1.Longitudinal cohort study on pubertal development trajectories of testicular and breast development among children
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):408-412
Objective:
To characterize longitudinal trajectories of testicular development in boys and breast development in girls, so as to provide reference data for understanding patterns of pubertal sexual maturation.
Methods:
Based on the Shanghai Pudong New Area Cohort Study on Growth, Development and Health in Children and Adolescents, a baseline survey was conducted in 2020 using a mult stage cluster random sampling method. A total of 2 184 children who completed all follow ups during the primary school period from 13 elementary schools in Pudong New Area,Shanghai,with annual follow ups during 2021-2025. Testicular volume and Tanner stage of breast development were assessed by professional physicians using standardized visual inspection and palpation. The age distribution of testicular volume and breast development was fitted by using cumulative link mixed models and Turnbull s nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation method.
Results:
Median ages for testicular volumes of 2, 3, 4 and 5 mL in boys were 7.07, 9.24, 10.29, and 11.57 years old, respectively. Median ages for Tanner breast stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ in girls were 8.55 , 10.17, 11.18, and 13.78 years old, respectively. Based on overweight and obesity, stratified analysis showed that earlier pubertal onset among overweight/obesity children, and the key milestones for pubertal initiation were testicular volume reaching 4 mL in boys and breast Tanner II in girls for 10.29, 10.83; 8.18, 9.00 years.
Conclusion
Overweight and obesity are associated with earlier pubertal initiation,but there are certain gender and developmental stage specific patterns.
2.Evaluation of CARIFS Score and Negative Antigen Conversion Rate of Qingxuan Daozhi Formula in Treatment of Influenza in Children (Heat Accumulation in Lung and Stomach Syndrome):A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
Jing WANG ; Liqun WU ; Tiegang LIU ; Yongning CAO ; Jing QIU ; Jing LI ; Huaqing TAN ; Ying ZHANG ; Xulei GOU ; Jia WANG ; Jing LI ; Haipeng CHEN ; Xueying QIN ; Yuanshuo TIAN ; Yang WANG ; Chen BAI ; Zhendong WANG ; Qianqian LI ; He YU ; Xueyan MA ; Fei DONG ; Lin JIANG ; Yingqi XU ; Jianping LIU ; Xiaohong GU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):188-196
ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the syndrome improvement and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome). MethodsThrough a multi-center randomized controlled methodology design,confirmed influenza cases were collected from October 2022 to April 2023 in the pediatrics department of eight hospitals,such as Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 180 children with influenza and heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome conforming to the standard were recruited through the clinic. The sick children meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into groups by a block-randomized method. The children in the experimental group were treated with Qingxuan Daozhi formula for five days,and those in the control group were treated with Oseltamivir Phosphate Granules for five days. The primary efficacy indicator was the negative conversion rate of influenza antigen detection. Secondary efficacy indicators were the Canadian acute respiratory illness and flu scale (CARIFS) and the incidence of complications,severe cases, and critical cases. Follow-up observation was conducted on the day of enrollment,48 hours after medication,72 hours after medication, and (6+1) d after medication. ResultsOne hundred and eighty participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (90 cases) or the control group (90 cases). All participants were followed up during the study. Comparison of influenza antigen detection results in the primary efficacy indicators showed that the average time of negative influenza antigen conversion in the experimental group was (5.29±1.25) d,and that in the control group was (5.40±1.68) d,without a statistically significant difference. After five days of intervention,52 cases in the experimental group and 51 cases in the control group converted to negative,without a statistically significant difference. CARIFS score results in the secondary efficacy indicators showed that during 72 hours after intervention,there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in three dimensions, including headache,muscle soreness, and the need for extra care (P<0.05). On the (6+1) days after the intervention,the differences in both the experimental group and the control group were statistically significant in 10 dimensions, including sore throat,bad sleep,uncomfortable feeling,poor spirit and fatigue,crying more than usual,the need for extra care,symptom,function,influence on parents,and total score (P<0.05). The comparison results within the group in the dimensional scores of symptom, function, and influence on parents,as well as the CARIFS total score showed that with the delay of follow-up time,scores of both groups decreased significantly,with a statistically significant difference (P<0.01). Inter-group comparison results showed that the mean score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group at the time of enrollment. With the progress of intervention,the score of the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. At the end of follow-up,the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group,with no statistically significant difference. In terms of the incidence of complications,severe cases, and critical cases, there were no complications,severe cases, and critical cases in the two groups,without a statistically significant difference. ConclusionThe symptom improvement effect and negative antigen conversion rate of Qingxuan Daozhi formula in the treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome) are not inferior to Oseltamivir Phosphate granules, and children's acceptance is better. It can be more widely used in clinical treatment of influenza in children (heat accumulation in the lung and stomach syndrome).
3.Research progress on clot waveform analysis in thrombotic diseases
Jingsong BAI ; Han QIN ; Guo LI ; Jian LIAO ; Ying XU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(10):1427-1434
In recent years, with the continuous advancement of related research, the clinical value of clot waveform analysis (CWA) in the diagnosis and management of thrombotic diseases has become increasingly prominent. As a dynamic coagulation monitoring technology based on optical principles, CWA overcomes the limitations of traditional coagulation tests (e.g., APTT, PT), which rely on single time-point parameters, in identifying hypercoagulable states, predicting thrombotic risk, and monitoring anticoagulant efficacy. By analyzing the kinetic profiles of the coagulation cascade, CWA provides multidimensional insights. This article elucidates the theoretical basis and principles of CWA, systematically reviews its applications in arterial/venous thrombosis, other hypercoagulability-related disorders, and anticoagulation therapy monitoring, and synthesizes recent advances of CWA for thrombotic diseases. Specifically, multiple studies demonstrate that CWA-APTT parameters (e.g., peak height Min1, Min2, Delta) can sensitively detect hypercoagulability. Combining CWA with the Padua score significantly enhances the predictive power for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment. CWA shows clinical utility in evaluating hypercoagulability in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute cerebral infarction (ACI), where parameters such as Min1, Min2, and Max2 exhibit greater sensitivity than conventional APTT. These metrics may predict AMI complications and guide clinical management. Additionally, CWA demonstrates value in diverse scenarios including pregnancy, inflammation-associated hypercoagulability (e.g., COVID-19, Kawasaki disease), and rare thrombotic conditions (e.g., chronic spontaneous urticaria). Beyond diagnostic and risk-stratification advantages, CWA serves as a novel tool for personalized anticoagulation monitoring. Its derivative technology, clot-fibrinolysis waveform analysis (CFWA), extends applications to fibrinolysis assessment—aiding in identifying coagulation status in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients, tracking coagulation/fibrinolysis dynamics in COVID-19, and evaluating efficacy of anticoagulant/antifibrinolytic therapies. Nevertheless, despite its unique strengths, challenges such as device dependency, insufficient standardization, and heterogeneity in parameter interpretation hinder widespread clinical adoption, necessitating further investigation. Future directions include establishing multidimensional thrombotic risk assessment systems integrating CWA and developing AI-powered automated CWA analysis platforms to enhance clinical accessibility.
4.Identification of ammonia death-related prognostic genes in hepatocellular carcinoma through integrated machine learning and transcriptomic analysis
Li-yan JIA ; Bai-hong ZHENG ; Guo-hao WANG ; Xiu-wen GUO ; Ying WANG
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(7):545-551
Objective:To systematically evaluate the molecular characteristics and prognostic value of ammonia death-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods:Consensus unsupervised clustering was used to identify ammonia death-related molecular subtypes in HCC samples.Weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA)was applied to identify gene modules associated with ammonia death.Support vector machine(SVM)and LASSO algorithms were used to screen four hub genes,and a risk score system was constructed based on a LASSO-Cox regression model.The association between the risk model and patient survival,tumor microenvironment,and re-sponse to immunotherapy was further analyzed.Results:Consensus clustering identified two distinct ammonia death-related molecular subtypes(P<0.05).The constructed risk score model showed good predictive performance for overall survival in HCC patients and was closely associated with immune infiltration characteristics of the tumor microenviron-ment and immunotherapy responsiveness(P<0.05).Conclusion:The ammonia death-related risk score model may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for HCC and provide potential guidance for immunotherapy strategies.
5.Measurement of intervertebral disc height and analysis of strength after induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous
Liang BAI ; Su FU ; Xu YAN ; Chunlin ZHANG ; Ying LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(27):5785-5794
BACKGROUND:Induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous is a minimally invasive,non-invasive and innovative method for the treatment of cervical/lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.After induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous,the research about whether cervical/lumbar intervertebral disc can maintain the original biomechanical strength has not been reported.OBJECTIVE:To measure the height of adjacent vertebral centroid of cervical/lumbar intervertebral disc before and after induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous operation to analyze the changes of the biomechanical strength of the intervertebral disc after reclining and to provide a new basis for induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous treatment of cervical and lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed on 140 patients with cervical/lumbar intervertebral disc herniation who received induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to January 2023.Related software was used to measure the height of adjacent vertebral centroid of cervical/lumbar intervertebral disc of patients at each follow-up time point before and after induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous surgery in Magnetic Resonance Imaging image data under Artificial Intelligence-assisted calibration.Unoperated T1/T2 and T12/L1 segments were taken respectively as controls.Those with preoperative height of adjacent vertebral centroid less than 8%of the corresponding T1/T2 or T12/L1 control segment were in the"height reduction group"(hereafter referred to as group A)and the rest were in the"height unchanged group"(hereafter referred to as group B).The difference of height of adjacent vertebral centroid before and after operation between the group A and the group B was statistically analyzed.Simultaneously,the correlation between the volume of cervical and lumbar herniated discs and the changes of height of adjacent vertebral centroid was analyzed according to the result measured by artificial intelligence.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The study maintained a total of 140 patients,including 60 cases of cervical disc herniation and 80 cases of lumbar disc herniation.The postoperative follow-up period was 7 days to 12 months.(2)A total of 281 discs were measured in the cervical vertebra group,including 60 intervertebral discs in the control group.The mean value of height of adjacent vertebral centroid before and at the last postoperative follow-up was about 20.46 mm and 20.17 mm,respectively,with no statistical difference(P>0.05).There were 162 cervical discs in group A.The average height of adjacent vertebral centroid before and after operation was 16.65 mm and 15.92 mm,respectively,with no statistically significant difference(P>0.05).The mean cervical disc herniation volume before and after surgery was 510.28 mm3 and 364.76 mm3,respectively,which was not significantly correlated with height of adjacent vertebral centroid change(P>0.05).There were 64 discs in the group B,with average of 20.15 mm before operation and 19.09 mm at the last follow-up,and there was no significant difference(P>0.05).The mean volume of cervical disc herniation before and after surgery was 515.32 mm3 and 361.98 mm3,respectively,and there was no significant correlation with the change of height of adjacent vertebral centroid(P>0.05).(3)A total of 258 discs were measured in the lumbar spine group,of which 80 intervertebral discs in the control group,the average height of adjacent vertebral centroid was 33.03 mm before operation and 32.40 mm at the last follow-up,and there was no significant difference.There were 59 discs in the group A,and the average height of adjacent vertebral centroid before and after operation was 30.08 mm and 31.67 mm,respectively,with no statistically significant difference.The mean volume of lumbar disc herniation before and after operation was 690.51 mm3 and 496.58 mm3,respectively,and there was no significant correlation with the change of height of adjacent vertebral centroid(P>0.05).There were 119 discs in the group B,with an average height of adjacent vertebral centroid of 35.91 mm before surgery and 34.12 mm at the last follow-up.The mean volume of lumbar disc herniation before and after operation was 698.70 mm3 and 535.99 mm3,respectively,and there was no significant correlation with the change of height of adjacent vertebral centroid.(4)It is concluded that patients with cervical/lumbar intervertebral disc herniation can maintain the same intervertebral height level after induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous regardless of whether the intervertebral height has decreased before operation.It can be inferred that the resorption of the herniated disc does not affect its biomechanical strength.It suggests that induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous surgery should be performed before the intervertebral height of the degenerate segment has decreased.The induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous is more valuable to maintain the biomechanical strength of the resorptive disc.
6.Analysis on death cases from acute encephalopathy associated with influenza/corona virus disease 2019 in children
Qin YU ; Shuiyan WU ; Xubei GUO ; Ying LI ; Zhenjiang BAI
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2025;32(2):110-115
Objective:To explore the clinical features of death in children with acute encephalopathy associated with influenza and corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)and to enhance pediatrician's understanding of this disease.Methods:Clinical data of children with influenza and COVID-19-related acute encephalopathy hospitalized in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from September 2021 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The cases were divided into survival group and death group according to outcome.The general condition,clinical manifestations,auxiliary examination and treatment between the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results:A total of 41 pediatric patients were enrolled.In the death group,there were 17 cases,including 15 cases of acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE); among them,there were 7 male patients and 10 female patients,with a median age of 3.50 years.Eight patients were infected with influenza A virus,3 with influenza B virus,and 6 with SARS-CoV-2.The survival group comprised 24 cases,including 10 cases of ANE; among them,there were 16 male patients and 8 female patients,with a median age of 4.33 years.Fourteen patients were infected with influenza A virus,4 with influenza B virus,and 6 with SARS-CoV-2.None of the patients in the death group has received influenza and COVID-19 vaccines within 1 year before infection.Common symptoms were fever and disturbance of consciousness in the death group,eight cases had mild cough,seven cases had convulsions ≥three times,one case had two convulsions,nine cases had only one seizure,of which five cases were epileptic status.One case had delirium before convulsions.Seventeen cases began to fall into a coma (6.50±1.50) hours after their first onset of convulsion.Two patients had secondary pulmonary infection.Nine cases showed significantly elevated interleukin-6,while 17 cases had normal cerebrospinal fluid cell counts and 14 cases had elevated protein levels.All 17 cases underwent cranial CT scans,among which 13 showed symmetric necrosis of the bilateral thalami.All patients in the death group underwent glucocorticoid and intravenous immunoglobulin pulse therapy.Eleven patients received continuous renal replacement therapy,ten patients received intrathecal dexamethasone injection,and two patients were treated with tocilizumab.One patient underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.Among the eight influenza patients,neuraminidase inhibitors were first administered 48 hours after the onset of fever.None of the six patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir antiviral treatment.The causes of death in 17 patients included ANE(15 cases) and secondary infections(2 cases).Compared with the survival group,the incidence of brainstem involvement,shock,and low Glasgow coma scores (GCS ≤ 4) were significantly higher in the death group(15/17 vs.2/24, χ 2=26.18, P<0.001;16/17 vs.5/24, χ 2=21.39, P<0.001;14/17 vs.5/24, χ 2=15.15, P<0.001). Conclusion:Acute encephalopathy is primarily characterized by recurrent convulsions and disturbances of consciousness.Influenza and COVID-19 are the main causes.Cranial imaging is helpful for clinical diagnosis.Involvement of the brainstem,occurrence of shock,and GCS≤4 are associated with a higher fatality rate of ANE.
7.Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spine fracture and dislocation (version 2025)
Dongmei BIAN ; Ke SUN ; Ningbo CHEN ; Caixia BAI ; Miao WANG ; Yafeng QIAO ; Fei WANG ; Hong WANG ; Feng TIAN ; Mei YAN ; Meng BAI ; Linjuan ZHANG ; Liyan ZHAO ; Yaqing CUI ; Xue JIANG ; Leling FENG ; Ning NING ; Junqin DING ; Lan WEI ; Yonghua ZHAI ; Yu ZENG ; Zengmei ZHANG ; Jiqun HE ; Fenggui BIE ; Hong CHEN ; Zengyan WANG ; Li LI ; Li ZHANG ; Yaying ZHOU ; Bing SHAO ; Ying WANG ; Caixia XIE ; Yanfeng YAO ; Jingjing AN ; Wen SHI ; Xiongtao LIU ; Xiaoyan AN ; Ning NAN ; Lan LI ; Xiaohui GOU ; Qiaomei LI ; Xiuting WU ; Yuqin ZHANG ; Jing LIU ; Fusen XIANG ; Xu XU ; Na MEI ; Jiao ZHOU ; Shan FAN ; Qian WANG ; Shuixia LI
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(2):138-147
Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.
8.Study on the Expression and Clinical Pathological Characteristics of Serum NOP53 mRNA and FNDC1 mRNA in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer and Their Value in Evaluating the Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
Xiaohui BAI ; Ying WEI ; Wangbin LI ; Ning HE ; Yuyao LI ; Changtao ZHAO
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2025;40(4):55-60
Objective To investigate the value of serum ribosomal biogenesis factor nucleolar protein53(NOP53)mRNA and fibronectin type Ⅲ domain containing 1(FNDC1)mRNA in evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(NACRT)in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.Methods A total of 140 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who received NACRT treatment in Yulin Hospital the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2020 to January 2023 were selected as the study group.According to the efficacy of NACRT treatment,they were divided into good response group(99 cases)and poor response group(41 cases).At the same time,70 healthy people were selected as control group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect serum NOP53 mRNA and FNDC1 mRNA levels in the two groups.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors affecting the efficacy of NACRT.The value of serum NOP53 mRNA and FNDC1 mRNA in evaluating the efficacy of NACRT for rectal cancer was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic analysis.Results The expression of serum NOP53 mRNA(3.21±0.36)and FNDC1 mRNA(2.73±0.34)in the study group was higher than that in the control group(0.61±0.17,0.72±0.18),and the differences were statistically significant(t=57.267,46.287,all P<0.001).The expression of serum NOP53 mRNA(4.08±0.43,4.10±0.40)and FNDC1 mRNA(3.62±0.39,3.40±0.39)in patients with T stage T4 and N stage N1+N2 rectal cancer was higher than that in patients with T stage T3(2.52±0.30,2.02±0.29)and N stage N0(2.21±0.31,1.02±0.30),and the differences were statistically significant(t=25.241~40.106,all P<0.001).The proportion of T stage T4(73.17%),N stage N1+N2(75.61%),serum NOP53 mRNA(5.56±0.39)and FNDC1 mRNA(4.42±0.38)in the poor response group were higher than those in the good response group(32.32%,43.43%,2.24±0.31,2.03±0.29),and the differences were statistically significant(t=12.045~53.337,all P<0.001).T stage T4,N stage N1+N2,high serum NOP53 mRNA,high serum FNDC1 mRNA were risk factors affecting the efficacy of NACRT for rectal cancer(Wald χ2=9.463~15.589,all P<0.001).The AUC of serum NOP53 mRNA combined with FNDC1 mRNA in evaluating the efficacy of NACRT for rectal cancer higher than predicted by serum NOP53 mRNA and FNDC1 mRNA alone,and the differences were statistically significant(Z=4.645,4.321,all P<0.001).Conclusion The levels of serum NOP53 mRNA and FNDC1 mRNA in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer are increased,which are related to the poor clinicopathological features of patients.Combined with serum NOP53 mRNA,FNDC1 mRNA can effectively predict the clinical efficacy of NACRT in patients with rectal cancer.
9.Correlations of calmodulin 1 and asymmetric dimethylarginine expression with Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in tissues of gastric cancer and their values for prognosis
Changtao ZHAO ; Wangbin LI ; Yingying ZHANG ; Ying WEI ; Xiaohui BAI
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(13):13-19
Objective To investigate the correlations of calmodulin 1(CNN1)and asymmetric dimethylarginine(ADMA)expression with Wnt/β-catenin pathway in tissues of gastric cancer and their values for prognosis.Methods Surgical specimens and serum samples from 110 patients with gastric cancer,along with serum samples from 60 healthy individuals in the hospital were collected.Immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression levels of CNN1 protein and CNN1 mRNA in gastric cancer tissues respectively;the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the expression of ADMA in the serum of gastric cancer patients.The relationships of the CNN1 and ADMA expression with the clinicopathological characteristics in gastric cancer patients were analyzed.Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to an-alyze the influence of CNN1 and ADMA expression on prognosis of gastric cancer patients;Cox re-gression analysis was used to explore independent factors affecting the prognosis of gastric cancer pa-tients;the Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between CNN1 and ADMA expression in gastric cancer tissues,and to analyze the correlations of CNN1 mRNA and ADMA mRNA with Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related indicators.Results The positive ex-pression rate of CNN1 protein in gastric cancer tissues was 38.18%(42/110),which was signifi-cantly lower than 57.27%(63/110)in adjacent tissues(x2=8.035,P=0.005).The serum ADMA level in gastric cancer patients was(0.54±0.17)μmol/L,which was significantly higher than(0.42±0.14)μmol/L in healthy individuals(t=4.752,P<0.001).Patients with lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor stages had significantly decreased CNN1 protein positivity in gastric cancer tissues and increased serum ADMA expression(P<0.05).The survival rate was 73.80%in the high CNN1 expression group(n=42),which was significantly higher than 39.71%in the low CNN1 expression group(n=68)(x2=22.300,P<0.001);the survival rate was 45.68%in the high ADMA expression group(n=81),which was significantly lower than 72.41%in the low ADMA expression group(n=29)(x2=4.791,P=0.029).Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that lymph node metastasis,advanced tumor staging,low CNN1 pro-tein expression,and high serum ADMA expression were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients(P<0.05).The expression level of CNN1 mRNA in gastric cancer tissues was(0.41±0.13),which was significantly lower than(1.16±0.35)in adjacent tissues(t=21.068,P<0.001).The expression levels of wnt3a mRNA and β-catenin mRNA in gastric cancer tissues were(2.02±0.42)and(2.59±0.58)respectively,both were significantly higher than(1.25±0.28)and(1.18±0.42)in adjacent tissues(t=15.999,P<0.001;t=20.651,P<0.001).CNN1 expression in gastric cancer tissues was negatively correlated with serum ADMA ex-pression in gastric cancer patients(r=-0.794,P<0.001);CNN1 mRNA expression in gastric cancer tissues was negatively correlated with the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-re-lated indicators wnt3a mRNA and β-catenin mRNA(P<0.001);serum ADMA mRNA expression in gastric cancer patients was positively correlated with the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related indicators wnt3a mRNA and β-catenin mRNA(r=0.763,P<0.001;r=0.874,P<0.001).Conclusion The decreased expression of CNN1 and the increased expression of ser-um ADMA are independent risk factors for poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients,and their ex-pression levels are related to lymph node metastasis and tumor TNM staging.The expression levels of CNN 1 and ADMA are negatively correlated in gastric cancer tissues,which may be mediated by reg-ulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
10.Combination of brefeldin A and tunicamycin induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells through the endoplasmic reticulum stress-activated PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway
Minghong LI ; Mengyi DUAN ; Ying YANG ; Xingdao LI ; Dan LI ; Wenting GAO ; Xiaotong JI ; Jianying BAI
Liver Research 2025;9(1):49-56
Background and aims:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate,but there are still no effective treatments.The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer po-tential of the combined use of brefeldin A(BFA)and tunicamycin(TM)in HepG2 cells,as well as the underlying mechanisms.Methods:HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of BFA(0.1-2.5 mg/L)and TM(1-5 mg/L)for 24 h.DMSO(0.1%,v/v)was used as a vehicle control.Cell viability and cell migration were measured using MTT assay and scratch wound assay,respectively.Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry and acridine orange(AO)staining.The protein and mRNA levels of various factors involved in apoptosis(poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1(PARP-1),caspase-12,caspase-3,and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1)and endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress(binding immunoglobulin protein(BiP),protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK),p-PERK,phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2alpha(p-eIF2α),activating transcription factor(ATF)4,and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP))were measured using Western blotting and qRT-PCR,respectively.Results:Both BFA and TM alone significantly reduced the viability of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent way.The co-incubation with TM(1 mg/L)further significantly reduced the viability of HepG2 cells treated with BFA(0.25 mg/L)alone(P<0.05).BFA significantly increased the protein and mRNA levels of caspase-3 and PARP-1(P<0.05)compared to control and DMSO-treated cells,indicating that BFA induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells by increasing the expression of caspase-3 and PARP-1.The induction of apoptosis by BFA could be further significantly enhanced by co-incubation with TM.In addition,BFA significantly increased the mRNA levels of BiP,PERK and ATF4(P<0.05)compared to control and DMSO-treated cells.After co-incubation of BFA and TM,the protein levels of BiP,p-PERK,p-eIF2α and CHOP were significantly increased,indicating that TM could enhance BFA-induced ER stress in HepG2 cells through the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP pathway.Conclusions:BFA could induce apoptosis and ER stress,and TM could enhance the ability of BFA to induce apoptosis and ER stress in HepG2 cells through the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP pathway.The findings highlight the therapeutic potential of the combined use of BFA and TM in treating HCC.


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