1.Efficacy Analysis of Imatinib Neoadjuvant Therapy in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Rectal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Jiayuan DAI ; Jin XU ; Min SHEN ; Yi XIAO ; Guole LIN ; Junyang LU
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):27-33
To investigate the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant imatinib in the treatment of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Patients with rectal GIST who underwent surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2015 to January 2025 were included. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the neoadjuvant therapy group (received preoperative imatinib) and the control group (underwent direct surgery without preoperative imatinib). Clinical outcomes and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups. A total of 74 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included, with 43 included in the neoadjuvant therapy group and 31 included in the control group. Baseline evaluation showed that the median tumor diameter was significantly larger in the neoadjuvant therapy group than that in the control group [5.0(2.9, 7.1)cm Neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib can effectively reduce tumor volume in patients with rectal GIST. However, its therapeutic benefit still needs to be further validated by prospective, large-sample clinical studies with long-term follow-up.
2.Risk Assessment for Ramadan Fasting in People With Diabetes in Hospital-Based Diabetes Clinics Using the Updated 2026 IDF-DAR Risk Calculator
Raja Nurazni Raja Azwan ; Chin Voon Tong ; Lisa Mohamed Nor ; Marisa Khatijah Borhan ; Syarifah Syahirah Syed Abas ; Poh Shean Wong ; Ying Jie Tan ; Shartiyah Ismail ; Eunice Yi Chwen Lau ; Yueh Chien Kuan ; Noor Hafis Md Tob ; Shu Teng Chai ; Pei Lin Chan ; Xe Hui Lee ; Wei Wei Ng ; Jin Hui Ho ; Miza Hiryanti Zakaria ; Rabeah Md Zuki ; Wan Mohd Hafez Wan Hamzah ; Melissa Vergis ; Choon Peng Sun ; Vanusha Devaraja Pillai ; Chee Koon Low ; Shazatul Reza Mohd Redzuan ; Xin-Yi Ooi ; Siti Sanaa Wan Azman ; Deviga Lachumanan ; Saiful Shahrizal Shudim ; Zanariah Hussein
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2026;41(S1):42-43
Introduction:
The 2021 IDF-DAR risk calculator had been previously
evaluated in multiple studies and subsequently widely
accepted and applied in clinical practice as a practical
standardized tool for patient risk stratification. Recently
updated, the 2026 IDF-DAR Risk calculator enables a more individualized, evidence-related evaluation of patientrelated and disease-related risk factors, incorporating
modern diabetes technologies, including continuous
glucose monitoring (CGM), automated insulin delivery
(AID) systems, and advanced insulin formulations to
enhance risk stratification. This tool allows medical
professionals to tailor Ramadan practices based on overall
factors toward promoting safe fasting.
Methodology:
This prospective multicentre observational study recruited
adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes attending public
hospitals nationwide. People with diabetes (PwD) intending
to perform Ramadan fasting were invited to participate
and assessed using the 2026 IDF-DAR Risk Calculator in
the 6-week pre-Ramadan period between 30th January and
19th March 2026.
Results:
A total of 458 PwD were evaluated and stratified into low
(15.7%), moderate (41%), and high risk (43.3%) categories.
Most participants had Type 2 diabetes (83.6%), with 60.3%
having a disease duration exceeding 10 years and 43%
exhibiting poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c >9%).
Insulin therapy was used by 76.4% of participants, including
two individuals with Type 1 diabetes using AID systems.
Most participants reported no recent hypoglycemia (76.4%),
81.0% performed glucose monitoring, and 3.3% used CGM.
Severe comorbidities were uncommon, with 1.1% having
unstable macrovascular disease and 4.4% advanced chronic
kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30).
Notably, 72.2% received structured Ramadan education.
Conclusion
Majority of PwD attending tertiary diabetes clinics were
in the moderate- to high-risk category and intended to
fast despite medical advice against fasting in some cases.
Although most participants were on insulin therapy,
hypoglycemia was low in the pre-Ramadan period.
Integration of modern technologies, advanced insulin
therapies, and structured education may support safer
fasting practices.
Risk Assessment
;
Diabetes Mellitus
;
Hospitals
;
Fasting
3.Obesity-Associated Sleep Hypoventilation and Concomitant Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Journal of Sleep Medicine 2025;22(1):32-34
Hypoventilation in obesity has four stages, and the first two stages are associated with intermittent nocturnal hypercapnia. We report a 46-year-old man who belongs to Stage 1, with complete washout of nocturnally accumulated carbon dioxide (CO2) and associated concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnea and severe hypoxemia. That condition will lead to progressive right heart dysfunction secondary to persistently nocturnal impaired ventilation and hypoxemia via the pathomechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary vascular remodeling by cytokines and growth factors, supposedly once it is missed for early diagnosis and appropriate PAP therapy is not introduced in time. Early identification and diagnosis of such conditional disease and in-time appropriate treatment are very important before sequelae of disease develop so that we could be able to prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality before disease progression.
4.GOLM1 promotes cholesterol gallstone formation via ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis livers
Yi-Tong LI ; Wei-Qing SHAO ; Zhen-Mei CHEN ; Xiao-Chen MA ; Chen-He YI ; Bao-Rui TAO ; Bo ZHANG ; Yue MA ; Guo ZHANG ; Rui ZHANG ; Yan GENG ; Jing LIN ; Jin-Hong CHEN
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):409-425
Background/Aims:
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation.
Methods:
The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation.
Results:
MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs.
Conclusions
In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.
7.Obesity-Associated Sleep Hypoventilation and Concomitant Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Journal of Sleep Medicine 2025;22(1):32-34
Hypoventilation in obesity has four stages, and the first two stages are associated with intermittent nocturnal hypercapnia. We report a 46-year-old man who belongs to Stage 1, with complete washout of nocturnally accumulated carbon dioxide (CO2) and associated concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnea and severe hypoxemia. That condition will lead to progressive right heart dysfunction secondary to persistently nocturnal impaired ventilation and hypoxemia via the pathomechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary vascular remodeling by cytokines and growth factors, supposedly once it is missed for early diagnosis and appropriate PAP therapy is not introduced in time. Early identification and diagnosis of such conditional disease and in-time appropriate treatment are very important before sequelae of disease develop so that we could be able to prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality before disease progression.
8.Obesity-Associated Sleep Hypoventilation and Concomitant Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Journal of Sleep Medicine 2025;22(1):32-34
Hypoventilation in obesity has four stages, and the first two stages are associated with intermittent nocturnal hypercapnia. We report a 46-year-old man who belongs to Stage 1, with complete washout of nocturnally accumulated carbon dioxide (CO2) and associated concomitant severe obstructive sleep apnea and severe hypoxemia. That condition will lead to progressive right heart dysfunction secondary to persistently nocturnal impaired ventilation and hypoxemia via the pathomechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary vascular remodeling by cytokines and growth factors, supposedly once it is missed for early diagnosis and appropriate PAP therapy is not introduced in time. Early identification and diagnosis of such conditional disease and in-time appropriate treatment are very important before sequelae of disease develop so that we could be able to prevent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality before disease progression.
9.GOLM1 promotes cholesterol gallstone formation via ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis livers
Yi-Tong LI ; Wei-Qing SHAO ; Zhen-Mei CHEN ; Xiao-Chen MA ; Chen-He YI ; Bao-Rui TAO ; Bo ZHANG ; Yue MA ; Guo ZHANG ; Rui ZHANG ; Yan GENG ; Jing LIN ; Jin-Hong CHEN
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):409-425
Background/Aims:
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant risk factor for gallstone formation, but mechanisms underlying MASH-related gallstone formation remain unclear. Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) participates in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and is upregulated in MASH. Here, we aimed to explore the role of GOLM1 in MASH-related gallstone formation.
Methods:
The UK Biobank cohort was used for etiological analysis. GOLM1 knockout (GOLM1-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Livers were excised for histology and immunohistochemistry analysis. Gallbladders were collected to calculate incidence of cholesterol gallstones (CGSs). Biles were collected for biliary lipid analysis. HepG2 cells were used to explore underlying mechanisms. Human liver samples were used for clinical validation.
Results:
MASH patients had a greater risk of cholelithiasis. All HFD-fed mice developed MASH, and the incidence of gallstones was 16.7% and 75.0% in GOLM1-/- and WT mice, respectively. GOLM1-/- decreased biliary cholesterol concentration and output. In vivo and in vitro assays confirmed that GOLM1 facilitated cholesterol efflux through upregulating ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily G member 5 (ABCG5). Mechanistically, GOLM1 translocated into nucleus to promote osteopontin (OPN) transcription, thus stimulating ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux. Moreover, GOLM1 was upregulated by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we confirmed that IL-1β, GOLM1, OPN, and ABCG5 were enhanced in livers of MASH patients with CGSs.
Conclusions
In MASH livers, upregulation of GOLM1 by IL-1β increases ABCG5-mediated cholesterol efflux in an OPN-dependent manner, promoting CGS formation. GOLM1 has the potential to be a molecular hub interconnecting MASH and CGSs.


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