1.Metabolic-dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver disease: A new concept and recent advances
Rutao LIN ; Fei XU ; Xin XIN ; Yiyang HU ; Qin FENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(4):950-956
In 2023, multiple international societies proposed the concept of metabolic-dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD) to characterize patients with steatotic liver disease who exhibit metabolic dysfunction and consume alcohol at a moderate level. In recent years, the evidence system in this field has been constantly developed and improved. This article reviews the latest research advances in MetALD from the aspects of background, definition, epidemiological characteristics, natural history, clinical phenotype, diagnostic and assessment methods, and treatment regimens, as well as the directions for future investigation.
2.Current Research Status of Digital Technology in the Rehabilitation of Rare Neurological and Muscular Diseases
Yixuan GUO ; Yi GAO ; Yiyang YAO ; Zhuoyue QIN ; Yaofang ZHANG ; Jiaqi JING ; Jing XIE ; Jian GUO ; Shuyang ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(1):122-131
To review the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) at home and abroad on digital intelligence (DI)-driven rehabilitation in patients of neuromuscular disease, compare the effects of DI-driven rehabilitation with traditional rehabilitation, summarize the special needs and challenges faced by patients in rehabilitation of rare neuromuscular diseases, and provide evidence for the development and quality improvement of rehabilitation for rare neuromuscular diseases. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases for literature on neuromuscular diseases, rare diseases, digital and intelligent technologies, and rehabilitation published from the inception of the databases to June 2024. Basic and research-related information from the retrieved literature was extracted and analyzed. A total of 43 RCTs in English from 14 countries were included. The most studied diseases were Parkinson′s disease and multiple sclerosis. The application of DI-driven technologies in rehabilitation of rare neuromuscular diseases was still limited. The commonly used technologies were virtual reality (VR) games, intelligent treadmill assistance, gait training robots, hybrid assistive limb (HAL), wearable sensors and tele-rehabilitation (TR) systems. These technologies were applied in patients′ homes or rehabilitation service centers. The VR games significantly improved both static/dynamic balance functions and cognitive functions. The intelligent treadmill assistance significantly enhanced gait speed and stride length. The gait training robots significantly improved balance, gait speed and stride length of patients. The wearable exoskeletons significantly enhanced walking ability. DI-driven rehabilitation measures have great value and potential in the field of neuromuscular disease rehabilitation. Their advantages and characteristics can meet the diverse needs of rare disease patients. In the future, a hierarchical and collaborative rehabilitation service system should be established to meet the urgent needs of the rehabilitation of rare neuromuscular diseases. Combining the advantages of digitization and intelligence will provide standardized, scientific, convenient and affordable rehabilitation services to patients.
3.The Application of Digital Intelligence Technology in the Management of Non-Hospitalized Patients with Rare Diseases
Yiyang YAO ; Yi GAO ; Yixuan GUO ; Zhuoyue QIN ; Yaofang ZHANG ; Jiaqi JING ; Jing XIE ; Jian GUO ; Shuyang ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(1):46-53
To provide references to and give suggestions to the development and optimiza-tion of Digital Intelligence (DI) technology in management of non-hospitalized patients by systematical review the application of digital technology in non-hospital settings. We designed the search strategy and used the words " rare diseases"" patient management"" non-hospitalized management"" community management"" digital intelligence"" big data"" telemedicine" as MESH terms or free words. We searched the database of PubMed, Science-Direct, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP from the beginning of the database to July 2024 and used computer retrieval to get the literatures on the application of DI technology in the management of patients with rare diseases in non-hospital setting. We extracted the information of the first author, country or region, publication time, research participants, DI technology application, and application effect for summary analysis. A total of 13 articles were included in this study, which were from 8 countries or regions. We found that DI technologies used were in the following forms: Internet information platform, wearable devices, telemedicine management platform and electronic database. The DI technology was used by the patients with rare diseases, patient caregivers and professional medical staffs. The application of all the forms above in different populations had good effect. The Internet information platform helped patients and their caregivers learn more about the disease and improved their self-management ability. The wearable device helped monitor the health status of patients in real time and predict the risk of emergent events. The telemedicine management platform facilitated to optimize the allocation of medical resources and strengthen doctor-patient communication. The electronic health database promoted the interconnection of data inside and outside the hospital and improved the accuracy of decision-making through data sharing. The application of DI technology in the management of patients with rare diseases in non-hospitalized settings has shown positive results. In the future, it is necessary to correct the shortcomings and to deal with the challenges in terms of accuracy, readiness, applicability, and privacy protection. Besides, the DI can be integrated into the tri-level management system of patients known as the "patient-community-hospital". It is advisable to take the advantages of digital intelligence technology to improve the efficiency and quality of management of patients in non-hospitalized settings.
4.Potential utility of albumin-bilirubin and body mass index-based logistic model to predict survival outcome in non-small cell lung cancer with liver metastasis treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Lianxi SONG ; Qinqin XU ; Ting ZHONG ; Wenhuan GUO ; Shaoding LIN ; Wenjuan JIANG ; Zhan WANG ; Li DENG ; Zhe HUANG ; Haoyue QIN ; Huan YAN ; Xing ZHANG ; Fan TONG ; Ruiguang ZHANG ; Zhaoyi LIU ; Lin ZHANG ; Xiaorong DONG ; Ting LI ; Chao FANG ; Xue CHEN ; Jun DENG ; Jing WANG ; Nong YANG ; Liang ZENG ; Yongchang ZHANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(4):478-480
5.Efficacy and mechanism of epigallocatechin-3-gallate in treatment of experimental metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
Xiao XU ; Qian ZHANG ; Qinmei SUN ; Yiyang HU ; Xin XIN ; Qin FENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(7):1327-1336
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of action of epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG)in the treatment of experimental metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis(MASH),and to provide a basis for clinical development and application.Methods A total of 32 experimental C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal diet group(Con group with 8 mice)and model group with 24 mice.The mice in the model group were given a high-trans fatty acid high-carbohydrate(HFHC)diet for 24 weeks to establish a model of MASH,and at the end of week 24,the mice in the model group were further divided into HFHC group,EGCG treatment group(100 mg·kg-1·d-1),and obeticholic acid treatment group(10 mg·kg-1·d-1),with 8 mice in each group.After 6 weeks of treatment,samples were collected to observe the general conditions of mice;the content of triglycerides(TG)and hydroxyproline in liver tissue and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)were measured;HE staining,oil red O staining,and picrosirius red staining were used to observe liver histopathological changes.In the in vitro experiment,L02 cells were induced with free fatty acid(FFA)to establish a model of lipid deposition,and the cells were divided into Con group,FFA group,and EGCG group.The content of TG in cells was measured,as well as the results of oil red O staining and the relative mRNA expression levels of TNF-α,CCL2,and CXCL10.The transcriptomics technique was used to identify differentially expressed genes between the Con group,the HFHC group,and the EGCG group and perform the GSEA analysis,and pathways with a P-adjust value of<0.05 that were associated with MASH were further classified into metabolism-related pathways and inflammation-related pathways.The specific signaling pathways in each category were ranked based on the degree of enrichment,and key genes in the top three pathways were verified by PCR in vivo.Key genes in the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway were verified by Western blotting.A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data with homogeneity of variance between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups.Results Compared with the HFHC group,the EGCG group had significant reductions in the content of TG in liver tissue(P<0.05)and the serum levels of ALT and AST(P<0.05).Oil red O staining showed significant alleviation of hepatocyte fatty degeneration in the EGCG group,HE staining showed that EGCG effectively alleviated inflammation,and picrosirius red staining showed a significant reduction in the number of fibrous tissue after EGCG treatment.There was a significant reduction in the content of hydroxyproline in liver tissue after EGCG intervention(P<0.01).Cell experiments showed that compared with the FFA group,the EGCG group had a significant reduction in the content of TG,and oil red O staining showed the disappearance of lipid droplets in the EGCG group compared with the FFA group,with significant reductions in the relative mRNA expression levels of the inflammatory factors TNF-α,CCL2,and CXCL10(all P<0.01).The transcriptomics analysis identified 230 differentially expressed genes between the HFHC group and the EGCG group,among which there were 108 upregulated genes and 122 downregulated genes.EGCG significantly reduced the levels of the key proteins TLR4,NLRP3,and IL-1β in the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway in liver tissue(all P<0.05).Conclusion EGCG can significantly alleviate lipid deposition,inflammation,and fibrosis in the mouse model of MASH and improve lipid deposition and inflammatory injury in L02 cells,possibly by regulating the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway.
6.Roles of ncRNAs regulating metabolic reprogramming of TAMs in oncotherapy
Zanhan WANG ; Zhihong SUN ; Hongyan QIN ; Yiyang HU
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(7):1616-1623
Vast majority of human RNA are non-coding RNA(ncRNA),which can regulate physiological activities and affects functions on cells.Although each part of them is obscure,they are involved in different levels of gene regulation,from epigene-tic gene silencing to post transcriptional regulation.Metabolic reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)can promote tumor progression and is closely related to activation phenotypes of anti-tumor(M1)or pro-tumor(M2).A lot of ncRNAs are involved in metabolic reprogramming of TAMs,reshaping tumor microenvironment and playing a key role in tumor progression.Improving understanding of effect on ncRNA regulating metabolic reprogramming of TAMs may provide new methods for developing effective clinical treatments.
7.Efficacy and mechanism of epigallocatechin-3-gallate in treatment of experimental metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
Xiao XU ; Qian ZHANG ; Qinmei SUN ; Yiyang HU ; Xin XIN ; Qin FENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(7):1327-1336
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of action of epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG)in the treatment of experimental metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis(MASH),and to provide a basis for clinical development and application.Methods A total of 32 experimental C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal diet group(Con group with 8 mice)and model group with 24 mice.The mice in the model group were given a high-trans fatty acid high-carbohydrate(HFHC)diet for 24 weeks to establish a model of MASH,and at the end of week 24,the mice in the model group were further divided into HFHC group,EGCG treatment group(100 mg·kg-1·d-1),and obeticholic acid treatment group(10 mg·kg-1·d-1),with 8 mice in each group.After 6 weeks of treatment,samples were collected to observe the general conditions of mice;the content of triglycerides(TG)and hydroxyproline in liver tissue and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)were measured;HE staining,oil red O staining,and picrosirius red staining were used to observe liver histopathological changes.In the in vitro experiment,L02 cells were induced with free fatty acid(FFA)to establish a model of lipid deposition,and the cells were divided into Con group,FFA group,and EGCG group.The content of TG in cells was measured,as well as the results of oil red O staining and the relative mRNA expression levels of TNF-α,CCL2,and CXCL10.The transcriptomics technique was used to identify differentially expressed genes between the Con group,the HFHC group,and the EGCG group and perform the GSEA analysis,and pathways with a P-adjust value of<0.05 that were associated with MASH were further classified into metabolism-related pathways and inflammation-related pathways.The specific signaling pathways in each category were ranked based on the degree of enrichment,and key genes in the top three pathways were verified by PCR in vivo.Key genes in the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway were verified by Western blotting.A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data with homogeneity of variance between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups.Results Compared with the HFHC group,the EGCG group had significant reductions in the content of TG in liver tissue(P<0.05)and the serum levels of ALT and AST(P<0.05).Oil red O staining showed significant alleviation of hepatocyte fatty degeneration in the EGCG group,HE staining showed that EGCG effectively alleviated inflammation,and picrosirius red staining showed a significant reduction in the number of fibrous tissue after EGCG treatment.There was a significant reduction in the content of hydroxyproline in liver tissue after EGCG intervention(P<0.01).Cell experiments showed that compared with the FFA group,the EGCG group had a significant reduction in the content of TG,and oil red O staining showed the disappearance of lipid droplets in the EGCG group compared with the FFA group,with significant reductions in the relative mRNA expression levels of the inflammatory factors TNF-α,CCL2,and CXCL10(all P<0.01).The transcriptomics analysis identified 230 differentially expressed genes between the HFHC group and the EGCG group,among which there were 108 upregulated genes and 122 downregulated genes.EGCG significantly reduced the levels of the key proteins TLR4,NLRP3,and IL-1β in the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway in liver tissue(all P<0.05).Conclusion EGCG can significantly alleviate lipid deposition,inflammation,and fibrosis in the mouse model of MASH and improve lipid deposition and inflammatory injury in L02 cells,possibly by regulating the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway.
8.Roles of ncRNAs regulating metabolic reprogramming of TAMs in oncotherapy
Zanhan WANG ; Zhihong SUN ; Hongyan QIN ; Yiyang HU
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2025;41(7):1616-1623
Vast majority of human RNA are non-coding RNA(ncRNA),which can regulate physiological activities and affects functions on cells.Although each part of them is obscure,they are involved in different levels of gene regulation,from epigene-tic gene silencing to post transcriptional regulation.Metabolic reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)can promote tumor progression and is closely related to activation phenotypes of anti-tumor(M1)or pro-tumor(M2).A lot of ncRNAs are involved in metabolic reprogramming of TAMs,reshaping tumor microenvironment and playing a key role in tumor progression.Improving understanding of effect on ncRNA regulating metabolic reprogramming of TAMs may provide new methods for developing effective clinical treatments.
9.Effect of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 knockdown on a mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by high-fat high-carbohydrate diet
Qian HUANG ; Zhuoyuan WANG ; Ziming AN ; Xin XIN ; Qinmei SUN ; Xiaojun GOU ; Yiyang HU ; Qin FENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(5):952-960
Objective To investigate the effect of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)knockdown on a mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)induced by high-fat high-carbohydrate(HFHC)diet.Methods A total of 44 mice were randomly divided into normal diet group(CON group)with 20 mice and HFHC group with 24 mice.At the end of week 14 of modeling,4 mice were randomly selected from the HFHC group for the pre-experiment of adeno-associated virus(AAV)by tail vein injection,and NLRP3 knockdown was verified after 4 weeks.After NLRP3 knockdown was verified at the end of week 18,the remaining 40 mice were given a single tail vein injection of AAV,and then they were divided into CON+NLRP3 knockdown negative control group(CON+NLRP3-NC group),CON+NLRP3 knockdown group(CON+NLRP3-KD group),HFHC+NLRP3-NC group,and HFHC+NLRP3-KD group,with 10 mice in each group.At the end of week 24,the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was observed;related indicators were measured,including body weight,liver weight,liver index,and glucose metabolism(fasting blood glucose,fasting insulin,and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance[HOMA-IR]index);the indicators of liver lipid content(liver triglyceride[TG]and oil red O staining),liver inflammation(serum alanine aminotransferase[ALT]activity,HE staining,and inflammation-related genes),and liver fibrosis(Sirius Red staining and fibrosis-related genes)were measured.A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups.Results Compared with the CON+NLRP3-NC group based on the results of Western Blot,the HFHC+NLRP3-NC group had significant increases in the protein expression levels of NLRP3,pro-Caspase1,Caspase1,ASC,and IL-1β,while the HFHC+NLRP3-KD group had significant reductions in these levels(all P<0.05).The HFHC+NLRP3-NC group showed varying degrees of increase in body weight,liver weight,liver index,and glucose metabolism indicators,while the HFHC+NLRP3-KD group showed significant improvements in these indicators(all P<0.05).As for hepatic fat deposition,compared with the CON+NLRP3-NC group,the HFHC+NLRP3-NC group had a significant increase in liver TG,with a large number of red lipid droplets shown by oil red O staining,and the HFHC+NLRP3-KD group had significant reductions in liver TG and the number of lipid droplets in the liver(all P<0.01).In terms of liver inflammation,compared with the CON+NLRP3-NC group,the HFHC+NLRP3-NC group had significant increases in serum ALT,NAFLD activity score,and inflammation-related genes,while the HFHC+NLRP3-KD group had significant reductions in these indicators(all P<0.01).As for liver fibrosis,compared with the CON+NLRP3-NC group,the HFHC+NLRP3-NC group had significant increases in collagen fiber area and fibrosis-related genes,and the HFHC+NLRP3-KD group had significant reductions in fibrosis-related genes(all P<0.05)and a tendency of reduction in collagen fiber area(P>0.05).Conclusion NLRP3 knockdown can significantly improve hepatic fat deposition and inflammation in a mouse model of HFHC-induced NASH.
10.Differences and application value of plasma bile acids in tumors of the liver
Ru JIA ; Pingping ZHANG ; Yuan YUAN ; Yiyang HU ; Qin FENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(10):2042-2048
Objective To investigate the levels of plasma bile acids(BA)in patients with primary liver cancer(PLC)or metastatic liver cancer(MLC)and their correlation with clinical indicators,as well as the value of plasma BAs combined with alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)in the diagnosis of PLC.Methods This study was conducted among 75 patients with PLC and 79 patients with MLC who attended Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2020 to September 2021 and had a confirmed diagnosis based on histopathological and imaging findings.Peripheral blood samples were collected from all patients,and serum and plasma were separated.Colorimetry and chromatography were used to measure biochemical parameters;electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to measure the levels of tumor markers;liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the content of BA.The t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data,and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data;the Spearman's coefficient was used for correlation analysis;the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate clinical diagnostic efficacy.Results The PLC group had significantly lower levels of total cholesterol,triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and apolipoprotein B than the MLC group(U=1 598,1 255,909,and 889,all P<0.05).Compared with the MLC group,the PLC group had a significantly higher level of AFP and a significantly lower level of carcinoembryonic antigen(U=1 873 and 926,both P<0.05).Compared with the MLC group,the PLC group had significantly higher levels of TBA,CA,CDCA,UDCA,TCA,TCDCA,GCA,GCDCA,TUDCA,and GUDCA and a significantly lower level of DCA(all P<0.05).In the total population,the levels of TBA,CDCA,GCA,GCDCA,GUDCA,TCA,TCDCA,and TUDCA were significantly positively correlated with the level of AFP(all P<0.05).In the patients with PLC,the levels of GCA,TCA,TCDCA,and TUDCA were significantly positively correlated with the level of AFP(all P<0.05).Combined measurement of AFP+TCA+GCA+TCDCA had an area under the ROC curve of 0.822(95%confidence interval:0.746-0.898,P<0.000 1),suggesting that it had the highest diagnostic efficacy.Conclusion There are significant differences in the levels of plasma BA between the patients with PLC and those with MLC,and the differentially expressed BAs are closely associated with liver function impairment and the increase in AFP.BAs combined with AFP has a better clinical value in the diagnosis of PLC.

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