1.A Case of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex with Multiple Organ Involvement Caused by TSC2 Gene Mutation
Hongli ZHANG ; Jiayuan DAI ; Yan WANG ; Weihong ZHANG ; Wenbin MA ; Hanhui FU ; Chunxia HE ; Jun ZHENG ; Wenda WANG ; Wei ZUO ; Yaping LIU ; Min SHEN
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):60-67
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder primarily caused by pathogenic variants in the
2.COLEC12high tumor-associated macrophages orchestrate lenvatinib resistance and cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma via paracrine NRG1-HER2/HER3 signaling
Jianxing ZHANG ; Liang QIAO ; Zongfeng WU ; Dinglan ZUO ; Shanshan HUANG ; Shaoru LIU ; Zhenkun HUANG ; Yi ZENG ; Yu LI ; Yichuan YUAN ; Chenwei WANG ; Wei HE ; Jiliang QIU ; Yunfei YUAN ; Yi NIU ; Binkui LI
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):772-786
Background/Aims:
Lenvatinib resistance remains a critical barrier in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms and strategies for reversing resistance remain incompletely understood.
Methods:
Integrated transcriptomics of lenvatinib-resistant patient tumors and an acquired-resistance murine model identified a novel macrophage subpopulation. Functional validation employed CRISPR-SAM screening, conditioned medium (CM) assays, subcutaneous/orthotopic xenografts, patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Mechanistic studies included ChIP-qPCR, co-immunoprecipitation, and pharmacologic targeting. Clinical relevance was assessed in a retrospective cohort.
Results:
Resistant HCC exhibited significant enrichment of a COLEC12high TAM subset , which correlated with poor survival and treatment response. These TAMs secreted neuregulin-1 (NRG1) , activating HER2/HER3-AKT signaling in tumor cells to drive cancer stemness and lenvatinib resistance. Mechanistically, in TAMs COLEC12 sequestered STAT1 in the cytoplasm, preventing its phosphorylation, and thereby derepressing STAT3-mediated NRG1 transcription. Depletion of NRG1 reversed the stemness phenotypes and resensitized tumors to lenvatinib both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, high NRG1 expression predicted an inferior lenvatinib response and shorter survival. Crucially, the bispecific anti-HER2/HER3 antibody zenocutuzumab restored lenvatinib efficacy in PDOs, PDXs, and murine models.
Conclusions
Our work establishes the COLEC12high TAM/NRG1 axis as a master regulator of therapeutic resistance and identifies NRG1 as a predictive biomarker, providing a clinically actionable strategy to overcome lenvatinib resistance in HCC.
3.Analysis of the Disease Burden of Gastric Cancer in Chi-na,Japan and Republic of Korea from 1990 to 2021 and Prediction of Trends from 2022 to 2031
Yujie WU ; Siyi HE ; Mengdi CAO ; Yi TENG ; Qianru LI ; Jiachen WANG ; Nuopei TAN ; Tingting ZUO ; Changfa XIA ; Jufang SHI ; Wanqing CHEN
China Cancer 2025;34(8):626-635
[Purpose]To analyze the epidemiology and disease burden of gastric cancer in China,Japan and Republic of Korea from 1990 to 2021 and to predict changing trends from 2022 to 2031.[Methods]Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease(GBD)database.Age-stan-dardized incidence rate(ASIR),age-standardized mortality rate(ASMR),crude incidence rate(CIR),crude mortality rate(CMR),and disability-adjusted life years(DALY)rate for China,Japan and Republic of Korea from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed.Joinpoint regression software was used to analyze trends and calculate annual percentage changes.The autoregressive integrated moving average(ARIMA)model was applied to predict incidence and mortality from 2022 to 2031.[Results]In 2021,China had 611 799 new gastric cancer cases and 445 013 deaths,with an ASIR of 29.05/105 and an ASMR of 21.51/105,both significantly higher than those in Japan and Republic of Korea.Among men in China,both the ASIR(44.48/105)and ASMR(32.61/105)were the highest among the three countries,exceeding those in Japan(38.77/105,20.26/105)and Re-public of Korea(38.98/105,20.50/105).Among women,China had the highest number of new cases,but its ASIR(15.23/105)was slightly lower than Republic of Korea's(15.57/105)and higher than Japan's(14.66/105).However,China's ASMR among women(12.02/105)remained significantly higher than Japan's(7.64/105)and Republic of Korea's(8.08/105).From 1990 to 2021,ASIR,ASMR and DALY rates for gastric cancer declined in all three countries,but the reduction in China was significantly smaller than that in Japan and Republic of Korea,with Republic of Korea showing the steepest declines across all indicators.ARIMA model predictions indicated significant differences in disease burden among the three countries from 2022 to 2031.ASIR is projected to continue declining in China and Republic of Korea,reaching 22.87/105 and 12.45/105,respectively by 2031,while in Japan it is predicted to rise to 26.55/105.ASMR is projected to decline in all three countries,reaching 13.71/105(China),10.44/105(Japan),and 9.08/105(Republic of Korea)in 2031.[Conclusion]Among China,Japan and Republic of Korea,China had the highest ASIR and ASMR of gastric cancer in 2021.Moreover,from 1990 to 2021,the reductions in ASIR,ASMR and DALY rates for gastric cancer were the smallest in China compared to Japan and Republic of Korea.These findings suggest that the disease burden of gastric cancer remains substantial in China,high-lighting the need for increased efforts in gastric cancer screening and early diagnosis and treatment.
4.Role of Complement in the Development of Hypertensive Nephropathy
Zhongli WANG ; Tingting ZHANG ; Xing WANG ; Jianlong ZHAI ; Lili HE ; Qingjuan ZUO ; Sai MA ; Guorui ZHANG ; Yifang GUO
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(3):308-312
Immunoinflammation mediates the development of hypertensive nephropathy,and aberrant activation of the complement system,an important component of the innate immune system,plays an important role in the development of hypertensive nephropathy.Complement inhibition is expected to be a potential strategy for the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy.In this article,we summarized and reviewed relevant studies on the complement system in the development of hypertensive nephropathy,and complement-targeted drug therapy,aiming to provide new ideas for clinicians on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive nephropathy.
5.Role of Complement in the Development of Hypertensive Nephropathy
Zhongli WANG ; Tingting ZHANG ; Xing WANG ; Jianlong ZHAI ; Lili HE ; Qingjuan ZUO ; Sai MA ; Guorui ZHANG ; Yifang GUO
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(3):308-312
Immunoinflammation mediates the development of hypertensive nephropathy,and aberrant activation of the complement system,an important component of the innate immune system,plays an important role in the development of hypertensive nephropathy.Complement inhibition is expected to be a potential strategy for the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy.In this article,we summarized and reviewed relevant studies on the complement system in the development of hypertensive nephropathy,and complement-targeted drug therapy,aiming to provide new ideas for clinicians on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive nephropathy.
6.Trends and Decompostion of Disease Burden for Lung Cancer Worldwide and in China from 1990 to 2021
Tianyi LI ; Yuanjie ZHENG ; Yi TENG ; Qianru LI ; Tingting ZUO ; Nuopei TAN ; Jiachen WANG ; Siyi HE ; Mengdi CAO ; Changfa XIA ; Wanqing CHEN
China Cancer 2025;34(5):355-367
[Purpose]To analyze the trends of disease burden for lung cancer worldwide and in China from 1990 to 2021.[Methods]Data of the disease burden of lung cancer and population demographics in 1990 and 2021 stratified by sex and age groups for global,five SDI quintiles re-gions,and eight countries including China,Japan,Republic of Korea,United Kingdom,France,United States,Canada,and Australia were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021(GBD 2021)database.The age-standardized mortality rate(ASMR)and age-standard-ized disability-adjusted life year rate(ASDR)of lung cancer attributable to 7 level-3 risk factors in China for 1990 and 2021 were also extracted.Counterfactual analysis was used to decompose changes in lung cancer deaths and DALY from 1990 to 2021 into four contributing factors:popu-lation size,population structure,age-standardized incidence or prevalence,and lung cancer case fatality or disease severity.The percentage changes in lung cancer deaths and DALY attributed to these four factors were calculated respectively.[Results]In 2021,there were 934 704 new cases and 814 364 deaths of lung cancer in China.From 1990 to 2021,the incidence,preva-lence,mortality,and DALY rates of lung cancer in China increased faster than those worldwide and in high-middle SDI regions,which was similar to Japan and Republic of Korea.In contrast,the mortality rates of lung cancer decreased in United States and United Kingdom;and the DALY rates of lung cancer decreased in United States,United Kingdom,Canada and Australia.From 1990 to 2021,the age-related lung cancer deaths and DALY in China increased by 193.91%and 146.20%,respectively.The primary contributor to the increase in lung cancer deaths was population aging(102.82%)among men and rising age-standardized incidence(119.00%)among women,while the primary contributor to the increase in DALY was rising age-standardized prevalence for both men(153.12%)and women(218.77%).In 2021,the top three risk factors contributing to lung cancer ASMR and ASDR in China were smoking,particulate matter pollution and occupational carcinogen exposure.Compared with 1990,the ASMR of lung cancer and its proportion at-tributable to particulate matter pollution and low dietary fruits were decreased,while the propor-tions in ASDR of lung cancer attributable to smoking and secondhand smoke increased.[Conclu-sion]Lung cancer is a major public health challenge in China.Compared with worldwide,high-middle SDI regions and certain developed countries,China has experienced faster growth in the incidence,prevalence,mortality and DALY of lung cancer,especially among women.To reduce disease burden,sustained efforts on lung cancer prevention and control are urgently required in China.
7.Epidemiological Characteristics of Esophageal Cancer Worldwide and in China,2022
Yuanjie ZHENG ; Yi TENG ; Siyi HE ; Mengdi CAO ; Qianru LI ; Nuopei TAN ; Jiachen WANG ; Tingting ZUO ; Tianyi LI ; Changfa XIA ; Wanqing CHEN
China Cancer 2025;34(3):165-170
[Purpose]To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of esophageal cancer world-wide and in China.[Methods]Data were extracted from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database.The in-cidence and mortality of esophageal cancer worldwide and in China were analyzed,stratified by sex,age group,and human development index(HDI).Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between the HDI and the mortality-to-incidence ratio(MIR)of esophageal cancer.[Results]In 2022,there were an estimated 511 054 new cases and 445 391 deaths from esophageal cancer globally,with age-standardized incidence and mortality rates(ASIR and ASMR)of 5.0/105 and 4.3/105,respectively.In China,there were an estimated 224 012 new cases and 187 467 deaths accounting for 43.8%and 42.1%of global totals,respectively.Both the new cases and deaths of esophageal cancer in China ranked the first worldwide.The ASIR and ASMR in China were 8.3/105 and 6.7/105,both were as twice as the global average.The ASIR and ASMR for males were higher than those for females.The incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer increased with age,and more than 50%of global cases and deaths in individuals aged over 70 years old occurred in China.Additionally,a significantly negative correlation was ob-served between HDI and MIR of esophageal cancer(ρ=-0.67,P<0.001),and MIR in China(0.81)was comparable to that of countries or regions with a very high HDI.[Conclusion]The burden of esophageal cancer remains significant worldwide and in China,particularly among males and the elderly.The MIR of esophageal cancer in China is still relatively high.The primary and secondary prevention measures should be strengthened to reduce the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer.
8.Changes in hepatic phase Ⅱ detoxification enzymes and their mechanism in metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH) induced by MCD diet in mice
Jiaqin GAO ; Bin ZUO ; Chaoqun PI ; Min XIAO ; Jiaxin WANG ; Wenjing TAO ; Yang HE
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2025;33(11):1080-1089
Objective:To investigate the changes in hepatic phase II detoxification enzymes and their mechanism in metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH) induced by a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet in mice.Methods:Ten C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups, with five mice in each group, and fed with a control diet (NCD group) and a methionine-choline-deficient diet (MCD group) for four consecutive weeks to establish the MASH model in mice. Mice body weight was recorded weekly. Mice peripheral blood and liver tissue samples were collected after four weeks. The liver histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Sirius red staining in liver tissue. The levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and triglycerides were measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Triglyceride and total cholesterol were used to evaluate the lipid accumulation condition in the liver of mice with Oil red O staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of liver inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) condition. Transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics were used to analyze the changes in gene expression profiles in the liver of mice and screen differentially expressed genes. The expression conditions of phase Ⅱ detoxification enzymes glutathione S-transferase mu 4 (GSTM4), dihydronicotinamide riboside:quinone oxidoreductases (NQO-2), sulfotransferase 1β1 (SULT1β1), and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 2 family, polypeptide A3(UGT2A3) were verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Plasma malondialdehyde content, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), plasma and liver glutathione content were determined using commercial kits. The expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), GSTM4, and UGT1A6 was examined by Western blotting. The independent sample t-test was used for comparison between the groups. Results:The body weight of mice in the MCD group showed a gradual downward trend, while the body weight of mice in the NCD group did not change significantly following four weeks of different dietary feeding. The MCD group mice liver had yellow-white appearance with round edges. The liver/body mass index was significantly lower in the NCD group ( t=3.216, P<0.01). Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that hepatocytes in the MCD group had an occurrence of fatty degeneration accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration, with a higher NAFLD activity score (NAS) compared to the NCD group ( t=7.155, P<0.001). Sirius red staining showed that the the liver of the MCD group had mildly increased periportal fibers. Plasma biochemical tests indicated that plasma ALT, AST, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the MCD group than those in the NCD group ( t=8.920, P<0.001; t=6.696, P<0.001; t=3.904, P<0.01). Oil red O staining showed that a large number of lipid droplets accumulated in the liver tissue of the MCD group and were more severe than those in the NCD group ( t=7.405, P<0.001). The triglyceride content was significantly higher in the liver of the mice in the MCD group than that in the NCD group ( t=3.559, P<0.01), and the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and MCP-1 was significantly increased ( t=2.562 and 2.391, respectively, P<0.05). Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that the expression profile of genes related to lipid metabolism was changed in the liver tissue of the mice in the MCD group. The expression of multiple phase Ⅱ detoxification enzymes was significantly downregulated. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR verification demonstrated that the expression of four phase Ⅱ detoxification enzymes GSTM4, NQO2, SUIL1β1, and UGT2A3 were significantly lower in the liver of the mice in the MCD group than those in the NCD group ( t=2.498, 3.570, 3.768, and 4.166, respectively, P<0.05). The detection kit showed that compared with the NCD group, the malondialdehyde content in the liver of mice in the MCD group increased ( t=3.601, P<0.01), while the plasma total glutathione ( t=11.93, P<0.001) and reduced glutathione levels were significantly reduced ( t=3.635, P<0.01). The total antioxidant capacity of the liver decreased ( t=2.872, P<0.05), and the total glutathione and reduced glutathione levels in the liver were significantly increased ( t=3.175 and 3.064, P<0.05). Western blotting showed that the expression of Nrf2, GSTM4, and UGT1A6 proteins was significantly lower in the MCD group than that in the NCD group ( t=3.385, 2.990, 2.168, P<0.05). Conclusions:The expressions of multiple phase Ⅱ detoxification enzymes and antioxidant capacity are reduced in the liver of MASH mice induced by the MCD diet, and its mechanism is related to the down-regulation of the expression of the upstream regulatory factor Nrf2 protein.
9.Research on Organizational Inert in Medical Quality and Safety Management and Preventive Strategies
Longjun HU ; Jianhua HUANG ; Ruo JIANG ; Luyang HE ; Jialin YANG ; Keqiang ZUO ; Lengchen HOU
Chinese Hospital Management 2025;45(3):55-59
In the dynamic process of organizational development,organizations tend to exhibit a tendency towards organizational inertia by maintaining its original behavior patterns.It introduces organizational inertia theory into the medical management.Based on the concept of organizational inertia,the concept of organizational inertia in medical quality and safety management was proposed.From the perspective of connotation of organizational inertia in medical quality and safety management,its essence was the failure of medical institutions to implement or achieve continuous improvement in medical standardized behavior.From the perspective of denotation,it includes six categories:structural inertia,institutional inertia,resource inertia,technological inertia,employee inertia,and cultural inertia.In addition,it explored how to overcome organizational inertia in medical quality and safety management,which can provide new ideas for sustainably improvement research and practice in medical quality and safety management.
10.The Molecular Mechanism of HCQ Reversing Immune Mediators Dysregulation in Severe Infection after Chemotherapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Inducing Programmed Death of Leukemia Cells
Qing-Lin XU ; Yan-Quan LIU ; He-Hui ZHANG ; Fen WANG ; Zuo-Tao LI ; Zhi-Min YAN ; Shu-Juan CHEN ; Hong-Quan ZHU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(4):931-938
Objective:To explore the effects of hydroxychloroquine(HCQ)on immune mediators dysregulation in severe infection after chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia(AML)and its molecular mechanism.Methods:Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of 36 AML patients with severe infection(AML-SI)and 29 AML patients without infection(AML-NI)after chemotherapy were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University from August 2022 to June 2023.In addition,the peripheral blood of 21 healthy subjects from the same period in our hospital was selected as the control group.The mRNA expressions of CXCL12,CXCR4 and CXCR7 were detected by RT-qPCR technology,and the levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA.Leukemia-derived THP-1 cells were selected and constructed as AML disease model.At the same time,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BM-MSCs)from AML-SI patients were co-cultured with THP-1 cells and divided into Mono group and Co-culture group.THP-1 cells were treated with different concentration gradients of HCQ.The cell proliferation activity was subsequently detected by CCK-8 method and apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI double staining flow cytometry.ELISA was used to detect the changes of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α levels in the supernatant of the cell co-culture system,RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression changes of the core members of the CXCL12-CXCR4/7 regulatory axis,and Western blot was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis regulatory molecules and related signaling pathway proteins.Results:CXCL12,CXCR4,CXCR7,as well as IL-6,IL-8,and TNF-α were all abnormally increased in AML patients,and the increases were more significant in AML-SI patients(P<0.01).Furthermore,there were statistically significant differences between AML-NI patients and AML-SI patients(all P<0.05).HCQ could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of THP-1 cells,but the low concentration of HCQ had no significant effect on the killing of THP-1 cells.When THP-1 cells were co-cultured with BM-MSCs of AML patients,the levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α in the supernatance of Co-culture group were significantly higher than those of Mono group(all P<0.01).After HCQ intervention,the levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α in cell culture supernatant of Mono group were significantly decreased compared with those before intervention(all P<0.01).Similarly,those of Co-culture group were also significantly decreased(all P<0.001).However,the expression of the core members of the CXCL12-CXCR4/7 regulatory axis was weakly affected by HCQ.HCQ could up-regulate the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax,down-regulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2,as well as simultaneously promote the hydrolytic activation of Caspase-3 when inhibiting the activation level of TLR4/NF-κ B pathway,then induce the programmed death of THP-1 cells after intervention.Conclusion:The core members of CXCL12-CXCR4/7 axis and related cytokines may be important mediators of severe infectious immune disorders in AML patients.HCQ can inhibit cytokine levels to reverse immune mediators dysregulation and suppress malignant biological characteristics of leukemia cells.The mechanisms may be related to regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins,hydrolytically activating Caspase-3 and inhibiting the activation of TLR4/NF-κ B signaling pathway.

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