1.The characteristics and mechanism of dynamic changes of different components in microenvironment in regulating the progression of liver fibrosis
Huilan ZHAO ; Zongxu LIU ; Shumin LI ; Zhifeng WANG ; Minghui LIU ; Qian SHENG ; Kunbin KE ; Xinan SHI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):755-760
The liver has diverse functions such as metabolism, detoxification, and immune defense, and the maintenance of hepatic microenvironment homeostasis is crucial for overall bodily health. The hepatic microenvironment consists of the components such as parenchymal cells, non-parenchymal cells, and non-cellular components. Chronic inflammatory responses induced by various etiological factors may promote the formation and progression of liver fibrosis. During the dynamic progression of liver fibrosis, from the early to advanced stages, various components within the hepatic microenvironment undergo a series of changes, which can promote the malignant progression of liver fibrosis. An in-depth exploration of the mechanisms underlying such changes in each component of the liver fibrosis microenvironment is of great significance for understanding the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and discovering potential treatment strategies.
2.Correlation of the steady-state minimal concentration with AUC24/MIC of vancomycin and analysis of risk factors for treatment failure in pediatric patients
Jinxiang LIN ; Youhong WANG ; Zhifeng XIAO ; Jing WANG ; Ying SONG ; Ningfang CAI ; Xiuping WU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(9):1093-1098
OBJECTIVE To assess the correlation between the steady-state minimal concentration (cmin) and 24 h area under the drug concentration-time curve (AUC24)/minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio (AUC24/MIC) of vancomycin in pediatric patients, and analyze independent risk factors for treatment failure. METHODS Data of hospitalized children treated with vancomycin and receiving therapeutic drug monitoring in our hospital from January 2021 to July 2024 were retrospectively collected and divided into success group and failure group according to whether the treatment was successful or not. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between cmin and AUC24/MIC of vancomycin, and one-way and multifactorial Logistic regression analyses were used to screen the independent risk factors for vancomycin treatment failure. RESULTS A total of 59 children were included, with 41 in the success group and 18 in the failure group. Compared with the failure group, AUC24/MIC of vancomycin was significantly higher in the success group (P=0.038), but there was no statistically significant difference in the cmin of the two groups (P>0.05); cmin of vancomycin was significantly positively correlated with AUC24/MIC (r=0.499, P<0.001), but it has a certain efficacy in predicting the achievement of the AUC24/MIC standard (≥400) (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve=0.696), with an optimal cutoff value of 6.05 mg/L determined by the Youden index. The efficacy of AUC24/ MIC in predicting treatment failure was superior to cmin (areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve were 0.671 vs. 0.523, P were 0.038 vs. 0.684), with higher sensitivity (83.3% vs. 66.7%). Hypoproteinemia and AUC24/MIC≤369.1 were independent risk factors for vancomycin treatment failure (P<0.05). The incidence of nephrotoxicity was 3.4%. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant positive correlation between cmin and AUC24/MIC of vancomycin in pediatric patients; hypoproteinemia and AUC24/MIC≤369.1 are independent risk factors for vancomycin treatment failure in children.
3.Prediction of hypertension risk by Chinese visceral adiposity index
BAI Kaizhi ; ZHANG Guangming ; WU Xiaohong ; WANG Xiaohong ; XU Zelin ; PANG Zhifeng
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(11):1119-1123
Objective:
To investigate the value of the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) in predicting hypertension risk, so as to provide a tool for the early assessment of hypertension risk.
Methods:
Health examination individuals aged ≥18 years were selected from four medical institutes in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province in 2022. Data on basic information, lifestyle, disease history, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood biochemical indicators were collected through questionnaire surveys and physical examinations. CVAI was calculated to assess levels of visceral fat accumulation, divided by quartiles into Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups. The relationship between CVAI and hypertension was analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model, and their dose-response relationship was examined using a restricted cubic spline model. The value of CVAI in predicting hypertension risk was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
Results:
A total of 23 791 individuals were enrolled, with a median age of 68.00 (interquartile range, 14.00) years. Among them, 10 178 (42.78%) were males and 13 613 (57.22%) were females. The median CVAI was 111.40 (interquartile range, 48.23). Hypertension was identified in 15 563 cases, with a prevalence of 65.42%. After adjusting for lifestyle, disease history, and blood biochemical indicators, the multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension risk in the CVAI Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were 2.012 (95%CI: 1.865-2.170), 3.059 (95%CI: 2.826-3.311), and 5.099 (95%CI: 4.672-5.565) times that of the Q1 group, respectively. The restricted cubic spline model revealed a non-linear relationship between CVAI and hypertension risk (Pnon linearity<0.05). Hypertension risk increased more rapidly when the CVAI was ≥81.03. The area under the ROC curve for CVAI in predicting hypertension risk was 0.691, with an optimal cutoff value of 106.01, which falls within the Q2 group.
Conclusions
There was a nonlinear dose-response relationship between CVAI and hypertension. CVAI can predict the risk of hypertension, and 106.01 can serve as an early warning threshold for risk screening.
4.Compound Centella asiatica formula alleviates Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the inflammation-fibrosis cascade via regulating the TLR4/MyD88 pathway.
Liping GUAN ; Yan YAN ; Xinyi LU ; Zhifeng LI ; Hui GAO ; Dong CAO ; Chenxi HOU ; Jingyu ZENG ; Xinyi LI ; Yang ZHAO ; Junjie WANG ; Huilong FANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1307-1316
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the therapeutic mechanism of compound Centella asiatica formula (CCA) for alleviating Schistosoma japonicum (Sj)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.
METHODS:
The active components and targets of CCA were identified using the TCMSP database with cross-analysis of Sj-related liver fibrosis targets. A "drug-component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1. Functional enrichment analysis (GO/KEGG) was performed using DAVID. Molecular docking study was carried out to validate interactions between the core targets and the key compounds. For experimental validation of the results, 36 mice were divided into control group, Sj-infected model group, and CCA-treated groups. In the latter two groups, liver fibrosis was induced via abdominal infection with Sj cercariae for 8 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of daily treatment with CCA decoction or saline. Hepatic pathology of the mice was assessedwith HE and Masson staining, and hepatic expressions of collagen-I and collagen-III were detected using immunohistochemistry; serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were determined with ELISA. Hepatic expressions of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins were analyzed with Western blotting.
RESULTS:
We identified a total of 107 bioactive CCA components and 791 targets, including 37 intersection targets linked to Sj-induced fibrosis. The core targets included TNF, TP53, JUN, MMP9, and CXCL8, involving the IL-17 signaling, lipid metabolism, TLR4/MyD88 axis, and cancer pathways. Molecular docking study confirmed strong binding affinity between quercetin (a primary CCA component) and TNF/TP53/JUN/MMP9. In Sj-infected mouse models, CCA treatment significantly attenuated hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration, reduced collagen-I and collagen-III deposition, improved tissue architecture, reduced serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and downregulated TLR4 and MyD88 expressions in the liver.
CONCLUSIONS
CCA mitigates Sj-induced liver fibrosis by targeting TNF, TP53, JUN, and MMP9 to modulate the TLR4/MyD88 pathway, thereby suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine release, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, reducing collagen deposition, and preventing granuloma formation in the liver.
Animals
;
Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism*
;
Schistosoma japonicum
;
Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology*
;
Schistosomiasis japonica
;
Signal Transduction
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
;
Inflammation
;
Centella/chemistry*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
5.High expression of IGFBP1 in lung adenocarcinoma tissues promotes the proliferation and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells
Han WANG ; Qingsong HAN ; Zhifeng LI ; Yanchao LUAN
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(5):824-834
Objective To investigate the association between butyrate metabolism-related genes(BMRGs)and the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD),construct a prognostic model,and evaluate its predictive value.Methods Differentially expressed BMRGs(BMR-DEGs)were screened from the TCGA-LUAD dataset.Cox and LASSO regression analyses were employed to establish a risk scoring model,stratifying patients into low-and high-risk groups.The model's performance was assessed using Kaplan-Meier(K-M)and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,with external validation conducted using the GSE68465 dataset.In vitro experiments included RT-PCR and Western blotting to measure insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1(IGFBP1)expression.IGFBP1 was knocked down using siRNA,and its effects on cell proliferation,migration,and invasion were evaluated via CCK-8,colony formation,Transwell,and wound healing assays.Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA)was performed to explore IGFBP1-related regulatory mechanisms.Results We identified a total of 51 BMR-DEGs,primarily involved in biological processes such as cell proliferation,migration,and invasion,and associated with the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.The constructed 5-gene risk scoring model demonstrated that high-risk patients had significantly worse overall survival(OS)than low-risk patients(P<0.05).IGFBP1 was highly expressed in LUAD tissues and correlated with poor prognosis.Knockdown of IGFBP1 significantly suppressed cancer cell proliferation,migration,and invasion(P<0.05).GSEA revealed that IGFBP1 was linked to lipid metabolism-related pathways.Conclusion BMRGs are associated with LUAD prognosis,and the established risk scoring model exhibits strong predictive performance.High IGFBP1 expression correlates with unfavorable outcomes,and its knockdown inhibits cancer cell proliferation,migration,and invasion.
6.Research progress on epigenetic changes induced by ionizing radiation
WANG Suyi ; SONG Li ; LIU Zhifeng ; JIANG Rongyue ; SONG Yue ; XIA Lu ; YANG Fan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(4):361-364
Ionizing radiation (IR) is a genotoxic agent that can play an important role in the occurrence and development of various diseases by inducing epigenetic changes. Studies have shown that the basic mechanisms of IR-induced epigenetic changes include abnormal DNA methylation, increased oxidative stress levels, changes in histone modifications, and regulation by microRNAs. These can lead to health hazards such as malignant tumors, genetic effects, nervous system damage, circulatory system diseases, and radiation-induced cataracts. This article collected relevant literatures regarding epigenetic changes induced by IR from 2005 to 2024, and reviewed the basic mechanisms of IR-induced epigenetic changes and the associated disease risks, providing the reference for radiation protection in occupational exposure and radiotherapy.
7.Human resource in disease control and prevention institutions in Jinhua City
PANG Zhifeng ; WANG Juanjuan ; SHOU Geli ; ZHANG Tao
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(5):530-535
Objective:
To investigate the personnel allocation, structure, and mobility situation of the disease prevention and control (CDC) institutions in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province from 2018 to 2024, so as to provide insights into strengthening the construction of the talent team within CDC institutions.
Methods:
Basic information of the personnel in the CDC institutions, Jinhua City were collected through the Basic Information Subsystem of the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System. Composition of age, gender, educational background, major, professional title of the in-service and officially employed personnel, as well as the situation of personnel mobility were analyzed using descriptive methods.
Results:
A total of 10 CDCs were established in Jinhua City by the end of 2024, including 1 municipal CDC and 9 county (city, district) CDCs, with an approved staffing of 672 people and 621 in-service and officially employed staff. Compared with 2018, the approved number of staff positions in the CDC institutions of Jinhua City increased by 21.30% in 2024, and the number of in-service and officially employed staff members increased by 22.73%. From 2018 to 2024, the number of CDC staff per 10 000 permanent residents in the CDC institutions of Jinhua City, the municipal CDC, and the county (city, district) CDCs were 0.764 to 0.932, 0.142 to 0.173, and 0.623 to 0.759, respectively. From 2018 to 2024, the overall male-to-female ratio in both the municipal CDC and the county (city, district) CDCs decreased from 1.04∶1 and 0.84∶1 to 0.95∶1 and 0.75∶1, respectively. In the municipal CDC, the proportion of staff aged 25-<45 years old increased from 57.45% to 69.02%; the proportion of staff with a bachelor's degree or above increased from 79.79% to 93.81%; the proportion of staff majoring in public health increased from 37.23% to 49.56%; the proportions of staff with various professional titles were relatively stable; 51 staff members joined, all of whom had a bachelor's degree or above; 32 staff members left, among whom 24 retired and 6 were admitted to civil service positions or other units. In the county (city, district) CDCs, the proportion of staff aged 22-<35 years old increased from 30.59% to 37.40%; the proportion of staff with a bachelor's degree or above increased from 71.85% to 89.76%; the proportion of staff majoring in public health increased from 46.60% to 54.33%; the proportion of staff with a junior professional title or below increased from 34.47% to 43.50%; 198 staff members joined, and 194 of them had a bachelor's degree or above; 102 staff members left, among whom 67 retired and 28 were admitted to civil service positions or other units.
Conclusions
From 2018 to 2024, the number of in-service and officially employed staff in Jinhua CDC institutions increased the academic qualifications and professional composition continue to improve. There are still problems with the number of CDC staff per 10 000 permanent residents being lower than the standard for the personnel establishment in Zhejiang CDCs, a lack of high-level talents, and insufficient personnel stability.
8.Epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in Jinhua City from 2007 to 2024
LI Ke ; PANG Zhifeng ; WU Xiaohong ; WANG Cheng ; HE Yao ; TANG Huiling
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(8):818-821
Objective:
To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, from 2007 to 2024, so as to provide a basis for improving the prevention and control strategies of leptospirosis.
Methods:
Data pertaining to leptospirosis cases in Jinhua City from 2007 to 2024 were collected through the Monitoring and Reporting Management System of the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the distribution characteristics of leptospirosis in terms of time, region, population, interval from the onset of the disease to diagnosis and the outbreak of the epidemic.
Results:
A total of 81 cases of leptospirosis were reported in Jinhua City from 2007 to 2024, with an average annual reported incidence of 0.08/100 000. The peak incidence occurred from August to September, with 57 cases accounting for 70.37%. Leptospirosis cases were reported in 9 counties (cities, districts) in Jinhua City. Pan'an County reported the most cases, with 52 cases accounting for 64.20%. There were 54 male cases and 27 female cases, with a male-to-female ratio of 2∶1. The majority of cases were aged over 40 years, with 73 cases accounting for 90.12%. The average reported incidence of leptospirosis showed an upward trend with the increase of age (P<0.05), and the highest incidence of leptospirosis was at the 60-<80 age group (0.21/100 000). The majority of patients were farmers, with 77 cases accounting for 95.06%. The median interval from onset to diagnosis was 4.00 (interquartile range, 6.00) days. There were significant differences in the interval from onset to diagnosis among cases in Dongyang City compared with Pan'an County, Wuyi County, and Wucheng District, between Pan'an County and Jindong District, Wucheng District, and between Wuyi County and Wucheng District (all P<0.05). In 2007, one outbreak of leptospirosis was reported, which occurred in Jiuhe Township, Pan'an County, with 36 reported cases.
Conclusions
The reported incidence of leptospirosis in Jinhua City from 2007 to 2024 is generally low. The high-incidence period is from August to September, and Pan'an County is the high-incidence area. Males over 40 years and farmers are the key populations for prevention and control. It is recommended to strengthen epidemic surveillance and health education for high-risk populations.
9.A case of PLCZ1 complex heterozygous mutation underwent ICSI combined assisted oocyte activation and literature review
Yueyue HU ; Qianyi WANG ; Xu YAN ; Zhifeng SUN ; Xin ZHANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Changjun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2025;45(6):618-622
The treatment process of multiple fertilization failure and salvage fertilization in a male infertile patient was retrospectively analyzed. The patient underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in another hospital for 3 cycles, all of which had fertilization abnormalities. The complex heterozygous mutation of PLCZ1 gene was detected by infertility gene paneland confirmed by Sanger sequencing in the Reproductive Medicine Center of Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, and the gene mutation was derived from both parents. No abnormal mutations were found in the woman's genetic testing. The woman underwent progestin-primed ovarian stimulation, resulting in the retrieval of 9 oocytes. ICSI combined with 10 μmol/L ionomycin assisted oocyte activation (AOA) was applied to all mature eggs,resulting in 7 normal fertilized oocytes and 7 cleavage embryos, 2 high-quality cleavage embryos were frozen. Two months later, the woman underwent frozen-thawed embryo transfer to obtain biochemical pregnancy. Simultaneously, we reviewed the literature on PLCZ1 gene mutations and AOA related literature at home and abroad. From this case we can draw the following conclusions: 1) When no fertilization or polyspermia occurs in an IVF cycle and total fertilization fails in ICSI, genetic testing of both spouses is required to find genetic factors. 2) The mutation of PLCZ1 gene mainly leads to fertilization failure. ICSI combined with AOA is an effective method to rescue fertilization failure. Ionomycin has a significant effect on oocyte activation, and has no effect on embryo formation. However, we still need to accumulate case data to verify the safety of ionomycin AOA.
10.Changes in vascular endothelial function parameters and their correlation with prognosis in patients with aSAH after intracranial aneurysm embolization
Fei QI ; Zhifeng BAI ; Jing WANG
International Journal of Surgery 2025;52(4):256-266
Objective:In order to explore the changes of vascular endothelial function parameters and their correlation with prognosis in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) after intracranial aneurysm embolization.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to select 126 patients diagnosed with aSAH in the Department of Neurointerventional of Beijing Fengtai You′anmen Hospital from August 2021 to August 2023. There were 69 males and 57 females, with an age of (52.27±3.34) years, aged 45-62 years. The patients were grouped according to the glasgow prognostic score (GOS) at three months after the prognosis of intracranial aneurysm embolization, including 81 cases in the good prognosis group and 45 cases in the poor prognosis group. The main indexes were calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), endothelin-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), S100β, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and the secondary indicators were the Hunt and Hess Scale (Hunt-Hess), the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the Glasgow coma scale (Glasgow), coma scale (GCS), Immunoglobulin A (IgA), Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG). A generalized mixed-effect model was established to analyze the effect of vascular endothelial function on adverse prognosis, and ROC curve was used to analyze the impact of changes in vascular endothelial function on adverse prognosis. The restriction cubic spline model was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between the changes of postoperative endothelial function indexes and the poor prognosis of intracranial aneurysm embolization in aSAH patients. The Log-rank test was used for Kaplan-Meiker survival analysis. The mean ± standard deviation ( ± s) was used for the normally distributed continuous data, and the independent samples t-test was used for comparison between groups. The chi-square test was used for comparison of enumerated data between groups. Results:There were statistically significant levels of Hunt-Hess, NIHSS, GCS, cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and shunt dependence in the two groups ( P<0.05), and the CGRP of the two groups increased significantly after surgery, and after 2 weeks of treatment, the CGRP of the patients in the good prognosis group was (58.36±3.84) pg/mL, which was significantly higher than that in the poor prognosis group (49.36±4.55) pg/mL. After 2 weeks of treatment, endothelin-1 and VEGF in the good prognosis group were (62.74±27.46) pg/mL and (110.55±34.82) ng/mL, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the poor prognosis group (92.64±28.44) pg/mL and (145.45±32.19) ng/mL, respectively, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05), The neurological indexes of the two groups were significantly decreased, and the S100β, GFAP and NSE in the good prognosis group were (6.75±2.73) ng/L, (6.85±1.54) mg/L and (8.24±4.51) ng/L after 2 weeks of treatment, which were significantly lower than those in the poor prognosis group (8.76±2.44) ng/L, (8.63±1.63) mg/L and (13.84±3.19) ng/L, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05).Before and after the correction factors, the vascular endothelial function indexes of aSAH patients at different time points were significantly correlated with their neurological function indicators. The 14-day change of vascular endothelial function index was significantly correlated with poor prognosis ( P<0.05). The results of subgroup analysis showed that vascular endothelial function indicators and poor prognosis were statistically significant in the range of Hunt-Hess≥2 points, NIHSS≥14 points, GCS≥11 points, CVS, shunt dependence, S100β<10.81 ng/L, GFAP≥9.93 mg/L, NSE≥29.00 ng/L, IgA<2.46 g/L, IgM≥1.70 g/L, and IgG<11.50 g/L ( P<0.05). The results of ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of CGRP, endothelin-1 and VEGF were 0.869, 0.834 and 0.874, respectively. There was a nonlinear dose-response relationship between CGRP, endothelin-1 and VEGF and the poor prognosis of intracranial aneurysm embolization in aSAH patients. Conclusion:The vascular endothelial function of aSAH patients with aSAH can be improved after intracranial aneurysm embolization, and it is related to neurological function, and the better the endothelial function index, the higher the probability.


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