1.Role of Adipose Tissue Macrophages and Adipokine in The Pathogenesis of Obesity-related Immune Diseases
Zi-Xuan JIA ; Qing-Lu WANG ; Pan-Pan DONG ; Xiao-Tong YUAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2537-2557
Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) are crucial immunomodulatory factors in the adipose tissue (AT) microenvironment, playing an irreplaceable role in maintaining the balance of the local immune system and regulating metabolic homeostasis. Under obese conditions, the excessive accumulation of lipids leads to abnormal expansion of adipose tissue, which further disrupts the homeostasis of the local microenvironment, including the imbalance of inflammatory factors, the occurrence of oxidative stress, and the damage of microcirculation. As an essential immune cell population in adipose tissue, ATMs are deeply involved in the occurrence and progression of metabolic disorders and multiple obesity-related diseases, and their functional abnormalities are closely related to the initiation and development of adipose tissue inflammation and systemic metabolic disorders. The interaction between ATMs and adipokines, including adiponectin, leptin, resistin and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), acts as the core immunological and molecular mechanism linking adipose tissue inflammation to continuous disease deterioration, and this interaction is also a key research focus in the field of obesity-related diseases in recent years. This review discusses in detail the facilitating effect of the AT inflammatory microenvironment on the differentiation of peripheral monocytes into ATMs, elaborating on the specific molecular mechanisms by which various inflammatory mediators and abnormal metabolic products in the inflammatory microenvironment induce the differentiation of peripheral monocytes into functional ATMs. It also focuses on the regulatory mechanisms of chemokine-mediated ATM polarization and recruitment, including the specific roles of key chemokines like monocyte chemoattractant protein‑1 (MCP-1) and C‑X‑C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in mediating the recruitment of ATMs to adipose tissue, as well as the molecular pathways that regulate the switch between M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype and M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype of ATMs. In addition, this review explores the specific process by which ATMs trigger AT inflammation by secreting various pro-inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β, which further amplify the local inflammatory response and disrupt the metabolic homeostasis of adipose tissue. Furthermore, it analyzes the specific binding patterns and molecular characteristics of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and RBP4 with ATM surface receptors, and clarifies how the activation of downstream immune signaling pathways, such as Janus kinase‑signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB), and phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase‑protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT), triggered by these binding processes, induces the occurrence and development of various obesity-related diseases, including insulin resistance, cancer, metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and cardiovascular diseases. This paper highlights the unique and crucial role of the interaction between ATMs and adipokines in the occurrence and progression of obesity-related diseases, emphasizing that this interaction is a key link connecting local adipose tissue inflammation to systemic metabolic disorders. It further summarizes the potential therapeutic strategies targeting the ATM-adipokine axis, and comprehensively illustrates three major clinical application barriers, namely biological complexity, technical bottlenecks, and clinical translation obstacles, in the process of applying these therapeutic strategies. For each barrier, this review puts forward corresponding feasible solutions and clear research directions, which not only enrich the theoretical system of the ATM-adipokine axis in the field of obesity research, but also provide a solid theoretical basis and practical ideas for the clinical intervention, prevention and treatment of obesity and its related diseases.
2.Association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and in-hospital mortality risk in patients with acute aortic dissection:a multicenter 10-year retrospective cohort study
Zi-Xuan LIU ; Hui-Qing WANG ; Xiao-Dan ZHONG ; Xing-Wei HE ; Wen-Hua WANG ; Dan YU ; Bao-Quan ZHANG ; Chun-Wen LI ; He-Song ZENG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(8):917-924
Objective To investigate the role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)in predicting the in-hospital mortality risk of patients with acute aortic dissection(AAD)in multicenter hospitals.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted.Clinical data were collected from 2642 AAD patients who were hospitalized in five teaching hospitals:Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Henan Provincial People's Hospital,Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital,the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University,and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between August 2010 and December 2021.According to the quartiles of serum NLRlevels,the patients were divided into four groups:first quartile(Q1,n=660),second quartile(Q2,n=661),third quartile(Q3,n=661),and fourth quartile(Q4,n=660).The clinical characteristics and biochemical indicators of each group were compared.Partial correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between NLR and cardiovascular parameters.Restricted cubic splines,Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,and Cox regression models were employed to evaluate the association between NLR levels and in-hospital mortality risk in AAD patients.Results The median age of all patients was 54[interquartile range(IQR):46-63]years,including 2096 males and 546 females.Compared with Q1-Q3 groups,patients inQ4group had a lower incidence of smoking history and diabetes history,and were more likely to have DeBakey type Ⅰ AAD(P<0.05).Additionally,the levels of aspartate aminotransferase,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,creatinine,and D-dimer in Q4 group were higher,while the levels of triglycerides and C-reactive protein(CRP)were lower(P<0.01).The results of partial correlation analysis showed that the plasma NLR level was positively correlated with D-dimer(r=0.43,P<0.01)and creatinine(r=0.16,P<0.01).The restricted cubic spline function in the Cox model revealed a significant non-linear relationship between the plasma NLR level and clinical outcomes in AAD patients(P<0.01).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that patients in Q4 group had the highest in-hospital mortality rate compared with Q1-Q3 groups(P<0.0001).Furthermore,multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that compared with Q1 group,the hazard ratio(HR)of NLR in Q4 group was 1.77(95%CI 1.33-2.37,P<0.001),which was an independent risk factor for the primary endpoint events.Conclusion A higher plasma NLR level is significantly associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events in AAD patients,and this association remains significant even after adjusting for potential confounding factors such as the multicenter visiting hospitals.
3.Targeted screening and profiling of massive components of colistimethate sodium by two-dimensional-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based on self-constructed compound database
Xuan LI ; Minwen HUANG ; Yue-Mei ZHAO ; Wenxin LIU ; Nan HU ; Jie ZHOU ; Zi-Yi WANG ; Sheng TANG ; Jian-Bin PAN ; Kee-Lee HIAN ; Yao-Zuo YUAN ; Taijun HANG ; Hai-Wei SHI ; Hongyuan CHEN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(2):401-410
In-depth study of the components of polymyxins is the key to controlling the quality of this class of antibiotics.Similarities and variations of components present significant analytical challenges.A two-dimensional(2D)liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)method was established for screening and comprehensive profiling of compositions of the antibiotic colistimethate sodium(CMS).A high concentration of phosphate buffer mobile phase was used in the first-dimensional LC system to get the components well separated.For efficient and high-accuracy screening of CMS,a targeted method based on a self-constructed high resolution(HR)mass spectrum database of CMS components was established.The database was built based on the commercial MassHunter Personal Compound Database and Library(PCDL)software and its accuracy of the compound matching result was verified with six known components before being applied to genuine sample screening.On this basis,the unknown peaks in the CMS chromatograms were deduced and assigned.The molecular formula,group composition,and origins of a total of 99 compounds,of which the combined area percentage accounted for more than 95%of CMS components,were deduced by this 2D-LC-MS method combined with the MassHunter PCDL.This profiling method was highly efficient and could distinguish hundreds of components within 3 h,providing reliable results for quality control of this kind of complex drugs.
4.Craniocerebral penetrating injury caused by nail shooting:one case report
Jiang-hao LI ; Zi-xuan WANG ; Xue-lin CHEN ; Xiang-lu LIU ; Jian DING
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(5):759-764
We reported the clinical,imaging,and treatment process of a patient with severe cranial penetrating injury caused by a nail from a nail gun that accidentally shot into the eye and penetrated into the skull while working.The patient was admitted to the Qingpu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University after being injured by the nail gun.The patient was admitted to the hospital 1 hour after injury with coma.After admission,the foreign body was completely removed and part of the hematoma was cleared through emergency surgery.After surgery,there were high-risk complications such as cerebral edema peak,intracranial hypertension,intracranial infection,cerebrospinal fluid leakage,and intracranial pseudoaneurysm.The patient eventually regained consciousness and was transferred to rehabilitation treatment.
5.Important factors affecting depression:modulatory effects of Cx43 on neuroinflammation
Xuan ZENG ; Zi-han YAN ; Zhi-feng TIAN ; Hong-bin WANG ; Qi-di AI ; Mei-yu LIN ; Xuan LIU ; Nai-hong CHEN ; Song-wei YANG ; Yan-tao YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(11):2027-2031
Numerous studies have shown that depression is main-ly associated with the abnormal expression of connexin 43(Cx43)in astrocytes(Astro)and its mediated dysfunction of gap junction(GJ).However,the molecular mechanism of post-translational modifications targeting Cx43 to regulate neuroin-flammation-associated depression is still unclear.Post-transla-tional modifications of Cx43 mainly include phosphorylation of specific amino acid sites by PKC,PKA,PKG,MAPK and PTK,and protein degradation of Cx43 through the K48/K63 polyubiq-uitylation and deubiquitination pathways,which ultimately lead to protein degradation through K48/K63 polyubiquitination and deubiquitination.These modifications are ultimately involved in the regulation of neuroinflammatory responses through the associ-ation of GJ function.In this paper,we systematically review the role of Cx43 post-translational modifications in neuroinflamma-tion,with the aim of further exploring the potential application of targeting these modifications to modulate the inflammatory re-sponse mechanism in improving depressive symptoms.
6.Targeted screening and profiling of massive components of colistimethate sodium by two-dimensional-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based on self-constructed compound database.
Xuan LI ; Minwen HUANG ; Yue-Mei ZHAO ; Wenxin LIU ; Nan HU ; Jie ZHOU ; Zi-Yi WANG ; Sheng TANG ; Jian-Bin PAN ; Hian Kee LEE ; Yao-Zuo YUAN ; Taijun HANG ; Hai-Wei SHI ; Hongyuan CHEN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(2):101072-101072
In-depth study of the components of polymyxins is the key to controlling the quality of this class of antibiotics. Similarities and variations of components present significant analytical challenges. A two-dimensional (2D) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometr (LC-MS) method was established for screening and comprehensive profiling of compositions of the antibiotic colistimethate sodium (CMS). A high concentration of phosphate buffer mobile phase was used in the first-dimensional LC system to get the components well separated. For efficient and high-accuracy screening of CMS, a targeted method based on a self-constructed high resolution (HR) mass spectrum database of CMS components was established. The database was built based on the commercial MassHunter Personal Compound Database and Library (PCDL) software and its accuracy of the compound matching result was verified with six known components before being applied to genuine sample screening. On this basis, the unknown peaks in the CMS chromatograms were deduced and assigned. The molecular formula, group composition, and origins of a total of 99 compounds, of which the combined area percentage accounted for more than 95% of CMS components, were deduced by this 2D-LC-MS method combined with the MassHunter PCDL. This profiling method was highly efficient and could distinguish hundreds of components within 3 h, providing reliable results for quality control of this kind of complex drugs.
7.Nogo-A Protein Mediates Oxidative Stress and Synaptic Damage Induced by High-Altitude Hypoxia in the Rat Hippocampus.
Jin Yu FANG ; Huai Cun LIU ; Yan Fei ZHANG ; Quan Cheng CHENG ; Zi Yuan WANG ; Xuan FANG ; Hui Ru DING ; Wei Guang ZHANG ; Chun Hua CHEN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(1):79-93
OBJECTIVE:
High-altitude hypoxia exposure often damages hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Nogo-A is an important axonal growth inhibitory factor. However, its function in high-altitude hypoxia and its mechanism of action remain unclear.
METHODS:
In an in vivo study, a low-pressure oxygen chamber was used to simulate high-altitude hypoxia, and genetic or pharmacological intervention was used to block the Nogo-A/NgR1 signaling pathway. Contextual fear conditioning and Morris water maze behavioral tests were used to assess learning and memory in rats, and synaptic damage in the hippocampus and changes in oxidative stress levels were observed. In vitro, SH-SY5Y cells were used to assess oxidative stress and mitochondrial function with or without Nogo-A knockdown in Oxygen Glucose-Deprivation/Reperfusion (OGD/R) models.
RESULTS:
Exposure to acute high-altitude hypoxia for 3 or 7 days impaired learning and memory in rats, triggered oxidative stress in the hippocampal tissue, and reduced the dendritic spine density of hippocampal neurons. Blocking the Nogo-A/NgR1 pathway ameliorated oxidative stress, synaptic damage, and the learning and memory impairment induced by high-altitude exposure.
CONCLUSION:
Our results demonstrate the detrimental role of Nogo-A protein in mediating learning and memory impairment under high-altitude hypoxia and suggest the potential of the Nogo-A/NgR1 signaling pathway as a crucial therapeutic target for alleviating learning and memory dysfunction induced by high-altitude exposure.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
available in www.besjournal.com.
Animals
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Oxidative Stress
;
Hippocampus/metabolism*
;
Rats
;
Nogo Proteins/genetics*
;
Male
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Hypoxia/metabolism*
;
Altitude
;
Synapses
;
Humans
;
Altitude Sickness/metabolism*
8.A Retrospective Study of Pregnancy and Fetal Outcomes in Mothers with Hepatitis C Viremia.
Wen DENG ; Zi Yu ZHANG ; Xin Xin LI ; Ya Qin ZHANG ; Wei Hua CAO ; Shi Yu WANG ; Xin WEI ; Zi Xuan GAO ; Shuo Jie WANG ; Lin Mei YAO ; Lu ZHANG ; Hong Xiao HAO ; Xiao Xue CHEN ; Yuan Jiao GAO ; Wei YI ; Yao XIE ; Ming Hui LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(7):829-839
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development.
METHODS:
A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected.
RESULTS:
Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ 2 = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006).
CONCLUSIONS
Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans
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Female
;
Pregnancy
;
Adult
;
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology*
;
Retrospective Studies
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Pregnancy Outcome
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Viremia/virology*
;
Hepatitis C
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Hepacivirus/physiology*
;
Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology*
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Young Adult
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Alanine Transaminase/blood*
9.Design of intelligent airborne soldier physical training system based on human body composition analysis
Lin YANG ; Zheng LIU ; Yu-shan YE ; Jian-fei PANG ; Jing HE ; Xuan-zi ZHOU ; Qiong WANG ; Xin-sheng CAO ; Tao LIU
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(2):16-23
Objective To design an intelligent airborne soldier physical training system based on human body composition analysis to solve the problems in diversity of training mode,targeted training plan and high incidence of military training-related injuries.Methods The intelligent airborne military physical training system was designed with B/S architecture and developed with Python language,which was composed of four functional modules for airborne soldier information acquisition,trainee physical fitness state assessment,physical fitness training program recommendation and airborne soldier physical fitness training program evaluation.The airborne soldier information acquisition module collected and analyzed the trainee physiological parameter information with a human body composition analyzer,clarified the parameter characteristics related to physical training with considerations on military physical training requirements and constructed a trainee physical fitness assessment parameter model;the trainee physical fitness state assessment module established an evaluation model based on machine learning to realize stage-by-stage physical fitness evaluation for airborne soldiers;the physical fitness training program recommendation module was constructed based on the physical training feature similarity algorithm and graph embedding theory to provide decision making assistance for program development of airborne military physical training;the airborne soldier physical fitness training program evaluation module compared the physical fitness and evaluation results before and after training by means of list and chart,and updated the training program based on the evaluation results by calling the physical training program recommendation module.Results The intelligent airborne soldier physical training system contributed to forming an individualized physical fitness training recommendation mechanism after trainee body evaluation,modifying training program based on comparison and feedback for stage-by-stage training evaluation,so as to decrease the incidence of military training-related injuries while increasing the training efficiency.Conclusion The system developed improves airborne soldier physical training in rationality and reliability,and provides references for intelligent military training of the PLA.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(2):16-23]
10.Medication rules of Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books based on "disease-medicine-dose" pattern.
Jia-Lei CAO ; Lü-Yuan LIANG ; Yi-Hang LIU ; Zi-Ming XU ; Xuan WANG ; Wen-Xi WEI ; He-Jia WAN ; Xing-Hang LYU ; Wei-Xiao LI ; Yu-Xin ZHANG ; Bing-Qi WEI ; Xian-Qing REN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):798-811
This study employed the "disease-medicine-dose" pattern to mine the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions containing Astragali Radix in ancient Chinese medical books, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines. The TCM prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were retrieved from databases such as Chinese Medical Dictionary and imported into Excel 2020 to construct the prescription library. Statical analysis were performed for the prescriptions regarding the indications, syndromes, medicine use frequency, herb effects, nature and taste, meridian tropism, dosage forms, and dose. SPSS statistics 26.0 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for association rules analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 2 297 prescriptions containing Astragali Radix were collected, involving 233 indications, among which sore and ulcer, consumptive disease, sweating disorder, and apoplexy had high frequency(>25), and their syndromes were mainly Qi and blood deficiency, Qi and blood deficiency, Yin and Yang deficiency, and Qi deficiency and collateral obstruction, respectively. In the prescriptions, 98 medicines were used with the frequency >25 and they mainly included Qi-tonifying medicines and blood-tonifying medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium were frequently used. The medicines with high frequency mainly have warm or cold nature, and sweet, pungent, or bitter taste, with tropism to spleen, lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians. In the treatment of sore and ulcer, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to promote granulation and heal up sores. In the treatment of consumptive disease, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 37.30 g and combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to tonify deficiency and replenish Qi. In the treatment of sweating disorder, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 3.73 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to consolidate exterior and stop sweating. In the treatment of apoplexy, Astragali Radix was mainly used with the dose of 7.46 g and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma to dispell wind and stop convulsions. Astragali Radix can be used in the treatment of multiple system diseases, with the effects of tonifying Qi and ascending Yang, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and expressing toxin and promoting granulation. According to the manifestations of different diseases, when combined with other medicines, Astragali Radix was endowed with the effects of promoting granulation and healing up sores, tonifying deficiency and Qi, consolidating exterior and stopping sweating, and dispelling wind and replenishing Qi. The findings provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for the clinical application of Astragali Radix and the development of new medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history*
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Humans
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history*
;
History, Ancient
;
Astragalus Plant/chemistry*
;
China
;
Astragalus propinquus

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