1.Curcumin-loaded exosomes from hypoxia-treated mesenchymal stem cells alleviate microglial inflammatory response in a combined therapy approach
Xiaobin HUANG ; Qianqian LI ; Peng ZHANG ; Yanhua ZHOU ; Anran FAN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(1):104-112
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of hypoxia-treated mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) exosomes (Exo) and their loading with curcumin on microglial inflammatory responses, and to explore the enhancing effect of hypoxia treatment on the function of MSCs Exo. MethodsThe supernatants of human umbilical cord (hUC)-MSCs cultured under normal and hypoxic conditions were collected, and Exo were isolated using ultracentrifugation. After identification by transmission electron microscopy and Western blot, curcumin was loaded using the co-incubation method. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial inflammation model was treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), curcumin, normoxia Exo, hypoxia Exo, normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin, and hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin, respectively. The expression of the M1-type marker inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in BV2 cells was detected by immunofluorescence (IF). Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to measure the expression and secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 in the cells and their culture supernatants. ResultsNormoxia Exo, hypoxia Exo, normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin, and hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin exhibited a "saucer-like" shape with a diameter ranging from 30~150 nm, and the expression of exosomal markers CD9, CD81, and TSG101 were positive. After treating the BV2 cell inflammation model, IF results showed that, compared with the normoxia Exo group, treatment with hypoxic Exo significantly reduced the expression of iNOS. Moreover, when compared with the curcumin group and the normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin group, the expression level of iNOS significantly decreased after treatment with hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin. The results of Western blot and ELISA indicated that, in comparison with the normoxia Exo group, treatment with hypoxic Exo significantly reduced the expression and secretion of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Additionally, when compared with the curcumin group and the normoxic Exo loaded with curcumin group, both the expression and secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 significantly decreased after treatment with hypoxic Exo loaded with curcumin. ConclusionHypoxia preconditioning can enhance the ability of hUC-MSCs-Exo in the inhibition of microglial polarization and inflammatory factors’ secretion. Additionally, using Hypoxia-MSCs-Exo as a drug-delivery carrier of curcumin can improve its solubility and stability, facilitating its absorption by cells and exerting the therapeutic effect of combination therapy.
2.Construction of Risk Prediction Model for Frequent Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Under Disease-syndrome Combination
Jing ZHOU ; Gang TENG ; Nianzhi ZHANG ; Yuanyuan WANG ; Qianqian ZHANG ; He HUANG ; Ling LIU ; Mei DONG ; Juan JI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):143-151
ObjectiveTo construct a risk prediction model for frequent acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) under disease-syndrome combination, thus providing decision support for precise clinical intervention. MethodsA total of 2 029 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to August 2024 were retrospectively included. These patients were classified into groups of frequent acute exacerbations (≥2 times/year) and infrequent acute exacerbations (<2 times/year) according to the hospitalization times per year. Risk factors were screened by LASSO regression combined with logistic regression, and a nomogram model was constructed. The model performance was assessed based on the area under the curve (AUC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). ResultsThe differences in baseline characteristics between the frequent acute exacerbations group (1 196 cases) and infrequent acute exacerbations group (833 cases) were not statistically significant. LASSO regression combined with multivariate logistic regression screened the following independent risk factors: body mass index (BMI), hospitalization days, number of smoking years, place of residence, use of noninvasive ventilators, oxygen-demanding therapy, liver cirrhosis, use of systemic glucocorticosteroids, and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome (phlegm and stasis obstructing the lung). The nomogram model showed good discrimination and calibration in both the training set (AUC=0.748) and validation set (AUC=0.774). ConclusionThe risk prediction model for frequent acute exacerbations of COPD, integrating traditional Chinese medicine syndrome, constructed in this study has high accuracy. It can provide a scientific basis for early clinical identification of high-risk patients and individualized intervention.
3.Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzofuro2,3-cpyridine derivatives as p21-activated kinase 4 inhibitors for treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Yang LI ; Yan FANG ; Xiaoyu CHEN ; Linjiang TONG ; Fang FENG ; Qianqian ZHOU ; Shulun CHEN ; Jian DING ; Hua XIE ; Ao ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):438-466
The p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), a key regulator of malignancy, is negatively correlated with immune infiltration and has become an emergent drug target of cancer therapy. Given the lack of high efficacy PAK4 inhibitors, we herein reported the identification of a novel inhibitor 13 bearing a tetrahydrobenzofuro[2,3-c]pyridine tricyclic core and possessing high potency against MIA PaCa-2 and Pan02 cell lines with IC50 values of 0.38 and 0.50 μmol/L, respectively. This compound directly binds to PAK4 in a non-ATP competitive manner. In the mouse Pan02 model, compound 13 exhibited significant tumor growth inhibition at a dose of 100 mg/kg, accompanied by reduced levels of PAK4 and its phosphorylation together with immune infiltration in mice tumor tissue. Overall, compound 13 is a novel allosteric PAK4 inhibitor with a unique tricyclic structural feature and high potency both in vitro and in vivo, thus making it worthy of further exploration.
4.SRSF7 promotes pulmonary fibrosis through regulating PKM alternative splicing in lung fibroblasts.
Tongzhu JIN ; Huiying GAO ; Yuquan WANG ; Zhiwei NING ; Danyang BING ; Yan WANG ; Yi CHEN ; Xiaomu TIAN ; Qiudi LIU ; Zhihui NIU ; Jiayu GUO ; Jian SUN ; Ruoxuan YANG ; Qianqian WANG ; Shifen LI ; Tianyu LI ; Yuhong ZHOU ; Wenxin HE ; Yanjie LU ; Yunyan GU ; Haihai LIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):3041-3058
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.
5.Analysis of health effects of occupational exposure to Dimethylformamide
Qianqian GAO ; Zhijie JIANG ; Lang ZHOU ; Lei HAN ; Yuan ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2025;43(6):422-425
Objective:To analyze the abnormal results of health surveillance for workers exposed to dimethylformamide (DMF), and to provide reference for the formulation of relevant policies and standards.Methods:In April 2024, 11, 224 workers who participated in occupational health examinations in Jiangsu Province in 2023 were selected as the research subjects. Among them, 5, 615 people exposed to DMF were taken as the exposure group, and 5, 609 people not exposed to hepatotoxic chemicals were taken as the control group. By inquiring about related symptoms and combining with the occupational health examination of workers, the abnormal rates of blood pressure, blood routine, urine routine, electrocardiogram, liver function and B-ultrasonography of the survey subjects were statistically analyzed.Results:Compared with the control group, the abnormal detection rates of indicators such as blood pressure, blood routine, urine routine, and electrocardiogram were higher, and the difference was statistically significant P<0.05). The abnormal rates of various liver function indicators in the DMF exposure group were all higher than those in the control group. Among them, the abnormal rates of alanine aminotransferase, total protein, total bilirubin, and liver B-ultrasound in the exposure group were all higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=34.88, 42.49, 43.07, 55.28, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the detected values of alanine aminotransferase, total protein and total bilirubin in the DMF exposure group were higher, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=5.367, 29.543, 37.766, P<0.05). In the DMF exposure group, the abnormal rates of liver function, electrocardiogram and liver B-ultrasound in men were much higher than those in women, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=185.05, 10.06, 141.94, P<0.001, P=0.002, P<0.001). Grouped by length of service, the abnormal detection rate of liver function was similar in each length of service segment, and the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=0.34, P>0.05). The abnormal detection rate of electrocardiogram increased with the increase of length of service, among which it was the highest in the 10-20 years of service, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=7.26, P=0.026). The abnormal rate detected by liver B-ultrasound significantly increased with the increase of working years, and was the highest in the section of ≥20 years of working years. The difference was statistically significant ( χ2=44.15, P<0.001) . Conclusion:Occupational exposure to DMF can affect the health of workers, especially increasing the detection rate of abnormal liver function and liver B-ultrasound. It is very important to strengthen the occupational health monitoring of personnel exposed to DMF, improve the working environment, and pay attention to the chronic liver damage caused by DMF occupational exposure to workers.
6.Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress-autophagy in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and the regulatory mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine
Shuo ZHANG ; Yinglin CUI ; Panpan ZHOU ; Yile LI ; Lei WANG ; Qianqian ZOU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(20):4325-4332
BACKGROUND:Research has shown that endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced autophagy of neurons in the ischemic penumbra is a key link in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.Autophagy mediated by the dissociation and activation of endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane proteins PERK,IRE1 α,ATF6,and GRP78/BIP plays an important role in neuronal outcomes.Traditional Chinese medicine can regulate endoplasmic reticulum stress-autophagy,reduce neuronal damage or death,and exert neuroprotective effects.OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress-autophagy in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and the research progress in the regulatory mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine.METHODS:A literature retrieval was conducted in CNKI and PubMed for relevant literature related to endoplasmic reticulum stress,autophagy,cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,and regulation by traditional Chinese Medicine published from January 2015 to May 2024.The search terms were"cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,ischemic stroke,brain injury,endoplasmic reticulum stress,autophagy,traditional Chinese medicine,compounds,signaling pathways,saponins,polyphenols,alkaloids"in Chinese and English,respectively.Any literature that is inconsistent with the research content,outdated,or duplicated was excluded.A total of 1197 relevant literature were retrieved,and 71 articles were ultimately included.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Numerous studies have suggested that endoplasmic reticulum stress-autophagy is closely related with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.(2)The active ingredients and compound formulas of traditional Chinese medicine monomers can regulate the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-autophagy related proteins,alleviate neuronal damage,and exert neuroprotective effects by regulating signal pathways such as PERK-eIF2α-ATF4,IRE1α-ASK1-JNK,and IRE1α-XBP.
7.Configuration-based analysis of improvement paths for professional commitment among master of nursing specialist degree students: a fsQCA approach
Tianyan WANG ; Kaiyun ZHOU ; Juanjuan ZHOU ; Yuelan ZHU ; Meimei ZHANG ; Qianqian ZHANG ; Lifang FAN ; Hui ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(29):4055-4060
Objective:To explore the configurational factors influencing the professional commitment of Master of Nursing Specialist (MNS) students and identify effective paths to enhance their professional commitment.Methods:A convenience sample of MNS students from six hospitals in Jiangsu Province, Shanghai City, and Anhui Province was surveyed between December 2023 and October 2024. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Nurses' Professional Commitment Scale (NPCS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), the Multidimentional Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Vocational Outcome Expectation Scale (VOE-R). Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) was used to explore the configurational influences on professional commitment.Results:A total of 332 questionnaires were distributed, and 302 valid responses were obtained (effective response rate: 90.1%). The mean NPCS score among respondents was (89.30±22.42), indicating a upper-middle level of professional commitment. The fsQCA results revealed that the frequency of night shift rotation was a necessary condition affecting professional commitment. A total of three distinct configurations (paths) were identified that can enhance the professional commitment of MNS students.Conclusions:The professional commitment of MNS students is influenced by multiple interacting factors. It is recommended that hospitals, universities, and nursing educators develop targeted interventions based on these identified configurations to improve professional commitment.
8.Analysis of the association between hearing loss and types of indoor fuel applications in middle-aged and older adults in China: based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Qiao HAN ; Xiaoyu ZHOU ; Yuchen TAO ; Haiyan YIN ; Qian LIU ; Qianqian YANG
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;60(10):1267-1274
Objective:To investigate the association between hearing loss and the type of indoor fuel applications in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people through longitudinal cohort study.Methods:Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including adults aged 45 years and older enrolled in 2011, with follow-up for cooking and heating analyses extending to 2018 and 2015, respectively. The study calculated the incidence of hearing loss based on an indoor cooking or heating fuel type and expressed in terms of per 100 person-years. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the association between solid fuel use and hearing loss, and covariates such as gender, education, and economy were controlled. We also analyzed the impact of indoor fuel type and its switching on hearing loss.Results:A total of 6, 772 participants using household fuels for cooking (2011-2018) and 4, 618 for heating (2011-2015) were included. Those using solid fuels for cooking [(58.0±8.2) years] and heating [(58.1±8.5) years] were generally slightly older than that of those who used clean fuels. In the cooking analysis, the overall incidence of hearing loss was higher among solid fuel users compared to clean fuel users (Clean fuel: 2.6 cases per 100 person-years; solid fuel: 3.6 cases per 100 person-years; the difference between the two was statistically significant, P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the heating analysis ( P>0.05). Further classification of fuel-type use revealed that the incidence of hearing loss was the highest among people who had been using solid fuels consistently. Compared to the clean fuel group, the fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3-1.7) in the cooking analysis and 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1-2.0) in the heating analysis. Compared with using clean fuels, switching from clean fuels to solid fuels increased the risk of hearing loss both during cooking and heating processes. Conclusion:In the CHARLS database, individuals who use solid fuels for indoor cooking and heating are older than those who use clean fuels. Compared with clean fuel use, the use of solid fuels increases the risk of hearing loss in middle-aged and elderly people. Reducing the use of solid fuels, choosing clean fuels as substitutes for solid fuels, and avoiding the switch from clean fuels to solid fuels will help protect the hearing health of middle-aged and elderly individuals.
9.Systematic review and Meta-analysis of factors influencing taste alterations in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
Jing LI ; Qiuting MAO ; Yi HUANG ; Fan ZENG ; Mo XIONG ; Qianqian LI ; Shuanghong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(14):1778-1785
Objective To systematically evaluate the factors affecting taste alteration in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy.Methods PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,CINAHL,Embase,CBM,CNKI,WanFang Data and VIP were searched from the establishment until August 1,2024.The retrieved literature was independently screened,evaluated and the data were extracted by 2 researchers,and statistical analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software.Results A total of 18 studies were included,involving 4 686 patients.The incidence of taste changes is 73.46%.Totally 9 influencing factors were extracted through quantitative analysis,including oral mucositis(OR=1.98),dry mouth(OR=1.82),nausea(OR=3.05),loss of appetite(OR=2.41),use of triple antiemetic drugs(OR=2.45),gynecological cancers(OR=0.67),lung cancer(OR=0.57),paclitaxel types of chemotherapy d rugs(OR=2.86),and smoking(β=9.38).Conclusion The alteration of taste in cancer chemotherapy patients is in-fluenced by multiple factors.Nurses should regularly and dynamically assess changes in taste and implement individualized and refined nursing interventions in clinical practice to prevent or delay the development of taste alterations,thereby improving patients' quality of life and treatment adherence.
10.Evaluation of Three Atypical Pathogen Detection Methods for Clinical Diagnosis of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults
Qianqian ZHOU ; Jianyu ZHAO ; Mei WANG ; Xinxin LU
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2025;40(4):194-198,213
Objective To evaluate the clinical value of multiplex polymerase chain reaction(mPCR),serum IgM and urinary Legionella pneumophila antigen detection in the diagnosis and treatment of adult community-acquired pneumonia(CAP)for Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP),Chlamydia pneumoniae(CP)and Legionella pneumophila(LP).Methods A total of 275 inpatients diagnosed with CAP from October 2018 to January 2022 in Beijing Tongren Hospital were selected as the study objects.275 lower respiratory tract samples,195 serum samples and 50 urine samples were collected for sanger sequencing,mPCR,serum IgM and urinary LP antigen test,respectively.With the result of sanger sequencing as the reference standard,the clinical application value of the three detection methods was evaluated.Results The infection rate of atypical pathogens in adult patients with CAP was 26.5%(73/275).The infection rates of MP,CP and LP were 21.8%(60/275),2.2%(6/275)and 2.5%(7/275),respectively.The sensitivity of mPCR,serum IgM and urinary LP antigen test were 100%(72/72),31.0%(18/58),100%(7/7),and the specificity were 99.5%(202/203),76.6%(105/137),100%(43/43),respectively.The sensitivity of serum IgM was significantly decreased in patients with time≤7 days compared to patients with time>7 days from onset to sampling(41.9%vs 14.3%),the difference was statistically significant(χ2=5.483,P<0.05).The proportion of false negative for serum IgM was the highest in 25~<41 years old(57.5%),and the difference was statistically significant among all age groups(χ2=25.069,P<0.001).The proportion of false positive for serum IgM was the highest among 41~<66 years old(37.5%),and there was no significant difference among all age groups(χ2=6.404,P=0.171).The IgM cross-reactivity rate of the three atypical pathogens was 33.3%(13/39).Conclusion Serum IgM is not suitable for the diagnosis of atypical pathogen infection in adults alone,mPCR and urinary LP antigen test have obvious advantages in the early diagnosis of CAP in adults.

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