1.Study on the mechanism of Euphorbia hirta L.-derived exosome-like nanovesicles regulating Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway to improve acetaminophen-induced liver injury
Yanyu WANG ; Lei CHEN ; Renjie LIU ; Shijian XIANG ; Benjie ZHOU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1134-1140
OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effect and mechanism of Euphorbia hirta L.-derived exosome-like nanovesicles(Eh-ENVs) on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury based on the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) pathway. METHODS The safety of Eh-ENVs was evaluated by examining their effects on the viability of RAW264.7 and AML12 cells, as well as serum liver and kidney function indicators and histopathology of liver, lung, and other tissues in normal mice. A lipopolysaccharide (1 μg/mL)-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation model was constructed to investigate the effects of 10 and 20 μg/mL Eh-ENVs on the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in model cells, and the uptake efficiency of Eh-ENVs by RAW264.7 cells was also examined. An APAP-induced liver injury mouse model was established to investigate the effects of 4 mg/kg Eh-ENVs on serum liver function indicators, liver histopathology, mRNA expression of inflammatory factors, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) level, and mRNA and protein expressions related to the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway in liver tissue of model mice. RESULTS In vitro results showed that Eh-ENVs had no inhibitory effect on the proliferation of RAW264.7 and AML12 cells;Eh-ENVs could be efficiently taken up by RAW264.7 cells and significantly reduced the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and ROS level in cells ( P <0.05). In vivo results showed that 4 mg/kg Eh-ENVs had no obvious toxic side effects on normal mice,could significantly decrease the serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels in model mice ( P <0.05),upregulated/increased the mRNA expressions of IL-10, as well as the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, and SOD level in liver tissue ( P <0.05), and down-regulated/decreased the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA level in liver tissue ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Eh-ENVs may activate the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway to inhibit inflammatory response and alleviate oxidative stress, thereby improving APAP-induced liver injury.
2.Establishment and application of a determination method for plasma concentrations of venetoclax,busulfan and voriconazole in patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Zhenhua ZHANG ; Mengru ZHANG ; Aoxiang GUO ; Hui CHEN ; Shijian XIANG ; Benjie ZHOU ; Bingchen GE
China Pharmacy 2026;37(10):1323-1328
OBJECTIVE To establish a method for simultaneous determination of venetoclax, busulfan and voriconazole in plasma of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and apply it clinically. METHODS Plasma samples were subjected to protein precipitation using acetonitrile and subsequently analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using venetoclax-D 8 , busulfan-D 8 and posaconazole as internal standards. The separation was performed on a Phenomenex Kinetex ® C 18 column with a mobile phase composed of 0.1% formic acid solution (2 mmol/L ammonium acetate)-0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (gradient elution) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The column temperature was set at 40 ℃, the sample size was 5 μL, and the total run time was 3.10 min. An electrospray ionization source was employed, and positive ion scanning was conducted using multiple reaction monitoring mode. The ion pairs used for quantitative analysis included m/z 868.4→636.3 (venetoclax), m/z 264.1→151.1 (busulfan), and m/z 350.1→224.0 (voriconazole). The above LC-MS/MS method was adopted to determine plasma concentrations of venetoclax and voriconazole in 10 AML patients, as well as plasma concentration of busulfan in 5 patients undergoing conditioning treatment for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. RESULTS The linear ranges of venetoclax, busulfan and voriconazole were 50-10 000, 15-3 000 and 50-10 000 ng/mL, respectively ( R 2 ≥0.999 0), with lower limits of quantification of 50, 15 and 50 ng/mL, respectively. The RSDs of intra-day and inter-day precision tests for all three analytes were all less than 10%, with accuracy (relative errors) ranging from -10.00% to 12.96%. The average extraction recovery ranged from 92.54% to 100.95%, and the average matrix effect was 89.98%-101.49%. Dilution reliability covered all dilution factors used in the test samples, and the absolute values of relative errors in stability tests were all≤16.25%. The plasma concentrations of venetoclax, busulfan and voriconazole in enrolled patients were 496.20-4 250.45, 233.48-2 002.28 and 475.51-5 710.18 ng/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The LC-MS/MS method established in this study is rapid, sensitive and easy to operate, and can be used for the therapeutic drug monitoring of venetoclax, busulfan and voriconazole.
3.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.
4.Study on the effect and mechanism of oridonin improving obesity-related glomerulopathy via regulating the LXRα signaling pathway
Moyuan ZHAO ; Yanyu WANG ; Benjie ZHOU ; Shijian XIANG ; Yulian CHEN
China Pharmacy 2026;37(15):1960-1965
OBJECTIVE To explore the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of oridonin (ORI) against obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) based on the liver X receptor α (LXRα) signaling pathway. METHODS Kidney tissues of LXRα wild-type homozygous (LXRα+/+) mice and LXRα homozygous knockout (LXRα-/-) mice were subjected to high-throughput renal transcriptome sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis to predict key pathways and targets regulated by LXRα, followed by verification via Western blot assay. An ORG mouse model was established by feeding a high-fat diet. The LXRα agonist GW3965 (30 mg/kg) was set as the positive control. After intragastric administration of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg ORI once daily for 4 consecutive weeks, the body weight, renal weight, renal histopathological alterations, serum renal function indicators, blood lipid levels and inflammatory factor levels in renal tissue of mice were detected and observed to evaluate the efficacy of ORI in alleviating ORG. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein expression levels of LXRα and its downstream targets in mouse renal tissues were detected to validate the mechanism by which ORI relieves ORG. RESULTS Compared with LXRα+/+ mice, the upregulated differentially expressed genes in renal tissues of LXRα-/- mice were significantly enriched in the arachidonic acid(AA) metabolic pathway, and the expression level of Cyp4a12 was markedly elevated (adjusted P<0.05). Western blot results verified that cytochrome P450 family 4 subfamily A member 12(CYP4A12)protein expression was significantly increased in the kidneys of LXRα-/- mice (P<0.05). Pharmacodynamic results showed that both 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg ORI notably improved renal pathological lesions in ORG mice; these two doses reduced body weight, renal weight, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, blood lipid levels as well as renal interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β levels (P<0.05). In addition, ORI significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of renal nuclear LXRα and ABCA1, and downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of CYP4A12(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ORI may exert an ameliorative effect on ORG by activating the LXRα signaling pathway, downregulating CYP4A12 expression, and inhibiting AA-induced inflammatory metabolism.
5.Longitudinal Association Between Weight Adjusted Waist Index and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Middle Aged and Elderly Adults Based on the CHARLS
Xiang LIU ; Shujun YANG ; Xirui ZHOU ; Lele YUAN ; Meisi KONG ; Yan LIU ; Min XIA
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2026;47(1):64-76
ObjectiveTo investigate the temporal trend of weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) and its association with the risk of incident cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. MethodsBased on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this research enrolled participants aged 45 and above with complete physical measurement data from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 waves. Complex sampling weights were applied to calculate the mean WWI, and the Mann-Kendall test was used to analyze its trend. From the 2011 baseline survey, individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease or missing key covariates were further excluded. New-onset cardiovascular outcome events were collected during follow-up until 2020. Participants were categorized into Q1–Q4 groups based on baseline WWI quartiles. Multivariable log-binomial regression models were constructed to assess the association between WWI and CVD, while restricted cubic splines were employed to evaluate potential nonlinear relationships. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to verify the robustness of the findings. ResultsFrom 2011 to 2015, the weighted mean WWI among Chinese middle-aged and older adults remained generally stable (2011: 11.17±1.68; 2013: 11.28±1.35; 2015: 11.24±1.59; P for trend <0.05). During the longitudinal follow-up, 1 784 incident CVD cases were documented. After multivariable adjustment, each unit increase in WWI was associated with a 17% increased risk of CVD (RR: 1.17, 95%CI: 1.10-1.24). Compared with the Q1 group, the risk of CVD in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups increased by 23% (RR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.07-1.40), 27% (RR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.11-1.44), and 40% (RR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.22-1.60), respectively. A significant linear trend was observed between the increasing WWI and elevated CVD risk (P for trend <0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger association in participants aged 45-60 years (P for interaction <0.05). The results of sensitivity analysis were consistent with the main research results. ConclusionsThe overall trend of WWI level in the middle-aged and elderly population in China is stable from 2011 to 2015. The higher level of WWI is associated with an increased risk of CVD, suggesting that WWI may be used as a simple and effective indicator to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular metabolism in middle-aged and elderly people.
6.Youguiwan Promotes Localization and Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells in Mouse Ovaries via Akt/mTOR/4EBP1/P70S6K Signaling Pathway
Xiang HU ; Mingya ZHU ; Qin ZHOU ; Jiayi SUN ; Zimo LI ; Xiao WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(22):51-60
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Youguiwan on the localization and differentiation of embryonic stem cells transplanted into ovaries,and to preliminarily explore whether its mechanism is related to the protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP1)/p70S6 kinase (P70S6K) signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 81 healthy adult female C57BL/6 mice that had received ovarian transplantation of GFP-labeled embryonic stem cells were randomly allocated into a control group,a Youguiwan group,and a positive control group. The control group received normal saline via gavage,the Youguiwan group was administered Youguiwan decoction at a clinical equivalent dose of 17.1 g·kg-1,and the positive control group received human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) injections every 48 h. Ovarian tissue samples were collected on days 7,14,and 21 post-administration. Frozen sections were prepared to observe stem cell localization. The immunofluorescence assay was used to detect growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and mTOR expression. real time polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was performed to measure the mRNA levels of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression and phosphorylation levels of Akt,mTOR,4EBP1,and P70S6K. ResultsFluorescence microscopy revealed that the transplanted embryonic stem cells were predominantly localized within the granular cell layer,the cell layer of the follicular structure,and the stroma. After 14 days of drug intervention,compared with the control group,the Youguiwan group showed upregulated mRNA levels of FSHR and LHR in the ovarian tissue (P<0.01),as well as elevated phosphorylation/protein ratios of Akt,mTOR,4EBP1,and P70S6K (P<0.05). After 21 days of drug intervention,compared with the control group,the Youguiwan group exhibited enhanced expression of GDF9 and mTOR in the ovarian tissue as detected by immunofluorescence (P<0.05),along with elevated mRNA levels of FSHR and LHR (P<0.01) and phosphorylation/protein ratios of Akt and 4EBP1 (P<0.05). ConclusionYouguiwan can promote the localization and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells within the ovary and enhance the expression of GDF9,FSHR,and LHR mRNA in the ovarian tissue by influencing the Akt/mTOR/4EBP1/P70S6K pathway.
7.Quality Control and Analysis of Treatment for Hospitalized Cancer Patients:Interview and Medical Records Study from Nine Hospitals in Beijing
Liting LU ; Yanping ZHOU ; Xiang WANG ; Xiaoyuan LI ; Xiaorong HOU ; Lidong ZHU ; Xiaohong XU ; Guibin SUN ; Ziyuan WANG ; Jieshi ZHANG ; Lin ZHAO ; Yi BA
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):399-405
Objective To analyze the current quality of treatment for hospitalized cancer patients in Bei-jing,identify major issues in treatment practices,and propose improvements.Methods Nine hospitals in Beijing were selected for examination.Expert on-site interviews and medical record sampling were conducted.The"Bei-jing Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Quality Control Checklist"was used to assess the hardware,management,anti-cancer drug therapy,radiation therapy,and surgical treatment during cancer treatment at these hospitals from January to October 2023.The relevant problems were analyzed.Results Among the nine hospitals,two(22.2%)were equipped with laminar flow rooms,and three(33.3%)had intravenous drug preparation centers.In terms of institutional management,seven hospitals(77.8%)had standardized anti-cancer drug prescription authority management,eight(88.9%)had complete emergency plans,and five(55.6%)had oncology specialist pharmacists.Regarding anti-cancer drug therapy,the areas with higher completion rates included pathology diag-nosis support(97.6%),routine pre-treatment examinations(96.3%),adverse reaction evaluation(92.7%),discharge summaries(95.1%),and admission records(91.5%).However,the accuracy of tumor staging before treatment(70.7%)and the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy after drug treatment(76.9%)needed improvement.The oncology specialty significantly outperformed the non-oncology specialty in terms of the accuracy rate of TNM staging(86.0%vs.46.9%,P<0.001),the completeness of informed consent forms(100%vs.68.8%,P<0.001),the completeness of drug indication evaluation(96.0%vs.78.1%,P=0.025),the completeness of admission medical history records(98.0%vs.81.3%,P=0.008),the rationality of drug dosage(96.0%vs.75.0%,P=0.005),the rationality of drug infusion time(100%vs.62.5%,P<0.001),and the rationality of the order of drug infusion(100%vs.87.5%,P=0.010).Although the quality of radiation therapy was high,the subsequent evaluation of therapeutic efficacy(39.3%)requires enhancement.In surgical treatment,the preoper-ative pathology diagnosis support rate(78.1%)and the accuracy of tumor staging(37.5%)were relatively low,indicating issues with incomplete preoperative evaluation and the absence of multidisciplinary discussions.Conclusions There remains significant room for improvement in the quality of cancer treatment in China.It is recommended to standardize tumor staging assessment processes,strengthen entry assessments for non-oncology departments,promote the implementation of multidisciplinary treatment models,and establish a multi-department collaborative management model.Continuous monitoring of cancer diagnosis and treatment quality indicators is es-sential to promote ongoing improvements in cancer treatment quality.
8.Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spine fracture and dislocation (version 2025)
Dongmei BIAN ; Ke SUN ; Ningbo CHEN ; Caixia BAI ; Miao WANG ; Yafeng QIAO ; Fei WANG ; Hong WANG ; Feng TIAN ; Mei YAN ; Meng BAI ; Linjuan ZHANG ; Liyan ZHAO ; Yaqing CUI ; Xue JIANG ; Leling FENG ; Ning NING ; Junqin DING ; Lan WEI ; Yonghua ZHAI ; Yu ZENG ; Zengmei ZHANG ; Jiqun HE ; Fenggui BIE ; Hong CHEN ; Zengyan WANG ; Li LI ; Li ZHANG ; Yaying ZHOU ; Bing SHAO ; Ying WANG ; Caixia XIE ; Yanfeng YAO ; Jingjing AN ; Wen SHI ; Xiongtao LIU ; Xiaoyan AN ; Ning NAN ; Lan LI ; Xiaohui GOU ; Qiaomei LI ; Xiuting WU ; Yuqin ZHANG ; Jing LIU ; Fusen XIANG ; Xu XU ; Na MEI ; Jiao ZHOU ; Shan FAN ; Qian WANG ; Shuixia LI
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(2):138-147
Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.
9.A multicenter clinical study on intramedullary vancomycin injection for preventing periprosthetic joint infection in total knee arthroplasty
Te LIU ; Jun FU ; Shiguang LAI ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Chi XU ; Lei GENG ; Yang LUO ; Peng REN ; Xin ZHI ; Quanbo JI ; Heng ZHANG ; Runkai ZHAO ; Haichao REN ; Ye TAO ; Qingyuan ZHENG ; Zeyu FENG ; Jianfeng YANG ; Yiming WANG ; Pengcheng LI ; Shuai LIU ; Wei CHAI ; Xiang LI ; Huiwu LI ; Xiaogang ZHANG ; Baochao JI ; Xianzhe LIU ; Xinzhan MAO ; Jianbing MA ; Xiangxiang SUN ; Jiying CHEN ; Yonggang ZHOU ; Jinliang WANG ; Weijun WANG ; Guoqiang ZHANG ; Ming NI
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2025;45(12):803-811
Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of intraosseous regional administration (IORA) of vancomycin for preventing infection in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A total of 124 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA between February 2024 and May 2024 at nine hospitals were enrolled. Preoperative infection prophylaxis involved either IORA (0.5 g vancomycin administered via intraosseous regional infusion before incision) or intravenous infusion (1 g vancomycin via peripheral vein). The IORA group included 15 males and 47 females with a median age of 66.5 years (range, 60.0-70.0 years), while the intravenous group included 14 males and 48 females with a median age of 66.0 years (range, 61.8-70.3 years) years. Intraoperative samples were collected including fat and synovium tissues after incision, before prosthesis placement, and after tourniquet release; distal femoral cancellous bone during femoral osteotomy; proximal tibial cancellous bone during tibial osteotomy; proximal intercondylar cancellous bone before prosthesis placement; and peripheral blood from non-infused arms at surgery initiation and after tourniquet release. Vancomycin concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vital sign changes were recorded from admission to 5~10 minutes post-IORA (IORA group) or post-incision (intravenous group). Follow-ups were conducted on postoperative day 1 and 3, and at 1 and 3 months, to document complications including IORA-related adverse events, periprosthetic joint infections, surgical site infections, red man syndrome, acute kidney injury, deep vein thrombosis and so on.Results:Vancomycin concentrations in bone, fat, and synovial tissue samples were significantly higher in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05), while vancomycin concentrations in blood samples were significantly lower in the IORA group than in the intravenous group ( P<0.05). Only 7.3%(41/558) of tissue samples in the IORA group had vancomycin concentrations below 2.0 μg/g (the minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin against coagulase-negative staphylococcus), compared to 59.3%(331/558) in the intravenous group (χ 2=11.285, P<0.001). In the intravenous group, 16.9%(21/124) of blood samples had vancomycin concentrations exceeding 15.0 mg/L (the threshold associated with a significantly increased risk of nephrotoxicity), while all concentrations in the IORA group were below this threshold, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=22.943, P<0.001). There were no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05) in vital signs changes before and after vancomycin administration between the two groups. Two patients in the intravenous group experienced incision exudate, while no other related complications occurred in either group. Conclusions:Compared to the traditional intravenous infusion of 1 g vancomycin, intraosseous injection of a low dose (0.5 g) of vancomycin achieves higher local tissue concentrations in the knee joint with a lower incidence of adverse reactions and is safe for infection prophylaxis. Despite guidelines not recommending the routine use of vancomycin for preventing infection after primary TKA, intraosseous injection of 0.5 g vancomycin may be considered intraoperatively for primary TKA in the following scenarios: patients in medical institutions with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, patients with potential preoperative MRSA colonization, or patients with cephalosporin allergy.
10.Clinical efficacy and safety of a domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled study
Lixin XIA ; Guang XIANG ; Qingchun DIAO ; Kun HUANG ; Shoumin ZHANG ; Shanshan LI ; Yumei LI ; Zhiqiang SONG ; Qing SUN ; Xiumin YANG ; Meng PAN ; Yuling SHI ; Shuping GUO ; Huiping WANG ; Tiechi LEI ; Xiaoyong ZHOU ; Songmei GENG ; Suchun HOU ; Juan SU ; Yong CUI ; Rixin CHEN ; Yanyan FENG ; Hongxia FENG ; Rushan XIA ; Zudong MENG ; Fang YIN ; Jingjing WANG ; Xinghua GAO
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(11):1020-1026
Objective:To evaluate the clinical equivalence between a domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment and the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, active- and placebo-controlled study was conducted, and 449 patients aged 18 - 65 years with stable plaque psoriasis were enrolled from 25 hospitals (such as the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University). Eligible patients had a baseline physician's global assessment (PGA) score of ≥ 3 points, baseline body surface area (BSA) involvement of 5% - 30%, and a target lesion psoriasis area and severity index (TL-PASI) for plaque elevation of ≥ 3 points. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to the test group ( n = 179), reference group ( n = 180), and placebo group ( n = 90), and applied the domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment, originator product, and ointment base respectively, once daily in the evening for 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were assessed at weeks 1, 2, and 4. The primary efficacy endpoints were the treatment success rates and clinical success rates in each group at week 4. The per-protocol set (PPS) was used for the primary efficacy analysis, and the intention-to-treat (ITT) set for supplementary efficacy analysis. Equivalence between the test and reference preparations was tested using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method adjusted for randomization strata. Superiority of the test and reference preparations over the placebo was also tested. Measurement data were compared among the 3 groups using analysis of variance or non-parametric tests, while treatment success rates, clinical success rates, and incidence rates of adverse reactions were compared using the chi-square test. Results:The ITT, PPS, and safety sets included 447, 420, and 448 patients, respectively. In the ITT set, patients were aged 43.6 ± 12.8 years, including 320 (71.6%) males and 127 (28.4%) females, and the disease duration was 11.21 ± 9.05 years; 316 (70.7%) had a PGA score of 3 points and 131 (29.3%) had a PGA score of 4 - 5 points. No significant differences in the baseline characteristics (including age, sex, disease duration and disease severity) were observed among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05). Based on the PPS analysis, the treatment success rates were 57.9% (99/171) in the test group, 50.3% (86/171) in the reference group, and 7.7% (6/78) in the placebo group, and the clinical success rates were 57.9% (99/171), 50.3% (86/171), and 10.3% (8/78), respectively; both the test and reference groups were superior to the placebo group in both treatment and clinical success rates (all P < 0.001) ; the rate differences for treatment success (90% confidence interval [ CI]: -1.3% - 16.4%) and clinical success (90% CI: -1.3% - 16.3%) between the test and reference groups were entirely within the pre-defined equivalence margin (-20% - 20%). Subgroup analyses by baseline PGA scores: for patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points, the treatment success rates in the test, reference, and placebo groups were 60.8% (73/120), 52.1% (62/119), and 11.1% (6/54), respectively, and the corresponding clinical success rates were 61.7% (74/120), 53.8% (64/119), and 13% (7/54), respectively; the test and reference groups did not differ significantly in treatment or clinical success rates (both P > 0.05), but both showed higher success rates than the placebo group (all P < 0.001) ; the results of statistical comparisons among the 3 groups in patients with a baseline PGA score of 4 - 5 points were consistent with those observed in patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points. The percentage reductions in PGA and TL-PASI scores from baseline to weeks 1, 2, and 4 showed significant differences among the 3 groups, which were significantly higher in the test and reference groups than in the placebo group (all P < 0.001), but did not differ between the test and reference groups (all P > 0.05). The primary adverse reactions were local skin reactions, such as pruritus, pain, and erythema. The incidence rates of adverse reactions were 8.9% (16/179) in the test group, 7.3% (13/179) in the reference group, and 7.8% (7/90) in the placebo group, with no significant difference among the 3 groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:The domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment demonstrated clinical equivalence to the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis, and the two agents exhibited comparable efficacy for patients with varying degrees of disease severity, and were comparable in the speed and degree of clinical improvement, with similar favorable safety profiles.

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