1.Olfactory Receptors Expressed in The Intestine and Their Functions
Pei-Wen YANG ; Meng-Meng YUAN ; Ying ZHOU ; Peng LI ; Gui-Hong QI ; Ying YANG ; Zhong-Yi MAO ; Meng-Sha ZHOU ; Xiao-Shuang MAO ; Jian-Ping XIE ; Yi-Nan YANG ; Shi-Hao SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):534-549
Olfactory receptors (ORs) form the largest superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Traditionally recognized for their role in the nasal olfactory epithelium, where they mediate the sense of smell, accumulating evidence has firmly established their ectopic expression in non-olfactory tissues, including the intestine, lungs, and kidneys. The intestine, as the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption, harbors a highly complex chemical environment. To adapt to this environment, the gut employs a sophisticated network of “chemosensors” to monitor luminal contents and maintain homeostasis. Among these sensors, intestinal ORs have emerged as crucial functional components, serving as a molecular bridge that connects environmental chemical signals—such as food-derived odorants—to specific physiological responses. This discovery has significantly deepened our understanding of how dietary flavors and compounds influence intestinal physiology at the molecular level. This review systematically summarizes the expression profiles, ligand classification, and biological functions of ORs within the gastrointestinal tract. Studies indicate that intestinal ORs exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns across different gut segments and display cell-type specificity, particularly within enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. These receptors function as versatile sensors capable of recognizing a wide variety of ligands, including exogenous dietary components, gut microbiota metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and endogenous small molecules like azelaic acid. Upon activation by specific ligands, intestinal ORs trigger intracellular signaling cascades, primarily involving the AC-cAMP-PKA pathway or calcium influx channels. A major focus of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors regulate the secretion of gut hormones. Activation of specific ORs in enteroendocrine cells has been shown to stimulate the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and serotonin (5-HT), thereby modulating systemic energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, the review addresses the critical roles of ORs in immune regulation and pathology. Evidence suggests that specific ORs contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis and may offer protection against inflammation. Beyond their involvement in inflammatory responses, ORs such as Olfr78 have been shown to regulate the differentiation and function of intestinal endocrine cells. Similarly, Olfr544 has been demonstrated to alleviate intestinal inflammation by remodeling the gut microbiome and metabolome. These findings collectively suggest that specific ORs hold promise as therapeutic targets for mitigating intestinal inflammation and maintaining gut homeostasis. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of ORs in cancer. Although OR expression is often downregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal mucosa, activation of specific ORs by certain ligands can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration and induce apoptosis via pathways such as MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, other receptors, such as OR7C1, may serve as biomarkers for cancer-initiating cells. In conclusion, intestinal ORs represent a vital component of the gut’s sensory network. The review also discusses the translational potential of these findings. By elucidating the precise pairing relationships between dietary components and specific ORs, novel therapeutic strategies could be developed. Intestinal ORs may thus emerge as promising targets for nutritional and pharmacological interventions in metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and malignancies.
2.Interpretation of the Multidisciplinary Expert Consensus on Diagnosi and Treatment of Multiple Lung Cancers by the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
Jianqi MAO ; Xiaoqiu YUAN ; Jing WANG ; Zhuowei LI ; Yukun CHEN ; Kezhong CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):626-636
With the widespread application of low-dose computed tomography (CT), the detection rate of multiple lung cancers (MLCs) is gradually increasing. The diagnosis and treatment of MLCs have become a major challenge in clinical practice in thoracic surgery and oncology. In April 2025, the Lung Cancer Professional Committee of the China Anti-Cancer Association (CACA) organized multidisciplinary experts from both domestic and international fields to release the first edition of the CACA Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Lung Cancers, providing systematic recommendations for the diagnostic system, molecularassessment strategies, and surgical and non-surgical management of MLCs. This article provides a detailed interpretation of the core content of this consensus and, by incorporating the latest research progress in the field, delves into the pathogenesis, precise diagnostic strategies, and individualized treatment pathways for multiple lung cancers, aiming to offer a more comprehensive reference for clinical practice.
3.Mitral valve re-repair with leaflet augmentation for mitral regurgitation in children: A retrospective study in a single center
Fengqun MAO ; Kai MA ; Kunjing PANG ; Ye LIN ; Benqing ZHANG ; Lu RUI ; Guanxi WANG ; Yang YANG ; Jianhui YUAN ; Qiyu HE ; Zheng DOU ; Shoujun LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(07):958-962
Objective To investigate the efficacy of leaflet augmentation technique to repair the recurrent mitral valve (MV) regurgitation after mitral repair in children. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children who underwent redo MV repair for recurrent regurgitation after initial MV repair, using a leaflet augmentation technique combined with a standardized repair strategy at Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from 2018 to 2022. The pathological features of the MV, key intraoperative procedures, and short- to mid-term follow-up outcomes were analyzed. Results A total of 24 patients (12 male, 12 female) were included, with a median age of 37.6 (range, 16.5–120.0) months. The mean interval from the initial surgery was (24.9±17.0) months. All children had severe mitral regurgitation preoperatively. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was (150.1±49.5) min, and the aortic cross-clamp time was (94.0±24.2) min. There were no early postoperative deaths. During a mean follow-up of (20.3±9.1) months, 3 (12.5%) patients developed moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (2 severe, 1 moderate). One (4.2%) patient died during follow-up, and one (4.2%) patient underwent a second MV reoperation. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was significantly reduced postoperatively compared to preoperatively [ (43.5±8.6) mm vs. (35.8±7.8)mm, P<0.001]. Conclusion The leaflet augmentation technique combined with a standardized repair strategy can achieve satisfactory short- to mid-term outcomes for the redo mitral repair after previous MV repair. It can be considered a safe and feasible technical option for cases with complex valvular lesions and severe pathological changes.
4.Effect of Huatuo Zaizao Pill on Neurological Function and Limb Motor Recovery in Ischemic Stroke Patients During Convalescence: An Open-Labelled, Randomized Controlled Trial.
Yan-Qiu DING ; Dan ZHAO ; Xiao CHEN ; Hui-Min YUAN ; Li-Jun MAO
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(6):483-489
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effects of Chinese patent medicine Huatuo Zaizao Pill (HTZZ) on neurological function and limb motor in ischemic stroke (IS) patients during convalescence.
METHODS:
This is a prospective, open-labelled, randomized controlled trial. Patients with IS were recruited from the Neurology Department of Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from May 2021 to June 2023. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to the HTZZ (40 cases) or control group (40 cases) at a ratio of 1:1. The HTZZ group was treated with oral HTZZ (8 g, thrice daily) combined with conventional treatment, while the control group received only conventional treatment. The treatment duration was 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score from baseline to week 6 and 12. Secondary outcomes included changes in scores of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FM), and Barthel Index (BI) from baseline to week 6 and 12, as well as lipid indices after 12 weeks. All adverse events (AEs) were recorded and liver and kidney indices were evaluated.
RESULTS:
A total of 72 patients completed the study (38 in the HTZZ group and 34 in the control group). Compared with the control group, the HTZZ group demonstrated significant improvements in MAS, NIHSS, FM, and BI scores following 6 and 12 weeks of treatment in both intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses (all P<0.05). No significant differences were noted between groups in lipid indices, AEs, and liver and kidney dysfunction after 12 weeks (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
HTZZ alleviated spasticity and enhanced neurological function and prognosis of IS patients during convalescence. However, further evaluation of HTZZ's effect on IS outcomes is warranted in clinical trials with larger sample sizes and extended observation periods. (Trial registration No. NCT04910256).
Humans
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Male
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Female
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Ischemic Stroke/physiopathology*
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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Recovery of Function/drug effects*
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Convalescence
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Extremities/physiopathology*
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Treatment Outcome
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Prospective Studies
5.Textual Research on Key Information of Classic Formula Shengma Gegentang
Yuli LI ; Ping JIANG ; Zhenyi YUAN ; Yuanyuan HE ; Ya'nan MAO ; Shasha WANG ; Wenyan ZHU ; Zhouan YIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):187-197
Shengma Gegentang is one of the classic formulas in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Prescriptions (Second Batch). This study reviewed ancient and modern literature and used literature tracing and bibliometric methods to analyze the historical evolution, efficacy, indications, dosage decoctions, and modern clinical disease spectrum of Shengma Gegentang. The results indicated that the earliest record of Shengma Gegentang can be found in the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang of the Song dynasty, but its origin can be traced back to the Shaoyao Siwu Jiejitang in the Beiji Qianjin Yaofang of the Tang dynasty. The composition dosage of Shengma Gegentang is 413 g of Cimicifugae Rhizoma, 619.5 g of Puerariae Lobatae Radix, 413 g of Paeoniae Radix Alba, and 413 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, which are ground into coarse powder. Each dose is 12.39 g, and the amount of water added is 300 mL. 100 mL of solution is decocted and taken at the right time. The four drugs in the formula play the role of relieving exterior syndrome, penetrating pathogenic factors, and detoxicating together. Its indications are widely involved in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, sexually transmitted diseases, and other diseases, such as measles, sores, acne, spots, surgical gangrene, red eyes, toothache, chancre, and fetal poison. The epidemic diseases treated by Shengma Gegentang are complicated, including rash, pox, macula, numbness, summer diarrhea, dysentery, sha disease, febrile symptoms, spring warmth, winter warmth, and cold pestilence. At the same time, it is a plague prevention formula. Although Shengma Gegentang has a wide range of indications, it cannot be separated from the pathogenic mechanism of evil Qi blocking the muscle surface and heat in the lungs and stomach. The modern clinical disease spectrum of Shengma Gegentang involves the ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology system, nervous system, pediatric-related diseases and syndromes, skin system, hepatobiliary system, and digestive system. It plays a key role in the treatment of epidemic diseases such as measles, chronic hepatitis B, dysentery, and tetanus.
6.Investigation on the mechanisms of Colquhounia Root Tablets in reversing vascular endothelial cell dysfunction of rheumatoid arthritis via modulating NOD2/SMAD3/VEGFA signaling axis
Bing-bing CAI ; Ya-wen CHEN ; Tao LI ; Yuan ZENG ; Yan-qiong ZHANG ; Na LIN ; Xia MAO ; Ya LIN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):397-407
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, joint destruction, and functional impairment. Angiogenesis plays a key role in the pathological progression of RA with dysfunction of endothelial cells to promote synovial inflammation, sustain pannus formation, subsequently leading to joint damage. Colquhounia Root Tablets (CRT), a Chinese patent drug, has shown a satisfying clinical efficacy in treating RA, while the underlying mechanism by which CRT inhibits RA-associated angiogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we applied a research approach combining transcriptomic data analysis, bio-network mapping, and
7.Synthesis of A New Naphthalenesulfonamide-based"Turn-on"Fluorescent Probe for Rapid Detection of Glyphosate
Rong-Rong ZHAO ; Hong-Lin LIU ; Ying-Ping HUANG ; Cui-Wen DENG ; Song-Yan LI ; Shui-Lian YU ; Mao-Sheng TAO ; Yi-Qun TIAN ; Xi YUAN
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(6):903-913
Widespread utilization of glyphosate has led to environmental residues,posing potential threats to ecological systems and human health.Traditional methods for detection of glyphosate are limited by specialized equipment and operational techniques,resulting in inefficient responses.Therefore,it is urgent to develop a convenient,sensitive and accurate detection method for detection of glyphosate.Herein,a new naphthalenesulfonamide-based"Turn-on"fluorescent probe was synthesized using 2-chloroaniline and dansyl chloride as raw materials through a one-step process,which showed a good linear relationship between the glyphosate concentration in concentration range of 0.003-70 μmol/L and the fluorescence intensity(R2=0.995),with a detection limit of 2.73 nmol/L(S/N=3).Analytical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry(HRMS)were used to investigate the interaction mechanism between the fluorescent probe and glyphosate.The results indicated that a nucleophilic substitution reaction occurred between the probe and the secondary amine(—NH—)of glyphosate,inducing a photoinduced electron transfer(PET)effect which enhanced the fluorescence intensity by 11.2 times.The probe showed good anti-interference ability towards coexisting metal ions,anions and pesticides in water.When applied to determination of glyphosate in the samples such as tap water,river water(Xiangxi River Reservoir),soil,soybeans,and corn,the spiking recoveries ranged from 94.7%to 109.9%,demonstrating the high accuracy and broad applicability of this detection method.A portable test strip based on this fluorescent probe was developed for rapid semi-quantitative analysis of glyphosate.The developed method was rapid,sensitive,and portable,providing theoretical and technical support for on-site measurement of environmental contaminants.
8.Clinical value of endoclip papillaplasty for preventing recurrent choledocholithiasis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (with video)
Bowei LIU ; Wei WANG ; Min XU ; Xiaoyu MAO ; Lijie YUAN ; Yuchen ZHANG ; Shengli NIU ; Xiuqi WANG ; Xiuling LI ; Luowei WANG ; Hui DING
Chinese Journal of Digestive Endoscopy 2025;42(7):532-538
Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of endoclip papillaplasty (ECPP) for preventing recurrent choledocholithiasis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 941 patients who underwent ERCP for choledocholithiasis in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2023. A total of 250 patients who received ECPP were assigned to the ECPP group, while 251 matched controls were selected via 1∶1 year-stratified sampling into the control group. After follow-up, 209 ECPP cases and 190 controls were ultimately included in the analysis. Stone removal success rate, incidence of perioperative complications, and postoperative choledocholithiasis recurrence were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the risk factors for choledocholithiasis recurrence after ERCP.Results:Both groups achieved 100.0% stone removal success rate. There was no significant difference in the incidence of intraoperative perforation [0.5% (1/209) VS 1.1% (2/190), χ2=0.01, P=0.934], postoperative hyperamylasemia [21.5% (45/209) VS 17.4% (33/190), χ2=1.10, P=0.295] or post-ERCP pancreatitis [3.8% (8/209) VS 8.1% (9/190), χ2=0.20, P=0.653] between the ECPP group and the control group. The ECPP group showed significantly lower bleeding rate [5.1% (11/209) VS 12.3% (23/190), χ2=5.98, P=0.014] and choledocholithiasis recurrence rate [10.5% (22/209) VS 18.9% (36/190), χ2=5.68, P=0.017] compared with the control group. The multivariate logistic regression identified dilated common bile duct diameter ( OR=1.881, 95% CI: 1.101-3.213, P=0.021) as an independent risk factor for choledocholithiasis recurrence, while being female ( OR=0.482, 95% CI: 0.266-0.875, P=0.016) and ECPP ( OR=0.497, 95% CI:0.278-0.887, P=0.018) were protective factors. Conclusion:ECPP effectively reduces choledocholithiasis recurrence rate and bleeding risk after ERCP. ECPP and being female serve as protective factors for choledocholithiasis recurrence, while dilated bile duct diameter is an independent risk factor.
9.SITA: Predicting site-specific immunogenicity for therapeutic antibodies.
Yewei CUN ; Hao DING ; Tiantian MAO ; Yuan WANG ; Caicui WANG ; Jiajun LI ; Zihao LI ; Mengdie HU ; Zhiwei CAO ; Tianyi QIU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):101316-101316
Antibody (Ab) humanization is critical to reduce immunogenicity and enhance efficacy in the preclinical phase of the development of therapeutic Abs originated from animal models. Computational suggestions have long been desired, but available tools focused on immunogenicity calculation of whole Ab sequences and sequence segments, missing the individual residue sites. This study introduces Site-specific Immunogenicity for Therapeutic Antibody (SITA), a novel computational framework that predicts B-cell immunogenicity score for not only the overall antibody, but also individual residues, based on a comprehensive set of amino acid descriptors characterizing physicochemical and spatial features for antibody structures. A transfer-learning-inspired framework was purposely adopted to overcome the scarcity of Ab-Ab structural complexes. On an independent testing dataset derived from 13 Ab-Ab structural complexes, SITA successfully predicted the epitope sites for Ab-Ab structures with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-area unver the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.85 and a precision-recall (PR)-AUC of 0.305 at the residue level. Furthermore, the SITA score can significantly distinguish immunogenicity levels of whole human Abs, therapeutic Abs and non-human-derived Abs. More importantly, analysis of an additional 25 therapeutic Abs revealed that over 70% of them were detected with decreased immunogenicity after modification compared to their parent variants. Among these, nearly 66% Abs successfully identified actual modification sites from the top five sites with the highest SITA scores, suggesting the ability of SITA scores for guide the humanization of antibody. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of SITA in optimizing immunogenicity assessments during the process of therapeutic antibody design.
10.Study on the distribution of FMR1 CGG repeat numbers among 16 610 women of childbearing age in China
Yahui SHEN ; Wei HOU ; Xiaolin FU ; Manli ZHANG ; Xiaoxiao XIE ; Chunyan ZHANG ; Jiaxin BIAN ; Xiao MAO ; Juan WEN ; Chunyu LUO ; Hua JIN ; Qian ZHU ; Qingwei QI ; Yeqing QIAN ; Jing YUAN ; Yanyan ZHAO ; Ailan YIN ; Shutie LI ; Yulin JIANG ; Rui XIAO ; Yanping LU
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2025;45(4):398-402
Objective:To investigate the distribution of CGG repeat numbers in the FMR1 gene among reproductive-age women in China, providing data reference for carrier screening and genetic counseling of Fragile X syndrome. Methods:This cross-sectional study recruited 16 610 reproductive-age women from 12 medical institutions between July 2022 and October 2023. Peripheral venous blood samples (3 mL) were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted. The number of CGG repeats in the FMR1 gene was determined using the triplet-primed polymerase chain reaction (TP-PCR) combined with capillary electrophoresis technology. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the prevalence and distribution of CGG repeat expansions. Results:Among 16 610 women of childbearing age, 5 684 (34.220%) women had the same number of CGG repeats in the two alleles of FMR1 gene, and 10 926 (65.780%) women had different numbers of repeats in the two alleles. Among the 33 220 FMR1 alleles in 16 610 women of reproductive age, the most common CGG repeat numbers were 29 [48.645% (16 160/33 220)] and 30 [26.276% (8 729/33 220)], while the most frequent CGG genotype was CGG 29/29 [24.726% (4 107/16 610)]. The CGG repeat numbers of FMR1 gene were normal in 16 498 women (99.326%). Among the 112 women (0.674%) with CGG repeat abnormities, 96 (0.578%) women were classified as intermediate carriers, 15 (0.090%) as premutation carriers, and 1 (0.006%) as a full mutation carrier, whose CGG genotype was (36, >200). Conclusion:In the general reproductive-age female population in China, the normal CGG repeat numbers of the FMR1 gene account for 99.326%, while the intermediate carrier rate is 0.578%, and the combined carrier rate of the premutation and full mutation types is 0.096%.

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