1.High Expression of INF2 Predicts Poor Prognosis and Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression
Hai-Biao WANG ; Man LIN ; Fu-Sang YE ; Jia-Xin SHI ; Hong LI ; Meng YE ; Jie WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):194-208
ObjectiveINF2 is a member of the formins family. Abnormal expression and regulation of INF2 have been associated with the progression of various tumors, but the expression and role of INF2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. HCC is a highly lethal malignant tumor. Given the limitations of traditional treatments, this study explored the expression level, clinical value and potential mechanism of INF2 in HCC in order to seek new therapeutic targets. MethodsIn this study, we used public databases to analyze the expression of INF2 in pan-cancer and HCC, as well as the impact of INF2 expression levels on HCC prognosis. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression level of INF2 in liver cancer cells and human HCC tissues. The correlation between INF2 expression and clinical pathological features was analyzed using public databases and clinical data of human HCC samples. Subsequently, the effects of INF2 expression on the biological function and Drp1 phosphorylation of liver cancer cells were elucidated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Finally, the predictive value and potential mechanism of INF2 in HCC were further analyzed through database and immunohistochemical experiments. ResultsINF2 is aberrantly high expression in HCC samples and the high expression of INF2 is correlated with overall survival, liver cirrhosis and pathological differentiation of HCC patients. The expression level of INF2 has certain diagnostic value in predicting the prognosis and pathological differentiation of HCC. In vivo and in vitro HCC models, upregulated expression of INF2 triggers the proliferation and migration of the HCC cell, while knockdown of INF2 could counteract this effect. INF2 in liver cancer cells may affect mitochondrial division by inducing Drp1 phosphorylation and mediate immune escape by up-regulating PD-L1 expression, thus promoting tumor progression. ConclusionINF2 is highly expressed in HCC and is associated with poor prognosis. High expression of INF2 may promote HCC progression by inducing Drp1 phosphorylation and up-regulation of PD-L1 expression, and targeting INF2 may be beneficial for HCC patients with high expression of INF2.
2.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance in the bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units in China:results from 2020 to 2022
Jing LIU ; Huiyuan YAN ; Gangfeng YAN ; Guoping LU ; Pan FU ; Chuanqing WANG ; Danqun JIN ; Wenjia TONG ; Chenyu ZHANG ; Jianli CHEN ; Yi LIN ; Jia LEI ; Yibing CHENG ; Qunqun ZHANG ; Kaijie GAO ; Yuanyuan CHEN ; Shufang XIAO ; Juan HE ; Li JIANG ; Huimin XU ; Yuxia LI ; Hanghai DING ; Hehe CHEN ; Yao ZHENG ; Qunying CHEN ; Ying WANG ; Hong REN ; Chenmei ZHANG ; Zhenjie CHEN ; Mingming ZHOU ; Yucai ZHANG ; Yiping ZHOU ; Zhenjiang BAI ; Saihu HUANG ; Lili HUANG ; Weiguo YANG ; Weike MA ; Qing MENG ; Pengwei ZHU ; Yong LI ; Yan XU ; Yi WANG ; Yanqiang DU ; Huijun CAI ; Bizhen ZHU ; Huixuan SHI ; Shaoxian HONG ; Yukun HUANG ; Meilian HUANG
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2025;25(3):303-311
Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2%)and gram-negative organisms(60.8%).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6%,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0%,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9%,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1%,19.4%,8.8%,30.9%,67.4%,and 28.8%,respectively.Overall,more than 50%of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25%of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80%of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3%in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.
3.Association between physical activity and cognitive impairment in older adults aged 65 years and above in longevity areas of China
Hang XU ; Yudong WU ; Chen CHEN ; Xi MENG ; Jiahao CHEN ; Zenghang ZHANG ; Zhuchun ZHONG ; Jingjing YANG ; Xiaoshuang FU ; Sirui CHEN ; Yongqiang CHEN ; Zhipei LI ; Lin YE ; Xiaoming SHI ; Yuebin LYU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):753-760
Objective:To explore the relationships between physical activity and cognitive impairment in older adults aged ≥65 years in longevity areas in China.Methods:A total of 6 081 older adults aged ≥65 years from the Healthy Ageing and Biomarkers Cohort Study in China in 2021 were included in this study. Information about their demographic characteristics, lifestyles, and chronic disease histories were collected, the intensity of physical activity was evaluated by using Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and the cognitive function was evaluated by using Mini-Mental State Examination Scale (Chinese version). Multifactorial logistic regression model was used to analyze the associations between different levels and types of physical activity and cognitive impairment in older adults.Results:In the 6 081 older adults, 1 829 (30.1%) had cognitive impairment. After adjusting for confounders, older adults with T2 and T3 levels of physical activity had lower risks for cognitive impairment compared with those with T1 levels of physical activity, with ORs of 0.47 (95% CI: 0.40-0.55) and 0.22 (95% CI: 0.18-0.28). The results of different types of physical activities showed that the ORs in leisure activity T2 and T3 groups were 0.52 (95% CI: 0.44-0.63) and 0.49 (95% CI: 0.41-0.58), and the ORs in housework activity T2 and T3 groups were 0.36 (95% CI: 0.30-0.42) and 0.19 (95% CI: 0.16-0.24). There was no significant association between work-related activity and cognitive impairment. Conclusion:There is a negative association between the intensity level of physical activity and cognitive impairment, and active leisure and household activities might reduce the risk for cognitive impairment.
4.Role of Macrophage Activation and Polarization in Diabetes Mellitus and Its Related Complications and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention
Zhichao CHEN ; Qiaoni LIN ; Liya SUN ; Jinxi WANG ; Zishan FU ; Yufeng YANG ; Yan SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(6):311-320
The occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is closely related to insulin resistance and islet β cell dysfunction. Modern studies have found that macrophages are widely present in the liver,fat,skeletal muscle,islets, and other tissues and organs. Macrophage M1/M2 polarization plays an important role in the occurrence and development of diabetes mellitus and its related complications by intervening in inflammatory response,improving insulin resistance,and promoting tissue repair. Most of the traditional Chinese medicines that regulate the activation and polarization of macrophages are Qi-replenishing and Yin-nourishing,heat-clearing, and detoxicating medicinal,which are consistent with the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes and its related complications. Therefore,by summarizing the mechanisms between macrophage activation,polarization, and insulin resistance in various tissues,this paper reviewed traditional Chinese medicine and its effective components and compounds in improving diabetes mellitus and its related complications through multi-channel regulation of macrophage polarization and regulation of M1/M2 ratio,providing references for the future treatment of DM and its related complications with traditional Chinese medicine.
5.Analysis of Differences in Secondary Metabolites Between Dendrobium nobile Bionic Wild Cultivated on Epiphytic Stones and Trees Based on Widely Targeted Metabolomics
Yifan SHI ; Changqing ZHOU ; Jiaojiao WANG ; Lin CHEN ; Hongping CHEN ; Fu WANG ; Yuan HU ; Youping LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(10):218-224
ObjectiveTo explore the differences in the accumulation of secondary metabolites of Dendrobium nobile cultivated on epiphytic stones and trees, so as to elucidate the scientific connotation of "only those that grow on stones has superior quality", and provide a direction for the cultivation and quality evaluation of D. nobile. MethodsUltra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS)-based widely targeted metabolomics was used to detect the metabolites of D. nobile cultivated on epiphytic stones and trees. And the combination of principal component analysis(PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) was performed for multivariate statistical analysis of metabolites. Differential metabolites were screened by variable importance in the projection(VIP) value≥1 and log2fold change(FC)≥1 or ≤-1, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis was conducted. ResultsA total of 1 267 metabolites were identified in the stems of D. nobile from the two cultivation modes, dominated by flavonoids(292), phenolic acids(284), and alkaloids(189). Through OPLS-DA screening, 473 differential metabolites were obtained. Compared to epiphytic tree-cultivated D. nobile, epiphytic stone-cultivated D. nobile exhibited upregulation of flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, lignans and coumarins, while quinones and terpenoids were down-regulated. The differential metabolites mainly included flavonoid glycosides and alkaloids, and these differential metabolites significantly contributed to characterizing the two cultivation patterns. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment in pathways of flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and phenylalanine metabolism in epiphytic stone-cultivated D. nobile. ConclusionEpiphytic stone cultivation is beneficial for the accumulation of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids in D. nobile, indicating that the "only those that grow on stones has superior quality" documented in the materia medica has certain scientific basis, and the findings also provide a reference for quality evaluation and discrimination research between epiphytic stone and tree cultivated D. nobile.
6.Construction of a Colorectal Cancer Prognostic Risk Model Based on Disulfide Death Associated Long-Chain Non Coding Ribonucleic Acids
Xiang-wei FU ; Shi-qiang XIANG ; Zhuo LIN
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(10):1601-1612
Objective:This study aims to construct a colorectal cancer(CRC)prognosis prediction model based on disulfide death associated long-chain non coding ribonucleic acids(DRLncRNAs),and to explore its potential application in predicting prognosis and guiding personalized treatment.Methods:The data for this study was sourced from the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database,which includes RNA sequencing data and detailed clinical information of CRC patients.Using co expression network analysis to screen DRLncRNAs.Preliminary screening of DRLncRNAs related to prognosis was conducted through univariate Cox regression analysis,followed by variable screening and dimensionality reduction using LASSO Cox regression analysis.Finally,key DRLncRNAs for constructing a prognostic risk model were identified through multivariate Cox regression analysis.Evaluate the predictive ability of prognostic risk models for survival in CRC patients through Kaplan Meier survival curve analysis.The accuracy of the model was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and the ability of different gene expression profiles to distinguish risk stratification was evaluated using principal component analysis(PCA).Gene ontology(GO)and KEGG enrichment analysis were used to evaluate the enrichment of high and low expression gene sets in different risk groups.Results:Five key DRLncRNAs(AC068580.3,AL161729.4,ZEB1-AS1,AC073896.3,and SNHG16)were successfully screened.In the overall concentration,the area under the curve(AUC)of the model's 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival predictions are 0.674,0.746,and 0.727,respectively;In the training set,the predicted AUC for 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival were 0.669,0.762,and 0.756,respectively;In the test set,the predicted AUC for 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival were 0.666,0.725,and 0.697,respectively.SNHG16 and AC073896.3 are protective factors,and high expression was associated with better prognosis;ZEB1-AS1,AC068580.3,and AL161729.4 were risk factors,and high expression indicates poor prognosis.The Kaplan Meier survival analysis results showed that there was a significant difference in survival between the high-risk and low-risk groups(P<0.05),and the overall survival rate of the high-risk group was significantly lower(P<0.05).The enrichment analysis results showed that the phosphatidylinositol mediated signal transduction,mitochondrial gene expression,and other biological processes related to 5 DRLncRNAs may be involved in the occurrence,development,and poor prognosis of CRC.The results of this study showed that a prognostic risk model based on five DRLncRNAs(AC068580.3,AL161729.4,ZEB1-AS1,AC073896.3,and SNHG16)was successfully established,which showed independent correlation with the overall survival status of CRC patients.In addition,the prognostic risk model constructed based on these 5 DRLncRNAs can effectively predict the prognosis of CRC patients.Conclusion:This study identified five DRLncRNAs,including AC068580.3,AL161729.4,ZEB1-AS1,AC073896.3,and SNHG16,that are associated with the prognosis of CRC patients.The prognostic risk model constructed based on these five DRLncRNAs has a high evaluation efficiency for the prognosis of CRC patients.
7.Analysis of Tongue and Face Image Features of Anemic Women and Construction of Risk-Screening Model.
Hong Yuan FU ; Yi CHUN ; Ya Han ZHANG ; Yu WANG ; Yu Lin SHI ; Tao JIANG ; Xiao Juan HU ; Li Ping TU ; Yong Zhi LI ; Jia Tuo XU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(8):935-951
OBJECTIVE:
To identify the key features of facial and tongue images associated with anemia in female populations, establish anemia risk-screening models, and evaluate their performance.
METHODS:
A total of 533 female participants (anemic and healthy) were recruited from Shuguang Hospital. Facial and tongue images were collected using the TFDA-1 tongue and face diagnosis instrument. Color and texture features from various parts of facial and tongue images were extracted using Face Diagnosis Analysis System (FDAS) and Tongue Diagnosis Analysis System version 2.0 (TDAS v2.0). Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used for feature selection. Ten machine learning models and one deep learning model (ResNet50V2 + Conv1D) were developed and evaluated.
RESULTS:
Anemic women showed lower a-values, higher L- and b-values across all age groups. Texture features analysis showed that women aged 30-39 with anemia had higher angular second moment (ASM)and lower entropy (ENT) values in facial images, while those aged 40-49 had lower contrast (CON), ENT, and MEAN values in tongue images but higher ASM. Anemic women exhibited age-related trends similar to healthy women, with decreasing L-values and increasing a-, b-, and ASM-values. LASSO identified 19 key features from 62. Among classifiers, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model achieved the best performance [area under the curve (AUC): 0.849, accuracy: 0.781]. The ResNet50V2 model achieved comparable results [AUC: 0.846, accuracy: 0.818].
CONCLUSION
Differences in facial and tongue images suggest that color and texture features can serve as potential TCM phenotype and auxiliary diagnostic indicators for female anemia.
Humans
;
Female
;
Tongue/diagnostic imaging*
;
Adult
;
Anemia/diagnosis*
;
Middle Aged
;
Face/diagnostic imaging*
;
Young Adult
;
Machine Learning
8.Construction of a Colorectal Cancer Prognostic Risk Model Based on Disulfide Death Associated Long-Chain Non Coding Ribonucleic Acids
Xiang-wei FU ; Shi-qiang XIANG ; Zhuo LIN
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(10):1601-1612
Objective:This study aims to construct a colorectal cancer(CRC)prognosis prediction model based on disulfide death associated long-chain non coding ribonucleic acids(DRLncRNAs),and to explore its potential application in predicting prognosis and guiding personalized treatment.Methods:The data for this study was sourced from the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database,which includes RNA sequencing data and detailed clinical information of CRC patients.Using co expression network analysis to screen DRLncRNAs.Preliminary screening of DRLncRNAs related to prognosis was conducted through univariate Cox regression analysis,followed by variable screening and dimensionality reduction using LASSO Cox regression analysis.Finally,key DRLncRNAs for constructing a prognostic risk model were identified through multivariate Cox regression analysis.Evaluate the predictive ability of prognostic risk models for survival in CRC patients through Kaplan Meier survival curve analysis.The accuracy of the model was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and the ability of different gene expression profiles to distinguish risk stratification was evaluated using principal component analysis(PCA).Gene ontology(GO)and KEGG enrichment analysis were used to evaluate the enrichment of high and low expression gene sets in different risk groups.Results:Five key DRLncRNAs(AC068580.3,AL161729.4,ZEB1-AS1,AC073896.3,and SNHG16)were successfully screened.In the overall concentration,the area under the curve(AUC)of the model's 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival predictions are 0.674,0.746,and 0.727,respectively;In the training set,the predicted AUC for 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival were 0.669,0.762,and 0.756,respectively;In the test set,the predicted AUC for 1-year,3-year,and 5-year survival were 0.666,0.725,and 0.697,respectively.SNHG16 and AC073896.3 are protective factors,and high expression was associated with better prognosis;ZEB1-AS1,AC068580.3,and AL161729.4 were risk factors,and high expression indicates poor prognosis.The Kaplan Meier survival analysis results showed that there was a significant difference in survival between the high-risk and low-risk groups(P<0.05),and the overall survival rate of the high-risk group was significantly lower(P<0.05).The enrichment analysis results showed that the phosphatidylinositol mediated signal transduction,mitochondrial gene expression,and other biological processes related to 5 DRLncRNAs may be involved in the occurrence,development,and poor prognosis of CRC.The results of this study showed that a prognostic risk model based on five DRLncRNAs(AC068580.3,AL161729.4,ZEB1-AS1,AC073896.3,and SNHG16)was successfully established,which showed independent correlation with the overall survival status of CRC patients.In addition,the prognostic risk model constructed based on these 5 DRLncRNAs can effectively predict the prognosis of CRC patients.Conclusion:This study identified five DRLncRNAs,including AC068580.3,AL161729.4,ZEB1-AS1,AC073896.3,and SNHG16,that are associated with the prognosis of CRC patients.The prognostic risk model constructed based on these five DRLncRNAs has a high evaluation efficiency for the prognosis of CRC patients.
9.Zedoarondiol Inhibits Neovascularization in Atherosclerotic Plaques of ApoE-/- Mice by Reducing Platelet Exosomes-Derived MiR-let-7a.
Bei-Li XIE ; Bo-Ce SONG ; Ming-Wang LIU ; Wei WEN ; Yu-Xin YAN ; Meng-Jie GAO ; Lu-Lian JIANG ; Zhi-Die JIN ; Lin YANG ; Jian-Gang LIU ; Da-Zhuo SHI ; Fu-Hai ZHAO
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(3):228-239
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of zedoarondiol on neovascularization of atherosclerotic (AS) plaque by exosomes experiment.
METHODS:
ApoE-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish AS model and treated with high- and low-dose (10, 5 mg/kg daily) of zedoarondiol, respectively. After 14 weeks, the expressions of anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1) and its receptor CD36 in plaques, as well as platelet activation rate and exosome-derived miR-let-7a were detected. Then, zedoarondiol was used to intervene in platelets in vitro, and miR-let-7a was detected in platelet-derived exosomes (Pexo). Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-let-7a mimics and treated with Pexo to observe the effect of miR-let-7a in Pexo on tube formation.
RESULTS:
Animal experiments showed that after treating with zedoarondiol, the neovascularization density in plaques of AS mice was significantly reduced, THBS-1 and CD36 increased, the platelet activation rate was markedly reduced, and the miR-let-7a level in Pexo was reduced (P<0.01). In vitro experiments, the platelet activation rate and miR-let-7a levels in Pexo were significantly reduced after zedoarondiol's intervention. Cell experiments showed that after Pexo's intervention, the tube length increased, and the transfection of miR-let-7a minics further increased the tube length of cells, while reducing the expressions of THBS-1 and CD36.
CONCLUSION
Zedoarondiol has the effect of inhibiting neovascularization within plaque in AS mice, and its mechanism may be potentially related to inhibiting platelet activation and reducing the Pexo-derived miRNA-let-7a level.
Animals
;
MicroRNAs/genetics*
;
Exosomes/drug effects*
;
Plaque, Atherosclerotic/genetics*
;
Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics*
;
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Blood Platelets/drug effects*
;
Apolipoproteins E/deficiency*
;
Thrombospondin 1/metabolism*
;
CD36 Antigens/metabolism*
;
Platelet Activation/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Mice
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
10.Synthesis and evaluation of TSPO-targeting radioligand 18FF-TFQC for PET neuroimaging in epileptic rats.
Wenhui FU ; Qingyu LIN ; Zhequan FU ; Tingting YANG ; Dai SHI ; Pengcheng MA ; Hongxing SU ; Yunze WANG ; Guobing LIU ; Jing DING ; Hongcheng SHI ; Dengfeng CHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):722-736
The translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) can noninvasively detect neuroinflammation associated with epileptogenesis and epilepsy. This study explored the role of the TSPO-targeting radioligand [18F]F-TFQC, an m-trifluoromethyl ER176 analog, in the PET neuroimaging of epileptic rats. Initially, [18F]F-TFQC was synthesized with a radiochemical yield of 8%-10% (EOS), a radiochemical purity of over 99%, and a specific activity of 38.21 ± 1.73 MBq/nmol (EOS). After determining that [18F]F-TFQC exhibited good biochemical properties, [18F]F-TFQC PET neuroimaging was performed in epileptic rats at multiple time points in various stages of disease progression. PET imaging showed specific [18F]F-TFQC uptake in the right hippocampus (KA-injected site, i.e., epileptogenic zone), which was most pronounced at 1 week (T/NT 1.63 ± 0.21) and 1 month (T/NT 1.66 ± 0.20). The PET results were further validated using autoradiography and pathological analysis. Thus, [18F]F-TFQC can reflect the TSPO levels and localize the epileptogenic zone, thereby offering the potential for monitoring neuroinflammation and guiding anti-inflammatory treatment in patients with epilepsy.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail