1.The mechanism and clinical application value of interleukin-10 family in anti-hepatic fibrosis
Qi LUO ; Biyu ZENG ; Rong ZHANG ; Liangjiang HUANG ; Lei FU ; Chun YAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):748-754
The interleukin-10 (IL-10) family is expressed in various types of cells and has a wide range of biological functions, and it plays an important role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic liver disease characterized by abnormal repair of hepatic tissues after injury, activation of hepatic stellate cells, and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. The IL-10 family members include IL-10, IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24, IL-26, IL-28, IL-29, and IL-35, with similarities in structure and function, and changes in their expression levels are closely associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Moderate upregulation of the expression of IL-10 family members can help maintain the quiescent state of hepatic stellate cells, promote the transformation of macrophages to anti-inflammatory phenotype, and regulate the activity of natural killer cells, thereby inhibiting inflammatory response, regulating cell apoptosis and autophagy, and finally reversing the progression of hepatic fibrosis. This article discusses the mechanism of action of IL-10 family members and their application in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine therapies, in order to provide new thoughts for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.
2.Mechanism of action of immune molecules and related immune cells in liver failure
Qi LUO ; Biyu ZENG ; Rong ZHANG ; Guojuan MA ; Lei QING ; Liangjiang HUANG ; Lei FU ; Chun YAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1213-1219
Liver failure (LF) is a severe clinical syndrome characterized by severe impairment or decompensation of liver function. At present, the key role of immune molecules in the pathogenesis of LF has been well established. These molecules not only directly participate in the pathological process of LF, but also influence the course of LF by modulating the behavior of immune cells. In addition, immune molecules can be used as potential biomarkers for evaluating the prognosis of LF. This article summarizes the role of immune molecules in LF and explores the therapeutic strategies based on these immune molecules, in order to provide new directions for the diagnosis and treatment of LF.
3.Role of TIM3 Pathway in Immune Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapy of Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Xinyu GUO ; Shunjie YU ; Jinglian TAO ; Yingshuai WANG ; Xiaotong REN ; Zhaoyun LIU ; Rong FU ; Zonghong SHAO ; Lijuan LI
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(9):731-735
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a myeloid tumor derived from the malignant clones of hematopoietic stem cells, has an annually increasing incidence. The contemporary research direction has shifted to analyzing the synergistic effect of immune surveillance collapse and abnormal bone marrow microenvironment in the pathological process of MDS. Against this backdrop, the immune checkpoint molecule TIM3 has emerged as a key target because of its persistently high expression on the surface of important immune cells such as T and NK cells. The abnormal activation of the TIM3 pathway is the mechanism by which solid tumors and hematological malignancies achieve immune escape and is a key hub in the formation of immune exhaustion phenotypes. This work integrates the original discoveries of our team with the latest international progress, systematically demonstrating the bidirectional regulatory network of TIM3 between the malignant clone proliferation of MDS and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Integrating the evidence from emerging clinical trials allows us to consider the clinical significance of TIM3-targeted blocking for MDS, providing a transformative path to overcome the resistance of traditional treatments and marking a new chapter in the active immune reconstitution of MDS treatment.
4.A phenomenological study on the lived experience and needs of end-stage heart failure from the patients’ perspective
Ying XIONG ; Rong FU ; Jingwen HU
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(11):1453-1459
ObjectiveTo deeply understand the lived experience and needs of patients with end-stage heart failure, and to provide references for better implementing hospice care for patients with heart failure. MethodsA qualitative phenomenological research method was adopted to conduct in-depth interviews with 15 patients with end-stage heart failure. The Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was used to code, analyze, and extract themes from the interview data. ResultsFour themes and 10 sub-themes were identified: first, experiencing physical and psychological distress (a desire for relief from physical pain and a need for psychological counseling); second, ambivalence towards family support (yearning for care but feeling guilty); third, actively seeking social support (expecting to be understood and valued, facilitating access to support from the medical system, and differing perceptions of doctor-patient shared decision-making); fourth, complex psychological experience regarding prognosis (experiencing fear and worry, feeling disappointed, living in the moment, and accepting death). ConclusionMedical staff, family caregivers, and society should jointly pay attention to the physical and mental feelings and needs of patients with end-stage heart failure and provide targeted care. It is recommended to implement multidisciplinary team management, promote doctor-patient shared decision-making, meet individualized needs, and provide appropriate education on life and death concepts, thereby establishing a palliative and hospice care service model for end-stage heart failure with characteristics.
5.Carthamus tinctorius L.extract ameliorates alcoholic liver disease by modulating PI3K/Akt/FoxO signaling pathway
Wen-Xuan WANG ; Xiang-Lei FU ; Man QI ; Fu-Rong FAN ; Fu-Rong ZHU ; Yuan-Chuang WANG ; Kai-Yue ZHANG ; Min LIU ; Sheng-Hui CHU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(6):1137-1145
Aim To investigate the effects of Cartham-us tinctorius L.extract(CTLE)on oxidative stress,lipid metabolism,and apoptosis levels of mice with al-cohol-induced liver injury and its mechanism of action.Methods The mouse model of alcohol-associated liver disease was established by chronic alcohol feeding and acute alcohol gavage.Mice were randomly divided into four groups.During the modeling period,the state changes of mice were observed every day,and their weight was recorded.At the end of modeling,blood and liver tissues were collected from each group of mice.The blood of mice was analyzed biochemically,and HE staining and Oil Red O staining were used to evaluate further the degree of pathological damage in the liver of mice.Quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR)and Western blot were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of p-PI3K,PI3K,p-Akt,Akt,p-mTOR,mTOR,p-FoxO1,FoxO1,p-FoxO3a,FoxO3a,p-FoxO4,FoxO4,BCL and BAX factors.Results Compared to the model group,the CTLE administration group showed improved hepatic patho-logical injury and reduced lipid deposition.The bio-chemical indexes in serum and liver,such as ALT,AST,TG,TC,and MDA levels were reduced,while GSH and SOD levels increased.Regulating the PI3K/Akt/FoxO pathway resulted in increased production of SOD,which reduced damage and apoptosis caused by reactive oxygen species(ROS).Conclusions CTLE can exert anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptotic effects through the PI3K/Akt/FoxO pathway and attenuates alcoholic liver injury in mice,providing new ideas for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease and the develop-ment of related drugs.
6.Three-dimensional finite element analysis of lumbar disc herniation under different body positions
Ben-Jing YIN ; Yu LU ; Fu-Tao JI ; Rong-Neng QIU ; Yuan-Yang XIE ; Ge CHEN ; Tian-Li XU ; Chao-Yu BAO ; Ju-Bao LI
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(6):599-604
Objective To campare biomechanical effects of different postural compression techniques on three-dimensional model of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)by finite element analysis.Methods Lumbar CT image of a 48-year-old female patient with LDH(heighted 163 cm,weighted 53 kg)was collected.Mimics 20.0,Geomagic Studio,Solidwords and other software were used to establish three-dimensional finite element model of LDH on L4,5 segments.Compression techniques under horizon-tal position,30° forward bending and 10° backward extension were simulated respectively.After applying the pressure,the ef-fects of compression techniques under different positions on stress,strain and displacement of various tissues of intervertebral disc and nerve root were observed.Results L4,5 segment finite element model was successfully established,and the model was validated.When compression manipulation was performed on the horizontal position,30° flexion and 10° extension,the annular stress were 0.732,5.929,1.286 MPa,the nucleus pulposus stress were 0.190,1.527,0.295 MPa,and the annular strain were 0.097,0.922 and 0.424,the strain sizes of nucleus pulposus were 0.153,1.222 and 0.282,respectively.The overall displace-ment distance of intervertebral disc on Y direction were-3.707,-18.990,-4.171 mm,and displacement distance of nerve root on Y direction were+7.836,+5.341,+3.859 mm,respectively.The relative displacement distances of nerve root and interverte-bral disc on Y direction were 11.543,24.331 and 8.030 mm,respectively.Conclusion Compression manipulation could make herniated intervertebral disc produce contraction and retraction trend,by increasing the distance between herniated interverte-bral disc and nerve root,to reduce symptoms of nerve compression,to achieve purpose of treatment for patients with LDH,in which the compression manipulation is more effective when the forward flexion is 30°.
7.Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation improves PCOS granulosa cell apoptosis by regulating autophagy
Shanhua FU ; Lili BAO ; Da ZHAO ; Jun LI ; Fangting LIN ; Rong HU
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(8):1646-1652
Objective:To investigate the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome and its relation-ship with granulosa cell apoptosis in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods:Follicular fluid and ovarian granulosa cells were collected from 17 PCOS patients(PCOS group)and 20 non-PCOS patients(control group),and the expression levels of pro-inflammatory factor,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-18 in follicular fluid were detected by ELISA.RT-PCR and Western blot were used to de-tect NLRP3 mRNA and NLRP3 inflammasome associated protein NLRP3,ASC and cleaved caspase-1 and autophagy related protein LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p62 expression level in granulosa cells.TUNEL assay was used to detect the apoptotic level of granulosa cells in both groups.NLRP3 silenced siRNA(si-NLRP3)and negative control sequence(si-NC)were transfected into human ovarian cancer granulosa cell line KGN cells by siRNA interference technique in vitro.TNF-α was used to simulate PCOS-related cell damage.KGN cells were divided into 4 groups according to different treatment methods:Ctrl group,TNF-α group,TNF-α+si-NLRP3 group and TNF-α+si-NC group.The levels of DHEA,testosterone,IL-1β and IL-18 in supernatant were detected by ELISA.TUNEL assay was used to detect the apoptosis level of KGN cells.The LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p62,NLRP3,ASC and cleaved caspase-1 protein expression levels,and NF-κB p-p65 level(NF-κB p-p65/NF-κB p65)in KGN cells were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with con-trol group,the concentration of TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-18 in follicular fluid of PCOS patients,and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,NLRP3 mRNA and the protein expression of NLRP3,ASC,and cleaved caspase-1 in granulosa cells of and apoptosis were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the protein expression of p62 was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with Ctrl group,the levels of DHEA,testosterone,IL-1β and IL-18 in supernatant of TNF-α group,TNF-α+si-NC group,and TNF-α+si-NLRP3 group,and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ,ASC and cleaved caspase-1 protein expression,and the level of NF-κB p-p65 and apoptosis were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while p62 protein was significantly decreased(P<0.01).NLRP3 was significantly decreased except in TNF-α+si-NLRP3 group(P<0.01),while in the TNF-α group and TNF-α+si-NC group was significantly increased(P<0.01).However,com-pared with TNF-α group,the above indexes in TNF-α+si-NLRP3 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),and TNF-α+si-NC group had no significant change(P>0.05).Conclusion:The over-activated NLRP3 inflammasome in granulosa cells may promote cell inflammatory injury and autophagy apoptosis in PCOS patients through NF-κB pathway.
8.Cloning and expression of the K26 gene of Leishmania and evaluation of detection of specific antibodies against visceral leishmaniasis in China
Dan DING ; Ying WANG ; Chun-Hua GAO ; Xiao-Jin MO ; Feng SHI ; Jing ZHANG ; Xiao-Kai JIA ; Fu-Rong WEI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(8):763-767
To clone and express the K26 gene of Leishmania isolated from three types of visceral leishmaniasis epidemic ar-eas in China and evaluate its effect on detecting specific antibodies against visceral leishmaniasis.The K26 fragments from Leishmania isolated KS-6,SC6 and JIASHI-1 was synthesized and cloned into pET32a vector.The recombinant plasmid pET32a-K26 was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 strains and induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside(IPTG).The expressed recombinant protein was purified by the His-tagged affinity column(Ni-NTA).Serum samples of 110 visceral leishmaniasis patients were used for evaluating the sensitivity by ELISA.Serum samples from patients with malaria,schisto-somiasis japonica,cystechinococcosis,toxoplasmosis,paragon-imiasis,clonorchiosis and 40 healthy people were used for eval-uating the specificity.Detection results of ELISA were compared with that of rK39 strip of American InBios company.Comparation among three K26 antigens were given by x2 test.The sensitivity of the recombinant K26 protein of KS-6,SC6 and JIASHI-5 strains of Leishmania and rK39 strip test to detect the sera of patients with visceral leishmaniasis was 90.00%(99/110),92.73%(102/110),90.91%(100/110)and 93.64%(103/110),respectively.There was no cross reactivity with malaria(10),schistosomiasis japonica(10),cystechinococcosis(10),toxoplasmosis(5),paragonimiasis(5)and clonorchiosis(5),and 40 sera from healthy people were also negative.The specificity was 100.00%.There was no statistical difference in the sensitivity of the recombinant K26 protein of KS-6,SC6 and JIASHI-1 strains of Leishmania and rK39 strip test,x2 values are 0.97,0.07 and 0.57 respectively and the P values are 0.33,0.79 and 0.45,respectively.There was no statis-tical difference in the sensitivity of three K26 antigens(x2=0.53,P=0.97).Conclusion The recombinant K26 antigen has po-tential application value in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.
9.Bartonella infection status and influencing factors
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(9):867-871,886
Bartonellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Bartonella spp.Rodents and blood-feeding arthropods are the main host animals and vectors.In recent years,with changes in people's lifestyles and environmental development,the risk of human infection with Bartonella has significantly increased.The number and range of bartonellosis infections are increasing each year.To prevent and control bartonellosis more effectively,this study summarizes the current status of Bartonella spp.infection;analyzes the influences of biological,natural,and social factors on the occurrence of infection;and provides targeted suggestions to advance bartonellosis prevention and control.
10.Assessment of ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve block for acute herpes zoster and its' possible prophylaxis for postherpetic neuralgia: a retrospective and case-controlled trial
Xiuhua LI ; Rong YUAN ; Yanwei YANG ; Zhenlong QIN ; Runqiao FU
The Korean Journal of Pain 2024;37(4):343-353
Background:
This study aimed to compare the intercostal nerve block (ICNB) and thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) for acute herpes zoster-associated pain (ZAP) and possible prophylaxis for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Methods:
This study enrolled 128 patients with ZAP. Their records were stratified into standard antiviral treatment (AVT) plus US-guided TPVB (the TPVB group), AVT plus US-guided ICNB (the ICNB group) or AVT alone (the control group). Herpes zoster (HZ)-related burden of illness (HZ-BOI) within the post-procedural 30 days was defined as the primary endpoint, determined by a composite of pain severity and follow-up duration. Procedure time, rescue analgesic requirement, PHN incidence, health-related quality of life and side effects were also recorded.
Results:
Significantly lower HZ-BOI-AUC 30 was reported in the TPVB and ICNB groups as compared to the control group, with a mean difference of 57.5 (P < 0.001) and 40.3 (P = 0.003), respectively. However, there was no difference between the TPVB and ICNB groups (P = 0.978). Both TPVB and ICNB reported significantly greater improvements in PHN incidence, EQ-5D-3L scores and rescue analgesic requirements during follow-up, as opposed to the control AVT. Shorter procedure time was observed in ICNB as compared to TPVB (16.47 ± 3.39 vs. 11.69 ± 2.58, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Both US-guided TPVBs and ICNBs were effective for ZAP, and accounted for possible prophylaxis for PHN, as compared to AVT alone. The ICNB approach could be recommended as an alternative to conventional TPVB with a better consumed procedure time and side effect profile.

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