1.Mechanism and clinical research progress of calcineurin inhibitor-induced hyperglycemia
Suna LU ; Qiuxia MIN ; Xi WEN ; Ling ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(3):407-412
Calcineurin inhibitor(CNI) is potent immunosuppressive agents and serve as cornerstone therapies in the treatment of organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases, with cyclosporine A and tacrolimus being the representative drugs. Long-term use of CNI can lead to drug-induced hyperglycemia, severely affecting patients’ prognosis. The pathogenesis involves multilevel pathological alterations: at the pancreatic β-cell level, CNI directly damage β-cell by inducing calcium overload, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, suppressing the expression of key insulin synthesis factors and promoting apoptosis; in peripheral tissues, CNI interfere with insulin receptor substrate phosphorylation and inhibit the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway, resulting in decreased glucose uptake and insulin resistance; additionally, CNI can also induce β-cell injury by suppressing the secretion and receptor signal transduction of glucagon-like peptide-1, as well as by activating the nuclear factor kappa B pathway to promote inflammatory responses. Clinical studies demonstrate that the incidence of CNI-associated hyperglycemia is closely related to drug type, dosage, and individual patient factors. For high-risk patients, dose adjustment of CNI, switching to agents with lower metabolic toxicity when necessary, and selection of appropriate glucose-lowering regimens based on glycemic levels are recommended. Future research should further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of CNI metabolic toxicity and optimize individualized pharmacotherapy strategies to improve long-term patient outcomes.
2.Interpretation of research progress on EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
Xuxu ZHANG ; Jiahe LI ; Jipeng ZHANG ; Wei LI ; Wen LIU ; Bo BAO ; Qiang LU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):19-29
The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting was held in Chicago. At the meeting, researches on the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) once again took the spotlight. Combination therapy strategies have demonstrated the potential to overcome resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) and prolong survival. Meanwhile, progress has also been made in individualized treatment strategies for young patients and those with fibrotic interstitial lung disease. However, the complexity of resistance mechanisms, special treatment considerations for different populations, and the impact of socioeconomic factors on treatment accessibility remain challenges in the field of EGFR-mutant NSCLC treatment. In the future, it is necessary to further explore more effective treatment regimens and expand the accessibility of precision medicine to maximize patient benefits.
3.Interpretation of advances in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer at the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC)
Bo BAO ; Jiayu LU ; Wen LIU ; Xuxu ZHANG ; Jiahe LI ; Jipeng ZHANG ; Wei LI ; Qiang LU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(02):218-230
The 26th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) was held in Barcelona during September 6-9, 2025. As the world's largest and most influential academic meeting in the field of lung cancer, this year's congress unveiled long-term follow-up data from several pivotal studies and significant advances in novel therapeutic strategies. In the realm of targeted therapy, a next-generation combination strategy has been established as the new standard of care for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), demonstrating a significant improvement in overall survival. In immunotherapy, novel combination regimens have not only addressed the therapeutic challenge of acquired resistance to EGFR targeted therapies, but also shown clear long-term survival benefits in both the perioperative and locally advanced settings. These findings pave the way for shifting the treatment paradigm to earlier stages for patients with NSCLC. Antibody-drug conjugates have made remarkable strides in this field. They have shown outstanding efficacy in patients with specific resistance mutations and those with brain metastases, and have also demonstrated immense potential in treating patients with HER2-aberrant lung cancer and broader NSCLC populations. This offers new therapeutic options for patients with refractory lung cancer.However, significant challenges remain, including the heterogeneity of resistance mechanisms, the selection of optimal treatment regimens, and management strategies for special populations. Future research should focus on identifying novel precision biomarkers and optimizing therapeutic strategies to ultimately improve clinical outcomes for all patients with lung cancer.
4.The Role of FASN in Tumors and Its Targeted Therapy
Wen-Jing JIANG ; Ruo-Xi ZHANG ; Yu-Qing TAI ; Ya-Wen SUN ; Xi-Yu ZHANG ; Xiao LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):920-935
Malignant tumors represent a major threat to global health. Conventional anti-tumor pharmacotherapy often encounters challenges such as drug resistance, highlighting an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Fatty acid synthase (FASN), the key enzyme catalyzing de novo fatty acid synthesis, is subject to precise regulation at multiple levels, including transcriptional control, various post-translational modifications such as ubiquitination and phosphorylation, as well as modulation by diverse signaling pathways. Recent studies have revealed that FASN is aberrantly overexpressed in various malignant tumors and is closely associated with tumor progression and poor patient prognosis. FASN is a homodimer composed of seven functional domains that catalyzes the NADPH-dependent condensation of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to generate saturated fatty acids, primarily palmitic acid. Its stability is regulated by multiple ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes. Additionally, FASN is subject to upstream regulation via neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated 8 (Nedd8) modification and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, thereby establishing a metabolic-signaling positive feedback loop. As a core executor of metabolic reprogramming, FASN promotes tumorigenesis through dual mechanisms. First, its fatty acid synthesis product, palmitate, participates in membrane phospholipid synthesis, lipid raft formation, and protein palmitoylation, thereby activating several key oncogenic signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, wingless-type MMTV integration site family member (Wnt)/β‑catenin, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), leading to tumor development and progression. Second, FASN plays a pivotal role in modulating the anti-tumor functions of immune cells and remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment. Specifically, FASN enhances immune checkpoint inhibition by inducing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) palmitoylation, suppresses the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, and promotes the polarization of M2-type macrophages, consequently facilitating tumor immune evasion and malignant progression. Precisely due to its significant overexpression in tumor cells, its critical functional role, and its differential expression compared to normal cells, FASN has emerged as a highly promising target for anti-tumor drug development. Highly selective small-molecule inhibitors, notably represented by TVB-2640, have advanced to clinical trial stages and demonstrated favorable anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, the combination of FASN inhibitors with other chemotherapeutic agents or targeted drugs can overcome the limitations of monotherapy through synergistic effects or by resensitizing tumor cells to conventional drugs, achieving a “1+1>2” therapeutic outcome. With the advancement of modern traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), numerous active ingredients derived from TCM have been confirmed to exert anti-tumor effects by modulating FASN-related pathways. This integrated approach leverages the precision of Western medicine while simultaneously harnessing the holistic regulatory benefits of TCM to alleviate the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite the promising prospects of FASN-targeted therapies, challenges remain, including tumor cell metabolic plasticity, tumor context-dependent responses, and heterogeneity. This review systematically summarizes the molecular structure, physiological functions, and mechanisms of FASN in tumorigenesis, as well as recent advances in targeted therapies. Future directions—including the precise identification of responsive patient populations using spatial transcriptomics, the development of novel combination regimens, and the active exploration of integrative strategies combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine—will facilitate the clinical translation of FASN-targeted therapies and open new avenues for improving the quality of life and prognosis of cancer patients.
5.The first record of Anopheles messeae (Diptera: Culicidae) parasitized by water mites in China
Xue-ru CHEN ; Wen-zhen YAO ; Yu-hao LI ; Gui-chang LI ; Tao MENG ; Qun-ling FENG ; Xin-hui LIU ; Li-hong QIAO ; Xiang-ting WU ; Xue-feng ZHANG ; Cheng-lin LI ; Xue-cheng DONG ; Da-wei WANG ; Xiao-yan SI ; Yu-hong GUO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(1):53-57
Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.
6.Evaluation of the ERCP introductory training model and the teaching effect for gastroenterology specialists
Wen SHI ; Qiang WANG ; Yunlu FENG ; Xi WU ; Shengyu ZHANG ; Qingwei JIANG ; Aiming YANG
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(5):686-690
Objective To explore the methods of continuing education for advanced endoscope operations by diges-tive specialists through the establishment and teaching effect evaluation of the ERCP(endoscope retrograde cholan-giopancreatography)introductory training mode.Methods A total of 26 trainees from 3 sessions of the ERCP intro-ductory training courses at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2023 to September 2024 were in-cluded.The teaching effects of the training courses and its 5 modules were subjectively and objectively evaluated by questionnaires,on-site tests and evaluations by senior ERCP operators.Results Through the ERCP introductory training courses,the trainees'self-evaluated proficiency in duodenoscope structure(pre-training:2.4±2.4,post-training:8.2±1.5,P<0.001),duodenoscope operation(pre-training:1.2±2.2,post-training:6.6±1.8,P<0.001),papillary cannulation(pre-training:0.5±1.3,post-training:5.4±1.8,P<0.001),intra-bile duct operation(pre-training:0.2±0.6,post-training:4.9±2.1,P<0.001),and identification of intra-bile duct lesions(pre-training:1.7±2.1,post-training:6.0±2.0,P<0.001)was significantly improved.The accuracy rate of the trainees'theoretical tests and picture recognition before training was 37.2%and then increased up to 62.8%after training.Before training,all trainees were considered by senior operators as not ready to start ERCP training on real patients,while after training,69.2%(18/26)of the trainees were considered ready to start ERCP training on real patients.Conclusions The multi-module ERCP introductory training courses have a significant effect in terms of laying a foundation for trainees to start ERCP training on patients and of providing a reference for the con-tinuing education mode of advanced endoscope operations for digestive specialists in China.
7.Genetic analysis of a family with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome caused by compound heterozygous mutations in the EVC gene:A case report and literature review
Dong-Lan SUN ; Wen-Qi CHEN ; Jing ZHANG ; Yuan-Yuan PENG ; Yu-Fan YUAN ; Zhao-Xi WANG ; Qing GUO ; Jing ZHANG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(2):168-175
Objective To report the genetic analysis of a family with a fetus suspected of Ellis-van Creveld(EVC)syndrome based on ultrasound findings such as ventricular septal defect(VSD),short long bones in the limbs and polydactyly,and to conduct a literature review to clarify the pathogenic cause.Methods A 27-year-old pregnant woman,who was pregnant for the first time and had no prior deliveries,was admitted to the prenatal diagnosis center of Shijiazhuang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in October 2021.At 17 weeks of gestation,ultrasound detected multiple fetal malformations.The genomic DNA of the fetal proband's amniotic fluid cells and the parents'peripheral blood samples were sequentially subjected to chromosomal karyotype analysis,chromosomal microarray analysis(CMA),and whole exome sequencing(WES).Suspected pathogenic mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing in the proband and its parents.Subsequently,a Minigene in vitro experiment was used to analyze one splicing mutation.Meanwhile,databases such as PubMed were searched,and literature reports were combined for genetic analysis.Results Chromosomal karyotype analysis of the fetus showed no abnormalities,and CMA did not detect any copy number variation(CNV)with clinical significance.WES results revealed two mutations in the EVC gene(NM_153717.2)of the fetus:a nonsense mutation c.1405G>T(p.E469X)in exon 10 and a splicing mutation c.1886+5G>A in intron 13.Family verification using Sanger sequencing showed that the father was a carrier of the c.1405G>T(p.E469X)mutation in exon 10,and the mother was a carrier of the c.1886+5G>A mutation in intron 13.The compound heterozygous mutation of the fetus was inherited from the parents.According to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics(ACMG)for classifying genetic variations,c.1405G>T(p.E469X)was classified as likely pathogenic mutation(PVS1+PM2),and c.1886+5G>A was classified as likely pathogenic mutation(PM2+PM3_Strong).The Minigene experiment results showed that the c.1886+5G>A mutation caused a 115-bp segment retention in intron 13,further supporting its pathogenicity.Review of the literature showed that the typical clinical manifestations of EVC syndrome include short limbs,short ribs,postaxial polydactyly,nail and tooth dysplasia,and congenital heart defects.Gene mutations in EVC/EVC2 were found to be the main pathogenic cause through whole exome sequencing,with mutation types including missense mutations,large-scale duplications/deletions,in-frame microdeletions,nonsense mutations,frameshift mutations,and splicing mutations.Conclusions The compound heterozygous mutations in the EVC gene are the pathogenic cause of the fetus.The detection of these mutations expands the genetic variation spectrum of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome.
8.Medication rules of Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books based on "disease-medicine-dose" pattern.
Jia-Lei CAO ; Lü-Yuan LIANG ; Yi-Hang LIU ; Zi-Ming XU ; Xuan WANG ; Wen-Xi WEI ; He-Jia WAN ; Xing-Hang LYU ; Wei-Xiao LI ; Yu-Xin ZHANG ; Bing-Qi WEI ; Xian-Qing REN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):798-811
This study employed the "disease-medicine-dose" pattern to mine the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions containing Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines. The TCM prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were retrieved from databases such as Chinese Medical Dictionary and imported into Excel 2020 to construct the prescription library. Statical analysis were performed for the prescriptions regarding the indications, syndromes, medicine use frequency, herb effects, nature and taste, meridian tropism, dosage forms, and dose. SPSS statistics 26.0 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for association rules analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 2 297 prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were collected, involving 233 indications, among which sore and ulcer, consumptive disease, sweating disorder, and apoplexy had high frequency(>25), and their syndromes were mainly Qi and blood deficiency, Qi and blood deficiency, Yin and Yang deficiency, and Qi deficiency and collateral obstruction, respectively. In the prescriptions, 98 medicines were used with the frequency >25 and they mainly included Qi-tonifying medicines and blood-tonifying medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium were frequently used. The medicines with high frequency mainly have warm or cold nature, and sweet, pungent, or bitter taste, with tropism to spleen, lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians. In the treatment of sore and ulcer, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to promote granulation and heal up sores. In the treatment of consumptive disease, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 37.30 g and combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to tonify deficiency and replenish Qi. In the treatment of sweating disorder, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to consolidate exterior and stop sweating. In the treatment of apoplexy, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 7.46 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to dispell wind and stop convulsions. Astragali Radix can be used in the treatment of multiple system diseases, with the effects of tonifying Qi and ascending Yang, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and expressing toxin and promoting granulation. According to the manifestations of different diseases, when combined with other medicines, Astragali Radix was endowed with the effects of promoting granulation and healing up sores, tonifying deficiency and Qi, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and dispelling wind and replenishing Qi. The findings provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history*
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Humans
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history*
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History, Ancient
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Astragalus Plant/chemistry*
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China
;
Astragalus propinquus
9.Synthesis of active substance 3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone from traditional Chinese medicine using Escherichia coli whole-cell bioconversion of 1-(4-hydroxyphenol)-ethanol.
Xi-Wei YUAN ; Yan-Qiu TIAN ; Wen-Yu WANG ; Ya-Lun ZHANG ; De-Hong XU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1187-1194
The main active compound, 3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone(3,4-DHAP), in the leaves of Ilex pubescens var. glaber, exhibits various pharmacological activities, including vasodilation and heart protection. Currently, natural extraction and chemical synthesis are the primary methods for obtaining 3,4-DHAP, but both approaches have inherent challenges. To address these problems, this study explored the whole-cell bioconversion of 1-(4-hydroxyphenol)-ethanol to 3,4-DHAP using recombinant Escherichia coli, cultivated in a green, cost-effective medium at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Firstly, this study successfully constructed recombinant E. coli S1, which contained only the HpaBC gene, and recombinant E. coli S3, which contained both the Hped and HpaBC genes. The ability of S1 and S3 to synthesize 3,4-DHAP from their respective substrates was then evaluated through whole-cell bioconversion. Based on these results, the effects of four factors, i.e., substrate concentration, IPTG concentration, induction temperature, and transformation temperature, on the whole-cell bioconversion yield of S3 were investigated using an orthogonal experiment. The results showed that the factors influenced the yield in the following order: transformation temperature > induction temperature > IPTG concentration > substrate concentration. The optimal conditions were found to be a transformation temperature of 35 ℃, IPTG concentration of 0.1 mmol·L~(-1), induction temperature of 25 ℃, and substrate concentration of 10 mmol·L~(-1). Finally, the effect of transformation time on the yield of 3,4-DHAP was further examined under the optimal conditions. The results indicated that as the transformation time increased, the yield of 3,4-DHAP steadily increased. The highest yield of 260 mg·L~(-1) with a productivity of 17% was achieved after 72 hours of transformation. In conclusion, this study successfully achieved the whole-cell bioconversion of 1-(4-hydroxyphenol)-ethanol to 3,4-DHAP using recombinant E. coli for the first time, laying the groundwork for further optimization and development of the biosynthesis of 3,4-DHAP.
Escherichia coli/genetics*
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Acetophenones/chemistry*
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Ethanol/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Biotransformation
10.Evaluation of nutritional value of three kinds of medicinal snakes based on content of 15 amino acids.
Xi WANG ; Ye-Yuan LIN ; Wen-Ting ZHONG ; Zhi-Guo MA ; Meng-Hua WU ; Hui CAO ; Ying ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2411-2421
A high-performance liquid chromatography method using pre-column derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate was developed to determine the content of 15 amino acids in the medicinal snakes Bungarus Parvus, Agkistrodon, and Zaocys. The results showed that the total amino acid(TAA) content ranged from 277.13 to 515.05 mg·g~(-1), with the top four amino acids in all three species being glutamic acid(Glu), glycine(Gly), aspartic acid(Asp), and lysine(Lys). The essential amino acid(EAA) content ranged from 74.56 to 203.94 mg·g~(-1), with Agkistrodon exhibiting the highest content. The non-essential amino acid(NEAA), semi-essential amino acid(semi-EAA), and medicinal amino acid(MAA) content ranged from 189.06 to 318.23, 12.89 to 33.53, and 179.83 to 342.33 mg·g~(-1), respectively, with Zaocys having the highest content in these categories. Amino acid nutritional value was evaluated using the amino acid ratio(RAA), amino acid ratio coefficient(RCAA), and amino acid ratio coefficient score(SRCAA), and the results indicated that all three medicinal snakes possessed good nutritional value. The amino acid composition was similar across the species, though significant differences in content were observed. Based on these differences, an orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) model was established, which could clearly distinguish between the three medicinal snake species. The key differences in amino acid content included Gly, tyrosine(Tyr), Glu, and serine(Ser), which may be related to the observed clinical application differences among the species. Further research into the mechanisms of these differential amino acids is expected to provide more insights into the clinical application disparities of these three medicinal snake species.
Amino Acids/chemistry*
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Animals
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Nutritive Value
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Snakes/classification*
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Bungarus


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