1.Single-cell Protein Localization Method Based on Class Perception Graph Convolutional Network
Hao-Yang TANG ; Xin-Yue YAO ; Meng-Meng WANG ; Si-Cong YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2417-2427
ObjectiveThis study proposes a novel single-cell protein localization method based on a class perception graph convolutional network (CP-GCN) to overcome several critical challenges in protein microscopic image analysis, including the scarcity of cell-level annotations, inadequate feature extraction, and the difficulty in achieving precise protein localization within individual cells. The methodology involves multiple innovative components designed to enhance both feature extraction and localization accuracy. MethodsFirst, a class perception module (CPM) is developed to effectively capture and distinguish semantic features across different subcellular categories, enabling more discriminative feature representation. Building upon this, the CP-GCN network is designed to explore global features of subcellular proteins in multicellular environments. This network incorporates a category feature-aware module to extract protein semantic features aligned with label dimensions and establishes a subcellular relationship mining module to model correlations between different subcellular structures. By doing so, it generates co-occurrence embedding features that encode spatial and contextual relationships among subcellular locations, thereby improving feature representation. To further refine localization, a multi-scale feature analysis approach is employed using the K-means clustering algorithm, which classifies multi-scale features within each subcellular category and generates multi-cell class activation maps (CAMs). These CAMs highlight discriminative regions associated with specific subcellular locations, facilitating more accurate protein localization. Additionally, a pseudo-label generation strategy is introduced to address the lack of annotated single-cell data. This strategy segments multicellular images into single-cell images and assigns reliable pseudo-labels based on the CAM-predicted regions, ensuring high-quality training data for single-cell analysis. Under a transfer learning framework, the model is trained to achieve precise single-cell-level protein localization, leveraging both the extracted features and pseudo-labels for robust performance. ResultsExperimental validation on multiple single-cell test datasets demonstrates that the proposed method significantly outperforms existing approaches in terms of robustness and localization accuracy. Specifically, on the Kaggle 2021 dataset, the method achieves superior mean average precision (mAP) metrics across 18 subcellular categories, highlighting its effectiveness in diverse protein localization tasks. Visualization of the generated CAM results further confirms the model’s capability to accurately localize subcellular proteins within individual cells, even in complex multicellular environments. ConclusionThe integration of the CP-GCN network with a pseudo-labeling strategy enables the proposed method to effectively capture heterogeneous cellular features in protein images and achieve precise single-cell protein localization. This advancement not only addresses key limitations in current protein image analysis but also provides a scalable and accurate solution for subcellular protein studies, with potential applications in biomedical research and diagnostic imaging. The success of this method underscores the importance of combining advanced deep learning architectures with innovative training strategies to overcome data scarcity and improve localization performance in biological image analysis. Future work could explore the extension of this framework to other types of microscopic imaging and its application in large-scale protein interaction studies.
2.Association between ELL2 polymorphism and susceptibility to pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland
Si-Yao YANG ; Yuan-Yuan WANG ; Jian-Bing LIU ; Zhi-Rong LIU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(2):171-176
Objective To analyze the correlation between the ELL2 gene 1119 T>C polymorphism and the susceptibility to pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland.Methods The pedigree of the pleomorphic adenoma family of salivary gland was drawn.The exons of ELL2 gene in 5 members of salivary pleomorphic adenoma family were sequenced.A case-control study was conducted.One hundred and twelve patients with pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland who visited the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Shanxi Bethune Hospital from January 2016 to July 2020 were taken as case group,and 176 healthy examinees from January 2019 to January 2020 were taken as control group with age and sex as matching conditions.The 1119 T>C polymorphism of ELL2 genes in the two groups were detected with high resolution melting(HRM)curve.Chi-square test was adopted to analyze the correlation between gene polymorphism and the occurrence of pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland,stratified analysis was performed to evaluate the synergistic effect of smoking and genotype,and real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was used to detect the expression level of ELL2 in individuals with different genotypes.Results The 1119 T>C polymorphism site existed in the exon 8 of ELL2 gene in a family with pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland.The results of case-control study showed that the genotype frequency of homozygous CC was significantly higher in patients with pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland than that in the controls(24.1%vs.11.9%,P=0.002).Homozygous CC was associated with increased risk for developing pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland(OR=3.059,95%CI 1.494-6.263)in this cohort.Stratification analysis showed that smoking and 1119C allele cooperated to increase the risk of pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland(OR=3.200,95%CI 1.460-7.014).The expression level of ELL2 mRNA in CC genotype was significantly higher than that in individuals with CT or TT genotype(P<0.05).Conclusion The genetic variation of ELL2 may play an important role in the occurrence of pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland,and smoking combined with the 1119C allele increased the risk of this disease.
3.Targeting the chromatin structural changes of antitumor immunity
Li NIAN-NIAN ; Lun DENG-XING ; Gong NINGNING ; Meng GANG ; Du XIN-YING ; Wang HE ; Bao XIANGXIANG ; Li XIN-YANG ; Song JI-WU ; Hu KEWEI ; Li LALA ; Li SI-YING ; Liu WENBO ; Zhu WANPING ; Zhang YUNLONG ; Li JIKAI ; Yao TING ; Mou LEMING ; Han XIAOQING ; Hao FURONG ; Hu YONGCHENG ; Liu LIN ; Zhu HONGGUANG ; Wu YUYUN ; Liu BIN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(4):460-482
Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes,promoting the onset and progression of cancer.Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks,tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes,which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy,cancer immunotherapy,and their combinations.Herein,we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes,DNA methylation,histone post-translational modification,and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity,and introduce these epigenetic research methods.We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immuno-therapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.
4.Clinical diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis and progress in the application of scoring systems
Si-Yu CHEN ; Meng-Yang GUO ; Jiang-Hong DENG ; Kai-Hu YAO
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2024;26(8):893-898
Pharyngitis can be caused by various pathogens,including viruses and bacteria.Group A streptococcus(GAS)is the most common bacterial cause of pharyngitis.However,distinguishing GAS pharyngitis from other types of upper respiratory tract infections is challenging in clinical settings.This often leads to empirical treatments and,consequently,the overuse of antimicrobial drugs.With the advancement of antimicrobial drug management and healthcare payment reform initiatives in China,reducing unnecessary testing and prescriptions of antimicrobial drugs is imperative.To promote standardized diagnosis and treatment of GAS pharyngitis,this article reviews various international guidelines on the clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis of GAS pharyngitis,particularly focusing on clinical scoring systems guiding laboratory testing and antimicrobial treatment decisions for GAS pharyngitis and their application recommendations,providing a reference for domestic researchers and clinical practitioners.
5.Clinical analysis of indocyanine green fluorescence laparo-scopic lateral lymph node dissection in middle and low rec-tal cancer
Yang YANG ; Xin-Chen WANG ; Yuan-Yao ZHANG ; Zhi-Wei LIU ; Si-Yuan WANG ; Dong WEI
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2024;27(5):377-381
Objective:To investigate the application value of indocyanine green fluorescence laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection(LLND)in the treatment of middle and low rectal can-cer.Methods:Clinical data of 76 patients with middle and low rectal cancer who underwent surgi-cal treatment from February 2018 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed,including 42 patients in the TME group who underwent laparoscopic total mesorectal resection and 34 patients in the TME+LLND group who underwent laparoscopic TME combined with indocyanine green fluores-cence LLND.Results:The operation time of TME+LLND group was longer than that of TME group(P<0.001).Compared with TME group,the total number of lymph nodes dissected in TME+LLND group was higher(P<0.05).In the TME+LLND group,7 cases(20.59%)reported lateral lymph node metastasis.After 3 years of follow-up,the local recurrence rate was 2.94%in TME+LLND group and 19.05%in TME group(P<0.05).The distant metastasis rate was 14.71%in the TME+LLND group and 9.52%in the TME group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Indocyanine green fluorescence laparoscopic LLND can reduce the local recurrence rate and does not increase postoperative com-plications,so it is safe,effective and feasible in the treatment of middle and low rectal cancer.
6.Study on inhibitory effect of alisol B on non-small cell lung cancer based on network pharmacology and its mechanism
Liu-Yan XIANG ; Wen-Xuan WANG ; Si-Meng GU ; Xiao-Qian ZHANG ; Lu-Yao LI ; Yu-Qian LI ; Yuan-Ru WANG ; Qi-Qi LEI ; Xue YANG ; Ya-Jun CAO ; Xue-Jun LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(12):2375-2384
Aim To explore the potential genes and mechanism of alisol B in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods The proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells were detected by CCK-8 and Transwell.Genes of NSCLC and alisol B were col-lected through TCGA and compound gene prediction database,and their intersection genes were obtained.The network of protein-protein interaction(PPI)was constructed by using String database,and the top 20 key nodes were screened out,and the prognosis-related proteins related to the prognosis of NSCLC were screened out by using R language,and the intersection of them was obtained.The potential mechanism of ali-sol B on NSCLC was explored by KEGG and GO en-richment analysis and the relationship between related genes and immune cells,which was verified by cell-lev-el experiments.Results Alisol B inhibited the cell activity and migration ability of NSCLC cells.Five im-portant genes were identified by network pharmacologi-cal analysis:CCNE1,CDK1,COL1A1,COL1A2 and COL3A1.The results of cell experiment showed that al-isol B down-regulated the expression of Cyclin E1,CDK1 and COL1A2 in NSCLC cells.In addition,alisol B could inhibit the expression of COL1A2 and M2 macrophage marker CD206 in macrophages.Conclu-sions Alisol B may inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells by down-regulating CDK1 and Cyclin E1,and may affect the function of macrophages by inhibiting COL1A2,thus regulating the tumor immune microenvi-ronment and inhibiting NSCLC.
7.Rapid prediction of G protein-coupled receptor structures using nanoluciferase assay
Yu-ming ZHUANG ; Lu-lu GUO ; Guo-xing FANG ; Xin LUO ; Si-yuan SHEN ; Fan YANG ; Jiu-yao ZHOU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2023;58(5):1267-1274
Using beta-2 adrenergic receptor, 5-hydroxytryptamine and angiotensin II type 1 receptor as control, we here established a method for rapid prediction of the initial position amino acids of N-terminal, C-terminal, intracellular loops, extracellular loops and transmembrane (TM) regions in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and successfully predicted the structure of Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors X3 (MRGPRX3). To achieve this purpose, nanoluciferase (Nluc) was inserted into the different sites of these GPCRs′ sequence by sequence and ligation-independent cloning (SLIC) method, and the luminescence value were measured to distinguish the different parts of GPCRs. The results showed that luminescence values of NLuc luciferase at TM region were less than 100 000, and the values were higher than 1 000 000 at N terminal, C terminal, or extracellular loops and intracellular loops, and the values were between 100 000 and 500 000 at junction. The predicted MRGPRX3 structure was analyzed in detail and was compared with AlphaFold predicted structure. In conclusion, this method could provide useful information of GPCR structure model for the ligand virtual screening, and could provide certain experimental basis for structural pharmacology.
8.Aripiprazole in the treatment of acute episode of schizophrenia: a real-world study in China.
Qian LI ; Yun'ai SU ; Xuemei LIAO ; Maosheng FANG ; Jianliang GAO ; Jia XU ; Mingjun DUAN ; Haiying YU ; Yang YANG ; Zhiyu CHEN ; Jintong LIU ; Shaoxiao YAN ; Peifen YAO ; Shuying LI ; Changhong WANG ; Bin WU ; Congpei ZHANG ; Tianmei SI
Chinese Medical Journal 2023;136(9):1126-1128
9.Component identification and analysis in vivo of Sanhan Huashi formula.
Xu ZHANG ; Yan-Nan KOU ; Chen-Si YAO ; Yan-Yan ZHOU ; Chun-Ying WANG ; Qiao WANG ; Shu-Yi FENG ; Wei-Hao WANG ; Bin YANG ; Min LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(8):2126-2143
Sanhan Huashi formula(SHF) is the intermediate of a newly approved traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) Sanhan Huashi Granules for the treatment of COVID-19 infection. The chemical composition of SHF is complex since it contains 20 single herbal medicines. In this study, UHPLC-Orbitrap Exploris 240 was used to identify the chemical components in SHF and in rat plasma, lung and feces after oral administration of SHF, and heat map was plotted for characterizing the distribution of the chemical components. Chromatographic separation was conducted on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18)(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) using 0.1% formic acid(A)-acetonitrile(B) as mobile phases in a gradient elution. Electrospray ionization(ESI) source was used to acquire data in positive and negative mode. By reference to quasi-molecular ions and MS/MS fragment ions and in combination with MS spectra of reference substances and compound information in literature reports, 80 components were identified in SHF, including 14 flavonoids, 13 coumarins, 5 lignans, 12 amino-compounds, 6 terpenes and 30 other compounds; 40 chemical components were identified in rat plasma, 27 in lung and 56 in feces. Component identification and characterization of SHF in vitro and in vivo lay foundations for disclosure of its pharmacodynamic substances and elucidation of the scientific connotation.
Rats
;
Animals
;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
COVID-19
;
Lignans
10.A cross-sectional study on the prevalence rate and influencing factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in overweight/obese children.
Wen DAI ; Zhen-Zhen YAO ; Si-Si OU-YANG ; Ning-An XU ; Hai-Xiang ZHOU ; Xiong-Wei LI ; Yan ZHONG ; Jia-You LUO
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2023;25(5):448-456
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the prevalence rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight/obese children who visit a hospital, and to explore the influencing factors of NAFLD, in order to provide a basis for the prevention of NAFLD in overweight/obese children.
METHODS:
Overweight/obese children who visited Hunan Children's Hospital from June 2019 to September 2021 were recruited. The prevalence rate of NAFLD was examined. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing the development of NAFLD [non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)]. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of the influencing factors for NAFL and NASH.
RESULTS:
A total of 844 overweight/obese children aged 6-17 years were enrolled. The prevalence rate of NAFLD in overweight/obese children was 38.2% (322/844), among which the prevalence rates of NAFL and NASH were 28.8% (243/844) and 9.4% (79/844), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increase of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were associated with the development of NAFL and NASH (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the combined measurement of WHR and HDL-C had a predictive value for NAFL (area under the curve: 0.653, 95%CI: 0.613-0.694), and for NASH (area under the curve: 0.771, 95%CI: 0.723-0.819).
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence rate of NAFLD in overweight/obese children who visit a hospital is high. WHR and HDL-C are associated with the development of NAFLD and the combined measurement of WHR and HDL-C has a certain value for predicating the development of NAFLD.
Child
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Humans
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Cholesterol, HDL
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Cross-Sectional Studies
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Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications*
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Overweight/complications*
;
Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology*
;
Prevalence
;
Adolescent

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