1.Enzyme-directed Immobilization Strategies for Biosensor Applications
Xing-Bao WANG ; Yao-Hong MA ; Yun-Long XUE ; Xiao-Zhen HUANG ; Yue SHAO ; Yi YU ; Bing-Lian WANG ; Qing-Ai LIU ; Li-He ZHANG ; Wei-Li GONG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):374-394
Immobilized enzyme-based enzyme electrode biosensors, characterized by high sensitivity and efficiency, strong specificity, and compact size, demonstrate broad application prospects in life science research, disease diagnosis and monitoring, etc. Immobilization of enzyme is a critical step in determining the performance (stability, sensitivity, and reproducibility) of the biosensors. Random immobilization (physical adsorption, covalent cross-linking, etc.) can easily bring about problems, such as decreased enzyme activity and relatively unstable immobilization. Whereas, directional immobilization utilizing amino acid residue mutation, affinity peptide fusion, or nucleotide-specific binding to restrict the orientation of the enzymes provides new possibilities to solve the problems caused by random immobilization. In this paper, the principles, advantages and disadvantages and the application progress of enzyme electrode biosensors of different directional immobilization strategies for enzyme molecular sensing elements by specific amino acids (lysine, histidine, cysteine, unnatural amino acid) with functional groups introduced based on site-specific mutation, affinity peptides (gold binding peptides, carbon binding peptides, carbohydrate binding domains) fused through genetic engineering, and specific binding between nucleotides and target enzymes (proteins) were reviewed, and the application fields, advantages and limitations of various immobilized enzyme interface characterization techniques were discussed, hoping to provide theoretical and technical guidance for the creation of high-performance enzyme sensing elements and the manufacture of enzyme electrode sensors.
2.Effects of galangin on autophagy and apoptosis of chondrocytes in knee osteoarthritis rats
Qing YANG ; Wei HUANG ; Qingyi LIU ; Zhongyu ZHOU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(3):312-317
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of galangin (GLA) on autophagy and apoptosis of chondrocytes in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rats by regulating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/UNC-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) signaling pathway. METHODS KOA rat model was constructed and separated into model group, L-GLA, M-GLA, H-GLA groups [subcutaneous injection of 100, 200, 400 μg/kg GLA], GLA+Compound C group [subcutaneous injection of 400 μg/kg GLA+0.2 mg/kg AMPK inhibitor Compound C], with 10 rats in each group. Additionally, 10 normally fed rats were selected as the sham operation group. After the last medication, the degree of knee joint swelling of rats in each group was detected; the pathology of knee joints in KOA rats was observed. The serum expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in KOA rats were detected; the autophagy of chondrocytes in KOA rats was observed; the chondrocyte apoptosis in KOA rats was detected; the phosphorylation of AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway-related proteins in cartilage tissue of knee joint were detected in rats. RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group, the arrangement of articular chondrocytes in the model group was disordered, with nuclear pyknosis and severe fibrosis of the articular cartilage layer, accompanied by a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration; the degree of joint swelling, the number of autophagic vacuoles and apoptosis rate of chondrocytes, serum levels of MMP-13 and IL-1β, and the phosphorylation of mTOR protein in cartilage tissue of knee joint were all increased significantly (P<0.05), while the phosphorylation of AMPK and ULK1 protein were all decreased significantly in cartilage tissue of knee joint (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, L- GLA, M-GLA, H-GLA groups showed significant improvement in joint cartilage injury and reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells in rats. The above quantitative indicators were significantly reversed in a dose-dependent manner,except the number of autophagic vacuoles increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the H-GLA group, the GLA+ Compound C group showed aggravated cartilage tissue of joint cartilage injury and inflammatory cell infiltration in rats, and the above quantitative indicators were reversed significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS GLA can promote autophagy and inhibit apoptosis of chondrocytes in KOA rats, the mechanism of which may be associated with activating AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway.
3.Discussion on the practice of ethical review in organ transplantation under refined management
Fang HUANG ; Xinfeng PAN ; Hui ZENG ; Qing HE ; Yong XU ; Lanlan WEI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(4):441-447
The development of organ transplantation has brought new hope to many patients with organ failure and their families, but it has also raised numerous ethical issues. How to balance the rights and interests between organ donors and recipients, as well as ensure the fairness and transparency of the transplantation process has become an urgent problem to be solved. Based on the latest Regulations on Organ Donation and Transplantation and the Working Rules of the Ethics Committee for Human Organ Transplantation, the current difficulties and challenges in organ transplantation ethics were deeply analyzed. Taking the ethical review practice of Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital as an example, this paper explored issues such as full informed consent of both donors and recipients, risk assessment of marginal donors, and the review of relationships between donors and recipients. It also explored and constructed a set of complete ethical review models for organ transplantation through refined management. This model improved the efficiency and quality of ethical review as well as enriched the related knowledge system. It is expected that the implementation of this model can provide a reference for promoting effective ethical review nationwide, advancing the improvement and development of ethical review work in organ transplantation. Meanwhile, more medical ethics experts and practitioners are called upon to focus on and engage in the research and practice of ethical review in organ transplantation, jointly promoting progress in this field.
4.A new tetralone glycoside in leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus.
Ting-Si GUO ; Qin HUANG ; Qi-Qi HU ; Fei-Bing HUANG ; Qing-Ling XIE ; Han-Wen YUAN ; Wei WANG ; Yu-Qing JIAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(1):146-167
The chemical constituents from leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus were isolated and purified by chromatography on silica gel, C_(18) reverse-phase silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20 gel, as well as semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Six compounds were identified by UV, IR, NMR, MS, calculated ECD, and comparison with literature data as cyclopaloside D(1), boscialin(2),(5R,6S)-6-hydroxy-6-[(E)-3-hydroxybut-1-enyl]-1,1,5-trimethylcyclohexanone(3), 3S,5R-dihydroxy-6R,7-megastigmadien-9-one(4), 3S,5R-dihydroxy-6S,7-megastigmadien-9-one(5), and gingerglycolipid A(6), respectively. Among them, compound 1 was identified as a new tetralone glycoside, and compounds 2-6 were isolated from leaves of C. paliurus for the first time. Furthermore, compound 1 exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with the IC_(50) of(454.20±31.81)μmol·L~(-1) and(881.82±42.31)μmol·L~(-1) in scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radicals, respectively.
Plant Leaves/chemistry*
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Glycosides/isolation & purification*
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Juglandaceae/chemistry*
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Tetralones/isolation & purification*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
5.Mechanism of Yishen Jiangtang Decoction in regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome to improve renal damage in diabetic nephropathy db/db mice.
Yun-Jie YANG ; Bin-Hua YE ; Chen QIU ; Han-Qing WU ; Bo-Wei HUANG ; Tong WANG ; Shi-Wei RUAN ; Fang GUO ; Jian-Ting WANG ; Ming-Qian JIANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2740-2749
This study aims to explore the mechanism through which Yishen Jiangtang Decoction(YSJTD) regulates endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)-mediated NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome to improve diabetic nephropathy(DN) in db/db mice. Thirty db/db mice were randomly divided into the model group, YSJTD group, ERS inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid(4-PBA) group, with 10 mice in each group. Additionally, 10 db/m mice were selected as the control group. The YSJTD group was orally administered YSJTD at a dose of 0.01 mL·g~(-1), the 4-PBA group was orally administered 4-PBA at a dose of 0.5 mg·g~(-1), and the control and model groups were given an equal volume of carboxylmethyl cellulose sodium. The treatments were administered once daily for 8 weeks. Food intake, water consumption, and body weight were recorded every 2 weeks. After the intervention, fasting blood glucose(FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), urine microalbumin(U-mALB), 24-hour urine volume, serum creatinine(Scr), and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) were measured. Inflammatory markers interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-18(IL-18) were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Renal pathology was assessed through hematoxylin-eosin(HE), periodic acid-Schiff(PAS), and Masson staining, and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP), NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD(ASC), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase(caspase-1), and gasdermin D(GSDMD) in kidney tissues. The results showed that compared to the control group, the model group exhibited poor general condition, increased weight and food and water intake, and significantly higher levels of FBG, HbA1c, U-mALB, kidney index, 24-hour urine volume, IL-1β, and IL-18. Compared to the model group, the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed improved general condition, increased body weight, decreased food intake, and lower levels of FBG, U-mALB, kidney index, 24-hour urine volume, and IL-1β. Specifically, the YSJTD group showed a significant reduction in IL-18 levels compared to the model group, while the 4-PBA group exhibited decreased water intake and HbA1c levels compared to the model group. Although there was a decreasing trend in water intake and HbA1c in the YSJTD group, the differences were not statistically significant. No significant differences were observed in BUN, Scr, and kidney weight among the groups. Renal pathology revealed that the model group exhibited more severe renal damage compared to the control group. Kidney sections from the model group showed diffuse mesangial proliferation in the glomeruli, tubular edema, tubular dilation, significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the interstitium, and increased glycogen staining and blue collagen deposition in the basement membrane. In contrast, the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed varying degrees of improvement in renal damage, glycogen staining, and collagen deposition, with the YSJTD group showing more significant improvements. TEM analysis indicated that the model group had extensive cytoplasmic edema, homogeneous thickening of the basement membrane, fewer foot processes, and widening of fused foot processes. In the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups, cytoplasmic swelling of renal tissues was reduced, the basement membrane remained intact and uniform, and foot process fusion improved.Western blot results indicated that compared to the control group, the model group showed upregulation of GRP78, CHOP, GSDMD, NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 expression. In contrast, both the YSJTD and 4-PBA groups showed downregulation of these markers compared to the model group. These findings suggest that YSJTD exerts a protective effect against DN by alleviating NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the inhibition of ERS, thereby improving the inflammatory response in db/db DN mice.
Animals
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Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects*
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Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism*
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Mice
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Inflammasomes/drug effects*
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Male
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Kidney/pathology*
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Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
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Humans
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Interleukin-18/genetics*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
6.Research progress in pharmacological activities and pharmacokinetics of geniposidic acid.
Zi-Wei LI ; Sheng-Lan QI ; Qing-Guang ZHANG ; Ling CHEN ; Jing HU ; Guang-Bo GE ; Feng HUANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3679-3691
Geniposidic acid(GA), a natural iridoid, exists in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, bark, fruits, and seeds of medicinal plants of Rubiaceae, Eucommiaceae, and Plantaginaceae. Modern pharmacological studies have revealed that GA has multiple pharmacological activities, including organ-protective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-osteoporosis, anti-neurodegenerative, and anti-cardiovascular effects. GA can enhance cell/organism defenses by upregulating key anti-inflammatory and antioxidant cytokines, while downregulating key node proteins in pro-inflammatory signaling pathways such as AhR and TLR4/MyD88, thereby exerting pharmacological effects such as organ protection. Pharmacokinetic investigations have suggested that after oral administration, GA can be distributed in multiple organs(kidney, liver, heart, spleen, lung, etc.). In addition, the pharmacokinetic behavior of GA could be significantly altered under disease conditions, as demonstrated by a marked increase in systematic exposure. This article comprehensively summarizes the reported pharmacological activities and mechanisms and systematically analyzes the pharmacokinetic characteristics and key parameters of GA, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis and scientific reference for the precise clinical application of GA-related Chinese patent medicines, as well as for the investigation and development of innovative drugs based on GA.
Humans
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
Animals
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Iridoid Glucosides/chemistry*
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Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*
7.Domestication progress of endangered Chinese medicinal material Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus.
Ting XIAO ; Ming-Hao YANG ; Qiu-Ling WANG ; Qiang LYU ; Yu-Qing ZHENG ; Lian-Cheng XU ; Ma YU ; Jian-He WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4483-4489
Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus is the dried bulb of perennial herbaceous plants in the Fritillaria genus(Liliaceae family) and is a representative traditional Chinese medicinal material with distinctive regional characteristics. Clinically, it is widely used in the treatment of dry cough, bronchial asthma, and other respiratory diseases, possessing significant medicinal and economic value and being highly esteemed in TCM. Currently, Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus primarily relies on wild harvesting. However, due to excessive collection, its wild resources have drastically declined, and all source species have been classified as category Ⅱ in the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants, exacerbating the supply-demand imbalance in the market. To mitigate this issue, large-scale cultivation through the domestication of wild Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus has become an inevitable trend. However, its strict environmental requirements, low propagation efficiency, high seedling mortality, and immature cultivation techniques have severely hindered industrialization. This study investigates the domestication process of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus, focusing on seed propagation, seedling cultivation, and medicinal material production. It also reviews the species and distribution of wild resources, their endangered status, market supply-demand dynamics, and the historical and current development of domestication. The findings indicate that enhancing propagation efficiency, optimizing cultivation models, and distinguishing between seed propagation and medicinal material production are key measures to accelerate the industrialization of domesticated Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus. This research aims to promote the industrialization of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus domestication and provide a reference model for the conservation and sustainable utilization of rare and endangered medicinal plant resources.
Fritillaria/chemistry*
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Endangered Species
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Plants, Medicinal/growth & development*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/economics*
;
China
8.Association of higher serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels with successful microdissection testicular sperm extraction outcomes in nonobstructive azoospermic men with reduced testicular volumes.
Ming-Zhe SONG ; Li-Jun YE ; Wei-Qiang XIAO ; Wen-Si HUANG ; Wu-Biao WEN ; Shun DAI ; Li-Yun LAI ; Yue-Qin PENG ; Tong-Hua WU ; Qing SUN ; Yong ZENG ; Jing CAI
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(3):440-446
To investigate the impact of preoperative serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels on the probability of testicular sperm retrieval, we conducted a study of nonobstructive azoospermic (NOA) men with different testicular volumes (TVs) who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE). A total of 177 NOA patients undergoing micro-TESE for the first time from April 2019 to November 2022 in Shenzhen Zhongshan Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (formerly Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively reviewed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on average TV quartiles. Serum hormone levels in each TV group were compared between positive and negative sperm retrieval subgroups. Overall sperm retrieval rate was 57.6%. FSH levels (median [interquartile range]) were higher in the positive sperm retrieval subgroup compared with the negative outcome subgroup when average TV was <5 ml (first quartile [Q1: TV <3 ml]: 43.32 [17.92] IU l -1 vs 32.95 [18.56] IU l -1 , P = 0.048; second quartile [Q2: 3 ml ≤ TV <5 ml]: 31.31 [15.37] IU l -1 vs 25.59 [18.40] IU l -1 , P = 0.042). Elevated serum FSH levels were associated with successful micro-TESE sperm retrieval in NOA men whose average TVs were <5 ml (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.06 per unit increase; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.11; P = 0.011). In men with TVs ≥5 ml, larger TVs were associated with lower odds of sperm retrieval (adjusted OR: 0.84 per 1 ml increase; 95% CI: 0.71-0.98; P = 0.029). In conclusion, elevated serum FSH levels were associated with positive sperm retrieval in micro-TESE in NOA men with TVs <5 ml. In men with TV ≥5 ml, increases in average TVs were associated with lower odds of sperm retrieval.
Humans
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Male
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Azoospermia/surgery*
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Sperm Retrieval/statistics & numerical data*
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Adult
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Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood*
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Retrospective Studies
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Testis/pathology*
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Microdissection
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Organ Size
9.Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Primary Pulmonary Lymphoma.
You-Fan FENG ; Yuan-Yuan ZHANG ; Xiao Fang WEI ; Qi-Ke ZHANG ; Li ZHAO ; Xiao-Qin LIANG ; Yuan FU ; Fei LIU ; Yang-Yang ZHAO ; Xiu-Juan HUANG ; Qing-Fen LI
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(2):387-392
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL).
METHODS:
The clinical data of 17 patients with PPL admitted to Gansu Provincial Hospital from January 2013 to June 2023 were collected, and their clinical characteristics and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed and summarized.
RESULTS:
The median age of the 17 patients was 56 (29-73) years old. There were 8 males and 9 females. According to Ann Arbor staging system, there were 9 patients with stage I-II and 8 patients with stage III-IV. There were 14 patients with IPI score of 0-2 and 3 patients with IPI score of 3-4. All 17 patients had symptoms at the initial diagnosis, most of the first symptoms were cough, and 6 patients had B symptoms.Among the 17 patients, there were 8 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 5 cases of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, 1 case of gray zone lymphoma (GZL), and 3 cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). 15 patients received chemotherapy, of which 3 cases received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(ASCT) and 3 cases received radiotherapy; 2 patients did not receive treatment. The median number of chemotherapy courses was 6(2-8). The short-term efficacy was evaluated, 12 patients achieved complete remission (CR) and 3 patients achieved partial remission (PR). The age, pathological subtype, sex, Ann Arbor stage, β2-microglobulin(β2-MG) level, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) level were not correlated with CR rate (P >0.05), while IPI score was correlated with recent CR rate (P < 0.05 ). The median follow-up time was 31(2-102) months. One of the 12 CR patients died of COVID-19, and the rest survived. Among the 3 patients who did not reach CR, 1 died after disease progression, while the other 2 survived. One of the 2 untreated patients died one year after diagnosis. Both the median progression-free survival (PFS) time and overall survival (OS) time of the 17 patients were both 31 (2-102) months.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of PPL is low, and the disease has no specific clinical manifestations, which is easily missed and misdiagnosed. The pathological subtypes are mainly MALT lymphoma and DLBCL, and the treatment is mainly combined chemotherapy. The IPI score is related to the treatment efficacy.
Humans
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Middle Aged
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Male
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Female
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Adult
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Prognosis
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Aged
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Lung Neoplasms/therapy*
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Retrospective Studies
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Neoplasm Staging
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Lymphoma/therapy*
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Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse
10.Clinical Efficacy of CAG Regimen Combined with Venetoclax, Chidamide, and Azacitidine in the Treatment of Elderly Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Qing-Yang LIU ; Yu JING ; Meng LI ; Sai HUANG ; Yu-Chen LIU ; Ya-Nan WEN ; Jing-Jing YANG ; Wen-Jing GAO ; Ning LE ; Yi-Fan JIAO ; Xia-Wei ZHANG ; Li-Ping DOU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(4):945-950
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the efficacy and adverse reactions of CAG regimen combined with venetoclax, chidamide, and azacitidine in the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
METHODS:
15 elderly AML patients aged≥60 years old who were admitted to the Hematology Department of our hospital from May 2022 to October 2023 were treated with the CAG regimen combined with venetoclax, chidamide and azacitidine, and the efficacy, treatment-related adverse events, overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were analyzed.
RESULTS:
After one course of treatment, 11 out of 15 patients achieved complete response (CR), 3 patients achieved CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), and 1 patient died due to prior infection before efficacy evaluation, and the overall response rate (ORR) was 93.3% (14/15). The median follow-up time was 131 (19-275) days, with median OS and EFS both remaining unreached. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis showed that among the 15 patients, 13 were detected with gene mutations, and there were 7 genes with mutation frequencies of more than 10%, including ASXL1 (4 cases), RUNX1 (4 cases), BCOR (3 cases), DNMT3A (3 cases), STAG2 (2 cases), IDH1/2 (2 cases), and TET (2 cases). Among the 13 patients with detectable mutations, 12 patients achieved composite response (CR+CRi). The average recovery time of white blood cell count was 14.6 days after chemotherapy, and the average recovery time of platelets was 7.7 days after chemotherapy. The main adverse event was myelosuppression, with 10 patients accompanied by infection. Except for 1 patient who died due to septic shock during chemotherapy, no patients experienced serious complications such as heart, liver, or kidney damage during the treatment process.
CONCLUSION
The CACAG+V regimen, which combines the CAG regimen with venetoclax, chidamide, and azacitidine, can be applied in the treatment of elderly AML patients, demonstrating good safety and induction remission rate.
Humans
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Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy*
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Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use*
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Sulfonamides/therapeutic use*
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Aminopyridines/therapeutic use*
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*
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Azacitidine/therapeutic use*
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Aged
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Benzamides/therapeutic use*
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Male
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Female
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Treatment Outcome
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Middle Aged
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Cytarabine
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Aclarubicin
;
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

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