1.Altered Lymphocyte Subsets in Perioperative Cancer Patients Before and After Septic Shock: Characteristics and Prognostic Implications
Miao WEI ; Lili YANG ; Xiaoyan LI ; Huifang LYU ; Yan DUAN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(1):86-97
To investigate the changes in peripheral blood immune cells before and after the onset of septic shock in patients with malignant tumors, and to analyze the relationship between these immune cells and patient prognosis. A retrospective study was conducted, enrolling perioperative tumor patients who were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to septic shock at Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital between October 2018 and December 2019.Changes in lymphocyte counts and subsets were compared before and after septic shock (measured prior to septic shock onset and within 72 hours after onset).A multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between these immune indicators and the 28-day mortality risk in tumor patients following septic shock. A total of 47 tumor patients transferred to the ICU due to septic shock were included.There were 32 males and 15 females, with a mean age of (63.9±11.2) years.Gastrointestinal tumors were the most common tumor type (76.60%, 36/47), and abdominal/pelvic infection (65.96%, 31/47) was the primary source of infection.Within 28 days after ICU transfer, 12 patients died and 35 survived. Compared to pre-septic shock levels, lymphocyte counts significantly decreased after septic shock[530(300, 830) cells/μL Perioperative tumor patients experience acute depletion of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets following septic shock.Among various immune indicators, regulatory T cell count serves as an independent predictor of short-term mortality risk.Evaluating baseline immune function in such patients may help optimize treatment strategies and improve overall prognosis.
2.Effects of Yangxin Tongmai Formula (养心通脉方) on Methylation Key Genes and the PERK/ATF4/CHOP Signaling Pathway in Myocardial Tissue of Coronary Heart Disease Model Rats with Blood Stasis Syndrome
Chun ZHANG ; Shumeng ZHANG ; Yan MAO ; Xing CHEN ; Huifang KUANG ; Yi YANG ; Lingli CHEN ; Jie LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(7):784-791
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Yangxin Tongmai Formula (养心通脉方, YTF) in trea-ting coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome based on DNA methylation. MethodsSeventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=12) and a modeling group (n=60). The modeling group was subjected to a high-fat diet, intragastric administration of vitamin D3, and subcutaneous injection of isoprenaline to establish the rat model of coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome. Forty-one successfully modeled rats were then randomly allocated into model group, YTF low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, and the atorvastatin calcium group, with 8 rats in each group and 1 rat reserved. The YTF low-, medium-, and high-dose groups received YTF at 6, 12, and 18 g/(kg·d) by gavage, respectively. The atorvastatin calcium group received atorvastatin calcium tablets at 1.8 mg/(kg·d) by gavage. The control group and the model group received 0.9% sodium chloride injection at 4 ml/(kg·d) by gavage. All administrations were performed once daily for 3 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, serum lipid levels including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), myocardial enzymes including cardiac troponin T (cTnT), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and inflammatory factors including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by ELISA. Pathological changes in myocardial tissue were observed via HE staining. Whole blood DNA methylation sequencing was used to analyze differential methylation gene expression among the control group, model group, and YTF high-dose group. Western Blotting was used to verify the protein levels of the key genes and downstream signaling pathways. ResultsCompared to the control group, the model group showed increased levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, cTnT, CK-MB, LDH, and IL-1β, along with decreased levels of HDL-C and IL-10 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the model group, all treatment groups exhibited decreased levels of TC, LDL-C, CK-MB, and LDH, along with increased IL-10 levels. Among these, the high-dose YTF group demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing cTnT levels compared to the other TCM groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining indicated that the YTF high-dose group ameliorated myocardial cell swelling, disordered arrangement, pyknosis, and disappearance of nuclei, thereby reducing myocardial cell damage. Whole blood DNA methylation sequencing identified 240 differentially methylated genes shared by the control group, model group, and YTF high-dose group, including 109 hypermethylated and 131 hypomethylated genes; eif2ak3 was identified as a key differentially methylated gene. Compared to the control group, the model group exhibited increased protein levels of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3 (eIf2ak3), phosphorylated protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (p-PERK), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and Bax, along with a decreased level of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the YTF high-dose group showed decreased protein levels of eIf2ak3, p-PERK, ATF4, CHOP, and Bax, and an increased level of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionYTF may regulate key differentially methylated genes such as eIf2ak3 and the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress, reducing myocardial cell apoptosis, and exerting therapeutic effects in coronary heart disease blood stasis syndrome.
3.Mechanism of immunosuppression in rats by herb-partitioned moxibustion based on transcriptome sequencing technology
Yuefeng TIAN ; Luojie XIONG ; Huifang WANG ; Chuntao ZHAI ; Wei LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(5):978-988
BACKGROUND:Immunosuppression leads to impaired body immune function and aggravates the disease.Herb-partitioned moxibustion can effectively regulate immune function and improve immunity in the body,but its regulatory mechanism has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE:To sequence immunosuppressed model rats treated with herb-partitioned moxibustion using bioinformatics techniques based on transcriptomics and to explore the mechanisms by which it regulates immunity. METHODS:Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups:control,model,and herb-partitioned moxibustion groups,with eight rats in each group.The model and herb-partitioned moxibustion groups were subjected to establishment of an immune suppression model by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 35 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days.No interventions were administered to the control and model groups after modeling.In contrast,the herb-partitioned moxibustion group received moxibustion treatment at Zhongwan,Shenque,Guanyuan,and Zusanli acupoints using a combination of moxa and herbal cakes,once a day,for 10 consecutive days,with samples being collected the day after the end of the intervention.Peripheral blood was collected from all groups of rats to measure their white blood cell count.RNA-seq was performed on the Illumina sequencing platform,and differentially expressed genes were selected for bioinformatics analysis using the GO and KEGG databases. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the model group exhibited a significant decrease in white blood cell count(P<0.001).RNA-seq analysis identified 3 026 differentially expressed genes between the model and control groups,with 1 565 upregulated and 1 461 downregulated.There were 535 differentially expressed genes identified between the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the model group,with 280 upregulated and 255 downregulated.The Venn diagram analysis revealed that 159 genes were downregulated in the model group compared with the control group.However,after moxibustion with herbal cakes,these genes were upregulated.Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 10 core targets,including Oasl,Oas2,Isg15,Herc6,Mx2,Helz2,Mx1,Syk,Hspa1a,and Ret.According to GO and KEGG analyses,moxibustion with herbal cakes regulated the body through pathways related to immune response,viruses,angiogenesis,and the autoimmune system.To conclude,there is a significant association between herbal cake-separated moxibustion intervention and immune suppression targets,including Oasl,Oas2,Isg15,Herc6,Mx2,Helz2,and Mx1.The intervention exhibits regulatory effects in the pathways related to immune responses,viral activities,and angiogenesis.
4.Effects of coal mine dust on lung function in rats
LIU Yang ; LI Meng ; LU Liyuan ; WANG Ru ; YANG He ; ZHANG Huifang
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(1):96-101
Objective:
To explore the impacts of coal mine dust on lung function in rats, so as to provide the basis for the early prevention and treatment of coal worker's pneumoconiosis.
Methods:
Seventy-two SPF-grade 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the coal dust group, the coal-silica dust group, the silica dust group and the control group. The rats in the first three groups of rats were administered 1 mL corresponding dust suspension into the lungs using non-exposure tracheal instillation, while the rats in the control group were administered 1 mL normal saline. Respiratory rate (f), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and dynamic pulmonary compliance (Cdyn) were measured at 1, 3 and 6 months after dust exposure. Lung tissues were collected to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels using corresponding ELISA kits and ATP assay kits, respectively. The relative mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) were detected using real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. The relative protein expressions of PGC-1α and TFAM were detected using Western blotting.
Results:
There was no interaction between dust type and exposure duration on f (P>0.05), but there were interactions on FVC, PEF and Cdyn (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group at 6 months after dust exposure, the f of the rats in the silica dust group were increased, while the FVC and PEF of the rats in the coal-silica dust and silica dust groups were decreased, and Cdyn of the rats in the coal dust, coal-silica dust and silica dust groups were decreased (all P<0.05). There were interactions between dust type and exposure duration on ROS and ATP levels, the relative mRNA and protein expressions of PGC-1α and TFAM (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group at 3 and 6 months after dust exposure, the ROS levels in the rats in the coal dust, coal-silica dust and silica dust groups were increased, while the ATP levels, the relative mRNA and protein expressions of PGC-1α and TFAM were decreased (all P<0.05).
Conclusion
The lung function impairment in rats caused by different types of coal mine dust is related to PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis dysfunction, which leads to increased ROS levels, decreased ATP and TFAM levels.
5.Meta-integration of real disease experience in young and middle-aged patients with end-stage renal disease
Qitao MA ; Hongyi LI ; Xiangyun LI ; Wei ZHANG ; Xiaoyuan ZHANG ; Huifang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(15):1183-1191
Objective:To systematically evaluate the disease experience and inner needs of young and middle-aged patients with end-stage renal disease, so as to provide evidence for medical personnel to pay more attention to the mental health of this population and give personalized care.Methods:The qualitative studies on the real experience, psychological feeling and experience of young and middle-aged patients with end-stage renal disease were searched by PsycInfo, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Network, Wanfang, VIP and China Biomedical Literature Database. The retrieval period was from the establishment of the database to April 20, 2024. Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-based Health Care Center Evaluation criteria (2016 edition) were used to evaluate the literature quality, and the results were summarized and integrated by aggregative meta-integration method.Results:A total of 10 studies were included, and 47 clear findings were extracted and classified into 10 new categories, which were combined into 4 integrated results: the phased changes of patients′ real experience at all levels of body, mind and society, impairment of their own and family role functions, desire for support and lack of autonomy in decision-making, and reconstruction of positive attitude and future outlook in the face of disease.Conclusions:Nursing staff should pay attention to and understand the psychosocial conditions of young and middle-aged patients with end-stage renal disease, timely provide targeted psychological support and help to enhance their confidence in treatment, better return to work and society, and improve their quality of life.
6.Molecular biological research and molecular homologous modeling of Bw.03 subgroup
Li WANG ; Yongkui KONG ; Huifang JIN ; Xin LIU ; Ying XIE ; Xue LIU ; Yanli CHANG ; Yafang WANG ; Shumiao YANG ; Di ZHU ; Qiankun YANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(1):112-115
[Objective] To study the molecular biological mechanism for a case of ABO blood group B subtype, and perform three-dimensional modeling of the mutant enzyme. [Methods] The ABO phenotype was identified by the tube method and microcolumn gel method; the ABO gene of the proband was detected by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP), and the exon 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were sequenced and analyzed. Homologous modeling of Bw.03 glycosyltransferase (GT) was carried out by Modeller and analyzed by PyMOL2.5.0 software. [Results] The weakening B antigen was detected in the proband sample by forward typing, and anti-B antibody was detected by reverse typing. PCR-SSP detection showed B, O gene, and the sequencing results showed c.721 C>T mutation in exon 7 of the B gene, resulting in p. Arg 241 Trp. Compared with the wild type, the structure of Bw.03GT was partially changed, and the intermolecular force analysis showed that the original three hydrogen bonds at 241 position disappeared. [Conclusion] Blood group molecular biology examination is helpful for the accurate identification of ambiguous blood group. Homologous modeling more intuitively shows the key site for the weakening of Bw.03 GT activity. The intermolecular force analysis can explain the root cause of enzyme activity weakening.
7.Value of combined detection of serum mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 and lysyl oxidase-like protein 2 in early diagnosis of cervical cancer
Xiaodan JIANG ; Huifang WANG ; Sisi CHEN ; Yiman TANG ; Zhuang ZHANG ; Meng LI
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(15):58-62,78
Objective To explore the value of combined detection of serum mitogen-activated protein kinase 1(MAPK1)and lysyl oxidase-like protein 2(LOXL2)in early diagnosis of cervical cancer.Methods A total of 218 patients with cervical lesions were selected as study group(103 ca-ses in cervical cancer group,115 cases in benign tumor group).Additionally,100 patients with cer-vical intraepithelial neoplasia grade Ⅱ were selected as precancerous lesion group,and 79 healthy in-dividuals undergoing physical examinations during the same period were selected as control group.Se-rum levels of MAPK1 and LOXL2 were measured in each group.Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlations of serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 levels in patients with cervical cancer.Logistic regression analysis was performed to screen influencing factors for the occurrence of cervical cancer.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to assess the diagnostic efficacy of serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 for cervical cancer.Results Serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 levels in the study group were higher than those in the precancerous lesion group and the control group,and those in the precancerous lesion group were higher than those in the control group,with statistically signif-icant differences(P<0.05).The proportion of patients with high-risk human papillomavirus(HPV)infection and serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 levels in the cervical cancer group were higher than those in the benign tumor group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 levels in patients with stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ cervical cancer were higher than those in patients with stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ cervical cancer,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 levels in patients with cervical cancer(r=0.468,P<0.001).Logistic regression analysis showed that high-risk HPV infection,MAPK1 and LOXL2 were all influencing factors for the occurrence of cervi-cal cancer(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)for com-bined diagnosis of serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 was 0.911,which was significantly greater than the AUCs for individual diagnoses(0.848 and 0.843,respectively).Conclusion Serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 levels in patients with cervical cancer are significantly upregulated,and the two indicators were positively correlated.High-risk HPV infection,serum MAPK1 and LOXL2 levels were influen-cing factors for the occurrence of cervical cancer.Combined detection of MAPK1 and LOXL2 levels is expected to assist in the diagnosis of cervical cancer.
8.Differential expression and prognostic significance of exosomal miRNA derived from bone marrow stromal cells in the bone marrow supernatants of patients with AML
Wei Dai ; Xiaoting Wang ; Wenjuan Fu ; Qiushuang Li ; Tianhui Zhou ; Mengyuan Lu ; Huifang Huang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(11):2113-2123
Objective:
To investigate the aberrant alterations of microRNAs ( miRNAs) in exosomes derived from bone marrow stromal cells ( BMSCs) in the bone marrow supernatants of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and their impact on the prognosis of AML patients .
Methods:
Bone marrow supernatant samples were col- lected from three AML patients and three healthy donors . Exosomes were isolated using a commercial kit , identif- ying the morphology and marker expression , and subjected to miRNA sequencing to determine differentially ex- pressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) . The DE-miRNAs were then intersected with the exosomal miRNA expression pro- files of primary AML cells (GSE64029) to exclude AML cell - derived signals and to identify BMSC-derived DE - miRNAs . Subsequently , candidate miRNAs were identified through Cox regression and Lasso regression analyses based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) . A prognostic risk model for AML was constructed , and pa- tients were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups according to the median risk score . The prognostic value and clinical relevance of the model were further validated . Finally , the target genes of the candidate miRNAs were pre- dicted , followed by pathway enrichment analysis , construction of key regulatory networks , and correlation analysis between the expression levels of key miRNAs and their corresponding target genes .
Results:
Isolated exosomes ex- hibited a typical cup-shaped morphology with intact structures with particle size of 30 - 150 nm , and expressed exo- somal markers CD63 , ALIX , and TSG101 . miRNA sequencing identified 103 DE-miRNAs in AML patients com- pared with healthy donors; after intersection with the GSE64029 dataset , 83 BMSC-derived DE-miRNAs were re- tained . Among these , five candidate miRNAs ( miR-25-3p , miR-532-5p , miR-194-5p , miR-10a-5p , and miR- 20a-5p) were used to construct the prognostic model . Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated significantly lon- ger overall survival in the low-risk group compared with the high-risk group (P < 0. 05) . The areas under the ROC curve for the training/validation cohorts were 0. 80/0. 74 , 0. 80/0. 78 , and 0. 79/0. 64 at 1 , 2 , and 3 years , re- spectively . The prognostic model was significantly associated with risk stratification , patient age , and FAB classifi- cation (P < 0. 05) . KEGG pathway enrichment revealed that target genes of the candidate miRNAs were closely linked to cancer-related signaling pathways , including hepatocellular carcinoma , breast cancer , and non-small cell lung cancer. Correlation analysis indicated that the candidate miRNAs were significantly associated with key genes such as HIF1A , CREB1 , PIK3CA , IGF1R , PIK3R1 , TIAM1 , CRK , and PTEN (P < 0. 05) .
Conclusion
AML patients exhibit distinct miRNA expression profiles in BMSC-derived exosomes . A five-miRNA signature ( miR-25 - 3p , miR-532-5p , miR-194-5p , miR-10a-5p , and miR-20a-5p) demonstrates robust prognostic performance , sup- porting its potential clinical utility in risk stratification and outcome prediction for AML.
9.Efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy combined with zanubrutinib in the treatment of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Langqi WANG ; Chunyan YUE ; Xuan ZHOU ; Jilong YANG ; Bo JIN ; Bo WANG ; Minhong HUANG ; Huifang CHEN ; Lijuan ZHOU ; Sanfang TU ; Yuhua LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(6):748-750
10.Reliability and validation of the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire among men who have sex with men in China
Huifang XU ; Ying WANG ; Chenrui LI ; Ajuan LIANG ; Yong CAI
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(10):878-883
ObjectiveThe significance of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) should not be overlooked. This study aims to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) among the MSM population in China to evaluate its applicability in this group. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in three Chinese cities(Shanghai, Shenyang and Kunming) using snowball sampling, with a total of 1 130 MSM participants included. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to assess the structural validity of the scale. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s α coefficient, and split-half reliability was assessed with the Spearman-Brown coefficient. ResultsAccording to the EFA results, after removing item ACE10 (“parental death”), the 23-item ACE-IQ demonstrated a six-factor structure, including victimization or witnessing emotional/physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, family dysfunction, emotional neglect, and peer violence. CFA results indicated a good model fit for the six-factor model, supporting the EFA findings. The scale demonstrated good reliability, with a Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.852 and a Spearman-Brown coefficient of 0.899, indicating high internal consistency and split-half reliability within the studied population. ConclusionThe Chinese version of the ACE-IQ demonstrates satisfactory reliability and validity among MSM population, supporting its suitability for assessing ACEs in this group. The findings provide an empirical basis for subsequent mental health interventions.


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