1.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as a Dominant Disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Zihan WANG ; Yanyu CHEN ; Yong CUI ; Qingwen TAO ; Mei MO ; Ke XUE ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Yuan XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):263-269
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a refractory autoimmune disease, is among the dominant diseases where traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows advantages in the field of rheumatology and immunology. The China-Japan Friendship Hospital hosted the "46th Youth Salon on Dominant Diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)" organized by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, which led to a consensus on "the advantages, challenges, interdisciplinary approaches, and translational achievements of integrated TCM and Western medical approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE." The diagnosis and treatment of SLE currently face several challenges, such as frequent misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in the early stages, difficulty in achieving treatment targets, multiple side effects from pharmacotherapy, and the lack of management strategies for special populations, all of which hinder the fulfillment of the clinical needs of patients. Integrated TCM and Western medical approaches can improve clinical symptoms such as skin erythema, aversion to cold and cold limbs, fatigue, dry mouth, restlessness, and heat sensation in the palms and soles, thereby improving patients' quality of life. The approaches also help consolidate the efficacy of conventional Western medicine, slow disease progression, reduce relapse rates, address multi-organ involvement, and prevent or treat complications. Additionally, they enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity, prevent the side effects of Western medications, help reduce hormone use, and offer distinct advantages in the individualized intervention of special populations, contributing to the whole-process management of the disease. However, evidence-based medical support for this integrated approach remains limited, and the quality of available evidence is generally low. Common evaluation systems and modern research methodologies should be adopted to clarify the efficacy of TCM in SLE treatment. Efforts should be made to carry out high-quality evidence-based medical research, strengthen the development of fundamental and pharmacological research, and further explain the distinct advantages of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE. Future efforts should focus on advancing the integration of TCM and modern medicine, incorporating multi-omics technologies, individualized stratification, and other precision medicine concepts, in combination with artificial intelligence. Moreover, interdisciplinary collaboration should be promoted to utilize modern technology in exploring the essence of TCM theories and screening effective formulae, thereby comprehensively improving the diagnosis and treatment of SLE through integrated TCM and Western medical approaches.
2.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as a Dominant Disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Zihan WANG ; Yanyu CHEN ; Yong CUI ; Qingwen TAO ; Mei MO ; Ke XUE ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Yuan XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):263-269
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a refractory autoimmune disease, is among the dominant diseases where traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows advantages in the field of rheumatology and immunology. The China-Japan Friendship Hospital hosted the "46th Youth Salon on Dominant Diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)" organized by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, which led to a consensus on "the advantages, challenges, interdisciplinary approaches, and translational achievements of integrated TCM and Western medical approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE." The diagnosis and treatment of SLE currently face several challenges, such as frequent misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in the early stages, difficulty in achieving treatment targets, multiple side effects from pharmacotherapy, and the lack of management strategies for special populations, all of which hinder the fulfillment of the clinical needs of patients. Integrated TCM and Western medical approaches can improve clinical symptoms such as skin erythema, aversion to cold and cold limbs, fatigue, dry mouth, restlessness, and heat sensation in the palms and soles, thereby improving patients' quality of life. The approaches also help consolidate the efficacy of conventional Western medicine, slow disease progression, reduce relapse rates, address multi-organ involvement, and prevent or treat complications. Additionally, they enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity, prevent the side effects of Western medications, help reduce hormone use, and offer distinct advantages in the individualized intervention of special populations, contributing to the whole-process management of the disease. However, evidence-based medical support for this integrated approach remains limited, and the quality of available evidence is generally low. Common evaluation systems and modern research methodologies should be adopted to clarify the efficacy of TCM in SLE treatment. Efforts should be made to carry out high-quality evidence-based medical research, strengthen the development of fundamental and pharmacological research, and further explain the distinct advantages of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE. Future efforts should focus on advancing the integration of TCM and modern medicine, incorporating multi-omics technologies, individualized stratification, and other precision medicine concepts, in combination with artificial intelligence. Moreover, interdisciplinary collaboration should be promoted to utilize modern technology in exploring the essence of TCM theories and screening effective formulae, thereby comprehensively improving the diagnosis and treatment of SLE through integrated TCM and Western medical approaches.
3.P4HA1 mediates YAP hydroxylation and accelerates collagen synthesis in temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma.
Xueru LI ; Gangfeng YU ; Xiao ZHONG ; Jiacheng ZHONG ; Xiangyu CHEN ; Qinglong CHEN ; Jinjiang XUE ; Xi YANG ; Xinchun ZHANG ; Yao LING ; Yun XIU ; Yaqi DENG ; Hongda LI ; Wei MO ; Yong ZHU ; Ting ZHANG ; Liangjun QIAO ; Song CHEN ; Fanghui LU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(16):1991-2005
BACKGROUND:
Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance is a significant challenge in treating glioblastoma (GBM). Collagen remodeling has been shown to be a critical factor for therapy resistance in other cancers. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of TMZ chemoresistance by GBM cells reprogramming collagens.
METHODS:
Key extracellular matrix components, including collagens, were examined in paired primary and recurrent GBM samples as well as in TMZ-treated spontaneous and grafted GBM murine models. Human GBM cell lines (U251, TS667) and mouse primary GBM cells were used for in vitro studies. RNA-sequencing analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, and co-immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to explore the mechanisms involved in collagen accumulation. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to assess the role of the collagen regulators prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) and yes-associated protein (YAP) in sensitizing GBM cells to TMZ.
RESULTS:
This study revealed that TMZ exposure significantly elevated collagen type I (COL I) expression in both GBM patients and murine models. Collagen accumulation sustained GBM cell survival under TMZ-induced stress, contributing to enhanced TMZ resistance. Mechanistically, P4HA1 directly binded to and hydroxylated YAP, preventing ubiquitination-mediated YAP degradation. Stabilized YAP robustly drove collagen type I alpha 1 ( COL1A1) transcription, leading to increased collagen deposition. Disruption of the P4HA1-YAP axis effectively reduced COL I deposition, sensitized GBM cells to TMZ, and significantly improved mouse survival.
CONCLUSION
P4HA1 maintained YAP-mediated COL1A1 transcription, leading to collagen accumulation and promoting chemoresistance in GBM.
Temozolomide
;
Humans
;
Glioblastoma/drug therapy*
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics*
;
YAP-Signaling Proteins
;
Hydroxylation
;
Dacarbazine/pharmacology*
;
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism*
;
Transcription Factors/metabolism*
;
Collagen/biosynthesis*
;
Collagen Type I/metabolism*
;
Prolyl Hydroxylases/metabolism*
;
Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/therapeutic use*
4.Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome induces metabolomic changes in expressed prostatic secretions and plasma.
Fang-Xing ZHANG ; Xi CHEN ; De-Cao NIU ; Lang CHENG ; Cai-Sheng HUANG ; Ming LIAO ; Yu XUE ; Xiao-Lei SHI ; Zeng-Nan MO
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(1):101-112
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a complex disease that is often accompanied by mental health disorders. However, the potential mechanisms underlying the heterogeneous clinical presentation of CP/CPPS remain uncertain. This study analyzed widely targeted metabolomic data of expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) and plasma to reveal the underlying pathological mechanisms of CP/CPPS. A total of 24 CP/CPPS patients from The Second Nanning People's Hospital (Nanning, China), and 35 asymptomatic control individuals from First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (Nanning, China) were enrolled. The indicators related to CP/CPPS and psychiatric symptoms were recorded. Differential analysis, coexpression network analysis, and correlation analysis were performed to identify metabolites that were specifically altered in patients and associated with various phenotypes of CP/CPPS. The crucial links between EPS and plasma were further investigated. The metabolomic data of EPS from CP/CPPS patients were significantly different from those from control individuals. Pathway analysis revealed dysregulation of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and the citrate cycle in EPS. The tryptophan metabolic pathway was found to be the most significantly altered pathway associated with distinct CP/CPPS phenotypes. Moreover, the dysregulation of tryptophan and tyrosine metabolism and elevation of oxidative stress-related metabolites in plasma were found to effectively elucidate the development of depression in CP/CPPS. Overall, metabolomic alterations in the EPS and plasma of patients were primarily associated with oxidative damage, energy metabolism abnormalities, neurological impairment, and immune dysregulation. These alterations may be associated with chronic pain, voiding symptoms, reduced fertility, and depression in CP/CPPS. This study provides a local-global perspective for understanding the pathological mechanisms of CP/CPPS and offers potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
Humans
;
Male
;
Prostatitis/blood*
;
Adult
;
Pelvic Pain/blood*
;
Metabolomics
;
Prostate/metabolism*
;
Middle Aged
;
Chronic Pain/blood*
;
Metabolome
;
Case-Control Studies
;
Tryptophan/blood*
;
Depression/blood*
;
Oxidative Stress/physiology*
;
Chronic Disease
;
Lipid Metabolism/physiology*
5.Phenotypic Function of Legionella pneumophila Type I-F CRISPR-Cas.
Ting MO ; Hong Yu REN ; Xian Xian ZHANG ; Yun Wei LU ; Zhong Qiu TENG ; Xue ZHANG ; Lu Peng DAI ; Ling HOU ; Na ZHAO ; Jia HE ; Tian QIN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1105-1119
OBJECTIVE:
CRISPR-Cas protects bacteria from exogenous DNA invasion and is associated with bacterial biofilm formation and pathogenicity.
METHODS:
We analyzed the type I-F CRISPR-Cas system of Legionella pneumophila WX48, including Cas1, Cas2-Cas3, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, and Cas6f, along with downstream CRISPR arrays. We explored the effects of the CRISPR-Cas system on the in vitro growth, biofilm-forming ability, and pathogenicity of L. pneumophila through constructing gene deletion mutants.
RESULTS:
The type I-F CRISPR-Cas system did not affect the in vitro growth of wild-type or mutant strains. The biofilm formation and intracellular proliferation of the mutant strains were weaker than those of the wild type owing to the regulation of type IV pili and Dot/Icm type IV secretion systems. In particular, Cas6f deletion strongly inhibited these processes.
CONCLUSION
The type I-F CRISPR-Cas system may reduce biofilm formation and intracellular proliferation in L. pneumophila.
Legionella pneumophila/pathogenicity*
;
CRISPR-Cas Systems
;
Biofilms/growth & development*
;
Phenotype
;
Bacterial Proteins/metabolism*
;
Gene Deletion
6.Construction and purification of nanodiscs for glucose transporter 1.
Qianwen WANG ; Ruohan JIA ; Xue MO ; Wen CHEN
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(8):3178-3186
Glucose transporters (GLUTs) are pivotal membrane proteins that facilitate the passive transport of glucose into cells. However, their aberrant overexpression is closely linked to the Warburg effect and chemotherapy resistance of tumors. GLUTs are complex multi-pass transmembrane proteins that require detergents for extraction from the cell membrane during preparation. The persistent presence of detergents in the sample can disrupt lipid-protein interactions, potentially leading to conformational distortion and functional losses of GLUTs, severely hindering the research into their structures and transport mechanisms. To eliminate detergent interference and preserve its authentic conformation, this study employs nanodisc technology and utilizes the self-assembly of the membrane scaffold protein MSP1E3D1 and phospholipids to produce a biomimetic membrane environment, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional methods. The C-terminal His10-tagged GLUT1 was heterologously expressed in the insect cell Sf9/Bac-to-Bac system, and the GLUT1-nanodisc complex was obtained after detergent solubilization, affinity chromatography purification via anti-His antibody resin, and self-assembly. The successfully reconstituted nanodisc complex was further purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Nanodisc reconstitution produced monodisperse GLUT1 particles that retained native secondary structure, as confirmed by far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Unlike conventional detergent micelles, which lack a true lipid bilayer, distort transmembrane-helix topology, and occlude ligand-binding sites, the nanodisc platform embeds GLUT1 in a phospholipid bilayer that preserves its authentic conformation while eliminating detergent interference. The resulting GLUT1-nanodisc complex is therefore a superior scaffold for high-resolution cryo-EM structural analysis, permitting detailed interrogation of the transporter's conformational cycle, its interactions with partner proteins, and downstream structure-guided, high-throughput drug screening.
Nanostructures/chemistry*
;
Glucose Transporter Type 1/biosynthesis*
;
Humans
;
Animals
;
Phospholipids/chemistry*
;
Detergents/chemistry*
7.Severe cardiotoxic characteristics associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation preconditioning in patients with aplastic anemia
Xue MING ; Yuanyuan ZHANG ; Tingting HAN ; Jingzhi WANG ; Xiaodong MO ; Fengrong WANG ; Chenhua YAN ; Yu WANG ; Yuhong CHEN ; Zhengli XU ; Feifei TANG ; Ting ZHAO ; Kaiyan LIU ; Xiaohui ZHANG ; Xiaojun HUANG ; Lanping XU
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2024;63(11):1096-1103
Objective:To delineate the clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with severe cardiac toxicity during the preconditioning phase of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA).Methods:This retrospective case series study included 31 patients with severe AA who underwent allo-HSCT and were diagnosed with severe cardiac toxicity at the Hematology Department of Peking University People′s Hospital from August 2012 to June 2022. The clinical manifestations of severe cardiac toxicity observed during the preconditioning process were assessed. Patient survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:In this cohort of 31 patients, the median follow-up period was 9 days (range: 4-365 days). Severe cardiac toxicity manifested within 6 days after the initial cyclophosphamide (Cy) administration. Twenty patients died within 30 days of initiating Cy preconditioning, of which 16 patients died due to severe cardiac toxicity within 25 days. Patients whose cardiac function improved within 30 days post-preconditioning showed a median survival duration of 222 days ( n=11). Troponin I (TNI) levels in patients who died within 30 days of initiating Cy preconditioning began increasing on day 5 post-Cy, peaking sharply by day 9 after a notable rise on day 8. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients who died within 30 days of initiating Cy preconditioning started to rise from day 1, stabilized between days 2 and 5, and then doubled daily from days 6 to 8, remaining elevated thereafter. Notably, the initial increases in BNP and TNI correlated with electrocardiogram (ECG) signs of low voltage and T-wave inversion in 83.87% of cases ( n=26). Most patients ( n=28, 90.32%) were administered corticosteroid therapy. In those with restored cardiac function, the ejection fraction returned to >50% within 30 days of initiating Cy preconditioning. Conclusions:Patients with severe cardiac toxicity during the preconditioning phase of allo-HSCT typically exhibit early, sustained, and marked elevations in myocardial damage markers, including BNP and TNI, accompanied by ECG abnormalities following Cy administration, with BNP often increasing first. These indicators are associated with rapid disease progression and high mortality. Prompt initiation of treatment upon clinical diagnosis is critical for improving survival outcomes.
8.Application Progress of Metal Nanoclusters in Detection of Pesticides
Wei-Shen ZHOU ; Jia-Hao JIA ; Kang-Qiang MO ; Ying-Ke XUE ; Song-Rui LI ; Qiong JIA
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2024;52(4):460-468
The usage of pesticides can enhance the production of crops,but their overuses may be hazardous to both people health and the environment.Thus,it is of great significance to develop effective methods to detect pesticides.Metal nanoclusters(MNCs)have become increasingly popular in analytical sensing areas because of their miniscule size,high stability,ease of manufacturing and good biocompatibility.They have exhibited great potential in the field of pesticides detection.In this paper,the detection methods of pesticides by using MNCs and their development in detection of organophosphorus pesticides,organic nitrogen pesticides,organochlorine pesticides and other types of pesticides were reviewed.Finally,the development prospects were discussed.
9.Clinical value of serum vitamin A and basic fibroblast growth factor levels in predicting retinopathy of prematurity
Limei MO ; Yu XUE ; Chuiwan CHEN ; Xuejiao LONG ; Na SUN ; Guiyan YANG ; Chuihai CHEN
International Eye Science 2024;24(1):122-126
AIM: To investigate the clinical value of serum vitamin A(Vit A)and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)levels predicting retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS: Prospective cohort studies. A total of 411 premature or low birth weight infants with gestational age less than 37 wk or birth weight less than 2 500 g who were delivered in Hainan Branch, Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as subjects. The Vit A and bFGF levels in peripheral blood were detected at 7 d and 35 d after birth, respectively.RESULTS: A total of 392 premature infants or low birth weight infants completed clinical study, including 51 cases in stage 1-2 ROP group, 23 cases in stage 3-5 ROP group and 318 cases in the group without ROP. At 7 d postnatal, the serum Vit A(0.44±0.17 μmol/L)and bFGF(0.53±0.16 ng/L)levels in stage 1-2 ROP group were lower than those in the group without ROP(0.50±0.12 μmol/L and 0.63±0.15 ng/L; all P<0.05). The serum Vit A(0.34±0.18 μmol/L)and bFGF(0.44±0.18 ng/L)levels in stage 3-5 ROP group were lower than those in the group without ROP(P<0.05). The serum Vit A and bFGF levels in stage 3-5 ROP group were lower than those in stage 1-2 ROP group(P<0.05). At 35d postnatal, the serum Vit A(0.33±0.19 μmol/L)and bFGF(0.39±0.19 ng/L)levels in stage 3-5 ROP group were lower than those in stage 1-2 ROP group(0.43±0.16 μmol/L and 0.48±0.17 ng/L; all P<0.05). According to the ROC curve drawn by serum Vit A, the AUC value was 0.853, the maximum Youden index was 0.68, the best sensitivity was 73%, and the best specificity was 95%. According to the ROC curve drawn by serum bFGF, the AUC value was 0.828, the maximum Youden index was 0.58, the best sensitivity was 90%, and the best specificity was 68%. According to the ROC curve drawn by serum Vit A combined with bFGF, the AUC value was 0.917, the maximum Youden index was 0.70, the best sensitivity was 70%, and the best specificity was 100%.CONCLUSION: Serum Vit A and bFGF levels are sensitive and effective indicators for predicting ROP. If the serum Vit A or bFGF levels are lower in premature infants or low birth weight infants, it may indicate the higher probability of ROP and its pathological stages. In addition, the clinica value of serum Vit A combined with bFGF in the diagnosis of ROP is higher than that of Vit A or bFGF alone, and the misdiagnosis rate is reduced.
10.A Systematic Review of Case Reports/Case Series on Rituximab Rapid Desensitization
Mo CHEN ; Xue MA ; Chao LI ; Yue QIU ; Ya CHEN
Herald of Medicine 2024;43(8):1259-1269
Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab rapid desensitization therapy.Methods PubMed,Embase,Cochrane,Web of Science,Scopus,CNKI,Wanfang,and VIP databases were searched,and the search time frame was from the establishment of the database to February 2023.Two evaluators independently screened the literature,extracted data,and evaluated the quality of the included literature,and the resulting data were analyzed descriptively or statistically.The systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO(CRD:42022306557).Results Twenty-five studies(11 case reports and 14 case series)were included,with 138 patients desensitized,of whom 129 were successfully desensitized(i.e.,completed at least one target dose administration).The pretreatment regimen prior to desensitization was a combination of 2 or more of several classes of drugs,including H1 and H2 receptor antagonists,glucocorticoids,sedatives,NSAIDs,and acetaminophen,and 88%of the pretreatment regimens included H1 receptor antagonists or glucocorticoids.Sixteen studies(64.0%)reported on skin testing prior to desensitization,with positive rates of 12.50%for skin prick tests(n=16)and 49.15%for intradermal tests(n=59).Seventeen studies(68.0%)used the 3 bags-12 steps rapid desensitization protocol,the rest were for multiple desensitization methods such as 4 bags-16 steps or 2 bags-8 steps.The initial administration concentration of rituximab(i.e.,the concentration of the first desensitizing solution)was 1/10 X-1/10,000 X in most of the included studies,the first step infusion rate was 1.5-5 mL·min-1,and the total duration of single desensitization was approximately 4-10.5 h.Twenty-three studies(92%)reported the occurrence of anaphylactic reactions during patient desensitization,of which five studies had no anaphylactic reactions at the time of desensitization,and the majority of patients in the other 18 studies were able to continue to complete desensitization after being given symptomatic treatment or a modified desensitization regimen.Conclusions Current evidence suggests that rituximab rapid desensitization therapy has certain effectiveness and safety.However,there is still a lack of high-quality evidence or execution standards with strong operability and more large-sample,multicenter studies are needed to further explore the aspects of skin testing before desensitization,pretreatment,individualized desensitization steps,and management of allergic reactions during desensitization.

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