1.Myocardial Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Shenfu Injection in Ameliorating Energy Metabolism Remodeling in Rat Model of Chronic Heart Failure
Xinyue NING ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Mengna ZHANG ; Yang GUO ; Zhijia XIANG ; Kun LIAN ; Zhixi HU ; Lin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):178-186
ObjectiveTo examine the influences of Shenfu injection on the endogenous metabolic byproducts in the myocardium of the rat model exhibiting chronic heart failure, thus deciphering the therapeutic mechanism of the Qi-reinforcing and Yang-warming method. MethodsSD rats were randomly allocated into a control group and a modeling group. Chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome in rats was modeled by multi-point subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol, and the rats were fed for 14 days after modeling. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into model, Shenfu injection (6.0 mL·kg-1), and trimetazidine (10 mg·kg-1) groups and treated with corresponding agents for 15 days. The control group and the model group were injected with equal doses of normal saline, and the samples were collected after the intervention was completed. Cardiac color ultrasound was performed. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe histopathological morphology, and the serum level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mitochondrial morphological and structural changes of cardiomyocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the metabolic profiling was carried out by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quantitative exactive-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS). Differential metabolites were screened and identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other methods, and then the MetaboAnalyst database was used for further screening. The relevant biological pathways were obtained through pathway enrichment analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to evaluate the diagnostic value of each potential biomarker for myocardial injury and the evaluation value for drug efficacy. ResultsThe results of color ultrasound showed that Shenfu Injection improved the cardiac function indexes of model rats (P<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that Shenfu injection effectively alleviated the pathological phenomena such as myocardial tissue structure disorder and inflammatory cell infiltration in model rats. The results of ELISA showed that Shenfu injection effectively regulated the serum NT-proBNP level in the model rats. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that Shenfu injection effectively restored the mitochondrial morphological structure. The results of metabolomics showed that the metabolic phenotypes of myocardial samples presented markedly differences between groups. Nine differential metabolites could be significantly reversed in the Shenfu injection group, involving three metabolic pathways: pyruvate metabolism, histidine metabolism, and citric acid cycle (TCA cycle). The results of ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of all metabolites were between 0.75 and 1.0, indicating that the differential metabolites had high diagnostic accuracy for myocardial injury, and the changes in their expression levels could be used as potential markers for efficacy evaluation. ConclusionShenfu injection significantly alleviated the damage of cardiac function, myocardium, and mitochondrial structure in the rat model of chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome by ameliorating energy metabolism remodeling. Reinforcing Qi and warming Yang is a key method for treating chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome.
2.The SMAD-Pathway Mediates HMGB1-Induced Proliferation and Metastatic Progression in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells
De-De LIAN ; Xue Mei LI ; Yu-Xi JIA ; Ming-Wei ZHOU ; Xiang-Ru CHEN ; Yang-Yang TIAN ; Min LI ; Ming-Hui SUN ; Ye ZHAO ; Hong-Jun LI ; Qing-Ling ZHANG
Annals of Dermatology 2026;38(1):51-58
Background:
High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a chromatin-binding protein involved in arthritis, ischemia, sepsis, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, meningitis, and cancer. HMGB1 exhibits dual roles in cancer, acting as either a tumor suppressor or oncoprotein depending on context.
Objective:
This research aimed to elucidate HMGB1’s functional significance in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
Methods:
We overexpressed HMGB1 in cSCC cell lines using recombinant adenovirus and examined its effects on cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration.
Results:
Immunohistochemical analysis revealed elevated HMGB1 expression levels in cSCC tissue relative to normal epidermis. To assess the influence of HMGB1, we employed recombinant adenoviruses expressing HMGB1 to transduce SCC cell lines (SCC12 and SCC13). Enhanced HMGB1 expression significantly promoted cellular proliferation and colony formation capacity.Notably, HMGB1 overexpression elevated the levels of proliferation regulators, including P63, SOX2, CDK4 and CDK6. Furthermore, HMGB1 overexpression substantially enhanced tumor invasiveness, accompanied by upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers. Mechanistically, overexpression of HMGB1 enhanced transforming growth factor-β signaling by increasing phosphorylation of SMAD2/3, the key mediators of EMT.
Conclusion
These data imply that HMGB1 acts as a tumor-promoting factor in cSCC.
3.Research advances on RPL11 in the regulation of cellular stress induced by ionizing radiation
Hongyu BAO ; Yan LU ; Chenyu ZHAO ; Mingxuan BI ; Jinghong FU ; Yong ZHANG ; Lian YU ; Weiguo LI
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2026;35(2):286-291
Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of malignant tumors. It induces DNA damage through high-energy radiation, preferentially eliminating rapidly proliferating tumor cells. However, its clinical efficacy is often limited by tumor radioresistance and collateral damage to normal tissues. Consequently, elucidating the cellular response mechanisms to radiation stress and identifying key targets that can both sensitize tumor cells and protect normal tissues have become critical strategies for improving radiotherapy outcomes. Radiation stress triggers structural remodeling of the nucleolus, leading to the dissociation of certain ribosomal proteins from the ribosome and enabling them to acquire extra-ribosomal functions. Among these, RPL11 can be released and specifically binds to MDM2, thus inhibiting its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, stabilizing p53, and mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway, acting as a signaling hub that links nucleolar dysfunction to cell fate determination, plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability and regulating cellular responses to radiation. This review first introduces the basic characteristics of RPL11 and elucidates the molecular basis of radiation-induced ribosomal stress. It then outlines the core regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle. On this basis, it focuses on the mechanisms by which radiation-induced RPL11 regulates the cell cycle and analyzes the specific effects of RPL11 on cell cycle. Furthermore, it discusses the role of the RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway in cell cycle regulation. Finally, it explores the role of this pathway in maintaining genomic stability and determining cell fate, and highlights its potential value as a target for radiosensitization, aiming to provide new perspectives for enhancing tumor radiosensitivity and reducing damage to normal tissues.
4.Research advances on RPL11 in the regulation of cellular stress induced by ionizing radiation
Hongyu BAO ; Yan LU ; Chenyu ZHAO ; Mingxuan BI ; Jinghong FU ; Yong ZHANG ; Lian YU ; Weiguo LI
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2026;35(2):286-291
Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of malignant tumors. It induces DNA damage through high-energy radiation, preferentially eliminating rapidly proliferating tumor cells. However, its clinical efficacy is often limited by tumor radioresistance and collateral damage to normal tissues. Consequently, elucidating the cellular response mechanisms to radiation stress and identifying key targets that can both sensitize tumor cells and protect normal tissues have become critical strategies for improving radiotherapy outcomes. Radiation stress triggers structural remodeling of the nucleolus, leading to the dissociation of certain ribosomal proteins from the ribosome and enabling them to acquire extra-ribosomal functions. Among these, RPL11 can be released and specifically binds to MDM2, thus inhibiting its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, stabilizing p53, and mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway, acting as a signaling hub that links nucleolar dysfunction to cell fate determination, plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability and regulating cellular responses to radiation. This review first introduces the basic characteristics of RPL11 and elucidates the molecular basis of radiation-induced ribosomal stress. It then outlines the core regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle. On this basis, it focuses on the mechanisms by which radiation-induced RPL11 regulates the cell cycle and analyzes the specific effects of RPL11 on cell cycle. Furthermore, it discusses the role of the RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway in cell cycle regulation. Finally, it explores the role of this pathway in maintaining genomic stability and determining cell fate, and highlights its potential value as a target for radiosensitization, aiming to provide new perspectives for enhancing tumor radiosensitivity and reducing damage to normal tissues.
5.Research advances on RPL11 in the regulation of cellular stress induced by ionizing radiation
Hongyu BAO ; Yan LU ; Chenyu ZHAO ; Mingxuan BI ; Jinghong FU ; Yong ZHANG ; Lian YU ; Weiguo LI
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2026;35(2):286-291
Radiotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of malignant tumors. It induces DNA damage through high-energy radiation, preferentially eliminating rapidly proliferating tumor cells. However, its clinical efficacy is often limited by tumor radioresistance and collateral damage to normal tissues. Consequently, elucidating the cellular response mechanisms to radiation stress and identifying key targets that can both sensitize tumor cells and protect normal tissues have become critical strategies for improving radiotherapy outcomes. Radiation stress triggers structural remodeling of the nucleolus, leading to the dissociation of certain ribosomal proteins from the ribosome and enabling them to acquire extra-ribosomal functions. Among these, RPL11 can be released and specifically binds to MDM2, thus inhibiting its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, stabilizing p53, and mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway, acting as a signaling hub that links nucleolar dysfunction to cell fate determination, plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability and regulating cellular responses to radiation. This review first introduces the basic characteristics of RPL11 and elucidates the molecular basis of radiation-induced ribosomal stress. It then outlines the core regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle. On this basis, it focuses on the mechanisms by which radiation-induced RPL11 regulates the cell cycle and analyzes the specific effects of RPL11 on cell cycle. Furthermore, it discusses the role of the RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway in cell cycle regulation. Finally, it explores the role of this pathway in maintaining genomic stability and determining cell fate, and highlights its potential value as a target for radiosensitization, aiming to provide new perspectives for enhancing tumor radiosensitivity and reducing damage to normal tissues.
6.Clinical application of physician-modified stent grafts in complex aortic disease
Hao WANG ; Bin LIU ; Zhiwen ZHANG ; Zhe ZHANG ; Zhao LIU ; Mingyuan LIU ; Wenrui LI ; Lishan LIAN ; Bodong XU ; Hai FENG
International Journal of Surgery 2025;52(7):439-443
In the past, aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, and other aortic diseases, primarily rely on surgical intervention. In recent years, due to breakthroughs in materials science, endovascular therapy has become the first choice for the surgical treatment of most aortic diseases. However, traditional endovascular repair cannot fully meet the clinical needs for certain complex lesions involving the aortic arch and the originations of visceral arteries. The emergence of physician-modified stent technology has brought new hope for the treatment of complex aortic diseases. This article provides a detailed introduction to the concept, development, technical characteristics, and applications of physician-modified stents in the treatment of aortic diseases, analyzing their advantages and limitations. Physician-modified stents serve as a powerful complement to traditional endovascular interventions and commercial branched stents, yet further research and refinement are still required.
7.Efficacy and safety of Rotarex mechanical thrombectomy combined with DCB versus PTA combined with DCB in the treatment of femoropopliteal artery in-stent restenosis
Wei WANG ; Chunmin LI ; Xuan TIAN ; Xixiang GAO ; Tong ZHANG ; Bin LIU ; Zhe ZHANG ; Lishan LIAN ; Mingyuan LIU ; Zhao LIU ; Heping GAO ; Hai FENG
International Journal of Surgery 2025;52(10):706-712
Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of Rotarex mechanical thrombectomy (Rotarex) combined with drug-coated balloon (DCB) versus percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) combined with DCB in the treatment of femoropopliteal artery in-stent restenosis (ISR).Methods:A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted. 46 patients with femoropopliteal artery ISR admitted to five hospitals (Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University; Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University) from July 2020 to June 2024 were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into the Rotarex+ DCB group ( n=24) and the PTA+ DCB group ( n=22) using a random number table. The clinical data of the two groups were collected, including clinical characteristics, Fontaine classification, stent placement location, stent duration, and lesion length. The primary endpoint was the target blood vessel patency rate at 6 and 12 months postoperatively; the secondary endpoints included improvement in clinical symptoms (Fontaine classification), rate of reintervention, and safety indicators. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and the t-test was used for comparison between groups; count data were expressed as the number of cases and percentages, and intergroup comparisons were performed using the Chi-test or Fisher exact probability method. Results:At 12 months postoperatively, the target blood vessel patency rate in the Rotarex+ DCB group was significantly higher than that in the PTA+ DCB group (81.8% vs 45.5%, P=0.012), and the proportion of patients in Fontaine classification stage I was also higher (86.4% vs 45.5%, P=0.004). The results at the 6-month follow-up were consistent (target blood vessel patency rate: 87.0% vs 59.1%, P=0.035). In terms of safety, no severe complications such as arterial rupture, amputation, or procedure-related death occurred during the perioperative period in either group. During the postoperative follow-up, no amputation or procedure-related deaths occurred in either group. Conclusion:For the treatment of femoropopliteal artery ISR, Rotarex mechanical thrombectomy combined with DCB is significantly superior to PTA+ DCB in terms of 12-month target blood vessel patency rate and improvement of clinical symptoms, with comparable safety.
8.To explore the rule of diagnosis and treatment of chronic heart failure from "disease - syndrome - symptom - stage - molecular phenotype"
Kun LIAN ; Lichong MENG ; Ying DENG ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Lin LI ; Zhixi HU
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(2):150-156
It is of great significance to study the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of chronic heart failure. This study took the name of Western medicine disease as the main line, took TCM syndromes as the aim, combined the symptoms, signs, stages and molecular phenotype, and explored the diagnosis and treatment law of the disease. It is believed that chronic heart failure includes the syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis, yang deficiency and blood stasis, qi-yin deficiency, heart-kidney yang deficiency and yang deficiency water syndrome. There were many clinical manifestations such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue, limb edema and pulse knot. It involved many pathological mechanisms and molecular phenotype such as myocardial fibrosis, inflammatory response and myocardial cell injury. Treatment should be divided into early, middle and late stages according to the characteristics of "disease - syndrome - symptom- stage- molecular phenotype".
9.Hemoglobin variants with low oxygen affinity:clinical diagnosis and research progress
Weidan LI ; Qiang ZENG ; Huiqin JIN ; Haiyan ZHU ; Hong ZHOU ; Lian ZHAO
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(1):68-73
The discovery of hemoglobin variants with low oxygen affinity,diagnostic methods,prognosis of carriers,and developments in analyzing hemoglobin oxygen-carrying and-releasing abilities are reviewed in this article in order to draw the attention of related clinical departments and to provide references for optimizing the process of diagnosis and treatment.Hemoglobin variants with low oxygen affinity originate from gene mutations encoding hemoglobin and autosomal dominant inheritance.The diagnosis should be combined with clinical manifestations and family history and differentiated from methemoglobinemia.A decrease in pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2)is often the first abnormality observed in asymptomatic carriers of hemoglobin variants with low oxygen affinity.Laboratory examinations include arterial blood gas analysis,hemoglobin oxygen affinity testing,protein analysis and gene sequencing.Most carriers do not require specific treatment and have a good prognosis,who should avoid acute hypoxic injuries induced by strenuous exercise,emotional stress,or high temperature.Moreover,health practitioners should pay attention to their responses to anesthetics,agents that induce oxidative stress,drugs that increase hemoglobin oxygen affinity,and prostacyclins.Hemoglobin oxygen-carrying and-releasing analysis is a promising tool to identify carriers of hemoglobin variants with low oxygen affinity because it does not involve unnecessary or invasive examinations and is of significant values for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
10.Liquiritin improves macrophage degradation of engulfed tumour cells by promoting the formation of phagolysosomes via NOX2/gp91phox
Caiyi YANG ; Kehan CHEN ; Yunliang CHEN ; Xuting XIE ; Pengcheng LI ; Meng ZHAO ; Junjie LIANG ; Xueqian XIE ; Xiaoyun CHEN ; Yanping CAI ; Bo XU ; Qing WANG ; Lian ZHOU ; Xia LUO
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(5):1016-1032
The incomplete degradation of tumour cells by macrophages(Mφ)is a contributing factor to tumour progression and metastasis,and the degradation function of Mφ is mediated through phagosomes and lysosomes.In our preliminary experiments,we found that overactivation of NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2)reduced the ability of Mφ to degrade engulfed tumour cells.Above this,we screened out liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch,which can significantly inhibit NOX2 activity and inhibit tumours,to elucidate that suppressing NOX2 can enhance the ability of Mφ to degrade tumour cells.We found that the tumour environment could activate the NOX2 activity in Mφ phagosomes,causing Mφ to produce excessive reactive oxygen species(ROS),thus prohibiting the formation of phagolysosomes before degradation.Conversely,inhibiting NOX2 in Mφ by liquiritin can reduce ROS and promote phagosome-lysosome fusion,therefore improving the enzymatic degradation of tumour cells after phagocytosis,and subse-quently promote T cell activity by presenting antigens.We further confirmed that liquiritin down-regulated the expression of the NOX2 specific membrane component protein gp91 phox,blocking its binding to the NOX2 cytoplasmic component proteins p67 phox and p47 phox,thereby inhibiting the activity of NOX2.This study elucidates the specific mechanism by which Mφ cannot degrade tumour cells after phagocytosis,and indicates that liquiritin can promote the ability of Mφ to degrade tumour cells by suppressing NOX2.

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