1.Components of tumor stroma-immune microenvironment and their interactions in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Qiulu ZHANG ; Zhuo LI ; Congrong LIU ; Limei GUO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(3):594-600
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly malignant liver tumor, and due to the absence of symptoms in its early stage and the lack of effective treatment measures, patients tend to have an extremely low 5-year survival rate. The tumor stroma-immune microenvironment (TSIME) is a complex ecosystem that changes dynamically during tumorigenesis and evolution and consists of a variety of cellular and non-cellular components, and it plays an important role in the development, proliferation, invasion, and progression of ICC and determines the heterogeneity and malignancy of ICC to a certain degree. This article reviews the cellular components (such as T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, neutrophils, macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells) and non-cellular components (such as chemokines and cytokines) within the ICC TSIME, as well as the complex mechanisms of interaction between these components, and it also reviews the spatial interactions between immune cells and tumor cells, in order to provide potential research directions for ICC immunotherapy and new ideas for the effective and precise treatment of ICC in the future.
2.Summary of 16-Year Observation of Reflux Esophagitis-Like Symptoms in A Natural Village in A High-Incidence Area of Esophageal Cancer
Junqing LIU ; Lingling LEI ; Yaru FU ; Xin SONG ; Jingjing WANG ; Xueke ZHAO ; Min LIU ; Zongmin FAN ; Fangzhou DAI ; Xuena HAN ; Zhuo YANG ; Kan ZHONG ; Sai YANG ; Qiang ZHANG ; Qide BAO ; Lidong WANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(6):461-465
Objective To investigate the screening results and factors affecting abnormal detection rates among high-risk groups of esophageal cancer and to explore effective intervention measures. Methods We investigated and collected the information on gender, education level, age, marital status, symptoms of reflux esophagitis (heartburn, acid reflux, belching, hiccup, foreign body sensation in the pharynx, and difficulty swallowing), consumption of pickled vegetables, salt use, and esophageal cancer incidence of villagers in a natural village in Wenfeng District, Anyang City, Henan Province. Changes in reflux esophagitis symptoms in the high-incidence area of esophageal cancer before and after 16 years were observed, and the relationship of such changes with esophageal cancer was analyzed. Results In 2008, 711 cases were epidemiologically investigated, including
3.Influence of Gene Mutation on the Effectiveness of Arsenic-Containing Herbal Compound Formula in Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes of Different TCM Patterns
Zichun WANG ; Zhuo CHEN ; Dexiu WANG ; Haiyan XIAO ; Weiyi LIU ; Ruibai LI ; Chi LIU ; Fengmei WANG ; Shanshan ZHANG ; Mingjing WANG ; Liu LI ; Xiaoqing GUO ; Hongzhi WANG ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(14):1463-1472
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of gene mutation on the effectiveness of arsenic-containing Chinese herbal compound formulas in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) of different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patterns, so as to provide the basis for the clinical application. MethodsClinical data of 442 MDS patients who were treated with arsenic-containing herbal compound formulas were retrospectively collected, including the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. Based on the TCM four examinations, the patients were divided into the spleen-kidney deficiency group as well as the qi-yin deficiency group, and according to the results of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) test, they were divided into the group with and without gene mutation respectively. The influence of gene mutation on the clinical effectiveness of patients with different TCM patterns was analyzed, the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients with different outcomes of the two TCM patterns were compared, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted on the influencing factors of the effective rate of MDS patients with gene mutation. ResultsA total of 190 cases were included in the spleen-kidney deficiency group (119 cases with gene mutation) and 43 cases in the qi-yin deficiency group (23 cases with gene mutation). No statistically significant differences were noted in effectiveness assessment, total effective rate, and total response rate between the spleen-kidney deficiency group and the qi-yin deficiency group (P>0.05). In the spleen-kidney deficiency group, the total effective rate of MDS with gene mutation was 65.55% (78/119), which was lower than 80.28% (57/71) of MDS without gene mutation, with statistical significance (P = 0.033), while no statistical differences in effectiveness assessment and total response rate were noted (P>0.05). In the qi-yin deficiency group, no statistical differences were observed in effectiveness assessment, total effective rate, and total response rate of the patients in with or without gene mutation (P>0.05). In the spleen-kidney deficiency group with gene mutation, the rate of complex karyotype (P = 0.031) and the mutation rate of CBL gene (P = 0.032) in the ineffective population were higher than those in the effective population, while the mutation rate of DDX41 gene in the effective population was higher than that in the ineffective population (P = 0.033). No statistically significant differences were found in other gene mutations, age, gender distribution, number of gene mutations, bone marrow hyperplasia degree, blast cell range, reticular fiber tissue proliferation or not, and prognosis of chromosomal abnormalities between the effective and ineffective populations (P>0.05). In the qi-yin deficiency group with gene mutation, no statistically significant differences were found in various items between populations with different outcomes (P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that complex karyotype, CBL mutation, and DDX41 mutation were independently associated with the effective rate of MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency and gene mutation (P<0.05). DDX41 mutation was an independent protective factor in the spleen-kidney deficiency group (OR>1), while complex karyotype and CBL mutation were independent risk factors (OR<1). ConclusionThe arsenic-containing TCM compound formulas exhibited better effectiveness in MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency pattern without mutation; and in MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency pattern without complex karyotypes, CBL mutation, and with DDX41 mutations. Furthermore, DDX41 mutation was an independent protective factor in the spleen-kidney deficiency group, while complex karyotype and CBL mutation were independent risk factors. In MDS with qi-yin deficiency pattern, gene mutation-related factors showed no significant impact on the effectiveness of arsenic-containing TCM compound formulas.
4.Prospective Study of Disease Occurrence Spectrum in Asymptomatic Residents in Areas with High Incidence of Esophageal Cancer: 16-year Observation of 711 Cases in Natural Population
Qide BAO ; Fangzhou DAI ; Xueke ZHAO ; Jingjing WANG ; Xin SONG ; Zongmin FAN ; Yanfang ZHANG ; Zhuo YANG ; Junfang GUO ; Kan ZHONG ; Qiang ZHANG ; Junqing LIU ; Min LIU ; Lidong WANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(8):656-660
Objective To understand the disease spectrum of a natural village in an area with high incidence of esophageal cancer to provide a reference for precise prevention and control. Methods From 2008 to 2024, 711 asymptomatic people over the age of 35 years in a natural village with high incidence of esophageal cancer in China were surveyed, and 171 of them were subjected to gastroscopy, biopsy, and pathological examination. All participants were followed up for a long time, and their disease history was recorded. Results A total of 16 years of follow-up were performed, and 703 people were effectively followed up. In 2008, 171 people underwent gastroscopy, and 160 people had biopsy and pathological results in endoscopic screening. By 2024, 76 people had been diagnosed with malignant tumors of 12 different types, and among these people, 45 had esophageal cancer. Conclusion Esophageal cancer remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality from malignant tumors in this region. Biopsy and pathological examination should be strengthened during gastroscopy, and follow-ups and regular check-ups should be given high importance to reduce the incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer.
5.The in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of metformin on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells
Shan LIU ; Meng HU ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Fei XIONG ; Pingshang WU ; Xueman LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(17):2113-2119
OBJECTIVE To explore the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects and mechanism of metformin on the malignant biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells by the hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/interleukin-8 (IL-8) signaling pathway. METHODS Human ESCC TE1 cells were assigned into blank group, metformin low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (0.5, 1, 2 mmol/L), IDF-11774 (HIF-1α inhibitor) group (20 μmol/L), and high-dose metformin+HIF-1α activator dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) group. After 24 h treatment, cell proliferation [measured by the positive rate of 5-ethynyl- 2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) and optical density at 450 nm (OD450 value)], apoptosis, invasion and migration as well as mRNA expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim), migration and invasion enhancer 1 (MIEN1), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and protein expressions of HIF-1α and IL-8 in the cells were detected. The xenograft tumor model of nude mice was established. Thirty nude mice were randomly divided into blank group, metformin low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (i.g. administration of metformin 62.5, 125, 250 mg/kg+i.p. administration of equal volume of normal saline), IDF-11774 group (i.g. administration of 50 mg/kg IDF-11774+i.p. administration of equal volume of normal saline) and high-dose metformin+DMOG group (i.g. administration of metformin 250 mg/kg+i.p. administration of DMOG 250 mg/kg), with 5 mice in each group. They were given relevant medicine, once a day, for 4 consecutive weeks; the mass and volume of the tumor and protein expressions of HIF-1α and IL-8 in the tumor tissue were determined. RESULTS The EdU positive rate, OD450 value, cell invasion number, scratch healing rate, mRNA expressions of PCNA, MIEN1 and MMP-9, protein expressions of HIF-1α and IL-8, as well as the mass and volume of transplanted tumors and protein expressions of HIF-1α and IL-8 in tumor tissues were decreased by metformin in concentration/dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Additionally,metformin increased the apoptosis rate and mRNA expression of Bim in cells (P<0.05). The trend of changes in corresponding indicators in the IDF-11774 group was consistent with that in the metformin groups, whereas DMOG could significantly attenuate the aforementioned effects of high-concentration/high-dose metformin (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Metformin can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, migration of TE1 cells, and tumor growth of nude mice, and induce cell apoptosis, the mechanism of which may be related to the inhibition of HIF-1α/IL-8 signaling pathway.
6.Targeting PPARα for The Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Tong-Tong ZHANG ; Hao-Zhuo ZHANG ; Li HE ; Jia-Wei LIU ; Jia-Zhen WU ; Wen-Hua SU ; Ju-Hua DAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2295-2313
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of mortality among adults globally, with continuously rising morbidity and mortality rates. Metabolic disorders are closely linked to various cardiovascular diseases and play a critical role in their pathogenesis and progression, involving multifaceted mechanisms such as altered substrate utilization, mitochondrial structural and functional dysfunction, and impaired ATP synthesis and transport. In recent years, the potential role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in cardiovascular diseases has garnered significant attention, particularly peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), which is recognized as a highly promising therapeutic target for CVD. PPARα regulates cardiovascular physiological and pathological processes through fatty acid metabolism. As a ligand-activated receptor within the nuclear hormone receptor family, PPARα is highly expressed in multiple organs, including skeletal muscle, liver, intestine, kidney, and heart, where it governs the metabolism of diverse substrates. Functioning as a key transcription factor in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and catalyzing or regulating biochemical reactions, PPARα exerts its cardioprotective effects through multiple pathways: modulating lipid metabolism, participating in cardiac energy metabolism, enhancing insulin sensitivity, suppressing inflammatory responses, improving vascular endothelial function, and inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. These mechanisms collectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease development. Thus, PPARα plays a pivotal role in various pathological processes via mechanisms such as lipid metabolism regulation, anti-inflammatory actions, and anti-apoptotic effects. PPARα is activated by binding to natural or synthetic lipophilic ligands, including endogenous fatty acids and their derivatives (e.g., linoleic acid, oleic acid, and arachidonic acid) as well as synthetic peroxisome proliferators. Upon ligand binding, PPARα activates the nuclear receptor retinoid X receptor (RXR), forming a PPARα-RXR heterodimer. This heterodimer, in conjunction with coactivators, undergoes further activation and subsequently binds to peroxisome proliferator response elements (PPREs), thereby regulating the transcription of target genes critical for lipid and glucose homeostasis. Key genes include fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1), and glucose transporter (GLUT), which are primarily involved in fatty acid uptake, storage, oxidation, and glucose utilization processes. Advancing research on PPARα as a therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases has underscored its growing clinical significance. Currently, PPARα activators/agonists, such as fibrates (e.g., fenofibrate and bezafibrate) and thiazolidinediones, have been extensively studied in clinical trials for CVD prevention. Traditional PPARα agonists, including fenofibrate and bezafibrate, are widely used in clinical practice to treat hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. These fibrates enhance fatty acid metabolism in the liver and skeletal muscle by activating PPARα, and their cardioprotective effects have been validated in numerous clinical studies. Recent research highlights that fibrates improve insulin resistance, regulate lipid metabolism, correct energy metabolism imbalances, and inhibit the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, thereby ameliorating pathological remodeling of the cardiovascular system and reducing blood pressure. Given the substantial attention to PPARα-targeted interventions in both basic research and clinical applications, activating PPARα may serve as a key therapeutic strategy for managing cardiovascular conditions such as myocardial hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, ischemic cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. This review comprehensively examines the regulatory roles of PPARα in cardiovascular diseases and evaluates its clinical application value, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for further development and utilization of PPARα-related therapies in CVD treatment.
7.Effect of Buzhong Yiqitang on Th17/Treg Immune Imbalance and Notch1 Signaling Pathway in AIT Mice
Zhuo ZHAO ; Nan SONG ; Ziyu LIU ; Pin LI ; Yue LUO ; Pengkun ZHANG ; Zhimin WANG ; Yuanping YIN ; Tianshu GAO ; Zhe JIN ; Xiao YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):19-27
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Buzhong Yiqitang on the immune imbalance of helper T cell 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) and Notch1 signaling pathway in mice with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). MethodA total of 60 8-week-old NOD.H-2h4 mice were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, western medicine group (selenium yeast tablet, 32.5 mg·kg-1), and low-dose (4.78 g·kg-1·d-1), middle-dose (9.56 g·kg-1·d-1), and high-dose (19 g·kg-1·d-1) Buzhong Yiqitang groups, with 10 mice in each group. The normal group was fed with distilled water, and the other groups were fed with water containing 0.05% sodium iodide for eight weeks. After the animal model of AIT was formed spontaneously, the mice were killed under anesthesia after intragastric administration for eight weeks. Serum anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroid hormone (FT4) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and thyroid tissue changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The mRNA and protein expressions of retinoid-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt), interleukin (IL)-17, forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), IL-10, Notch1, and hair division-related enhancer 1 (Hes1) in thyroid tissue were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot, respectively. ResultCompared with the normal group, the thyroid structure of the model group was severely damaged, and lymphocytes were infiltrated obviously. The levels of serum TGAb, FT3, and FT4 contents were significantly increased, and TSH content was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of RORγt, IL-17, Notch1, and Hes1 were significantly increased, while those of FoxP3 and IL10 were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, thyroid structural damage and lymphocyte infiltration were improved in the treatment groups, and serum TGAb, FT3, and FT4 contents were significantly decreased. TSH content was increased, and mRNA and protein expression levels of RORγt, IL-17, Notch1, and Hes1 were decreased. mRNA and protein expression levels of FoxP3 and IL-10 were increased to different degrees (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the middle-dose Buzhong Yiqitang group had the most significant intervention effect. ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang can alleviate the thyroid structural damage in AIT mice, and its mechanism may be related to improving the abnormal differentiation of Th17/Treg immune cells and inhibiting the activation of the Notch1 signaling pathway.
8.Discovery of a normal-tension glaucoma-suspect rhesus macaque with craniocerebral injury: Hints of elevated translaminar cribrosa pressure difference.
Jian WU ; Qi ZHANG ; Xu JIA ; Yingting ZHU ; Zhidong LI ; Shu TU ; Ling ZHAO ; Yifan DU ; Wei LIU ; Jiaoyan REN ; Liangzhi XU ; Hanxiang YU ; Fagao LUO ; Wenru SU ; Ningli WANG ; Yehong ZHUO
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(4):484-486
9.Progress of bevacizumab intraperitoneal instillation in the treatment of ovarian cancer
Zhi-Qi ZHANG ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Qian-Xin LIU ; Qian XIANG ; Yi-Min CUI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(5):759-762
The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in ovarian cancer tissues is closely related to the degree of malignancy of ovarian cancer,and can be an effective target for ovarian cancer treatment.Bevacizumab,as a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF,can inhibit tumor neovascularization and tumor growth,and is used for the treatment of ovarian cancer,cervical cancer,metastatic colorectal cancer and other malignant tumors.Bevacizumab administered by intraperitoneal perfusion has good efficacy for malignant ascites in tumor patients,and can alleviate patients'clinical symptoms.In recent years,more studies have explored the clinical application method,therapeutic efficacy and related adverse effects of bevacizumab intraperitoneal instillation in the treatment of ovarian cancer,and this article is a review in this field,aiming to provide reference for the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer.
10.Establishment and validation of depressive symptom predictive model in middle school students
TAN Zhenkun, ZHANG Zhuo, ZHANG Ying, PING Junjiao, LUO Jiali, ZHANG Jie, LIU Xinxia
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(7):998-1002
Objective:
To investigate the influencing factors of depressive symptoms and to construct and verify the prediction model of depressive symptoms in middle school students, so as to provide risk assessment tools for effectively screening depressive symptom.
Methods:
Physical examination and questionnaire survey were conducted among middle school students in one city in Guangdong Province from September to October in 2021 ( n =2 376) and from September to October in 2022 ( n =4 344) by a multistage cluster sampling method, and a nomographic prediction model of depressive symptoms in middle school student was constructed. The questionnaire survey was conducted using the student health status and influencing factors questionnaire (secondary school version) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) to measure the lifestyle and depressive symptom of middle school students.
Results:
The detection rate of depressive symptoms in 2021 was 23.3%. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that irregular breakfast ( OR =2.64), school bullying ( OR =4.28), being beaten by parents ( OR =2.86), using mobile devices for a long time ( OR =1.08) and sitting for a long time ( OR =1.05) were positively related to depressive symptoms in middle school students ( P <0.05). Long sleep duration ( OR =0.78) and outdoor activity durations of 1-<2, 2-<3 and ≥3 h/d (compared with <1 h/d, OR =0.63, 0.61, 0.49) were negatively related to depressive symptoms in middle school students ( P < 0.05 ). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that 7 statistically signifucant predictive factors constructed a nomogram, and the AUC of the nomogram was 0.77, which had been verified internally and externally with good differentiation and reliability.
Conclusions
The nomogram prediction model of depressive symptoms provides a convenient and effective risk assessment tool for depressive symptoms among middle school students. The life behavior, diet behavior and injury behavior of middle school students play an important role in the formation of depressive symptoms. It should pay attention to the impact of the behavioral factors on the mental health of middle school students.


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