1.Study on the role and mechanism of SPP1+ macrophages in the formation of chronic renal allograft fibrosis
Zexin YANG ; Zeping GUI ; Junqi ZHANG ; Gang ZHANG ; Hao CHEN ; Li SUN ; Shuang FEI ; Min GU ; Zijie WANG
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(3):413-421
Objective To investigate the role and potential mechanism of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1)+ macrophages in the formation of chronic renal allograft fibrosis. Methods The expression features of SPP1+ macrophages in renal allografts of chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD) patients were analyzed based on single-cell transcriptome data of renal tissues from patients with CAD. Transcription factor VIPER analysis and DoRothEA transcription factor activity analysis were performed on the single-cell transcriptome data. Renal tissue samples were collected from kidney transplant recipients, including the CAD group (n=5) and the non-renal allograft fibrosis group (CTL group, n=5). A mouse model of chronic allograft rejection was established and divided into the allogeneic kidney transplantation group (CAD group, n=3) and the syngeneic kidney transplantation group (SYN group, n=3). Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to detect renal tissue injury in mice, and Masson staining was used to detect renal tissue fibrosis. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect SPP1 expression in renal tissues of transplant recipients and mouse renal allografts. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were extracted from mice and subjected to hypoxia stimulation. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and SPP1 was detected by Western blot, and SPP1 expression was detected by flow cytometry. BMDMs were transfected with HIF-1α overexpression plasmid and HIF-1α small interfering RNA (siRNA) followed by hypoxia intervention, and the expression of HIF-1α and SPP1 was detected by Western blot. Mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs) were co-cultured with the supernatant of BMDMs, and the expression of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT)-related markers was detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results Single-cell transcriptome analysis showed that the proportion of SPP1+ macrophages in renal allograft tissues was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the CTL group (P<0.05). The renal injury score and the percentage of interstitial fibrotic area in the CAD group were significantly higher than those in the SYN group (both P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the proportion of SPP1+ macrophages was increased in the CAD group compared with the CTL group, and also increased in the CAD group compared with the SYN group (both P<0.05). VIPER analysis and DoRothEA transcription factor activity analysis revealed activation of the hypoxia pathway and upregulated expression of transcription factors such as HIF-1α in SPP1+ macrophages. SPP1 expression was elevated in BMDMs under hypoxic conditions. Knockdown of HIF-1α inhibited hypoxia-induced SPP1 protein expression, whereas overexpression of HIF-1α upregulated SPP1 protein levels. After co-culture of hypoxia-induced BMDMs with MAECs, the expression levels of EndMT-related markers were increased. Conclusions SPP1+ macrophages differentiated under hypoxia are significantly infiltrated in the formation of chronic renal allograft fibrosis, and may promote renal allograft fibrosis by inducing EndMT in renal vascular endothelial cells.
2.Research progress on artificial intelligence-based multi-omics technology for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer
Yang AIJIA ; Sui CHANGSHENG ; Qiao JILING ; Zhang ZEPING ; Yang JING
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2025;52(7):372-378
Gastric cancer,which has high incidence and mortality rates worldwide,faces numerous challenges in its diagnosis and treatment.In recent years,the combination of multi-omics technology and artificial intelligence(AI)algorithms has brought new hope for the diagnosis and treatment of this malignant disease.Multi-omics technology encompasses the fields of genomics,transcriptomics,proteomics,meta-bolomics,and radiomics,and can comprehensively reveal the biological characteristics of gastric cancer.AI algorithms,particularly machine-and deep-learning methods,possess powerful data integration,feature extraction,and pattern recognition capabilities,enabling the extrac-tion of the most valuable information from vast and complex multi-omics data.Such technology can aid in the early screening,precise dia-gnosis,personalized treatment,and prognostic assessment of gastric cancer.In this article,research progress on AI-based multi-omics tech-nology for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric canceris reviewed,and current applications of such technology at different diagnostic and therapeutic stages,the challenges faced,and future development directions are discussed,with the aim of providing new ideas and meth-ods for the diagnosis and treatment of this malignant disease.
3.Impact of 5G remote robotic cholecystectomy on postoperative rehabilitation and quality of life in patients with gallstones
Yuqi MA ; Ming HU ; Yuan DENG ; Jing YANG ; Jin GUO ; Zeping ZHANG ; Wutang JING ; Weipeng ZHAN ; Hui CAI ; Yuntao MA
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;40(7):528-532
Objective:To evaluate the effect of 5th generation mobile communication technology(5G) remote robot-assisted cholecystectomy on postoperative recovery and quality of life in patients with gallstones.Methods:Clinical data of patients who underwent 5G remote robotic cholecystectomy(20 cases) vs traditional robotic cholecystectomy(20 cases) at Gansu Provincial People's Hospital from May to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Intraoperative and postoperative related indexes were compared between the two groups, and changes in pain analog scores before, 12 hours, and 24 hours after surgery, and global quality of life (GIQLI) scores before and 3 months after surgery were evaluated.Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of intraoperative and postoperative conditions (intraoperative blood loss, operative time, time to exhaustion, and length of hospital stay). Patients' pain analog scores at 12 and 24 hours postoperatively were lower than preoperatively, but the differences were not statistically significant( P>0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in recovery indicators between the two groups compared to the control group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The postoperative recovery metrics of 5G tele-robotic-assisted cholecystectomy were consistent with the results of conventional robotic surgery.
4.Correlation Between Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Type of Unstable Angina Pectoris and Iron Metabolism Indices
Jiye CHEN ; Min WU ; Changxin SUN ; Xiaonan ZHANG ; Zeping WANG ; Longtao LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(20):126-136
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between iron metabolism parameters and various syndrome types of unstable angina pectoris (UAP). MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to October 2023, encompassing 213 patients diagnosed with UAP at Xiyuan Hospital of Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Additionally, 30 healthy individuals were selected as control cases. Single-factor analysis was used to investigate the differences in clinical data among different Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome types of UAP and their correlation with iron metabolism indices. The study conducted a comparative analysis of the aforementioned clinical data among patients with and without heat-toxic and blood-stasis syndrome. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between TCM syndrome types and related factors. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to assess the predictive value of iron metabolism indices, along with their sensitivity and specificity. ResultsCompared to those in the control group, serum iron (SI) and serum ferritin (SF) levels were significantly increased in the UAP group (P<0.01), while transferrin (TRF) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) levels were decreased (P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC). Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis identified apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), homocysteine (HCY), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and SF as independent influencing factors for the UAP patients (P<0.05, P<0.01). Additionally, statistically significant differences were observed in SI, SF, TRF, and TIBC among 213 patients with different TCM types (P<0.01). Patients with heat-toxic and blood-stasis syndrome had higher SI and SF values than those without the syndrome (P<0.01), while their TIBC and TRF values were lower (P<0.01). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that SI and LDL-C levels were closely associated with the differentiation of heat-toxic and blood-stasis syndrome. ConclusionUAP patients often experience iron metabolism disorders, and the heat-toxic and blood-stasis syndrome are significantly correlated with iron metabolism parameters. The SI and LDL-C levels have high specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing heat-toxic and blood-stasis syndrome.
5.Research progress in synthesis methods of manganese-based nanomaterials and their applications in tumor immunotherapy
Na LI ; Qianqian LIU ; Caihao HUANG ; Liang LU ; Zeping ZHANG ; Xing ZHANG
International Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;48(3):217-224
Due to their unique physicochemical properties, nanomaterials can optimize drug delivery and reshape the tumor microenvironment. Manganese-based nanomaterials are primarily used in tumor immunotherapy for the following purpose, including targeted activating of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon gene pathway to enhance immunogenicity, utilizating of manganese′s redox properties to regulate the tumor microenvironment, and developing of manganese-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents to monitor immune responses in real time. In this review, synthesis methods of manganese-based nanomaterials such as thermal decomposition method, hydrothermal/solvothermal synthesis method, and chemical precipitation/mixing method as well as an in-depth analysis of their applications in tumor immunotherapy including immune regulation, regulation of tumor microenvironment and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed.
6.A high-throughput plant canopy leaf area index inversion model based on UAV-LiDAR.
Yuming LIANG ; Xueyan FAN ; Muqing ZHANG ; Wei YAO ; Xiuhua LI ; Zeping WANG ; Sifan DONG ; Xuechen LI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(10):3817-3827
To explore the feasibility of using UAV-LiDAR for measuring the leaf area index (LAI) of crop canopies, we employed UAV-LiDAR to scan sugarcane canopies during the tillering and elongation stages, acquiring canopy point cloud data. Subsequently, features such as average row height, projected row area, point cloud density at different canopy layers, and the ratios between these parameters were extracted. Three feature selection methods-partial least squares regression (PLSR), XGBoost feature importance (XGBoost-FI), and random forest-recursive feature elimination (RF-RFE)-were adopted to evaluate and identify the optimal input variables for modeling. With these selected variables, LAI inversion models were developed based on random forest (RF) and adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) algorithms, and their performance was assessed. Among the extracted features, the projected row area Sp and the total row point count Ctotal exhibited strong correlations with LAI, with correlation coefficients of 0.73 and 0.72, respectively. The AdaBoost-based LAI inversion model, using the projected row area Sp, average height Havg, mid-layer point cloud density Cm, and total row point count Ctotal as input variables, achieved the best performance, with a coefficient of determination (Rv²) of 0.713 and a root mean square error (RMSEv) of 0.25 on the validation set. This study provides an effective method for high-throughput acquisition of LAI in field crops, offering valuable scientific support for sugarcane field management and breeding efforts.
Plant Leaves/growth & development*
;
Saccharum/growth & development*
;
Algorithms
;
Unmanned Aerial Devices
;
Remote Sensing Technology/methods*
;
Crops, Agricultural/growth & development*
7.An intelligent recognition method for crop density based on Faster R-CNN.
Xiuhua LI ; Qian LI ; Hanwen ZHANG ; Lu DING ; Zeping WANG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(10):3828-3839
Accurately obtaining the crop quantity and density is not only crucial for the demand-based input of water and fertilizer in the field but also vital for ensuring the yield and quality of crops. Aerial photography by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can quickly acquire the distribution image information of crops over a large area. However, the accurate recognition of a single type of dense targets is a huge challenge for most recognition algorithms. Taking banana seedlings as an example in this study, we captured the images of banana plantations by UAVs from high altitudes to explore an efficient recognition method for dense targets. We proposed a strategy of "cut-recognition-stitch" and constructed a counting method based on the improved Faster R-CNN algorithm. First, the images containing highly dense targets were cropped into a large number of image tiles according to different sizes (simulating different flight altitudes), and the Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) algorithm was adopted to improve the image quality. A banana seedling dataset containing 36 000 image tiles was constructed. Then, the Faster R-CNN network with optimized parameters was used to train the banana seedling recognition model. Finally, the recognition results were reversely stitched together, and a boundary deduplication algorithm was designed to correct the final counting results to reduce the repeated recognition caused by image cropping. The results show that the recognition accuracy of the Faster R-CNN with optimized parameters for banana image datasets of different sizes can reach up to 0.99 at most. The deduplication algorithm can reduce the average counting error for the original aerial images from 1.60% to 0.60%, and the average counting accuracy of banana seedlings reaches 99.4%. The proposed method effectively addresses the challenge of recognizing dense small objects in high-resolution aerial images, providing an efficient and reliable technical solution for intelligent crop density monitoring in precision agriculture.
Musa/growth & development*
;
Crops, Agricultural/growth & development*
;
Algorithms
;
Neural Networks, Computer
;
Unmanned Aerial Devices
;
Seedlings/growth & development*
;
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*
;
Photography
;
Agriculture/methods*
8.Sodium tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate inhalation attenuates pulmonary hyper-tension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in mice
Runhua HOU ; Siting WANG ; Hongping ZHANG ; Ruanyuan YE ; Zeping YANG ; Mengzhu LI ; Guanqing ZHEN ; Jiarui FAN ; Chunyun ZHANG ; Rui CHEN ; Defu LI
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(9):1713-1720
AIM:To investigate the effects of nebulized sodium tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate(STS)in a mouse model of pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD-PH).METHODS:A to-tal of 32 healthy SPF-grade male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:control(CTL,n=8)group,COPD-PH(CS+LPS,n=8)group,STS-treated COPD-PH(CS+LPS+STS,n=8)group,and STS(n=8)group.The COPD-PH model was established through whole-body exposure to cigarette smoke(CS)combined with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)in-halation.Mice were subjected to cigarette smoke exposure in a chamber(9 cigarettes/h,2 h/session,2 sessions/d,6 d/week)for 60 d,except on days of LPS inhalation.On days 1 and 14,COPD-PH model mice received LPS(7.5 μg/mouse in 50 μL saline)via intranasal inhalation,while the CTL and STS groups received an equivalent volume of saline.STS was administered via nebulized inhalation(5 mg/kg,30 min per session,twice daily)immediately before CS exposure.At the end of the modeling period,lung function and right heart pressure were assessed.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)was collected for inflammatory cell counting.Levels of interleukin-6(IL-6)in BALF supernatants and plasma were measured using ELISA.Pathological changes in the airway and lung tissues were evaluated.RESULTS:(1)Com-pared to CTL mice,those exposed to CS and LPS exhibited lesions characteristic of COPD-PH,including emphysema,lung inflammation,decreased lung function,and increased right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP)and right ventricu-lar hypertrophy index(RVHI)(P<0.05);(2)COPD-PH mice showed significantly elevated IL-6 levels in both BALF and plasma(P<0.05);(3)STS treatment alleviated emphysema and lung inflammation,improved lung function,prevent-ed increases in RVSP and the RV/(LV+S)ratio,and reduced IL-6 levels in both BALF and plasma(P<0.05).CON-CLUSION:The results indicate that nebulized inhalation of STS significantly slows the progression of COPD-PH,likely due to its ability to inhibit lung inflammation and reduce IL-6 expression in the lungs.
9.Comparison of two methods for establishing mouse models of acute exacer-bation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Hongping ZHANG ; Runhua HOU ; Yuanyuan YE ; Zeping YANG ; Guanqin ZHENG ; Mengzhu LI ; Jiarui FAN ; Chunyun ZHANG ; Rui CHEN ; Defu LI
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(10):2073-2080
AIM:To compare the degree of disease simulation between the two mouse models of acute exacer-bation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)using intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and fine particulate matter(PM2.5)for 3 d based on exposure to cigarette smoke(CS)for 90 d.METHODS:Thirty-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group(n=8),CS group(n=8),CS+PM2.5 group(n=8)and CS+LPS group(n=8).The AECOPD models in CS+PM2.5 and CS+LPS groups were established by CS exposure combined with intranasal PM2.5 and LPS instillation.Lung function,lung pathology and airway goblet cell hyperplasia using histologi-cal staining were measured.To evaluate the degree of lung inflammation and mucus secretion in mice,the prorein levels of mucin 5AC(MUC5AC),interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were detected by ELISA and total white blood cell(WBC)counts and the BALF differential cell counts(neutro-phils,macrophages,lymphocytes)were detected by Giemsa staining.RESULTS:In CS group,lung function decreased(P<0.05),and bronchial inflammation index increased(P<0.01),airway goblet cell hyperplasia and airway collagen de-position were significant(P<0.01),total WBC count and differential cell count in the BALF increased(P<0.05),MUC5AC and inflammatory factor IL-6 and TNF-α levels increased(P<0.05),compared with control group.Compared with CS group,lung function decreased(P<0.05),the bronchial inflammation index increased(P<0.01),airway goblet cell hyperplasia and airway collagen deposition were significant(P<0.01),total WBC count and differential cell count in the BALF increased(P<0.05),and MUC5AC and inflammatory factor IL-6 and TNF-α levels increased(P<0.05)in CS+PM2.5 and CS+LPS groups.Compared with CS+PM2.5 group,lung function decreased(P<0.05),the bronchial inflamma-tion index increased(P<0.01),airway goblet cell hyperplasia and airway collagen deposition were significant(P<0.01),total WBC count and differential cell count in the BALF increased(P<0.05),and MUC5AC and inflammatory factor IL-6 and TNF-α levels increased(P<0.05)in CS+LPS group.CONCLUSION:Exposure to CS combined with both intrana-sal PM2.5 and LPS instillation allowed for establishing AECOPD models in mice,and CS exposure combined with intrana-sal LPS instillation better simulated AECOPD characteristics.
10.Comparison of two methods for establishing mouse models of acute exacer-bation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Hongping ZHANG ; Runhua HOU ; Yuanyuan YE ; Zeping YANG ; Guanqin ZHENG ; Mengzhu LI ; Jiarui FAN ; Chunyun ZHANG ; Rui CHEN ; Defu LI
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(10):2073-2080
AIM:To compare the degree of disease simulation between the two mouse models of acute exacer-bation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)using intranasal instillation of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and fine particulate matter(PM2.5)for 3 d based on exposure to cigarette smoke(CS)for 90 d.METHODS:Thirty-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group(n=8),CS group(n=8),CS+PM2.5 group(n=8)and CS+LPS group(n=8).The AECOPD models in CS+PM2.5 and CS+LPS groups were established by CS exposure combined with intranasal PM2.5 and LPS instillation.Lung function,lung pathology and airway goblet cell hyperplasia using histologi-cal staining were measured.To evaluate the degree of lung inflammation and mucus secretion in mice,the prorein levels of mucin 5AC(MUC5AC),interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were detected by ELISA and total white blood cell(WBC)counts and the BALF differential cell counts(neutro-phils,macrophages,lymphocytes)were detected by Giemsa staining.RESULTS:In CS group,lung function decreased(P<0.05),and bronchial inflammation index increased(P<0.01),airway goblet cell hyperplasia and airway collagen de-position were significant(P<0.01),total WBC count and differential cell count in the BALF increased(P<0.05),MUC5AC and inflammatory factor IL-6 and TNF-α levels increased(P<0.05),compared with control group.Compared with CS group,lung function decreased(P<0.05),the bronchial inflammation index increased(P<0.01),airway goblet cell hyperplasia and airway collagen deposition were significant(P<0.01),total WBC count and differential cell count in the BALF increased(P<0.05),and MUC5AC and inflammatory factor IL-6 and TNF-α levels increased(P<0.05)in CS+PM2.5 and CS+LPS groups.Compared with CS+PM2.5 group,lung function decreased(P<0.05),the bronchial inflamma-tion index increased(P<0.01),airway goblet cell hyperplasia and airway collagen deposition were significant(P<0.01),total WBC count and differential cell count in the BALF increased(P<0.05),and MUC5AC and inflammatory factor IL-6 and TNF-α levels increased(P<0.05)in CS+LPS group.CONCLUSION:Exposure to CS combined with both intrana-sal PM2.5 and LPS instillation allowed for establishing AECOPD models in mice,and CS exposure combined with intrana-sal LPS instillation better simulated AECOPD characteristics.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail