1.Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated encephalitis in a small-cell lung cancer patient
Miao LI ; Qunying HONG ; Yuanlin SONG ; Sulan WEI ; Nuo XU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(4):729-735
The neurotoxicity related to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is rare, and the clinical experience remains limited. This paper reported an elderly male patient with advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Following two circles of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy (serplulimab, 200 mg), the patient developed fatigue, cognitive impairment, motor apraxia, and ataxia. Based on the examination of blood neurotransmitters and brain magnetic resonance imaging, the patient was diagnosed with ICI-associated encephalitis, and his symptoms improved after hormone treatment.
2.Ethical issues in digital medical insurance governance: generation, manifestations, and countermeasures
Zengying ZHUANG ; Linlin YUE ; Yanjie JIANG ; Guiying XUAN ; Bo WANG ; Shenchao JIANG ; Jingchao HE ; Xutong LIU ; Shangwei HAN ; Xuerun TIAN ; Yongxuan LIU ; Nuo XU ; Qifan YANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(10):1342-1348
Digital medical insurance governance, as an important component of digital transformation, improves the efficiency of medical insurance services while facing complex ethical challenges. Taking stakeholder theory as the analytical framework, this paper explored the generative mechanisms, manifestations, and countermeasures of ethical issues in digital medical insurance governance. This study uncovered that accelerated technological iteration and lagging ethical and legal norms, as well as interest conflicts among multiple participants in governance, constituted the major causes of ethical issues. These issues specifically manifested as data privacy leakage, unfair algorithmic decision-making, widening digital divide, ambiguous accountability, and other aspects. To address these issues, this paper put forward systematic countermeasures, such as establishing a dynamic ethical and legal regulatory system, balancing the demands of stakeholders, strengthening technological ethical governance, narrowing the digital divide, and enhancing accountability mechanisms. Through the implementation of multi-dimensional governance strategies, it aimed to balance technological innovation and ethical constraints, advance the inclusiveness, fairness, and sustainable development of digital medical insurance, and provide theoretical reference and practical references for improving China’s digital medical insurance governance system.
3.Multifaceted mechanisms of Danggui Shaoyao San in ameliorating Alzheimer's disease based on transcriptomics and metabolomics.
Min-Hao YAN ; Han CAI ; Hai-Xia DING ; Shi-Jie SU ; Xu-Nuo LI ; Zi-Qiao XU ; Wei-Cheng FENG ; Qi-Qing WU ; Jia-Xin CHEN ; Hong WANG ; Qi WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(8):2229-2236
This study explored the potential therapeutic targets and mechanisms of Danggui Shaoyao San(DSS) in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease(AD) through transcriptomics and metabolomics, combined with animal experiments. Fifty male C57BL/6J mice, aged seven weeks, were randomly divided into the following five groups: control, model, positive drug, low-dose DSS, and high-dose DSS groups. After the intervention, the Morris water maze was used to assess learning and memory abilities of mice, and Nissl staining and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining were performed to observe pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue. Transcriptomics and metabolomics were employed to sequence brain tissue and identify differential metabolites, analyzing key genes and metabolites related to disease progression. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was employed to validate the expression of key genes. The Morris water maze results indicated that DSS significantly improved learning and cognitive function in scopolamine(SCOP)-induced model mice, with the high-dose DSS group showing the best results. Pathological staining showed that DSS effectively reduced hippocampal neuronal damage, increased Nissl body numbers, and reduced nuclear pyknosis and neuronal loss. Transcriptomics identified seven key genes, including neurexin 1(Nrxn1) and sodium voltage-gated channel α subunit 1(Scn1a), and metabolomics revealed 113 differential metabolites, all of which were closely associated with synaptic function, oxidative stress, and metabolic regulation. RT-qPCR experiments confirmed that the expression of these seven key genes was consistent with the transcriptomics results. This study suggests that DSS significantly improves learning and memory in SCOP model mice and alleviates hippocampal neuronal pathological damage. The mechanisms likely involve the modulation of synaptic function, reduction of oxidative stress, and metabolic balance, with these seven key genes serving as important targets for DSS in the treatment of AD.
Animals
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Alzheimer Disease/genetics*
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Male
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Metabolomics
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Transcriptome/drug effects*
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Maze Learning/drug effects*
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Hippocampus/metabolism*
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Humans
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Disease Models, Animal
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Memory/drug effects*
4.Research progress and exploration of traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of sepsis-acute lung injury by inhibiting pyroptosis.
Wen-Yu WU ; Nuo-Ran LI ; Kai WANG ; Xin JIAO ; Wan-Ning LAN ; Yun-Sheng XU ; Lin WANG ; Jing-Nan LIN ; Rui CHEN ; Rui-Feng ZENG ; Jun LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4425-4436
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response caused by severe infection or trauma, and is one of the common causes of acute lung injury(ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Sepsis-acute lung injury(SALI) is a critical clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality. Its pathogenesis is complex and not yet fully understood, and there is currently a lack of targeted and effective treatment options. Pyroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, plays a key role in the pathological process of SALI by activating inflammasomes and releasing inflammatory factors, making it a potential therapeutic target. In recent years, the role of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in regulating signaling pathways related to pyroptosis through multi-components and multi-targets has attracted increasing attention. TCM may intervene in pyroptosis by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and regulating the expression of Caspase family proteins, thus alleviating inflammatory damage in lung tissues. This paper systematically reviews the molecular regulatory network of pyroptosis in SALI and explores the potential mechanisms and research progress on TCM intervention in cellular pyroptosis. The aim is to provide new ideas and theoretical support for basic research and clinical treatment strategies of TCM in SALI.
Pyroptosis/drug effects*
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Humans
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Sepsis/genetics*
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Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology*
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Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Inflammasomes/metabolism*
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
5.Preliminary study on the role of TM9SF2 knockdown in promoting the activity of the type I interferon signaling pathway to inhibit vesicular stomatitis virus replication.
Kang LI ; Xinyu WANG ; Ran YE ; Lingyun GUO ; Linxu WANG ; Nuo XU ; Tong ZHANG ; Xiaotao DUAN
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(6):481-487
Objective To explore the effect of the knockdown of transmembrane 9 superfamily protein member 2 (TM9SF2) on the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and investigate its role in the mechanism of antiviral innate immunity. Methods Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down the TM9SF2 gene in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. The CCK-8 method was used to assess cell proliferation. A VSV-green fluorescent protein (VSV-GFP) infected cell model was established. The plaque assay was used to measure the viral titer in the supernatant. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were employed to quantify the mRNA and protein levels of VSV genome replication in A549 cells following VSV infection, as well as the expression of interferon β (IFN-β) mRNA and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) protein phosphorylation following polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) stimulation. Results Compared to the negative control, the knockdown of TM9SF2 exhibited a significant effect, with no observed impact on A549 cell proliferation. The VSV-GFP infected A549 cell model was successfully established. After viral stimulation, fluorescence intensity was reduced following TM9SF2 knockdown, and the mRNA and protein levels of VSV were significantly downregulated. The viral titer of VSV was decreased. After poly(I:C) stimulation, TM9SF2 knockdown significantly upregulated the mRNA level of IFN-β and the phosphorylation level of IRF3 protein. Conclusion The knockdown of TM9SF2 inhibits the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus, and positively regulates the type I interferon signaling pathway, thus enhancing the host's antiviral innate immune response.
Humans
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Virus Replication/genetics*
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Signal Transduction
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Membrane Proteins/metabolism*
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A549 Cells
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Vesiculovirus/physiology*
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Interferon-beta/metabolism*
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Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/genetics*
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Interferon Type I/metabolism*
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Vesicular Stomatitis/immunology*
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Gene Knockdown Techniques
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Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus/physiology*
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RNA, Small Interfering/genetics*
6.Clinical application effect of an innovative adjustable butterfly needle puncture protection kit for TIVAP
Qiong LIU ; Haodong CHEN ; Xiaofang DING ; Wanghui LUO ; Shihui TANG ; Susu GONG ; Nuo XU ; Yan CHEN
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(7):1481-1488
Background and Aims:Totally implantable venous access ports(TIVAP)are widely used in patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy.Traditional butterfly needle puncture fixation methods have limitations,including low success rates,increased pain,and risk of needle-stick injury.This study aimed to design an adjustable puncture protection kit for butterfly needles and evaluate its clinical utility using a simulated device.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted with 70 patients implanted with upper arm ports in the Hematology Department of Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,from January to December 2024.The patients were divided into a study group and a control group,with 35 cases in each,using a randomized block design.The study group underwent puncture with the simulated adjustable protection kit,while the control group used the traditional finger fixation method.Outcomes compared included first-attempt success rate,vertical puncture rate,pain score,puncture time,and complication rate.Results:The baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced.The study group had significantly higher first-attempt puncture success rate and vertical puncture rate than the control group(94.3%vs.77.1%;91.4%vs.57.1%,both P<0.05).In the experimental group compared with the control group,pain scores were lower(1.80±1.13 vs.2.94±1.33,P<0.05),and puncture time was shorter[(31.31±9.05)s vs.(41.80±23.97)s,P<0.05].There was no significant difference in the incidence of puncture-related complications between the two groups(2.9%vs.14.3%,P>0.05).Conclusion:The simulated adjustable butterfly needle puncture protection kit effectively improves puncture success,enhances efficiency,reduces patient pain,and demonstrates good clinical safety.This innovative design provides a promising solution for reducing needle-stick injury risks and optimizing port puncture procedures,although larger,multicenter,and long-term studies are warranted.
7.Effects of Danzhi Jiangtang capsules on myocardial injury of db/db mice based on NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis
Nuo-bing RUAN ; Jin-ju LI ; Qi XU ; Jia-wen JING ; Jia-rong GAO ; Zhao-hui FANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(4):786-792
Aim To investigate the possible mechanism of the myocardial protective effect of Danzhi Jiangtang capsules(DJC)on db/db mice based on NLRP3 in-flammasome-mediated pyroptosis.Methods The db/db mice were randomly divided into the model group,DJC low,medium,and high dose groups,and the met-formin group,and the db/m mice were taken as the blank group.The administration lasted for eightweeks.At the end of drug administration,blood glucose,blood lipids,cardiac enzymes and inflammatory factors were detected in each group of mice.HE and Masson stai-ning was performed to observe the morphology and fi-brosis of myocardial tissue.TUNEL staining was per-formed to detect apoptosis.RT-qPCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of ANP,BNP and β-MHC,and Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,cleaved-caspase-1,GSDMD and GSDMD-NT in myocardial tis-sue.Results DJC could alleviate myocardial patho-logical damage,reduce collagen deposition and apopto-sis,reduce the levels of blood glucose,blood lipid,myo-cardial enzyme and inflammatory factors in db/db mice.DJC could reduce the mRNA expressions of ANP,BNP and β-MHC,and the protein expressions of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,cleavedcaspase-1,GSDMD and GSDMD-NT in myocardial tissues.Conclusion DJC attenuates myocardial injury in db/db mice,prob-ably by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflamma-somes,attenuating cardiomyocyte pyroptosis,and amel-iorating the inflammatory state.
8.Overexpression of KAT7 promotes pyroptosis of chondrocytes
Ying LI ; Kang WANG ; Tian-xi DU ; Ting-ting GUO ; Nuo XU ; Xu-lei WANG ; Yan CHANG ; Wei WEI ; Shang-xue YAN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1298-1305
Aim To establish the pyroptosis model of rat chondrocytes induced by tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)in order to study the effect of lysine acetyl-transferase 7(KAT7)on pyroptosis of chondrocytes.Methods Chondrocytes of rat knee joint were isolated by type Ⅱ collagenase digestion,and were identified by toluidine blue staining and Col Ⅱ immunofluorescence.CCK-8 was used to evaluate cell viability.Western blot was used to detect the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3,GSDMD,caspase-8 and KAT7 in cells intervened with TNF-α,adenovirus overexpression of KAT7(KAT7-oe)and KAT7 inhibitor WM-3835.The microstructure of the cells was observed by scanning e-lectron microscopy.Pyroptosis was detected by TUNEL staining,and the expression of pyroptosis-related pro-tein and KAT7 was detected by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with the empty virus group,KAT7-oe inhibited cell viability,promoted the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins,and TNF-α enhanced this effect.At the same time,the expression of KAT7 and pyroptosis-related proteins in the TNF-α stimulation group increased,and WM-3835 reduced the related proteins expression.Electron microscopy showed that KAT7-oe caused cell swelling,deformation,membrane perforation and rupture,while WM-3835 could restore cell morphology.TUNEL staining and immunofluores-cence results also confirmed that KAT7-oe induced chondrocyte pyroptosis,and WM-3835 could down-reg-ulate the fluorescence of pyroptosis-related proteins.Conclusions The expression of KAT7 increases in rat chondrocyte pyroptosis model,and the intervention of KAT7 expression affects signal molecules related to py-roptosis pathway,suggesting that KAT7 may be related to chondrocyte pyroptosis.
9.Effects of luteolin on glucose and lipid metabolism and liver oxidative stress injury in db/db mice based on artificial intelligence assisted drug quality evaluation and pharmacodynamics and its mechanisms
Qi XU ; Hong-rong ZHANG ; Nuo-bing RUAN ; Xi-juan LYU ; Zhao-hui FANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(2):323-333
Aim To study the possibility of luteolin(LUT)as a new drug of traditional Chinese medicine and its improving effect on glucose and lipid metabo-lism and liver oxidative stress injury in db/db mice,and to explore the possible mechanism.Methods AI was used to predict the drug toxicity,evaluate the phys-ical and chemical properties and segment the molecular structure of LUT.Molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability of LUT with Nrf2 and HMOX1;db/m mice were divided into the group C,and db/db mice were randomly divided into the T,L,M,H and P groups.The body weight and FBG changes were ob-served within 12 weeks of intervention.The expres-sions of FBG,HbA1c,Fins,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C were detected.The pathomorphological changes and steatosis of mouse liver were observed by HE and oil red O staining.The expression of MDA,SOD and GSH-Px in liver was detected by Kit.The protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and HMOX1 were detected by immunohistochemistry,WB and qPCR.Results AI algorithm predicted the safety and easy synthesis of LUT.LUT intervention had no significant effect on the body weight of db/db mice.After 12 weeks,compared with the group C,the livers of mice in group T showed disordered structure of hepatic lobules,irregular ar-rangement of hepatocytes,and a large number of fat vacuoles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm.Compared with the group T,LUT intervention could improve the pathological changes of liver,reduce the expression of FBG,HbA1c,fins,TC,TG,LDL-C,MDA,improve the level of HOMA-IR,and upregulate the activities of SOD and GSH-Px.Molecular docking results showed LUT had strong binding with Nrf2 and HMOX1,and could increase the expression of Nrf2 and HMOX1.Conclu-sion LUT can correct the disorder of glucose and lip-id metabolism in db/db mice,and improve the level of oxidative stress in liver of mice through Nrf2/HMOX1 pathway,which has the development prospect as a new Chinese medicine for the treatment of T2DM.
10.Preliminary exploration of the role of miR-429 in human synovial mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in repairing osteoarthritis cartilage damage
Sun-Xin ZHOU ; Na HUO ; Hong-Kun LI ; Heng-Xin WANG ; Shuai-Chen LI ; Nuo XU ; Tian-Qi LI ; Xiang-Bo MENG ; Tong ZHANG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(7):882-889
Objective To explore the role of miR-429 in synovial mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes(SMSC-Exos)in repairing cartilage damage in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis(TMJ OA)by extracting SMSC-Exos from human synovial tissue and screening differentially expressed microRNA(miRNA)through transcriptome sequencing.Methods Human synovial tissues were obtained from 6 patients who underwent surgery at the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital from June to December 2023,including 3 patients with osteoarthritis(OA group)and 3 control patients(control group),all of whom were male.SMSC-Exos were extracted from the synovial tissues for miRNA sequencing and differential expression analysis.Further,Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses were performed on the target genes of differentially expressed miRNA to identify key functional miRNA and construct miRNA-target gene regulatory networks and protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks of target genes.An in vitro model of rabbit condylar cartilage cell inflammatory microenvironment induced by interleukin-1β(IL-1β)was established,with the control group cultured in DMEM/F12 basic medium and the inflammation-induced group cultured in DMEM/F12 basic medium containing 10 ng/ml IL-1β.RT-qPCR was used to detect the effects of overexpressed target miRNA on the mRNA expression levels of cartilage phenotype factors such as type Ⅱ collagen α1 chain(Col2a1),aggrecan(Acan),as well as inflammatory factors including a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5(Adamts5)and cyclooxygenase-2(Cox-2).Results(1)SMSC-Exos were successfully isolated,cultured,and identified.(2)miRNA sequencing of SMSC-Exos from OA and control groups revealed 16 differentially expressed miRNAs(|log2FC|>2,P<0.05).Compared with control group,7 miRNAs were up-regulated and 9 were down-regulated in OA group.GO and KEGG analysis indicated that the target genes of miR-429 were mainly involved in development process,anatomical structure development,system development,cell development and differentiation,and were enriched in inflammation-related pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B(PI3K-Akt).(3)Functional validation of miR-429 in the rabbit condylar cartilage cell inflammatory model showed that overexpression of miR-429 increased the mRNA expression levels of Col2a1 and Acan(P<0.05)and decreased the mRNA expression levels of Adamts5 and Cox-2(P<0.05)in the inflammation-induced group.Conclusions miRNA sequencing of SMSC-Exos isolated and identified from human synovial tissues reveals a specific miRNA expression profile in OA patients,with miR-429 significantly down-regulated.Functional validation demonstrates that overexpression of miR-429 has reparative and anti-inflammatory effects on condylar cartilage cells in an inflammatory microenvironment.

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