-dose SMI group(12 mL·kg-1), and a Ginaton group(4 mL·kg-1)according to the random number table method, with 12 rats in each group. The rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(MCAO/R)was prepared via the suture method. The administration groups were intraperitoneally injected with corresponding concentrations of SMI or Ginaton injection after reperfusion, which was conducted for 3 consecutive days. The sham group and model group were administered the equivalent volume of physiological saline. The pharmacological effects of SMI on brain injury in MCAO/R rats were evaluated by neurological function scores, cerebral infarction area, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Nissl staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and Western blot. The dominant link and key protein of SMI treating cerebral injury were explored using proteomic analysis. The related mechanisms of SMI were further validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and chloride ion fluorescence probe with oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)-treated PC12 cells and MCAO/R rats. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group showed significantly increased neurological function scores, cerebral infarction area, neuronal apoptosis rate, and expression levels of apoptosis related proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01)and significantly decreased density of Nissl bodies and neurons(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the SMI groups exhibited significantly decreased neurological function scores, cerebral infarction area, neuronal apoptosis rate, and expression levels of apoptosis related proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01)and significantly increased density of Nissl bodies and neurons (P<0.05). The proteomic analysis results showed that oxidative stress and inflammatory response were important processes of SMI intervening in MCAO/R injury, and the chloride intracellular channel protein 1 (CLIC1) was one of key proteins in its action network. The levels of representative indicators of oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the MCAO/R rats of the SMI groups were significantly reduced, compared with those in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression levels of CLIC1 and downstream NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) decreased (P<0.01). In addition, the experimental results based on the OGD/R PC12 cells showed that SMI significantly increased the cell survival rate(P<0.01) and significantly decreased the intracellular chloride ion concentration(P<0.05). ConclusionSMI has neuroprotective effects. Oxidative stress and inflammatory response are key processes of SMI intervening in MCAO/R injury. The potential mechanism is closely related to the regulation of CLIC1.
2.Molecular Characteristics of Prognosis and Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer: Biomarker Identification Based on Gene Mutations and Pathway
Liyan LI ; Hongwei LYU ; Qian CHEN ; Yating BAI ; Jing YU ; Ruigang CAI
Journal of Breast Cancer 2025;28(2):61-71
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics associated with better prognosis in breast cancer.
Methods:
We performed targeted sequencing of 962 genes in 56 samples, categorizing them into long-term and short-term survival groups as well as chemotherapy-sensitive and chemotherapy-resistant groups for further analyses.
Results:
The results indicated that the tumor mutational burden values were significantly higher in the short-term survival and chemotherapy-resistant groups (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003, respectively). Somatic mutation analysis revealed that the mutation frequencies of BCL9L and WHSC1 were significantly lower in the long-term survival group than those in the short-term survival group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.024, respectively). CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) mutations occurred significantly more frequently in the chemotherapy-resistant group (p = 0.027) and were associated with shorter progression-free survival (p = 0.036).Signature weighting analysis showed a significant increase in Signature.3, which is associated with homologous recombination repair deficiency in the chemotherapy-sensitive group (p = 0.045). Conversely, signatures related to effective DNA repair mechanisms, Signature.1 and Signature.15, were significantly reduced (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that gene mutations were significantly enriched in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.
Conclusion
This study, through intergroup comparative analysis, found that immunotherapy (using programmed death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors) may improve the prognosis of patients with short survival and chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, the study revealed that mutations in BCL9L and WHSC1 could serve as biomarkers for breast cancer prognosis, while CRTC1 mutations and Signature.3 could predict chemotherapy response. The study also found that the JAK-STAT pathway might be a potential therapeutic target for chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, this study identifies molecular characteristics that influence the prognosis of breast cancer patients, providing important theoretical insights for the development of personalized treatment strategies.
3.Molecular Characteristics of Prognosis and Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer: Biomarker Identification Based on Gene Mutations and Pathway
Liyan LI ; Hongwei LYU ; Qian CHEN ; Yating BAI ; Jing YU ; Ruigang CAI
Journal of Breast Cancer 2025;28(2):61-71
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics associated with better prognosis in breast cancer.
Methods:
We performed targeted sequencing of 962 genes in 56 samples, categorizing them into long-term and short-term survival groups as well as chemotherapy-sensitive and chemotherapy-resistant groups for further analyses.
Results:
The results indicated that the tumor mutational burden values were significantly higher in the short-term survival and chemotherapy-resistant groups (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003, respectively). Somatic mutation analysis revealed that the mutation frequencies of BCL9L and WHSC1 were significantly lower in the long-term survival group than those in the short-term survival group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.024, respectively). CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) mutations occurred significantly more frequently in the chemotherapy-resistant group (p = 0.027) and were associated with shorter progression-free survival (p = 0.036).Signature weighting analysis showed a significant increase in Signature.3, which is associated with homologous recombination repair deficiency in the chemotherapy-sensitive group (p = 0.045). Conversely, signatures related to effective DNA repair mechanisms, Signature.1 and Signature.15, were significantly reduced (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that gene mutations were significantly enriched in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.
Conclusion
This study, through intergroup comparative analysis, found that immunotherapy (using programmed death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors) may improve the prognosis of patients with short survival and chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, the study revealed that mutations in BCL9L and WHSC1 could serve as biomarkers for breast cancer prognosis, while CRTC1 mutations and Signature.3 could predict chemotherapy response. The study also found that the JAK-STAT pathway might be a potential therapeutic target for chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, this study identifies molecular characteristics that influence the prognosis of breast cancer patients, providing important theoretical insights for the development of personalized treatment strategies.
4.Molecular Characteristics of Prognosis and Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer: Biomarker Identification Based on Gene Mutations and Pathway
Liyan LI ; Hongwei LYU ; Qian CHEN ; Yating BAI ; Jing YU ; Ruigang CAI
Journal of Breast Cancer 2025;28(2):61-71
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics associated with better prognosis in breast cancer.
Methods:
We performed targeted sequencing of 962 genes in 56 samples, categorizing them into long-term and short-term survival groups as well as chemotherapy-sensitive and chemotherapy-resistant groups for further analyses.
Results:
The results indicated that the tumor mutational burden values were significantly higher in the short-term survival and chemotherapy-resistant groups (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003, respectively). Somatic mutation analysis revealed that the mutation frequencies of BCL9L and WHSC1 were significantly lower in the long-term survival group than those in the short-term survival group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.024, respectively). CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) mutations occurred significantly more frequently in the chemotherapy-resistant group (p = 0.027) and were associated with shorter progression-free survival (p = 0.036).Signature weighting analysis showed a significant increase in Signature.3, which is associated with homologous recombination repair deficiency in the chemotherapy-sensitive group (p = 0.045). Conversely, signatures related to effective DNA repair mechanisms, Signature.1 and Signature.15, were significantly reduced (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that gene mutations were significantly enriched in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.
Conclusion
This study, through intergroup comparative analysis, found that immunotherapy (using programmed death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors) may improve the prognosis of patients with short survival and chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, the study revealed that mutations in BCL9L and WHSC1 could serve as biomarkers for breast cancer prognosis, while CRTC1 mutations and Signature.3 could predict chemotherapy response. The study also found that the JAK-STAT pathway might be a potential therapeutic target for chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, this study identifies molecular characteristics that influence the prognosis of breast cancer patients, providing important theoretical insights for the development of personalized treatment strategies.
5.Successful Pregnancy after Autologous Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue Transplantation in a Cervical Cancer Patient: the First Reported Case in China
Yubin LI ; Yang ZHANG ; Tian MENG ; Bing CAI ; Chuling WU ; Changxi WANG ; Hongwei SHEN ; Guofen YANG
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):498-505
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and autologous transplantation in preserving fertility and ovarian endocrine function in patients with cervical cancer. MethodsA 26-year-old patient with stage ⅡA1 cervical cancer underwent ovarian tissue harvesting and cryopreservation during cancer surgery. Following complete remission of the cancer, autologous ovarian tissue transplantation was performed. Follow-up monitoring included assessment of menopausal symptoms, hormone levels, and follicular development. ResultsSix months after transplantation, follicle-stimulating hormone levels decreased to 6.60 U/L, and estradiol levels increased from <10.00 ng/L to 89.00 ng/L. At 10 months after transplantation, ultrasound monitoring confirmed follicular development and physiological ovulation in the transplanted ovarian tissue. By 15 months after transplantation, follicle-stimulating hormone levels remained stable at 7.24 U/L, and estradiol levels further increased to 368.00 ng/L. Over 2 years after transplantation, the patient successfully gave birth to a healthy baby through assisted reproductive technology. ConclusionThe restoration of endocrine and ovulation functions in the transplanted cryopreserved ovarian tissue, followed by successful pregnancy, demonstrates the clinical success of ovarian tissue transplantation.
6.Expert consensus on the prevention and treatment of radiochemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.
Juan XIA ; Xiaoan TAO ; Qinchao HU ; Wei LUO ; Xiuzhen TONG ; Gang ZHOU ; Hongmei ZHOU ; Hong HUA ; Guoyao TANG ; Tong WU ; Qianming CHEN ; Yuan FAN ; Xiaobing GUAN ; Hongwei LIU ; Chaosu HU ; Yongmei ZHOU ; Xuemin SHEN ; Lan WU ; Xin ZENG ; Qing LIU ; Renchuan TAO ; Yuan HE ; Yang CAI ; Wenmei WANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Yingfang WU ; Minhai NIE ; Xin JIN ; Xiufeng WEI ; Yongzhan NIE ; Changqing YUAN ; Bin CHENG
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):54-54
Radiochemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (OM) is a common oral complication in patients with tumors following head and neck radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Erosion and ulcers are the main features of OM that seriously affect the quality of life of patients and even the progress of tumor treatment. To date, differences in clinical prevention and treatment plans for OM have been noted among doctors of various specialties, which has increased the uncertainty of treatment effects. On the basis of current research evidence, this expert consensus outlines risk factors, clinical manifestations, clinical grading, ancillary examinations, diagnostic basis, prevention and treatment strategies and efficacy indicators for OM. In addition to strategies such as basic oral care, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents, anti-infective agents, pro-healing agents, and photobiotherapy recommended in previous guidelines, we also emphasize the role of traditional Chinese medicine in OM prevention and treatment. This expert consensus aims to provide references and guidance for dental physicians and oncologists in formulating strategies for OM prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, standardizing clinical practice, reducing OM occurrence, promoting healing, and improving the quality of life of patients.
Humans
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Chemoradiotherapy/adverse effects*
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Consensus
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Risk Factors
;
Stomatitis/etiology*
7.Bioactivity-guided discovery of antiviral templichalasins A‒C from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus templicola.
Teng CAI ; Jingzu SUN ; Wenxuan CHEN ; Qiang HE ; Baosong CHEN ; Yulong HE ; Peng ZHANG ; Yanhong WEI ; Hongwei LIU ; Xiaofeng CAI
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(6):754-761
The bioactivity-guided isolation of potentially active natural products has been widely utilized in pharmaceutical discovery. In this study, by screening fungal extracts against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), three new aspochalasins, templichalasins A‒C (1‒3), along with six known aspochalasins (4‒9) were isolated from an active extract derived from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus templicola LHWf045. Compound 1 features a unique 5/6/5/7/5 pentacyclic ring system, while compounds 2 and 3 possess unusual 5/6/6/7 tetracyclic skeletons. Their structures were characterized through extensive spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Additionally, we demonstrated that compound 4 can be readily converted into compounds 1‒3 under mild acidic conditions and proposed a plausible mechanism for this conversion. Bioactivity evaluation of compounds 1‒9 against CVB3 revealed the inhibitory effects of all compounds against the virus. Notably, compound 9 exhibited superior antiviral activity, surpassing the commercial drug ribavirin in selectivity index (SI) value.
Antiviral Agents/isolation & purification*
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Aspergillus/chemistry*
;
Molecular Structure
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Enterovirus B, Human/drug effects*
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Endophytes/chemistry*
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Cytochalasins/isolation & purification*
;
Drug Discovery
;
Humans
8.Construction and fermentation regulation of strains with high yields of echinocandin B.
Kun NIU ; Hongwei CAI ; Yixin YE ; Jinyue XU ; Zhiqiang LIU ; Yuguo ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(4):1455-1466
Echinocandin B (ECB) is a key precursor of the antifungal drug anidulafungin. It is a secondary metabolite of Aspergillus nidulans, and its titer in fermentation is significantly affected by the ECB synthesis pathway and cell morphology. In this study, the key genes related to the transcription activation, hydroxylation, and cell morphology during ECB biosynthesis were investigated to increase the fermentation titer of ECB and to change the cell morphology of Aspergillus nidulans to reduce the viscosity of the fermentation broth. The results indicated that after overexpression of ecdB and ecdK, the ECB titer increased by 25.8% and 23.7%, respectively, compared with that of the wild-type strain, reaching (2 030.5±99.2) mg/L and (1 996.4±151.4) mg/L. However, the deletion of fksA associated with cell wall synthesis resulted in damage to the cell wall, affecting strain growth and product synthesis. The engineered strain overexpressing ecdB was fermented in a 50-L bioreactor, in which the ECB titer reached 2 234.5 mg/L. The findings laid a research foundation for the subsequent metabolic engineering of this strain.
Fermentation
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Aspergillus nidulans/genetics*
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Echinocandins/genetics*
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Bioreactors/microbiology*
;
Fungal Proteins/biosynthesis*
;
Metabolic Engineering
9.Surveillance of antifungal resistance in clinical isolates of Candida spp.in East China Invasive Fungal Infection Group from 2018 to 2022
Dongjiang WANG ; Wenjuan WU ; Jian GUO ; Min ZHANG ; Huiping LIN ; Feifei WAN ; Xiaobo MA ; Yueting LI ; Jia LI ; Huiqiong JIA ; Lingbing ZENG ; Xiuhai LU ; Yan JIN ; Jinfeng CAI ; Wei LI ; Zhimin BAI ; Yongqin WU ; Hui DING ; Zhongxian LIAO ; Gen LI ; Hui ZHANG ; Hongwei MENG ; Changzi DENG ; Feng CHEN ; Na JIANG ; Jie QIN ; Guoping DONG ; Jinghua ZHANG ; Wei XI ; Haomin ZHANG ; Rong TANG ; Li LI ; Suzhen WANG ; Fen PAN ; Jing GAO ; Lu JIANG ; Hua FANG ; Zhilan LI ; Yiqun YUAN ; Guoqing WANG ; Yuanxia WANG ; Liping WANG
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2024;24(4):402-409
Objective To monitor the antifungal resistance of clinical isolates of Candida spp.in the East China region.Methods MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods were used to re-identify the strains collected from January 2018 to December 2022.Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method.The susceptibility test results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of 2022 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)documents M27 M44s-Ed3 and M57s-Ed4.Results A total of 3 026 strains of Candida were collected,65.33%of which were isolated from sterile body sites,mainly from blood(38.86%)and pleural effusion/ascites(10.21%).The predominant species of Candida were Candida albicans(44.51%),followed by Candida parapsilosis complex(19.46%),Candida tropicalis(13.98%),Candida glabrata(10.34%),and other Candida species(0.79%).Candida albicans showed overall high susceptibility rates to the 10 antifungal drugs tested(the lowest rate being 93.62%).Only 2.97%of the strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility(SDD)to fluconazole.Candida parapsilosis complex had a SDD rate of 2.61%and a resistance rate of 9.42%to fluconazole,and susceptibility rates above 90%to other drugs.Candida glabrata had a SDD rate of 92.01%and a resistance rate of 7.99%to fluconazole,resistance rates of 32.27%and 48.24%to posaconazole and voriconazole non-wild-type strains(NWT),respectively,and susceptibility rates above 90%to other drugs.Candida tropicalis had resistance rates of 29.55%and 26.24%to fluconazole and voriconazole,respectively,resistance rates of 76.60%and 21.99%to posaconazole and echinocandins non-wild-type strains(NWT),and a resistance rate of 2.36%to echinocandins.Conclusions The prevalence and species distribution of Candida spp.in the East China region are consistent with previous domestic and international reports.Candida glabrata exhibits certain degree of resistance to fluconazole,while Candida tropicalis demonstrates higher resistance to triazole drugs.Additionally,echinocandins resistance has emerged in Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis.
10.Comparison of effects of laparoscopic adrenal tumor resection with different approaches in treating functional adrenal tumors
Qiang DANG ; Zhenbo CAI ; Hongwei ZHANG
Journal of Xinxiang Medical College 2024;41(9):822-826
Objective To compare the effects of different approaches of laparoscopic adrenal tumor resection in treating functional adrenal tumors.Methods Sixty patients with functional adrenal tumors admitted to the Anyang District Hospital from September 2012 to September 2022 were selected as the research subjects.According to different laparoscopic approaches,the patients were divided into a retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group(n=31)and an intraperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group(n=29).The operation related indexes,stress indexes,immunological indexes,and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results The amount of bleeding and treatment cost in the retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group were lower than those in the intraperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group,and the operation time,the first meal time after operation,and the hospital stay were shorter than those in the intraperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in serum cortisol(Cor),noradrenaline(NE)and adrenaline(E)levels between the two groups before and after operation(P>0.05).After operation,the levels of serum Cor,NE and E in the two groups were significantly higher than those before operation(P<0.05).Before operation,there was no statistically significant difference in CD4+level,CD8+level,and CD4+/CD8+ratio between the two groups(P>0.05).After operation,the CD4+level and CD4+/CD8+ratio in both groups were significantly lower than those before operation,while the CD8+level was significantly higher than that before operation(P<0.05).After operation,the CD4+level and CD4+/CD8+ratio in the intraperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group were significantly lower than those in the retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group(P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in the CD8+level between the two groups(P>0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group and the intraperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group was 6.45%(2/31)and 31.03%(9/29),respectively;it was significantly lower in the retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy group(x2=6.048,P<0.05).Conclusion Laparoscopic adrenalectomy via intraperitoneal approach and retroperitoneal approach is effective in the treatment of functional adrenal tumors.The degree of stress response generated by the two approaches is similar,but the retroperitoneal approach has shorter operation time,less intraoperative bleeding,faster postoperative recovery,less damage to immune function,lower incidence of postoperative complications,and fewer costs.

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