1.Systematic analysis of population pharmacokinetics of lacosamide
Sai CUI ; Nan MENG ; Huizhen WU ; Yin WU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(10):1302-1306
OBJECTIVE To systematically analyze the population pharmacokinetics (PPK) studies of lacosamide and expound the influential factors of its pharmacokinetics in different populations. METHODS PPK studies of lacosamide were collected by searching the databases, such as Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Metasearch, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP, both in Chinese and English. Relevant data were extracted, and the Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool was used to evaluate the quality of the PPK models in the included studies. RESULTS Among 8 studies ultimately included, 6 were retrospective studies and 2 were prospective studies; 5 studies involved pediatric patients. Seven studies adopted a one-compartment model, while 1 study utilized a two-compartment model. Four studies had a model quality rating of grade A, two of grade B and two of grade C, respectively. Body weight, renal function, and hepatic enzyme inducers were significant covariates influencing PPK of lacosamide. CONCLUSIONS The existing PPK studies of lacosamide are predominantly conducted in pediatric populations. Pharmacokinetic variability is mainly influenced by body weight, renal function, and hepatic enzyme inducers. However, most PPK studies have not conducted external validation, and the generalizability of the models remains to be confirmed.
2.Revealing VCAN as a Potential Common Diagnostic Biomarker of Renal Tubules and Glomerulus in Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Machine Learning, Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis and Mendelian Randomization
Li JIANG ; Jie JIAN ; Xulin SAI ; Xiai WU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):407-420
Background:
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and categorized into glomerular DKDs and tubular DKDs, each governed by distinct pathological mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Through the identification of common features observed in glomerular and tubular lesions in DKD, numerous differentially expressed gene were identified by the machine learning, single-cell transcriptome and mendelian randomization.
Results:
The diagnostic markers versican (VCAN) was identified, offering supplementary options for clinical diagnosis. VCAN significantly highly expressed in glomerular parietal epithelial cell and proximal convoluted tubular cell. It was mainly involved in the up-regulation of immune genes and infiltration of immune cells like mast cell. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that serum VCAN protein levels were a risky factor for DKD, while there was no reverse association. It exhibited the good diagnostic potential for estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in DKD.
Conclusion
VCAN showed the prospects into DKD pathology and clinical indicator.
3.Study on population pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam in post-stroke epilepsy patients
Chenxi LIU ; Yin WU ; Caiyun JIA ; Sai CUI ; Huizhen WU ; Suxing WANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):594-599
OBJECTIVE To establish population pharmacokinetic model of levetiracetam (Lev) for Chinese patients with post- stroke epilepsy (PSE), and provide reference for formulating individualized dosing regimens for Lev therapy in this specific population. METHODS Blood concentration data and clinical diagnosis and treatment information of PSE patients meeting the inclusion criteria were retrospectively collected and divided into model group and validation group at an 8∶2 ratio using a random number method. Based on the model group data, a population pharmacokinetic model was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Internal evaluation was performed through goodness-of-fit tests and bootstrap analysis, while external validation was conducted using the validation group data. RESULTS A total of 75 blood concentration measurements from 70 PSE patients were collected, with 60 measurements from 55 patients used for model development and 15 measurements from 15 patients reserved for external validation. The final model estimated a population typical value of clearance at 2.98 L/h. Estimated glomerular filtration rate, daily dose, and homocysteine level significantly influenced clearance of Lev (P<0.01). The model demonstrated satisfactory predictive performance, as evidenced by goodness-of-fit tests, bootstrap analysis, and external validation results. CONCLUSIONS Daily dose, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and homocysteine level are identified as significant covariates influencing Lev clearance in Chinese PSE patients. When making clinical decisions, comprehensive consideration should be given to the patient’s treatment response, physiological and pathological conditions, and the occurrence of adverse reactions, etc. The dosage of Lev should be adjusted based on the results of population pharmacokinetic model.
4.Correlation between serum zinc level and prognosis of patients with sepsis
Xiao-Gang WANG ; Jia-Jun MA ; Rui-Xin ZHU ; Li-Bing ZHOU ; Sai-Hu HUANG ; Shui-Yan WU ; Wen-Si NIU ; Jie HUANG ; Zhen-Jiang BAI
Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition 2025;32(5):278-282
Objective:To investigate the differences in clinical outcomes of septic children with varying serum zinc levels,and to analyze the relationship between reduced serum zinc levels and organ dysfunction as well as 28-day mortality in septic children.Methods:This study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from pediatric patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock in the Department of critical care medicine of the children's Hospital of Soochow University between January 2017 and December 2022.Clinical characteristics,organ dysfunction,and prognosis were compared between two groups:children with low serum zinc levels and those with normal zinc levels.Results:The serum zinc level of septic children within 24 hours of admission was 9.60(5.52,13.80)μmol/L,with 50.54%(94/186)of the children exhibiting low serum zinc levels(<10.07 μmol/L).Compared to the normal serum zinc group,the low serum zinc group had a significantly lower Pediatric Critical Illness Score(PCIS)[(78.71±9.35)vs.(85.12±8.51),P=0.005]and higher 28-day mortality(46.80%vs.14.13%,P<0.001).The low serum zinc group also had a higher proportion of invasive mechanical ventilation(64.89%vs.47.82%,P=0.019),renal replacement therapy(15.59%vs.3.26%,P=0.003),and use of vasoactive drugs(56.38%vs.30.43%,P<0.001).The rate of underlying conditions in the low serum zinc group was significantly higher than that in the normal serum zinc group(57.44%vs.36.95%,P=0.005).Additionally,the low serum zinc group had a higher incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC),respiratory failure,acute kidney injury,shock,and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)compared to the normal serum zinc group(P<0.05).Serum zinc levels had predictive value for 28-day mortality in septic children(AUC=0.813;95%CI:0.725~0.902;P<0.001).A serum zinc level of less than 6.950 μmol/L predicted the death of septic children with a sensitivity of 0.618 and a specificity of 0.902.Conclusion:Sepsis in children is commonly associated with low serum zinc levels,especially in those with underlying conditions such as hematologic and oncologic disorders.Sepsis patients hypozincemia with a higher incidence of DIC,respiratory failure,acute kidney injury,shock,and MODS.A serum zinc level below 6.95 μmol/L serves as a significant predictor of 28-day mortality in children with severe sepsis.
5.Revealing VCAN as a Potential Common Diagnostic Biomarker of Renal Tubules and Glomerulus in Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Machine Learning, Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis and Mendelian Randomization
Li JIANG ; Jie JIAN ; Xulin SAI ; Xiai WU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):407-420
Background:
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and categorized into glomerular DKDs and tubular DKDs, each governed by distinct pathological mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Through the identification of common features observed in glomerular and tubular lesions in DKD, numerous differentially expressed gene were identified by the machine learning, single-cell transcriptome and mendelian randomization.
Results:
The diagnostic markers versican (VCAN) was identified, offering supplementary options for clinical diagnosis. VCAN significantly highly expressed in glomerular parietal epithelial cell and proximal convoluted tubular cell. It was mainly involved in the up-regulation of immune genes and infiltration of immune cells like mast cell. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that serum VCAN protein levels were a risky factor for DKD, while there was no reverse association. It exhibited the good diagnostic potential for estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in DKD.
Conclusion
VCAN showed the prospects into DKD pathology and clinical indicator.
6.Revealing VCAN as a Potential Common Diagnostic Biomarker of Renal Tubules and Glomerulus in Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Machine Learning, Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis and Mendelian Randomization
Li JIANG ; Jie JIAN ; Xulin SAI ; Xiai WU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):407-420
Background:
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and categorized into glomerular DKDs and tubular DKDs, each governed by distinct pathological mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Through the identification of common features observed in glomerular and tubular lesions in DKD, numerous differentially expressed gene were identified by the machine learning, single-cell transcriptome and mendelian randomization.
Results:
The diagnostic markers versican (VCAN) was identified, offering supplementary options for clinical diagnosis. VCAN significantly highly expressed in glomerular parietal epithelial cell and proximal convoluted tubular cell. It was mainly involved in the up-regulation of immune genes and infiltration of immune cells like mast cell. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that serum VCAN protein levels were a risky factor for DKD, while there was no reverse association. It exhibited the good diagnostic potential for estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in DKD.
Conclusion
VCAN showed the prospects into DKD pathology and clinical indicator.
7.Revealing VCAN as a Potential Common Diagnostic Biomarker of Renal Tubules and Glomerulus in Diabetic Kidney Disease Based on Machine Learning, Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis and Mendelian Randomization
Li JIANG ; Jie JIAN ; Xulin SAI ; Xiai WU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):407-420
Background:
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and categorized into glomerular DKDs and tubular DKDs, each governed by distinct pathological mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Through the identification of common features observed in glomerular and tubular lesions in DKD, numerous differentially expressed gene were identified by the machine learning, single-cell transcriptome and mendelian randomization.
Results:
The diagnostic markers versican (VCAN) was identified, offering supplementary options for clinical diagnosis. VCAN significantly highly expressed in glomerular parietal epithelial cell and proximal convoluted tubular cell. It was mainly involved in the up-regulation of immune genes and infiltration of immune cells like mast cell. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that serum VCAN protein levels were a risky factor for DKD, while there was no reverse association. It exhibited the good diagnostic potential for estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria in DKD.
Conclusion
VCAN showed the prospects into DKD pathology and clinical indicator.
8.Single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis reveals that an immune cell-related signature could predict clinical outcomes for microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer patients receiving immunotherapy.
Shijin YUAN ; Yan XIA ; Guangwei DAI ; Shun RAO ; Rongrong HU ; Yuzhen GAO ; Qing QIU ; Chenghao WU ; Sai QIAO ; Yinghua XU ; Xinyou XIE ; Haizhou LOU ; Xian WANG ; Jun ZHANG
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2025;26(4):371-392
Recent data suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor (VEGFRi) can enhance the anti-tumor activity of the anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibody in colorectal cancer (CRC) with microsatellite stability (MSS). However, the comparison between this combination and standard third-line VEGFRi treatment is not performed, and reliable biomarkers are still lacking. We retrospectively enrolled MSS CRC patients receiving anti-PD-1 antibody plus VEGFRi (combination group, n=54) or VEGFRi alone (VEGFRi group, n=32), and their efficacy and safety were evaluated. We additionally examined the immune characteristics of the MSS CRC tumor microenvironment (TME) through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data, and an MSS CRC immune cell-related signature (MCICRS) that can be used to predict the clinical outcomes of MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy was developed and validated in our in-house cohort. Compared with VEGFRi alone, the combination of anti-PD-1 antibody and VEGFRi exhibited a prolonged survival benefit (median progression-free survival: 4.4 vs. 2.0 months, P=0.0024; median overall survival: 10.2 vs. 5.2 months, P=0.0038) and a similar adverse event incidence. Through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, we determined ten MSS CRC-enriched immune cell types and their spatial distribution, including naive CD4+ T, regulatory CD4+ T, CD4+ Th17, exhausted CD8+ T, cytotoxic CD8+ T, proliferated CD8+ T, natural killer (NK) cells, plasma, and classical and intermediate monocytes. Based on a systemic meta-analysis and ten machine learning algorithms, we obtained MCICRS, an independent risk factor for the prognosis of MSS CRC patients. Further analyses demonstrated that the low-MCICRS group presented a higher immune cell infiltration and immune-related pathway activation, and hence a significant relation with the superior efficacy of pan-cancer immunotherapy. More importantly, the predictive value of MCICRS in MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy was also validated with an in-house cohort. Anti-PD-1 antibody combined with VEGFRi presented an improved clinical benefit in MSS CRC with manageable toxicity. MCICRS could serve as a robust and promising tool to predict clinical outcomes for individual MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy.
Humans
;
Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Immunotherapy
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
Tumor Microenvironment/immunology*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Microsatellite Instability
;
Transcriptome
;
Single-Cell Analysis
;
Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/immunology*
;
Gene Expression Profiling
;
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
;
Adult
;
Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors*
9.Genetic analysis of a child with Leukoencephalopathy with ataxia caused by a homozygous variant of CLCN2 gene and a literature review
Zhen ZHOU ; Sai YANG ; Zeshu NING ; Bo CHEN ; Miao WANG ; Liwen WU
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(1):82-88
Objective:To explore the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of a child with Leukoencephalopathy with ataxia (LKPAT) caused by a CLCN2 gene variant. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of a child admitted to Hunan Children′s Hospital in June 2024 due to " intermittent convulsions for 13 days" . Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and his parents for whole exome sequencing, followed by Sanger sequencing validation and pathogenicity analysis of candidate variants. Literature searches were performed using the keywords " CLCN2 gene" "chloride channel-2" "leukoencephalopathy with ataxia/LKPAT" "leukoencephalopathy" in both Chinese and English on CNKI, Wanfang, and PubMed databases. The search time was set from the establishment of the databases to July 31, 2024. Childhood-onset LKPAT literature was screened and analyzed. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Hunan Children′s Hospital (Ethics No. HCHLL-2024-351). Results:① The child was a 7-month-and-26-day-old male infant born to consanguineous parents, presenting with epileptic seizures and borderline development. Cranial MRI revealed symmetrical long T 2 signal shadows in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, cerebral peduncle, pons, and middle peduncle of the cerebellum. Video electroencephalogram (EEG) showed an abnormal childhood EEG with one focal seizure. ② Whole exome sequencing revealed a homozygous c. 2201dup (p.Glu735Ter) variant in the CLCN2 gene of the child. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the variant was inherited from both parents. According to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), this variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+ PM3_Supporting+ PM2_Supporting). ③ A total of 8 relevant literature were retrieved, together with the present case, 16 childhood-onset LKPAT patients were cumulatively reported, which consisted of 9 males and 7 females. Twelve CLCN2 gene variants were involved, including 2 nonsense variants, 3 missense variants, 7 frameshifting variants, 2 c. 61dup variants, and 5 c.1709G>A variants. The initial symptoms of the 16 patients included headache, ataxia, epileptic seizures, spasticity, developmental delay, lower back pain, hearing impairment, and intention tremor. Three patients had the onset of the disease before the age of one, of which two had epileptic seizures as the initial symptom. Conclusion:The homozygous variant CLCN2: c. 2201dup (p.Glu735Ter) is considered the pathogenic cause of LKPAT in this child, marking the first childhood-onset case reported in China. Genetic testing has facilitated the diagnosis of childhood-onset LKPAT and expanded the spectrum of CLCN2 gene mutations.
10.Accurate evaluation model of burning mouth syndrome based on inflammatory factors and psychological scores: a clinical study
Ying ZHANG ; Sai YE ; Hong SUN ; Xuemin SHEN ; Lan WU
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2025;60(3):232-238
Objective:To explore the correlation between anxiety, depression, and inflammatory markers in the body fluids of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS), creating a preliminary assessment model based on clinical data.Methods:Forty-one BMS patients were recruited according to the predefined inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria from the Department of Oral Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between December 2021 and September 2023, along with 12 healthy controls. The pain intensity of the 41 patients was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). Meanwhile, anxiety and depression were assessed using the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS). The concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in saliva and serum were measured using the Luminex 200 TM system and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Spearman′s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression, respectively. Results:The VAS score for the 41 BMS patients was (3.56±1.90), with 48.8% (20/41) and 41.5% (17/41) of patients experiencing mild and moderate pain, respectively. Only 7.3% (3/41) of patients had severe pain. Among the 41 BMS patients, 61.0% (25/41) exhibited anxiety and/or depression, in whom 39.0% (16/41) had both anxiety and depression, 9.8% (4/41) experienced anxiety without depression, and 12.2% (5/41) had depression without anxiety. The concentrations of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the serum and saliva of BMS patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (all P<0.05). In contrast, the BDNF concentration in serum was significantly lower in BMS patients than in healthy participants ( P<0.01), but was significantly higher in saliva ( P<0.001). Serum TNF-α was positively correlated with IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6 (β=0.803, β=0.812, β=0.592; all P<0.01), while saliva TNF-α was negatively correlated with both anxiety and depression (β=-0.325, β=-0.321; all P<0.05). SAS scores were linearly correlated with saliva TNF-α concentrations (SAS=51.374-1.154×saliva TNF-α); saliva TNF-α concentrations were linearly correlated with saliva IFN-γ and IL-1β (saliva TNF-α=2.408+0.281×saliva IFN-γ+0.002×saliva IL-1β). Conclusions:This study provides a preliminary exploration of a clinical assessment model for BMS based on inflammatory markers and psychological scores, offering an exploratory framework for further research and optimization of the model.

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