1.Research progress of urea-containing PET tracers targeting prostate specific membrane antigen
Hong ZHU ; Hui WANG ; Hongwei SI ; Dan ZHANG ; Dengyun CHEN ; Pengfei DAI
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(2):369-375
Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of male genitourinary system. Prostate cancer has the following characteristics: insidious onset, early asymptomatic or not obvious symptoms, complex etiology and pathogenesis, long incubation period and so on. Therefore, the realization of its early diagnosis and treatment is of great significance to the prognosis of patients. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a type 2 transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed on the membrane of almost all primary and metastatic prostate cancer cells, and is an ideal target for prostate cancer imaging and treatment. In recent years, with the approval of urea-containing small molecule PET (positron emission computed tomography) radiopharmaceutical based on PSMA (68Ga-PSMA-11, 18F-PSMA-1007), PET-CT (positron emission computed tomography/computed tomography) has shown new potential for early diagnosis and accurate staging of prostate cancer patients. This review mainly summarizes the research progress of urea-containing PSMA PET imaging agents and finds that they have defects such as uptake in non-target tissues like the kidneys, lacrimal glands, and salivary glands. Thus, further optimizing their structure to reduce the uptake in non-target tissues, providing provide convenience for the labeling of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, thereby achieving the goal of integrated diagnosis and treatment, is an important development direction in this field.
2.Bone marrow hematopoiesis in rats with myelodysplastic syndrome:action mechanism of Huosui Formula in intervening immune checkpoints
Qiuyan ZHUO ; Qun JIANG ; Si XIA ; Shiying LU ; Yandi LIU ; Mei DAI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(36):7735-7742
BACKGROUND:Previous studies have shown that Huosui Formula has a synergistic effect on the immune and hematopoietic regulation of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome,but the specific mechanism is not yet clear.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and mechanism of Huosui Formula on bone marrow hematopoiesis in rats with myelodysplastic syndrome.METHODS:A total of 70 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control group(n=10),a model group(n=15),a western medicine group(n=15),a low-dose Huosui Formula group(n=15),and a high-dose Huosui Formula group(n=15).Except for the normal control group,the other four groups were injected with dimethyl benzanthracene via the tail vein to induce the establishment of rat myelodysplastic syndrome models.After modeling,the normal control group and the model group were given normal saline;the western medicine group was given thalidomide capsules 10 mg/kg and retinoic acid tablets 4 mg/kg,and the low-dose Huosui Formula group and the high-dose Huosui Formula group were given 1.5 and 6 g/kg Huosui Formula,respectively,by intragastric administration once a day for 28 consecutive days.Peripheral blood and femoral bone marrow tissue were collected to detect peripheral blood routine and bone marrow biopsy hematopoietic proliferation.Flow cytometry was used to detect T lymphocyte subsets and the expression of CTLA-4 and PD-1 on T lymphocytes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal control group,peripheral blood leukocyte,neutrophil,hemoglobin,platelet,and CD4+,CD4+/CD8+levels were decreased in the model group significantly(P<0.05),while CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+expressions were significantly upregulated(P<0.05).(2)In all dosage groups,myelopoietic proliferation was increased compared with the model group,with no significant difference between the groups(P>0.05).(3)Compared with the model group,leukocytes,hemoglobin,platelets,and CD4+,CD4+/CD8+were significantly elevated in the high-dose Huosui Formula group(P<0.05),the expression of CD8+was significantly lower(P<0.05),and the levels of CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+were down-regulated but not statistically significant(P>0.05).(4)The western medicine group and the high-dose Huosui Formula group showed similar efficacy.The improvement of each index in the high-dose Huosui Formula group was superior to that in the low-dose Huosui Formula group.These findings indicate that Huosui Formula can improve the bone marrow hematopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndrome model rats,increase the levels of CD4+,and CD4+/CD8+while down-regulate the expression levels of CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+.These observations suggest a link to the negative immunoregulation mechanism.
3.Progress in diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant recipients
Kai-jun WU ; Dai-hui CHEN ; Mao LI ; Si-min LIANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(4):354-357
Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19)in December 2019,SARS-CoV-2,which is constantly mutating,has brought unprecedented challenges to the field of solid organ transplantation.However,kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)are at high risk of developing severe disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection due to years of immunosuppressants and a variety of complications.This article aims to review the latest diagnosis and treatment progress of kidney transplantation under the current new epidemiological background,so as to provide reference for the subsequent management of KTRs under the new epidemiological background.
4.Progress in diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant recipients
Kai-jun WU ; Dai-hui CHEN ; Mao LI ; Si-min LIANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(4):354-357
Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19)in December 2019,SARS-CoV-2,which is constantly mutating,has brought unprecedented challenges to the field of solid organ transplantation.However,kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)are at high risk of developing severe disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection due to years of immunosuppressants and a variety of complications.This article aims to review the latest diagnosis and treatment progress of kidney transplantation under the current new epidemiological background,so as to provide reference for the subsequent management of KTRs under the new epidemiological background.
5.Pharmaceutical considerations on novel pharmaceutical preparations in China encourage generic drug catalogue(first to third batches)
Xiao-fei SI ; Gui-xia SUN ; Bao-mei ZHANG ; Tian-xing DAI ; Yan-xiu GE ; Dian-zhuo JIANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2025;41(1):143-148
To meet the domestic clinical demand timely,the national health commission has released three batches of encourage generic drug catalogues,which plays a good guiding role in improving the supply level and accessibility of generic drugs.Based on literature investigation,the typical cases of novel pharmaceutical preparations were analyzed,and the pharmaceutical considerations were put forward in terms formulation,manufacturing process and quality control,aimed to provide scientific reference for research and development of such drugs.
6.Effect of integrin α5 on NLRP3 expression in periodontal ligament fibroblasts within an inflammatory microenvironment
DAI Jingyi ; CAI Hongxuan ; SI Weixing ; ZHANG Zan ; WANG Zhurui ; LI Mengsen ; TIAN Ya guang
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(1):24-32
Objective:
To investigate the effect of integrin α5 on the expression of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) in periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) within an inflammatory microenvironment.
Methods:
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Laboratory animals. After rat PDLFs were treated with LPS (0.5, 5, and 50 µg/mL) for 24 h, the primary medium was discarded and replaced with serum-free culture medium. After 24 h, the supernatant was collected and mixed with DMEM medium containing 10% exosome-free serum at a volume ratio of 1:1 to obtain conditioned medium (CM). The groups were labeled as the 0.5-CM, 5-CM, and 50-CM groups. In addition, PDLFs cultured in DMEM medium containing 10% exosome-free serum were considered the 0-CM group. PDLFs were cultured with the above CM. In the inhibitor group, PDLFs were cultured in 0-CM containing different concentrations of integrin α5 inhibitor ATN-161 (0, 0.025, 0.25, 2.5, 25, and 250 μg/mL). The effect of CM and integrin α5 inhibitor ATN-161 on cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. According to the CCK-8 results, in further inhibitor intervention experiments, PDLFs were cultured in 0-CM, 5-CM (without/with 25 μg/mL ATN-161), and 0-CM containing 25 μg/mL ATN-161, which were labeled as the 0-CM, 5-CM, ATN-161+5-CM, and ATN-161 groups, respectively. The expression changes of integrin α5 and NLRP3 were detected using Western blot and qRT-PCR techniques. For in vivo experiments, 24 rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6). The control group contained healthy rats that received no treatment. The rats in the other three groups were injected with 40 µL of 0-CM containing 25 μg/mL ATN-161 or 5-CM (without or with 25 μg/mL ATN-161) on the palatal side of the left maxillary first molar every three days; these groups were classified as the ATN-161, 5-CM, and ATN-161+5-CM groups, respectively. On the 30th day, the left maxillary tissue of rats was used for Micro-CT, HE staining, and immunohistochemical detection.
Results :
The CCK-8 assay showed that CM, 25 μg/mL ATN-161, and ATN-161 concentrations below 25 μg/mL had no significant effect on cell viability at 12 h and 24 h (P > 0.05). 50-CM and 25 μg/mL ATN-161 significantly inhibited cell viability at 48 h (P < 0.05). For in vitro experiments, compared to the 0-CM group, both the protein and mRNA levels of integrin α5 and NLRP3 were significantly increased in rat PDLFs in the 5-CM group (P < 0.05). Intervention with 25 μg/mL ATN-161 significantly attenuated the enhancement of 5-CM on the expression of integrin α5 and NLRP3 (P < 0.05). For in vivo experiments, compared to the control group, alveolar bone resorption and periodontal inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly increased in the 5-CM and ATN-161+5-CM groups, and the expression of integrin α5 and NLRP3 was significantly increased (P < 0.01). However, compared to the 5-CM group, the ATN-161+5-CM group had less alveolar bone resorption and fewer periodontal inflammatory cells. Further, the expression of integrin α5 and NLRP3 was significantly reduced (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that integrin α5 mediated NLRP3 expression in PDLFs under an inflammatory microenvironment. ATN-161 inhibited the expression of integrin α5, thus significantly downregulating the expression of NLRP3, which plays a role in inhibiting inflammation.
7.Study on the prediction model of pathological poorly differentiated subtype of stage T1 lung adenocarcinoma based on CT signs
Gang XIANG ; Hongfei WANG ; Guangyan SI ; Bin YANG ; Ping DAI ; Lin REN ; Dan YU ; Xiang WANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(6):933-937
Objective To predict the poorly differentiated subtype of stage T1 invasive lung adenocarcinoma based on the morphological and quantitative characteristics of preoperative CT images.Methods The CT images,clinical information and pathological report of 333 cases with stage T1 lung adenocarcinoma in the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.All data were divided into histological subtypes according to the WHO Classification of Chest Tumors(5th Edition).CT signs include the maximum diameter,minimum diameter,location,nodule type,CT value,proportion of solid components,burr sign,lobular sign,vacuole sign,air bronchial sign,halo sign,bronchial truncation sign,vascular cluster sign,pleural depression sign.Clinical factors included gender,age,smoking history,tumor markers,and spread through air spaces.Independent predictors of poorly differentiated subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma were obtained via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis,and the clinical model,CT model and combined model were constructed based on the analysis results.Results In univariate logistic regression analysis,gender,smoking history,tumor markers,spread through air spaces,maximum diameter,minimum diameter,location,nodule type,CT value,proportion of solid components,burr sign,vacuole sign and vascular cluster sign were significantly related to poorly differentiated subtypes.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender,tumor markers,vacuole sign,minimum diameter,and nodule type were independent influencing factors of poorly differentiated subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma.Clinical model,CT model and combined model were constructed based on the analysis results.Area under the curve(AUC)of the clinical model,CT model and combined model were 0.772[95%confidence interval(CI)0.712-0.831],0.776(95%CI 0.714-0.837)and 0.825(95%CI 0.776-0.874)for the poorly differentiated subtypes,respectively.The combined model had a higher AUC,with the better prediction.There was significant difference in predicting lung adenocarcinoma poorly differentiated subtypes between the clinical model and combined model(P=0.019).Conclusion Logistic regression model based on CT signs has good diagnostic value in predicting poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma in stage Ⅰ.
8.Study on the prediction model of pathological poorly differentiated subtype of stage T1 lung adenocarcinoma based on CT signs
Gang XIANG ; Hongfei WANG ; Guangyan SI ; Bin YANG ; Ping DAI ; Lin REN ; Dan YU ; Xiang WANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(6):933-937
Objective To predict the poorly differentiated subtype of stage T1 invasive lung adenocarcinoma based on the morphological and quantitative characteristics of preoperative CT images.Methods The CT images,clinical information and pathological report of 333 cases with stage T1 lung adenocarcinoma in the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.All data were divided into histological subtypes according to the WHO Classification of Chest Tumors(5th Edition).CT signs include the maximum diameter,minimum diameter,location,nodule type,CT value,proportion of solid components,burr sign,lobular sign,vacuole sign,air bronchial sign,halo sign,bronchial truncation sign,vascular cluster sign,pleural depression sign.Clinical factors included gender,age,smoking history,tumor markers,and spread through air spaces.Independent predictors of poorly differentiated subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma were obtained via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis,and the clinical model,CT model and combined model were constructed based on the analysis results.Results In univariate logistic regression analysis,gender,smoking history,tumor markers,spread through air spaces,maximum diameter,minimum diameter,location,nodule type,CT value,proportion of solid components,burr sign,vacuole sign and vascular cluster sign were significantly related to poorly differentiated subtypes.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender,tumor markers,vacuole sign,minimum diameter,and nodule type were independent influencing factors of poorly differentiated subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma.Clinical model,CT model and combined model were constructed based on the analysis results.Area under the curve(AUC)of the clinical model,CT model and combined model were 0.772[95%confidence interval(CI)0.712-0.831],0.776(95%CI 0.714-0.837)and 0.825(95%CI 0.776-0.874)for the poorly differentiated subtypes,respectively.The combined model had a higher AUC,with the better prediction.There was significant difference in predicting lung adenocarcinoma poorly differentiated subtypes between the clinical model and combined model(P=0.019).Conclusion Logistic regression model based on CT signs has good diagnostic value in predicting poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma in stage Ⅰ.
9.Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification Unraveled The Mechanism of Pachymic Acid in The Treatment of Neuroblastoma
Hang LIU ; Yu-Xin ZHU ; Si-Lin GUO ; Xin-Yun PAN ; Yuan-Jie XIE ; Si-Cong LIAO ; Xin-Wen DAI ; Ping SHEN ; Yu-Bo XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2376-2392
ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a valuable cultural heritage and an important source of antitumor compounds. Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), the dried sclerotium of a polyporaceae fungus, was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and has been used therapeutically and dietarily in China for millennia. Traditionally recognized for its diuretic, spleen-tonifying, and sedative properties, modern pharmacological studies confirm that Poria exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pachymic acid (PA; a triterpenoid with the chemical structure 3β-acetyloxy-16α-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24(31)-dien-21-oic acid), isolated from Poria, is a principal bioactive constituent. Emerging evidence indicates PA exerts antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, though these remain incompletely characterized. Neuroblastoma (NB), a highly malignant pediatric extracranial solid tumor accounting for 15% of childhood cancer deaths, urgently requires safer therapeutics due to the limitations of current treatments. Although PA shows multi-mechanistic antitumor potential, its efficacy against NB remains uncharacterized. This study systematically investigated the potential molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the anti-NB effects of PA by integrating network pharmacology-based target prediction with experimental validation of multi-target interactions through molecular docking, dynamic simulations, and in vitro assays, aimed to establish a novel perspective on PA’s antitumor activity and explore its potential clinical implications for NB treatment by integrating computational predictions with biological assays. MethodsThis study employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets of PA in NB, followed by validation using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA free energy analysis, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. Network pharmacology analysis included target screening via TCMSP, GeneCards, DisGeNET, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, and PharmMapper. Subsequently, potential targets were predicted by intersecting the results from these databases via Venn analysis. Following target prediction, topological analysis was performed to identify key targets using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina, with the binding pocket defined based on crystal structures. MD simulations were performed for 100 ns using GROMACS, and RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and hydrogen bonding dynamics were analyzed. MM/PBSA calculations were carried out to estimate the binding free energy of each protein-ligand complex. In vitro validation included RT-qPCR and Western blot, with GAPDH used as an internal control. ResultsThe CCK-8 assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of PA on NB cell viability. GO analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve cellular response to chemical stress, vesicle lumen, and protein tyrosine kinase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed stable binding interactions between PA and the core target proteins AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and HSP90AA1. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed that PA treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, EGFR, and SRC while increasing the HSP90AA1 mRNA and protein levels. ConclusionIt was suggested that PA may exert its anti-NB effects by inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, and SRC expression, potentially modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide crucial evidence supporting PA’s development as a therapeutic candidate for NB.
10.Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Sleep Deprivation-induced Acceleration of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
Si-Ru YAN ; Ming-Yang CAI ; Ya-Xuan SUN ; Qing HUO ; Xue-Ling DAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2474-2485
Sleep deprivation (SD) has emerged as a significant modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with mounting evidence demonstrating its multifaceted role in accelerating AD pathogenesis through diverse molecular, cellular, and systemic mechanisms. SD is refined within the broader spectrum of sleep-wake and circadian disruption, emphasizing that both acute total sleep loss and chronic sleep restriction destabilize the homeostatic and circadian processes governing glymphatic clearance of neurotoxic proteins. During normal sleep, concentrations of interstitial Aβ and tau fall as cerebrospinal fluid oscillations flush extracellular waste; SD abolishes this rhythm, causing overnight rises in soluble Aβ and tau species in rodent hippocampus and human CSF. Orexinergic neurons sustain arousal, and become hyperactive under SD, further delaying sleep onset and amplifying Aβ production. At the molecular level, SD disrupts Aβ homeostasis through multiple converging pathways, including enhanced production via beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) upregulation, coupled with impaired clearance mechanisms involving the glymphatic system dysfunction and reduced Aβ-degrading enzymes (neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme). Cellular and histological analyses revealed that these proteinopathies are significantly exacerbated by SD-induced neuroinflammatory cascades characterized by microglial overactivation, astrocyte reactivity, and sustained elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) through NF‑κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of neurotoxicity. The synaptic and neuronal consequences of chronic SD are particularly profound and potentially irreversible, featuring reduced expression of critical synaptic markers (PSD95, synaptophysin), impaired long-term potentiation (LTP), dendritic spine loss, and diminished neurotrophic support, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) depletion, which collectively contribute to progressive cognitive decline and memory deficits. Mechanistic investigations identify three core pathways through which SD exerts its neurodegenerative effects: circadian rhythm disruption via BMAL1 suppression, orexin system hyperactivity leading to sustained wakefulness and metabolic stress, and oxidative stress accumulation through mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species overproduction. The review critically evaluates promising therapeutic interventions including pharmacological approaches (melatonin, dual orexin receptor antagonists), metabolic strategies (ketogenic diets, and Mediterranean diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids), lifestyle modifications (targeted exercise regimens, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia), and emerging technologies (non-invasive photobiomodulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation). Current research limitations include insufficient understanding of dose-response relationships between SD duration/intensity and AD pathology progression, lack of long-term longitudinal clinical data in genetically vulnerable populations (particularly APOE ε4 carriers and those with familial AD mutations), the absence of standardized SD protocols across experimental models that accurately mimic human chronic sleep restriction patterns, and limited investigation of sex differences in SD-induced AD risk. The accumulated evidence underscores the importance of addressing sleep disturbances as part of multimodal AD prevention strategies and highlights the urgent need for clinical trials evaluating sleep-focused interventions in at-risk populations. The review proposes future directions focused on translating mechanistic insights into precision medicine approaches, emphasizing the need for biomarkers to identify SD-vulnerable individuals, chronotherapeutic strategies aligned with circadian biology, and multi-omics integration across sleep, proteostasis and immune profiles may delineate precision-medicine strategies for at-risk populations. By systematically examining these critical connections, this analysis positions sleep quality optimization as a viable strategy for AD prevention and early intervention while providing a comprehensive roadmap for future mechanistic and interventional research in this rapidly evolving field.


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