1.γ-Elemene Impairs Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Breast Cancer Cells by Upregulating GCN5-Mediated PGC-1α Acetylation
Ling TANG ; Mingyan WANG ; Jia LIU ; Qiong YU ; Chen CHEN ; Lihua JIA ; Jiyi XIA
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2026;34(1):165-173
Mitochondrial biogenesis represents a promising therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) due to its essential role in cancer cell metabolism and survival. The natural compound γ-Elemene exhibits potent anti-tumor activity, but its effects on mitochondrial regulation in TNBC remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that γ-Elemene induces dose-dependent cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-468 and HCC1806 TNBC cells while significantly impairing mitochondrial function, as shown by reduced membrane potential, oxidative phosphorylation capacity, and ATP production. γ-Elemene treatment markedly suppressed mitochondrial biogenesis, decreasing mitochondrial DNA content and downregulating key mitochondrial genes and proteins. These effects were associated with reduced expression of the master regulators NRF1 and TFAM, but independent of PGC-1α expression levels.Mechanistically, γ-Elemene upregulated the acetyltransferase GCN5, leading to enhanced PGC-1α acetylation. This upregulation occurs primarily through increased GCN5 transcription. Genetic ablation of GCN5 completely reversed γ-Elemene-induced PGC-1α acetylation and restored mitochondrial biogenesis and cell viability, establishing a critical role for GCN5 in mediating these effects. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism whereby γ-Elemene disrupts mitochondrial function in TNBC through GCN5-mediated PGC-1α acetylation, providing new insights into its anti-cancer properties and potential therapeutic applications against TNBC.
2.Monitoring and improvement of disinfection procedure implementation in blood stations
Xia WANG ; Dongmei NIE ; Xinghui GU ; Qiong YU ; Caiming HE ; Guidan WU ; Xin ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(6):762-767
Objective: To systematically evaluate the application effectiveness of the full disinfection process in blood stations, identify key optimization links, and provide a scientific evidence for the formulation of specialized disinfection and hygiene standards for blood collection and supply institutions. Methods: On-site microbiological monitoring was conducted using techniques such as the plate settling method and cotton swab method. Stratified random sampling was performed on eight key control points: including evironmental air, hand hygiene, skin disinfection, blood transport boxes, pressure steam sterilization, sewage treatment, ultraviolet disinfection, and sterile swabs. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0. Measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation(x-±s), and inter-group comparisons were conducted using t-tests or analysis of variance (ANOVA). Count data were expressed as rates, and inter-group comparisons were conducted using the χ
test. Trend analysis was performed using the Cochran-Armitage test, with a significance level of α=0.05. Results: The colony removal rate of plasma air disinfection machines (94.2%±0.8%) was significantly higher than that of the ultraviolet group (P<0.05). The qualification rate of quick-drying disinfectant hand was 100% within 30 days after opening the bottle, but decreased to 93.3% after 40 days (P<0.01). The qualification rate of disinfection for blood transport boxes using 500 mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant (100%) was significant higher 75% alcohol (60%, P< 0.05). Skin disinfection with 2% alcoholic chlorhexidine gluconate balanced effectiveness and user experience (satisfaction score 4.8±0.3). The qualification rates for core procedures such as pressure steam sterilization and sewage treatment were both 100%. Conclusion: The current disinfection procedures in blood collection and supply institutions are reliable. The effective usage period of hand disinfectants, disinfection methods for transport boxes, and usage duration of sterile swabs are the main points for optimization. It is recommended that the opened hand disinfectants be used for ≤30 days and that chlorine-containing disinfectants be prioritized for wiping transport boxes, providing empirical support for the revision of protocols and the formulation of standards.
3.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
4.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
5.Effects of high-fructose diet on hippocampal neurometabolites and anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice
Shan-Shan ZHANG ; Ying LIU ; Yu-Wen ZHANG ; He WANG ; Wen-Sheng LI ; Qiong LIU
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(4):381-388
Objective To investigate the effects of short-term and long-term high-fructose diets on hippocampal neurometabolites and anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice,revealing the potential mechanisms of high-fructose diets in mood disorders and providing a experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of related diseases.Methods C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into two groups,control group(standard diet,n=10)and experimental group(high-fructose diet,n=10).Four weeks(short-term)and eight weeks(long-term)later,each group of mice was examined for body weight and fasting blood glucose,and neurometabolites levels in the hippocampus were detected by hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS),followed by the open-field test,the forced-swimming test,and the tail-suspension test to evaluate anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors.Results High fructose diet for 4 weeks elevated glutamate levels and reduced glutathione and myo-inositol levels in mice,accompanied by shortened immobility time in the forced swim test.High fructose diet for 8 weeks not only led to abnormalities in body weight and glucose metabolism but also caused a reversal decrease in hippocampal glutamate levels and induced significant anxiety-like behaviors,and the decrease in hippocampal glutamate levels showed a significant negative correlation with the enhancement of anxiety-like behaviors.Conclusion Altered hippocampal glutamate levels may be a key contributing factor to the anxiety-like behaviors induced by long-term high-fructose diet.
6.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
7.The application value of shear wave elastography in the assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children
Hongfeng WANG ; Guohui LIU ; Qiong YU
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(7):14-17
Objective To explore the application value of shear wave elastography(SWE)in non-invasive quantitative assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)in children,and provide diagnostic clues for early clinical intervention in children with NAFLD.Methods A total of 362 children voluntarily examined in Inner Mongolia Maternal and Child Health Hospital from February 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the study objects,and were divided into NAFLD group(216 cases)and control group(146 cases)according to the examination results.The age,sex,body mass index(BMI),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),y-glutamyl transferase(γ-GGT),uric acid,total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipoprotein(LDL),insulin,high density lipoprotein(HDL),glucose,aspartate aminotransferase of two groups of children were collected and compared.Spearman rank correlation was used for correlation analysis.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to determine the predictive value of Young's modulus to NAFLD.Results BMI,liver Young's modulus,portal flow velocity,ALT,y-GGT,uric acid,TC,TG,LDL and insulin in NAFLD group were significantly higher than those in control group,while HDL was significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05).Liver Young's modulus was positively correlated with portal flow velocity,BMI,ALT,y-GGT,uric acid,TC,TG,LDL and insulin,and negatively correlated with HDL(P<0.05).ROC curve results showed that the area under the curve of liver Young's modulus predicted NAFLD in children was 0.873(95%CI:0.836-0.910),sensitivity was 75.0%,specificity was 93.2%.Conclusion SWE can evaluate NAFLD non-invasively,real-time and quantitatively,and provide important clinical diagnostic information for early intervention and treatment of children with NAFLD.
8.Exploration on the Mechanism of Astragali Complanati Semen in Preventing and Treating Hyperlipidemia Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation
Juanjuan TAN ; Wenqi ZHOU ; Guorong DENG ; Li CHENG ; Fang GUAN ; Qiong YU ; Hongyi YANG ; Feng HUANG ; Yuanwang YU ; Haifang WANG ; Ruihua YUAN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(11):40-47
Objective To investigate the mechanism of Astragali Complanati Semen in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia;To provide theoretical basis for its clinical application.Methods The active components of Astragali Complanati Semen were retrieved and screened through TCMSP,TCMID and TDT databases to obtain the action targets of the active components.Hyperlipidemia targets were obtained through GeneCards,DisGeNET,and TTD databases,and the drug active component targets were intersected with hyperlipidemia targets.Cytoscape 3.9.1 software and STRING database were used to construct active component-target network and protein-protein interaction network,screening for major active components and core targets.GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed using the DAVID database,and the CB-Dock platform was used for molecular docking.HepG2 cells were induced to construct a high-fat cell model using oleic acid and palmitic acid,and intervened with Astragali Complanati Semen freeze-dried powder solution.The mRNA expression of the core target was detected by RT-qPCR.Results A total of 10 active components of Astragali Complanati Semen and 67 potential action targets of hyperlipidemia were identified,involving signaling pathways such as AGE-RAGE,lipid metabolism,HIF-1,etc.Experimental results showed that intervention with Astragali Complanati Semen could reduce lipid accumulation in the high-lipid cell model,with an optimal intervention concentration of 500 μg/mL;RT-qPCR revealed significant down-regulation of TNFα,IL6,AKT1,PPARG,and other genes after intervention with Astragali Complanati Semen.Conclusion Astragali Complanati Semen exerts lipid-regulating effects through multiple targets and pathways,providing a basis for its application in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia.
9.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.
10.Causal association of obesity and chronic pain mediated by educational attainment and smoking: a mediation Mendelian randomization study
Yunshu LYU ; Qingxing LU ; Yane LIU ; Mengtong XIE ; Lintong JIANG ; Junnan LI ; Ning WANG ; Xianglong DAI ; Yuqi YANG ; Peiming JIANG ; Qiong YU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2025;38(2):177-186
Background:
Obesity and chronic pain are related in both directions, according to earlier observational research.This research aimed to analyze the causal association between obesity and chronic pain at the genetic level, as well as to assess whether common factors mediate this relationship.
Methods:
This study used bidirectional two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) technique to analyze the association between obesity and chronic pain. Obesity's summary genome-wide association data were obtained from European ancestry groups, as measured by body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC), genome-wide association study data for chronic pain also came from the UK population, including chronic pain at three different sites (back, hip, and headache), chronic widespread pain (CWP), and multisite chronic pain (MCP). Secondly, a two-step MR and multivariate MR investigation was performed to evaluate the mediating effects of several proposed confounders.
Results:
The authors discovered a link between chronic pain and obesity. More specifically, a sensitivity analysis was done to confirm the associations between greater BMI, WC, and HC with an increased risk of CWP and MCP.Importantly, the intermediate MR results suggest that education levels and smoking initiation may mediate the causal relationship between BMI on CWP, with a mediation effect of 23.08% and 15.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The authors’ findings demonstrate that the importance of education and smoking in understanding chronic pain’s pathogenesis, which is important for the primary prevention and prognosis of chronic pain.

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