1.Myocardial Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Shenfu Injection in Ameliorating Energy Metabolism Remodeling in Rat Model of Chronic Heart Failure
Xinyue NING ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Mengna ZHANG ; Yang GUO ; Zhijia XIANG ; Kun LIAN ; Zhixi HU ; Lin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):178-186
ObjectiveTo examine the influences of Shenfu injection on the endogenous metabolic byproducts in the myocardium of the rat model exhibiting chronic heart failure, thus deciphering the therapeutic mechanism of the Qi-reinforcing and Yang-warming method. MethodsSD rats were randomly allocated into a control group and a modeling group. Chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome in rats was modeled by multi-point subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol, and the rats were fed for 14 days after modeling. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into model, Shenfu injection (6.0 mL·kg-1), and trimetazidine (10 mg·kg-1) groups and treated with corresponding agents for 15 days. The control group and the model group were injected with equal doses of normal saline, and the samples were collected after the intervention was completed. Cardiac color ultrasound was performed. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe histopathological morphology, and the serum level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mitochondrial morphological and structural changes of cardiomyocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the metabolic profiling was carried out by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quantitative exactive-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS). Differential metabolites were screened and identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other methods, and then the MetaboAnalyst database was used for further screening. The relevant biological pathways were obtained through pathway enrichment analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to evaluate the diagnostic value of each potential biomarker for myocardial injury and the evaluation value for drug efficacy. ResultsThe results of color ultrasound showed that Shenfu Injection improved the cardiac function indexes of model rats (P<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that Shenfu injection effectively alleviated the pathological phenomena such as myocardial tissue structure disorder and inflammatory cell infiltration in model rats. The results of ELISA showed that Shenfu injection effectively regulated the serum NT-proBNP level in the model rats. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that Shenfu injection effectively restored the mitochondrial morphological structure. The results of metabolomics showed that the metabolic phenotypes of myocardial samples presented markedly differences between groups. Nine differential metabolites could be significantly reversed in the Shenfu injection group, involving three metabolic pathways: pyruvate metabolism, histidine metabolism, and citric acid cycle (TCA cycle). The results of ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of all metabolites were between 0.75 and 1.0, indicating that the differential metabolites had high diagnostic accuracy for myocardial injury, and the changes in their expression levels could be used as potential markers for efficacy evaluation. ConclusionShenfu injection significantly alleviated the damage of cardiac function, myocardium, and mitochondrial structure in the rat model of chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome by ameliorating energy metabolism remodeling. Reinforcing Qi and warming Yang is a key method for treating chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome.
2.The SMAD-Pathway Mediates HMGB1-Induced Proliferation and Metastatic Progression in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells
De-De LIAN ; Xue Mei LI ; Yu-Xi JIA ; Ming-Wei ZHOU ; Xiang-Ru CHEN ; Yang-Yang TIAN ; Min LI ; Ming-Hui SUN ; Ye ZHAO ; Hong-Jun LI ; Qing-Ling ZHANG
Annals of Dermatology 2026;38(1):51-58
Background:
High-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a chromatin-binding protein involved in arthritis, ischemia, sepsis, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, meningitis, and cancer. HMGB1 exhibits dual roles in cancer, acting as either a tumor suppressor or oncoprotein depending on context.
Objective:
This research aimed to elucidate HMGB1’s functional significance in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
Methods:
We overexpressed HMGB1 in cSCC cell lines using recombinant adenovirus and examined its effects on cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration.
Results:
Immunohistochemical analysis revealed elevated HMGB1 expression levels in cSCC tissue relative to normal epidermis. To assess the influence of HMGB1, we employed recombinant adenoviruses expressing HMGB1 to transduce SCC cell lines (SCC12 and SCC13). Enhanced HMGB1 expression significantly promoted cellular proliferation and colony formation capacity.Notably, HMGB1 overexpression elevated the levels of proliferation regulators, including P63, SOX2, CDK4 and CDK6. Furthermore, HMGB1 overexpression substantially enhanced tumor invasiveness, accompanied by upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers. Mechanistically, overexpression of HMGB1 enhanced transforming growth factor-β signaling by increasing phosphorylation of SMAD2/3, the key mediators of EMT.
Conclusion
These data imply that HMGB1 acts as a tumor-promoting factor in cSCC.
3.Inflammation-driven Epithelial Remodeling and Persistent Cell-death Signaling Provide New Clues to Inflammatory Bowel Disease Relapse——a Commentary on Pang et al.’s Paper in Science (2026)
Xuan DONG ; Jia-Qi ZHANG ; Lian-Xiang LUO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2733-2738
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent mucosal inflammation. Although biologics and small-molecule therapies can effectively suppress inflammation, only 13%-34% of patients achieve deep histological remission, and most experience relapse within 2-3 years. Existing biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), fecal calprotectin, and endoscopic measures, have limited ability to detect subclinical molecular abnormalities, suggesting that disease-driving factors may persist even during clinical remission. Recently, Pang et al. reported a study in Science that investigated the role of epithelial cell-death signaling using a prospective adult IBD cohort comprising 80 participants and more than 900 biopsy specimens. By integrating bulk and spatial transcriptomics, patient-derived organoids, and 24-36 months of longitudinal follow-up, the authors characterized epithelial cell-death programs associated with IBD persistence. They found that the necroptosis-associated marker pRIPK3 could be detected in the absence of overt histological inflammation and persisted during advanced therapy. IFN‑γ and TNF reshaped the transcriptional landscape of specific colonic epithelial cells, inducing an inflammatory macrophage-like program termed cluster B and triggering RIPK1-independent RIPK3 signaling. This was followed by NOS2/iNOS-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis driving colonocyte death, whereas PUMA-dependent apoptosis contributed to intestinal stem-cell loss. Higher baseline pRIPK3 levels were associated with subsequent disease activity, although their independent predictive value remains to be established. These findings suggest that persistent IBD may reflect not only residual immune inflammation but also inflammation-induced pathological epithelial states. Future therapeutic strategies may therefore need to extend beyond inflammation control toward “molecular repair”, including targeting noncanonical RIPK3 signaling, modulating iNOS/PUMA-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis, and developing relapse-risk stratification strategies based on tissue biomarkers such as pRIPK3. Such approaches may help shift the therapeutic goal from “clinical remission” toward “molecular healing”.
4.Advances in the application of gene copy number alteration detection technology in lymphoma
Yu PENG ; Shuang CHEN ; Tingting JIANG ; Can LIN ; Longrong RAN ; Xuelian WU ; Lian LI ; Liangmei LI ; Xinyi TANG ; Yakun ZHANG ; Huiyu XIANG ; Junxi LIU ; Dan JI ; Zailin YANG
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(15):1860-1866
Lymphoma is a highly heterogeneous malignancy characterized by complex molecular regulatory mechanisms that result in significant differences in aggressiveness and prognosis across its subtypes.Gene copy number alteration(CNA)analysis,an emerging technology,has become a pivotal tool in the precision re-search and management of lymphoma.By detecting DNA deletions,amplifications,and chromosomal copy number changes,CNA analysis addresses the limitations of traditional cytogenetic techniques,enhances the ac-curacy of subtype classification,and aids in evaluating tumor heterogeneity and disease progression.This re-view provides a comprehensive summary of CNA detection methods and their applications in lymphoma,with a focus on recent advancements in the field.It offers a comparative analysis of CNA detection techniques and discusses their role in precision diagnosis,subtype classification,monitoring disease progression,predicting therapeutic resistance,and assessing prognosis.Additionally,the review explores the potential applications of CNA analysis in uncovering molecular regulatory mechanisms,optimizing therapeutic strategies,and impro-ving patient survival outcomes.
5.Clinical manifestations and genetic analysis of two patients with familial hypercholesterolemia caused by complex heterozygous variants.
Xiang LIAN ; Xiaoyan LI ; Kexin WANG ; Chunying TIAN ; Zixi LIU ; Xifu WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(2):212-218
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the gene detection results of 2 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) caused by complex heterozygous variation, and to clarify the relationship between clinical manifestations and gene variation.
METHODS:
Two patients (patient 1 and 2) with FH who visited Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University in 2018 were selected as research subjects. A retrospective study method was used to collect clinical and family history data of the two patients. And 2 mL of peripheral venous blood from each of the two patients was collected, and genomic DNA extraction was performed on the blood samples. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the variant sites of the two patients detected by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Pathogenicity of variants was classified based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for the Classification of Genetic Variants (hereinafter referred to as the "ACMG Guidelines"), and the impact of variant was analyzed using multiple bioinformatics tools including SIFT, PolyPhen-2, and SWISS-MODEL. This study has been approved by Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University (Ethics No. 2024215X).
RESULTS:
Patient 1 initially presented with early-onset coronary heart disease, with initial lipid levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) 9.86 mmol/L (normal reference value: 3.10~5.20 mmol/L) and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 8.37 mmol/L (normal reference value: 1.27~3.12 mmol/L) on admission. Patient 1 initially underwent treatment with rosuvastatin combined with ezetimibe for one month, but the lipid-lowering effect was not significant. The lipid-lowering therapy was then adjusted to atorvastatin combined with ezetimibe and probucol. After one year of treatment, the patient developed paroxysmal chest pain symptoms. A follow-up lipid profile showed a serum TC level of 4.50 mmol/L and a LDL-C level of 3.55 mmol/L. The lipid-lowering regimen was continued, and the serum LDL-C levels were maintained between 2.65 and 3.66 mmol/L. Patient 2 was found to have an abnormally high blood lipid level and carotid artery hardening during physical examination, with an initial blood lipid level of serum TC 11.82 mmol/L and serum LDL-C 9.63 mmol/L. After receiving rosuvastatain therapy, the lipid-lowering effect was significant. WES revealed that patient 1 carried the heterozygous variants c.1871_1873del(p.Ile624del) and c.1747C>T (p.His583Tyr) in the LDLR gene (NM_000527.4), while patient 2 carried the heterozygous variants c.1747C>T (p.His583Tyr) in the LDLR gene and c.6936_6937inv (p.Ile2313Val) in the APOB gene (NM_000384). According to the ACMG Guidelines, the LDLR gene c.1747C>T (p.His583Tyr) was classified as a pathogenic variant (PS3+PM1+PM2_supporting+PM5+PP2+PP3), and c.1871_1873del (p.Ile624del) was classified as a pathogenic variant (PS3+PS4+PM2_supporting+PM1+PM4); the APOB gene c.6936_6937inv (p.Ile2313Val) was classified as a variant of uncertain clinical significance (PM2_supporting BP4).
CONCLUSION
Patients 1 and 2 in this study were patients with complex heterozygous variant FH, and their genotypic differences may be related to the differences in clinical serum LDL-C levels and the efficacy of hypolipidemic agents.
Humans
;
Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II/drug therapy*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Heterozygote
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Receptors, LDL/genetics*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Mutation
;
Exome Sequencing
6.Symptoms and quality of life benefits of successful percutaneous coronary intervention in left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease patients with diabetes
Bo-da ZHU ; Tian-tong YU ; Peng HAN ; Bo-hui ZHANG ; Xi ZHANG ; Ping YUAN ; Gang WANG ; Yi YANG ; Hui-li ZHU ; Pan-pan SUN ; Tong-tong LI ; Shuai ZHAO ; Cheng-xiang LI ; Kun LIAN
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(2):93-100
Objective To investigate whether successful percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)could improve symptoms and quality of life(QOL)in left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease patients with diabetes.Methods Patients with left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease who underwent PCI in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from April 2018 to May 2021 were consecutively enrolled and subdivided into 2 groups:diabetes and no diabetes.Detailed baseline characteristics,symptoms,including dyspnea and angina,assessed with the Rose dyspnea scale(RDS),Seattle angina questionnaire(SAQ),the European quality of life-5 dimensions(EQ-5D)and 12-item short-form health survey(SF-12)questionnaire respectively,procedural details,and 1 month and 1 year follow-up data were collected.Results Among 440 left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease patients,disease was present in 176(40.00%),who had more hypertension,peripheral artery disease,and LCX lesion(all P<0.05).The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)and all-cause mortality were similar between the two groups(both P>0.05)at 1 month follow-up,while all-cause mortality in diabetes patients was significantly higher than those without diabetes at 1 year follow-up(P=0.013).Low left ventricular ejection fraction was an independent risk factor for MACE and all-cause mortality at 1 month and 1 year follow-up after successful revascularization(all P<0.05).Most importantly,symptoms,including dyspnea and angina,and QOL were markedly improved regardless of diabetes both at 1 month and 1 year follow-up(all P<0.05).Diabetes patients showed improved dyspnea and QOL at similar degree to the non-diabetes patients(all P>0.05)and a more significantly relieved angina(P=0.013).Additionally,the number of chronic total occlusion(CTO)per patient was identified as an independent risk factor of dyspnea(OR 0.723,95%CI 0.525~0.997,P=0.048)and angina relief(OR 0.686,95%CI 0.473~0.995,P=0.047),and the contrast volume(OR 0.995,95%CI 0.992~0.999,P=0.008)as an independent risk factor of QOL improvement in diabetic patients.Conclusions Successful PCI is beneficial for relieving symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with diabetes who have left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease.
7.Exploration of New Susceptible Genes associated with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among Children with Obesity Using Whole Exome Sequencing.
Xiong Feng PAN ; Cai Lian WEI ; Jia You LUO ; Jun Xia YAN ; Xiang XIAO ; Jie WANG ; Yan ZHONG ; Mi Yang LUO
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(6):727-739
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to evaluate the association between susceptibility genes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children with obesity.
METHODS:
We conducted a two-step case-control study. Ninety-three participants were subjected to whole-exome sequencing (exploratory set). Differential genes identified in the small sample were validated in 1,022 participants using multiplex polymerase chain reaction and high-throughput sequencing (validation set).
RESULTS:
In the exploratory set, 14 genes from the NAFLD-associated pathways were identified. In the validation set, after adjusting for sex, age, and body mass index, ECI2 rs2326408 (dominant model: OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.02-1.72; additive model: OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47), C6orf201 rs659305 (dominant model: OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01-1.69; additive model: OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.45), CALML5 rs10904516 (pre-ad dominant model: OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.01-1.83; adjusted dominant model: OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03-1.91; and pre-ad additive model: OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66) polymorphisms were significantly associated with NAFLD in children with obesity ( P < 0.05). Interaction analysis revealed that the gene-gene interaction model of CALML5 rs10904516, COX11 rs17209882, and SCD5 rs3733228 was optional ( P < 0.05), demonstrating a negative interaction between the three genes.
CONCLUSION
In the Chinese population, the CALML5 rs10904516, C6orf201 rs659305, and ECI2 rs2326408 variants could be genetic markers for NAFLD susceptibility.
Humans
;
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics*
;
Child
;
Male
;
Female
;
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
;
Case-Control Studies
;
Exome Sequencing
;
Adolescent
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Obesity/complications*
;
Pediatric Obesity/complications*
;
China
8.Clinical manifestations and genetic analysis of two patients with familial hypercholesterolemia caused by complex heterozygous variants
Xiang LIAN ; Xiaoyan LI ; Kexin WANG ; Chunying TIAN ; Zixi LIU ; Xifu WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(2):212-218
Objective:To investigate the gene detection results of 2 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) caused by complex heterozygous variation, and to clarify the relationship between clinical manifestations and gene variation.Methods:Two patients (patient 1 and 2) with FH who visited Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University in 2018 were selected as research subjects. A retrospective study method was used to collect clinical and family history data of the two patients. And 2 mL of peripheral venous blood from each of the two patients was collected, and genomic DNA extraction was performed on the blood samples. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the variant sites of the two patients detected by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Pathogenicity of variants was classified based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for the Classification of Genetic Variants (hereinafter referred to as the " ACMG Guidelines" ), and the impact of variant was analyzed using multiple bioinformatics tools including SIFT, PolyPhen-2, and SWISS-MODEL. This study has been approved by Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University (Ethics No. 2024215X).Results:Patient 1 initially presented with early-onset coronary heart disease, with initial lipid levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) 9.86 mmol/L (normal reference value: 3.10~5.20 mmol/L) and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 8.37 mmol/L (normal reference value: 1.27~3.12 mmol/L) on admission. Patient 1 initially underwent treatment with rosuvastatin combined with ezetimibe for one month, but the lipid-lowering effect was not significant. The lipid-lowering therapy was then adjusted to atorvastatin combined with ezetimibe and probucol. After one year of treatment, the patient developed paroxysmal chest pain symptoms. A follow-up lipid profile showed a serum TC level of 4.50 mmol/L and a LDL-C level of 3.55 mmol/L. The lipid-lowering regimen was continued, and the serum LDL-C levels were maintained between 2.65 and 3.66 mmol/L. Patient 2 was found to have an abnormally high blood lipid level and carotid artery hardening during physical examination, with an initial blood lipid level of serum TC 11.82 mmol/L and serum LDL-C 9.63 mmol/L. After receiving rosuvastatain therapy, the lipid-lowering effect was significant. WES revealed that patient 1 carried the heterozygous variants c. 1871_1873del(p.Ile624del) and c. 1747C>T(p.His583Tyr) in the LDLR gene (NM_000527.4), while patient 2 carried the heterozygous variants c. 1747C>T(p.His583Tyr) in the LDLR gene and c. 6936_6937inv(p.Ile2313Val) in the APOB gene (NM_000384). According to the ACMG Guidelines, the LDLR gene c. 1747C>T(p.His583Tyr) was classified as a pathogenic variant (PS3+ PM1+ PM2_supporting+ PM5+ PP2+ PP3), and c. 1871_1873del(p.Ile624del) was classified as a pathogenic variant (PS3+ PS4+ PM2_supporting+ PM1+ PM4); the APOB gene c. 6936_6937inv(p.Ile2313Val) was classified as a variant of uncertain clinical significance (PM2_supporting BP4). Conclusions:Patients 1 and 2 in this study were patients with complex heterozygous variant FH, and their genotypic differences may be related to the differences in clinical serum LDL-C levels and the efficacy of hypolipidemic agents.
9.Reforming general practitioner training in China: system construction and practical exploration for a new era
Zequan JI ; Bingjie HU ; Yuyin LIAN ; Fangjian LI ; Xiang LIANG ; Yichuan LUO
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(9):1163-1167
This paper analyzes current issues in general practitioners (GP) education (e.g., inadequate systems, faculty shortages, misaligned training with community needs, low workforce attractiveness) and proposes strategies for reform in the new development era. Key recommendations include: strengthening academic discipline building in general practice within medical universities; innovating curricula to integrate prevention with treatment and emphasize practical skills; leveraging institutional resources to foster clinician-educator-researcher roles; tailoring training pathways to regional contexts; deepening collaboration between medical education and healthcare delivery systems; and building a robust lifelong learning framework for GPs. Furthermore, the paper details the comprehensive reform initiatives undertaken by Guangzhou Medical University (GMU). These include establishing integrated education platforms spanning university, hospital, and community settings. GMU′s experience offers valuable insights for enhancing GP training quality and scalability in China.
10.Immunomodulatory effect of E515 on rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes and-Bordetella bronchiseptica inactivated vaccine
Xuemei CUI ; Qiuju XIANG ; Ye'e HUANG ; Quanan JI ; Tuanyuan SHI ; Zizhe HU ; Guo-lian BAO ; Yan LIU
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(7):1437-1442,1492
To explore the immunomodulatory effects of a new vegetable oil adjuvant(named E515)containing vitamin E(VE)and ginsenosides(GS)on rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes and Bordetella of rabbit inactivated vaccine.E515,Bordetella bronchiseptica(Bb)and LPS were co-cultured with rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro,and the lymphocyte conversion rate was detected by CCK8 method,and the content of lymphocyte supernatant cytokines was detected by ELISA method.After rabbits were immunized with E515-Bb vaccine,the antibody level was detec-ted by indirect ELISA,the serum cytokine content was detected by ELISA,and the protective effect of E515-Bb vaccine on rabbits was observed by challenge test.In vitro cell experiments showed that E515 could significantly increase lymphocyte proliferation and TH1/TH2 cytokine se-cretion in rabbit peripheral blood.In vivo animal experiments showed that E515 adjuvant could sig-nificantly enhance the level of Bb specific antibody induced by Bordetella vaccine in rabbits.In-crease the secretion level of TH1/TH2 cytokines and decrease the secretion level of TNF-α;It can effectively protect rabbits against Bordetella infection with a protection rate of 91.67%.Therefore,E515 as a new vegetable oil adjuvant deserves further study.

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