1.Mechanism of imperatorin in ameliorating doxorubicin resistance of breast cancer based on transcriptomics
Yiting LI ; Wei DONG ; Xinli LIANG ; Hu WANG ; Yumei QIU ; Xiaoyun DING ; Hao ZHANG ; Huiyun BAO ; Xianxi LI ; Xilan TANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):529-534
OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effect and potential mechanism of imperatorin (IMP) on doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in breast cancer. METHODS The effects of maximum non-toxic concentration (100 μg/mL) of IMP combined with different concentrations of DOX (12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100 μg/mL) on the proliferation of MCF-7/DOX cells were determined by MTT method. MCF-7/DOX cells were divided into blank control group (1‰ dimethyl sulfoxide), DOX group (50 μg/mL), IMP+DOX group (100 μg/mL IMP+50 μg/mL DOX) and IMP group (100 μg/mL). mRNA and protein expressions of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 in each group were measured. The relevant pathways and targets involved in the improvement of DOX resistance in breast cancer cells by IMP were screened and validated by using transcriptome sequencing technology, along with gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. RESULTS Compared with DOX alone, the combination of IMP and DOX reduced the half inhibitory concentration of DOX on MCF-7/DOX cells from 81.965 μg/mL to 43.170 μg/mL, the reverse fold was 1.90, and the mRNA expression of MDR1 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). The results of GO enrichment analyses and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the reversal of DOX resistance in breast cancer by IMP was mainly associated with the regulation of biological processes such as detoxification, multiple biological processes, and cell killing. The main pathway involved was the p53 signaling pathway, and the key targets mainly included constitutively photomorphogenic protein 1 (COP1), cyclin E1 (CCNE1), growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 45A E-mail:tangxilan1983@163.com (GADD45A) and GADD45B. The results of the verification experiments showed that compared with DOX group, there was a trend of up-regulation of COP1 mRNA, and significant down- regulation of CCNE1, GADD45A, and GADD45B mRNA expression in IMP+DOX group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The effect of IMP in ameliorating DOX resistance in breast cancer is related to its regulation of COP1, CCNE1, GADD45A and GADD45B targets in the p53 signaling pathway.
3.Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of cemental tear.
Ye LIANG ; Hongrui LIU ; Chengjia XIE ; Yang YU ; Jinlong SHAO ; Chunxu LV ; Wenyan KANG ; Fuhua YAN ; Yaping PAN ; Faming CHEN ; Yan XU ; Zuomin WANG ; Yao SUN ; Ang LI ; Lili CHEN ; Qingxian LUAN ; Chuanjiang ZHAO ; Zhengguo CAO ; Yi LIU ; Jiang SUN ; Zhongchen SONG ; Lei ZHAO ; Li LIN ; Peihui DING ; Weilian SUN ; Jun WANG ; Jiang LIN ; Guangxun ZHU ; Qi ZHANG ; Lijun LUO ; Jiayin DENG ; Yihuai PAN ; Jin ZHAO ; Aimei SONG ; Hongmei GUO ; Jin ZHANG ; Pingping CUI ; Song GE ; Rui ZHANG ; Xiuyun REN ; Shengbin HUANG ; Xi WEI ; Lihong QIU ; Jing DENG ; Keqing PAN ; Dandan MA ; Hongyu ZHAO ; Dong CHEN ; Liangjun ZHONG ; Gang DING ; Wu CHEN ; Quanchen XU ; Xiaoyu SUN ; Lingqian DU ; Ling LI ; Yijia WANG ; Xiaoyuan LI ; Qiang CHEN ; Hui WANG ; Zheng ZHANG ; Mengmeng LIU ; Chengfei ZHANG ; Xuedong ZHOU ; Shaohua GE
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):61-61
Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans
;
Dental Cementum/injuries*
;
Consensus
;
Diagnosis, Differential
;
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
;
Tooth Fractures/therapy*
4.Assembly and network of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma surface microbiome shaped by processing methods and sampling locations.
Guangfei WEI ; Xiao CHEN ; Guozhuang ZHANG ; Conglian LIANG ; Zhaoyu ZHANG ; Bo ZHANG ; Shilin CHEN ; Linlin DONG
Chinese Herbal Medicines 2025;17(1):189-199
OBJECTIVE:
Rhei Radix et Rhizoma has five types of products, namely, raw rhubarb (RR), wine rhubarb (WR), vinegar rhubarb (VR), cooked rhubarb (CR), and rhubarb charcoal (RC). However, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is easily contaminated with fungi and mycotoxins if not harvested or processed properly. Here, we intend to analyze how microbiome assemblies and co-occurrence patterns are influenced by sampling locations and processing methods.
METHODS:
High-throughput sequencing and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) were carried out to study the diversities (α- and β-diversity), composition (dominant taxa and potential biomarkers), and network complexitity of surface fungi on RR, WR, VR, CR, and RC collected from Gansu and Sichuan provinces, China.
RESULTS:
The phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota; the genera Kazachstania, Malassezia, and Asterotremella; and the species Kazachstania exigua, Asterotremella pseudolonga, and Malassezia restricta were the dominant fungi and exhibited differences in the two provinces and the five processed products. The α-diversity and network complexity were strongly dependent on processing methods. Chao 1, the Shannon index, and network complexity and connectivity were highest in the CR group. The α-diversity and network complexity were influenced by sampling locations. Chao 1 and network complexity and connectivity were highest in the Gansu Province.
CONCLUSION
The assembly and network of the surface microbiome on Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were shaped by processing methods and sampling locations. This paper offers a comprehensive understanding of microorganisms, which can provide early warning for potential mycotoxins and ensure the safety of drugs and consumers.
5.Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis - Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis.
Wenhui QIAN ; Bei ZHANG ; Ming GAO ; Yuting WANG ; Jiachen SHEN ; Dongbing LIANG ; Chao WANG ; Wei WEI ; Xing PAN ; Qiuying YAN ; Dongdong SUN ; Dong ZHU ; Haibo CHENG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(2):101056-101056
Sustained inflammatory responses are closely related to various severe diseases, and inhibiting the excessive activation of inflammasomes and pyroptosis has significant implications for clinical treatment. Natural products have garnered considerable concern for the treatment of inflammation. Huanglian-Wumei decoction (HLWMD) is a classic prescription used for treating inflammatory diseases, but the necessity of their combination and the exact underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism have not yet been elucidated. Inspired by the supramolecular self-assembly strategy and natural drug compatibility theory, we successfully obtained berberine (BBR)-chlorogenic acid (CGA) supramolecular (BCS), which is an herbal pair from HLWMD. Using a series of characterization methods, we confirmed the self-assembly mechanism of BCS. BBR and CGA were self-assembled and stacked into amphiphilic spherical supramolecules in a 2:1 molar ratio, driven by electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking; the hydrophilic fragments of CGA were outside, and the hydrophobic fragments of BBR were inside. This stacking pattern significantly improved the anti-inflammatory performance of BCS compared with that of single free molecules. Compared with free molecules, BCS significantly attenuated the release of multiple inflammatory mediators and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyroptosis. Its anti-inflammatory mechanism is closely related to the inhibition of intracellular nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65 phosphorylation and the noncanonical pyroptosis signalling pathway mediated by caspase-11.
6.Scaffold and SAR studies on c-MET inhibitors using machine learning approaches.
Jing ZHANG ; Mingming ZHANG ; Weiran HUANG ; Changjie LIANG ; Wei XU ; Jinghua ZHANG ; Jun TU ; Innocent Okohi AGIDA ; Jinke CHENG ; Dong-Qing WEI ; Buyong MA ; Yanjing WANG ; Hongsheng TAN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):101303-101303
Numerous c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-MET) inhibitors have been reported as potential anticancer agents. However, most fail to enter clinical trials owing to poor efficacy or drug resistance. To date, the scaffold-based chemical space of small-molecule c-MET inhibitors has not been analyzed. In this study, we constructed the largest c-MET dataset, which included 2,278 molecules with different structures, by inhibiting the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of kinase activity. No significant differences in drug-like properties were observed between active molecules (1,228) and inactive molecules (1,050), including chemical space coverage, physicochemical properties, and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiles. The higher chemical diversity of the active molecules was downscaled using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) high-dimensional data. Further clustering and chemical space networks (CSNs) analyses revealed commonly used scaffolds for c-MET inhibitors, such as M5, M7, and M8. Activity cliffs and structural alerts were used to reveal "dead ends" and "safe bets" for c-MET, as well as dominant structural fragments consisting of pyridazinones, triazoles, and pyrazines. Finally, the decision tree model precisely indicated the key structural features required to constitute active c-MET inhibitor molecules, including at least three aromatic heterocycles, five aromatic nitrogen atoms, and eight nitrogen-oxygen atoms. Overall, our analyses revealed potential structure-activity relationship (SAR) patterns for c-MET inhibitors, which can inform the screening of new compounds and guide future optimization efforts.
7.Susceptible Windows of Prenatal Ozone Exposure and Preterm Birth: A Hospital-Based Observational Study.
Rong Rong QU ; Dong Qin ZHANG ; Han Ying LI ; Jia Yin ZHI ; Yan Xi CHEN ; Ling CHAO ; Zhen Zhen LIANG ; Chen Guang ZHANG ; Wei Dong WU ; Jie SONG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):255-260
8.Laboratory Diagnosis and Molecular Epidemiological Characterization of the First Imported Case of Lassa Fever in China.
Yu Liang FENG ; Wei LI ; Ming Feng JIANG ; Hong Rong ZHONG ; Wei WU ; Lyu Bo TIAN ; Guo CHEN ; Zhen Hua CHEN ; Can LUO ; Rong Mei YUAN ; Xing Yu ZHOU ; Jian Dong LI ; Xiao Rong YANG ; Ming PAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(3):279-289
OBJECTIVE:
This study reports the first imported case of Lassa fever (LF) in China. Laboratory detection and molecular epidemiological analysis of the Lassa virus (LASV) from this case offer valuable insights for the prevention and control of LF.
METHODS:
Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, urine, saliva, and environmental materials were collected from the patient and their close contacts for LASV nucleotide detection. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on positive samples to analyze the genetic characteristics of the virus.
RESULTS:
LASV was detected in the patient's CSF, blood, and urine, while all samples from close contacts and the environment tested negative. The virus belongs to the lineage IV strain and shares the highest homology with strains from Sierra Leone. The variability in the glycoprotein complex (GPC) among different strains ranged from 3.9% to 15.1%, higher than previously reported for the seven known lineages. Amino acid mutation analysis revealed multiple mutations within the GPC immunogenic epitopes, increasing strain diversity and potentially impacting immune response.
CONCLUSION
The case was confirmed through nucleotide detection, with no evidence of secondary transmission or viral spread. The LASV strain identified belongs to lineage IV, with broader GPC variability than previously reported. Mutations in the immune-related sites of GPC may affect immune responses, necessitating heightened vigilance regarding the virus.
Humans
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China/epidemiology*
;
Genome, Viral
;
Lassa Fever/virology*
;
Lassa virus/classification*
;
Molecular Epidemiology
;
Phylogeny
9.Associations of Genetic Risk and Physical Activity with Incident Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Large Prospective Cohort Study.
Jin YANG ; Xiao Lin WANG ; Wen Fang ZHONG ; Jian GAO ; Huan CHEN ; Pei Liang CHEN ; Qing Mei HUANG ; Yi Xin ZHANG ; Fang Fei YOU ; Chuan LI ; Wei Qi SONG ; Dong SHEN ; Jiao Jiao REN ; Dan LIU ; Zhi Hao LI ; Chen MAO
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(10):1194-1204
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the relationship between physical activity and genetic risk and their combined effects on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
METHODS:
This prospective cohort study included 318,085 biobank participants from the UK. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-genetic-risk groups based on their polygenic risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression models and multiplicative interaction analyses were used.
RESULTS:
During a median follow-up period of 13 years, 9,209 participants were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For low genetic risk, compared to low physical activity, the hazard ratios ( HRs) for moderate and high physical activity were 0.853 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.748-0.972) and 0.831 (95% CI: 0.727-0.950), respectively. For intermediate genetic risk, the HRs were 0.829 (95% CI: 0.758-0.905) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.764-0.914), respectively. For participants with high genetic risk, the HRs were 0.809 (95% CI: 0.746-0.877) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.888), respectively. A significant interaction was observed between genetic risk and physical activity.
CONCLUSION
Moderate or high levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across all genetic risk groups, highlighting the need to tailor activity interventions for genetically susceptible individuals.
Humans
;
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology*
;
Exercise
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Prospective Studies
;
Aged
;
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
;
Risk Factors
;
United Kingdom/epidemiology*
;
Incidence
;
Adult
10.A high-throughput plant canopy leaf area index inversion model based on UAV-LiDAR.
Yuming LIANG ; Xueyan FAN ; Muqing ZHANG ; Wei YAO ; Xiuhua LI ; Zeping WANG ; Sifan DONG ; Xuechen LI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(10):3817-3827
To explore the feasibility of using UAV-LiDAR for measuring the leaf area index (LAI) of crop canopies, we employed UAV-LiDAR to scan sugarcane canopies during the tillering and elongation stages, acquiring canopy point cloud data. Subsequently, features such as average row height, projected row area, point cloud density at different canopy layers, and the ratios between these parameters were extracted. Three feature selection methods-partial least squares regression (PLSR), XGBoost feature importance (XGBoost-FI), and random forest-recursive feature elimination (RF-RFE)-were adopted to evaluate and identify the optimal input variables for modeling. With these selected variables, LAI inversion models were developed based on random forest (RF) and adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) algorithms, and their performance was assessed. Among the extracted features, the projected row area Sp and the total row point count Ctotal exhibited strong correlations with LAI, with correlation coefficients of 0.73 and 0.72, respectively. The AdaBoost-based LAI inversion model, using the projected row area Sp, average height Havg, mid-layer point cloud density Cm, and total row point count Ctotal as input variables, achieved the best performance, with a coefficient of determination (Rv²) of 0.713 and a root mean square error (RMSEv) of 0.25 on the validation set. This study provides an effective method for high-throughput acquisition of LAI in field crops, offering valuable scientific support for sugarcane field management and breeding efforts.
Plant Leaves/growth & development*
;
Saccharum/growth & development*
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Algorithms
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Unmanned Aerial Devices
;
Remote Sensing Technology/methods*
;
Crops, Agricultural/growth & development*

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