1.Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram model for patients with the lower third and abdominal oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Zhengshui XU ; Dandan LIU ; Jiantao JIANG ; Ranran KONG ; Jianzhong LI ; Yuefeng MA ; Zhenchuan MA ; Jia CHEN ; Minxia ZHU ; Shaomin LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):201-207
Objective To establish an individualized nomogram model and evaluate its efficacy to provide a possible evaluation basis for the prognosis of lower third and abdominal part of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Methods Lower third and abdominal part of EAC patients from 2010 to 2015 were chosen from the SEER Research Plus Database (17 Regs, 2022nov sub). The patients were randomly allocated to the training cohort and the internal validation cohort with a ratio of 7∶3 using bootstrap resampling. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine significant contributors to overall survival (OS) in EAC patients, which would be elected to construct the nomogram prediction model. C-index, calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed to evaluate its efficacy. Finally, the efficacy to evaluate the OS of EAC patients was compared between the nomogram prediction model and TNM staging system. Results In total, 3945 patients with lower third and abdominal part of EAC were enrolled, including 3475 males and 470 females with a median age of 65 (57-72) years. The 2761 patients were allocated to the training cohort and the remaining 1184 patients to the internal validation cohort. In the training and the internal validation cohorts, the C-index of the nomogram model was 0.705 and 0.713, respectively. Meanwhile, the calibration curve also suggested that the nomogram model had a strong capability of predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of EAC patients. The nomogram also had a higher efficacy than the TNM staging system in predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of EAC patients. Conclusion This nomogram prediction model has a high efficiency for predicting OS in the patients with lower third and abdominal part of EAC, which is higher than that of the current TNM staging system.
2.Effect of Huangling Jidu Xizhuo Granules on NLRP3, Intestinal Flora and Short-term Prognosis in Patients with Gout
Dandan TIAN ; Shanping WANG ; Li YANG ; Tingting ZHANG ; Xi CHEN ; Chuanbing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):150-156
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of retention enema with Huangling Jiedu Xiezhuo granules(HJXG) on Nod-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), intestinal flora, and short-term prognosis in patients with gout. MethodsA total of 60 patients with gout admitted to the hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected and divided into a control group and an observation group according to the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was treated with febuxostat, and the observation group was treated with retention enema with HJXG on the basis of the control group. After 14 days of continuous treatment, the clinical efficacy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain index of the two groups were compared, and serum creatinine(SCr), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), uric acid(UA), cystatin C(CysC), β2- microglobulin(β2-MG), glomerular filtration rate test(GFR), creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), hypersensitive C-reactive protein,(hs-CRP), interleukin 6(IL-6), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18), NLRP3 inflammasome levels, and the number of intestinal flora were detected in the two groups. The prognosis of patients was followed up within 12 weeks. COX regression analysis was used to analyze the effect of short-term prognosis. ResultsAfter treatment, TCM syndrome scores and VAS pain index in both groups were reduced (P<0.05), and TCM syndrome scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group. After treatment, ESR, hs-CRP, IL-6, NLRP3, IL-18, and IL-1β were significantly decreased in both groups (P<0.01), and the levels of IL-6, ESR, NLRP3, and IL-18 were significantly improved in the observation group compared with the control group (P<0.05). BUN, SCr, UA, β2-MG, GFR indexes in both groups were significantly lower after treatment, Ccr indexes in both groups were significantly higher after treatment, and the levels of SCr, UA, CysC, and Ccr in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the intestinal flora in both groups was improved, and the observation group was significantly improved compared with the control group in terms of Lactobacillus, Proteus, Bacteroides, and Escherichia coli (P<0.05). COX regression analysis showed that retention enema with HJXG could reduce the risk of poor short-term prognosis in patients with gout compared with Western medicine alone. ConclusionThe retention enema with HJXG can improve the curative effect of patients with gout, improve the TCM syndromes, reduce inflammation, and enhance renal function, intestinal flora, and short-term prognosis.
3.Extracellular Ubiquitin Enhances Autophagy and Inhibits Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway to Protect Neurons Against Spinal Cord Ischemic Injury via CXCR4
Hao FENG ; Dehui CHEN ; Huina CHEN ; Dingwei WU ; Dandan WANG ; Zhengxi YU ; Linquan ZHOU ; Zhenyu WANG ; Wenge LIU
Neurospine 2025;22(1):157-172
Objective:
Neuronal apoptosis is considered to be a critical process in spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite growing evidence of the antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and modulation of ischemic injury tolerance effects of extracellular ubiquitin (eUb), existing studies have paid less attention to the impact of eUb in neurological injury disorders, particularly in SCI. This study aimed to investigate whether eUb can play a protective role in neurons, both in vitro and in vivo, and explores the underlying mechanisms.
Methods:
By utilizing an oxygen glucose deprivation cellular model and a SCI rat model, we firstly investigated the therapeutic effects of eUb on SCI and further explored its effects on neuronal autophagy and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis-related indicators, as well as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mechanical target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
Results:
In the SCI models both in vivo and in vitro, early intervention with eUb enhanced neuronal autophagy and inhibited mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, significantly mitigating SCI. Further studies had shown that this protective effect of eUb was mediated through its receptor, CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). Additionally, eUb-enhanced autophagy and antiapoptotic effects were possibly associated with inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Conclusion
In summary, the study demonstrates that early eUb intervention can enhance autophagy and inhibit mitochondrial apoptotic pathways via CXCR4, protecting neurons and promoting SCI repair.
4.Extracellular Ubiquitin Enhances Autophagy and Inhibits Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway to Protect Neurons Against Spinal Cord Ischemic Injury via CXCR4
Hao FENG ; Dehui CHEN ; Huina CHEN ; Dingwei WU ; Dandan WANG ; Zhengxi YU ; Linquan ZHOU ; Zhenyu WANG ; Wenge LIU
Neurospine 2025;22(1):157-172
Objective:
Neuronal apoptosis is considered to be a critical process in spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite growing evidence of the antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and modulation of ischemic injury tolerance effects of extracellular ubiquitin (eUb), existing studies have paid less attention to the impact of eUb in neurological injury disorders, particularly in SCI. This study aimed to investigate whether eUb can play a protective role in neurons, both in vitro and in vivo, and explores the underlying mechanisms.
Methods:
By utilizing an oxygen glucose deprivation cellular model and a SCI rat model, we firstly investigated the therapeutic effects of eUb on SCI and further explored its effects on neuronal autophagy and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis-related indicators, as well as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mechanical target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
Results:
In the SCI models both in vivo and in vitro, early intervention with eUb enhanced neuronal autophagy and inhibited mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, significantly mitigating SCI. Further studies had shown that this protective effect of eUb was mediated through its receptor, CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). Additionally, eUb-enhanced autophagy and antiapoptotic effects were possibly associated with inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Conclusion
In summary, the study demonstrates that early eUb intervention can enhance autophagy and inhibit mitochondrial apoptotic pathways via CXCR4, protecting neurons and promoting SCI repair.
5.Correlation Between Human Body Fat Distribution and Carotid Atherosclerosis
Yanmeng QI ; Dandan LI ; Anqi CHEN ; Han YANG ; Yan LI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(3):703-709
To explore the correlation between human body fat distribution and carotid athero-sclerosis. Adult healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations at the Health Management Center of the International Medical Department(Xidan Campus) of Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2020 and January 2023 were selected as study participants. Baseline data, laboratory indicators, Inbody body composition analysis, and carotid ultrasound examination results were collected. Participants were divided into carotid atherosclerosis group and control group based on carotid ultrasound examination results. Baseline data, laboratory indicators, and body composition differences between the two groups were compared, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation between carotid atherosclerosis and body composition. To further explore the correlation between fat distribution and carotid atherosclerosis, the ratio of trunk fat to limb fat(trunk fat/limb fat), visceral fat area, and waist-to-hip ratio were stratified into Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups(with Q1 group as the reference) based on quartiles(Q1 to Q4), and a forest plot was constructed to analyze the risk of carotid atherosclerosis in each subgroup. A total of 2221 participants were included in this study, including 1194 males(53.76%) and 1027 females(46.24%), with a mean age of(50.28±10.93) years. There were 1049 cases in the carotid atherosclerosis group and 1172 cases in the control group. Baseline data analysis showed that the carotid atherosclerosis group had a higher age and male proportion compared to the control group(both There is a significant correlation between trunk fat/limb fat and the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis. In the future, the sample size should be expanded, and more precise methods for measuring fat distribution should be adopted to validate the conclusions of this study.
6.Extracellular Ubiquitin Enhances Autophagy and Inhibits Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway to Protect Neurons Against Spinal Cord Ischemic Injury via CXCR4
Hao FENG ; Dehui CHEN ; Huina CHEN ; Dingwei WU ; Dandan WANG ; Zhengxi YU ; Linquan ZHOU ; Zhenyu WANG ; Wenge LIU
Neurospine 2025;22(1):157-172
Objective:
Neuronal apoptosis is considered to be a critical process in spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite growing evidence of the antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and modulation of ischemic injury tolerance effects of extracellular ubiquitin (eUb), existing studies have paid less attention to the impact of eUb in neurological injury disorders, particularly in SCI. This study aimed to investigate whether eUb can play a protective role in neurons, both in vitro and in vivo, and explores the underlying mechanisms.
Methods:
By utilizing an oxygen glucose deprivation cellular model and a SCI rat model, we firstly investigated the therapeutic effects of eUb on SCI and further explored its effects on neuronal autophagy and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis-related indicators, as well as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mechanical target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
Results:
In the SCI models both in vivo and in vitro, early intervention with eUb enhanced neuronal autophagy and inhibited mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, significantly mitigating SCI. Further studies had shown that this protective effect of eUb was mediated through its receptor, CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). Additionally, eUb-enhanced autophagy and antiapoptotic effects were possibly associated with inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Conclusion
In summary, the study demonstrates that early eUb intervention can enhance autophagy and inhibit mitochondrial apoptotic pathways via CXCR4, protecting neurons and promoting SCI repair.
7.Extracellular Ubiquitin Enhances Autophagy and Inhibits Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway to Protect Neurons Against Spinal Cord Ischemic Injury via CXCR4
Hao FENG ; Dehui CHEN ; Huina CHEN ; Dingwei WU ; Dandan WANG ; Zhengxi YU ; Linquan ZHOU ; Zhenyu WANG ; Wenge LIU
Neurospine 2025;22(1):157-172
Objective:
Neuronal apoptosis is considered to be a critical process in spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite growing evidence of the antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and modulation of ischemic injury tolerance effects of extracellular ubiquitin (eUb), existing studies have paid less attention to the impact of eUb in neurological injury disorders, particularly in SCI. This study aimed to investigate whether eUb can play a protective role in neurons, both in vitro and in vivo, and explores the underlying mechanisms.
Methods:
By utilizing an oxygen glucose deprivation cellular model and a SCI rat model, we firstly investigated the therapeutic effects of eUb on SCI and further explored its effects on neuronal autophagy and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis-related indicators, as well as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mechanical target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
Results:
In the SCI models both in vivo and in vitro, early intervention with eUb enhanced neuronal autophagy and inhibited mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, significantly mitigating SCI. Further studies had shown that this protective effect of eUb was mediated through its receptor, CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). Additionally, eUb-enhanced autophagy and antiapoptotic effects were possibly associated with inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Conclusion
In summary, the study demonstrates that early eUb intervention can enhance autophagy and inhibit mitochondrial apoptotic pathways via CXCR4, protecting neurons and promoting SCI repair.
8.Optimization of particle forming process and quality evaluation of Yindan huoxue tongyu granules
Dandan WANG ; Xueping CHEN ; Shuxian BAI ; Zuomin WU ; Jingyuan DONG ; Xiaotao YU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(11):1329-1334
OBJECTIVE To optimize the forming process of Yindan huoxue tongyu granules, and evaluate the quality of the granules. METHODS Taking forming rate, angle of repose, moisture, moisture absorption rate and dissolution rate as indexes, single factor experiment combined with Plackett-Burman design was adopted to screen key process parameters; analytic hierarchy process combined with entropy weight method and Box-Behnken response surface method were used to optimize the molding process of Yindan huoxue tongyu granules, and the forming process was verified. The relative homogeneity index, bulk density, vibration density, Hausner ratio, angle of repose, moisture and hygroscopicity were used as secondary physical indexes to establish the physical fingerprints of 10 batches of Yindan huoxue tongyu granules to evaluate particle quality consistency. RESULTS The optimal molding process of Yindan huoxue tongyu granules was as follows: mannitol as the fixed excipient, the drug-assisted ratio was 1∶1(m/m) and the drying time was 1 h; 90% ethanol was used as wetting agent and the amount of it was 32%, the drying temperature was 70 ℃. The results of validation tests showed that the average comprehensive score was 97.45, which was close to the predicted value of 97.18. The similarities between the physical fingerprints of 10 batches of Yindan huoxue tongyu granules prepared by the optimal molding process and the reference physical fingerprint were all higher than 0.99. CONCLUSIONS The molding process is stable and feasible, and the quality of Yindan huoxue tongyu granules produced is stable and controllable.
9.Extracellular Ubiquitin Enhances Autophagy and Inhibits Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway to Protect Neurons Against Spinal Cord Ischemic Injury via CXCR4
Hao FENG ; Dehui CHEN ; Huina CHEN ; Dingwei WU ; Dandan WANG ; Zhengxi YU ; Linquan ZHOU ; Zhenyu WANG ; Wenge LIU
Neurospine 2025;22(1):157-172
Objective:
Neuronal apoptosis is considered to be a critical process in spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite growing evidence of the antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and modulation of ischemic injury tolerance effects of extracellular ubiquitin (eUb), existing studies have paid less attention to the impact of eUb in neurological injury disorders, particularly in SCI. This study aimed to investigate whether eUb can play a protective role in neurons, both in vitro and in vivo, and explores the underlying mechanisms.
Methods:
By utilizing an oxygen glucose deprivation cellular model and a SCI rat model, we firstly investigated the therapeutic effects of eUb on SCI and further explored its effects on neuronal autophagy and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis-related indicators, as well as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mechanical target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
Results:
In the SCI models both in vivo and in vitro, early intervention with eUb enhanced neuronal autophagy and inhibited mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, significantly mitigating SCI. Further studies had shown that this protective effect of eUb was mediated through its receptor, CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). Additionally, eUb-enhanced autophagy and antiapoptotic effects were possibly associated with inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Conclusion
In summary, the study demonstrates that early eUb intervention can enhance autophagy and inhibit mitochondrial apoptotic pathways via CXCR4, protecting neurons and promoting SCI repair.
10.Polygonatum Sibiricum Polysaccharides Improve Colonic Injury in a Mouse Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Regulating Bile Acid Metabolism in the Colon
Wanrong LI ; Mengting TAO ; Yuanfeng ZOU ; Dan HE ; Nengyuan TANG ; Xin TAN ; Lixia LI ; Dandan CHEN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):431-443
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Polygonatum neutral polysaccharides from sibiricum (PSP-NP) on colon injury in mice with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, a COPD model group, and a PSP-NP group. The COPD model was established using smoke exposure combined with intranasal LPS administration. The PSP-NP group was simultaneously treated daily with 200 mg/kg of PSP-NP via intragastric gavage, while the other groups received an equal volume of saline. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the colon. ELISA was employed to detect the levels of LPS in serum and the expressions of ZO-1, Occludin, IL-6, and TNF-α in colon tissue. UPLC-MS was used to detect the types and contents of bile acids in colonic content, and to screen for differential bile acids. Differential microbial flora were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and correlation analysis was conducted with differential bile acids. PSP-NP was combined with the differential bile acids cholic acid (CA), and deoxycholic acid (DCA) in vitro to analyze the binding capacity of PSP-NP for CA and DCA. PSP-NP was applied to NCM460 normal colonic epithelial cells cultured in CA and DCA. Cell migration ability was assessed using the scratch assay, and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB were measured by RT-qPCR. ResultsPSP-NP effectively improved colonic damage in COPD model mice, enhanced mechanical barrier function, alleviated inflammatory response, and regulated abnormal changes in colonic flora and bile acid metabolism. Correlation analysis further revealed that PSP-NP regulated colonic bile acid metabolism and reduced the redundancy of secondary bile acids by increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota, Bacteroides, and Akkermansia, while decreasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Notably, in vitro binding assays demonstrated that PSP-NP bound to differential bile acids DCA and CA, with the strongest binding capacity for DCA at 58.2%. In cellular functional studies, DCA inhibited the migration ability of colonic epithelial cells NCM460 and significantly increased the relative mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB. Importantly, co-treatment with PSP-NP significantly ameliorated the impact of DCA on NCM460 cells. ConclusionsPSP-NP may significantly improve colonic damage in COPD model mice. The mechanism may involve the regulation of colonic bile acid metabolism and bile acid profiles through both microbial modulation and direct binding, thereby reducing the damage caused by secondary bile acids such as DCA to colonic epithelial cells.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail