1.Research Advances in Mechanisms of Action and Delivery Technologies of Arsenic Trioxide Against Solid Tumors
Lei LIU ; Yufeng ZHA ; Zhili WEI
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(4):301-315
Arsenic trioxide (ATO) serves as a component of traditional Chinese medicine and a modern anticancer agent, demonstrating remarkable efficacy in the long-term treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. With increasing research into its application in solid tumors, ATO's diverse mechanisms of action and potential clinical value have attracted widespread attention. ATO can inhibit tumor cell proliferation by inducing various forms of cell death, such as apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, as well as by regulating cell differentiation. Moreover, its modulatory effects on the tumor immune microenvironment provide a new aspectto its antitumor activity. Nevertheless, the clinical application of ATO in solid tumors faces challenges such as low bioavailability, inadequate targeting, and adverse effects. The development of nanocarriers and targeted delivery systems has emerged asa key strategy for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of ATO. This review systematically summarizes the multiple mechanisms of action of ATO in solid tumors and recent advances in nanodelivery technologies, explores the potential of ATO-based combination therapies, and discusses future directions, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the clinical application of ATO in solid tumors.
2.Facilitation of mucosal healing by estrogen receptor β in ulcerative colitis through suppression of branched-chain amino acid transport and subsequent triggering of autophagy in colonic epithelial cells.
Yilei GUO ; Yanrong ZHU ; Jing ZHANG ; Yue HE ; Mianjiang ZHAO ; Haochang LIN ; Zhifeng WEI ; Yufeng XIA ; Yue DAI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):168-187
Colonic mucosal healing is the ultimate goal of ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment, but it remains difficult to realize. Given the higher incidence of UC in males and the beneficial effect of estrogen on UC, we conducted this study to examine the therapeutic potential of estrogen receptor β (ERβ), the primary ER subtype in colon, on mucosal healing in UC. Our study is the first to report that ERβ activation degree was positively correlated with mucosal healing in patients with UC. Furthermore, ERβ activation enhanced mucosal healing in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced and biopsy-induced colonic injuries. Mechanistically, ERβ activation promoted autophagy of colonic epithelial cells by inhibiting branched-chain amino acid transport, leading to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation. Activated FAK promoted focal adhesion turnover and colonic epithelial cell migration, ultimately facilitating mucosal healing. ERβ -/- colitis mice exhibited impaired mucosal healing compared to wild-type littermates, highlighting the crucial effect of ERβ. Importantly, combination with ERβ-agonist diarylpropionitrile enhanced the amelioration of 5-aminosalicylic acid, a standard UC treatment agent, against mouse colitis. These findings attest to the crucial role of ERβ activation in colonic mucosal healing and may further inform the development of novel strategies for UC treatment.
3.Differences in dose-response effects between ultra-high dose rate and conventional dose rate whole abdominal irradiation on acute radiation-induced intestinal injury in mice
Yufeng SHEN ; Jie ZHOU ; Lintao LI ; Fenghao GENG ; Chenxi YANG ; Xiaohua CHEN ; Shuo WANG ; Wei TANG ; Yongjie LI ; Shun LU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(11):1077-1084
Objective:To compare the dose-response effects of single-fraction ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) and conventional dose rate (CONV) whole abdominal irradiation (WAI) with X-rays on acute radiation-induced intestinal injury in mice, in order to identify optimal dose parameters and potential mechanisms.Methods:A total of 186 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a non-irradiation group ( n=6), FLASH irradiation groups ( n=90), and CONV irradiation groups ( n=90). Acute radiation-induced intestinal injury models were established using single-fraction WAI with 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 Gy X-rays (200 Gy/s for FLASH and 4 Gy/min for CONV). Changes in body weight, stool characteristics, and disease activity index (DAI) scores were assessed at 9 d post-irradiation. At 7 d post-irradiation at 11, 12, and 13 Gy, the intestines were collected for macroscopic examination and length measurement. The small intestine was selected for HE staining and quantitative analysis of intestinal crypt number and mucosal epithelial thickness. The survival of mice was assessed at 15 d post-WAI across all dose groups. Results:After single-fraction WAI at 11, 12, and 13 Gy, the body weight was higher in the FLASH group than that in the CONV group ( t=10.17, 12.65, 10.16, P<0.05). The DAI scores for the FLASH group were 1.00±1.10, 3.17±0.75, and 2.83±1.17, respectively, which were lower than those of the CONV group (4.33±0.52, 7.00±0.00, 8.60±0.55; t=8.70, 11.71, 14.99, P<0.05). However, after WAI at 14 Gy and 15 Gy, there were no significant differences in body weight and DAI between the FLASH group and the CONV group ( P>0.05). At 7 d after single-fraction WAI at 11, 12, and 13 Gy, mice in the FLASH group exhibited less intestinal congestion, edema, and shortening compared with the CONV group. The difference between the FLASH and CONV groups were statistically significant in small intestine length at 11 and 13 Gy ( t=4.42, 3.78, P<0.05), and in colorectal length at 11 and 12 Gy ( t=3.97, 3.12, P<0.05). Small intestine HE staining revealed superior preservation of intestinal architecture in the FLASH group compared with the CONV group, characterized by longer villi, increased crypt numbers, thicker mucosal epithelium, and enhanced structural integrity. The differences in crypt number and mucosal epithelial thickness were statistically significant ( tcrypt=13.10, 23.80, 11.90; tmucosal=5.75, 2.64, 7.74; P<0.05). At 15 d post-irradiation, the survival rate in the 15 Gy FLASH group was higher than that in the CONV group (50% vs. 10%, χ2=5.39, P<0.05), with a median survival extension of 6 d ( HR=0.340, 95% CI: 0.115 4-0.999 9). No significant survival differences were observed between the FLASH group and the CONV group at 11, 12, 13, and 14 Gy ( P>0.05). Conclusions:FLASH irradiation significantly alleviated acute radiation-induced intestinal injury from medium single-fraction WAI with 11, 12, and 13 Gy X-rays compared with CONV irradiation, and showed potential to improve mouse survival after single-fraction WAI at 15 Gy. This effect is likely associated with the preservation of intestinal crypts and exhibits a dose-dependent relationship.
4.The rescue of and pathogenicity of recombinant Muscovy duck parvovirus
Zhixian WANG ; Xiaoyan GONG ; Wanmei LI ; Jueyi LING ; Zhiwei JIANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Jian YIN ; Yufeng LI ; Guoqiang ZHU ; Jianye WANG
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(10):2142-2147
In order to delve into the molecular mechanism underlying the increased pathogenicity of the recombinant Muscovy duck parvovirus(rMDPV)towards Muscovy ducklings,two sub-genom-ic fragments of the rMDPV strain ZW were cloned into the plasmid pBluescript Ⅱ(SK)to gener-ate the recombinant plasmid pZW.A single nucleotide mutation was engineered in the VP3 gene of pZW to discriminate from the parental strain ZW.pZW plasmid-lipid complex was transfected into the chorioallantoic membrane of 11-day-old embryonated Muscovy duck embryos,resulting in res-cue of infectious virus,rZW,carrying the genetic marker.The rescued virus was passaged in 12-day-old embryonated Muscovy duck embryos and exhibited the similar medium embryo lethal dose(ELD50)value and growth curve compared to the parental strain ZW.Both rZW and strain ZW led to 100%mortality in the infection tests performed with 3-day-old Muscovy duckling.Postmortem necropsy revealed a characteristic intestine embolism formed in the rZW-infected ducklings.Taken together,the generation of the infectious clone pZW lays a solid foundation for deciphering the pathogenesis of rMDPV.
5.Application value of dual-layer spectral detector CT in target volume of lung cancer patients
Yufeng LIN ; Yikang ZHU ; Wei LI ; Fushan ZHAI ; Ming LIU ; Hong YU ; Lan YANG ; Feng LI ; Bing LIU
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2025;34(6):538-544
Objective:To investigate the application value of dual-layer detector spectral CT in the precise outlining of gross tumor volume (GTV) in lung cancer patients.Methods:Imaging data of 39 patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer on dual-energy enhanced CT scans in Hebei Medical University Third Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 13 patients were not complicated with lung atelectasis and 26 cases were complicated with lung atelectasis and 9 of them received positron emission computed tomography (PET-CT) scan. The virtual single-energy images of arterial and venous dual-phase 40 keV images were reconstructed with the spectral base images of Iqon dual-energy CT, and the GTV of the primary foci was outlined using the reconstructed images and conventional enhanced CT images. The GTV outlined by conventional enhanced CT image, 40 keV virtual monoenergetic (VM) CT image, 40 keV VM-iodine density (VM-ID) fusion image in the arterial phase, conventional enhanced CT image, 40 keV VM image and 40 keV VM-ID image in the venous phase and PET-CT image was defined as GTV ACT, GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV VCT, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT, respectively. The consistency of target area outlining was assessed by calculating the GTV volume, the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), and the 95 th percentile of the Hausdorff distance (HD95). Pairwise comparison among groups was conducted by Friedman test and corrected by Bonferroni correction. Results:In GTV comparisons, the differences in GTV ACT, GTV VCT, GTV A40VM and GTV V40VM in patients without pulmonary atelectasis were not statistically significant ( χ2=1.89, P=0.595). The DSC and HD95 of GTV ACTvs. GTV A40VM were 0.96 and 3.00, and the DSC and HD95 of GTV VCTvs. GTV V40VM were 0.94 and 2.93, respectively. The differences in GTV ACT, GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV VCT, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT in patients complicated with pulmonary atelectasis were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction showed that there was no statistically significant difference in GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT (all P=1.000), all of which were significantly smaller than those of GTV ACT and GTV VCT (both P=0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between GTV ACT and GTV VCT (both P=1.000). Based on the tumor extent shown by PET-CT (standardized uptake value =2.5), DSC were slightly higher and HD95 were slightly lower than conventional enhanced CT of GTV A40VM, GTV V40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV V40VMIDvs. GTV PET-CT, respectively. When the arterial phase sequences were compared with PET-CT, pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction showed that the DSC and HD95 of GTV A40VMvs. GTV PET-CT and GTV ACTvs. GTV PET-CT were statistically significant (both P<0.01), and the differences were not statistically significant among the remaining groups (all P>0.05). When intravenous phase sequences were compared with PET-CT, pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction revealed that the DSC and HD95 of GTV V40VMIDvs. GTV PET-CT and GTV VCTvs. GTV PET-CT were statistically significant (both P<0.01), and the differences were not statistically significant among the remaining groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The use of 40 keV VMI-ID fusion images to outline the target area of the primary tumor lesions is closer to that of PET-CT, which provides a novel option for the precise outlining of the target area of clinical radiotherapy.
6.Correlation between Muscle Tension,Clinical Characteristics, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes in Patients with Wilson Disease Based on Digital Muscle Function Assessment System Myoton PRO
Yulong YANG ; Wenming YANG ; Han WANG ; Xiang LI ; Taohua WEI ; Wenjie HAO ; Yue YANG ; Yufeng DING ; Yuqi SONG ; Wei HE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):147-154
ObjectiveThis paper aims to use the digital muscle function assessment system Myoton PRO to assess the correlation between muscle tension,clinical characteristics, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndromes in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration [also known as Wilson disease(WD)]. MethodsA total of 104 patients with WD accompanied by abnormal muscle tension(increased or decreased,hereinafter the same) who were hospitalized in the Brain Disease Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from April 2021 to November 2023 were selected,all of whom were subjected to TCM syndrome diagnosis and Myoton PRO for the measurement of F value of muscle tension,Goldstein, and UWDRS-N scales. The age of onset of the disease and disease duration were analyzed,and the differences and correlations of the above indexes in different TCM syndromes of WD were analyzed ResultsAmong the 104 patients with WD ,the phlegm and stasis syndrome was the most common(60 patients),followed by the damp-heat syndrome(33 patients),and the least common was the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome(11 patients). The F value of the phlegm and stasis syndrome group was higher than that of the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group and the damp-heat syndrome group(P<0.01). The F value of the damp-heat syndrome group was higher than that of the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group(P<0.05),and the F value of the lower limbs of each group was higher than that of the upper limbs(P<0.01). Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores of the patients in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group were higher than those in the damp-heat syndrome group and the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores of patients in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group and the damp-heat syndrome group. Correlation analysis revealed that the age of onset and duration of the disease were positively correlated with the F values of the lower limbs(r=0.20,P<0.05,r=0.38,P<0.01)and had no significant correlation with those of the upper limbs. The F value levels of muscle tension of all limbs in the three groups of patients were positively correlated with the Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores(muscle tension of the upper limbs in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group,r=0.36,P<0.01,r=0.42,P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group,r=0.70,P<0.01,r=0.60,P<0.01. muscle tension of the upper limbs in the damp-heat syndrome group,r=0.64,P<0.01,r=0.53,P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the damp-heat syndrome group,r=0.59,P<0.01,r=0.70,P<0.01. muscle tension of the upper limbs in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group,r=0.70,P<0.01,r=0.74,P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group,r=0.85,P<0.01,r=0.62,P<0.01).
7.Expert consensus on peri-implant keratinized mucosa augmentation at second-stage surgery.
Shiwen ZHANG ; Rui SHENG ; Zhen FAN ; Fang WANG ; Ping DI ; Junyu SHI ; Duohong ZOU ; Dehua LI ; Yufeng ZHANG ; Zhuofan CHEN ; Guoli YANG ; Wei GENG ; Lin WANG ; Jian ZHANG ; Yuanding HUANG ; Baohong ZHAO ; Chunbo TANG ; Dong WU ; Shulan XU ; Cheng YANG ; Yongbin MOU ; Jiacai HE ; Xingmei YANG ; Zhen TAN ; Xiaoxiao CAI ; Jiang CHEN ; Hongchang LAI ; Zuolin WANG ; Quan YUAN
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):51-51
Peri-implant keratinized mucosa (PIKM) augmentation refers to surgical procedures aimed at increasing the width of PIKM. Consensus reports emphasize the necessity of maintaining a minimum width of PIKM to ensure long-term peri-implant health. Currently, several surgical techniques have been validated for their effectiveness in increasing PIKM. However, the selection and application of PIKM augmentation methods may present challenges for dental practitioners due to heterogeneity in surgical techniques, variations in clinical scenarios, and anatomical differences. Therefore, clear guidelines and considerations for PIKM augmentation are needed. This expert consensus focuses on the commonly employed surgical techniques for PIKM augmentation and the factors influencing their selection at second-stage surgery. It aims to establish a standardized framework for assessing, planning, and executing PIKM augmentation procedures, with the goal of offering evidence-based guidance to enhance the predictability and success of PIKM augmentation.
Humans
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Consensus
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Dental Implants
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Mouth Mucosa/surgery*
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Keratins
8.Chinese agarwood petroleum ether extract suppressed gastric cancer progression via up-regulation of DNA damage-induced G0/G1 phase arrest and HO-1-mediated ferroptosis.
Lishan OUYANG ; Xuejiao WEI ; Fei WANG ; Huiming HUANG ; Xinyu QIU ; Zhuguo WANG ; Peng TAN ; Yufeng GAO ; Ruoxin ZHANG ; Jun LI ; Zhongdong HU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(10):1210-1220
Gastric cancer (GC) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Chinese agarwood comprises the resin-containing wood of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg., traditionally utilized for treating asthma, cardiac ischemia, and tumors. However, comprehensive research regarding its anti-GC effects and underlying mechanisms remains limited. In this study, Chinese agarwood petroleum ether extract (CAPEE) demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against human GC cells, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for AGS, HGC27, and MGC803 cells of 2.89, 2.46, and 2.37 μg·mL-1, respectively, at 48 h. CAPEE significantly induced apoptosis in these GC cells, with B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) associated X protein (BAX)/BCL-2 antagonist killer 1 (BAK) likely mediating CAPEE-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, CAPEE induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in human GC cells via activation of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage-p21-cyclin D1/cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) signaling axis, and increased Fe2+, lipid peroxides and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, thereby inducing ferroptosis. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and Western blotting analyses revealed CAPEE-mediated upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in human GC cells. RNA interference studies demonstrated that HO-1 knockdown reduced CAPEE sensitivity and inhibited CAPEE-induced ferroptosis in human GC cells. Additionally, CAPEE administration exhibited robust in vivo anti-GC activity without significant toxicity in nude mice while inhibiting tumor cell growth and promoting apoptosis in tumor tissues. These findings indicate that CAPEE suppresses human GC cell growth through upregulation of the DNA damage-p21-cyclin D1/CDK4 signaling axis and HO-1-mediated ferroptosis, suggesting its potential as a candidate drug for GC treatment.
Animals
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Humans
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Mice
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
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Cell Line, Tumor
;
Cyclin D1/genetics*
;
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/genetics*
;
DNA Damage/drug effects*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Ferroptosis/drug effects*
;
G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects*
;
Heme Oxygenase-1/genetics*
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Mice, Nude
;
Plant Extracts/pharmacology*
;
Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology*
;
Thymelaeaceae/chemistry*
;
Up-Regulation/drug effects*
9.The strategies of early diagnosis and management of primary renal tubular disease in children
Yulin KANG ; Wenyan HUANG ; Lei YIN ; Wei ZHOU ; Yufeng LI ; Jia RAO ; Yuanyuan LIU ; Yachun LI ; Song MAO ; Wenjing SHI
International Journal of Pediatrics 2025;52(6):359-363
Childhood primary renal tubular diseases are chronic kidney diseases characterized by impaired renal tubular reabsorption. Primary renal tubular disease has diverse clinical manifestations and lacks of specificity. Laboratory tests are limited,making it prone to missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Based on the current knowledge of renal tubular diseases,authors propose early warning signals of renal tubular diseases such as family history of primary tubular diseases,unexplained polyhydramnios during pregnancy,polydipsia,polyuria,delayed growth and development or rickets,decreased muscle strength and tone,unexplained electrolyte disturbance,hyperuricemia,acid-base disturbance,positive urine sugar test,renal tubular proteinuria,urinary imaging examination suggesting kidney stones,calcium deposition,renal cysts and early onset of eye,ear,joint and neuron injury.Meanwhile,some universal management strategies for primary renal tubular disease are proposed,emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration,genetic testing and individualized intervention to improve the long-term prognosis of childhood primary renal tubular diseases.
10.Study on the effects of meridian massage of Zhuang medicine on deubiquitination modification of BRCC3 in neuropathic pain rats and its analgesic mechanism
Siqi WU ; Sheng ZHENG ; Shengwen LUO ; Jiaheng GUAN ; Yufeng HE ; Yingye LIANG ; Wei GAN
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(2):190-195
Objective:To explore the deubiquitination modification of the deubiquitinase BRCC3 in rats with neuropathic pain (NPP) treated with meridian tuina of Zhuang medicine and its analgesic molecular mechanism.Methods:Rats were divided into normal group, sham-operation group, model group, sham-tuina group, and meridian tuina of Zhuang medicine group using a random number table method, with 9 rats in each group. Except for the normal and sham operation groups, spinal nerve ligation models were prepared in all other groups. On the first day after surgery, intervention was carried out on the meridian tuina of Zhuang medicine and sham-tuina groups for 14 days, while the other three groups were not intervened; the paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) of each group of rats were measured at 0 days before operation, 1, 7, and 14 days after operation. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of BRCC3 and NLRP3 proteins in spinal cord tissue, and ELISA was used to detect the level of IL-1β in serum.Results:On postoperative 7 and 14 d, compared with the model group, the meridian tuina of Zhuang medicine group showed an increase in PWMT and PWTL, a decrease in NLPR3 and BRCC3 expression in spinal cord tissue, and a decrease in serum IL-1β levels ( P<0.05). Compared with the sham-tuina group, the meridian tuina of Zhuang medicine group showed an increase in PWMT and PWTL, a decrease in NLRP3 protein expression in spinal cord tissue, and a decrease in IL-1β levels in serum ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Meridian tuina of Zhuang medicine can alleviate pain sensitivity in SNL model rats, and its mechanism is related to the inhibition of the expression of deubiquitinase BRCC3 by meridian massage of Zhuang medicine, which increases the ubiquitination level of NLRP3 and hinders its activation, thereby blocking the immune inflammatory response mediated by inflammatory factors.

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