1.Expression and Clinical Significance of Nucleoporin 93 in Patients with Neuroblastoma
Minting LIANG ; Yang YANG ; Xiaojun LIU ; Huiya LIANG ; Hanyi ZHANG ; Yihan SUN ; Xiuyu SHI ; Xia YANG
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):420-430
ObjectiveTo screen key genes associated with neuroblastoma (NB) diagnosis and prognosis using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and to investigate the expression and clinical significance of nucleoporin 93 (NUP93) in NB tissues. MethodsNB gene chip data (GSE73517, GSE49710, GSE19274) were retrieved from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) commonly upregulated in high-risk groups were screened. The R2 database was then used to assess the prognostic value of DEGs that were commonly upregulated in the MYCN amplification group. Finally, NUP93 expression levels in the tissues from 60 NB, 25 ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB), and 26 ganglioneuroma (GN) cases were measured by immunohistochemistry . ResultsTwenty-five DEGs were identified as commonly upregulated in high-risk groups. Among these, 10 genes (SIVA1, NUP93, STIP1, LSM4, RAI14, MYOZ3, KNTC1, TNFRSF10B, TACC3 and CEP152) showed significantly higher expression in MYCN-amplified subgroups (P<0.05). Survival analysis revealed that high NUP93 expression was associated with shorter overall survival (HR = 4.0, 95% CI: 3.0,5.3, P = 1.80 × 10⁻³⁴). Immunohistochemistry results revealed that NUP93 expression in NB tissues was significantly higher than in GNB and GN tissues (P<0.001). NUP93 expression was positively correlated with high mitosis-karyorrhexis index (MKI; P=0.040), poor differentiation (P<0.001), and MYCN expression (rs = 0.793, P <0.001). ConclusionsHigh expression of NUP93 is associated with high MKI and poor differentiation, and predicts unfavorable prognosis in patients with NB, suggesting it may promote tumor progression by regulating MYCN. NUP93 has the potential to be a novel diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NB.
2.Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of Demyelination in the Brain of Balb/c Mice Infected by Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Zhen NIU ; Xiaojie WU ; Liang YANG ; Zhixuan MA ; Junxiong YANG ; Ying FENG
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(2):293-300
ObjectiveTo investigate the demyelination induced by Angiostrongylus cantonensis (AC) infection in the brain of Balb/c mice and analyze the untargeted metabolomic changes in the corpus callosum, aiming to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. MethodsBalb/c mice were randomly assigned to a control group (n=6) and an infection group (n=6). The infection group was orally administered 30 third-stage larvae of AC, while the control group received an equal volume of saline. Body weight, visual function, and behavioral scores were measured on post-infection 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 days to assess neurological alterations. After 21 days, brain tissues were harvested for immunofluorescence staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and transmission electron microscopy to examine morphological changes in brain myelin and retina. Metabolomics analysis was performed, and differential metabolites were identified using volcano plots and heatmaps. The distribution of fold changes and bar charts were used to profile the key metabolites. These differential metabolites were then subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and regulatory network analysis. ResultsOn the 9th day after AC infection, Balb/c mice showed a decline in neurological behavioral scores (P<0.05). By day 15, visual scores decreased (P<0.05), and by day 21, significant weight loss (P<0.001) and mortality were observed. Concurrently, transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining revealed significant myelin damage in the corpus callosum and a marked reduction in oligodendrocytes (P<0.001). HE staining showed severe retinal ganglion cell damage. Metabolomic analysis revealed that glycerophospholipids were the most abundant differential metabolites, with steroids and sphingolipids being relatively less abundant. Cholesteryl ester CE (20:2) was significantly upregulated (P<0.001), while phosphatidylmethanol (18:0_18:1) was significantly downregulated (P<0.01). KEGG enrichment and regulatory network analyses demonstrated that the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways like steroid biosynthesis, bile secretion, and cholesterol metabolism, and were involved in key metabolic pathways such as sphingolipid metabolism, neural signal regulation, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. ConclusionsAC infection affects the metabolic state of mice via multiple pathways, modifying the levels of metabolites crucial for myelination and myelin stability. Demyelination may be closely linked to the disruption of these key metabolic pathways, particularly the dysregulation of cholesterol and sphingolipid metabolism, potentially playing a central role in demyelination onset. Furthermore, alterations in phospholipid metabolism and abnormal nerve signaling regulation may exacerbate myelin damage.
3.Predicting Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Brightness Change Curves Derived From Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Images
Ying-Ying CHEN ; Shang-Lin JIANG ; Liang-Hui HUANG ; Ya-Guang ZENG ; Xue-Hua WANG ; Wei ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2163-2172
ObjectivePrimary liver cancer, predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a significant global health issue, ranking as the sixth most diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Accurate and early diagnosis of HCC is crucial for effective treatment, as HCC and non-HCC malignancies like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) exhibit different prognoses and treatment responses. Traditional diagnostic methods, including liver biopsy and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), face limitations in applicability and objectivity. The primary objective of this study was to develop an advanced, light-weighted classification network capable of distinguishing HCC from other non-HCC malignancies by leveraging the automatic analysis of brightness changes in CEUS images. The ultimate goal was to create a user-friendly and cost-efficient computer-aided diagnostic tool that could assist radiologists in making more accurate and efficient clinical decisions. MethodsThis retrospective study encompassed a total of 161 patients, comprising 131 diagnosed with HCC and 30 with non-HCC malignancies. To achieve accurate tumor detection, the YOLOX network was employed to identify the region of interest (ROI) on both B-mode ultrasound and CEUS images. A custom-developed algorithm was then utilized to extract brightness change curves from the tumor and adjacent liver parenchyma regions within the CEUS images. These curves provided critical data for the subsequent analysis and classification process. To analyze the extracted brightness change curves and classify the malignancies, we developed and compared several models. These included one-dimensional convolutional neural networks (1D-ResNet, 1D-ConvNeXt, and 1D-CNN), as well as traditional machine-learning methods such as support vector machine (SVM), ensemble learning (EL), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), and decision tree (DT). The diagnostic performance of each method in distinguishing HCC from non-HCC malignancies was rigorously evaluated using four key metrics: area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC), accuracy (ACC), sensitivity (SE), and specificity (SP). ResultsThe evaluation of the machine-learning methods revealed AUC values of 0.70 for SVM, 0.56 for ensemble learning, 0.63 for KNN, and 0.72 for the decision tree. These results indicated moderate to fair performance in classifying the malignancies based on the brightness change curves. In contrast, the deep learning models demonstrated significantly higher AUCs, with 1D-ResNet achieving an AUC of 0.72, 1D-ConvNeXt reaching 0.82, and 1D-CNN obtaining the highest AUC of 0.84. Moreover, under the five-fold cross-validation scheme, the 1D-CNN model outperformed other models in both accuracy and specificity. Specifically, it achieved accuracy improvements of 3.8% to 10.0% and specificity enhancements of 6.6% to 43.3% over competing approaches. The superior performance of the 1D-CNN model highlighted its potential as a powerful tool for accurate classification. ConclusionThe 1D-CNN model proved to be the most effective in differentiating HCC from non-HCC malignancies, surpassing both traditional machine-learning methods and other deep learning models. This study successfully developed a user-friendly and cost-efficient computer-aided diagnostic solution that would significantly enhances radiologists’ diagnostic capabilities. By improving the accuracy and efficiency of clinical decision-making, this tool has the potential to positively impact patient care and outcomes. Future work may focus on further refining the model and exploring its integration with multimodal ultrasound data to maximize its accuracy and applicability.
4.Consensus on low-altitude transport and delivery services for emergency medicines via drones (2025 edition)
Qinshui WU ; Yanfang CHEN ; Tao LIU ; Xiaoyan LI ; Yumin LIANG ; Xin LI ; Zhong LI ; Rong LI ; Xiaoman WANG ; Shuyao ZHANG ; Huishu TIAN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(18):2221-2225
OBJECTIVE To promote the application of drones in emergency rescue and related fields, expand “low-altitude+ medical” rescue services, and advance the standardization of “low-altitude+medical” distribution services. METHODS The Consensus on Low-altitude Transport and Delivery Services for Emergency Medicines via Drones (2025 Edition) (hereinafter referred to as the Consensus) was jointly initiated by the Division of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Chinese Pharmacological Society and the Expert Committee on Precision Medication of the Guangdong Pharmaceutical Association. Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital served as the leading unit, organizing 53 multidisciplinary experts nationwide to participate in drafting and reviewing. A nominal group technique was employed to discuss and finalize the consensus outline, resulting in a preliminary draft. Delphi method was employed, and 11 external review experts were invited to conduct the evaluation. After the experts’ opinions were analyzed and integrated, the Consensus was finalized. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The finalized Consensus includes its purpose, principles, and applicable scenarios, basic requirements, and operational procedures for low-altitude transport and delivery of emergency medications; distribution requirements and precautions for controlled substances, fragile medications, and temperature-sensitive medications; and recommendations for emergency medications supplies suitable for the low-altitude transportation and distribution. The release of this Consensus is expected to provide guidance and support for the standardization of “low-altitude+medical” distribution services and the application of low-altitude economy in the healthcare sector.
5.Association between the Non-Fasting Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Hyperglycemia in pregnancy during the Third Trimester in High Altitudes
Qingqing WANG ; Hongying HOU ; Ma NI ; Yating LIANG ; Xiaoyu CHEN ; WA Zhuoga DA ; Qiang LIU ; Zhenyan HAN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(5):861-871
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the non-fasting triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index and hyperglycemia in pregnancy during the third trimester in high altitudes. MethodsThis study selected clinical and laboratory data of 774 Tibetan singleton pregnant women who delivered at Chaya People's Hospital of Qamdo city in Xizang autonomous region, from January 2023 to April 2025. The non-fasting TyG index was calculated from non-fasting triglyceride (TG) and random plasma glucose (PG). Based on the tertiles of the non-fasting TyG index values, the individuals were split into three groups (corresponding to non-fasting TyG index of 8.89 and 9.21, respectively). The baseline clinical characteristics, lipid levels and the occurrence of developing hyperglycemia in pregnancy were compared among the three groups. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Chi-square test, or Fisher exact test and the relationship between the non-fasting TyG index and hyperglycemia in pregnancy were examined using multivariate logistic regression models and curve fitting. ResultsA total of 774 Tibetan singleton pregnant women were included, with a average age of 27.3 ± 6.1 years, a pre-delivery body mass index (Pre-BMI) of (25.2±2.3)kg/m2 , a proportion of 26.7% (207/774) primigravid women, the mean non-fasting TyG index was 9.1 ± 0.4。Thirty pregnant women were diagnosed with hyperglycemia in pregnancy, with a detection rate of 3.9% (30/774). Statistically significant differences in serum total cholesterol (TC), TG, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were identified when comparing different non-fasting TyG groups (all P values <0.05). Subsequent trend test analysis indicated that the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and PG gradually increased with elevated the non-fasting TyG index ( Ftrend TC=95.61, P<0.001; Ftrend TG=1 051.91, P<0.001; Ftrend LDL-C = 97.20, P < 0.001; Ftrend TG=195.20; P<0.001). After adjustment for maternal age, pre-delivery BMI, altitude, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C, multivariate Logistic regression models revealed independent positive associations between non-fasting TyG index and hyperglycemia in pregnancy (Model 1: OR=2.72, 95% CI: 1.13-6.53, P=0.026; Model 2: OR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.01-6.50, P=0.048; Model 3: OR=2.72, 95% CI: 1.06-6.97, P=0.037; Model 4: OR=4.02, 95% CI: 1.42-11.40, P=0.009) and the incident of hyperglycemia in pregnancy showed an increasing tendency as increasing with the non-fasting TyG index, however, this association did not statistical significance (P trend >0.05). Curve fitting by restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to assess linearity between non-fasting TyG and hyperglycemia in pregnancy, and there was a linear dose-response relationship between non-fasting TyG and hyperglycemia in pregnancy (P for non-linear = 0.515). ConclusionNon-fasting TyG index in the third trimester is a risk factor for hyperglycemia in pregnancy among the Tibetan singleton pregnant women at high altitudes and there was a possible linear dose-response relationship between the non-fasting TyG index and hyperglycemia in pregnancy.
6.Current status of functional testing for upper gastrointestinal disorders: state-of-the-art review.
Andrew Xia Huang TAN ; Alex Yu Sen SOH ; Jonathan Ziyang KUANG ; Kewin Tien Ho SIAH ; Andrew Ming Liang ONG ; Daphne ANG
Singapore medical journal 2025;66(8):431-438
Neurogastroenterology and motility disorders of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract represent a complex and heterogeneous group of conditions that involve the interaction between the GI tract and the central nervous system. They constitute a significant number of outpatient gastroenterology visits, resulting in a high healthcare burden. These disorders often occur in the absence of identifiable structural causes on routine endoscopy and radiological imaging. A more targeted approach in the assessment of functional GI disorders is increasingly being integrated into routine clinical practice, given the recent advancements in technology and physiologic testing. When used in the appropriate clinical context, these tests not only elucidate the physiological basis for the patient's symptoms, but also prevent inappropriate treatment and repeated investigations. This review aims to summarise the advances in clinically available diagnostic tools for the evaluation of upper GI functional disorders.
Humans
;
Gastrointestinal Diseases/physiopathology*
;
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract/physiopathology*
;
Gastrointestinal Motility
;
Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
7.Tissue-resident peripheral helper T cells foster hepatocellular carcinoma immune evasion by promoting regulatory B-cell expansion.
Haoyuan YU ; Mengchen SHI ; Xuejiao LI ; Zhixing LIANG ; Kun LI ; Yongwei HU ; Siqi LI ; Mingshen ZHANG ; Yang YANG ; Yang LI ; Linsen YE
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(17):2148-2158
BACKGROUND:
Peripheral helper T (T PH ) cells are uniquely positioned within pathologically inflamed non-lymphoid tissues to stimulate B-cell responses and antibody production. However, the phenotype, function, and clinical relevance of T PH cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are currently unknown.
METHODS:
Blood, tumor, and peritumoral liver tissue samples from 39 HCC patients (Sep 2016-Aug 2017) and 101 HCC patients (Sep 2011-Dec 2012) at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were used. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the expression, phenotype, and function of T PH cells. Log-rank tests were performed to evaluate disease-free survival and overall survival in samples from 39 patients and 101 patients with HCC. T PH cells, CD19 + B cells, and T follicular helper (T FH ) cells were cultured separately in vitro or isolated from C57/B6L mice in vivo for functional assays.
RESULTS:
T PH cells highly infiltrated tumor tissues, which was correlated with tumor size, early recurrence, and shorter survival time. The tumor-infiltrated T PH cells showed a unique ICOS hi CXCL13 + IL-21 - MAF + BCL-6 - phenotype and triggered naïve B-cell differentiation into regulatory B cells. Triggering programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) induced the production of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) by T PH cells, which then suppressed tumor-specific immunity and promoted disease progression.
CONCLUSION
Our study reveals a novel regulatory mechanism of T PH cell-regulatory B-cell-mediated immunosuppression and provides an important perspective for determining the balance between the differentiation of protumorigenic T PH cells and that of antitumorigenic T FH cells in the HCC microenvironment.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism*
;
Liver Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/metabolism*
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Male
;
Female
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Middle Aged
;
B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism*
;
Flow Cytometry
;
Interleukin-21
;
Aged
;
Chemokine CXCL13/metabolism*
8.Equivalence of SYN008 versus omalizumab in patients with refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled phase III study.
Jingyi LI ; Yunsheng LIANG ; Wenli FENG ; Liehua DENG ; Hong FANG ; Chao JI ; Youkun LIN ; Furen ZHANG ; Rushan XIA ; Chunlei ZHANG ; Shuping GUO ; Mao LIN ; Yanling LI ; Shoumin ZHANG ; Xiaojing KANG ; Liuqing CHEN ; Zhiqiang SONG ; Xu YAO ; Chengxin LI ; Xiuping HAN ; Guoxiang GUO ; Qing GUO ; Xinsuo DUAN ; Jie LI ; Juan SU ; Shanshan LI ; Qing SUN ; Juan TAO ; Yangfeng DING ; Danqi DENG ; Fuqiu LI ; Haiyun SUO ; Shunquan WU ; Jingbo QIU ; Hongmei LUO ; Linfeng LI ; Ruoyu LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(16):2040-2042
9.Mechanism of L-perilla alcohol in intervening hypoxic pulmonary hypertension based on network pharmacology and experimental verification.
Yu-Rong WANG ; Yang YU ; Zhuo-Sen LIANG ; Li TONG ; Dian-Xiang LU ; Xing-Mei NAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(1):209-217
The mechanism of L-perilla alcohol(L-POH) in intervening hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(HPAH) was discussed based on network pharmacology, and experimental verification. The active components and potential targets of the volatile oil of Rhodiola tangutica(VORA) in the intervention of HPAH were screened by network pharmacology. The biological process of Gene Ontology(GO) and the signaling pathway enrichment of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) were analyzed for the core targets, and a "component-common target-disease" network was constructed. Four active components were screened from VORA: L-POH, linalool, geraniol, and(-)-myrtenol. The core targets for treating HPAH were HSP90AA1, AKT1, ESR1, PIK3CA, EP300, EGFR, and JAK2. GO enrichment analysis mainly involved biological processes such as reaction to hypoxia, heme binding, and steroid binding. KEGG enrichment analysis mainly involved hypoxia-inducing factor 1(HIF-1) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway, and Janus kinase/activator of signal transduction and transcription(JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. The vasodilation effects of the four active components were screened by perfusion experiment of extracorporeal vascular rings, and the mechanism of the main active component L-POH was studied by channel blockers. The inhibitory effects of the four active components on the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells(PASMCs) induced by hypoxia were screened by cell proliferation experiment, and the mechanism of the main active component L-POH was studied by flow cytometry, cell cycle experiment, and Western blot. The results showed that L-POH could directly act on vascular smooth muscle to relax pulmonary arterioles, induce ATP-sensitive potassium channels to open, and inhibit extracellular Ca~(2+) influx through voltage-gated calcium channels to relax blood vessels. In addition, L-POH could inhibit the abnormal proliferation of PASMCs induced by hypoxia and promote its apoptosis, and its mechanism may be related to the increase in Bax protein expression and the decrease in p-JAK2, p-STAT3, Bcl-2, and cyclinA2 protein expression. In summary, L-POH can interfere with HPAH by relaxing pulmonary arterioles and inhibiting the proliferation of smooth muscle cells.
Network Pharmacology
;
Animals
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Hypertension, Pulmonary/physiopathology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Rats
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Hypoxia/metabolism*
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Rhodiola/chemistry*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Monoterpenes/chemistry*
;
Male
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
10.Effect of autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation on tendon-bone healing of rotator cuff in rabbits.
Sen FANG ; Mingtao ZHANG ; Xudong YANG ; Cairang DAOJI ; Mingchun LI ; Zhixuan NIAN ; Junwen LIANG ; Xiangdong YUN
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(2):187-192
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation on tendon-bone healing of rotator cuff in rabbits.
METHODS:
Twenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation group (experimental group, n=12) and simple suture group (control group, n=12). Both groups were subjected to acute supraspinatus tendon injury and repaired with corresponding techniques. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, 4 specimens from each group were taken from the right shoulder joint for histological examination (HE staining, Masson staining, and Safranin O-fast green staining), and the left shoulder was subjected to biomechanical tests (maximum tensile load and stiffness).
RESULTS:
Both groups of animals survived until the completion of the experiment after operation. At 4 weeks after operation, both groups showed less collagen fibers and disorder at the tendon-bone junction. At 8 weeks, both groups showed reduced inflammation at the tendon-bone junction, with more organized and denser collagen fibers and chondrocytes. The experimental group showed better results than the control group. At 12 weeks, the experimental group showed typical tendon-bone transition structure, with increased generation of collagen fibers and chondrocytes, and the larger cartilage staining area. Both groups showed an increase in maximum tensile load and stiffness over time ( P<0.05). The stiffness at 4 weeks and the maximum tensile load at 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the experimental group were superior to control group, and the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in stiffness at 8, 12 weeks between the two groups ( P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation can effectively promote the fiber and cartilage regeneration at the tendon-bone junction of rotator cuff and improve the biomechanical effect of shoulder joint in rabbits.
Animals
;
Rabbits
;
Male
;
Wound Healing
;
Transplantation, Autologous
;
Periosteum/transplantation*
;
Rotator Cuff Injuries
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Rotator Cuff/surgery*
;
Tendons/surgery*
;
Biomechanical Phenomena
;
Chondrocytes/transplantation*
;
Tendon Injuries/surgery*
;
Tensile Strength

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