1.SIRT5 Potentiates Hepatocarcinogenesis by Modulating Protein Acylation in Mice
Yu ZHANG ; Feng-Rui REN ; Jia-Yun LI ; Xiang-Yu CHEN ; Zi-Yi WANG ; Qi SUN ; Jun-Cheng ZHAO ; Ye ZHANG ; Zhen HUANG ; Hao HU ; Tao-Tao WEI ; Min XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1712-1722
ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. The main risk factors associated with HCC include viral hepatitis (B and/or C), alcohol abuse, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which progressively advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately evolve into HCC. Surgical resection represents the most effective treatment for HCC, while recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, have provided improved treatment prospects for patients with unresectable HCC. However, the complex metabolic heterogeneity of HCC limits the therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic intermediates acyl-CoA not only provide energy and substrates for numerous biochemical reactions but also serve as donors for protein lysine acylation, a major class of post-translational modification (PTM). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lysine acylation and hepatocarcinogenesis is urgently needed. MethodsThe levels of protein lysine acylation and silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) expression levels in clinical HCC samples were analyzed by Western blot. Quantitative malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples were analyzed by antibody-based affinity enrichment coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining coupled with flow cytometry, and the ability of cells to migrate was assayed by Transwell assays. The enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was quantified. Transgenic mice with hepatic overexpression of SIRT5 were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and primary hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine. ResultsWestern blot analysis indicated that the expression level of SIRT5 was elevated in clinical samples from HCC patients, and the levels of lysine malonylation, glutarylation, and succinylation were significantly reduced in HCC tissues. Knockout of SIRT5 in MHCC-97H and MHCC-97L hepatoma cells suppressed cell proliferation, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples revealed significant enrichment in two major classes of biological processes: core energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, fatty acid beta oxidation) and detoxification and oxidative stress response (e.g., response to toxic substance, chemical carcinogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)). SIRT5 removes malonylation from lysine residues in GSTM1 and restores its detoxification activity, which is crucial for the survival of hepatocytes under stressed conditions. More importantly, in vivo experiment indicated that hepatic-specific overexpression of SIRT5 in mice accelerated diethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating the critical role of SIRT5 in HCC progression. ConclusionThis study highlights the previously unrecognized SIRT5-GSTM1 axis as a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis, and suggests a potential target for the treatment of patients with HCC.
2.Usefulness of intraoperative choledochoscopy in laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis
Rui-Hui ZHANG ; Xiang-Nan WANG ; Yue-Feng MA ; Xue-Qian TANG ; Mei-Ju LIN ; Li-Jun SHI ; Jing-Yi LI ; Hong-Wei ZHANG
Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery 2025;29(2):192-198
Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been a safe and viable alternative to conversion to laparotomy in cases of severe cholecystitis. The objective of this study is to determine the utility of intraoperative choledochoscopy in LSC for the exploration of the gallbladder, cyst duct, and subsequent stone clearance of the cystic duct in cases of severe cholecystitis. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with severe cholecystitis received choledochoscopy-assisted laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (CALSC). A choledochoscopy was performed to explore the gallbladder cavity and/or cystic duct, and to extract stones using a range of techniques. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were subjected to analysis. No LSC was converted to open surgery, and no bile duct or vascular injuries were sustained. All stones within the cystic duct were removed by a combination of techniques, including high-frequency needle knife electrotomy, basket, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy. A follow-up examination revealed the absence of residual bile duct stones, with the exception of one common bile duct stone, which was extracted via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In certain special cases, CALSC may prove to be an efficacious treatment for the management of severe cholecystitis. This technique allows for optimal comprehension of the situation within the gallbladder cavity and cystic duct, facilitating the removal of stones from the cystic duct and reducing the residue of the non-functional gallbladder remnant.
3.Usefulness of intraoperative choledochoscopy in laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis
Rui-Hui ZHANG ; Xiang-Nan WANG ; Yue-Feng MA ; Xue-Qian TANG ; Mei-Ju LIN ; Li-Jun SHI ; Jing-Yi LI ; Hong-Wei ZHANG
Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery 2025;29(2):192-198
Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been a safe and viable alternative to conversion to laparotomy in cases of severe cholecystitis. The objective of this study is to determine the utility of intraoperative choledochoscopy in LSC for the exploration of the gallbladder, cyst duct, and subsequent stone clearance of the cystic duct in cases of severe cholecystitis. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with severe cholecystitis received choledochoscopy-assisted laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (CALSC). A choledochoscopy was performed to explore the gallbladder cavity and/or cystic duct, and to extract stones using a range of techniques. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were subjected to analysis. No LSC was converted to open surgery, and no bile duct or vascular injuries were sustained. All stones within the cystic duct were removed by a combination of techniques, including high-frequency needle knife electrotomy, basket, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy. A follow-up examination revealed the absence of residual bile duct stones, with the exception of one common bile duct stone, which was extracted via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In certain special cases, CALSC may prove to be an efficacious treatment for the management of severe cholecystitis. This technique allows for optimal comprehension of the situation within the gallbladder cavity and cystic duct, facilitating the removal of stones from the cystic duct and reducing the residue of the non-functional gallbladder remnant.
4.mRNA display-enabled discovery of proximity-triggered covalent peptide-drug conjugates.
Ruixuan WANG ; Siqi RAN ; Jiabei GUO ; Da HU ; Xiang FENG ; Jixia ZHOU ; Zhanzhi ZHANG ; Futian LIANG ; Jiamin SHANG ; Lingxin BU ; Kaiyi WANG ; Junyi MAO ; Huixin LUO ; Rui WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5474-5485
Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) have emerged as a promising modality in precision oncology, enabling targeted delivery of cytotoxic payloads while minimizing off-target toxicity. The integration of covalent warheads, such as those based on sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) chemistry, enhances drug-target residence time and tumor accumulation. However, existing screening methods for covalent peptide (CP) libraries require post-translational warhead conjugation, limiting throughput. Here, we present an integrated mRNA display platform that incorporates covalent warheads during ribosomal synthesis, enabling efficient screening of ultra-diverse covalent macrocyclic peptide libraries (>1013 variants). This approach, using site-specific incorporation of N-chloroacetyl-d-phenylalanine and fluorosulfate-l-tyrosine, accelerated the discovery of irreversibly binding (K i = 3.58 μmol/L) Nectin-4-targeting peptide CP-N1-N3 via proximity-triggered SuFEx. The peptide was further conjugated to cytotoxic payloads, yielding the covalent PDC CP-N1-MMAE with potent cytotoxicity (IC50 ≈ 43 nmol/L) against MDA-MB-468 cells. This platform establishes a new paradigm for precision covalent drug discovery.
5.Causal Associations between Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5), PM 2.5 Absorbance, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Risk: Evidence from a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.
Xu ZHANG ; Zhi Meng WU ; Lu ZHANG ; Bing Long XIN ; Xiang Rui WANG ; Xin Lan LU ; Gui Fang LU ; Mu Dan REN ; Shui Xiang HE ; Ya Rui LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):167-177
OBJECTIVE:
Several epidemiological observational studies have related particulate matter (PM) exposure to Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but many confounding factors make it difficult to draw causal links from observational studies. The objective of this study was to explore the causal association between PM 2.5 exposure, its absorbance, and IBD.
METHODS:
We assessed the association of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5 absorbance with the two primary forms of IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) using Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal relationship. We conducted two-sample MR analyses with aggregated data from the UK Biobank genome-wide association study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked with PM 2.5 concentrations or their absorbance were used as instrumental variables (IVs). We used inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary analytical approach and four other standard methods as supplementary analyses for quality control.
RESULTS:
The results of MR demonstrated that PM 2.5 had an adverse influence on UC risk (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.010; 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 1.001-1.019, P = 0.020). Meanwhile, the results of IVW showed that PM 2.5 absorbance was also causally associated with UC ( OR = 1.012; 95% CI = 1.004-1.019, P = 0.002). We observed no causal relationship between PM 2.5, PM 2.5 absorbance, and CD. The results of sensitivity analysis indicated the absence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy, ensuring the reliability of MR results.
CONCLUSION
Based on two-sample MR analyses, there are potential positive causal relationships between PM 2.5, PM 2.5 absorbance, and UC.
Humans
;
Mendelian Randomization Analysis
;
Particulate Matter/analysis*
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics*
;
Air Pollutants/analysis*
;
Crohn Disease/genetics*
;
Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics*
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
;
Risk Factors
;
Environmental Exposure
6.Thoughts and Prospects on Precision Control and Intelligent Positioning Robotic Systems Applied in Nasojejunal Feeding Tube Placement
Yu QIU ; Rui HONG ; Guofei XIANG ; Dengfeng HONG ; Yin ZHANG ; Kefeng LI ; Huitang QIAN ; Songyi DIAN ; Ka LI ; Wei PU
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(5):1412-1418
Nasojejunal feeding tubes are widely used in surgical,intensive care,and older patients.Manual blind insertion of nasojejunal feeding tubes is technically challenging,associated with a high failure rate,and prone to complications.The primary causes of suboptimal placement outcomes are the uncertainty and weak controllability of the interaction forces during the coordination between manual posterior advancement and the patient's physiological state.While current auxiliary techniques such as X-ray,ultrasound,and endoscopy can improve the success rate of nasojejunal tube placement and reduce complications to some extent,the accuracy and safety of placement remain constrained by challenges in controlling insertion forces and achieving precise positional localization.Robotic technology holds promise for addressing the uncertainties and controllability issues inherent in the placement process.By leveraging precise sensing,real-time navigation,and efficient control,robots can achieve intelligent positioning and precise control over the direction and location of the catheter tip during nasojejunal intubation.However,current research on robotic applications for nasojejunal feeding tube placement is still in an early stage,facing challenges such as high costs,operational complexity,and concerns over safety and reliability.Herein,we analyzed the limitations and causes of failure in existing placement methods and explored the application prospects of robotic technologies for precise control and intelligent positioning in nasojejunal feeding tube placement.The paper provides new insights for developing nursing techniques that enable safer and more effective,comfortable,and rapid intubation.Future efforts should focus on deepening the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics,optimizing drive technologies,and accelerating the translation of these technologies from the laboratory to clinical practice.This will drive the advancement of nasojejunal feeding tube placement techniques towards intelligent,precise,and accessible solutions.
7.Influence of iron metabolism on osteoporosis and modulating effect of traditional Chinese medicine.
Yi-Li ZHANG ; Bao-Yu QI ; Chuan-Rui SUN ; Xiang-Yun GUO ; Shuang-Jie YANG ; Ping LIU ; Xu WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):575-582
Recent studies have shown that an imbalance in iron metabolism can affect the composition and microstructural changes of bone, disrupting bone homeostasis and leading to osteoporosis(OP). The imbalance in iron metabolism, along with its induced local abnormal microenvironment and cellular iron death, has become a new focal point in OP research, drawing increasing attention from the academic community regarding the regulation of iron metabolism to prevent and manage OP. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), iron metabolism imbalance has potential connections to TCM theories regarding internal organs, as well as treatments aimed at tonifying the kidney, strengthening the spleen, and activating blood circulation. Evidence is continually emerging that TCMs and effective components that tonify the kidney, strengthen the spleen, and activate blood circulation can prevent and manage OP by regulating iron metabolism. This article analyzes the relationship between iron and bone, as well as the effects of TCM formulations on improving iron metabolism and influencing bone metabolism, from the perspectives of iron metabolism mechanisms and TCM interventions, aiming to broaden existing clinical strategies for prevention and treatment and inject new momentum into the field of OP as it moves into a new era.
Osteoporosis/drug therapy*
;
Humans
;
Iron/metabolism*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Animals
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Bone and Bones/drug effects*
8.Grounded theory, scientific connotation, and clinical application of aromatic immunity in traditional Chinese medicine.
Si-Rui XIANG ; Qin JIAN ; Qi XU ; Jun-Zhi LIN ; Ding-Kun ZHANG ; Ming YANG ; Chuan ZHENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1137-1145
Aromatic immunity in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is the medical knowledge accumulated in the process of people's struggling with diseases. It plays an important role in plague prevention, disease treatment, health preservation, and rehabilitation, and has profound TCM basic theoretical support and abundant modern scientific evidence. With the in-depth promotion of the Healthy China initiative and the succession of health needs in the post-COVID-19 era, how to practice the health concept of aromatic immunity in TCM and develop its health service resources with high quality has become an important proposition to be discussed urgently. This paper summarizes the cognitive process, puts forward the basic concept, discusses the scientific connotation and clinical application value, and looks forward to the future development trend of aromatic immunity in TCM, aiming to provide guidance for the development of great health products and promote the application of aromatic immunity in TCM in serving people's health.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Humans
;
COVID-19/immunology*
;
China
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
SARS-CoV-2
9.YOLOX-SwinT algorithm improves the accuracy of AO/OTA classification of intertrochanteric fractures by orthopedic trauma surgeons.
Xue-Si LIU ; Rui NIE ; Ao-Wen DUAN ; Li YANG ; Xiang LI ; Le-Tian ZHANG ; Guang-Kuo GUO ; Qing-Shan GUO ; Dong-Chu ZHAO ; Yang LI ; He-Hua ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(1):69-75
PURPOSE:
Intertrochanteric fracture (ITF) classification is crucial for surgical decision-making. However, orthopedic trauma surgeons have shown lower accuracy in ITF classification than expected. The objective of this study was to utilize an artificial intelligence (AI) method to improve the accuracy of ITF classification.
METHODS:
We trained a network called YOLOX-SwinT, which is based on the You Only Look Once X (YOLOX) object detection network with Swin Transformer (SwinT) as the backbone architecture, using 762 radiographic ITF examinations as the training set. Subsequently, we recruited 5 senior orthopedic trauma surgeons (SOTS) and 5 junior orthopedic trauma surgeons (JOTS) to classify the 85 original images in the test set, as well as the images with the prediction results of the network model in sequence. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) to compare the differences among the SOTS, JOTS, SOTS + AI, JOTS + AI, SOTS + JOTS, and SOTS + JOTS + AI groups. All images were classified according to the AO/OTA 2018 classification system by 2 experienced trauma surgeons and verified by another expert in this field. Based on the actual clinical needs, after discussion, we integrated 8 subgroups into 5 new subgroups, and the dataset was divided into training, validation, and test sets by the ratio of 8:1:1.
RESULTS:
The mean average precision at the intersection over union (IoU) of 0.5 (mAP50) for subgroup detection reached 90.29%. The classification accuracy values of SOTS, JOTS, SOTS + AI, and JOTS + AI groups were 56.24% ± 4.02%, 35.29% ± 18.07%, 79.53% ± 7.14%, and 71.53% ± 5.22%, respectively. The paired t-test results showed that the difference between the SOTS and SOTS + AI groups was statistically significant, as well as the difference between the JOTS and JOTS + AI groups, and the SOTS + JOTS and SOTS + JOTS + AI groups. Moreover, the difference between the SOTS + JOTS and SOTS + JOTS + AI groups in each subgroup was statistically significant, with all p < 0.05. The independent samples t-test results showed that the difference between the SOTS and JOTS groups was statistically significant, while the difference between the SOTS + AI and JOTS + AI groups was not statistically significant. With the assistance of AI, the subgroup classification accuracy of both SOTS and JOTS was significantly improved, and JOTS achieved the same level as SOTS.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the YOLOX-SwinT network algorithm enhances the accuracy of AO/OTA subgroups classification of ITF by orthopedic trauma surgeons.
Humans
;
Hip Fractures/diagnostic imaging*
;
Orthopedic Surgeons
;
Algorithms
;
Artificial Intelligence
10.Usefulness of intraoperative choledochoscopy in laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for severe cholecystitis
Rui-Hui ZHANG ; Xiang-Nan WANG ; Yue-Feng MA ; Xue-Qian TANG ; Mei-Ju LIN ; Li-Jun SHI ; Jing-Yi LI ; Hong-Wei ZHANG
Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery 2025;29(2):192-198
Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) has been a safe and viable alternative to conversion to laparotomy in cases of severe cholecystitis. The objective of this study is to determine the utility of intraoperative choledochoscopy in LSC for the exploration of the gallbladder, cyst duct, and subsequent stone clearance of the cystic duct in cases of severe cholecystitis. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with severe cholecystitis received choledochoscopy-assisted laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (CALSC). A choledochoscopy was performed to explore the gallbladder cavity and/or cystic duct, and to extract stones using a range of techniques. The clinical records, including the operative records and outcomes, were subjected to analysis. No LSC was converted to open surgery, and no bile duct or vascular injuries were sustained. All stones within the cystic duct were removed by a combination of techniques, including high-frequency needle knife electrotomy, basket, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy. A follow-up examination revealed the absence of residual bile duct stones, with the exception of one common bile duct stone, which was extracted via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In certain special cases, CALSC may prove to be an efficacious treatment for the management of severe cholecystitis. This technique allows for optimal comprehension of the situation within the gallbladder cavity and cystic duct, facilitating the removal of stones from the cystic duct and reducing the residue of the non-functional gallbladder remnant.

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