1.Pre-operative risk assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence in liver transplant recipients by non-invasive detection of pre-existing genetic lesions
Suqin YANG ; Sunbin LING ; Jianhua LI ; Yan WANG ; Jiapei WANG ; Qiwei HUANG ; Fanming LIU ; Yiqi ZHUANG ; Yingyu ZHENG ; Rui WANG ; Zhe YANG ; Xiaoping ZHENG ; Kai WANG ; Zhikun LIU ; Jun CHEN ; Jianguo WANG ; Haiyang XIE ; Lin ZHOU ; Leiming CHEN ; Guoqiang CAO ; Dandan CHEN ; Junfang JI ; Bin ZHAO ; Chao JIANG ; Di LU ; Xuyong WEI ; Hangjin JIANG ; Qiaonan SHAN ; Hengbo SHI ; Yong-Zhen XU ; Shusen ZHENG ; Zhengxin WANG ; Shengda LIN ; Xiao XU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):884-903
Background/Aims:
Liver transplantation (LT) following total hepatectomy is a life-saving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HCC recurrence after LT hinders the effectiveness of the procedure. The objective of this study is to develop a pre-operative risk stratification model based on a liquid biopsy.
Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics study of 260 HCC patients from three centers, including clinical data, low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma, as well as whole-exome, single-nucleus RNA, and spatial transcriptomics from matched tumor and non-tumor tissues.
Results:
We identified cfDNA-derived copy number alteration (CNA) signatures associated with post-transplant recurrence. By integrating cfDNA-derived CNA profiles with single-cell transcriptomic data, we traced recurrence-associated cfDNA to a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells within the primary tumor. These cells were embedded in a pro-metastatic microenvironment of specialized endothelial subtypes and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Notably, most recurrence-associated lesions were detectable in cfDNA prior to liver transplantation (LT). Building on these insights, we developed the ZJU Criteria based on CNA fragments and tumor markers, a pre-LT risk prediction tool that integrates conventional clinical factors with cfDNA-derived CNA signatures, and validated it using internal and independent external cohorts.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that post-transplant recurrence commonly originates from advanced subclones that emerge late during tumor evolution. The ZJU Criteria provides an accurate, non-invasive strategy that significantly improves pre-LT risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.
2.Connotation and Prevention Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Panvascular Diseases
Jie WANG ; Jun LI ; Yan DONG ; Cong CHEN ; Yongmei LIU ; Chao LIU ; Lanchun LIU ; Xuan SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):1-14
Panvascular disease, with vascular diseases as the common pathological feature, is mainly manifested as atherosclerosis. Panvascular disease mainly affects the important organs of the heart, brain, kidney, and limbs. It is one of the leading causes of death for Chinese residents at present. Previously, due to the narrow branches of disciplines, too much attention was paid to local lesions, resulting in the neglect of panvascular disease as a systemic one. The fact that panvascular disease has overall pathology and comprehensive and individualized treatment strategies, makes the disease highly compatible with the principles of holism concept and syndrome differentiation and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is believed that blood stasis is the core pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is involved in the whole process of atherosclerosis. The theories of ''blood vessel'', ''meridians'', ''visceral manifestation'', and ''organs-meridians'' in TCM are helpful to comprehensively understand the complexity of panvascular diseases. Moreover, those theories can provide systematic treatment strategies. The TCM syndromes of panvascular diseases evolve from ''phlegm, stasis, stagnation, and deficiency''. Panvascular arteriosclerosis is related to the syndrome of ''stasis and phlegm'', and the treatment mainly promotes blood circulation and removes phlegm. There are different specific drugs and mechanisms of action for coronary atherosclerosis, cerebral atherosclerosis, and renal artery atherosclerotic stenosis. Panvascular venous lesions are related to the syndrome of ''deficiency and stasis'' in TCM, and the TCM treatment mainly invigorates Qi and promotes blood circulation, which can inhibit venous thrombosis, improve venous ulcers, and resist venous endothelial damage. Panvascular microcirculatory lesions are inseparable from the ''stagnation and stasis'' in TCM, and the treatment mainly promotes Qi and dredges collaterals, which has a good effect on coronary microvascular lesions, diabetic microvascular lesions, pulmonary microvascular lesions, and pancreatic microvascular lesions. Panvascular lymphatic lesions are related to the syndrome of ''water and stasis'' in TCM. The treatment method focuses on promoting blood circulation and water excretion, which can promote lymphangiogenesis and enhance lymphatic reflux. In addition, the combination of TCM and modern technology, especially the application of artificial intelligence, can improve the efficiency of early identification and personalized treatment, resulting in early screening and comprehensive management of panvascular diseases. Therefore, TCM will play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of panvascular diseases.
3.Connotation and Prevention Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Panvascular Diseases
Jie WANG ; Jun LI ; Yan DONG ; Cong CHEN ; Yongmei LIU ; Chao LIU ; Lanchun LIU ; Xuan SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):1-14
Panvascular disease, with vascular diseases as the common pathological feature, is mainly manifested as atherosclerosis. Panvascular disease mainly affects the important organs of the heart, brain, kidney, and limbs. It is one of the leading causes of death for Chinese residents at present. Previously, due to the narrow branches of disciplines, too much attention was paid to local lesions, resulting in the neglect of panvascular disease as a systemic one. The fact that panvascular disease has overall pathology and comprehensive and individualized treatment strategies, makes the disease highly compatible with the principles of holism concept and syndrome differentiation and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is believed that blood stasis is the core pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is involved in the whole process of atherosclerosis. The theories of ''blood vessel'', ''meridians'', ''visceral manifestation'', and ''organs-meridians'' in TCM are helpful to comprehensively understand the complexity of panvascular diseases. Moreover, those theories can provide systematic treatment strategies. The TCM syndromes of panvascular diseases evolve from ''phlegm, stasis, stagnation, and deficiency''. Panvascular arteriosclerosis is related to the syndrome of ''stasis and phlegm'', and the treatment mainly promotes blood circulation and removes phlegm. There are different specific drugs and mechanisms of action for coronary atherosclerosis, cerebral atherosclerosis, and renal artery atherosclerotic stenosis. Panvascular venous lesions are related to the syndrome of ''deficiency and stasis'' in TCM, and the TCM treatment mainly invigorates Qi and promotes blood circulation, which can inhibit venous thrombosis, improve venous ulcers, and resist venous endothelial damage. Panvascular microcirculatory lesions are inseparable from the ''stagnation and stasis'' in TCM, and the treatment mainly promotes Qi and dredges collaterals, which has a good effect on coronary microvascular lesions, diabetic microvascular lesions, pulmonary microvascular lesions, and pancreatic microvascular lesions. Panvascular lymphatic lesions are related to the syndrome of ''water and stasis'' in TCM. The treatment method focuses on promoting blood circulation and water excretion, which can promote lymphangiogenesis and enhance lymphatic reflux. In addition, the combination of TCM and modern technology, especially the application of artificial intelligence, can improve the efficiency of early identification and personalized treatment, resulting in early screening and comprehensive management of panvascular diseases. Therefore, TCM will play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of panvascular diseases.
4.Predictive analysis of miR-34a-5p expression in pancreatic cancer tissue on poor prognosis
Li-jun DONG ; Jie LI ; Dou-dou CHAI ; Hong-chao MOU
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(9):817-821
Objective To analyze the predictive value of microRNA-34a-5p(miR-34a-5p)expression in pancreatic cancer tissue on postoperative poor prognosis.Methods The surgically resected pancreatic cancer tissues and normal tissues adjacent to cancer from 123 patients with pancreatic cancer were collected to detect the expression of miR-34a-5p.The expression of miR-34a-5p in pancreatic cancer tissues for patients with different clinicopathological characteristics were compared.The patients were divided into the poor prognosis group and the good prognosis group according to their prognosis,and the clinical data of patients between the two groups was compared.The risk factors of poor prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer were analyzed by Cox regression model,and the predictive value of miR-34a-5p expression in pancreatic cancer tissues on poor prognosis of patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The expression of miR-34a-5p in pancreatic cancer tissues was lower than that in normal tissues adjacent to cancer(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in the expression of miR-34a-5p in pancreatic cancer tissues of patients with different differentiation degrees,TNM stages,and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05).The proportions of low differentiation,TNM stage for stage Ⅲ,lymph node metastasis and incisal margin of R1,and levels of carbohydrate antigen 199(CA199),neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio(NLR)and platelet/lymphocyte ratio(PLR)for patients in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group(P<0.05),while miR-34a-5p expression was lower than that in the good prognosis group(P<0.05).Cox regression analysis showed that low differentiation,TNM stage for stage Ⅲ,lymph node metastasis,incisal margin of R1,decreased expression of miR-34a-5p and increased levels of CA199,NLR and PLR were risk factors of poor prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of miR-34a-5p expression in pancreatic cancer tissue for predicting poor prognosis of patients was 0.48,the sensitivity was 78.82%,the specificity was 89.47%and the area under the curve was 0.855,with good predictive value.Conclusion The expression of miR-34a-5p in pancreatic cancer tissue is lower than that in normal tissue adjacent to cancer,and its expression is related to the differentiation degree,TNM stage and lymph node metastasis,which is also a risk factor and predictor of poor prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer.
5.Impact of Onset-to-Door Time on Endovascular Therapy for Basilar Artery Occlusion
Tianlong LIU ; Chunrong TAO ; Zhongjun CHEN ; Lihua XU ; Yuyou ZHU ; Rui LI ; Jun SUN ; Li WANG ; Chao ZHANG ; Jianlong SONG ; Xiaozhong JING ; Adnan I. QURESHI ; Mohamad ABDALKADER ; Thanh N. NGUYEN ; Raul G. NOGUEIRA ; Jeffrey L. SAVER ; Wei HU
Journal of Stroke 2025;27(1):140-143
6.Impact of Hemoglobin Concentration on 5-year Cardiac Mortality in Patients With Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
Jun GAO ; Pengqiang LI ; Chao WU ; Yitian ZHENG ; Jie YANG ; Jingjia WANG ; Wenyao WANG ; Kuo ZHANG
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(7):689-694
Objectives:To evaluate the impact of hemoglobin concentration on 5-year cardiovascular mortality in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM).Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed 325 non-surgically treated HOCM patients hospitalized at Fuwai Hospital from October 2009 to December 2014.Baseline information was compared between patients with or without cardiac death.The impact of hemoglobin concentration on 5-year cardiovascular mortality in HOCM patients was analyzed.Results:The median follow-up time was(43.55±19.70)months.During the follow-up period,a total of 29 patients(8.9%)experienced cardiac death.Univariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that hemoglobin concentration was significantly associated with 5-year cardiac mortality in HOCM patients(P<0.001).After adjusting for potential cardiovascular risk factors in multivariate Cox regression analysis,hemoglobin concentration(P=0.011)remained negatively associated with 5-year cardiac mortality in HOCM patient.HOCM patients with decreased hemoglobin level faced a 3.118-fold increase in 5-year cardiac mortality(HR=4.118,95%CI:1.114-14.822,P=0.030).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that HOCM patients with decreased hemoglobin levels had a significantly higher risk of 5-year cardiac mortality(log-rank test,χ2=24.38,P<0.001).Conclusions:Lower hemoglobin concentration is an independent risk factor for 5-year cardiac mortality in patients with HOCM.Compared to patients with normal hemoglobin levels,HOCM patients with decreased hemoglobin level face a 3-fold increase in 5-year cardiac mortality.
7.Application of totally laparoscopic right thoracic esophagojejunostomy in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) surgery
Yang LIU ; Jinxin HAN ; Zhen XIONG ; Chao LI ; Jialiang LI ; Zheng WANG ; Guobin WANG ; Xiaoming SHUAI ; Jun NIE ; Yongde LIAO ; Kaixiong TAO ; Ming CAI
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2025;28(9):1069-1072
Objective:This article introduces a novel technique for totally laparoscopic, right thoracic approach, esophagojejunostomy for digestive tract reconstruction.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction who successfully underwent totally laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy via the right thoracic approach at Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, between February 2022 and March 2022.The surgical procedure was performed as follows:(1)Following total laparoscopic resection of the gastric tumor and lymph node dissection, the specimen was transected distal to the tumor margin. The specimen was then placed into a retrieval bag and extracted through the umbilical observation port.(2)Dissection was continued through the esophageal hiatus to mobilize the esophagus. The tumor-bearing tissue, along with the esophagus, was delivered into the thoracic cavity via the esophageal hiatus.(3)The jejunum was transected 20 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz. The distal Jejunum was mobilized for 15-20 cm and subsequently delivered into the thoracic cavity through the esophageal hiatus.(4)A Roux-en-Y jejunojejunostomy was constructed 45-50 cm distal to the cut end of the distal jejunal limb; the mesenteric defect was closed, and the duodenal stump was reinforced.(5)The patient was repositioned into the left lateral decubitus position. Port placement was established as follows: the observation port at the 7th intercostal space (ICS) in the right midaxillary line, the main operating port at the 4th ICS in the anterior axillary line, and the assistant operating port at the 9th ICS in the scapular line.(6)The main operating port incision was enlarged. Using a purse-string instrument, the esophagus was clamped and transected at least 5 cm proximal to the upper tumor margin, and the specimen was removed. (7)The distal jejunum was delivered into the thoracic cavity via the esophageal hiatus. Under total laparoscopic visualization, esophagojejunostomy was completed.Results:Both patients who underwent totally laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy via the right thoracic cavity successfully completed the procedure without conversion to laparotomy, unplanned reoperation, or any intraoperative/postoperative complications. The patients recovered well postoperatively, with no evidence of abdominal or thoracic hemorrhage. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest and abdomen confirmed the absence of anastomotic leakage or other related complications.Conclusions:The esophagojejunostomy was performed totally laparoscopically via the right thoracic cavity. This approach overcomes the drawback of significant trauma associated with open surgery while ensuring safe esophageal resection margins and thorough lymph node dissection. This technique offers advantages including minimal invasiveness, accelerated postoperative recovery, and a reduced incidence of reflux esophagitis. To our knowledge, no similar method of digestive tract reconstruction has been reported in the literature. Its novelty and clinical potential may offer new therapeutic options for patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG).
8.Mechanism of lncRNA NEAT1 regulating chondrocyte pyroptosis in osteoarthritis
Jie TANG ; Pi-jun ZHANG ; Wei LIN ; Chao-yi LI
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(3):199-205
Objective To investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1(NEAT1)on the chondrocyte pyroptosis signaling axis in osteoarthritis(OA)and its potential mechanism.Methods Knee joint cartilage tissues were collected from 6 OA patients and 6 healthy individuals.The targeting relationship between miR-26a and lncRNA NEAT1 was predicted by TargetScan 7.2 and StarBase,and the targeting regulatory effect of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-26a was verified by dual luciferase reporter assays.The cultured chondrocyte lines were divided into the control group(without drug intervention),IL-1β group(with 10 μg/L of IL-1β for inducing OA in vitro),IL-1β+NEAT1-EV group(with 10 μg/L of IL-1β and transfected with 20 μg/L of NEAT1-EV),IL-1β+NEAT1-OE group(with 10 μg/L of IL-1β and transfected with 20 μg/L of NEAT1-OE),IL-1β+NEAT1-OE+mimic-NC(with 10 μg/L of IL-1β and co-transfected with 20 μg/L of NEAT1-OE and 50 μg/L of mimic-NC),and IL-1β+NEAT1-OE+mimic(with 10 μg/L of IL-1β and co-transfected with 20 μg/L of NEAT1-OE and 50 μg/L of miR-26a mimic).The expression levels of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-26a in OA cartilage tissues and cells were detected using qRT-PCR.The cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assay.The expression of Caspase1 and cleaved-Caspase1,as well as the pyroptosis markers[NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3),interleukin-18(IL-18)and cleaved-Gasdermin D]were detected using Western blot.Results In the OA cartilage tissue,the expression level of lncRNA NEAT1 was higher than that in the normal cartilage tissue,while the expression level of miR-26a was lower than that in the normal cartilage group(P<0.05).The dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed the targeted regulatory effect of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-26a.Compared with the control group,the IL-1β group showed upregulation of lncRNA NEAT1,cleaved-Caspase1,NLRP3,IL-18,and cleaved-Gasdermin D expression levels(P<0.05),downregulation of miR-26a expression level(P<0.05),and a decrease of cell viability(P<0.05).Compared with the IL-1β+NEAT1-EV group,the IL-1β+NEAT1-OE group exhibited upregulation of lncRNA NEAT1,cleaved-Caspase1,NLRP3,IL-18,and cleaved-Gasdermin D expression levels(P<0.05),downregulation of miR-26a expression level(P<0.05),and a decrease of cell viability(P<0.05).Compared with the IL-1β+NEAT1-OE+mimic-NC group,the IL-1β+NEAT1-OE+mimic group showed downregulation of cleaved-Caspase1,NLRP3,IL-18,and cleaved-Gasdermin D expression levels,upregulation of miR-26a expression level(P<0.05),and an increase of cell viability(P<0.05).Conclusion lncRNA NEAT1 activates the chondrocyte pyroptosis signaling axis mediated by Caspase1 in OA by the targeted inhibition of miR-26a.
9.Mechanism of action of D-limonene on steatosis in primary hepatocytes based on AMPK/ACC/CPT1A signaling pathway
Qian-jun REN ; Su LI ; Yu-qing CHEN ; Yin-ying LIAO ; Chun-ni LIANG ; Rui-chao FANG ; Xu-dong LIU ; Xiao-fang ZHAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1665-1672
Aim To explore the effects of D-limonene on the steatosis of primary mouse hepatocytes and its potential mechanism of action.Methods Oleic acid-induced steatosis in primary mouse hepatocytes was used as a model to observe the effects of D-limonene on cell viability,cellular lipid content,and intracellular expression of proteins such as AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase 1(ACC1),and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A(CPT1A).Results It was found that a low dose of D-limonene could effectively enhance the viability of primary mouse hepatocytes.When oleic acid at a con-centration of 300 μmol·L-1 successfully induced steatosis in primary mouse hepatocytes,D-limonene re-duced the lipid content of the cells,and D-limonene up-regulated the cellular AMPK expression level,down-regulated the cellular ACC1 and fatty acid synthetase(FAS)expression levels,which in turn promoted the overexpression of CPT1A.Conclusions D-limonene has the effect of reducing lipid deposition in primary mouse hepatocytes,and the mechanisms may be related to the activation of AMPK,the inhibitions of ACC1 and FAS,and the up-regulation of CPT1A protein expres-sion level.
10.Establishment and validation of a predictive model for increased drainage volume after open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
Yin HU ; Hai-long YU ; Hong-wen GU ; Kang-en HAN ; Shi-lei TANG ; Yuan-hang ZHAO ; Zhi-hao ZHANG ; Jun-chao LI ; Le XING ; Hong-wei WANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(11):981-986
Objective To analyze the risk factors for increased drainage volume after open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF),and to establish a predictive model and then validate it.Methods The clinical data of 680 patients who underwent open TLIF at the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from January 2016 to December 2019 were collected and the patients were randomly divided into the training group(n=476)and the validation group(n=204).Taking the predictive factors screened out by LASSO regression analysis as independent variables,a multivariate Logistic regression predictive model was constructed.The model was internally validated through the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test,and calibration curve,and its clinical utility was assessed via decision curve analysis(DCA).Results LASSO regression analysis screened out four predictive variables:age,number of surgical segments,operative duration,and intraoperative blood loss.The multivariate Logistic regression predictive model demonstrated that age≥60 years,number of surgical segments≥4,operative duration≥2 hours,and intraoperative blood loss≥200 mL were independent influencing factors for the increased postoperative drainage volume in patients undergoing TLIF(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis revealed an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.816(95%CI:0.798 to 0.867)in the training group and 0.783(95%CI:0.685 to 0.823)in the validation group,indicating that the predictive model had good discriminatory ability.Additionally,the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and calibration curve indicated that the predictive model had a good degree of fit,and the predicted probability was basically consistent with the actual probability,demonstrating a good calibration.The DCA results confirmed that this predictive model could be applied in clinical practice.Conclusion The risk factors for increased drainage volume after open TLIF include age,number of surgical segments,operative duration,and intraoperative blood loss.The predictive model established based on these factors demonstrates good performance,and it can be applied in clinical guidance for the selection of drainage tube removal time after TLIF.

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