1.Immunodynamic changes in a mouse model of malignant pleural effusion
Xiao-Lei WEI ; Xu GUO ; Chuang-Xin ZHANG ; Qi WANG ; Xiao-Fan LIU ; Ming-Ming SHAO ; Huan-Zhong SHI ; Kan ZHAI
Laboratory Animal Research 2026;42(1):59-67
Background:
Malignant pleural effusion (MPE), a common complication of advanced cancers, is associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life. Although host–tumor interactions are known to drive MPE development, the associated immune dynamics during disease progression remain unclear. Using a Lewis lung carcinoma-induced MPE model in C57BL/6JNidfc mice, we systematically evaluated general parameters and immune cell changes at two-day intervals throughout disease progression.
Results:
The day of Lewis lung carcinoma cell injection into the pleural space was designated as day 0. By day 10 post-injection (p.i.), MPE-bearing mice exhibited ~ 10% body weight loss, marking the experimental endpoint. Pleural tumor mass and pleural effusion volume were minimal up to day 4 p.i. but increased sharply from day 6 onward.CD45⁺ immune cell counts rose over time, and days 6, 8, and 10 p.i. marked key stages of MPE progression. On day 6, B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells, but not macrophages and neutrophils, increased significantly compared to earlier timepoints. By day 8, all immune cell subsets except T cells exceeded day 6 levels, and at day 10, natural killer cell numbers declined while others continued to increase. Besides, the numbers of CD8⁺ T cells, Th1 cells, regulatory T cells, and M2 macrophages progressively increased from day 6 to 10. Based on these data, days 6 and 10 were defined as early and advanced MPE stages, respectively, with distinct immune phenotypes. In advanced MPE, CD8⁺ T cells displayed reduced IFN-γ, TNF-α, Granzyme B, Perforin, FasL, and Ki-67, but upregulated PD-1 and CTLA-4 relative to early stage. Similarly, Th1 cells showed decreased IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 production along with reduced Ki-67 expression. Advanced-stage M2 macrophages exhibited lower MHC-II levels and impaired phagocytosis, but higher PD-L1 and IL-10 production, while neutrophils showed reduced TNF-α release and phagocytic activity.
Conclusions
Our findings characterize the temporal immune dynamics associated with MPE progression in a mouse model, revealing a transition from an early immunostimulatory state to a late immunosuppressive state. This study enhances our understanding of MPE immunopathogenesis and provides a foundation for developing precise, stagespecific therapeutic strategies.
2.Bioengineered miR-148a-3p suppresses glycolysis and amino acid homeostasis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating multiple solute carrier transporters
Su Guan ; Xin Li ; Yimei Wang ; Mei-Juan Tu ; Ai-Ming Yu
Liver Research 2026;10(2):166-176
Background and aims
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are metabolically reprogrammed for excessive uptake and metabolism of many nutrients. The tumor suppressive microRNA-148a-3p (miR-148a-3p) is downregulated in HCC, whereas its function in regulating HCC cell metabolism remains obscure. Herein we aimed to delineate the role of miR-148a-3p in HCC cell metabolism by using novel bioengineered miR-148a-3p (BioRNALeu/miR-148a-3p) agent produced in vivo.
Methods
BioRNALeu/miR-148a-3p was designed by using human leucyl transfer RNA fused hsa-pre-miR-34a carrier, overexpressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), and purified to high homogeneity. After transfection into HCC cells, the released miR-148a-3p levels were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation was determined by CellTiter-Glo assays. Targets were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence confocal imaging. Glycolysis capacity was evaluated by Seahorse XF assays, and glucose, lactate, and amino acid levels were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods.
Results
BioRNALeu/miR-148a-3p was efficiently processed into target miR-148a-3p in HCC cells to effectively inhibit cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistically, miR-148a-3p suppressed the protein levels of glucose transporter GLUT1/SLC2A1 and L-type amino acid transporter LAT1/SLC7A5 via acting on their 3′-untranslated regions, as well as amino acid transporter ASCT2/SLC1A5. These, in turn, led to a reduction of glucose uptake, lactate production, and glycolytic flux in HCC cells, and alteration of intracellular amino acid metabolome including glutamine, leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and methionine.
Conclusions
Reintroduction of miR-148a-3p into HCC cells modulates glucose and amino acid metabolism via regulating multiple SLC transporters, thereby suppressing HCC cell viability. These findings highlight the role of miR-148a-3p in HCC cell metabolism and potential of bioengineered miRNA molecules for functional studies and therapeutic development.
3.Literature analysis of the differences in the occurrence of urinary epithelial carcinoma after kidney transplantation between northern and southern China
Pengjie WU ; Runhua TANG ; Dong WEI ; Yaqun ZHANG ; Hong MA ; Bin JIN ; Xin CHEN ; Jianlong WANG ; Ming LIU ; Yaoguang ZHANG ; Ben WAN ; Jianye WANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(5):432-437
Objective: To investigate the regional differences in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma among kidney transplant recipients between northern and southern China,so as to provide reference for early diagnosis of this disease. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases,including CNKI,Wanfang,CBM,and PubMed,using the keywords “kidney transplantation” and “tumor” to collect clinical data from qualified kidney transplant centers.The latest and most complete literature data published by 17 transplant centers in northern China and 14 in southern China were included.Statistical analyses were performed to compare the incidence of post-transplant urothelial carcinoma and non-urothelial malignancies. Results: A total of 37 475 kidney transplant recipients were included,among whom 837 (2.23%) developed post-transplant malignancies,including urothelial carcinoma (366/837,43.73%),non-urothelial carcinoma (444/837,53.05%),and malignancies with unspecified pathology (27/837,3.23%).The incidence of malignancies was significantly higher in northern China than in southern China [(2.82±1.39)% vs. (1.67±0.83)%,P=0.011],with a particularly pronounced difference in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma [(1.68±1.12)% vs. (0.32±0.32)%,P<0.001].No significant difference was observed in the incidence of non-urothelial carcinoma between the two regions [(1.11±0.56)% vs. (1.35±0.65)%,P=0.279].Additionally,female transplant recipients exhibited a higher incidence of malignancies than males in both regions (southern China:2.38% vs. 1.80%; northern China:8.93% vs. 2.52%). Conclusion: The incidence of urothelial carcinoma following kidney transplantation is significantly higher in northern China than in southern China,underscoring the importance of implementing regular tumor screening for kidney transplant recipients,particularly for female patients in northern China,to facilitate early diagnosis and timely intervention.
4.The effect of glutamine-enriched parenteral nutrition on short-term outcomes after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer
Ji-Wei WANG ; Yong HUANG ; Tao ZHANG ; Mai-Jian WANG ; Xin-Bin ZHENG ; Ming XIE
Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition 2025;32(1):7-14
Objective:To evaluate the effects of glutamine-enriched parenteral nutrition on short-term postoperative outcomes compared with conventional nutritional support in colorectal cancer patients with enteral nutrition intolerance after surgery.Method:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect clinical data from colorectal cancer patients who underwent radical resection at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of Zunyi Medical University Affiliated Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021.The differences in postoperative complication rates,perioperative nutritional indicators,and inflammatory factors between the two groups were analyzed.SPSS 29.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Result:Based on whether glutamine was added to parenteral nutrition,178 patients were divided into a control group(conventional nutritional therapy,n=120)and an observation group(glutamine enhanced nutritional therapy,n=58).The incidence of postoperative complications(Clavien Dindo grade≥III)in the control and observation groups was 14.17%(17/120)and 3.45%(2/58),respectively,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.030).The observation group recovered faster than the control group in terms of time to first expectoration,defecation and intake of liquid diet after surgery,and had a shorter hospital stay after surgery(P<0.05).However,there was no significant difference in the 30-day readmission rate between the two groups(P=0.393).There was no statistically significant difference in the changes in total protein,albumin,pre-albumin,neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and endogenous creatinine clearance rate between the two groups of patients after surgery(P>0.05).There were also significant differences in the changes in lymphocyte count,white blood cell count,neutrophil percentage,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,total bilirubin,and urea nitrogen levels between the two groups of patients after surgery(P<0.05).Conclusion:Compared with regular nutritional support,postoperative parenteral glutamine supplementation can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications in colorectal cancer patients,promote recovery of bowel function,shorten postoperative hospital stay,improve patient immune function and reduce inflammatory levels.
5.Construction and evaluation of intestinal mucosal epithelial-myofibroblast co-culture model
Peng-Xin YU ; Ming-Qi WANG ; Li-Na GUO ; Yu YU ; Xiu-Li WANG
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(4):438-443
Objective To construct a three-dimensional bionic model of intestinal mucosal structure in vitro.Methods Using fibroin protein with villous-crypt structure as scaffold and Caco-2 and HT29-MTX-E12 as seed cells,the intestinal mucosal epithelial-myofibroblast co-culture model was constructed by three-dimensional co-culture with myofibroblasts in vitro.The growth,activity,histological characteristics and expression of functional genes of model cells were investigated through the detection of cell signature proteins and genes.Results 1.An intestinal mucosal epithelial-myofibroblast co-culture model was successfully constructed with good cell activity.2.Mucous secretion increased and muc2 gene expression was up-regulated in the co-culture model.Conclusion The co-culture of intestinal mucosal epithelial-myofibroblasts with villous-crypt structure can promote the functional differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells and better simulate the structure and function of intestinal mucosa in vivo.
6.Application and inspiration of aesthetic education based on drawing techniques in medical morphology courses
Li-Na GUO ; Ming-Qi WANG ; Yan-Fang DING ; Yang SONG ; Xin ZHOU ; Hai-Ying MA
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(5):612-618
Objective To explore the effectiveness of drawing-based method in medical courses and their impact on students' learning habits,academic performance,and comprehensive competencies,in order to meet the demand for high-quality,interdisciplinary,and innovative talent,and provide theoretical support for integrating aesthetic education into medical training.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among medical students(n=310)at Dalian Medical University,covering the frequency of using drawing method and their effects on learning outcomes,innovation ability,and humanistic qualities.Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test(P<0.05).Results Totally 93.6%of students approved of using drawing method for learning medical courses,with 70.8%having developed a habit of drawing-based learning.Students with stronger drawing skills were more inclined to use drawing method and supported their application in teaching.The frequency of drawing-based learning was positively correlated with anatomy scores(P<0.05).Students generally agreed that drawing method enhanced knowledge comprehension,learning interest,long-term memory,innovation ability,critical thinking,and humanistic qualities.However,students with weaker drawing skills perceived drawing method as potentially increasing learning burdens and being less efficient,but this perception significantly decreased with increased drawing frequency(P<0.05).Conclusion Drawing methods are widely used in medical courses and effectively improve learning outcomes and comprehensive competencies.Drawing proficiency and frequency are key factors influencing students' acceptance and learning effectiveness.Future efforts should focus on promoting drawing method,strengthening students' drawing skills,and optimizing learning processes to deepen the integration of aesthetic education in medical training.
7.Enhancement of Ca2+ Signal Strength in Astrocytes in the Lateral Septum Improves Cognitive Disorders in Mice After Hemorrhagic Shock and Resuscitation.
Wen-Guang LI ; Lan-Xin LI ; Rong-Xin SONG ; Xu-Peng WANG ; Shi-Yan JIA ; Xiao-Yi MA ; Jing-Yu ZHANG ; Gang-Feng YIN ; Xiao-Ming LI ; Li-Min ZHANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(8):1403-1417
Hemorrhagic shock is a common clinical emergency that can aggravate cell injury after resuscitation. Astrocytes are crucial for the survival of neurons because they regulate the surrounding ionic microenvironment of neurons. Although hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HSR) injury can impair cognition, it remains unclear how this insult directly affects astrocytes. In this study, we established an HSR model by bleeding and re-transfusion in mice. The social interaction test and new object recognition test were applied to evaluate post-operative cognitive changes, and the results suggest that mice experience cognitive impairment following exposure to HSR. In the HSR group, the power spectral density of β and γ oscillations decreased, and the coupling of the θ oscillation phase and γ oscillation amplitude was abnormal, which indicated abnormal neuronal oscillation and cognitive impairment after HSR exposure. In brief, cognitive impairment in mice is strongly correlated with Ca2+ signal strength in lateral septum astrocytes following HSR.
Animals
;
Astrocytes/metabolism*
;
Shock, Hemorrhagic/metabolism*
;
Resuscitation/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Mice
;
Calcium Signaling/physiology*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Septal Nuclei/metabolism*
;
Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Cognition Disorders/etiology*
8.Expert consensus on management of instrument separation in root canal therapy.
Yi FAN ; Yuan GAO ; Xiangzhu WANG ; Bing FAN ; Zhi CHEN ; Qing YU ; Ming XUE ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Zhengwei HUANG ; Deqin YANG ; Zhengmei LIN ; Yihuai PAN ; Jin ZHAO ; Jinhua YU ; Zhuo CHEN ; Sijing XIE ; He YUAN ; Kehua QUE ; Shuang PAN ; Xiaojing HUANG ; Jun LUO ; Xiuping MENG ; Jin ZHANG ; Yi DU ; Lei ZHANG ; Hong LI ; Wenxia CHEN ; Jiayuan WU ; Xin XU ; Jing ZOU ; Jiyao LI ; Dingming HUANG ; Lei CHENG ; Tiemei WANG ; Benxiang HOU ; Xuedong ZHOU
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):46-46
Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans
;
Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects*
;
Consensus
;
Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*
9.Complete genomic sequence analysis of the G6P1bovine rotavirus BLL strain
Jin-hua ZHANG ; Xia-fei LIU ; Jun-jie YU ; Jia-xin FAN ; Ming-yue WANG ; Guang-ping XIONG ; Yi-peng WANG ; Dan-di LI ; Xiao-man SUN ; Li-li PANG ; Zhao-jun DUAN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(1):8-14
Bovine rotavirus(BRV)is an important pathogen causing diarrhea in calves.To understand the genomic charac-teristics and genetic variations in bovine rotavirus,and to further enrich data on the biological characteristics of rotavirus,we aimed to amplify 11 gene segments of the isolated and cultured G6P[1]bovine rotavirus BLL strain,perform whole genome se-quencing,and analyze the molecular characteristics.MEGA7.0 and DNAMAN software were used for homology and typing a-nalysis,and the whole genome phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze genetic evolution relationships.The complete geno-type of the BLL strain was G6-P[1]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3.Phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 and VP4 genes of the BLL strain showed that the VP7 gene had the highest homology with RVA/Cow-wt/HB01/China/2021,and the VP4 gene of the BLL strain was in the same branch as RVA/Human-tc/ISR/Ro8059/1995.From the sequence alignment of VP8*amino acids,the sialic acid domain of the BLL strain was found to be similar to that in other P[1]strains,but different from those in other types of strains,except for residue 189,which was the same as that in Ro8059 but different from that in other strains.The results suggested that the BLL strain might potentially infect humans.Therefore,continued monitoring and study of the biological characteristics of this strain are necessary to provide more information and evidence supporting further research on the cross-species transmission of group A rotavirus in China.
10.Design and application of individually portable oral treatment device field conditions in alpine regions
Jian-xue ZHOU ; Hong XIN ; Xue-qi MENG ; Rui-hua WANG ; Xiao-ming ZHU ; Peng-fa WANG
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(1):108-113
Objective To design an individually portable oral treatment device to solve the problems of oral diagnosis and treatment under field conditions in alpine regions.Methods The individually portable oral treatment device had a trolley box structure and consisted of an outer box,an inner framework and an operation panel.The outer box was made of low-density polyethylene material and formed by by one-time rotational moulding process;the inner framework integrated a plateau com-pressor,an independent negative-pressure compressor,an integrated control system for programmable logic controller(PLC),an individually portable respiratory synchronized pulsed oxygen supply module for plateau application;there were several curative devices equipped in the operation panel,including a 3-way syringe,a high-speed turbine handpiece,an electric variable-speed handpiece,a water control switch,a light curing machine and an ultrasonic dental cleaning handpiece.Trials were carried out with the test-phase prototype in alpine regions so as to verify the performance of the device.Results Trials proved that the prototype gained advantages in mobility,multifunctionality and pressure supply facilitating continuous operation of power gas source for oral diagnosis and treatment in alpine regions.Conclusion The device developed solves the problems in pressure insufficiency and instability,control system integration,portability and oxygen supply for medical staffs,improves the mobility of oral diagnosis and treatment in alpine regions and enhances the oral support service and equipment effectively.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(1):108-113]


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail