1.Research progress on epigenetic changes induced by ionizing radiation
WANG Suyi ; SONG Li ; LIU Zhifeng ; JIANG Rongyue ; SONG Yue ; XIA Lu ; YANG Fan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(4):361-364
Ionizing radiation (IR) is a genotoxic agent that can play an important role in the occurrence and development of various diseases by inducing epigenetic changes. Studies have shown that the basic mechanisms of IR-induced epigenetic changes include abnormal DNA methylation, increased oxidative stress levels, changes in histone modifications, and regulation by microRNAs. These can lead to health hazards such as malignant tumors, genetic effects, nervous system damage, circulatory system diseases, and radiation-induced cataracts. This article collected relevant literatures regarding epigenetic changes induced by IR from 2005 to 2024, and reviewed the basic mechanisms of IR-induced epigenetic changes and the associated disease risks, providing the reference for radiation protection in occupational exposure and radiotherapy.
2.Compound Centella asiatica formula alleviates Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the inflammation-fibrosis cascade via regulating the TLR4/MyD88 pathway.
Liping GUAN ; Yan YAN ; Xinyi LU ; Zhifeng LI ; Hui GAO ; Dong CAO ; Chenxi HOU ; Jingyu ZENG ; Xinyi LI ; Yang ZHAO ; Junjie WANG ; Huilong FANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1307-1316
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the therapeutic mechanism of compound Centella asiatica formula (CCA) for alleviating Schistosoma japonicum (Sj)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.
METHODS:
The active components and targets of CCA were identified using the TCMSP database with cross-analysis of Sj-related liver fibrosis targets. A "drug-component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1. Functional enrichment analysis (GO/KEGG) was performed using DAVID. Molecular docking study was carried out to validate interactions between the core targets and the key compounds. For experimental validation of the results, 36 mice were divided into control group, Sj-infected model group, and CCA-treated groups. In the latter two groups, liver fibrosis was induced via abdominal infection with Sj cercariae for 8 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of daily treatment with CCA decoction or saline. Hepatic pathology of the mice was assessedwith HE and Masson staining, and hepatic expressions of collagen-I and collagen-III were detected using immunohistochemistry; serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were determined with ELISA. Hepatic expressions of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins were analyzed with Western blotting.
RESULTS:
We identified a total of 107 bioactive CCA components and 791 targets, including 37 intersection targets linked to Sj-induced fibrosis. The core targets included TNF, TP53, JUN, MMP9, and CXCL8, involving the IL-17 signaling, lipid metabolism, TLR4/MyD88 axis, and cancer pathways. Molecular docking study confirmed strong binding affinity between quercetin (a primary CCA component) and TNF/TP53/JUN/MMP9. In Sj-infected mouse models, CCA treatment significantly attenuated hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration, reduced collagen-I and collagen-III deposition, improved tissue architecture, reduced serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and downregulated TLR4 and MyD88 expressions in the liver.
CONCLUSIONS
CCA mitigates Sj-induced liver fibrosis by targeting TNF, TP53, JUN, and MMP9 to modulate the TLR4/MyD88 pathway, thereby suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine release, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, reducing collagen deposition, and preventing granuloma formation in the liver.
Animals
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Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism*
;
Schistosoma japonicum
;
Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology*
;
Schistosomiasis japonica
;
Signal Transduction
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
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Inflammation
;
Centella/chemistry*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
3.Andrographolide sulfonate alleviates rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting glycolysis-mediated activation of PI3K/AKT to restrain Th17 cell differentiation.
Chunhong JIANG ; Xi ZENG ; Jia WANG ; Xiaoqian WU ; Lijuan SONG ; Ling YANG ; Ze LI ; Ning XIE ; Xiaomei YUAN ; Zhifeng WEI ; Yi GUAN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(4):480-491
Andrographolide sulfonate (AS) is a sulfonated derivative of andrographolide extracted from Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, and has been approved for several decades in China. The present study aimed to investigate the novel therapeutic application and possible mechanisms of AS in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Results indicated that administration of AS by injection or gavage significantly reduced the paw swelling, improved body weights, and attenuated pathological changes in joints of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. Additionally, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in the serum and ankle joints were reduced. Bioinformatics analysis, along with the spleen index and measurements of IL-17 and IL-10 levels, suggested a potential relationship between AS and Th17 cells under arthritic conditions. In vitro, AS was shown to block Th17 cell differentiation, as evidenced by the reduced percentages of CD4+ IL-17A+ T cells and decreased expression levels of RORγt, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22, without affecting the cell viability and apoptosis. This effect was attributed to the limited glycolysis, as indicated by metabolomics analysis, reduced glucose uptake, and pH measurements. Further investigation revealed that AS might bind to hexokinase2 (HK2) to down-regulate the protein levels of HK2 but not glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) or pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), and overexpression of HK2 reversed the inhibition of AS on Th17 cell differentiation. Furthermore, AS impaired the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signals in vivo and in vitro, which was abolished by the addition of lactate. In conclusion, AS significantly improved adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats by inhibiting glycolysis-mediated activation of PI3K/AKT to restrain Th17 cell differentiation.
Animals
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Th17 Cells/immunology*
;
Diterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/immunology*
;
Glycolysis/drug effects*
;
Cell Differentiation/drug effects*
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
;
Rats
;
Male
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Humans
;
Andrographis paniculata/chemistry*
;
Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy*
;
Interleukin-17/immunology*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
4.Verruciform xanthoma in mandibular gingiva and vestibular sulcus: two cases report and literature review
YANG Mengxin ; ZHAN Yao ; SONG Zhifeng
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(4):305-312
Objective:
To explore the clinical and pathological characteristics, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis of oral verruciform xanthoma, and to provide a reference for accurate clinical identification and treatment.
Methods:
Two cases of verruciform xanthoma occurring on the gingiva and vestibular mucosa are reported. The clinical features and pathological characteristics of both cases are described in detail, and information from a literature review on verruciform xanthoma is provided.
Results:
Case 1: a 37-year-old female patient presented with a pink, rough lesion on the gingiva of the right mandibular posterior teeth for one month. The lesion measured approximately 14 mm × 7 mm, and it was firm and painless. After periodontal therapy, the lesion was excised under local anesthesia. Postoperative pathological examination showed that the epithelial nail protruded and was elongated, and a large number of foam cells filled the connective tissue papilla, leading to the diagnosis of verrucous xanthoma. Case 2: a 36-year-old male patient presented with a pale pink lesion on the right lower vestibular mucosa for three months. The lesion measured approximately 18 mm × 10 mm with irregular margins, and it was firm and painless. The lesion was excised under local anesthesia, and postoperative pathological examination showed parateratosis of epithelium, hypertrophy and elongation of the nail process, and more foam cells in the lamina propria papilla area. The diagnosis was xanthoma verrucosa. The results of a literature review show that the incidence of verruciform xanthoma is 0.025%-0.094%, it primarily occurs in patients aged 50-70 years, the incidence in males is slightly higher than that in females, and it primarily occurs in areas of the oral cavity that include the hard palate and gums. It is generally non-invasive. The etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. Clinically, verruciform xanthoma lacks specific characteristics, so these lesions are frequently misdiagnosed as other conditions, such as papilloma, common warts, condyloma acuminatum, squamous cell carcinoma, or verrucous carcinoma. The key to diagnosis lies in histopathology, with the hallmark feature being the accumulation of foam cells in the connective tissue papilla beneath the epithelium.
Conclusion
Verruciform xanthoma is a rare oral mucosal lesion with non-specific clinical manifestations and a high rate of misdiagnosis. It must be differentiated from conditions that include squamous papilloma, common warts, condyloma acuminatum, squamous cell carcinoma, and verrucous carcinoma. Definitive diagnosis depends on histopathological examination, and the primary treatment is surgical excision, with a low recurrence rate and minimal risk of malignant transformation.
5.Study on the correlation between oxygenation index and monitored parameters of ventilator lung injury view
Yuanjuan TAO ; Yang LI ; Zhipeng LIU ; Zhifeng JI ; Zhigang CUI ; Chunhua YANG ; Dan QI
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(8):7-10
Objective:To explore the correlation between the oxygenation index and the monitored parameters of lung injury view in ventilator,so as to provide a basis for monitoring the change of oxygenation index by the parameters of lung injury view.Methods:A total of 28 patients who received mechanical ventilation treatment and admitted to respiratory department of the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from May 14 to September 30,2024 were selected.The monitored parameters of lung injury views of them during mechanical ventilation treatment with invasive ventilators were collected,including platform pressure(Pplat),driving pressure(ΔP),mechanical energy(Emech),ratio of tidal volume to ideal body weight(TVe/IBW),etc..Then,the data of oxygenation index were obtained.Finally,135 valid data were screened out.The 84 pieces of data with oxygenation index≤300mmHg were included in low oxygen group,and 51 data with oxygenation index>300mmHg were included in normal group.The correlations between oxygenation index and Pplat,ΔP,Emech,TVe/IBW were conducted by pairwise analysis.Results:In the low oxygen group,the oxygenation index was[(196.302±74.522)mmHg]significantly negative correlation with Emech[(12.686±5.401)J/min](ρ=-0.425,P<0.05),but not was significant correlation with Pplat,ΔP,and TVe/IBW(P>0.05).In the normal group,there were not significant correlations between the oxygenation index and Pplat,ΔP,Emech and TVe/IBW(P>0.05).There was a significant negative correlation between Emech and rank of oxygenation index(β=-0.389,P<0.05)in the low oxygen group.Conclusion:The visualization function of the Emech of the monitored parameters in lung injury view of ventilator can provide help for monitoring the changes of oxygenation index of patients in the low oxygen group,and can improve the oxygenation of patients by optimizing mechanical energy.However,it is necessary to balance the contradiction between ventilation intensity and protection for lung.
6.Guideline for Adult Weight Management in China
Weiqing WANG ; Qin WAN ; Jianhua MA ; Guang WANG ; Yufan WANG ; Guixia WANG ; Yongquan SHI ; Tingjun YE ; Xiaoguang SHI ; Jian KUANG ; Bo FENG ; Xiuyan FENG ; Guang NING ; Yiming MU ; Hongyu KUANG ; Xiaoping XING ; Chunli PIAO ; Xingbo CHENG ; Zhifeng CHENG ; Yufang BI ; Yan BI ; Wenshan LYU ; Dalong ZHU ; Cuiyan ZHU ; Wei ZHU ; Fei HUA ; Fei XIANG ; Shuang YAN ; Zilin SUN ; Yadong SUN ; Liqin SUN ; Luying SUN ; Li YAN ; Yanbing LI ; Hong LI ; Shu LI ; Ling LI ; Yiming LI ; Chenzhong LI ; Hua YANG ; Jinkui YANG ; Ling YANG ; Ying YANG ; Tao YANG ; Xiao YANG ; Xinhua XIAO ; Dan WU ; Jinsong KUANG ; Lanjie HE ; Wei GU ; Jie SHEN ; Yongfeng SONG ; Qiao ZHANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Yuwei ZHANG ; Junqing ZHANG ; Xianfeng ZHANG ; Miao ZHANG ; Yifei ZHANG ; Yingli LU ; Hong CHEN ; Li CHEN ; Bing CHEN ; Shihong CHEN ; Guiyan CHEN ; Haibing CHEN ; Lei CHEN ; Yanyan CHEN ; Genben CHEN ; Yikun ZHOU ; Xianghai ZHOU ; Qiang ZHOU ; Jiaqiang ZHOU ; Hongting ZHENG ; Zhongyan SHAN ; Jiajun ZHAO ; Dong ZHAO ; Ji HU ; Jiang HU ; Xinguo HOU ; Bimin SHI ; Tianpei HONG ; Mingxia YUAN ; Weibo XIA ; Xuejiang GU ; Yong XU ; Shuguang PANG ; Tianshu GAO ; Zuhua GAO ; Xiaohui GUO ; Hongyi CAO ; Mingfeng CAO ; Xiaopei CAO ; Jing MA ; Bin LU ; Zhen LIANG ; Jun LIANG ; Min LONG ; Yongde PENG ; Jin LU ; Hongyun LU ; Yan LU ; Chunping ZENG ; Binhong WEN ; Xueyong LOU ; Qingbo GUAN ; Lin LIAO ; Xin LIAO ; Ping XIONG ; Yaoming XUE
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;41(11):891-907
Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.
7.Three cases of refractory ulcerative colitis in children treated with vedolizumab
Fenglian LIN ; Yang MENG ; Zhifeng LIU
Chinese Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2025;09(3):261-262
This article reports three cases of refractory ulcerative colitis in children treated with vedolizumab. Combined with domestic and foreign literature, the effectiveness and safety of the drug for children are discussed to provide a reference for the subsequent exploration of individualized treatment.
8.Effect of stromal cell-derived factor-1 in cartilage and subchondral bone homeostasis
Zhifeng LIANG ; Yingcai YANG ; Qiangang CHENG ; Yongxing JIA ; Bo WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(25):5422-5433
BACKGROUND:Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease characterized by cartilage degeneration and abnormal bone remodeling of subchondral bone.In recent years,many studies have shown that stromal cell diffracting factor-1 plays a key role in the pathological progression of osteoarthritis.Targeted regulation of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its CXC chemokine receptor 4 and CXC chemokine receptor 7 signaling pathways is a new method for prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.OBJECTIVE:To review the role of stromal derived factor-1 in regulating the proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis of chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,osteoblasts,and osteoclasts,as well as explore the mechanism by which the interaction of these cells leads to cartilage degeneration and abnormal bone remodeling of subchondral bone and accelerates the pathological progression of osteoarthritis,in order to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.METHODS:CNKI,WanFang Data,and VIP,were searched with Chinese search terms"stromal cell-derived factor 1,cartilage,chondrocytes,subchondral bone,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,CXC chemokine receptor 4,CXC chemokine receptor 7."PubMed,Medline,and Embase databases were searched with English search terms"stromal cell-derived factor 1,SDF-1,CXCL12,cartilage,chondrocyte,subchondral bone,mesenchymal stem cells,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,CXCR4,CXCR7."Literature retrieval time was from inception to January 2024.A total of 77 articles were included and summarized in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Stromal cell-derived factor-1 regulates the migration,proliferation,differentiation,and death of chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,osteoblasts,and osteoclasts,which plays an important role in maintaining cartilage and subchondral bone homeostasis,promoting or inhibiting cartilage degeneration and abnormal bone remodeling in osteoarthritis.Targeted regulation of stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXC chemokine receptor type 4/CXC chemokine receptor type 7 signaling pathway is expected to become the focus of future research on the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.(2)Because of the difference in the expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 subtypes in tissues,stromal cell-derived factor-1 α is the most widely studied at present.The related studies of stromal cell-derived factor-1β and stromal cell-derived factor-1y are mainly focused on exploring the effects on the biological behavior of stem cells,the role in the regulation of cartilage and subchondral bone homeostasis,and the correlation with osteoarthritis.(3)Stromal cell-derived factor-1 can effectively promote stem cells homing to cartilage injury sites,and induce their proliferation,survival,and cartilage differentiation.The application of stromal cell-derived factor-1-loaded biological scaffolds to improve the quality of cartilage repair has become the focus of cartilage tissue engineering research.However,previous studies have shown that stromal cell-derived factor-1 can promote the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into hypertrophic chondrocytes,while the hypertrophic phenotype of newborn chondrocytes can lead to endochondral bone formation and chondrocyte apoptosis.The whole tissue is vascularized and ossified,which affects the quality of cartilage repair.In addition,when different scaffolds combined with stromal cell-derived factor-1 can repair partial cartilage injury and full-thickness cartilage injury,the regenerated tissue is not all ideal hyaline cartilage tissue.Therefore,in the future,in-depth exploration of the potential mechanism of stromal cell-derived factor-1 in stem cell biological effects and the best combination of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and scaffold in repairing different cartilage defects will help to improve the quality of cartilage repair.(4)The studies on CXC chemokine receptor 4 antagonists are mainly focused on AMD3100,T140 and TN14003,and most of them are in the basic experimental stage and need to be transformed into clinical practice.The safety and effectiveness of the therapeutic drugs developed for stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXC chemokine receptor 4/CXC chemokine receptor 7 signaling pathway still need a large number of biological and clinical trials to support.
9.Nirsevimab for preventing respiratory syncytial virus infection in a periviable extremely preterm infant
Yanqing LIN ; Xuran WANG ; Zhifeng HUANG ; Haifeng ZONG ; Xiaoyun XIONG ; Chuanzhong YANG
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine 2025;28(12):1062-1064
This report described a periviable extremely preterm infant who received Nirsevimab before discharge for preventing respiratory syncytial virus infection. The infant was born at 22?3 weeks' gestation with a birth weight of 360 g. Nirsevimab was administered on January 12, 2025 (110 days after birth, corrected gestational age of 38?2 weeks) at the Women and Children's Medical Center of Southern Medical University (Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital). No local or systemic adverse reactions were observed following administration. Follow-up until 1 year and 2 months of age (November 2025) revealed no occurrence of respiratory syncytial virus infection.
10.Characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever:a cross-sectional study
Shiying LU ; Danwen ZHENG ; Xintian HONG ; Yuping LIU ; Guangzong LI ; Zhifeng HONG ; Jinghua YANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Banghan DING ; Yuntao LIU ; Yuanyuan WANG ; Xin YIN ; Jingwei SHUI ; Xiaofei FAN ; Hai LAN ; Zhongde ZHANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(11):1531-1539
Objective To explore the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome characteristics of patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever and to provide empirical data to support the application of TCM in diagnosing and treating Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect clinical data(sex,age,days since onset,and comorbidity underlying disease conditions)and TCM with four-examination information(symptoms,tongue manifestations,and pulse manifestations)from 255 patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever who visited Lecong Hospital of Shunde,Foshan,the Third People's Hospital of Shunde District of Foshan,Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University Affiliated Chencun Hospital between July 23 and July 29,2025.Factor and cluster analyses were used to summarize TCM syndrome characteristics and analyze core pathogenesis in conjunction with clinical features.Results Among the 255 patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever,131 were male and 124 were female,with a age of(49.05±17.93)years and a disease duration of(3.26±1.78)days.Among the four types of examination information in TCM,35 items exhibited a frequency exceeding 10%.The most prevalent symptoms were arthralgia(180 patients,70.59%),exanthem(153 patients,60.00%),fatigue(99 patients,38.82%),anhidrosis(98 patients,38.43%),pruritus(96 patients,37.65%),and fever(92 patients,36.08%).Tongue and pulse manifestations were primarily white fur(155 patients,60.78%),pink tongue(111 patients,43.53%),slippery pulse(143 patients,56.08%),and greasy fur(134 patients,52.53%).Patients with disease onset≤3 d had a higher incidence of arthralgia,fatigue,fever,aversion to cold,generalized muscle pain,aversion to wind,insomnia,headache,sweating,low-grade fever,poor appetite,loose stool,hyperhidrosis,and red tongue than those with disease onset≥4 d(P<0.05).Patients with disease onset≥4 d had a higher incidence of pink tongue and thick fur than those with disease onset≤3 d(P<0.05).The syndrome elements in patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever predominantly manifested on the defensive exterior,with involvement of the sinew-bone joints,skin-muscle,and spleen.Pathogenic factors were primarily characterized by external winds,dampness,and heat.Factor and cluster analysis result indicated three TCM pathogenesis progression patterns:imbalance of the defensive exterior with wind-dampness conflict and heat transformation;dampness-heat flowing into muscles and meridians causing joint obstruction and qi blood stasis;and dampness-heat congelation resulting in qi mechanism obstruction,consumption of body fluids,and infiltration of the skin.Conclusion Patients with Chikungunya hemorrhagic fever primarily present with fever,joint pain,and rashes.In TCM,this condition falls under the category of"dampness-warmth"syndrome.Its etiology is attributed to pathogens,with transmission occurring through mosquito bites.The core pathogenesis of TCM is the invasion of the defensive exterior and dampness-toxic heat accumulation.The therapeutic principles focus on clearing heat pathogens,resolving dampness pathogens,dispersing wind pathogens,and promoting the resolution of rashes.


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